GB2355171A

GB2355171A - Bait casting device

Info

Publication number: GB2355171A
Application number: GB9921974A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Albert Partridge; Maxwell Stewart Cottis
Original assignee: Fox Design International Ltd
Current assignee: Fox Design International Ltd
Priority date: 1999-09-16
Filing date: 1999-09-16
Publication date: 2001-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-16
Also published as: GB9921974D0; GB2355171B

Abstract

A bait casting device (10) comprising a receptacle (12) for receiving bait (34) when the device is in use, aperture defining means (18) of the receptacle (12) through which bait (34) can be released after the device has been cast and at least one door (20) mounted on the receptacle (12) to cover the aperture (18). The device (10) has attachment means (24, 26) to which a fishing line (32) can be directly or indirectly connected. As a result, when the line (32) is taut, the door (20) is urged into a closed position. The device (10) is so constructed that, in the absence of tension in the line (32), after the device (10) has been cast, the door (20) is urged into an open position.

Description

2355171 A bait casting device The present invention relates to a bait

casting device.

Previously proposed devices suffer the disadvantage that bait can spill out from the device when it is cast, and each has an open end which offers significant resistance to retrieval of the device when the user draws it back in over the water surface.

The present invention seeks to provide a remedy.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a bait casting device comprising a receptacle for receiving bait when the device is in use, aperture defining means of the receptacle through which bait can be released after the device has been cast and at least one door mounted on the receptacle to cover the aperture, the device having attachment means to which a fishing line can be directly or indirectly connected, such that when the line is taut, the door is urged into a closed position, the device being so constructed that, in the absence of tension in the line, after the device has been cast, the door is urged into an open position.

Preferably, the or each door is hingedly mounted onthe receptacle, with the attachment means being arranged on the door such that tension in the line tends to pivot the door about its hinged connection to a closed position.

The hinges on the door are so constructed that in the absence of tension on the line, with an intended orientation of the device, the or each door tends to open under the force of gravity.

Preferably, there are two or more doors which cover the aperture. Each door may have a respective string or other elongate member connecting it to a fishing line when the device is in use.

Preferably, the or each door is streamlined in shape to reduce the resistance of the device as a whole to movement through air or water.

Advantageously, the receptacle is provided with a multiplicity of holes through its side walling to enable bait to pass therethrough.

One preferred shape for the receptacle is cylindrical. The aperture may in this case comprise an open end of the cylinder. The hinges may be on the rim of this open end of the cylinder.

The opposite end of the cylinder may be provided with a float- Fins may be provided around the outside of the receptacle to improve its flight characteristics.

The device may therefore have the appearance of a rocket.

An example of a bait casting device made in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevational view of the device; Figure 2 shows a side elevational, part-sectional view of the device shown in Figure I with the parts thereof removed for the sake of clarity, and with the doors thereof in an open position; Figure 3 shows an underneath view of the device shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a further underneath view of the device with the doors thereof in a closed position; Figure 5 shows a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1, but with doors thereof in an open position with the device floating in water in an upright orientation and with bait falling from the lower end thereof.

The bait casting device 10 shown in Figures 1 to 5 comprises a hollow cylinder 12 of approximately 2mm. thick synthetic plastics material having a forward end 14 to which a nose cone 16 is secured and a lower end 18 which is open so far as the construction of the cylinder is concerned, but which can be covered by streamlined doors attached to the lower end 18 of the cylinder 12 by way of respective hinges 22. The nose cone 16 constitutes a buoyant float when the device is in water. 25 Each door 20 is provided with a plastics spur 24 through which an attachment hole 26 extends. A piece of heavy gauge line, steel wire or other elongate material 28 is threaded through each hole 26. When the doors 20 are in their closed positions, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, they together form the same streamlined shape as the nose cone 16 at the other end of the cylinder 12. The position of each hole 26 is situated further from the extended axis of the cylinder 12 than the hinge 22.

The lines 28 extend from their respective holes 26 to a common connector 30 to which a fishing line 32 is connected.

