GB2448075A

GB2448075A - Fishing bait apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2448075A
Application number: GB0805676A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Wootton
Original assignee: MIDDY TACKLE INTERNAT Ltd
Current assignee: MIDDY TACKLE INTERNAT Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-28
Filing date: 2008-03-28
Publication date: 2008-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2028-03-28
Also published as: GB0805676D0; GB0705947D0; GB2448075B

Abstract

A fishing bait apparatus 10 comprising a body 12 having a cavity 18 into which bait 50 can be placed. Moving means 20 are provided for moving the bait out of the cavity. The moving means is movable between an extended and retracted position and can take the form of a helical spring. The body can be made from translucent plastics material and can be provided with vent apertures 26, holes for the ingress of fluid 24 and buoyancy means. The apparatus can be used to place bait at a specific location.

Description

FISHING BAIT APPARATUS

The present invention relates to fishing bait apparatus.

In the sport of angling, in which a rod and line are used to catch a fish, it is known to secure bait to the line in the vicinity of the hook to attract fish to the vicinity of the hook. Known arrangements attempt to ensure that the bait remains in place in the vicinity of the hook while the hook is positioned in water. Generally the bait is in the form of a moist granular material, and in the known arrangements the bait is compressed into a holder. Such arrangements either rely on the fish taking the bait from the holder, or the movement of water around the holder dispersing the bait. In either case, the timing and positioning of release of the bait is uncertain. The bait is relatively inaccessible to the fish. In some arrangements, the hook is located within the bait material on the holder, but this has the disadvantage that the movement of the hook caused by the fish taking the hook is not immediately apparent to the fisherman.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided * *, 20 fishing bait apparatus, the apparatus including a body defining a cavity in which material is receivable and moving means for moving the material out of the cavity. S. *S * * S * S

Possibly, the moving means include a moving member, which may be movable within the cavity, and may be movable between a retracted position and an extended position. Possibly the moving member is slidably movable :: within the cavity, and is movable along the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

Possibly the moving member is of substantially the same cross sectional shape and size as the cavity.

Possibly the moving means include biasing means, which may bias the moving member to the extended position. Possibly the biasing means include a spring, which may be a helical spring.

Possibly the cavity is of a substantially constant cross sectional area along the longitudinal axis, and may at one end form a mouth. Possibly, in the extended position, the moving member is located substantially at or adjacent to the mouth.

Possibly the body includes gripping means to grip the material in the cavity in use. The gripping means may include one or more gripping apertures which may be defined by the body.

Possibly, the body includes a side wall or walls and an end wall, which together define the cavity.

Possibly the body includes fluid communication means, which may permit communication of fluid through the side wall or walls into the cavity.

Possibly the fluid communication means include one or more apertures defined by the side walls. * ** * * * * .e

Possibly, the fluid communication apertures also form the gripping apertures. Possibly the body includes vent means, which may permit venting behind the moving member. Possibly the vent means include vent apertures, which may be defined in the end wall.

*.****

I

Possibly the fishing apparatus includes movement control means, which may control the relative movement of the moving member and the body. Possibly the movement control means include a stem member, which may extend along the longitudinal axis of the cavity Possibly the body is mounted to the stem member. Possibly, the stem member may pass through a stem aperture defined by the body.

Possibly the moving member is mounted to the stem member. Possibly the stem member passes through a stem aperture defined by the moving member.

Possibly the stem member includes limit means for limiting the relative movement of the moving member and the body. Possibly the limit means include stop formations.

Possibly the stem member defines a longitudinal passage therethrough. Possibly the fishing line is extendable along the passage in use.

Possibly the fishing apparatus includes weight means, which may include a weight, which may be mounted to the body.

Possibly the fishing apparatus includes buoyancy means, which may include a float. Possibly the float is mounted to the stem member.

Possibly the material is a bait material, which may be attractive to fish. * **

Possibly the body is formed of plastics material, and may be formed of a plastics material which is translucent. S. *S * S *

* .:. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing material at a location, the method including the step of providing fishing bait apparatus at or near to the location, the fishing bait apparatus including a body defining a cavity in which material is receivable and moving means for moving the material out of the cavity.

Possibly, the fishing bait apparatus is as described above in the preceding paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of fishing bait apparatus; Figure 2 is a side cross sectional view of the fishing apparatus in use; Figure 3 is a side, part cross sectional view of the fishing apparatus in use; Fig 4 is a side cross sectional view of another fishing apparatus in use in a loaded condition; and Fig 5 is a side cross sectional view of the apparatus of Fig 4 in a discharged condition.

