GB2351642A

GB2351642A - Apparatus for variable rate delivery of bait

Info

Publication number: GB2351642A
Application number: GB0012115A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan David Jones
Original assignee: STANDARD PLUS Ltd
Current assignee: STANDARD PLUS Ltd
Priority date: 1999-05-25
Filing date: 2000-05-22
Publication date: 2001-01-10
Also published as: GB0012115D0; GB9912032D0

Abstract

Apparatus comprising a bait container (2) attachable to a fishing line, has a wall (3) of the container formed with one or more apertures (4) through which bait can exit, and adjustable means (12) by which the effective size of the aperture, or at least some of the apertures, can be varied to increase or decrease the rate of delivery of bait from the container. In a cylindrical form of the container the adjustable means comprises a rotatable shutter (12) of complementary cylindrical shape in the container having an aperture or apertures (18) movable by rotation of the shutter into and out of register with the aperture or apertures in the cylindrical wall of the container. An end wall (5) of the container may also have an aperture or apertures (6) of variable effective size. An opposite end of the container (11) has a closure cap 8 formed with one or more apertures (11) for flowing water to enter into the container and encourage bait to exit from the container. A ballast weight (13) at the container stabilises the apparatus in water and keeps it submerged.

Description

2351642 APPARATUS FOR VARIABLE RATE DELIVERY OF BAIT This invention

relates to apparatus for variable rate delivery of bait to an aquatic environment such as, but not limited to a river, pond, lake or ocean. In use, the apparatus is usually attached to a fishing line.

It is common for fishermen using a rod and line to deliver bait to the fishing waters to tempt fish towards the region in the water where they have cast their line. The bait can, for example, be delivered by throwing or catapulting the bait into the water in the appropriate region. The bait can be maggots, casters, or any other suitable bait.

Alternatively, apparatus for bait delivery (sometimes referred to as a "bait feeder") may be used. The bait feeder consists of a container, usually of a plastics material, which in use is filled with bait, and tied to the fishing line close to the hook. The container is usually cylindrical and has apertures sized to allow gradual release of bait from the container into the surrounding waters. If the bait feeder is placed into a river, the release of bait is assisted by water flowing through the feeder, but the feeder can be used in still waters such as a lake.

A significant problem for fisherman is the control of the delivery rate of the bait into the surrounding water. For example, external factors such as the degree of turbulence of the fishing waters can influence the rate of bait release. The fisherman, however, may require a specific rate of bait delivery, for example when match fishing where a relatively rapid delivery rate would generally be required.

2 The apertures in the known feeder containers are of fixed size so the rate of bait delivery to the surrounding water is fixed, and therefore out of the fisherman's control. Often, fishermen possess a plurality of feeders, each of which has apertures of a different size, so that an appropriate feeder can be selected depending on the conditions of the water, the type of bait to be used, and the desired delivery rate of the bait.

There have been various methods and attempts to modify existing feeders having apertures of a fixed size in order to vary the rate of delivery of bait from existing feeders. Users may, for example, use bungs or apply insulation tape to the outside of the container to block some of the apertures so bait delivery is reduced.

Conversely, the apertures can be increased in size by the use of a tool or implement such as a rawl to increase the bore of selected apertures manually. This operation is, of course, irreversible and time-consuming.

If at a later date an aperture of a smaller size is required, a new feeder must be purchased. Furthermore, as the rawl is applied to the aperture to increase its size, the material of the container at the edge of the aperture is urged inwards, creating a spike or jagged flange which points into the container and may catch bait close to the widened aperture. The jagged flange impedes bait passing through the aperture, and therefore negates the effects of increased aperture size.

According to the present invention apparatus is provided for variable rate delivery of bait, comprising a bait container and means to allow attachment of the container to a fishing line, wherein the container has a resealable opening to allow bait to be placed in the container and a wall with one or more apertures therethrough which allow bait to exit from the container, and there being adjustable means at the container to vary the 3 effective size of the aperture, or at least some of the apertures, to increase or decrease the rate of delivery of bait from the container to the external environment.

