AU2021103780A4

AU2021103780A4 - Artificial fishing bait

Info

Publication number: AU2021103780A4
Application number: AU2021103780A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christopher Mark Collett; David Collett
Original assignee: Jelly Bait Co Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Jelly Bait Co Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-04-19
Filing date: 2021-07-01
Publication date: 2021-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing artificial fishing bait. The method involves forming a mold, and preferably a sacrificial mold, defining one or more bait formations. The method further involves providing bait material to the bait formations. Advantageously, the bait may be hookless in contrast to a typical lure, and may be instead fed onto a hook as an alternative to live bait. 1/2 102100 Figure 1

Description

1/2

102100

Figure 1

ARTIFICIAL FISHING BAIT TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention generally relates to artificial fishing bait.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0003] A fishing lure is a type of artificial fishing bait which is designed to attract a fish's attention. The lure uses movement, vibration, flash and color to bait fish. Many lures are equipped with one or more hooks that are used to catch fish when they strike the lure.

[0004] Some lures are placed to attract fish so a spear can be impaled into the fish or so the fish can be captured by hand. Most lures are attached to the end of a fishing line and have various styles of hooks attached to the body and are designed to elicit a strike resulting in a hookset.

[0005] The Applicant has perceived a need for an alternative type of artificial fishing bait.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing artificial fishing bait, the method involving: forming a mold defining one or more bait formations; and providing bait material to the bait formations.

[0007] Optionally, the mold may be a sacrificial mold. Alternatively, the mold may be non-sacrificial, including plastics, metal or other. Advantageously, the bait may be hookless in contrast to a typical lure, and may be instead fed onto a hook as an alternative to live bait. The bait may be a soft bait, preferably resilient. The bait may be biodegradable. The bait may be fit or non-toxic for human consumption to avoid harm if ingested by a person.

[0008] The step of forming may involve stamping the formations. Prior to the step of forming, the method may involve forming a stamp for stamping the formations. The stamp may include casts of various shapes (blocks, cubes, discs, etc ) and/or the bait formations (e.g. prawns, worms, fish, frog, squid, etc). The sacrificial mold may include corn starch, or other.

[0009] The step of providing may involve providing the bait material in a liquid state. The step of providing, may involve depositing and/or extruding the material.

[00010] Prior to the step of providing, the method may further involve forming the bait material. The method may involve mixing ingredients to form the bait material. The method may involve cooking the mixed ingredients.

[00011] The method may further involve curing the bait material in the bait formations to form the bait. The curing may be passive (e.g. air drying) or active (e.g. refrigerating).

[00012] The method may further involve separating the bait from the mold. The step of separating may involve inverting and/or sacrificing (disintegrating) the sacrificial mold. The method may involve recycling the sacrificed mold to from another sacrificial mold.

[00013] The method may involve cleaning the separated bait by removing any remaining mold. The cleaning may involve air blasting, sieving, tumbling, washing, coating, etc.

[00014] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided artificial fishing bait formed in accordance with the preceding method.

[00015] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided artificial fishing bait including: a body; and one or more attractants in the body.

[00016] The body may include a gelling agent. The gelling agent may include any one or more of Gum, Pectin, Collagen, and Gelatin.

[00017] The attractants may include one or more flavourings. The attractants may include any one or more of Prawn, Shrimp, Garlic, Aniseed, Pilchard, Sardine, Anchovy and Tuna. The attractants may be powdered, liquid as an extract (artificial or real), or an Oil. The attractants may be incorporated into the body, rather than a simple coating that easily washes off when the lure is used as directed.

[00018] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for producing artificial fishing bait, the system including: a mold defining one or more bait formations; and a provider for providing bait material to the bait formations.

[00019] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00020] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[00021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a mold for producing artificial fishing bait in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[00022] Figure 2 is a flowchart of a method for producing artificial fishing bait using the mold of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[00023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sacrificial mold 100 for producing artificial fishing bait 102 as shown in Figure 1.

