GB2451874A - Fishing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A projectile for conveying fishing bait to a desired location having: a tubular body 2 which is closed at the rear end and a nose portion 4. The projectile is attached to a fishing line between the nose portion 4 and the mid-point of the tubular body 4 via a harness 10 which includes at least one swivel connector 12 and/or one or more pivoting arms 8. An opening is provided in or behind the nose portion 4 to allow access to the interior of the body 2. The projectile is buoyant and does not invert during casting. It is also provided with tail fins 6 to stabilize it during casting.

Description

1 2451874

FISHING EQUIPMENT

This invention relates to fishing equipment and more particularly to a device for conveying ground bait to a chosen location.

Background of the Invention

It is customary when fishing, and in particular freshwater fishing, for example in ponds, lakes, rivers and canals, to attract fish to an area by the use of ground bait.

A great deal of effort and ingenuity has been exercised in devising suitable baits and methods of placing the bait at a desired location.

Various devices have been used to carry bait from the side of a body of water such as a lake, pond, river or stream out to a desired location in the water. An early example of such a device was a projectile created by cutting the bottoms from household plastics detergent bottles to form a container that could be filled with bait and attaching fishing line to the bottle at the cut end. After filling with bait, the projectile is cast out to a desired location in the body of water where, after entering the water, it spills its contents onto the bottom.

Since its initial creation, a number of commercial forms of bait-carrying projectiles have been developed and marketed and these are known to anglers by a variety of *:*::* names such as spods, spod rockets, bait rockets and boilie missiles. The majority of s the projectiles currently available are rocket shaped with a rounded or pointed nose, * *** a tubular body extending away from the nose and a number (typically four) of fins at the rear end. The body of the projectile is typically open at the rear end to allow *: it to be filled with bait. The majority of the bait-carrying projectiles currently in use : * are buoyant so that when they enter the water, they will rise rapidly to the surface, * shedding their contents as they do so. Typically therefore, the projectiles are *s*..* * 25 constructed so that they rise to the surface nose first so that the bait can spill out of the opening at the rear end. Thus, for example, the nose may contain a material such as expanded polystyrene, a closed cell foam or wood to aid buoyancy. In addition to ensuring that the bait spills out in the required manner, the buoyancy of the projectiles means that they can be seen from the side of the body of water and therefore the angler knows whether the bait has been delivered to the correct location.

In one particular design of projectile, the nose is weighted to improve its stability in flight, and the tubular body is provided with an array of holes through which bait can escape once the projectile enters the water.

With known bait-carrying projectiles, the point of attachment of the fishing line to the projectile is at the rear end, on or between the fins. Thus, when the projectile is cast out, the nose is initially facing away from the direction of travel and must rotate or invert in flight so that it points in the direction of travel.

The need for the projectile to invert during casting gives rise to a number of problems.

Firstly, inversion of the projectile leads to a reduction in the distance travelled by the projectile.

In addition, when the projectile is retrieved by winding in the fishing line, it fills with water in the maimer of a dredging bucket and consequently a considerable amount of effort may be required to reel it in.

Moreover, another significant and widely recognised problem arising from :.:: inversion of the projectile is that as it inverts, much of the bait simply falls Out. In *S..

general, approximately one third of the bait can be lost in this way. Frequently, the :: 20 bait will fall in a shower over the angler. u...

* In an attempt to solve this problem, one design of projectile is provided with doors at the rear end which are linked to the fishing line and remain closed when the line is under tension but open when the tension is released, the idea being that the line is under tension as it is cast but the tension is released as the projectile enters the water. In practice, however, the line may lose tension during flight and hence the doors may open prematurely and the contents of the projectile will be lost before the projectile enters the water.

