CA1178807A

CA1178807A - Fishing float

Info

Publication number: CA1178807A
Application number: CA000441131A
Authority: CA
Inventors: William Bull
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-11-14
Filing date: 1983-11-14
Publication date: 1984-12-04

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A fishing float for setting a fish hook in the jaw of a fish includes a hollow body, first attachment means extending from the upper end of the body for attaching the float to a fishing line and second attachment means extending from the lower end of the body for attaching said float to a leader provided with a hook. At least the second attachment means is slidingly mounted in its associated end for partial withdrawal from the body.
Elastic means are provided inside the body and connect the first and second attachment means, whereby withdrawal of said second attachment by a fish tugging on the hook is counter-acted by the elastic means, which thereby sets the hook in the fish's jaw.

Description

1~7E~8()7 The present invention relates to the field of fishing floats.

Fishing floats are used to connect a fishing line to a leader. A hook is then tied or otherwise connected to the leader, and the float will then serve to maintain the hook at a depth of water equal to the length of the leader. The length of the leader is chosen to correspond to the depth at which fish are expected to be found.

A particular problem associated with the utilization of floats in fishing is that often, before the fisherman is aware that a fish has taken his hook, the fish will have swallowed or attempted to swallow, the hook. Very often, therefore, a hook will become gorged in a fish's stomach, or will lodge in the fish's gills or operculum. If a fish so caught is to be kept, this is not a concern, but if, for any reason, the fisherman wishes to release the fish, a fish so caught will stand very little chance of survival, as it will be likely to bleed to death.
Various reasons for releasing a fish include the legal necessity of releasing a fish caught out of season or below the legal length limit, and the fact that many sportsmen release any fish caught because they fish for sport only.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages associated with known fishing floats, and provide an ine~pensive fishing float which will cause a hook to be lodged relatively harmlessly in a fish's jaws in a majority of instances.

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117~38~)7 In one broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fishing float for setting a fish hook in the jaw of a fish including a hollow body; first attachment means extending from the upper end of said body for attaching said float to a fishing line;
second attachment means extending from the lower end of said body for attaching said float to a leader provided with a hook, at least said second attachment means being slidingly mounted in its associated end for partial withdrawal from said body; and elastic means inside said body connecting said first and second attachment means, whereby withdrawal of said second attachment by a fish tugging on said hook is counter-acted by said elastic means, which thereby sets said hook in said fish's jaw.

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 is side elevation of an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the middle of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the fishing float, indicated generally at F, of the present invention includes a main body 1, usually of molded plastic construction. The main body 1 is spherical, and a tubular projection 2 extends radially downwardly from the lower hemisphere of the main body 1.

First attachment means 3 for attaching a fishing line 4 to the float F extends through an aperture 11 in the top of the main body 1. As may be seen in Figure 2, the first attachment means 3 is a steel pin having looped ends. The major portion o~
the pin is located inside the main body 1 of the float F. The fishing line 4 may either be tiea to the upper loop in first attachment means, or connected thereto by any conventional fishing tackle connection device, such as a swivel clasp (not illustrated). A steel washer 8 is fitted between the upper loop of the pin which comprises the first attachment means 3, and the plastic surface of the main body 1, to lessen wear on the plastic surface.

Second attachment means 5 for attaching a leaaer 6, onto which a fish hook 7 may be tied, to the float F extends through an aperture 12 in the bottom of the tubular extension 2. The second attachment means 5 is a steel pin having looped ends. The major portion of this pin is located inside the tubular extension 2.
The leader 6 may either be tied to the lower loop of the second attachment means, or connected thereto by any conventional fishing tackle connection device, such as a swivel clasp (not illustrated). A steel washer 8 is fitted between the lower loop of the pin which comprises the second attachment means 5 and the plastic surface 4 of the tubular extension 2 to lessen wear on the plastic surface.

1~78807 Referring to Figure 2, the ends of the steel pins 3, 5 inside the float F are looped. A spring 9, which typically is made of stainless steel extends between the looped ends of the pins 3, 5 inside the float F, to pull the pins 3, 5 together.

A longitudinally bored plug 10, which may be plastic or metal is provided in the lower end of the tubular extension 2, and acts as ballast to maintain the float F in its operative position during use.

The float F of the present invention is used as follows:

A fishing line from a fishing rod or the like is tied to the top loop of the first attachment means 3. A leader 6, with a hook 7 attachment to it is tied to the lower loop in the second attachment means. The length of the leader 6 is chosen to correspond to the depth at which fish are expected to be found.
The float F is then put into the water, and due to the weight of the plug 10, it will assume an upright position, with the tubular extension 2 oriented downwardly in the water.

If a fish strikes at the hook, it will tension the leader, and will partially withdraw the pin of the second attachment means 5 from the float F. As this pin is withdrawn, the spring 9 is stretched. When the spring 9 is stretched, it will tend to recoil, and will quickly pull the pin of the second ,.

117~8(~7 attachment means 5 back into the float F, and impart a snapping action to the leader 6 and the hook 7. This snapping action will, in most instances, snag the hook 7 in the jaw of the fish, which may then be landed. Since the snapping action imparted by the spring is quite sudden, the fish will have very little time to swallow the hook, and the likelihood of damage to the stomach or gills of the fish will accordingly be minimized.

It will be understood that the spring 9 used in the present invention may be substituted for by any elastic means, such as a rubber band. It will also be understood that the present invention may be manufactured in a variety of shapes without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A fishing float for setting a fish hook in the jaw of a fish including a hollow body; first attachment means extending from the upper end of said body for attaching said float to a fishing line; second attachment means extending from the lower end of said body for attaching said float to a leader provided with a hook, at least said second attachment means being slidingly mounted in its associated end for partial withdrawal from said body, and elastic means inside said body connecting said first and second attachment means, whereby withdrawal of said second attachment by a fish tugging on said hook is counter-acted by said elastic means, which thereby sets said hook in said fish's jaw.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein both said attachment means are slidingly mounted in said body.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said attachment means comprise steel pins, one end of each pin being disposed outside said body and being adapted for attachment to a fishing line; the other end of each pin being disposed inside said body and being adapted for attachment to said elastic means.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said attachment means comprise a steel spring extending between said steel pins and connected thereto.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said body comprises a plastic sphere having oppositely disposed apertures for sliding mounting of said pins.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sphere is provided with a downwardly projecting tubular extension for accommodating said spring and said second attachment means, said second attachment means being slidingly mounted in the end of said extension.