Figure 1 shows fishing bait apparatus 10 in an exploded perspective view. The apparatus 10 includes a body 12 which is substantially cylindrical and includes a side wall 14 and an end wall 16 which together define a cavity * 20 18 which extends along the longitudinal axis of the body 12. The cavity 18 is substantially constant in cross sectional area along the longitudinal axis and at one end forms a mouth 22. I. *. * * *

* The side wall 14 defines a plurality of side wall apertures 24 which are flared, increasing in size from inside to outside. The end wall 16 defines a plurality of end wall apertures 26.

The fishing bait apparatus 10 includes a weight 30 which is mounted to the side wall 14 of the body 12, so that the weight 30 extends along the length of the body 12. The weight 30 could be attached to the body by any suitable means, such as adhesive.

The fishing bait apparatus 10 includes moving means, the moving means including a moving member 20. The moving member 20 includes a domed part 46 which defines a plurality of moving member apertures 28 and a side wall 48 which extends from the perimeter of the dome part 46.

The moving means also includes biasing means in the form of a helical spring 44.

The fishing bait apparatus 10 includes movement control means, the movement control means including a stem member 32 which is substantially cylindrical in shape, defining a longitudinal passage 36 therethrough. The stem member 32 includes limit means in the form of a pair of relatively enlarged stop formations 34, one stop formation 34 being located at each end of the stem member 32. In an initial condition, one of the stop formations 34 is separate to the stem member 32.

The fishing bait apparatus 10 is assembled as follows. The stem member 32, without one of the stop formations 34 attached, is passed through a stem aperture 56 defined by the domed part 46 of the moving member 20, through the helical spring 44, and then through a stem aperture 54 defined by * the end wall 16 of the body 12. The separate stop formation 34 is then attached to the stem member 32, each of the stop formations 34 being sized to not pass through either of the end wall stem aperture 54 or the moving member stem aperture 56.

In the assembled condition, the body 12 and the moving member 20 ** ** : * . are both mounted to the stem member 32 between the stop formations 34, and are both relatively movable along the stem member 32. The moving member 20 is a relatively close, sliding fit to the inside of the side wall 14. The spring 44 is positioned between the moving member 20 and the end wall 16 of the body 12. The spring 44 biases the moving member 20 to an extended position, in which the moving member 20 is located at or adjacent to the mouth 22. In the extended condition, one stop formation 34 abuts the outside of the end wall 16 of the body 12, and the other stop formation 34 abuts the outside' of the domed part 46 of the moving member 28.

The fishing bait apparatus 10 is used as follows. A fishing line 38 is fed through the passage 36 and attached to a connector 42. The connector 42 could have an enlarged part, which can't pass through the passage 36, the connector 42 thus forming a limit to movement of the fishing bait apparatus 10 along the line 38. A further length of line 58 is attached to the connector 42 and extends to a hook 40. The further length of line 58 thus defines the maximum spacing of the hook 40 from the fishing bait apparatus 10.

Figure 2 shows the fishing bait apparatus 10 in a loaded condition, in which bait material 50 has been packed into the cavity 18, moving the moving member 28 from the extended condition to a retracted condition, in which the coil spring 44 is compressed. The fishing bait apparatus 10 is loaded by a user, who could be an angler, in a dry condition, the bait material 50 being a granular, moist material, for example the bait material 50 could comprise bread crumbs or a pellet mix. The bait material 50 is sticky, and in the loaded * 20 condition is packed so as to protrude slightly through the side wall apertures ::: 24. The side wail apertures 24 thus provide gripping means for gripping the bait material 50 to prevent it from being immediately ejected from the cavity * S

S

S S..

Typically the line 38 is attached to a rod, and the angler casts the hook with the fishing bait apparatus 10, so that the hook 40 enters the water and I. * . sinks to the bed 52, the weight 30 ensuring that the fishing bait apparatus 10 sinks to the bed 52 and lies on the bed 52 with the longitudinal axis substantially horizontal, It will be noted that the mouth 22 of the cavity 18 is aligned generally towards the hook 40.

On entering the water, water surrounds the bait apparatus 10. The side wall apertures 22 permit communication of the water as shown by arrows A in Fig. 2 through the side walls 14 into the cavity 18, softening the bait material in the vicinity of the side wall apertures 24. The side wall apertures 22 thus provide fluid communication means.

The action of the water both softens the bait material 50 and provides lubrication, so that shortly after entering the water, the resistance of the bait material 50 to the movement of the moving member 20 actuated by the biasing effect of the compressed spring 44 is reduced, and the spring 44 extends, moving the moving member 20 from the retracted position to the extended position, expelling the bait material 50 from the cavity 18 into the water towards and around the hook 40 as shown by arrows B in Figure 3.

