GB2148081A - Fishing float - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing float includes an adjustable chamber 10 into which water may be admitted to vary the buoyancy of the float. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to floats The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to floats, especially fishing floats.

There are currently available countless fishing floats of different types suitable for all conditions encountered in all types of angling and an angler must provide himself with a large selection of floats, which is always a compromise, in order that he can be sure that he has a float which is as suitable as possible for most of the conditions he is likely to meet. Not only is this expensive for the angler but also gives rise to storage problems and, more importantly, means that time must be taken to change floats when conditions vary.

It has been found that probably the most sensitive floats are the'lightest floats which react to small movement of the cast to which the baited hook is attached. It must be realised, however, that the end of the fishing line must be weighted otherwise the angler will be unable to cast his line a satisfactory length. Additionally the weight at the end of the line, in many circumstances, ensures that the float attains its correct operational position. The end of the line is normally weighted by attaching to it one or more lead shots of the split shot variety which are clamped onto the line and after fitment are difficult to remove. If for any reason the angler decides that the weight at the end of his line is too great he normally removes that section of line to which the weights are attached in its entirety, discards it and fixes fresh weights.Careless anglers leave the discarded line with the weights attached on the waterside and this provides a danger to wildlife etc.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate these and other disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a float comprising buoyancy means, a chamber connected to said buoyancy means, means for varying the volume of the chamber and line attachment means.

Preferably the buoyancy means includes a plungerslidably mounted in a cylinderwhich provides said chamber, the plunger being mounted in the cylinder such that its innermost end is a sliding sealing fit with the interior of the cylinder.

Preferably the plunger projects beyond the end of the cylinder such that its free end provides the float tip.

Inlet means are provided in the chamber such that as the plunger is moved out of and into the chamber water may be admitted thereto and expelled therefrom.

Preferably the line attachment means comprises an eye formed at or attached to the end of the cylinder remote from the end through which the plunger projects.

The cylinder may be transparent or translucent.

The plunger may be hollow or may be manufactured from natural or synthetic materials having a specific gravity less than that of water.

Preferably the plunger has a thin shaft terminating in a thickened innermost end portion, the innermost end portion providing the sliding sealing fit with the interior wall of the cylinder. Sealing means may be provided around said thickened end portion.

The cylinder may be formed from a tube having end members fitted thereto, one end member including the line attachment means and the other being provided with passage through which the plunger stem projects. The end caps may be fitted to the tube in any convenient manner, for example by screwing, by an interference fit, by adhesive.

Alternatively, the cylinder and its ends cap can be manufactured as one component by, for example, an injection moulding technique. Preferably the end cap including the line fixing means is provided with at least one passage leading from the exterior of the cap to the interior of the chamber defined by the cylinder whereby on movement of the plunger water passes through said passage. Alternatively the passage or passages can be formed in the cylinder wall adjacent the said end cap.

The end of the stem may be provided with a coloured tip and graduations may be formed on the stem to assist the angler to adjust the float correctly during use.

The line attachment on the end cap may comprise an eye formed in the end cap or may comprise any alternative suitable line connection means, for example a resilient band, a spring member, a snap clip etc.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a fishing float in a non-use or storage condition, and Fig. 2 shows the same float in use.

A fishing float comprises a cylindrical member 10 manufactured from a clear or translucent plastics material. A top end cap 12 is attached to or formed with the cylindrical member and has a passage 14 therethrough to guide the stem 16 of a plunger member 18. The lower end of the cylindrical member 10 has a further end cap 20 fixed thereto or formed therewith, the end cap 20 having at its lowermost end a line guide 22. Passages 24 are formed through the end cap 20 and extend from the exterior of the end cap into the interior of the cylindrical member 10.

The plunger member 18 has an elongate stem 16 terminating at its lower end in an enlarged portion 26, the maximum diameter of which is substantially equal to the internal diameter of the cylindrical member. In other words, it provides a watertight seal therewith while at the same time allowing the plunger member 16 to move up and down the cylindrical member 10.

