GB2125263A - Fishing floats - Google Patents

Abstract

A line fishing float has interchangeable weighting members (20), which slide on the body (11, 15) of the float and engage with a tapered surface (11a). The float has separable upper and lower parts (11, 15). The weighting members have a specific gravity of substantially one, so that interchange affects the weight and/or resistance of the float in air, but has substantially no effect on the buoyancy of the float. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fishing floats This invention relates to fishing floats.

It is usual to use floats of various sizes for fishing, according to the prevailing conditions.

Conditions can change quickly and it is desirable to be able to change the float quickly. It is, for example, possible that a person fishing may wish to throw the line further away, in which case a heavier float may be required. It is particularly important to be able to effect a quick-change of float during a competition.

A line is usually weighted by lead shot adjacent the float, the line passing through an eye at the bottom of the float. Changing the float can clearly take some time and, to avoid this, floats have been made with detachable parts. One proposal provides a base portion having the eye and a separable body portion comprising the major part of the float. Different bodies can be used with the base portion and may be screw-engageable with the base portion. This allows for a much quicker change in the properties of the float than is possible by replacing a conventional float.

In order to permit, for example, throwing of the float further than had previously been required, it is necessary to increase the weight and/or to reduce the air-resistance of the float. The result is that balance of the float in water is upset and it is necessary to adjust the weighting on the line. This step is also time consuming.

The present invention seeks to overcome this problem.

In accordance with this invention, an elongate line fishing float has interchangeable parts which have different weights in air, but which have substantially the same buoyancy in water.

This feature permits one part to be replaced by another of greater weight, so that the float can be thrown further, but the effect on the buoyancy of the float is unchanged, so that no change is required to the weighting of the line.

It is preferred that the interchangeable parts have a specific gravity of substantially one, such that the parts have substantially neutral buoyancy in water.

In one embodiment, the float has an elongate body on which the interchangeable parts are symmetrically fittable. In another embodiment, the float is sp[ittable into an upper and lower portion, the lower portion being defined by one of said interchangeable parts.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation, of a first embodiment of a float according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view, partly in section, of the float of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the float illustrated comprises a generally cylindrical base 11 provided at a bottom end with an eye 1 2. The opposite end of the base has a recess 13, which receives a spigot 14, forming an axial extension of a generally cylindrical float part 15, to form a composite body with the outer cylindrical surfaces of the float part and the base being mutually flush.

The spigot may be adhered in the recess or may be releasably fitted therein, e.g. an interference fit or screw-engaged, to permit replacement by another float part of different characteristics.

The outer surface 1 a of the base is slightly tapered, increasing in diameter towards the eye 12. The base is advantageously moulded from plastics material, although other materials may be used.

A weighting member 20 comprises a sleeve 21 of non-buoyant material, e.g. metal, surrounded by a part 22 of buoyant material. The sleeve can be engaged on the top end of the float part 15, opposite to the base, and slide along the float part to engage with the tapered surface 1 a of the base. The inner diameter of the sleeve is such that the sleeve is an interference fit on the base for firmly locating the member.

The member increases the weight of the float in air, whilst not substantially affecting the buoyancy of the float in water, i.e. the specific gravity is substantially one. The resistance of the float in the water is, however, increased. Other members (not shown) of similar construction, but different weight and/or surface area are provided for interchanging with the member illustrated. These other members all have the same neutral buoyancy as the member 20 in water.

Each of the weighting members may be moulded from a plastics material having a specific gravity of substantially one.

Referring to Figure 3, the float shown comprises a buoyant upper part 50 and a nonbuoyant lower part 51. The upper part 50 may be made of balsa and the lower part may be a plastics moulding. The two parts interfit to provide a float, which tapers over most of its length from a larger diameter upper portion to a small diameter lower portion. The upper part 50 has a recess 53 which houses a sleeve 54, moulded, for example, from plastics material. The lower part 51 has a spigot 55, which is an interference fit in the sleeve 54.

There is shown in Figure 3, a second lower part 51a having a spigot 55a, this part being much shorter than the first lower part 51. These parts 51, 51a are interchangeable.

The lower parts 51 and 51 a are both made from a material of substantially neutral buoyancy, so that interchanging them has substantially no effect on the buoyancy characteristics of the float.

In use, the float is held in position on a line by means of resiiient bands, instead of the float having an eye for the line.

In a modification, the lower parts 51, 51 a are made from different materials (e.g. plastics material with different fillers) with specific gravities greater than one, so that the parts have a weighting effect in water. The materials are chosen, however, so that the weighting effect of the parts in water is the same, despite the differences in weight in air.

Claims (11)

1. An elongate line fishing float having interchangeable parts which have different weights in air, but which have substantially the same buoyancy in water.

2. A float according to Claim 1, wherein the interchangeable parts have a specific gravity of substantially one, such that the parts have substantially neutral buoyancy in water.

3. A float according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the float comprises an elongate body on which the interchangeable parts are symmetrically fittable.

4. A float according to Claim 3, wherein the interchangeable parts are slidable on the body and have an interference fit with a portion of the body.

5. A float according to Claim 4, wherein the body has interconnected upper and lower parts, the lower part having a tapered surface to provide the interference fit with the interchangeable parts.

6. A float according to Claim 5, wherein the upper and lower parts are replaceably separable to facilitate interchangeability of the parts.

7. An elongate line fishing float constructed substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A float according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the float has separable upper and lower portions, the lower portion being defined by the interchangeable parts.

9. A float according to Claim 8, wherein the upper portion has an insert which is releasably securable to a spigot carried by each of the interchangeable parts.

10. A float according to Claim 9, wherein each spigot is an interference fit in the insert.

11. An elongate line fishing float constructed substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.