GB2098042A - Fishing float - Google Patents

Abstract

Line 18 from a fishing rod (not shown) extends through eyes 16 and 17 so disposed in friction component 11 of the float that the line must engage with the surface of the component 11 which is connected flexibly, e.g. by braid 19, to the bottom end of stem 12 of main buoyant member 10. Upon the line 18 and float being lowered into water 22, relocation of the line 18 permits weight 20 to draw it through the eyes 16, 17 until weight 20 touches silt or surface 23 under the water. Thereupon, application of slight tension to the line 18 raises the friction component 11 to ensure frictional engagement of the line 18 with the component 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fishing float This invention concerns fishing boats, and more particularly floats intended for use in fishing relatively still water when it is desired that the float should serve to maintain a weighted and baited hook, on the line to which the float is attached, at a level just above the usual silt or bed below the water being fished.

In fishing such waters with conventional floats, it is customary to make use of a stop-knot system permitting the float to be adjusted along the line, and the location at which the float is eventually secured is determined by trial and error. This can, in some instances, take a considerable time, thereby depriving the user of corresponding useful angling time.

Moreover, the arrangement disturbs the swim with a plummet.

An object of the present invention is to provide a float as aforesaid which is so constructed that its level on the line can be established automatically, the time consuming trial-and-error method of the prior known arrangements thereby being oviated.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a fishing float comprising a main buoyant nember to which is flexibly connected a friction component having thereon at least two eyes so disposed that a line therethrough under tension, will engage frictionally with said friction component and that said line, when not under tension, may pass freely through the eyes.

Conveniently the main buoyant member comprises an elongate stem with a buoyant body thereon near to one end, the friction component being connected to the other end of the stem so as to be approximately aligned therewith. The friction component may then comprise a rod-like member comparable with the stem, and may be connected to the latter, for example, by means of a plaited nylon braid or other suitable flexible connection.

The said friction component may then have two eyes thereon, one adjacent each end of the component, but on opposite sides thereof, so that a line through the eyes must engage with the surface of the component.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, it will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the following description is illustrative, and not restrictive of the scope of the invention. In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the prefer red embodiment of the float of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a side view illustrating the float of Fig. 1 in use.

The illustrated preferred embodiment of the fish ing float of the invention may be regarded as being in two parts, namely a main buoyant member or float portion 10 and a friction component 11.

The main float portion 10 comprises an elongate stem 12 in the form of a rod, e.g. of a light plastics material, round in cross-section and about sixteen centimeters in length. At one end, which is the top end when the float is in use as will later be described, the stem 12 is tapered as at 13 and is coloured brightly (e.g. bright orange) to enable it readily to be seen. The rest of the float portion 10 as well as the friction component 11, which will be described in detail shortly, is a dark colour, e.g. black.

Provided on the stem 12 of the main float portion 10, nearto its coloured tip 13, is a buoyant body 14 in the form of a barrel-shaped sleeve, about three centimeters in length and appropriately cemented in place to preclude the possibility of it moving along the stem 12. This body 14 is, for instance, of cork.

The friction component 11 of the float is in the form of a rod-like element 15, of material and diame ter similarto the stem 12 ofthe main float portion 10.

Secured with this element 15, adjacent each end thereof, are two eyes 16 and 17 respectively for a fishing line 18 to extend therethrough. The eye 16-at one end of the element 15 is disposed diametricaliy opposite to the eye 17 at the other end, so that the line 18 taken through the two eyes 16, 17 has to extend partially around the element 15, in a halfturn around the latter.

The friction component 11 is flexibly connected, by its end adjacent the eye 16, to the non-tapered end of the main float portion 10. This connection is effected by way of a fine plaited braid 19 extending between and bound or glued onto the said ends, the braid 19 being, for instance, of a length such that there is space of about one centimetre between the main float portion 10 and the friction component 11.

The accurate positioning of the float upon the fishing line 18, during actual fishing, can be achieved very easily. As already described, the line 18 is taken through the two eyes 16, 17 on the friction component 11 so that, from the fishing rod (not visible in the drawing) the line 18 passes firstly through the eye 16 of the friction component 11 which is closest to the flexible connection provided by the braid 19. It then extends in a half turn around the friction component 11 before passing through the other eye 17, whereafter it has weight attached such as at 20 and terminates at a hook 21. After baiting of the hook 21, the end of the line 18 with the float thereon is cast into the water 22 to be fished a shown in Fig. 2.The float, of course, floats upon the water 22, So long as no significant tension is applied to the line 18 from the rod, the weight 20 thereon cause the line 18 to be drawn down through the eyes 16, 17 until the weight 20 reaches the silt or surface 23 under the water 22.

This can readily be detected by the line 18 coming to rest.

In order now to locate the float relative to the line 18, the angler simply applies a light tension to the line 18 sufficient to swing the friction component 11 to a laterally deflected disposition as shown in Fig. 2, approximately at right angles to the main float portion 10. This having been achieved, the tension in the The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

line 18 ensures that the latter engages frictionally with the-outer curved surface of the friction component 11, and the position of the float on the line 18, is then, appropriately fixed in relation to the depth of the water 22 being fished, no further action being necessary on the part of the angler. If a fish should take the bait, the resultant pull on the line length below the float is effective to cause the entire float to bob up and down in exactly the same way as with prior known conventional floats.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the positioning of the float on its line 18 is particularly easy to achieve and does not involve trial and error or any practical complications.

The invention is not confined to the precise details of the foregoing example, and variations may be made thereto. Thus, for instance, the material of and precise forms of the main float portion and the friction component may differ from what has been described. The friction component may, if desired, be provided with more than two eyes, provided they are dispoed so that the line therethrough, when slightly tensioned, engages frictionally with the surface of the friction component. Other variations are possible.

Claims (6)

1. A fishing float comprising a main buoyant member to which is flexibly connected a friction component having thereon at least two eyes so disposed that a line therethrough, under tension, will engage frictionally with said friction component and that said line, when not under tension, may pass freely through the eyes.

2. A fishing float as claimed in claim 1 wherein the main buoyant member comprises an elongate stem with a buoyant body thereon near to one end, the friction component being connected to the other end of the stem so asto be approximately aligned therewith.

3. A fishing float as claimed in claim 2 wherein the friction component comprises a rod-like member comparable with the stem.

4. Afishing float as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the friction component is connected to the stem, by means of a plaited nylon braid or other suitable flexible connection.

5. A fishing float as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the friction component has two eyes thereon, one adjacent each end of the component, but on opposite sides thereof, so that a line through the eyes must engage with the surface of the com ponent.

6. A fishing float substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. ~~~~~~~~~