[00024] The mold 100 defines bait formations in the form of recesses resembling worms. Artificial bait material is provided in the bait formations, and once cured forms the fishing bait 102.

[00025] Advantageously, the bait 102 is hookless in contrast to a typical lure, and is instead fed onto a hook as an alternative to live bait. The bait 102 is a resilient soft bait and is biodegradable, not including plastics and silicon used in other artificial bait that is detrimental to the environment. The bait is also fit, or non-toxic, for human consumption to avoid harm if ingested by a person.

[00026] The artificial fishing bait includes two basic ingredients, namely a body and fish attractants in the body. The attractants are incorporated into the body, rather than a simple coating that easily washes off when a lure is used as directed.

[00027] The body includes a gelling agent. The gelling agent can include any one or more of Gum, Pectin, Collagen, and Gelatin. The attractants include one or more flavourings. In this regard, the flavour attractants include any one or more of Prawn, Shrimp, Garlic, Aniseed, Pilchard, Sardine, Anchovy and Tuna. The attractants can be powdered, liquid as an extract (artificial or real), or an Oil.

[00028] A method 200 for producing the artificial fishing bait 102 is now described with reference to Figure 2.

[00029] Initially at step 202, the body and fish attractant ingredients are provided.

[00030] At step 204, a mixer mixes the ingredients to form the raw bait material.

[00031] At step 206, a cooker can be provided to cook the mixed ingredients, if desired.

[00032] In parallel at step 208, a mold blank is initially formed. The mold blank is a tray of corn starch (or other) and other mediums to create a recyclable mold 100.

[00033] At step 210 a stamper stamps, with a stamp, the bait formations or recesses in the mold blank to form the sacrificial mold 100. Prior to forming the mold 100, the method 200 can involve forming the stamp for stamping the formations. The stamp includes casts of various shapes (blocks, cubes, discs, etc ) and/or the bait formations (e.g. prawns, worms, fish, frog, squid, etc) transferred onto Printing Boards. The Printing Boards are mounted onto a Stamping Machine to stamp impressions into the mold blank.

[00034] At step 212, the cooked bait material is deposited into the bait formations in the mold 100. The bait material is deposited in a liquid state as a measured dose, and can be extruded using an extruder.

[00035] At step 214, the bait material in the bait formations is cured to form the bait 102. The curing can be passive (e.g. air drying) or active (e.g. refrigerating) to achieve the required hardness, elasticity and stability.

[00036] At step 216, a separator is used to separate the bait 102 from the mold 100. The separating involves inverting and disintegrating (sacrificing) the sacrificial mold 100 whilst retaining the bait 102.

[00037] At step 218, a recycler recycles the sacrificed mold 100 to form another sacrificial mold blank at step 208.

[00038] At step 220, a cleaner is used to clean the separated and retained bait 102 by removing any remaining mold remnants. The cleaning involves air blasting, sieving, tumbling, washing, coating, etc.

[00039] Finally, at step 222, a packing machine packages the clean bait 102 for sale.

[00040] As apparent from the above, a system for producing the artificial fishing bait 200 is provided. The system includes stations for performing respective steps of the method 200 indicated above.

[00041] A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

[00042] In other embodiments, the mold 100 can be non-sacrificial, including plastics, metal or other.

[00043] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

[00044] Reference throughout this specification to 'one embodiment' or'an embodiment' means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases 'in one embodiment' or'in an embodiment' in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A method for producing artificial fishing bait, the method involving: forming a mold defining one or more bait formations; and providing bait material to the bait formations.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the step of forming involves stamping the formations; the method further involves forming the bait material by mixing ingredients; the method further involves curing the bait material in the bait formations to form the bait; the method further involves separating the bait from the mold by inverting and/or sacrificing the mold; and/or the method further involves recycling the mold to frrm another mold.

3. Artificial fishing bait including: a body; and one or more attractants in the body.

4. Artificial fishing bait as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the body includes a gelling agent; and/or the attractants may include one or more flavourings.

5. A system for producing artificial fishing bait, the system including: a mold defining one or more bait formations; and a provider for providing bait material to the bait formations.