Another projectile design intended to solve the problem of premature bait spillage is provided with a sliding stopper at one end which is held in the closed position by a locking pin during casting but is intended to open after removal of the locking pin once the projectile has entered the water. In this design, the bait-carrying projectile has a cylindrical body with a metal loop at one end. Extending from the other end is a pair of parallel elongate U-shaped rods, where the bottom of the U points away from the body. The U-shaped rods serve as a pair of tracks along which a weighted stopper can slide, the stopper being held in the tracks by means of a pair of lugs extending from opposite sides of the stopper. The stopper, which covers an opening in the end of the projectile, can be moved out along the tracks to allow the body of the projectile to be filled with bait and then pushed back to close the opening. A locking pin, which passes through the wall of the projectile and the stopper, holds the stopper in the closed position. The locking pin is attached to one end of a length of fishing line, and a connector such as a swivel connector is attached to the other end of the length of fishing line. The connector may be used to connect the assembly to the line of a fishing rod. Secured to the length of fishing line between the pin and the connector is a hook. Prior to casting, the hook is inserted through the metal loop on the other end of the cylindrical body. Once the hook has engaged the metal loop, it prevents the locking pin from being pulled out when tension is applied (e.g. when casting) to the fishing line. When the projectile is cast, the presence of the locking pin is intended to ensure that the stopper remains *::::* in place during the flight of the projectile thereby preventing premature spillage of the bait within the projectile. Once in the water, the tension on the fishing line is * * : released and the hook falls out of the metal ioop. A firm tug on the fishing line *.*S.* * 25 should then pull Out the locking pin to allow the stopper to slide down the rails and * release the bait. However, a substantial problem with this design is that the locking pins often prove difficult to dislodge with the consequence that the bait is not released. A further problem is that, as with the other projectiles discussed above, -this projectile inverts during casting.

Thus, there remains a need for a projectile which avoids the need for inversion during casting, which can be cast without significant loss of bait during the casting step, can be cast for longer distances, and which is easier to reel in after casting.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, the invention provides a projectile for conveying fishing bait to a desired location in a body of water by casting, wherein the projectile: -is buoyant; -does not invert during casting; -has a tubular body and a nose portion, wherein the tubular body is closed 1 0 at the rear end thereof, -has an opening in or behind the nose portion, or is openable at or behind the nose portion, so that bait can be inserted; and -has attachment means for attaching the projectile to a fishing line, the attachment means being secured to the nose portion or to the tubular body forwardly of the mid point thereof, the attachment means being formed such that in normal use it is not detached from the projectile during casting or subsequent retrieval.

The projectile of the invention differs from known projectiles in that the attachment * ** means for attachment to a fishing line is secured to the forward end of the body of the projectile rather than the rear end. Furthermore, the attachment means is sufficiently securely attached to the forward end that it does not become detached during normal use of the projectile. By normal use is meant casting and retrieval of the projectile assuming that that the projectile does not become snagged on plants or other objects and obstacles in the body of water or is not damaged by objects : ., 25 within the body of water.

*S**.* * * Because the fishing line is attached to the forward end of the projectile, the projectile will be facing in the direction of travel as it is cast and hence inversion does not take place during casting. As a consequence, the disadvantages of known projectiles described above are overcome. Thus for example, the spillage of bait is avoided. Furthermore, without the need for the projectile to invert, greater casting distances can be achieved. Also, when the line connected to the projectile is reeled in after casting, because the nose portion is facing in the direction of travel, the projectile can be pulled through the water more easily.

The attachment means for attachment of the projectile to a fishing line may take a number of different forms. In one embodiment, the attachment means comprises a harness which is attached at one or more (e.g. two) locations to the nose portion or to the tubular body forwardly of the mid point thereof, the harness being connectable to a fishing line. Thus the harness may be provided with a connector such as a swivel connector for attachment to the fishing line.

The harness may be formed from lengths of fishing line (e.g. monofilament) or may comprise one or more pivoting arms (which may be flexible or rigid) formed from a plastics material or metal (e.g. metal wire).

In one embodiment, the harness comprises one or more lengths of fishing line secured to the nose portion or tubular body of the projectile at one end and linked to a swivel attachment or other connector.

For example, one end of a single length of fishing line may be connected to the nose portion or tubular body of the projectile and the other end may be connected to a swivel or other connector. * *.

*::hI:s Alternatively, the nose portion or tubular body may be attached to the harness at two or more locations on the nose portion or tubular body. For example, two * lengths of fishing line may be attached to the nose portion or to the tubular body ***.* * just behind the nose portion, one on either side. In a variation of this arrangement, * a single length of fishing line may be secured at two locations on the nose portion * **.

or tubular body, one either side thereof, so as to form a loop.