Preferably, the container is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a number of apertures in a circumferential wall thereof, the apertures being spaced along the length of the container and the adjustable means being operable to vary the size of the apertures in said wall. The container preferably has an end wall with an aperture or apertures therethrough to allow bait to exit from the container at that wall, the adjustable means being operable to vary the effective size of the aperture or apertures in the end wall.

Preferably the means to vary the effective size of the aperture or apertures comprises a shutter having an aperture or apertures therethrough registrable with the aperture or apertures of the container. The shutter is located proximal to or against the apertured wall or walls of the container, and movable relative to the container to vary the position of the or each aperture it has with respect to the aperture or apertures of the container, thereby altering the effective size of the or each aperture in the container for the passage of bait therethrough when the apparatus is in use. In one position the apertures in the shutter and container may substantially fully align and in other positions the apertures misalign to varying extents so that the or each aperture in the container is partially blocked to different degrees.

When the container is of the preferred substantially cylindrical shape the shutter is preferably comparably cylindrical or part-cylindrical in transverse cross-section. The shutter may be inserted, as a sleeve, into the container, or be located on the outside of the container. It may be 4 rotatable relative to the container for varying the effective size of the aperture or apertures in the container.

In the sleeve form the shutter is preferably dimensioned to be a snug fit against the apertured wall or walls of the container. In this way, bait cannot become trapped between the shutter and the wall or walls of the container.

Users of the apparatus can therefore readily control the effective size of the aperture or apertures of the container by movement of the shutter relative to the container. This variation of the effective aperture size allows careful tuning of bait delivery to the surrounding water.

Advantageously the aperture size can be set to accommodate the type of bait to be used, allowing increased versatility of the apparatus.

Furthermore, only one type of feeder apparatus is needed, and the feeder is reusable as the effective size of the aperture or apertures is easily reset.

If the shutter is inside the container, it may have a tab which protrudes through a suitably placed opening in the wall of the container. The opening is shaped to allow the user to move the tab in the opening to move the shutter as necessary relative to the container wall.

Alternatively, the shutter, when located inside the container, may have an end, or a part at an end, which protrudes from a corresponding end of the container to provide a portion which can be gripped for moving the shutter relative to the container.

In a further alternative a key or other tool may engage a complementary part of the shutter to move the shutter relative to the container.

The resealable opening of the container may have a removable cap or lid which is fitted to the container, for example by engaging the container with a snap-fit. The cap or lid may be pivotally attached to the container, or alternatively the cap or lid may be attached to the container by a flexible tie, preferably of a plastics material, so that when the cap or lid is removed it cannot be misplaced. Preferably one or more apertures are provided in the cap or lid to allow water to enter into the container when the apparatus is submerged in use in flowing water to encourage bait to exit from the container by way of the aperture or apertures of variable size.

The means to allow the apparatus to be attached to the line may comprise a protrusion, preferably of a plastics material, extending from the container. The protrusion defines an eye through which can be threaded a length of fishing line. The line can then be tied to secure the apparatus relative to the line. Usually, the apparatus will be located proximal to the baited hook to draw fish towards the hook. The protrusion is preferably proximal to or at an end of the container.

The apparatus may be of any suitable material. Preferably, the shutter and container are each made independently of a moulded plastics material.

The apparatus may further comprise a ballast in the form of a weight fixed to the container to stabilise the apparatus in the water and keep it submerged.

There now follows by way of example only, a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

6 Figure I shows apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention when apertures in a container of the apparatus are set at half their possible maximum size; Figure 2 shows a shutter insert of the apparatus; Figure 3 shows an end view of the shutter of Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows on line 3-3; to Figure 4 shows the container of the apparatus of Figure 1 with the shutter insert removed, Figure 5 shows an end view of the container; Figure 6 shows a view from above of the container, and Figure 7 shows schematically the apparatus in use, attached to a fishing line and cast into a river.

Apparatus 1 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The apparatus I comprises a plastics container 2 of generally cylindrical shape having a circumferential wall 3 with apertures 4 therethrough. One end of the container 2 is closed by an end wall 5, also with apertures 6 therethrough. The end of the container 2 which is closed forms a 25 frusto-conical shape.

