GB2222753A - Fishing floats - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing float (figs 10 and 11) is formed in two parts, a solid float body (72) and a releasable weight (84). The weight (84) is attached to the body (72) by a length of elastic material (86) terminating at one end in a loop (88) and attached at the other end to the weight (84). The loop (88) is passed over the free end of the float body and with the elastic material (86) under tension the weight (84) is secured to the body by engagement of a sleeve (78) in a peg (88) of the float body. The float body (72) is provided with a float ball (74) and a marker ball (76). The weight separates from sleeve (78) when the float hits the water after being cast. Bait may be attached to body (72). In modifications bait is retained in the float body and released on separation of the weight. <IMAGE>

Description

FISHING FLOATS This invention relates to fishing floats and in particular to fishing floats for fresh water fishing.

At present floats tend to comprise a float with a fixed weight to keep the float up right, with bait attached directly, or by a line to the float.

With this arrangement the float and thus the bait tend to drift with the wind, and the line from the float to the rod is relatively insensitive when a fish takes the bait.

The present invention seeks to provide a means by which the float can be anchored to some extent, in position, and in which the bait is secured to the line.

The present invention further seeks to provide float which can act as a bait dispenser, a depth finder and as a marker float.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a float comprising two portions releasably secured together, a first portion comprising a float body, and a second portion comprising a weight of float.

The weight can be attached to a rod line which is attached to the float, a bait line being attachable to the rod line and the float, including bait securing means arranged to receive bait attached to the bait line.

The weight can be located on the float by means of peg engaging an opening in the lower end of the float, with elastic securing means extending from the weight to the bait securing means.

The bait securing means can comprise a hinged spike, over which one end of the elastic securing means is passed.

The bait line can be attached to the rod line by means of running loop, the rod line also passing through a loop at the end of the elastic securing means where it passes over the bait spike.

The weight can be formed with an included angle of between 30 and 500 and engageable with a corresponding surface formed upon the lower end of the body of the float. Preferably the included angle is approximately 350.

The body of the float can be formed in two parts, which can be detachably secured one from the other, so that the body of the float can articulate.

The connection between the two parts of the body, can comprise a peg in one part engaging with corresponding opening in the other part, the two parts being attached together by a flexible length of material.

The upper part of the float can be hollow and arranged to retain bait releaseable through the end of the upper part of the float. The float can also includes flights which may be angled to cause the float to spin whilst it is being cast.

The flight can be attached to the body of the float by means of elastic bands.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a float comprising a hollow body and a releasable weight, the weight being attached to a rod line which is attached to the float, the hollow body being arranged to received bait.

In an alternative arrangement the hollow body of the float can be provided with bungs at its ends, in order to provide the float with buoyancy.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the acconpanying drawings in which, Figure 1 shows one form of float according the present invention attached to a rod line, Figure 2 shows a detail of the weight on the float shown in figure 1, Figure 3 shows a view of the weight of the float shown in figure 1, Figure 4 shows a portion of a modified form of float to that shown in figure 1, Figure 5 shows a further view of the modified form of float to that shown in figure 1, Figure 6 shows a further modified form of float to that shown in figure 1, Figure 7 shows a view on arrow B in figure 7, Figure 8 shows a view of the weight of the float shown in figure 7, Figure 9 shows a modified form of float to that shown in figures 6, 7 and 8.

Figure 10 shows another form of float according to the present invention.

Figure 11 is a composite view on arrows C and D in figure 10.

Figure 12 shows the float illustrated in figures 10 and 11, as used, Figure 13 is another form of float according to the present invention.

Figure 14 shows a portion of the float in figure 13 in more detail.

Referring to the figures a float 10 is attached to a rod line 12 extending to a rod (not shown). The float 10 comprises a body 14 having a mass 16 at its upper end in order to keep the float upright in use. A releasable weight 18 is located on the lower end of the body 14 by means of a peg 20, extending into a corresponding opening in the body of the float. The lower end of the float 14 and upper end of the weight 18 are formed at corresponding angles to the vertical so that they co-operate with one another. The weight 18 is secure on the float 14 by means of a length of elastic material 22, which is attached at one end to the weight 18 by means of a loop on the peg 20. The loop passes through a slot 23 formed in the lower end of the float body 14 as shown in figure 2.

The other end of the elastic material 22 has a loop 24 which passes over the end of a bait spike 26, itself attached to the upper end of the float by means of a hinge 28. It will be appreciated that the tension in the elastic material 22 secures the weight 18 to the body 14 of the float.

The included angle between on the weight 18 and the body 14 can be varied preferably between the range 300 to 500. However, the preferred included angle is approximately 350.

The rod line 12 also passes through the loop 24 and a bait line 30 is attached to the line 12 by means of running loop 32. Bait for example, in the form of boilee is attached to the end of bait line 30 and the bait is also attached to the spike 26.