The strands (e.g. lengths of fishing line) constituting the harness may be longer than the length of the projectile so that, in use, the swivel or other connector to which they are attached trails behind the projectile.

In another embodiment, the harness comprises a loop formed from a pair of linked arms, each arm being pivotably attached to the tubular body or nose portion such that the loop can be pivoted into a position whereby it extends forwardly of the nose prior to casting but pivots during casting so that so that it extends rearwardly of the projectile during flight. The linked arms can be formed from a plastics material or from a metal, e.g. metal wire.

The projectile has a tubular body which is closed at the rear end thereof. This is in contradistinction to the known projectiles described above which are open at their rear ends so that bait can be inserted, or are provided with doors that can be opened to insert the bait.

The projectiles of the present invention are buoyant. Therefore, after entering the water, they will rise to the surface. The projectile is constructed such that the rear end rises to the surface leaving the nose portion pointing downwards to release the bait.

To assist the projectile in adopting the desired orientation in the water, buoyancy is preferably provided at the rear end of the projectile. The buoyancy may be provided by a body of buoyant material such as a closed cell foam or expanded polystyrene.

**i* The projectile preferably has a weighted nose portion. The purpose of the weighted nose portion is to improve the projectile's stability in flight and also to ensure that * the projectile assumes the correct orientation in the water. The weighting in the nose may be due to the nose being of solid rather than hollow form. Alternatively, S.....

* a weight made from a material of greater density than the material of the remainder * of the body of the projectile may be used, for example a metal, denser plastic or : 25 wood.

-The nose portion is typically substantially conical in shape, but with the side wall of the cone preferably being convex.

The nose portion may have a convex rear surface to assist bait in spilling out of the body.

In one embodiment, the nose portion may be egg shaped with the narrower end of the egg shape projecting forwardly.

The projectile has an opening or in or behind the nose portion, or is openable at or behind the nose portion.

In one embodiment, the projectile has an opening in or behind the nose portion. For example, the opening may take the form of a window or windows located immediately behind the nose portion.

Alternatively, instead of an opening per Se, the projectile may be openable at or behind the nose portion to give access to its interior. Thus, for example, the nose portion may be opened or moved to allow access to the interior of the projectile.

In one embodiment, the nose portion may be slidable in an axial direction to reveal an opening into the interior. For example, the nose portion may be attached to a wire, cord or filament (e.g. monofilament) which is slidable through the centre of the projectile. The wire is preferably sufficiently deformable or resilient that the nose portion can be lifted off the tubular body and then pushed to one side to allow access to the interior of the projectile. For example, the wire may be spring wire.

Alternatively, the nose portion may be slidable along a wire, cord or filament that is * . fixedly (i.e. non-slidably) attached to the projectile. * I

The nose portion may be slidable so that it remains in contact with the tubular body * 20 portion and one or more windows in the tubular body are uncovered as the nose portion moves forward. Alternatively, the nose portion may be slidable so that it is spaced apart from the tubular body to give access to the interior of the projectile.

In another embodiment, the nose portion may be hinged so that it is held closed by air pressure whilst the projectile is in flight but falls open under the influence of gravity once the projectile enters the water.

Where the nose portion is weighted, the weighting ensures that when the projectile enters the water, the nose portion will face downwards and, where the nose portion is slidable or hinged, the additional weight will assist the nose portion to slide or pivot under the influence of gravity to reveal the interior of the projectile and allow bait to spill out.

The projectile is preferably provided with two or more tail fins, and more preferably four tail fins, to enhance its stability during flight.

The invention will now be illustrated, but not limited, by reference to the particular embodiments described below and shown in the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a side view of a projectile according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the projectile of Figure 1 but with the nose cone in an extended position.

Figure 3 is a side sectional elevation through the projectile of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a side sectional elevation of a projectile according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention * ** * ,e.

*..* Referring now to the drawings, Figures Ito 3 illustrate a projectile according to one embodiment of the invention. The projectile comprises a tubular body 2 and a nose * S. I ** * cone 4. The nose cone has a spigot formation 15 that sits loosely inside the tubular **** * 20 body 2 when the projectile is in a non-extended state. Alternatively (not shown), the nose cone may be egg shaped with the narrower end of the egg facing forwards.

