GB2157931A

GB2157931A - Anglers float

Info

Publication number: GB2157931A
Application number: GB08424928A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Stevenson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-04-04
Filing date: 1984-10-03
Publication date: 1985-11-06
Also published as: GB8424928D0; GB8408698D0

Abstract

An anglers float includes a body part 10 which is either buoyant or just below neutral buoyancy and a buoyant bite indicator part 12 slidably connected to said body part, the buoyant bite indicator part carrying a line guide 20 at its lower end and an upstanding indicator element at its upper end and extending upwardly beyond the upper end of said body part. Means are provided for limiting the downward movement of the indicator part relative to said body part. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anglers float The invention relatestoan anglers float.

Anglers floats are well known buoyant devices whereby an angler is given an indication of when a fish is taking the baitfrom his baited hook. Bywatching an upstanding indicator part of the float and observing when it dips as the float is pulled downwards by the fishing-line, the angler knows when to "strike", that is to say knows when to haul back quickly on his rod so asto hookthefish.

It is common practice by anglers two weight their line with lead shot in order to load the line sufficiently to be able to make a "cast" ofthefloat, line and baited hook.

However, the use of lead shot is a serious health hazard to wildlife, particularly to swans, and is to be discouraged. By adding weight to the body of the float is it possible to make a good "cast" without the use of lead shot, but this results in a float of poor sensitivity.

The fish can feel the resistance to movement ofthe float as itnibblesthe bait, and will consequentlytend to leave it alone. The angler himself will find it difficult to detect any movement of the float.

According to the invention, there is provided an anglers float including a body part which is either buoyant or of just below neutral buoyancy, and a buoyant bite indicator part slidably connected to said body part, the buoyant bite indicator part carrying a line guide at its lower end and having an upstanding indicator element extending upwardly beyond the upper end of said body part, means being provided for limiting the downward movement of the indicator part relative to said body part. The body partwill preferably be provided with an axially extending hole in which the buoyant bite indicator part is slidably located. In this case, the bite indicator part may be provided with a pairofstopsaboveand belowthe body part, said stops limiting the sliding ofthe bite indicator part in each direction through the body part.

In orderthatthe invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, thesamewill now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure lisa sectional view of an anglers float embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a similar view of the upper end part ofthe float, drawn to a somewhat enlarged scale, and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 and illustrating a modification of the float of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the angler'sfloatthere illustrated includes a buoyant main body part 10 and a bite indicator part 12 extending slidablythrough an axial hole 14 in said main body part. In the illustrated example, the main body part is shown to be made of a synthetic plastics material and to be of double walled form, providing the axial hole 14 and an annular space 16 in which is contained a suitable mass 18 (which may be a quantity of lead shot) such that in use said main body part is buoyant enough for its upper end to justtouch the surface of the water as shown in the drawings.

The indicator part 12, which is in the form of a slender, lightweight rod element, is itself buoyant and carries a line guide eye 20 at its lower end. The line guide eye is constituted by a looped length of wire force fitted in one end of a short length of rubber tube 22 the other end of which is force fitted on the lower end ofthe length rodformingthe indicator part. Near its upper end the indicator part is provided with an annular enlargement 24 which is able to contact the bottom of a depression in the main body part to limit downward movement of the indicator part relative to said main body part. The section of the indicator part above the annularenlargementforms an upstanding indicator element extending upwardly beyond the upper end of the main body part.

In use of the float, the buoyant main body partfloats so that its upper end just touches the surface ofthe water. The buoyant bite indicator partfloats independently of the main body part, the length of rubbertube abutting the lower end of the main bodyto limit the upward movement of the bite indicator part relative to the main body part.

The arrangement is such that when afish nibbles the bait, the bite indicator part is so very lightand can so very easily be pulled down relative to the maim body ofthefloatthatthefish cannotfeel any resistance to downward movement ofthe bait.

Consequently, the anglerwill observe the very obvious downward movement of the indicator part and will be able to "strike" to hookthefish.

By virtue of the factthatthe sensitivity of the buoyant indicator part is quite independent of the buoyancy of the main body part, it is not necessary to load the fishing-line with the usual lead shot in order to increasetheweightofthefloatand baited hook priorto making a "cast". This is because the weight of the main body part itself can be made sufficient to enable a good "cast" to be made.

Referring now to Figure 3, the float there illustrated includes a body part 110 which is of just less than neutral buoyancy. A bite indicator part 112 extends slidablythrough an axial hole 114 in said body part. A pair of stops 102 above and below the body part limit the sliding ofthe bite indicator part in each direction through the body part. (The pair of stops in the illustrated example are constituted by short lengths of rubbertube which encircle the bite indicator part but of cou rse they could be made of other materials).

As in the first described embodiment, the indicator part 112 is in the form of a slender, light-weight rod element and is itself buoyant. It carries a line guide eye 120 at its lower end,the line guide being constituted by a looped length of wire force fitted in one end of a short length of rubber tube 122 the other end of which is force fitted on the lower end of the length of rod forming the indicator part.

In use of the float, the buoyancy of the indicator part 112 maintains the body part 110 in a position as shown below the surface of the water. However, when a fish nibbles the bait, the indicator part is very easily pulled down relativetothe body part, through the distance The drawing(s) originally was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

allowed bythespacing ofthe uppermost stop 102 above the body part. The body part of the illustrated float is shown to be formed with a cavity 124 opening from its upper end and into which the uppermost stop 102 can descend with radial clearance. Consequently, in effect,the top surface of the body part against which the stop abuts to checkthe downward movement of the indicator part is the bottom ofthe cavity. The indicator part can be pulled downwards so very easily by the fish that it is unlikely to detect any resistance to movement of the bait. As in the case of the first described embodiment it is not necessary to load the fishing-line with lead shot in orderto increase the weight ofthefloat and baited hookpriorto making a cast.

Various other modifications may be made. For example, an upward extension ofthe upstanding indicator element could be fitted to enable it to be seen from a greater distance. A length of straw will probably serve very well forthis purpose. It will also be understood that the buoyant main body part ofthe embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 may be of a different construction to that described and illustrated. For example, it could be of solid form with a central drilled or cored hole through which the bite indicator part slidably extends. With either of the illustrated embodiments there could be provided a range of body parts of different weights to caterfor different distances of "cast". Alternatively, the body part may be capable of being varied in weight, for example by the addition or subtraction of lead shot, to caterfordifferentdistancesof"cast".The bite indicator part can likewise be of variousforms. forms. The slender, light-weight rod element mayforexample be of hollowform

Claims

1. An anglers float including a body partwhich is either buoyant or of just below neutral buoyancy, and a buoyant bite indicator part slidably connected to said body part, the buoyant bite indicator partcarrying a line guide at its lowerendand having an upstanding indicatorelement extending upwardly beyond the upper end of said body part, means being provided for limiting the downward movement of the indicator part relative to said body part.

2. An anglers float according to claim 1, in which the body part is provided with an axially extending hole in which the buoyant bite indicator part is slidably located.

3. An anglersfloataccording to claim 2, in which the bite indicator part is provided with a pairof rubber stops above and below the body part, said stops limiting the sliding ofthe bite indicator part in each direction through the body part.

4. An anglers float constructed, and arranged, and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs.

1 and 2 or Fig. 3 ofthe accompanying drawings.