GB2398470A

GB2398470A - Bait distributor

Info

Publication number: GB2398470A
Application number: GB0303537A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis Mcfetrich
Original assignee: MCF DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Current assignee: MCF DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-17
Filing date: 2003-02-17
Publication date: 2004-08-25
Also published as: GB0303537D0

Abstract

A bait distributor (1) comprising a body (2) having respective front and rear ends (3,4) and casting and retrieval means (14) which is attached to the front end (3) of the body (2) and which is engag(e)able detachably, directly or indirectly, with the rear end (4) of the body (2), the arrangement being such that during casting, the distributor (1) travels through the air in a forward direction with the casting and retrieval means (14) engaged detachably with the rear end (4) of the body (2) and during retrieval said means (14) is detached from the rear end (4) of the body (2), to permit the distributor (1) to move through the water in a forward direction.

Description

BAIT DISTRIBUTOR

1)ESCRIPTION 5This invention relates to a bait distributor for distributing bait in a fishing area.

It is known to provide bait distributors which are aerodynamic and generally rocket-shaped, with a 1() generally aerodynamic body and a set of fins at the rear end thereof. Also at the rear end thereof, there is provided means, usually a loop or other piece of bent wire, for attaching a line to the distributor for casting and retrieval purposes.

When this known type of bait distributor is cast into the water in a fishing area, it assumes a generally vertical condition, with its front end uppermost. In this manner, the bait contained within the distributor can float therefrom under gravity into the fishing area. Once the bait has been so- distributed, the user will reel-in the empty distributor. This reeling-in is carried out with the distributor moving rearwardly through the water, because its rear end is attached to the fishing line.

Due to the generally non-aerodynamic shape of the rear end of the distributor, its path through the water during retrieval tends to be zigzag or otherwise serpentine, due mainly to the undesirable diverting action of the fins. As a consequence, reeling-in of the distributor is made difficult and places e: ces c. : : : : : l À unnecessary and excessive tensions upon the associated fishing line.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially reduce, the disadvantages associated with the known types of bait distributor discussed above.

Accordingly, the invention provides a bait distributor comprising a body having respective front and rear ends and casting and retrieval means which is attached to the front end of the body and which is engagable detachably, directly or indirectly, with the rear end of the body, the arrangement being such that during casting, the distributor travels through the air in a forward direction with the casting and retrieval means engaged detachably with the rear end of the body and during 2() retrieval said means is detached from the rear end of the body, to permit the distributor to move through the water in a forward direction.

In a preferred embodiment of bait distributor to be described in more detailed hereinbelow, the casting and retrieval means comprises a flexible member, such as a cord, having one end attached to the front end of the distributor body and having its other end attachable to a fishing line. Between to the two ends of the elongate member, an element is provided for detachable engagement with the rear end of the distributor body.

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Such engagement may be provided between the clement, which is preferably spherical and, optionally, buoyant, nesting with a suitably-shaped length of wire attached to the rear end of the body.

As indicated above, such element is engaged detachably with the rear end of the body, for example, via the wire length, during casting of the distributor into a fishing area.

On impact with the water in that fishing area, the detachable element or other means disengages from the rear end of the body, enabling the distributor to be retrieved through the water in a forward direction along a generally straight or smoothly curved path.

The body of the distributor is preferably aerodynamically-shaped, such as rocket-shaped, 2() possibly with guidance fins located in the region of the rear end of the body.

The body may be provided with one or more through-holes for other apertures through which bait contained in the body can be distributed therefrom, as well as through a preferably open rear end thereof, shortly after the distributor has impacted with the water in the desired fishing area.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a bait distributor in accordance therewith *: .e À :: t.

: c: #:e.e will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 to 4 are respective plan, side s elevational, perspective and rear end views of a bait distributor tin its ready-for-use condition; and Figure 5 is a plan view of the bait distributor shown in Figures 1 to 4 but in its after-use, 1() retrievable condition.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, a bait distributor, indicated generally at 1, comprises an aerodynamic, generally cylindrical body 2 having a domed front end 3 and an open rear end 4.

Four axially-extending fins 5 are spaced evenly around the periphery of the body 2 in the region of the open rear end 4 thereof, to facilitate forward directional flight of the distributor 1 when in use.

Extending axially along the body 2 of the distributor 1 is a plurality of rows of through holes 6.

In the region of the rear end 4 of the distributor body 2, a length, indicated generally at 7, of bent, generally V-shaped wire is mounted to an opposed pair of fins 5.