The advantage of this arrangement is that the nose cone lifts away from the tubular body more easily and the curved rear surface of the nose cone assists the bait in -spilling out of the body.

The tubular body 2 is formed from a moulded plastics material and has an integrally moulded internal dividing wall 18 towards its rear end. The dividing wall 18 has a central hole through which passes a wire or filament 22. The wire or filament 22, which can slide freely in the hole, has an enlarged captive end 24. At the other end, the wire, cord or filament 22 is connected to a conical metal weight 14 which is glued into the nose cone 4. The wire may be a spring wire, or may be formed from a non-spring material. Where a filament is used instead of a wire, the filament may be for example a monofilament (e.g. a "Nylon" monofilament).

Behind the dividing wall 18 at the rear of the tubular body 2 is a moulded annular block 20 formed from expanded polystyrene which serves to enhance the buoyancy of the rear end of the projectile. The insert 20 is held in place by a disc 28 of plastics material which is glued into the end of the tubular body. The annular block has a central channel 26 to accommodate movement of the captive end 24 of the wire 22 as the nose cone 4 is moved between the non-extended and extended positions.

As an alternative to the nose cone being fixedly attached to a sliding wire or filament, the wire, cord or filament may be fixedly attached to the projectile body and the nose cone may be slidable along the wire, cord or filament. The wire, cord or filament is preferably provided with a stop or retainer for limiting the travel of the nose cone therealong and preventing it from sliding off the end of the wire or filament. The stop can be a simple knot, for example.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures, just behind the nose cone is a pair of diametrically opposed holes 8 in the wall of the tubular body. Short lengths of fishing line 10 are secured (e.g. by knots or by adhesive) into the holes 8. The other ends of the two lengths of fishing line are attached to a swivel connector 12 which is use can be connected via line L to a casting rod.

**SS.I * 25 The tubular body 2 of the projectile is hollow and can be filled with bait, for example boilies or other types of bait. In order to gain access to the interior of the projectile, the nose cone 4 is pulled forward as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Since the wire, cord or filament 22 is non-rigid or flexible, the nose cone 4 can be pushed to one side or allowed to fall to one side to allow the projectile to be filled.

Once the projectile has been filled, it is connected to the line L of a casting rod by means of the swivel connector 12 and then cast out in a desired direction over a body of water such as a lake. Because the lengths of line 10 are attached to the projectile close to the nose cone and forward of the mid point (not shown) of the projectile, the nose cone of the projectile will be facing in the direction of travel when it is cast and hence there will be no inversion of the projectile as it is cast.

Consequently, the projectile should be capable of being cast for greater distances.

The construction of the projectile is such that bait spillage during casting should be minimal or negligible.

Once the projectile has entered the water, combined effect of the weight 14 in the nose cone 4 and the buoyancy provided by the polystyrene block 20 in the rear of the tubular body of the projectile is to ensure that the projectile rises to the surface with the nose cone 4 pointing downwards towards the lake bed. The weight of the nose cone 4 causes it to slide out of its seating in the tubular body 2 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 thereby allowing the bait to spill out.

When sufficient time has been left for the bait to leave the projectile, the line L can be wound in and the projectile recovered. As the line is reeled in, the pressure of the surrounding water on the nose cone 4 will (when the nose cone is mounted on a wire or relatively stiff filament) force the nose cone back into the non-extended or closed position with the result that the projectile will present a streamlined profile in the water and will be reeled in with relative ease. * **

A projectile according to a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 4.

*.S*..

* As with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the projectile shown in Figure 4 is S.....

* 25 moulded from a plastics material and has a tubular body 102, nose cone 104 and tail : * fins 106. However, in this embodiment the nose cone 104 is immovably attached to -the tubular body 102, either by dint of being integrally moulded with the tubular body or by forming it separately and then attaching it to the tubular body with adhesive, solvent welding or other suitable attachment means. An internal dividing wall 118 divides the interior of the tubular body into two compartments, the smaller rear compartment containing a block of expanded polystyrene which functions as a buoyancy aid. The back of the rear compartment is closed by means of a plastics disc 128 which is bonded in place by a suitable adhesive. The larger forward compartment is intended in use to be filled with bait B. The dividing wall 118 serves to separate the polystyrene block from the bait and prevent the polystyrene block from being damaged. However, it will be appreciated that the dividing wall 118 could be omitted in order to simplify the injection moulding of the projectile.

