GB2151441A

GB2151441A - Fishing floats

Info

Publication number: GB2151441A
Application number: GB08333538A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Drennan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-12-16
Filing date: 1983-12-16
Publication date: 1985-07-24
Also published as: GB8333538D0

Abstract

A fishing float is made substantially wholly of colourless transparent material such as polycarbonate or C.A.B. The float may be formed from a tube (1) closed at one end by a plug (2) having an eye (3) to receive a fishing line, and closed at the other end by a plug, which may be coloured or carry a coloured antenna to improve visibility to an angler. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fishing floats This invention relates to fishing floats, and in particular but not exclusively to fishing floats of the kind known as wagglers, having a generally elongate form and adapted to float in a general upright attitude.

Floats of the above kind have been known for some time and are popular with anglers because it was previously found that fish were not frightened by the floats. Hitherto waggler floats have usually been made of solid buoyant material and painted mostly black. To increase visibility to the angler an upper end portion may be painted with a bright colour, preferably day-glow fluorescent paint.

The present invention constitutes a significant departure from normal practice in the manufacture of floats, and in accordance with the invention there is provided a float made substantially wholly of colourless transparent material.

With great surprise it has been found as a result of experiments that a float made of glass clear plastics material has a better performance in terms of numbers of fish caught than the prior art, solid floats especially those of pronounced dark colour. As an explanation it is surmised that whereas fish were not afraid of the conventional floats in the past they have become educated to the dangers through a natural evolutionary process. Consequently, they are less willing to accept bait suspended beneath the known floats of dark colouration. By making the float of crystal clear material the chances of it being detected visually by a fish are minimised and the fish is less likely to be scared off.

The float of the invention may be made in any convenient manner from suitable transparent, colourless plastics material such as polycarbonate or C.A.B. In order to increase visibility to the angler the upper tip of the float may be coloured, e.g. by means of fluorescent paint.

According to an especially preferred embodiment a hollow main body of the float is constituted by a plastics tube, suitably plugged at either end. This construction is of advantage for economy and ease of manufacture. Blow moulding is also possible and is suitable where the float is to have a bulbous shape.

Some specific examples of floats according to the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an axial section through a first embodiment; Figure 2 is an axial section through a second embodiment; Figure 3 shows a modified construction for the lower end of the float shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an axial section through another embodiment.

The float illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a tubular body 1 of colourless, transparent plastics material. The body may be cut from an extruded length of tube. The lower end of the body is sealed closed by a plug 2 moulded of colourless transparent plastics material. The plug 2 may be a tight fit in the end of the tube 1, or alternatively may be fixed to it by a colourless adhesive. The tip of the plug 2 includes an eye 3 for attaching the float to a fishing line in the usual manner. The upper end of the body 1 is closed by a cap 4 which may be secured to the tube as described for the plug 2. The cap 4 could also be moulded of colourless transparent material, but if it is to be coloured, e.g. with fluorescent paint, it may instead be made of white or other light colour material.

The float of Figure 2 differs to that of Figure 1 in that the lower end plug is formed from a tube of colourless, transparent elastomeric material. The lower end of the tube 8 is flattened and pierced to provide the eye 9.

The upper end of the member 8 is pushed with a tight fit into the end of the tube 1 forming the main body. Furthermore, in place of the top cap an internal sleeve 10 is fitted in the tube 1 and receives with a push fit an antenna 11 which is brightly coloured for good visibility to the angler.

In order to improve the security of the connection between the tubes 1 and 8, an inner solid core 1 2 of rigid, colourless transparent material may be included as shown in Figure 3. This core may be provided with a screw thread or the like to improve its grip on the member 8.

The float depicted in Figure 4 has a main body 1 5 having a bulbous shape and which is made by blow moulding. The lower end of the body is sealed by an element 16, e.g. injection moulded from crystal clear plastics material, and fixed to the body by any convenient method, such as by welding or by adhesive.

The description of the floats shown in the drawing is given by way of exemplary illustration only and modifications are possible without departing from the basic inventive concept.

1. A fishing float made substantially wholly of colourless transparent material.

2. A fishing float according to claim 1, wherein a minor end portion of the float is coloured to improve visibility to an angler.