When the float as arranged in figure 1 is cast, the weight 18 will separate from the body 14 of the float on inpact with the water and the loop 24 will move up the spike 26 together with the rod line and detach the bait 34 from the spike. The float will remain on the surface in more or less upright position and the weight will tend to descend to the bed of the water being fished, as it can run freely along the rod line 12, drawing the rod line down to the bed of the water fished.

Also, as the bait line 30 can run freely along the line 12 by means of the loop 32, the bait will tend to take up a natural position, but is restrained from moving too far as the bait line is located between the weight and the float.

It will be appreciated that as the weight 18 is now detached from the float 14 and is resting on the bed, the float will tend to be kept in position. Also, as the bait is directly attached to the line independent of the float, any bite is transmitted instantly to the rod line and detected by the user, with a corresponding visual indication imparted to the float.

In the alternative form as shown figures 4 and 5, the body 14 can be formed in two parts 14a and 14b, located with respect one another by means of a peg 36 in one of the parts engaging with a corresponding opening 38 in the other one of the parts. The two parts are prevented from being completely separated from one another by means of a length of flexible material 40, such as plastic thread or string. One end of the plastic thread can be attached to one of the parts and the other of the plastic thread extending through a hole in the other one of parts and terminating in a stop to prevent the two parts becoming completely separated.

On impact the parts 14 and 18 will separate so that the float can articulate.

By means of appropriate weighting of the two parts, the upper part can be made to lie horizontal to the surface of the water, whilst the other part remains vertical so that the angle between them is approximately 900. Alternatively, they can be weight so that the angle between the two parts is approximately 450.

The body of the float 14 can be hollow as indicated in figure 1, in which case bungs (not shown) are provided in order to give the float buoyancy.

The upper end of the float 14 can also be provided with flights (not shown) attached to the body of the float by means of elastic bands. The flights can be angled so that when the float is cast, the float will spin and will tend to remain stable and fly in a more or less straight line.

Referring to figures 6, 7 and 8 there is shown a modified form of float 42, which has similarities to the float shown in figure 1 and which can function as a bait dispenser, a depth finder and marker float.

The float 42 comprises a hollow tapered body 44, to which a weight 46 is attached in a similar manner to that in which the weight 18 is attached to body 14 on the float shown in figure 1.

The weight 46 has a peg 48 which engages in the lower end of the body 44 and has a loop 50 which passes through a slot 5 (fig.7) and is attached to a length of elastic material 54. The length of the peg 48 is chosen so that the weight 46 will disengage fron the body 14 on impact.

The elastic material 54 terminates in loop 56 which passes over the end of a spike 58 attached to the body 44 by means of a hinge 60. A rod line 62 is attached to the float body 44 and passes through the loop 56.

The float 42 can act as a bait dispenser in the following manner.

The body 44 of float is filled with bait of a suitable form, and the bait is held within the body 44 by means of the elastic material 54 or a suitable extension of it passing over the upper open end of the body 44.

The float 42 is cast as desired and on impact with the water the loop 56 will pass over the end of the spike 58 and weight 46 will detach from the body 44, releasing the bait contained within the hollow body 44.

It is preferred that the body 44 is tapered so that bait does not become jammed as would be the case if the body 44 had parallel walls.

In order for the float 42 to act as a marker float, bungs 64 are provided at each end in order to give the float buoyancy. Thus when the float 42 is cast, the weight 46 will detach in the normal way and the body 44 will remain on the surface of the water.

In order for the float to be used as a depth finder the float can be arranged initially either to dispense bait or to act as a marker float. After casting and separation of the weight 46 from the body 44, the rod line is drawn in until the weight line attached to the rod line by means of the loop 56 touches the body 44 of the float. The rod line is then let out until the weight 46 touches the bottom of the water being fished and the length of line let out gives a reasonably accurate indication of the depth of water at the location of the float.

Referring to fig. 9 in which the float illustrated is similar to that shown in figs. 6, 7 and 8 and in which similar components have been given the same reference numbers, the elastic material 54 is attached to the weight 46 at one end and to the body 44 at the other end. The length of elastic material is formed in two parts secured together by a loop 66 which passes over the spike 58. The line 62 from the rod passes through the loop 66 and is attached to the body 44. The operation of the float illustrated in fig. 9 is similar to the operation of the float illustrated in figs. 6, 7 and 8.

Referring to figs. 10 and 11 a float 70 has a long thin solid body 72, for example in the form of a knitting needle, to which is secured a float ball 74 and a marker ball 76. A circular section weight receiving sleeve 78 is attached to the lower end of the float 70 and has an opening 80 and a slot 82. A weight 84 is attached to the float by a length of elastic material 86 and the weight 84 has a hollow peg 88 in which engages the sleeve 78, and the length of the elastic material passes through the slot 82.

