GB2026821A - Improvements relating to fishing appliances - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to retain securely in set positions a part (e.g. a net frame or rod-rest cradle) which is angularly adjustable relative to a support (e.g. a stick or handle) the part or the support is provided with a bar having inclined planar surfaces meeting at one or more ridges, a connector on the other one of the part or support having a passage through which the bar passes rotatably, and a locking member on the connector which clamps against the bar to restrain it from rotation in set positions. Rotation is restrained by an abutment surface on the locking member engaging flush with one of the planar surfaces, or by a notch on the locking member engaging with the ridge, or one of the ridges. As illustrated, the connector (5) has a cylindrical head (6) through which a polygonal section bar (4) passes forming part of a keep net frame. A co-axial spigot (7) of the connector having an external screw-thread (9) has an internally threaded end-piece (16) of a bank stick screwed on to it. A collar (10) slidable on the spigot (7) has the abutment surface (12) and notch (13) and is clamped against the bar by the endpiece as the latter is tightened on the spigot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to fishing appliances This invention relates to fishing appliances of the kind in which a part is connected to a support by a joint which permits angular adjustment between the part and the support. For example, the part may comprise a frame of a keep net or landing net or a cradle of a rod rest, and the support may comprise a stick which can be driven into the ground, as for use with a keep net or rod rest cradle, or a handle, as for use with a landing net.

The joints in such appliances hitherto have not always been reliable in retaining the parts in set positions on the supports. Others which may retain the parts securely have tended to be of complex constructions which have been relatively costly to manufacture.

According to the present invention a fishing appliance of the kind set forth is provided in which either one of the part and support includes a bar having at least two mutually inclined planar surfaces extending alongside one another longitudinally of the bar and meeting at a ridge, the bar extends through, and is rotatable about its axis in a passage in a connector attached to the other one of the part and the support, the part and support being relatively movable angularly by virtue of the engagement of the bar in the passage, a locking member on the connector is movable towards and away from the bar and has an abutment surface which can make flush engagement with either one of the planar surfaces of the bar and a notch which can receive the ridge and embrace portions of both planar surfaces adjacent to the ridge, and clamping means on or associated with the connector is operable to clamp the locking member against the bar with either the abutment surface engaging one of the planar surfaces or the notch being engaged by the ridge. The arrangement is such that the part and the support can be retained in any selected one of a plurality of relative angular positions determined by engagement of either one of the planar surfaces with the abutment surface or engagement of the ridge with the notch.

Preferably the bar has more than two inclined planar surfaces meeting at ridges in order to increase the range of angular positions in which the part and support can be retained relative to one another. For this purpose the bar may be of square or other polygonal section.

The locking member may be a collar which is slidable on the connector towards and away from the bar. The abutment surface may then be formed by an end face of the collar, and the notch may be defined jointly by aligned recesses in the end face.

The connector may be detachably connected to the part or the support, as the case may be.

Complementary screw threaded elements may be provided on the connector and the part or support to make the connection. Conveniently the connector has an externally threaded spigot, and the part or support has an integral or attached internally threaded element. This is a convenient arrangement because the internally threaded element may then also serve as the clamping means for clamping the locking member. Thus when the locking member is a collar, the spigot may be co-axial with the collar, and as the internally threaded element is screwed on to the spigot it may be engaged with the collar at the opposite end to the abutment surface and urge the collar towards the bar.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is a side view of a fisherman's keep net and bank stick embodying the invention, and Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views showing a joint between a frame member of the keep net and the bank stick in alternative positions.

The keep net is of conventional construction comprising a tube of netting 1 closed at one end and a series of ring frame members 2 which hold the tube open. A ring frame member at the mouth of the net comprises a bowed length of plastics tubing 3 and a curved metal bar 4 opposite end portions of which are pushed into the opposite ends of the tubing to complete the ring. The tightness of the fit of the bar 4 in the tubing 3 retains them together.

The bar is of hexagonal section.

Mounted on the bar 4 between the ends of the tubing 3 is a connector 5 which is made of metal and comprises a cylindrical head portion 6 and an integral spigot portion 7 of smaller diameter extending co-axially from one end of the head. In the head 6 there is a diametrical passage 8 through which the bar 4 passes. The diameter of the passage 8 is just sufficiently larger than the major diameter of the bar's hexagonal section to permit free rotation of the bar in the passage about its axis. The spigot 7 has an external screw thread 9 extending for most of its length from the free end. Slidable along the spigot 7 is a locking collar 10 which has a counterbore 11 which allows the collar to extend over part of the head 6 as well. The counterbore 11 allows the collar to extend over the head to such an extent that the end of the head remote from the spigot partially overlaps the passage 8.The face of that end of the head provides an abutment surface 12. In that abutment surface there are two diametrically aligned V-shaped recesses 13 which together define a notch.

