GB2286956A

GB2286956A - Angling float

Info

Publication number: GB2286956A
Application number: GB9403602A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Leonard Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-02-24
Filing date: 1994-02-24
Publication date: 1995-09-06
Also published as: GB9403602D0

Abstract

An angling float (1) comprises a body (2), actuable indicating means (4) associated therewith and means (6) responsive to the occurrence of a bite and arranged to actuate said indicating means (4) in response to a bite occurring. The indicating means (4) may comprise a light source, such as, a bulb or LED, and/or an audible indicator. Alternatively or additionally, a magnetically rotatable vane may be used as the indicating means (4). A pressure-sensitive switch may be used as the bite-responsive means (6) or a switch operable under a given tension on the occurrence of a bite, may be used. <IMAGE>

Description

ANGLING FLOAT DESCRIPTION This invention relates to an angling float.

In certain circumstances, for example, in choppy or rough water conditions, it is extremely difficult for an angler to determine whether or not he has a "bite" from the movement of the float attached to the fishing line. This problem arises particularly when the float is floating on the surface of the water at a comparatively long distance, say, several tens of metres, from the angler, even if a *long distance float of comparatively large size is used.

It is an object of this invention to provide an angling float which overcomes, or at least substantially reduces, such a disadvantage associated with known types of float, particularly for long distance angling purposes.

Accordingly, the invention resides in an angling float comprising a body, actuable indicating means associated with the body and means responsive to the occurrence of a bite and arranged to actuate the indicating means in response to a bite occurring.

Preferably, said bite-responsive means comprises switch means which is associated operably with a fishing line attached or otherwise connected to the float body and which is operable by the line when a bite occurs, to actuate the indicating means.

Such switch means may be associated with, for example, connected to, the fishing line in such a manner that, when the line is tensioned beyond a predetermined tension to which the switch means is set, for example, when a bite occurs, the switch means is operated to actuate the indicating means.

Alternatively, the switch means may comprise a pressure sensitive device which is operable at a given hydrostatic pressure such that, when a bite of sufficient strength occurs and, as a consequence, the float is pulled down below its normal flotation level, the additional hydrostatic pressure exerted upon the pressure-sensitive device causes the device to be operated, thereby actuating the indicating means.

The indicating means may be of any suitable form, for example, a light source, such as, a bulb, although a light emitting diode (LED) is preferred, in that it can be encapsulated in a watertight manner.

Other types of indicating means may also be used as an alternative or in addition to a light source, for example, an audible indicator, such as, a high frequency siren or buzzer.

In one embodiment of angling float in accordance with the invention, the indicating means comprises a magnetically-actuable vane which is rotatable between, say, a non-bite position and a bite position, thereby providing the angler with a visual indication as to whether or not a bite is occurring. In this particular embodiment of inventive angling float, the bite-detecting means may comprise a pair of magnets of which one is an electromagnet and the other is a permanent magnet connected operably to the rotatable vane. The electromagnet may be actuable by means of switch means sensitive to a bite occurring.

The polarity of the first electromagnet may be reversed electrically when a bite occurs, such that corresponding rotation of the other, permanent magnet causes the vane to rotate from its non-bite position to its bite position.

A suitable electric power supply such as, a battery, may be provided, for providing electric power to the switch means or any other form of electricallyoperable bite-responsive means, such as the electromagnet of the pair of magnets for actuating a rotatable indicating vane. Such power supply may be housed in, or otherwise associated with, the float body.

A preferred embodiment of angling float in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a partial diagrammatic elevational view thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, an angling float, indicated generally at 1, comprises a body 2. To the upper end of the float body 2 is attached a stem 3 provided at its upper end with a light source 4 comprising an LED (not shown) encapsulated therein in a watertight manner.

An electric power supply in the form of a miniature battery 5 is located within the float body 2 and is connected to the light source 4 by suitable wiring (not shown) which extends upwardly through the body 2 and through the stem 3.

At the lower end of the float body 2, biteresponsive means in the form of a switch 6 is provided. The switch 6 is connected to an associated fishing line 7 whi.ch passes through an eye 8 of a switch operating member 9 and is retained in position with respect thereto by a pair of locking shots 10 attached to the fishing line 7 on either side of and adjacent the eye 8. Attached to the fishing line 7 are the usual weights and baited hook (also not shown).

The switch 6 is set at a predetermined tension of the fishing line, such that, when the float 1 is floating normally on a water surface with its body 2 partially submerged, the tension exerted on the line 7 by the weight of the submerged line, weights and baited hook, maintains the switch 6 in its inoperative condition. When, however, a bite of sufficient strength occurs and, as a consequence, the tension in the fishing line 7 exceeds the predetermined tension to which the switch is set, the switch is operated via the member 9, to cause electric power from the battery 5 to be supplied to the light source 4. Thus, the angler, on seeing the light source illuminated, is aware that a bite has occurred and can then take the necessary action.

As discussed above, alternative arrangements may be used for the switch means and indicating means. For example, the switch means may take the form of a pressure switch which is operable when the hydrostatic pressure exerted thereon is sufficiently great to cause it to be operated, when the float is submerged below its normal flotation level. Alternatively, the indicating means, when possibly in the form of a rotatable vane, may be actuable by magnetically operable, bite-responsive means, such as, electromagnetically-operable means or magneto-mechanicallyoperable means.

Claims

1. An angling float comprising a body, actuable indicating means associated with the body and means responsive to the occurrence of a bite and arranged to actuate said indicating means in response to a bite occurring.

2. A float according to claim 1, wherein said biteresponsive means comprises switch means which is associated generally with a fishing line attached or otherwise connected to the float body and which is operable by the line when a bite occurs, to actuate said indicating means.

3. A float according to claim 2, wherein said switch means is associated with the fishing line in such a manner that, when the fishing line is tensioned beyond a predetermined tension to which said switch means is set, said switch means is operated to actuate said indicating means.

4. A float according to claim 2, wherein said switch means comprises a pressure sensitive device which is operable at a given hydrostatic pressure such that, when a bite of sufficient strength occurs and, as a consequence, the float is pulled down below its normal flotation level, the additional hydrostatic pressure exerted upon the pressure-sensitive device causes the device to be operated, thereby actuating said indicating means.

5. A float according to any preceding claim, wherein said indicating means comprises a light source.

6. A float according to claim 5, wherein the light source is a bulb or a light emitting diode (LED).

7. A float according to claim 6, wherein the light source is an LED which is encapsulated in a watertight manner.

8. A float according to any preceding claim, wherein said indicating means comprises an audible indicator.

9. A float according to claim 8, wherein the audible indicator is a higher frequency siren or buzzer.

10. A float according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said indicating means comprises a magneticallyactuable vane which is rotatable between a non-bite position and a bite position, thereby providing an angler with a visual indication as to whether or not a bite is occurring.

11. A float according to claim 10, wherein said biteresponsive means comprises a pair of magnets of which one is an electromagnet associated operably with a fishing line of the float and of which the other is a permanent magnet connected operably to the rotatable vane.

12. A float according to claim 11, wherein the polarity of the first, electromagnet is reversible when a bite occurs, such that corresponding rotation of the other, permanent magnet causes the vane to rotate from its non-bite position to its bite position.

13. A float according to any preceding claim, wherein, when said bite-responsive means is operable electrically, an electric power supply, such as, a battery, being provided.

14. A float according to claim 13, wherein the powersupply is housed in, or otherwise associated with, the float body.

15. An angling float substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.