GB2453725A

GB2453725A - A connector for connecting apparatus for dispensing bait for fishing to a fishing line

Info

Publication number: GB2453725A
Application number: GB0720105A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Damian Keith Clarke; Adam Heathcote Penning
Original assignee: Korda Developments Ltd
Current assignee: Korda Developments Ltd
Priority date: 2007-10-15
Filing date: 2007-10-15
Publication date: 2009-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 2027-10-15
Also published as: GB2453725B; GB0720105D0

Abstract

A connector 30 for connecting bait dispensing apparatus, such as a spod or bait rocket 32, to a fishing line 34 wherein the connector comprises at least one flexible strip 38, a first connector 40 for direct attachment to the bait dispenser and a second connector in the form of a closed loop 44 for connection to the fishing line 34 such that the connector 30 is formed of a plastic material and the first and second connectors are integrally moulded to the flexible strip. The first connector comprises an abutment member 50 and a thickened neck portion 58 which engage in a snap or push fit manner to a mounting lug with a slit 62 on the spod 32. The flexible strips are formed of cord and the plastic material may be nylon. Claims for combines fishing dispenser and connector are present.

Description

1 2453725

A CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING APPARATUS

EQR DISPENSING BAIT FOR FISHING TO A FISHING LINE

This invention relates to a connector for connecting apparatus for dispensing bait for fishing to a fishing line. This invention also relates to the combination of the connector and the apparatus.

It is known to dispense bait for fishing using apparatus which is connected to a fishing line via a connector. The connector comprises four flexible strips, first connector means at a first end of each strip for connecting the connector to the apparatus, and second connector means at a second end of the strip for connecting the connecting the connector to the fishing line.

In angling terms, the apparatus is often referred to as a spod or a bait rocket, and the connector is often referred to a tail or a spod tail.

The known connector is such that the four flexible strips are connected together at their second ends by a crimp and a rolling swivel. The crimp and the rolling swivel involve manufacturing costs. The crimp and the rolling swivel also add to the weight of the apparatus in use, and may further result in an unwanted interruption in the required aerodynamic properties of the apparatus as are required for delivering the bait at ranges of up to and in excess of 100 metres. The first ends of the strips are individually secured to the apparatus with each strip being threaded through an aperture in a mounting lug, and then knotted. This is very labour intensive and therefore very costly. Also, the four flexible strips need to be tied to exactly the same length in order to have the connector symmetrically trailing from the apparatus.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a connector for connecting apparatus for dispensing bait for fishing to a fishing line, which connector comprises at least one flexible strip, first connector means at a first end of the strip for connecting the connector to the apparatus, and second connector means at a second end of the strip for connecting to the fishing line, characterised in that the connector is moulded from a plastics material, the first connector means and the second connector means are integrally moulded to the flexible strip, the first connector means is of a shape which is ready for direct connection to the apparatus without the need for a tying operation, and the second means is of a shape which is ready for direct connection to the fishing line and which comprises a closed aperture.

With the connector of the present invention, the first connector means is able to be connected to the apparatus without the need for a tying operation. This avoids the above mentioned disadvantages of the known connector which is tied to the apparatus by knotting. The moulding of the closed aperture in the second connector means avoids the need for the above mentioned crimp and the rolling swivel, with their attendant manufacturing costs and weight.

The flexible strip is preferably in the form of a cord. The flexible strip may alternatively be in braided fibre form or filament form. The flexible strip is preferably of circular cross sectional shape but it may be of any other desired cross sectional shape.

The flexible strip is preferably of sufficient sflffness (I) that the flexible strip naturally extends away from the apparatus and thereby does not unduly hinder filling of the apparatus with the bait, and (ii) that the flexible strip causes the apparatus to sit up in the water during recovery of the apparatus such that a clean and minimum resistance recovery is obtained.

The first connector means may comprise an abutment member for abutting a downstream side of the mounting means on the apparatus. Other types of main and auxiliary abutment members may be employed.

Preferably, the closed aperture is drop-shaped. Other shapes for the aperture may be employed.

Preferably, the plastics material is nylon. The plastics material may alternatively by polyethylene or polypropylene. Other types of plastics materials may be employed, for example injection mouldable plastics materials.

The connector may be one in which there are three of the flexible strips, three of the first connector means, and one of the second connector means, the second connector means being integrally moulded to each second end of each flexible strip. More or less than three of the flexible strips may be employed.

The present invention also extends to the combination of the connector of the invention, and the apparatus.

The combination may be one in which the or each flexible strip has a first end which connects to its own mounting means on the apparatus. The mounting means preferably comprises a mounting lug. The mounting lug preferably has a slit through which parts of the first connector means passes.

Other arrangements for the first end of the or each flexible strip may be employed. Thus, for example, the first end of the or each flexible strip may be in the form of one or more arrowheads which deform when pushed through a hole in a mounting lug or other part of the apparatus.

The apparatus may comprise a tubular body for containing the bait, and a nose at one end of the tubular body. The apparatus may also comprise a dispensing opening at the other end of the tubular body, and a plurality of apertures in the body. In alternative designs the apparatus can also be without the apertures. The apparatus could be sealed at both ends. Bait could then be dispensed via a side port or via both halves of the apparatus springing open. The rear end of the tubular body adjacent the dispensing opening may comprise a plurality of stabilising fins. Generally, the apparatus may be of a wide variety of different designs.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows known apparatus for dispensing bait for fishing, with the apparatus being provided with a connector for connecting the apparatus to a fishing line; Figure 2 shows apparatus of the present invention for dispensing bait for fishing, with the apparatus being provided with a connector of the present invention for connecting the apparatus to a fishing line; Figure 3 shows the connector of the present invention as shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an enlarged view turned upside down and showing how the connector shown in Figures 2 and 3 connects to the apparatus shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a connector 2 for connecting apparatus 4 for dispensing bait 6 to a fishing line 8.

