GB2319156A

GB2319156A - Bait dispenser for use in fishing

Info

Publication number: GB2319156A
Application number: GB9623474A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark John Edwards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-11-12
Filing date: 1996-11-12
Publication date: 1998-05-20
Also published as: GB9623474D0

Abstract

A dispenser for bait comprises a dish 1 for receiving bait to be dispensed and elongate filamentary support means for attaching the dish to a fishing rod 3. The filamentary support means comprises first, second and third filaments 9, 11, 13 for extending between the rod and the dish. The first and second filaments 9, 11 are attached in use to a lower region of the dish and the third filament 13 is releasably attached in use to an upper region of the dish. In use the dish 1 can be filled as required with bait and can be supported from the rod 3 by the filamentary support means 9, 11, 13 and, when the dish is at a desired location, the dish can be lowered onto the surface of the water so as to cause the apparent weight of the dish to reduce and to release the third filament 13 from the upper region of the dish. Thus, when the dish is subsequently raised, the dish will pivot about the points at which the first and second filaments 9, 11 are attached to the dish so as to dispense the contents of the dish 1 at the desired location.

Description

BAIT OR LIKE DISPENSER FOR USE IN FISHING The present invention is concerned with a dispenser for bait or the like for use in fishing.

A fisherman often wishes to dispense groundbait or the like to attract fish to the area in which he is fishing and to encourage the fish to feed. In this way he expects to increase the likelihood of a catch. Groundbait or the like is generally dispensed in a number of ways. For example, the fisherman may project the bait to the desired area: that is, he may throw the bait to the desired area or he may employ means such as a catapult. Alternatively, he may employ a container which can be secured to his fishing rod or pole and which can be used to dispense the bait to the desired area simply by rotating the rod or pole. Each of these methods has its drawbacks.

Projecting the bait can encounter difficulties in targeting the desired area. If the bait is thrown by the fisherman, there is a limit to how far he can throw and fishing poles can extend some 5 to 10 metres or more. The use of a catapult tends to distribute the bait more widely than the fisherman would wish. Not only is this wasteful of bait, but it will encourage the fish to feed in an area other than that where the fisherman's hook is located. Moreover, particularly when fish are reluctant to feed, the act of projecting the bait can disturb the fish and deter them from feeding.

A container for bait is generally in the form of a small, generally spherical container which is secured to the fishing rod or pole by means of legs which extend in opposite directions in a helical configuration, the legs being wound around the rod or pole to secure the container thereto in an upright configuration. Such an arrangement works satisfactorily in calm conditions, but in windy weather the container can be pivoted around the rod or pole by the force of the wind resulting in the bait being dispensed at a location other than the desired area.

There is therefore a need for a dispenser for groundbait or the like, which dispenser can be used to dispense bait at a desired location, to which the fisherman wishes to attract fish, irrespective of the distance from his fishing position and irrespective of the weather conditions. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bait or like dispenser which fulfils such a need.

According to the present invention there is provided a dispenser for bait or the like, which dispenser comprises a dish for receiving bait or the like to be dispensed and elongate filamentary support means for attaching the dish to a fishing rod or pole, the filamentary support means comprising first, second and third filaments for extending between the rod or pole and the dish, the first and second filaments being attached in use to a lower region of the dish and the third filament being releasably attached in use to an upper region of the dish, whereby in use the dish can be filled as required with bait or the like and can be supported from the rod or pole by the filamentary support means and, when the dish is at a desired location, the dish can be lowered onto the surface of the water so as to cause the apparent weight of the dish to reduce and to release the third filament from the upper region of the dish such that, when the dish is subsequently raised, the dish will pivot about the points at which the first and second filaments are attached to the dish so as to dispense the contents of the dish at the desired location.

The support means may include a loop of filamentary material adapted to extend around the rod or pole. Means, such as a movable flexible collar around the filaments of the loop, may be provided for tightening the loop around the rod or pole.

The first and second filaments may be secured through apertures provided in the lower region of the dish. The apertures may be positioned around the axis of the dish and may be separated, for example, by an angle of about 120 degrees. The third filament may be releasably attached to the dish at a point around the axis thereof substantially equi-angular from the securing points of the first and second filaments.

The first and second filaments may be separable from the dish, for example to permit one dish to be exchanged for another.

The third filament may be releasably attached to the dish by means of a hook which is engageable directly or indirectly with the dish. The hook may be engageable with a ring which is mounted in the upper region of the dish.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bait dispenser according to the present invention mounted on a fishing pole for dispensing bait at a desired location; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bait dispenser dispensing the bait at the desired location.

The bait dispenser shown in Figure 1 comprises a dish 1, for example of plastics or metal. As illustrated, the dish is substantially in the form of cylinder which is closed at one end, but the dish can take other forms if desired.

The dish 1 is suspended from a fishing pole 3 by means of a filamentary support. In the illustrated embodiment, the support comprises a loop 5 of wire, for example of stranded stainless steel, and can be tightened around the fishing pole 3 by means of a flexible collar 7, for example of plastics material, to secure the bait dispenser in position.

At a suitable distance from the pole 3, the filamentary support is divided into three separate filaments 9, 11 and 13. In the case of a wire material, a metal crimp 15 may conveniently be used to secure the three separate filaments together. In the case of other materials, securing means appropriate to the nature of the filaments will be used.

