GB2437237A

GB2437237A - Marker float

Info

Publication number: GB2437237A
Application number: GB0607556A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Edward Bayes
Original assignee: NASH TACKLE Ltd
Current assignee: NASH TACKLE Ltd
Priority date: 2006-04-18
Filing date: 2006-04-18
Publication date: 2007-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-18
Also published as: GB2437237B; GB0607556D0

Abstract

A marker float is disclosed which comprises a buoyant body 102 incorporating an anchoring point 116 for a line which in use extends from a front end of the body, the body being designed to float in water with its rear end projecting above the water surface. In the invention, the front end of the body is formed with a bore for receiving the line 10 and the anchoring point 116 is located within the bore so as not to project from the front end of the body.

Description

MARKER FLOAT

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a marker float for use by anglers.

Background of the invention

Anglers use marker floats to determine water depth. A line passing through a ring attached to a lead weight is connected at its end to such a marker float. The line is cast so that the lead weight falls in the location at which the depth is to be gauged. On impact with the water, the float and the lead weight separate, the float moving towards the surface while the weight sinks to the bottom. The angler then reels in the line until resistance is met, this being indicated for example by bending of the rod tip. The increased resistance indicates that the marker float has been pulled down to the point where it has made contact with the lead weight. If the angler now releases the line slowly until the marker is again visible at the surface, he can gauge the depth of the water by the length of line that needed to be let out.

Conventional marker floats are aerodynamically shaped to assist in casting them to the desired location. They often consist of a buoyant body connected to the line at one end and fitted with flights at the other end. The end secured to the line is typically pointed and fitted with a swivel around which the line is knotted.

A serious inconvenience that is encountered in the use of such marker floats is that they tend to become entangled as they are pulled down into the water either on the ring attached to the lead weight or in weeds in the water. As a result, when the line is let out the float fails to rise to the surface.

Summary of the invention

With a view to mitigating this disadvantage, the present invention provides a marker float which comprises a buoyant body incorporating an anchoring point for a line which in use extends from a front end of the body, the body being designed to float in water with its rear end projecting above the water surface, characterised in that the front end of the body is formed with a bore for receiving the line and the anchoring point is located within the bore so as not to project from the front end of the body.

The marker float of the invention avoids the risk of entanglement by eliminating any sharp edges, knots or loose length of line at the front end of the float.

Preferably, the bore has a diameter larger than 5 mm.

This enables a line to be readily threaded through it and avoids weeds being jammed in it.

It is preferable for the open end of the bore not to have a sharp edge where it meets the surface of the front end of the body, as this could damage the line as the float is being cast.

It is advantageous for the bore in the front end of the buoyant body to be a through bore extending to the rear end of the float and to provide a cap to close off the bore at the rear end of the float, the line anchoring point being secured to the closure cap.

On its outer side, the cap may conveniently be fitted with flights which serve to provide aerodynamic drag when the float is cast and which project from the water surface to aid visibility.

As it is desirable to be able to change the flights depending on the prevailing weather and lighting conditions, the cap may be provided with a threaded connection for the flights to allow the flights to be interchanged.

For use at night, it is possible to incorporate a light within the float and this may be housed within the bore in the buoyant body or secured to the cap.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a rig for gauging water depth using a conventional marker float, and Figure 2 is a schematic section through a marker float of the present invention.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

Figure 1 shows a fishing line 10 passing through a ring 12 secured to a lead weight 14. The end of the line 10 is secured to a swivel 16 at the front end of a marker float 18 which has flights 20, as used on darts, projecting from its rear end. It is desirable for the ring 12 to be fairly large, so that the line 10 may pass through it freely. To prevent the marker float 18 from being pulled through the ring 12, the line 10 is often also passed through a ball 22 of larger diameter than the ring 12.

In use, the lead weight 14 and the ring 12 are slid to the end of the line and cast with the marker float into the area where the depth is to be gauged. After impact, the weight 14 sinks to the bottom 24 while the marker float 18 rises to the surface of the water 26, as shown in the drawing. The line 10 is next reeled in to pull the marker float 18 down through the water until is makes contact with the ring 12. At that point, increased resistance will then be met as movement of the line will now drag the lead weight 14 along the bottom. The angler may at this time continue to drag the weight to feel the texture of the bottom 24. Once a desirable location for the weight 14 has been found, the line 10 is released and the length of line needed before the marker float 18 can be seen again on the surface 28 of the water indicates the depth.

The problem encountered with the rig illustrated in Figure 1 is that weeds can become entangled around the front end (i.e. the end to which the line 10 is attached) of the marker float 18. The ball 22 increases the likelihood of entanglement and its omission can result in the float 18 being jammed in the ring 12. In any of these circumstances, the marker float 18 fails to rise to the surface when the line 10 is let out.

The marker float 118 of the invention, shown in Figure 2, overcomes these problems by avoiding anything at the front end of the marker float on which weed or debris may become entangled. The marker float 118 comprises a buoyant body 102, made of a closed cell foam or expanded polystyrene, fitted over a tube 104 having a diameter in excess of 5 mm. A plastics shield 106 is fitted to the tube 104 at its front end and its rear end is closed off by a cap 108. A swivel ring 116 is secured to the interior of the cap 108 while its exterior has a threaded bore for receiving the threaded shaft of interchangeable flights 120.

The purpose of the front shield 106 is to protect the front end of the buoyant body 102 when the float first hits the water as it is dragged down to the bottom of the water through weeds. The shield 106 is also rounded where it meets the tube 104. i.e. it has a smooth large radius, so that there is no risk of chafing or cutting through the line 10.

The cap 108 need only be a push fit in the tube 104 because it has no tendency to separate from it during use.

Because the cap 108 carries the swivel 116, the connection point of the marker float 118 to the line 10 is now hidden within bore of the tube 104 and there are no sharp edges or loose lengths of line protruding from the front end of the float 118.

The fact that the flights 120 are interchangeable allows the same float to be used under different lighting and weather conditions.

As is already known, a light may be incorporated within the float for use by night.

A further important advantage offered by the marker float of Figure 2 is that because the attachment point of the line is at the rear end of the float, the float is pushed rather than pulled when the line is reeled into to lower it into the water. Such pulling often resulted in the swivel 16 braking loose from the float 18.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A marker float which comprises a buoyant body incorporating an anchoring point for a line which in use extends from a front end of the body, the body being designed to float in water with its rear end projecting above the water surface, characterised in that the front end of the body is formed with a bore for receiving the line and the anchoring point is located within the bore so as not to project from the front end of the body.

2. A marker float as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bore has a diameter larger than 5 mm.

3. A marker float as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the open end of the bore has no sharp edge where it meets the surface of the front end of the body.

4. A marker float as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the bore in the front end of the buoyant body is a through bore extending to the rear end of the float and a cap is provided to close off the bore at the rear end of the float.

5. A marker float as claimed in claim 4, wherein the line anchoring point is secured to the closure cap.

6. A marker float as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the cap is fitted on its outer side with flights.

7. A marker float as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cap is provided with a threaded connection for the flights to allow the flights to be interchanged.

8. A marker float as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a light is incorporated within the float for use by night.

9. A marker float constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.