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In more detail, the generally parallel, otherwise free end of each arm 8 of the V-shaped wire length 7 has been bent into a substantially closed loop 9 which is located within a generally U-shaped slot, with arms 10, 11 of unequal length, in a respective one of the diametrically- opposed pair of fins 5.

When the loops 9 are located within the shorter arm 11 of the U-shaped slots, the V-shaped wire length 7 is maintained firmly with respect to the body 2 in the position shown in Figures 1 to 5.

When the loops 9 are located in the longer arms of the U-shaped slots in the diametrically-opposed fins 5, the V-shaped wire length 7 can be rotated from side-to-side with respect to the body 2 about an axis passing generally through the closed loops 9.

The other end 12 of the V-shaped wire length 7 is generally U-shaped and, also, is inclined at an angle of approximately 30 to the pair of arms S. lo the front end 3 of the distributor body 2 is secured one end of a flexible cord 14, the other end (not shown) of the cord being attached to a swivel (also not shown) for connection to a fishing line in known manner.

Threaded upon the cord 14 is a buoyant spherical element 15 which is arranged to slide along the cord 14 within predetermined limits.

: :: . c: As can be seen from Fiqures 1 to 4, the element engages in a complementary manner with the U-shaped end 12 of the V-shaped wire length 7. The dimensions and configuration of that end 12 and the element 15 s are determined in such a manner that the element 15 is able to nest therewith.

In use of the bait dispenser 1, the body 2 is at least partially filled, via its open rear end 4, with bait, the spherical element 15 is nested with the end 12 of the V-shaped wire length 7 and the swive] (not shown) is connected to a fishing line.

Then, the fishing line is cast, thereby air launching the bait-filled distributor 1, with the distributor 1 flying forwardly through the air and with the element 15 still engaged with the V-shaped wire length end 12.

Upon impact with the water and consequential slack in the fishing line, the element 15 detaches from the V-shaped wire length end 12 and the distributor 1 settles in the water in a generally vertical condition, with its front end 3 uppermost.

In this position of the distributor 1, the bait inside the body 2 thereof can sink downwardly under gravity into the water via the open end 4 and/or the aperture 6 of the distributor 1.

À . . À . When the user decides that sufficient bait has been distributed from the body 2, the distributor 1 can be retrieved by reeling-in the fishing line.

Because the cord 14 is now connected to the distributor at only the front end 3 thereof, the distributor 1 is pulled through the water front end first.

Dice to the aerodynamic configuration of the bait distributor 1, it is pulled through the water in a generally straight or gently curved path, rather than carrying out a zig-zag or other serpenteric route, as

in the case of the prior art bait distributors. 1.s

It is to be appreciated that the pair of loops 9 of the V-shaped wire length 7 may be used in either arm 10 or 11 of the U-shaped grooves in the diametrically-opposed pair of fins 5, depending upon fishing conditions and the immediate environment.

Claims

l A bait distributor comprising a body having respective front and rear ends and casting and retrieval means which is attached to the front end of the body and which is engagable detachably, directly or indirectly, with the rear end of the body, the arrangement being such that during casting, the distributor travels through the air in a forward direction with the casting and retrieval means engaged detachably with the rear end of the body and during retrieval said means is detached from the rear end of the body, to permit the distributor to move through the water in a forward direction.
2 A bait distributor as claimed in claim l, wherein said casting and retrieval means comprises a flexible member, such as a cord, having one end attached to the front end of the distributor body and having its other end attachable to a fishing line.
3. A bait distributor as claimed in claim 2, wherein, between the two ends of the elongate member, an element is provided for detachable engagement with the rear end of the distributor body.
4. A bait distributor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said engagement between the element nesting with a suitably-shaped length of wire attached to the rear end of the body.
5. A bait distributor as claimed in claim 3 or wherein the element is spheroidal.
6. A bait distributor as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the element is buoyant.
7. A bait distributor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body of the distributor is aerodynamically-shaped.
8. A bait distributor as claimed in claim 7, wherein the body is rocketshaped.
9. A bait distributor as claimed in claim 7 or 8 including guidance fins located in the region of the rear end of the body.
10. A bait distributor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body is provided with one or more through-holes or other apertures through which bait contained in the body can be distributed therefrom.
11. A bait distributor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body has an open rear end.
12. A bait distributor substantially as herein after described with reference to the accompanying drawings.