The flanks of the notch recesses 13 are inclined relative to one another at a corresponding angle to the angle between adjacent sides of the hexagonal section of the bar 4, i.e. 1200. The abutment surface is able to abut against the flat side surfaces of the bar, as shown in Figure 2, and the notch recesses 13 are able to receive the ridge portions of the bar between the wide surfaces, as shown in Figure 3. When the abutment surface 12 is abutting flush against any one of the side surfaces, or the notch recesses 13 are engaged by any one of the ridge portions, the bar is prevented from rotating in the passage.

The bank stick comprises a length of metal tube 14 having a flattened and pointed bottom end 15 by which the stick can be driven into the ground, and an internally threaded tubular end piece 16 fixed over the top end of the tube. The spigot 7 of the connector 5 screws into the end piece to secure the connector to the stick, and thereby connect the keep net to the stick. As the spigot is screwed into the end piece, the end piece engages with the collar 10 and moves it towards the head 6 of the connector. The spigot can be screwed sufficiently far into the end piece for the end piece to move the collar as far as it can go over the head. Thus the end piece serves to tighten and clamp the connector against the bar.

For use of the keep net the ring frame member at the mouth of the net is set at a desired angle relative to the bank stick whilst the spigot 7 is loosely engaged in the end piece 16 and the collar 10 is clear of the passage 8. The spigot is then screwed fully into the end piece so that the collar is clamped against the bar by the end piece. Depending upon the angle at which the frame member has been set, the abutment surface 12 abuts against one of the side surfaces of the bar, or the notch recesses 13 receive one of the ridges of the bar, so as to hold the frame member securely at that angle.

It will be appreciated that the frame member will be reliably held at the set angle relative to the bank stick, and that the means by which this is achieved is relatively simple and cheap to manufacture, and is easily operated by the user.

Claims (10)

1. Afishing appliance of the kind set forth in which either one of the part and support includes a bar having at least two mutually inclined planar surfaces extending alongside one another longitudinally of the bar and meeting at a ridge, the bar extends through and is rotatable about its axis in a passage in a connector attached to the other one of the part and the support, the part and support being relatively movable angularly by virtue of the engagement of the bar in the passage, a locking member on the connector is movable towards and way from the bar and has an abutment surface which can make flush engagement with either one of the planar surfaces of the bar and a notch which can receive the ridge and embrace portions of both planar surfaces adjacent to the ridge, and clamping means on or associated with the connector is operable to clamp the locking member against the bar with either the abutment surface engaging one ofthe planar surfaces orthe notch being engaged by the ridge, the arrangement being such that the part and the support can be retained in any selected one of a plurality of relative angular positions determined by engagement of either one of the planar surfaces with the abutment surface or engagement of the ridge with the notch.

2. Afishing appliance according to Claim 1 wherein the bar has more than two of said mutually inclined surfaces meeting at ridges.

3. Afishing appliance according to Claim 2 wherein the bar is of polygonal section.

4. Afishing appliance according to any preceding claim wherein the locking member is a collar which is slidable on the connector towards and away from the bar.

5. Afishing appliance according to Claim 4 wherein the abutment surface is formed by an end face of the collar, and the notch is defined jointly by aligned recesses in the end face.

6. Afishing appliance according to any preceding claim wherein the connector is detachably connected to the part or the support.

7. A fishing appliance according to claim 6 as dependent from Claim 5, wherein the connector comprises a spigot co-axial with the collar and having an external screwthread, and the part or support has an internally threaded element with which the screw-thread of the spigot engages to connect the connector detachably to the part or the support, and the internally threaded element serves as the clamping means being engageable, as it is screwed on the screw-thread of the spigot, with the collar at the opposite end of the collar to the abutment surface to urge the collar against the bar.

8. Afishing appliance according to Claim 7 wherein the spigot has an unthreaded portions on which the collar is slidably located.

9. Afishing appliance according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the connector comprises a cylindrical head containing the passage which extends diametrically through the head portion, and the spigot which extends co-axially from one end of the head and is of smaller diameter than the head, and the end of the collar at which the abutment surface and notch are provided has a counterbore which allows the collar to extend over part of the head such that the abutment surface and notch are able to engage respectively with either or any one of the planar surfaces and the ridge or any one of the ridges.

10. A fishing appliance substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.