The engaging ends of the sleeve 78 and weight 84 are provided with complimentary engaging surfaces 78a and 84a, the included angle of which is approximately 35". The end of the weight 84 opposite to the surface 84a has a surface 84b the included angle of which is also approximately 350.

The other end of the length of elastic material 86 passes through a ring 90 and is secured to the ring by a sleeve 92 of plastic material. The length of the material 86 can be adjusted by releasing the sleeve 92, adjusting the material 86 as required, and sliding the sleeve 92 over the material 86 to lock the material to the loop 90.

The sleeve 78 also has holes 78B so that a line 94 can be attached to the float, and the peg 88 has a slot 88B, so that the weight 88 can readily separate from the body 72.

In use the weight 84 is assembled onto the sleeve 78 by inserting the sleeve 88 into the peg 88. The elastic material 86 passes through the slot 82 and the ring 90 is passed over the free end of the body 72 so that the elastic material 86 is tensioned and lies within slots 74a and 76a in the float ball and marker balls respectively. The rod line 94 passes through the ring 90 and is attached to the sleeve 78 through one of the holes 78B. Bait in the form of a boilee 96 can then be attached to the sharpened end of the body 72.

Referring to fig. 12, when the float 72 is cast and contacts the water surface the weight 84 will separate from the sleeve 78 and will separate the bait 96 from the body 72. It should be noted that the bait can be attached to the rod line 92 by a line 98 and loop 100. The weight 84 will sink to the water bottom whilst the body 72 will remain on the surface due to the buoyancy of the float ball 74. The rod line 92 is kept slightly taut so as to hold the float body 72 in approximately the position shown. This will increase the sensitivity of the float once the bait is taken and the indicator ball 76 will give a visual indication by moving when the bait is taken.

Referring now to fig. 13 there is shown a float 101 comprising a hollow body 102 to which is attached a float 104 by a length of elastic material 106. The body 102 contains bait in the form of boilees 108 and is provided with fins 110 and a rod line 112 is attached to the upper end of the body 102. The float 104 is similar to the weights 18, 46 and 84 in the previous figures, and is secured to the body 102 in a similar fashion to that illustrated in the earlier figures. As the float 100 is intended only to discharge bait and to provide a marker.

The upper end of the body 102 is provided with a notch 102a in order to locate the elastic material 106 which also passes through a slot 102b at the lower end of the body. Once the bait 108 has been inserted into the hollow body 102 the upper end is closed by a paper cap (not shown) and the material 106 is tensioned so as to insert the float 104 into the lower end of the body 102 so that the bait is retained within the body. When the float 100 is cast and contacts the water the float 104 separates from the body 102 and the bait 108 is released but due to the buoyancy of the float 104 this remains floating on the water surface.

Referring to Fig. 14, the float can be attached to the material 106 by passing a free end of the material through openings 104A and 104B in the wall of the float to form a loop as shown. The float 104 is provided with a buoyancy mass 112 of any suitable material.

Claims (1)

1 A fishing float comprising two portions releasably secured together by elastic securing means, a first portion comprising a float body and a second portion comprising a weight or float 2 A fishing float as claimed in claim 1 in which the weight is secured to the float by a length of tensioned elastic material 3 A fishing float as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the float body and the weight or float are provide with complimentary engaging surfaces the included angle of which lies between 300 and 50 4 A fishing float as claimed in claim 3 in which the included angle is approximately 350 5 A fishing float as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the float body is provided with a recess engagable with a projection formed on the weight or float 6 A fishing float as claimed in claim 5 in which the float body is provided with a slot through which the elastic securing means securing the two parts of the float together can pass 7 A fishing float as claimed in claim 1 in which the float body is provided with a hinged spike providing location for a ring attached to one end of the elastic securing means and to which bait can be attached 8 A fishing float as claimed in claim 7 in which the bait is also attached to a rod line by means of a running loop and line 9 A fishing float as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the float body is hollow 10 A fishing float as claimed in claim 9 in which the hollow body is tapered 11 A fishing float as claimed in claims 7-9 in which the upper and lower ends of the hollow body are provided with closing off means to render the body buoyant 12 A fishing float as claimed in any one of the preceding clairs

1 to 8 in which the float body is solid 13 A fishing float as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the float body is provided with buoyancy means 14 A fishing float as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the float body is provided with marker means 15 A fishing float as claimed in any one of thepreceding claims in which the float body is provided with guidance fins 16 A fishing float as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the length of the elastic securing means can be adjusted by passing one free end of the elastic securing means through a loop until the correct length of elastic securing means is provided and locking the elastic securing means to the loop by means of a sleeve of plastics material 17 A fishing float constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described.