GB2378113A

GB2378113A - Bait Stop

Info

Publication number: GB2378113A
Application number: GB0217837A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Preston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-01
Filing date: 2002-08-01
Publication date: 2003-02-05
Also published as: GB0118682D0; GB0217837D0

Abstract

A bait stop comprising first and second regions disposed to either side of an intermediate region, where the first and second regions have relatively large circumferential dimensions compared to the intermediate region, and an engagement region. Preferably the bait stop has a conical shape with its base (36) being the first region, and one or more ribs or fins (38) between the base and the apex (34) of the cone providing the second region. The engagement region may be a tapering internal bore (38) running through the cone. Preferably, the bait stop is formed of a resiliantly deformable material. Also claimed is a baiting needle (24, fig. 7) for use with the bait stop, and a baiting kit comprising a bating needle and one or more bait stops.

Description

Angler's Bait Stop This invention relates to bait stops for retaining bait in the vicinity of a fishing hook when fishing using a fishing rod or pole and line. Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, anglers often attach bait 10 to a hook 12 by means of a short length of extension line 14, otherwise known as a"hair" extending either directly from the hook as shown or attached to the line 16 immediately above the hook. This leaves the hook bare with the bait dangling nearby and with the hook exposed for hooking into the fish.

To attach the bait 10 to the hook 12, the extension line 14 has a loop 18 at its end remote from the hook 12 (see Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings). A baiting needle 20, with a hooked end 22 is pushed through the centre of the bait, the loop 18 is hooked over the hook 22 and the baiting needle 20 drawn back through the bait to thread the extension line through the bait. At this stage, the bait needs to be fixed in place to prevent it from slipping off the extension line while fishing. This is currently achieved by positioning a bait stop 24 in the loop 18 and pulling the bait down onto it to hold it in place. The bait stop then prevents the bait coming free (see Figure 4). The bait stop is typically of dumb bell shape, with symmetrical ends.

The problem with this procedure is that the bait stops are necessarily small, the loops are often small and the baits often relatively large, hard spheres of food called"boilies". To place this in context, the bait stops may typically be about 6mm in length with the loop being considerably smaller in diameter and it can be very difficult and time consuming to position the bait stop in place, particularly when this is being done outside. Whether fishing purely for pleasure or in an angling contest, the angler wishes to re-bait speedily so as to get on with the active part of fishing. There is therefore a need for some means of making the job of fitting a bait stop less fiddly.

Accordingly, in one aspect, this invention provides a bait stop comprising a body portion having first and second regions each having respective relatively large circumferential dimensions and disposed to either side of an intermediate region having a relatively small circumferential dimension, the body portion further including an engagement region for being releasably engaged in use by a tool.

The term "circumferential dimension" is intended to be interpreted broadly as meaning the dimension around the periphery of the body portion at a particular region, and is not intended to be limited to cross-sections of circular

form. ! n use the circumferentia ! dimensions of the first and second regions wi ! ! typically be selected having regard to the circumferential dimension of the loop in the extension line in which the bait stop is intended to be located, so that the bait stop is capable of being introduced into the loop but such that withdrawal therefrom is unlikely during normal use.

By this arrangement, the bait stop may be releasably attached to the end of an elongate tool, making it easier to locate the bait stop in the loop in the extension line in use.

In order to assist introduction of the bait stop into the loop in use, the body portion is preferably of generally conical external shape, with the base providing the second region of relatively large circumferential dimension, and one or more protrusions provided between the base and the apex defining said first region. This generally conical shape is designed to assist insertion of the bait stop into the loop as the apex or point of the cone assists the threading action.

The protrusions may take many forms but in one embodiment comprises one or more upstanding ribs or fins increasing in lateral extent with distance away from said apex. Preferably, two diametrically opposed ribs or fins are

provided whereby the cross-section of said bait stop at said first region is relatively thin and flat, making it difficult for the loop accidentally to become dislodged past said first region in use.

In one embodiment the generally conical shape of the body portion has a side of generally concave form, to increase the circumferential dimension of the second region.

Preferably, said engagement region comprises an outwardly open internal bore. In use an end of said tool may be inserted therein to be releasably held by friction. The internal bore may be tapered to diminish in width with distance into said body portion.

