AU2003200440A1 - A Bait Bag For A Crab Pot - Google Patents

Description

Title A Bait Bag For A Crab Pot Field of the Invention.

This invention is directed to a bait bag which can be attached inside a crab pot or similar device and which improves the catch rate in the crab pot.

Background Art.

Crabs are typically trapped in crab pots. A crab pot comprises a mesh like container which is thrown into the water and which is typically attached to a line member such that the crab pot can be hauled out of the water from time to time. The crab pot contains an entry which is designed to allow a crab to move into the pot but to prevent the crab from easily moving out of the pot.

Such crab pots are very well-known.

To entice the crab into the crab pot, bait is placed inside the crab pot. The bait is typically a fish, burley, or any other type of attractant. The present invention is directed to a better way to hold the attractant or bait inside the crab pot or similar device.

Conventionally, the bait is attached to a length of wire and the wire is positioned in the crab pot such that the bait is far enough away from the sides of the crab pot to prevent the crab from accessing the bait from outside the crab pot. Thus, the crab must enter the crab pot in order to access the bait.

However, it is often difficult to position the wire in this rather precise manner and when the crab pot is thrown into the water or water flows through the crab pot (for instance by virtue of a tidal current), it is known for the bait to move more towards the sides of the crab pot allowing a crab to access the bait from the outside. Another disadvantage is that the bait can break apart over time and fall to the bottom of the crab pot or become washed towards the sides of the crab pot again allowing a crab to access the bait from the outside of the pot.

Therefore, there would be an advantage if it were possible to position the bait in a crab pot or similar device in such a manner that there is reduced likelihood in the ability of a crab to access the bait from the outside of the pot or for the bait to quickly break apart and wash towards the side of the pot.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Object of the Invention.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bait holder which may at least partially overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages or provide the public with a useful or commercial choice.

In one form, the invention resides in a bait holder for use in a trap, the bait holder comprising a bag like structure in which the bait can be placed, the bag having a mouth, the mouth being movable between an open position to allow the bait to move into the bag, and a closed position to prevent the bait from 2 0 passing through the mouth, closure means to at least partially close the mouth, and attachment means to allow the bait holder to be attached to the trap.

By placing the bait within a bag, there is reduced likelihood of the bait falling apart and becoming washed against the side of the trap (for instance the crab pot).

The bag like structure typically comprises a mesh type arrangement or some other type of bag which allows water to flow through the bag. The bag may be manufactured of strong plastic mesh which may be woven or knotted. The plastic mesh is typically corrosion resistant especially when used in a saltwater environment. The structure may be formed of other materials such as corrosion resistant wire, canvas and the like, however it is found that a plastic mesh is robust and resilient to the corrosive effect of a saltwater environment.

The size of the bag can vary depending on the size of the trap, the size of the bait, the type of animal to be trapped etc. For use in a crab pot, the bag will typically have a length of between 20-50 cm and a width of between 5-20 cm.

The size of the mesh can determine the strength of the bag and the resilience of the bag and can vary, but it is envisaged that the bait bag will have a mesh opening size of between 5-50 mm across. The shape of the mesh can also vary and the mesh may be substantially rectangular, circular, oval, or have irregular shapes. The thickness of the mesh line/rope/string can vary but will typically be between 1-5 mm in diameter.

The bag has a mouth. Typically, the bag will have a single mouth, however it is envisaged that the bag may be open at both ends to provide two mouths, or two inlets. If desired, multiple inlets can be provided, however in practice, it is envisaged that a single inlet will suffice. The size of the mouth can vary depending on the size of the bait and other factors. It is envisaged that the mouth can be opened to a size of between 50-200 mm to enable bait to be properly placed within the bag.

The mouth can be closed to hold the bait within the bag. In a simple form it is envisaged that the mouth can be closed using a line member such as a drawstring in a manner which is known. However, other means to close the mouth may also form part of the invention and these may include clips, clamps, a cover and the like.

Attachment means may be provided to position/hold the bait holder in the trap. The attachment means may comprise any suitable type. In one form, the attachment means is at least partially elastic to allow the bait holder to be stretched across or in the trap. Thus, the attachment means may comprise elastic cords. Suitably, the attachment means comprises a plurality of attachment members to allow the bait holder to be firmly held and supported within the trap.

It is preferred that the attachment means is attached to or operatively associated with the line member such that when the bait holder is supported within the trap, the mouth is kept closed.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following representations.

Figure 1. Illustrates a bait holder having an open mouth and not yet attached to the trap.

Figure 2. Illustrates the holder of Figure 1 with the mouth in the closed position.

Figure 3. Illustrates a heavy duty bait holder with an open mouth.