Thus the bait apparatus 10 of the present invention provides a means of providing bait material 50 to the hook 40, increasing the chance that a fish 62, attracted by the bait material 50 will be caught by the hook 40. The provision of the moving means ensures that the bait material 50 is dispersed, increasing the accessibility of the bait material 50 to the fish, without the * 20 necessity of relying on the movement of water. Thus, the fishing bait apparatus of the present invention is particularly suitable for fishing in still water. . *a p. *

* .:. It will be noted that end wall apertures 26 provide fluid communication between the outside of the body 12 and a space 60 defined between the end waIl 16 and the moving member 20, thus permitting venting of the space 60.

The moving member apertures 28 also permit water to flow from the outside, through the end wall apertures 26, through the moving member apertures 28 and into the bait material 50 in the cavity 18, thus allowing more rapid softening of the bait material 50. The venting of the space 60 ensures that there is no pressure differential which might impede the movement of the moving member 20.

It will be noted from Figure 2 that the packing of the bait material 50 in the cavity 18 around the line 38 effectively immobilises the line 38 relative to the bait apparatus 10. However, when the bait material 50 is released, as shown in Figure 3, the apparatus 10 is again free to move along the line 38, so that if the hook 40 is taken by a fish so that the hook 40 is moved, the angler would immediately be made aware of the taking of the hook 40 by the movement of an indicator (not shown) on the line 38.

The body 12, stem member 32, and moving member 20 could be formed of any suitable material. In one example, the stem member 52 could be formed of an opaque, relatively dark coloured plastics material, and the body 12 and the moving member 20 could be formed of a translucent plastics material.

The flaring of the side walls apertures 24 from a relatively small area at the inside surface of the side walls 14, to a relatively larger area on the outside surface of the side walls 14 helps to ensure that the protrusion of the bait material 50 through the side wall apertures 24 is not excessive but can be relatively easily overcome by the spring 44.

S

The bait apparatus 10 ensures that the bait material 50 is located in the vicinity of the hook 40, thus rnaximising the chance of a fish being caught by the hook 40 and reducing wastage of the bait material 50. However, effective use of the bait apparatus 10 still requires the angler to exercise a degree of skill and experience. For example, the speed and the manner of release of the bait material 50 will be determined by the packing density of the bait material in the cavity 18 and the strength of the spring 44.

Figs 4 and 5 show another fishing bait apparatus 110 according to the invention, many features of which are the same or similar to those previously described in relation to the embodiment shown in figs I to 3. Where features are the same or similar, the same reference numerals have been used, and these features will not be described again in detail for the sake of brevity.

The fishing bait apparatus 110 includes a body 12 defining a cavity 18 in which the bait material 50 is receivable. The apparatus 110 includes moving means, the moving means including a moving member 20. The moving member 20 and the body 12 are mounted to a stem member 34.

The fishing bait apparatus 110 includes buoyancy means in the form of a float 60 which is mounted to one end of the stem member 34, adjacent to the mouth 22 of the body 12.

The fishing bait apparatus 110 includes a weight 30 which is mounted to an opposite end of the stem member 34. The weight 30 includes a loop 68.

The fishing line 38 passes through the loop 68. A hook 40 is mounted to the fishing line 38. The fishing bait apparatus 110 could be secured in position on the line 38 by tying a knot, or by the clamping of lead pellets on the tine 38 on either side of the loop 68.

In one example, the float 60 could be rigidly attached to the stem * ** member 34. In another example, the float 60 could be movably attached, for

example by a line. ** S. * S S

* In use, the body 12 of the fishing bait apparatus 110 is filled with bait material 50 as previously described, so that the moving member 20 is moved to the retracted position. The angler casts or places the line 38 with the hook and the fishing bait apparatus 110 into the water. In the water, the float 60 is partially submerged beneath the water surface 66. The weight 30 sinks, so that the stem member 34 is in a substantially vertical position, with the body 12 directly below the float 60, the weight 30 directly below the body 12, and the hook 40 generally below the weight 30.

After a period of time, the action of the water softens the bait material as described previously and the moving member 20 moves from the retracted to the extended position, actuated by the spring 44, expelling the bait material 50 from the cavity 18 through the mouth 22 into the water.

Initially, the direction of motion of the bait material 50 is upwards out of the mouth 22. In still water, the bait material 50 then settles and moves downwards around the hook 40 as shown by arrows B in fig 5. The fish 62 attracted by the bait material 50 may then take the hook 40, causing the float to bob, indicating that a fish has been caught. I0

The advantage of the use of the float 60 is that it permits orientation of the body 12 with the mouth 22 upward, so that when the bait material 50 is released, it forms a more widely dispersed cloud. The use of the float 60 allows the angler to vary the height of the hook 40 and the body 12 in the water.