As is evident from Figure 1, when there is tension in the 'Line 32 so that the lines 28 are taut, the doors are urged into their closed positions.

When there is no tension in the line 32 or the lines 28, the doors 20 are free to move to their open positions as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5.

Four fins 33 (only two or three of which are visible in some of the Figures) are uniformly angular spaced around the outside of the cylinder 12 to improve the flight characteristics and stability of the device.

When the bait casting device is put to use, the doors 20 are opened, and bait is inserted into -the cylinder 12. Water may be added as further weight and/or as a binder especially if the bait comprises small particles as with hemp seed and bird food. With a line 32 connected to the connector 30, the whole device including the bait inside the cylinder 12 is cast out on to the water by means of a rod to which the line 32 is connected. When the device is cast, the initial tension in the lines 28 ensures that the doors 20 are closed, and bait does not escape from the cylinder 12. The doors 20 remain closed as the device flies through theair nose cone 16 first, drawing out the line 32. Furthermore, the streamlining provided by the nose cone 16 and the doors 20 ensures an easy flight of the device through the air.

The door construction is strong and robust to take the stresses and strains experienced by the doors at this time.

After the device has struck water and has orientated itself in an upright position, as shown in Figure 5, by virtue of its buoyant nose cone 16 and the weight of the device and bait underneath the nose cone 16, the tension in the line 32 and the lines 28 is no longer present and the doors are free to open towards the positions shown in Figure 5 under the force of gravity. The bait 34 from within the cylinder 12 is now free to fall from the open end 18 of the cylinder 12.

Upon retrieval of the device, the streamlining of the doors 20 reduces the drag resistance as the device is pulled back and skips over the surface of the water.

Numerous variations and modifications to the illustrated device may occur to the reader without takingit outside the scope of the present invention.

For example, three doors 20 may be provided instead of two, each with their respective hinges 22, spurs 24, holes 26, and lines 28. When closed, they may have the same shape as the two doors shown in Figure 1, so that each door in a three-door construction is two- thirds the - r_ - size of the door in the illustrated two-door construction. Holes may be bored in the side walling of the cylinder 12 to further assist in the release of bait-, into the water. Fewer or more than four fins may be provided on the cylinder 12. The nose cone 16 may be brightly or fluorescently coloured so that the user may more readily see whether it is in the correct upright position in the water.

Claims

Claims:

I A bait casting device comprising a receptacle for receiving bait when the device is in use, aperture defining means of the recepT:aclc- through which bait can be released after the device has been cast and at 'Least one door mounted on the receptacle to cover the aperture, the device having attachment means to which a fishing 4 line can be directly or Mdirect-iy connected, such that when the line is taut, the door is urged into a closed position, the device being so constructed that, in the absence of tension in the line, after the device has been cast, the door is urged into an open position.
2. A device according to claim 1, in which the or each door JLs hingedly mounted on the receptacle, with the attachment means being arranged on the door such that tension in the line tends to pi:vot the door about its hinged connection to a closed position.
3. A device according to claim 2, in which the hinges on theor each door are so cons---ructed that in the absence of tension in the line, with an intended orientation. of the device, the or each door tends to open under the force of gravity.
4. A device according to any preceding claim, in which there are two or more doors which cover the aperture.
5. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the or each door has a or a respective string or other elongate member connecting it to a fishing Iine when the device is in use.
6. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the or each door is streamlined in shape to reduce the resistance of the device as a whole to movement through air or water.

3
7. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the receptacle is provided with a multiplicity of holes through its side walling to enable bait t o pa s s therethrough.
8. A device according to any preceding claim, in which 10 the receptacle is cylindrical in shape.
9. A device according to claim 8, in which the aperture comprises an open end of the cylinder.
10. A device according to claim 9, --I-n which the hinges are on the rim of the said open end of the cylinder.
11. A device according to claim 9 or claim 10, in which the opposite end of the cylinder is provided with a float.
12. A device according to any preceding claim, in which fins are provided around the outside of the receptacle to 20 improve its flight characteristics.
13. A device according to claim 12, in which the device has the appearance of a rocket.
14. A bait casting device substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.