3. A fishing float according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a hollow main body of colourless material is provided and is fitted at one end with a closure element of colourless transparent material.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fishing floats This invention relates to fishing floats, and in particular but not exclusively to fishing floats of the kind known as wagglers, having a generally elongate form and adapted to float in a general upright attitude. Floats of the above kind have been known for some time and are popular with anglers because it was previously found that fish were not frightened by the floats. Hitherto waggler floats have usually been made of solid buoyant material and painted mostly black. To increase visibility to the angler an upper end portion may be painted with a bright colour, preferably day-glow fluorescent paint. The present invention constitutes a significant departure from normal practice in the manufacture of floats, and in accordance with the invention there is provided a float made substantially wholly of colourless transparent material. With great surprise it has been found as a result of experiments that a float made of glass clear plastics material has a better performance in terms of numbers of fish caught than the prior art, solid floats especially those of pronounced dark colour. As an explanation it is surmised that whereas fish were not afraid of the conventional floats in the past they have become educated to the dangers through a natural evolutionary process. Consequently, they are less willing to accept bait suspended beneath the known floats of dark colouration. By making the float of crystal clear material the chances of it being detected visually by a fish are minimised and the fish is less likely to be scared off. The float of the invention may be made in any convenient manner from suitable transparent, colourless plastics material such as polycarbonate or C.A.B. In order to increase visibility to the angler the upper tip of the float may be coloured, e.g. by means of fluorescent paint. According to an especially preferred embodiment a hollow main body of the float is constituted by a plastics tube, suitably plugged at either end. This construction is of advantage for economy and ease of manufacture. Blow moulding is also possible and is suitable where the float is to have a bulbous shape. Some specific examples of floats according to the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an axial section through a first embodiment; Figure 2 is an axial section through a second embodiment; Figure 3 shows a modified construction for the lower end of the float shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an axial section through another embodiment. The float illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a tubular body 1 of colourless, transparent plastics material. The body may be cut from an extruded length of tube. The lower end of the body is sealed closed by a plug 2 moulded of colourless transparent plastics material. The plug 2 may be a tight fit in the end of the tube 1, or alternatively may be fixed to it by a colourless adhesive. The tip of the plug 2 includes an eye 3 for attaching the float to a fishing line in the usual manner. The upper end of the body 1 is closed by a cap 4 which may be secured to the tube as described for the plug 2. The cap 4 could also be moulded of colourless transparent material, but if it is to be coloured, e.g. with fluorescent paint, it may instead be made of white or other light colour material. The float of Figure 2 differs to that of Figure 1 in that the lower end plug is formed from a tube of colourless, transparent elastomeric material. The lower end of the tube 8 is flattened and pierced to provide the eye 9. The upper end of the member 8 is pushed with a tight fit into the end of the tube 1 forming the main body. Furthermore, in place of the top cap an internal sleeve 10 is fitted in the tube 1 and receives with a push fit an antenna 11 which is brightly coloured for good visibility to the angler. In order to improve the security of the connection between the tubes 1 and 8, an inner solid core 1 2 of rigid, colourless transparent material may be included as shown in Figure 3. This core may be provided with a screw thread or the like to improve its grip on the member 8. The float depicted in Figure 4 has a main body 1 5 having a bulbous shape and which is made by blow moulding. The lower end of the body is sealed by an element 16, e.g. injection moulded from crystal clear plastics material, and fixed to the body by any convenient method, such as by welding or by adhesive. The description of the floats shown in the drawing is given by way of exemplary illustration only and modifications are possible without departing from the basic inventive concept. CLAIMS

4. A fishing float according to claim 3, wherein said closure element is provided with an eye for attaching the float to a fishing line.

5. A fishing float according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the main body is moulded from the colourless material.

6. A fishing float according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the main body is formed by a tube and is provided with a closure plug at each end.

7. A fishing float according to claim 6, wherein the plug at the end of the tube opposite said one end is made of white or other lightly coloured material and is provided with a brightly coloured surface layer external to the float.

8. A fising float according to claim 6, wherein the plug at the end of the tube opposite said one end carries a brightly coloured antenna.

9. A fishing float according to claims 6,7 or 8, wherein the plugs engage the ends of the tube with a push fit.

10. A fishing float according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the colourless transparent material is a crystal clear plastics.

11. A fishing float substantially as described herewithin with reference to the accompanying drawings.