The angler transports the float in the condition shown in Fig. 1, in which state the float is relatively small and light. When he wishes to fish with the float he threads his line through the line guide 22 and, depending upon the conditions, withdraws the plunger member 16 from the cylinder 10 while holding the end cap 20 under water. This draws water into that part of the cylinder between the base 26 of the plunger 16 and the lower end cap 20, the water remaining in the cylinder after the float is removed from the water. It will be realised therefore that the float is weighted when it is out of the water but when in the water has a relatively low weight as the weight of water contained in the cylinder can be discounted. The relatively heavy float (in air) aids casting while the relatively light float (in water) aids bite detection.The float is so manufactured that with no weight acting on its lower end, for example by way of weights attached to the line 22, it floats in a substantially horizontal position. When a very small weight is added to the line (and in certain instances the weight of the bait on the hook may suffice), the end cap 20 sinks so that the float occupies a vertical position or a position similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2.

It will be realised that it is a simple matter to alter the characteristics of the float simply by pushing in or pulling out the plunger, this action changing the position of its centre of gravity. When the plunger is in its outermost position with the chamber full no lead shot, or at most a small lead shot known as a dust shot, is required to cock the float. If, however, the angler wishes to put a larger shot on the line to get his bait down more quickly then he pushes the plunger into the chamber to expell water and compensate for the added shot weight. To assist the angler in arriving at a predetermined float condition the stem 16 of the plunger 18 is provided with graduations 28 along its length, only some ofwhich are shown. The outermost tip of the stem may be coated with a paint of high visibility.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the water chamber need not be cylindrical.

In such a modification the plunger would of course require modification such that its movement in or out of the cylinder will vary with the volume thereof and thus the weight of water contained therein. The plunger member may have any desired dimensions and configurations provided that it provides an indicator above water level when the float is in use and means for varying the volume of the water chamber. The graduations on the plunger may be omitted. Similarly, the end caps can have any suitable shape, for example the lowermost end cap 20 need not be provided with water passages 24, these could be provided through the wall of the cylindrical member 10 at its lowermost end.

Additionally, any convenient line attachment means can be provided on the end cap 20, for example a resilient band, a spring-like member, a split ring or a snap hook.

Should the angler wish to revert to a more "conventional" method of fishing he can do so by using air instead of water in the cylinder, thus making the float more buoyant and adjustable to whatever weight is desired.

Claims (19)

1. A float comprising buoyancy means, a chamber connected to said buoyancy means, means for varying the volume of the chamber and line attachment means.

2. A float as claimed in claim 1, in which the buoyancy means includes a plunger slidably mounted in a cylinder which provides said chamber, the plunger being mounted in the cylinder such that its innermost end is a sliding sealing fit with the interior of the cylinder.

3. A float as claimed in claim 2, in which the plunger projects beyond the end of the cylinder such that its free end provides the float tip.

4. A float as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, in which inlet means are provided in the chamber such that as the plunger is moved out of and into the chamber water may be admitted thereto and expelled therefrom.

5. A float as claimed in any one of claims 2,3 or 4, in which the line attachment means comprises an eye formed at or attached to the end of the cylinder remote from the end through which the plunger projects.

6. A float as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the cylinder is transparent or translucent.

7. Afloat as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, in which the plunger is hollow.

8. A float as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, in which the plunger is hollow or may be manufactured from natural or synthetic materials having a specific gravity less than that of water.

9. A float as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, in which the plunger has a thin shaft terminating in a thickened innermost end portion, the innermost end portion providing the sliding sealing fit with the interior wall of the cylinder.

10. A float as claimed in claim 9, in which sealing means are provided around said thickened end portion.

11. A float as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10, in which the cylinder is formed from a tube having end members fitted thereto, one end member including the line attachment means and the other being provided with passage through which the plunger stem projects.

12. A float as claimed in claim 11, in which the end caps are fitted to the tube.

13. A float as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10, in which the cylinder and its end cap are manufactured as one component by injection moulding.

14. A float as claimed in claim 13, in which the end cap including the line fixing means is provided with at least one passage leading from the exterior of the cap to the interior of the chamber defined by the cylinder whereby on movement of the plunger water passes through said passage.

15. A float as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 13, in which at least one passage is formed in the cylinder wall adjacent the said end cap whereby on movement of the plunger water passes through said passage.

16. A float as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, in which the end of the plunger stem is provided with a coloured tip.

17. A float as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, in which graduations are formed on the plunger stem to assist the angler to adjust the float correctly during use.

18. A float substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.