Figure 4. Illustrates the bait holder of Figure 3 with the mouth closed.

Figure 5. Illustrates the heavy duty bait holder in a trap (crab pot).

Best Mode.

Referring to the drawings and initially to figures 1-2, there is illustrated a bait holder in the form of a mesh bag 10. Bag 10 is made of twisted plastic line which is woven/knotted to form an open mesh. The plastic line has a diameter of between 1-2 mm and the mesh is a substantially square mesh having a mesh size of approximately 20-30 mm. This can of course vary.

In the particular embodiment, the mesh material is commercially available in sheet form or tubular form and is cut to shape and, if necessary, bent over to form a bag like structure. Plastic/aluminium/steel clips 11 are provided to secure the edges.

In the particular embodiment, the bag has a length of about 25 cm and an internal diameter of about 7-10 cm. This can of course vary to suit.

One end 28 of bag 10 is closed, and an attachment means in the form of an elastic cord 12 is attached to this end 28 of the bag 10. Elastic cord 12 has a length of approximately 10 cm and is provided with a strong plastic covered hook 13.

The other end of bag 10 is provided with a mouth 14. The mouth 14 can move between a fully open position as illustrated in figure 1 and a closed position as illustrated in figure 2. A line member in the form of a drawstring is threaded through the mesh material about mouth 14 such that pulling the line member will cause the mouth to adopt the closed position as illustrated in figure 2.

A further attachment member in the form of another elastic cord 16 is attached to the end of drawstring 15. Elastic cord 16 is also provided with a strong plastic hook 17.

In use, any desirable form of bait can be placed within bag 10 and the drawstring 15 is pulled to trap the bait within the bag. If the bait is a fish, the fish will be held together by the bag mesh.

In the particular embodiment, bag 10 is positioned inside a crab pot 18 which is illustrated in figure 5. The crab pot 18 is typically formed of large relatively rigid mesh material having opposed sidewalls 19, 20. Bag 10 can be stretched between the opposed sidewalls by attaching the plastic hooks 13, 17 about the opposed sidewalls. In this manner, bag 10 is positioned away from each sidewall and away from the top wall and the bottom wall.

Moreover, bag 10 cannot become dislodged even during rough usage or strong currents passing through the pot. Another advantage is that the bag is squeezed by virtue of being stretched by the elastic cords 12, 16. This means that should the bait start to rot, the compressive action of the bag will keep the bait together for a longer period of time that if the bait was simply placed on a hook or in a rigid container of sorts. Elastic cord 16, by being attached to drawstring 15, will also keep the mouth of the bag tightly closed when the bag is attached in the manner illustrated in figure Figures 3-4 illustrates a heavy duty bait bag which again comprises a bag body 21, a drawstring 22, a first elastic cord 23, and a second elastic cord 24.

Of course, it is not necessary for there to be an elastic cord at each end of the bag and a single elastic cord on one end of the bag may suffice.

Alternatively, other types of elastic members may be provided such as a spring, rubber member and the like. Alternatively, an elastic member need not be required at all and the bag can be simply stretched between sidewalls 19-20 by cords, strings, chains and the like.

Particularly illustrated in figures 3-4, the elastic cords are clamped to one end of the bag with two or more plastic cable ties 25, stainless clamps or steel clamps etc. At the rear end of bag 21, elastic cord 24 is threaded through the mesh netting, bent over itself and tied off using plastic ties 26. A cable tie is also threaded through the mesh to close this end of the bag. Of course, other means can be provided to attach the attachment member or to close the end of the bag.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. A bait holder for use in a trap, the bait holder comprising a bag like structure in which the -bait can be placed, the bag having a mouth, the mouth being movable between an open position to allow the bait to move into the bag, and a closed position to prevent the bait from passing through the mouth, a line member which can be pulled to move the mouth from the open position to the closed position, and attachment means to allow the bait holder to be attached to the trap.

2. The holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the trap is a crab pot.

3. The holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bag has an open mesh structure.

4. The holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the line member comprises a drawstring.

The holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means comprises an elastic member.

6. The holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means is attached to the line member.

7. The holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a first attachment means is attached to the line member and a second attachment means is attached to a rear portion of the bag.

8. The holder as claimed in claim 7, wherein each attachment means comprises an elastic cord.

9. The holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bag has a length of between 10-30 cm.

A crab pot containing a bait holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

11. A bait holder for use in a trap, the bait holder comprising a bag like structure in which the bait can be placed, the bag having a mouth, the mouth being movable between an open position to allow the bait to move into the bag, and a closed position to prevent the bait from passing through the mouth, closure means to at least partially close the mouth, and attachment means to allow the bait holder to be attached to the trap.

12. A holder substantially is hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.