At the opposite, open, end 7 of the container 2 is a detachable cap 8 of a substantially hemispheric shape, having a rim 9 (see Figure 4) which fits snugly into the open end 7 of the container 2 to establish a snap-fi. t 30 between the cap 8 and the container 2. The cap 8 is pivotally attached to 7 the container 2 by a flexible tie connection 10 which effectively also serves as a hinge for the cap to be moved into and out of closing engagement with the container. Apertures 11 are formed in the cap 8.

A plastics shutter 12 of cylindrical sleeve form is inserted in and located concentrically inside the container 2. The external, diameter of the shutter 12 is complementary to the internal diameter of the container 2, so as to be a snug fit in the container. The shutter 12 can be rotated relative to the container 2 about the container's central longitudinal axis. Along one side of the container is a ballast weight 13 which ensures stability of the apparatus 1 in the water and ensures that, in use, the apparatus I is submerged.

A projection 14 proximal to the ballast 13, and located at the open end 7 of the container 2, provides an eye 15 through which a fishing line can be threaded and tied to secure the apparatus 1 to the fishing line (see Figure 7).

The container 2 has an elongate opening 16 (best seen in Figure 6) which extends around part of the curved wall 3 of the container 2. The opening 16 extends substantially parallel to the end face 5 of the container 1. The shutter 12 has a radially extending tab 17 raised from its outer surface which is positioned on the shutter so as to protrude through the opening 16 when the shutter 12 is in the container 2. The container wall 3, at regions 3a flanking the length of the opening 16, is raised in profile relative to the rest of the container wall 3 to protect the position of the tab 17 in the opening 16 from being inadvertently changed after being set by the user.

8 Figure 2 shows the shutter 12 as a substantially cylindrical member with apertures 18 in its circumferential wall 19 and in a closed end wall 20, (seen in more detail in Figure 3). The opposite end 21 of the shutter is open. The closed end wall 20 abuts or lies adjacent to the end wall 5 of the container. Suitably, the closed end face of the shutter 12 defines a frusto-conical shape to assist the location of the shutter in the container 2.

The tab 17 has a grooved contact surface 22 for enhanced frictional contact of the user's finger or fingers with the tab when the position of the tab in the opening 16 is being adjusted.

The shutter 12 may not be totally cylindrical, as any configuration of the shutter which allows part of it to locate proximal to, and rotate relative to, the apertured walls of the container will suffice. For example, the shutter could be a flat piece of plastics material curled into a C-shape and inserted into the container to locate in the container in the concentric manner previously described.

In Figure 4, the container 2 of the apparatus 1 is shown with the shutter 12 removed and the cap 8 in an open position. The shutter 12 is preferably not removable from the container, but it may be made removable, if desired, for example for cleaning. An inwardly flanged rim (not shown) around the open end 7 of the container 2 may be provided to overlap the adjacent end edge of the shutter so as to resist withdrawal of the shutter from the container.

In Figure 5, apertures 6 in the end wall 5 can be seen in more detail. The apertures 6 resemble in shape and position the apertures 18 in the closed end wall 18 of the shutter 10.

9 For use of apparatus the container 2 is filled with the required amount of bait, and cap 8 is then snapped into its closed position. The bait can be any suitable bait, such as maggots or casters (the chrysalis form of the maggot) or meal.

The tab 17 is moveable along the elongate opening 16. When the tab 17 abuts against one end of the opening 16 the shutter is in a position relative to the container's circumferential wall 3 such that the shutter apertures 18 are not aligned with the apertures 4, 6 of the container's circumferential and end walls 3, 20. In this position, the material of the shutter 12 blocks the apertures 4, 6. The container is therefore substantially sealed and no bait can escape.

When the tab 17 is moved towards the opposite end of the elongate opening 16, the shutter 12 rotates relative to the container 2 about the longitudinal axis of the container. The apertures in the walls of the shutter gradually come into alignment with the apertures in the walls of the container. When the tab 17 reaches and abuts the opposite end of the opening 16, the apertures of the container and the shutter are totally aligned. In this position, therefore, the aperture size of the apparatus 1 for the escape of bait from the container is at a maximum.