Preferably, the circumferential dimension of said first region is less than that of said second region. In this manner the bait stop may be designed with regard to a loop of standard dimension such that said first region may pass therethrough with slight clearance but that said second region is larger than the circumferential dimension of the loop and therefore may not pass therethrough.

Preferably, the bait stop is formed of a resiliently deformable material.

The invention also extends to a baiting kit including a baiting needle comprising a manually grippale handle, an elongate stem with a hooked portion at the end, and one or more bait stops as defined herein. In a preferred arrangement, the or each bait stop includes an engagement region in the form of an internal bore within which may releasably be located the hooked portion of said baiting needle.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a particular example thereof will now be described by way of example only, with reference to Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings in which :- Figure 1 is a view of a piece of bait attached to a hook by an extension line and retained by an existing bait stop; Figure 2 is a schematic view showing use of a baiting needle to thread a piece of bait onto an extension line ; Figure 3 is a view showing the bait threaded onto the extension line and leaving the loop in the extension line exposed; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing a bait stop located in the loop in the extension line ; Figure 5 is a view of a baiting needle having a bait stop of this invention removably attached thereto; Figure 6 is a general perspective view of an example of a bait stop of this invention; Figure 7 is a general view of a baiting needle for use with the bait stop of Figure 6, and Figure 8 is a view showing the baiting needle being used to insert a bait stop of Figure 6 through an extension line loop.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the embodiment disclosed with reference to Figures 5 to 8 provides a baiting needle 24 having a handle 26, a stem 28 and a hooked portion 30, with the hooked portion 30 inserted into a bait stop 32 to assist precise location of the bait stop 32 relative to a loop 18 in an extension line when the bait has been threaded onto the extension line as shown in Figure 3. The baiting needle thus acts as an applicator, getting where the angler's fingers cannot easily get.

Referring now to Figure 6 the bait stop 32 has a body portion of generally conical section although in this embodiment the cone has a generally concave side to provide a slender apex or point 34 and a broad base or second region 36 having a large circumferential dimension. A coaxial tapered bore 38 extends into the body portion from the base. Slightly back from the apex 34 are two diametrically opposed fins 38 having a gently inclined forward surface 40 and a rearward surface 42 extending generally perpendicular to the local surface of the cone. The circumferential dimension of the body portion at the fullest radial extent of the fins (otherwise referred to as the first region) is slightly less than that of the second region but considerably more than the region immediately behind the fins 38. The bait stop is preferably made of soft plastic or rubber material.

Referring now to Figure 7, the baiting needle has a roughly parallel hooked portion 30 with an end profile small enough to penetrate a piece of bait (whether pre-drilled or not) and acts as a hook for the extension line loop so as to be able to draw the extension line loop back through the bait in the manner illustrated schematically in Figure 2. The hooked end 30 is also designed to fit frictionally within the bore 38 of the bait stop and to hold the bait stop reasonably securely to allow it to be located in the loop 18 by pushing and twisting. The piece of bait is then pulled down onto the bait stop to keep it in place, and the baiting needle is then removed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A bait stop comprising a body portion having first and second regions each having respective relatively large circumferential dimensions and disposed to either side of an intermediate region having a relatively small circumferential dimension, the body portion further including an engagement region for being releasably engaged in use by a tool.
2. A bait stop according to Claim 1, wherein said body portion is of generally conical external shape with the base providing the second region and one or more protrusions provided between the base and the apex defining

said first region. lu ltiL
3. A bait stop according to Claim 2, wherein at least one of said one or more protrusions comprises an upstanding rib or fin increasing in lateral extent with distance away from said apex.
4. A bait stop according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said generally concave shape has sides of generally concave form.
5. A bait stop according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said engagement region comprises an outwardly open internal bore.
6. A bait stop according to Claim 5, wherein said internal bore is tapered to diminish in thickness with distance into said body portion.
7. A bait stop according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the circumference dimension of said first region is less than that of said second region.
8. A bait stop according to any of the preceding claims, formed of a resiliently deformable material.
9. A baiting kit including a baiting needle comprising a manually grippale handle, an elongate stem with a hooked portion at the end, and one or more bait stops as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

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10. A baiting needle for use in conjunction with a bait stop according to Claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, comprising a handle, an elongate stem extending from said handle and terminating in a hooked portion, wherein said hooked portion is dimensioned releasably frictionally to engage the internal bore of the bait stop.