GB2278670A - Angler's pocket torch - Google Patents

Abstract

An angler's torch of the pen-light type includes a tool holder 7 disposed on the outside of the torch casing 1. The holder 7 has a socket 8 into which the shaft 15 of a tool, such as a hook degorger 14, is releasably inserted. The beam of light projected by the torch illuminates the head of the tool. The socket 8 and shaft 15 have the same octagonal cross-section so as to prevent the tool from turning relative to the torch. <IMAGE>

Description

ANGLERS POCKET TORCH The present invention relates to a torch or pen light for use by anglers and adapted to mount, as interchangeable attachments, tools of the type commonly used by anglers so that these tool attachments may be readily and satisfactorily illuminated at night. The tool attachments may include a hook degorger, pliers, scissors, a bread punch and a bait needle.

When fishing at night time, an angler requires some form of illumination to enable him safely to extract hooks from landed fish, whether freshwater, game or sea fishing, and, as some fish may be deep hooked, there is a need to see down into the fishes mouth so as to pinpoint where the hook is and the direction in which it is facing and remove it without causing unnecessary injury or distress to the fish. Other operations which an angler may be required to perform at night time are tying hooks, such as fly hooks, and tying and baiting carp rigs and ledger rigs, whilst at the same time avoiding accidental injury to the angler's hands, fingers and eyes during the carrying out of these various operations. All these operations require the use of both hands by the angler and, when fishing at night, a bright light may be required for the angler satisfactorily to illuminate the operation.Since he will most times be using both hands for the particular operation, it is virtually impossible for him separately to hold a torch in order to illuminate the working area. A general bright light may not be desirable when fishing, such as, for trout or carp, as these fish tend to avoid such bright lights.

Hence, it is the object of the present invention to facilitate the aforementioned operations at night time and provide a small torch which may be used accurately to illuminate the exact working area where an operation is to be carried out and which is adapted to mount a tool required by the angler for the particular operation, thereby enabling the angler to have both hands free to carry out the operation.

The invention consists in an angler's torch having a socket or holder disposed on the outside of the torch casing and adapted to engage a shaft of a tool attachment for use by an angler so as to mount the tool on the casing n a position projecting forwardly of the torch into the beam of light projected by the torch.

The socket may extend longitudinally of the torch casing and may comprise at least one longitudinal flat for engaging a complementary flat on the tool shaft so as to prevent the tool from turning relatively to the torch.

mhe torch may be of a type commonly referred to as a pen ight.

The invention will now be described, by way of sample, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an angler's torch according to the invention, Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the torch of Figure 1 showing a hook degorger fitted thereto, and Figures 3-8 show six tools adapted for attachment to the torch.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the torch, which is of the type commonly known as a pen-light, includes a hollow, cylindrical metal casing 1 for housing two batteries 2,3 in tandem. At the front end 4, the casing 1 is tapered and houses a light bulb 5. The rear end of the casing has a removable closure 6 including an on-off switch.

A tool holder 7 is integral with the outside of the casing 1 adjacent the tapered front end 4 and includes a tool engaging socket 8 of octagonal cross section, which projects into the holder 7 along the greater part of its length and parallel to the axis of the casing.

The light bulb 5 projects through a circular opening in the front end 4 of the casing and is held in position by the batteries which press the front of the metal side contact 9 of the bulb against the inside of the opening. This provides one electrical connection for the bulb via the casing. The positive pole of the front bat tery 2 presses against the central contact 10 of the bulb to provide the other connection. The negative pole of the battery 2 is in electrical contact with the positive pole of the second battery 3.

The removable closure 6 is screw fitted into the rear end of the casing 1 to permit access to the inside of the casing for charging the batteries. It has an helical spring 11 attached to its inner end which presses against the negative pole of the rear battery 3 to ensure electrical contact therewith and also to ensure the electrical contacts between batteries 2,3 and the bulb 5. The on-off switch within the closure 6 is operable by means of a push-button 12. Contacts of the switch are connected to the spring 11 and the rim of the casing 1. The closure 6 also includes a clip 13 which enables the device to be clipped to a user's pocket.

Figure 2 shows a hook degorger 14 attached to the torch. The degorger 14 includes A shaft 15 of octagonal cross section (see also Figure 3) inserted into the socket 8 of the holder 7. The shaft is removably retained within the socket by means of an interference fit.

Figures 4-8 show further examples of tool attachments which may be used with the torch of Figures 1 and 2.

With each of these attachments, viz pliers (Figure 4), a bread punch (Figure 5), a hook tying vice (Figure 6), scissors (Figure 7) and a bait rig needle (Figure 8), the head of the attachment projects forwardly of the torch to a position in line with the axis of the casing 1.

To use the torch an angler selects the required attachment and inserts the shaft 15 into the socket 8. The complementary flats of the octagonal cross sections of the shaft and the socket 8 prevent the attachment from turning relative to the torch. The angler then depresses the push-button 12 to switch on the torch and the bulb 5 Illuminates the head of the attachment and the item on which the angler desires to work, which in the case of the degorger 14, for example, would be a hook embedded in the mouth of a fish. The torch as described readily enables an angler to perform any task requiring a tool attachment of the type exemplified by Figures 3-8 and for which both hands may be needed, at night time.

Whilst particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood that modifications may be made with sut departing from the scope of the invention. For exam nile, the casing may be made of rigid plastic instead of metal, in which case the electrical connection between the closure 6 and the metal side contact 9 for the bulb 5 would be provided by an electrical conductor disposed on the inside of the casing and running longitudinally there of.

Claims (9)

1. An angler's torch having a tool holder disposed on the outside of the torch casing and adapted to engage a shaft of a tool attachment for use by an angler so as to mount the tool on the casing in a position projecting forwardly of the torch into the light projected by the torch.

2. A torch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool holder comprises a socket for receiving the shaft of the tool and extending longitudinally of the torch casing.

3. A torch as claimed in claim 2, wherein the socket comprises at least one longitudinal flat for engaging a complementary flat on the tool shaft so as to prevent the tool from turning relatively to the torch.

4. A torch as claimed in any preceding claim, of the type commonly referred to as a pen-light.

5. An angler's torch substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A set of parts for an angler comprising a pen-light or other torch and at least one tool attachment for use by the angler, the torch having a socket or other tool holder disposed on the outside of the torch casing and the or each tool having a shaft engageable with the socket so as to mount the tool on the casing in a position projecting forwardly of the torch into the light projected by the torch.

7. A set of parts as claimed in claim 6, wherein the socket extends longitudinally of the torch casing and comprises at least one longitudinal flat engageable with a complementary flat on the or each tool shaft so as to prevent the tool from turning relative to the torch.

8. A set of parts as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein at least one of the tool attachments is a pair of pliers, scissors or the like, and wherein one of the manually operable arms thereof is formed as the shaft.

9. A set of parts substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.