The body 12 could be orientated in any suitable orientation relative to the hook 40 and/or the float 60. ***.

Various other modifications can be made without departing from scope of the invention. The bait apparatus 10 could be of any suitable size and S. shape. The body 12 could be of a suitable size and shape, and could be :" formed of any suitable material. The side waIls, end wall and moving member could define any suitable number of apertures. The biasing means could be of any suitable type. The stem member 32 could be of any suitable length.

There is thus provided fishing bait apparatus which enables the angler to provide bait material to attract a fish accurately and repeatedly in the vicinity of a hook in a variety of water conditions, including still water. The apparatus is mechanically relatively simple, economical to manufacture and assemble, easy to clean, and is easy to operate, yet provides the angler with an opportunity to improve his technique by using skill and gaining experience, thus increasing his enjoyment.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon. * *. * S * * *. *S* * S *SS*

* *, 20 S. * * S S..

S

S .e... S * S. **

S S

S

Claims

1. Fishing bait apparatus the apparatus including a body defining a cavity in which material is receivable and moving means for moving the material out of the cavity.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the moving means include a moving member which is moveable within the cavity.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, in which the moving member is movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

4. An apparatus according to claims 2 or 3, in which the moving member is slidably movable within the cavity, and is movable along the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

5. An apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 4, in which the moving member is of substantially the same cross sectional shape and size as the cavity. * S.

***** 20 **.S

6. An apparatus according to claim 3 or any claims dependent thereon, in which the moving means include biasing means, which bias the moving member to the extended position.

I. *5**

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, in which the biasing means include a spring.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, in which the biasing means include a helical spring.

9. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cavity is of a substantially constant cross sectional area along the longitudinal axis, and at one end forms a mouth.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 3 or any claim dependent thereon, in which in the extended position, the moving member is located substantially at or adjacent to the mouth.

11. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the body includes gripping means to grip the material in the cavity in use.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, in which the gripping means includes one or more gripping apertures which are defined by the body.

13. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the body includes a side wall or walls and an end wall, which together define the cavity.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, in which the body includes fluid communication means, which permit communication of fluid through the side wall or walls into the cavity.

*.

15. An apparatus according claim 16, in which the fluid communication * ** ***.* 20 means includes one or more apertures defined by the side walls. **S*

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 when dependent on claim 12 or any ciaims dependent thereon, in which the fluid communication apertures also form the gripping apertures.

S **.. 25. .

17. An apparatus according to claim 2 or any claims dependent thereon, in which the body includes vent means which permit venting behind the moving member.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17,, in which the vent means include vent apertures.

19. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the fishing apparatus includes movement control means.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 when dependent on claim 2 or claim dependent thereon, in which the movement control means control the relative movement of the moving member and the body.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, in which the movement control means include a stem member.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, in which the body is mounted to the stem member.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, in which the stem member passes through a stem aperture defined by the body.

24. An apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 23, in which the moving member is mounted to the stem member.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, in which the stem member passes through a stem aperture defined by the moving member. *S.. * * S..

26. An apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 25, in which the stem S. ** : . member includes limit means for limiting the relative movement of the moving nie,m. dna me ooay.

S S...

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, in which the limit means include stop formations.

28. An apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 27, in which the stem member defines a longitudinal passage therethrough.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28, in which a fishing line is extendable along the passage in use.

30. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the fishing apparatus includes weight means.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, in which the weight means include a weight.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, in which the weight is mounted to the body.

33. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the apparatus includes buoyancy means.

34. An apparatus according to claim 33, in which the buoyancy means include a float.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34 when dependent on claim 21 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the float is mounted to the stem member. * *. * S * * *5

36. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the material is a bait material.

37. An apparatus according to any ot the preceding claims, in which the : body is formed of plastics material.

*.. 25 * S

38. An apparatus according to claim 37, in which the plastics material is translucent.

39. A method of providing material at a location, the method including the step of providing fishing bait apparatus at or near to the location, the fishing bait apparatus including a body defining a cavity in which material is receivable and moving means for moving the material out of the cavity.

40. A method according to claim 39, in which the fishing bait apparatus is as defined in any of claims I to 38.

41. A fishing bait apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

42. A method of providing material at a location substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. I0

43. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims. * ** * 0 * .0 **** 20 *. .. * . S..

S I.... * 25 * *. * S

S