In the illustrated embodiment, two of the filaments, filaments 9 and 11, pass through small apertures 17 and 19 formed in the region of the lower end of the dish 1 and are secured together within the dish with the aid of a wire crimp (not shown). The apertures 17 and 19 are positioned around the axis of the dish 1 and are separated, for example, by an angle of about 120 degrees. The effect of the two filaments 9 and 11 being secured to the dish in such a manner is to allow the dish to pivot about an axis substantially joining the two apertures 17 and 19 and positioned in the region of the lower end of the dish.

Clearly, the manner in which the two filaments 9 and 11 are secured to the dish is not important. The important feature is that the dish is able to pivot in order to enable the contents of the dish to be discharged. Indeed, in another embodiment (not illustrated) the filaments 9 and 11 may be secured to the side of the dish in the lower region thereof, or to the base of the dish, in a manner which permits the fisherman to remove the filaments from the dish so as to be able to exchange one dish for another.

For example, the filaments 9 and 11 may be removably secured in a form of hinge clip (not shown) provided on, or in the region of, the base of the dish and which permits the dish to pivot relative to the filaments 9 and 11. In this way, the fisherman is able to employ a range of dishes, the capacity of the dish being adaptable to the nature of the bait employed and the prevailing conditions in which the fishing is taking place.

The third filament 13 is adapted to be releasably attached to the dish 1 in the upper region of the dish, which could also include above the dish where an intermediate connector is employed (such as a ring as will be described in more detail hereinafter). The third filament is releasably attached to the dish 1 at a point around the axis thereof which is substantially equi-angular from the apertures 17 and 19.

The third filament 13 may be releasably attached to the dish 1 by means of a hook 21 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is engageable with a ring 23 secured in the region of the upper rim of the dish 1. Other means may be employed for releasably attaching the free end of the third filament to the upper region of the dish. For example, as an alternative, a suitable aperture may be provided in the region of the upper rim of the dish.

The third filament 13 is ideally made of a relatively stiff material to enable the hook 21 to disengage readily from the ring 23 when the hook is moved in a direction towards the lower region of the dish 1.

In use of the bait dispenser according to the invention, the dispenser is first mounted at a desired position on the fishing pole such that the dish 1 is suspended from the pole 3 by means of the loop 5 and the loop is then tightened around the pole to maintain the dispenser in the desired position. Thereafter, dish 1 is filled with bait which can be chosen by the fisherman. Where a relatively large amount of bait is required, a relatively large dish can be chosen and, where a smaller amount of bait is required, a smaller dish can be chosen.

The pole 3 is then positioned such that the fisherman is fishing in a desired area and, once the pole 3 is in position, the bait can be released from the dispenser.

With the dish 1 suspended from the pole 3, the pole is lowered such that the dish rests on the surface of the water at the desired location. The apparent weight of the dish 1 will be reduced: that is the dish 1 will either float or the apparent weight of the dish will be reduced due to the effect of partial immersion in the water. This apparent reduction in weight permits the hook 21 to move towards the lower region of the dish relative to the ring 23 and allows the hook 21 to be released from engagement with the ring.

The pole 3 can then be lifted and this will cause the dish 1 to pivot about the axis joining the apertures 17 and 19 and to discharge the bait into the water.

When it is desired to replenish the bait discharged into the water, the pole 3 can be retracted, the hook 21 reengaged with the ring 23 and the dish refilled with bait.

The discharging operation can then be repeated.

The bait dispenser according to the present invention has the advantages that it is substantially unaffected by wind in that a gust of wind will not cause the dish to invert and to discharge the bait at an inopportune time and that the manner in which the bait is discharged, by gently lowering the dish onto the surface of the water, causes little or no disturbance to the fish.

Claims

1. A dispenser for bait or the like, which dispenser comprises a dish for receiving bait or the like to be dispensed and elongate filamentary support means for attaching the dish to a fishing rod or pole, the filamentary support means comprising first, second and third filaments for extending between the rod or pole and the dish, the first and second filaments being attached in use to a lower region of the dish and the third filament being releasably attached in use to an upper region of the dish, whereby in use the dish can be filled as required with bait or the like and can be supported from the rod or pole by the filamentary support means and, when the dish is at a desired location, the dish can be lowered onto the surface of the water so as to cause the apparent weight of the dish to reduce and to release the third filament from the upper region of the dish such that, when the dish is subsequently raised, the dish will pivot about the points at which the first and second filaments are attached to the dish so as to dispense the contents of the dish at the desired location.

2. A bait dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support means includes a loop of filamentary material adapted to extend around the rod or pole.

3. A bait dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein means is provided for tightening the loop around the rod or pole.

4. A bait dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein the loop tightening means comprises a movable flexible collar around the filaments of the loop.

5. A bait dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second filaments are secured through apertures provided in the lower region of the dish.

6. A bait dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein the apertures are positioned around the axis of the dish.

7. A bait dispenser as claimed in claim 6, wherein the apertures are separated by an angle of about 120 degrees.

8. A bait dispenser as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the third filament is releasably attached to the dish at a point around the axis thereof substantially equiangular from the securing points of the first and second filaments.

9. A bait dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second filaments are separable from the dish.

10. A bait dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the third filament is releasably attached to the dish by means of a hook which is engageable directly or indirectly with the dish.

11. A bait dispenser as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hook is engageable with a ring which is mounted in the upper region of the dish.

12. A bait dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.