The nose cone of the projectile is weighted by means of a conical weight 114 which is formed from a suitably dense metal, plastics or rubber material or wood and is secured in place in the cone by means of adhesive. Located just behind the nose cone 102 is a pair of holes 108 (only one is shown) in which are secured the ends of lengths 110 of fishing line which, together with the swivel connector 112 constitute a harness for connecting the projectile to the line L of a casting rod. Just behind the holes 108 are a pair of windows 130 (one on either side but only one of which is shown) in the side wall of the tubular body. The windows give access to the interior of the projectile so that bait can be placed in the projectile.

In use, the projectile is filled with bait to the edge of the window 130 and the projectile is cast out to the desired location on a body of water such as a lake.

During the flight, the bait B is forced back against the dividing wall 118 and so is retained in the projectile without significant spillage. Once the projectile enters the water, the combined effect of the weight 114 in the nose cone 104 and the expanded * SI polystyrene block 122 in the rear of the projectile is to ensure that the nose cone 5.55 points towards the bottom of the lake. This allows the bait B to fall out of the window 130 and into the surrounding water. As with the projectile shown in 5551.1 * 25 Figures 1 to 3, the line L is then reeled in and the projectile is recovered.

S..... * S

* Equivalents * * * -It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the specific embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the principles underlying the invention. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.

Claims (19)

1. A projectile for conveying fishing bait to a desired location in a body of water by casting, wherein the projectile: -is buoyant; -does not invert during casting; -has a tubular body and a nose portion, wherein the tubular body is closed at the rear end thereof, -has an opening in or behind the nose portion, or is openable at or behind the nose portion, so that bait can be inserted; and -has attachment means for attaching the projectile to a fishing line, the attachment means being secured to the nose portion or to the tubular body forwardly of the mid point thereof, the attachment means being formed such that in normal use it is not detached from the projectile during casting or subsequent retrieval.

2. A projectile according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a harness which is attached at one or more locations to the nose portion or to the tubular body forwardly of the mid point thereof, the harness being connectable to a fishing line.

3. A projectile according to claim 2 wherein the harness is provided with a connector such as a swivel connector for attachment to the fishing line.

S.,

4. A projectile according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the harness is formed s's.

*..... from lengths of fishing line or comprises one or more pivoting arms.

5. A projectile according to claim 4 wherein the harness for attachment to a fishing line comprises one or more lengths of fishing line secured to the nose portion or tubular body of the projectile at one end the each length and linked to a swivel attachment or other connector at the other end of the or S.....

each length.

6. A projectile according to claim 4 wherein the harness comprises a loop formed from a pair of linked arms, each arm being pivotably attached to the tubular body or nose portion such that the ioop can be pivoted into a position whereby it extends forwardly of the nose prior to casting but pivots during casting so that so that it extends rearwardly of the projectile during flight.

7. A projectile according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the nose portion is substantially conical in shape.

8. A projectile according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the nose portion has a convex rear surface.

9. A projectile according to any one of the preceding claims wherein an opening is provided in or behind the nose portion for access to the interior of the projectile to allow the projectile to be filled with bait.

A projectile according to any one of claims 1 to 8 which is openable at or behind the nose portion to give access to the interior of the projectile to allow the projectile to be filled with bait.

11. A projectile according to claim 9 wherein the opening takes the form of a window or windows located immediately behind the nose portion.

12. A projectile according to claim 10 wherein the nose portion is arranged to be capable of being opened or moved to allow access to the interior of the projectile.

13. A projectile according to claim 12 wherein the nose portion is slidable in an * *** axial direction to reveal an opening into the interior. *

* :.:

14. A projectile according to claim 13 wherein the nose portion is attached to a wire or filament which is slidable through the centre of the projectile.

15. A projectile according to claim 13 wherein the nose portion is slidable along a wire or filament which is fixedly attached to the body.

16. A projectile according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the wire is spring wire or filament.

17. A projectile according to any one of the preceding claims which has two or more tail fins.

18. A projectile according to claim 18 which has four tail fins.

19. A projectile substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. * ** * * * * .1 * S

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