The tab 17 may be set to adjust the effective size of the apertures as desired. Clearly, factors such as the turbulence of the water into which the apparatus is to be cast, and the size of the bait to be used will be considered when the aperture size is being set.

Once the effective aperture size of the apparatus 1 has been set, the apparatus 1 is fixed to a fishing line 23, as shown in Figure 7. The line divides at point X into terminal lines 23a and 23b. Line 2.1a is threaded through the eye 14 and the apparatus is tied to the line 23a. The hook 24 on line 23b is baited, for example with casters, and the hook and apparatus are cast, for example into a river. The ballast weight 13 maintains the apparatus 1 under the surface of the water, and the river current flows in the direction indicated by arrow A into the apparatus through the apertures 11 in the cap 8. The position of the apparatus 1 in the water relative to the current flow means that the current encourages the casters 25 to exit through the apertures 4 and 6 in the container 2 and travel downstream to encourage fish to approach the baited hook 24.

If the apparatus is intended only to be used in still water, for example in a lake, there is no requirement for apertures 11 in the cap 8, as the bait can escape through the apertures in the circumferential wall of the container into the surrounding still waters without assistance from external water turbulence. This delivery of bait would be slower than the current- assisted delivery described previously, but the aperture size could be increased accordingly to compensate for this by adjustment of the shutter.

Claims

1 Apparatus for variable rate delivery of bait, comprising a bait container and means to allow attachment of the container to a fishing line, wherein the container has a resealable opening to allow bait to be placed in the container and a wall with one or more apertures therethrough which allow bait to exit from the container, and there being adjustable means at the container to vary the effective size of the aperture, or at least some of the apertures, to increase or decrease the rate of delivery of bait from the 10 container to the external environment.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container is substantially cylindrical in shape.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the container has a number of apertures in a circumferential wall thereof, the apertures being spaced along the length of the container, and the adjustable means being operable to vary the effective size of the apertures in said wall.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the container has an end wall having an aperture or apertures therein which allow bait to exit from the container at that wall, and the adjustable means is operable to vary the effective size of the aperture or apertures in the end wall.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the means to vary the effective size of the aperture or apertures in the wall or walls of the container comprises a shutter having an aperture or apertures therethrough registrable with the aperture or apertures of the container.

12

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the shutter is moveable relative to the container between a position in which the aperture or apertures in the shutter fully align with the aperture or apertures in the wall or walls of the container and other positions in which the aperture or apertures of the shutter misalign to varying extents with the aperture or apertures of the container.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6 as dependent from claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the shutter is of cylindrical or part-cylindrical cross-section comparable to the cylindrical shape of the container.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the shutter is provided, as a sleeve, inside the container.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the shutter is inserted into the container by way of the resealable opening and the container has an inwardly flanged rim at said opening whereby the shutter is restrained from withdrawal from the container.

10. Apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the shutter is rotatable relative to the container for varying the size of the aperture or apertures in the container.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, or claim 10 as dependent from claim 8, wherein the shutter has a tab which protrudes through an opening in the circumferential wall, the opening being shaped to allow the tab to be moved therein to move the shutter relative to the container.

12. Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, or claim 10 as dependent from claim 8, wherein the shutter has an end, or a part at an end, which protrudes from a corresponding end of the container to provide a portion which can be gripped for moving the shutter relative to the container.

13. Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, or claim 10 as dependent from claim 8, wherein the shutter has a part engageable by a key or other tool to move the shutter relative to the container.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the resealable opening of the container has a removable cap or lid which is fitted to the container.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the removable cap or lid engages the container with a snap-fit.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the cap or lid is pivotally attached to the container.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the cap or lid is attached to the container by a flexible tie.

18. Apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 17 wherein the cap or lid has one or more apertures therein by which water can enter into the container when the apparatus is submerged in use in flowing water to encourage bait to exit from the container by way of the aperture or apertures of variable size.

14

19. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the means to allow attachment of the container to a fishing line comprises a protrusion extending from the container having an eye through which the fishing line can be threaded.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the protrusion is proximal to or at an end of the container.

21. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the container 10 include a ballast weight.

22. Apparatus for variable rate delivery of bait substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.