GB2427991A - Angling float - Google Patents

Abstract

A float for use in angling, having a hollow body (12) through which extends a tube (20) sealed to the body (12) at opposite locations thereof. Also, a float for use in angling, having a hollow body (12) the outer shape of which is generally curved and streamlined with a generally round forward end and a tapering tail end so that it is generally teardrop in shape. The tube may be sealed at one location by a seal 18 having a rubber insert 26 adapted to accommodate a swivel.

Description

A float for use in angling A float for use in angling having a hollow body

so that the float is buoyant in water.

Hitherto an angling line has been tethered to the float. A disadvantage of this construction is that if the line snaps so that the fish is dragging the float through the water, it is possible for the float to become snagged in reeds for example so that the fish is tethered in position and will eventually die.

The present invention seeks to obviate this disadvantage.

Accordingly the present invention is directed to a float for use in angling, having a hollow body through which extends a tube sealed to the body at opposite locations thereof.

This provides the advantage that, in the event that the hook line breaks, so that the fish drags the float around with it, in the event of the float becoming snagged in reeds, for example, the line can pass through the tube so that the fish becomes free.

Preferably, the tube is sealed at one of the opposite locations on the float by means of a seal having a recess defined by walls made of a resilient material, the recess being adapted to accommodate a swivel.

This enables the swivel to be inserted into the recess so that it is gripped within the seal to retain the float in position on the line, but not so strongly that, in the event that the hook line breaks and the fish drags the float so that it is snagged in reeds, the fish is able to pull the swivel out of the recess, the remainder of the line attached to the swivel being drawn through the tube so that the fish is free to swim away without risk to its health.

A second aspect of the present invention is a float for use in angling, having a hollow body the outer shape of which is generally curved and streamlined with a generally round forward end and a tapering tail end so that it is generally teardrop in shape.

This has the advantage of that it will resist being dragged by a fish whilst facilitating its retrieval through the water by the angler.

A further benefit from this advantage can be obtained if the curvature of the exposed surfaces of the hollow body are substantially everywhere convex.

Preferably the aforesaid opposite locations are at the forward end and tail end of the float respectively.

An example of a float for use in angling embodying the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of the float; Figure 2 shows an axial sectional view of the float shown in Figure 1 taken in the plane indicated by the line 11-11 shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a further side view of the float shown in Figure 1 rotated through 90 about its axis relative to the angular orientation it has in Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows an exploded side view of the float shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The angling float 10 comprises a generally teardrop- shaped hollow plastics injection moulded curved and streamlined body 12 to one end of which is snap-fitted an elongate highly visible marker 14 via a plastics seal 16.

The latter are provided at the narrow end of the body 12.

The curvature of the exposed surfaces of the hollow body 12 are substantially everywhere convex.

At the forward blunt end of the body 12 there is provided a further plastics seal 18. A plastics tube 20 extends from one seal 16 to the other seal 18, and is received in respective annular lips 22 and 24 of the seals 16 and 18 respectively.

Both seals in 18 have through bores passing through them axially as does the antenna 14, so that a continuous through bore extends right the way through the float 10 so that it can be threaded onto angling line.

The seals 16 and 18 are made of a plastics material which is welded to the plastics material of the tube 20 and the hollow body 12 by ultrasonic welding.

The seal 18 is provided with a rubber insert 26 which has a recess for receiving a hook link. The recess may be stepped so that it has a successively reducing internal diameter progressing from its outer end to its inner end.

The float body 12 is provided with two apertures 28 which are normally sealed by plugs 30 but which can be opened by prising out the plugs 30 from the apertures 28 thus enabling the float to be partially filled with water to obtain the desired buoyancy for the float. The inner side of each plug 30 is provided with a pin 32 at the inner end of which there is provided a transverse retainer portion 34. This ensures that the plug 30 does not fall away from the body 12 when it is prised out from its associated aperture 28.

When the float is in use a hook line (not shown) can be threaded through the seal 18, the tube 20, the seal 16 and the marker 14. The hook line may be provided with a hook link and swivel (not shown) the swivel of which, as the hook line is drawn further through the float 10, is drawn into the rubber insert 26 until it finds the cross section of the rubber insert 26 which is sufficiently large to accommodate the swivel but at the same it is sufficiently small for the swivel to bite into it and be retained by it.

If the fish is caught by the hook (not shown) it will drag the float with it through the water in such a fashion that the broad front end of the float will create significant drag to assist the hook in penetrating the flesh of the fish's mouth. At the same time, should the hook line break at a position such that the fish continues to drag the float 10 around with it, in the event that the latter is snagged by reeds for example the fish will be able to pull the hook link out of the rubber insert 26 so that the hook line which remains beyond the hook link can be drawn through the tube 20 and the fish can readily swim away.

Numerous variations and modifications to the illustrated float may occur to the reader without taking it outside the scope of the present invention. For example, there may be more than two holes 28 and associated plugs 30. Whilst the rubber insert 26 has been shown recessed into the body 12 of the float, it might be received in a portion which extends further outwardly from the body 12 than is shown in the illustrated embodiment.

Claims (6)

1. Claims: 1. A float for use in angling, having a hollow body through which

   extends a tube sealed to the body at opposite locations thereof.
2. 2. A float according to claim 1, in which the tube is sealed at one of the opposite locations on the float by means of a seal having a recess defined by walls made of a resilient material, the recess being adapted to accommodate a swivel.
3. 3. A float for use in angling, having a hollow body the outer shape of which is generally curved and streamlined with a generally round forward end and a tapering tail end so that it is generally teardrop in shape.
4. 4. A float according to claim 3, in which the curvature of the exposed surfaces of the hollow body are substantially everywhere convex.
5. 5. A float according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the aforesaid opposite locations are at the forward end and tail end of the float respectively.
6. 6. A float for use in angling substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.