The connector 2 comprises four flexible strips 10. The connector 2 has first connector means 12 at a first end 14 of each strip 10 for connecting the connector 2 to the apparatus 4. The connector 2 has second connector means 16 at a second end 18 of each strip 10 for connecting the connector 2 to the fishing line 8.

The connector 2 is such that the first connector means 12 are formed by first passing the first ends 14 of the strips 10 one through each of an aperture 20 in a mounting lug 22, and then knotting the first end 14 to form a knot 24. The knot 24 stops the strip 10 being pulled back through the aperture 20. Thus the strip 10 becomes secured to the mounting lug 22. The tying of the knots 24 is very labour intensive and therefore very costly. Also, the tying has to be such that each of the four strips 10 is of the same length so that the connector 2 hangs symmetrically from the apparatus 4.

The second connector means 16 comprises a crimp 26 which crimps the second ends 18 of the four strips 10 together. The second connector means 16 also comprises a rolling swivel 28 which provides connection to the fishing line 8. The crimp 26 and the rolling swivel 28 are costly components.

They are also components which may add unwanted weight to the apparatus 4 during use, and which may also adversely affect aerodynamic properties.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4, there is shown a connector 30 of the present invention. The connector 30 is for connecting apparatus 32 of the present invention to a fishing line 34. The apparatus 32 is for dispensing bait 36.

The connector 30 comprises three flexible strips 38. First connector means 40 is at a first end 42 of each strip 38 for connecting the connector 30 to the apparatus 32. Second connector means 44 is at a second end 46 of each strip 38 for connecting the connector 30 to the fishing line 34.

As can best be appreciated from Figure 3, the connector 30 is moulded as a one-piece item from a plastics material. The first connector means 40 and the second connector means 44 are integrally moulded to the flexible strips 38.

The first connector means 40 is of a shape which is ready for direct connection to the apparatus 32 without the need for a tying operation. The second connector means 44 is of a shape which is ready for direct connection to the fishing line 34. The second connector means 44 is such that it comprises a closed aperture 48.

Each strip 38 is in the form of a cord. Each strip 38 is a stiff flexible strip which is stiffer than the strips 10 shown in Figure 1. Each sufficient stiffness (i) that the flexible strip naturally extends away from the apparatus and thereby does not unduly hinder filling of the apparatus with the bait, and (ii) that the flexible strip causes the apparatus to sit up in the water during recovery of the apparatus such that a clean and minimum resistance recovery is obtained.

The first connector means 40 comprises an abutment member 50 for abutting a downstream side 52 of mounting means 54 on the apparatus 32.

The connector means 40 comprises a thickened neck portion 58.

The closed aperture 48 is drop-shaped as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The plastics material from which the entire connector 30 is made is nylon. As shown most clearly in Figure 3, the three flexible strips are such that there are three of the first connector means 40, and one of the second connector means 44. The second connector means 44 is integrally moulded to each second end 46 of each of the three flexible strips 38.

Figures 2 and 4 show how the mounting means 54 is a mounting lug having a slit 62 through which the thickened neck portion 58 of the first connector means 40 passes.

As shown in Figure 2, the apparatus 32 is similar to the apparatus 4.

Thus the apparatus 32 has a tubular body 66 for containing the bait 36. A nose 68 is at one end of the tubular body 66. A dispensing opening 70 is at the other end of the tubular body 66. A plurality of apertures 72 are provided in the tubular body 66. The bait 36 can escape through the dispensing opening 70 and also through apertures 72.

The rear end of the tubular body 66 adjacent the dispensing opening has a plurality of stabilising fins 76.

The connector 30 is easily able to be able to be connected to the apparatus 32 without tying. A simple push action is required to secure the first connector means 40 to the apparatus 32. There is no need for forming knots, and there is also no need for ensuring that the strips 38 are of the same length. Because the strips 38 are re!atively stiff, the strips 38 do not tend to become tangled with each other, or block the dispensing opening 70 when loading the tubular body 66 with the bait 36. The second connector means 44 with its aperture 48 avoids the need for the crimp 26 and the rolling swivel 28. An end of the fishing line 34 can simply and easily be tied or otherwise secured to the second connector means 44.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, more or less than three of the strips 38 may be employed. Different shapes for the first connector means 40 and the second connector means 44 may be employed.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting apparatus for dispensing bait for fishing to a fishing line, which connector comprises at least one flexible strip, first connector means at a first end of the strip for connecting the connector to the apparatus, and second connector means at a second end of the strip for connecting to the fishing line, characterised in that the connector is moulded from a plastics material, the first connector means and the second connector means are integrally moulded to the flexible strip, the first connector means is of a shape which is ready for direct connection to the apparatus without the need for a tying operation, and the second means is of a shape which is ready for direct connection to the fishing line and which comprises a closed aperture.

2. A connector according to claim 1 in which the flexible strip is in the form of a cord.

3. A connector according to claim I or claim 2 in which the flexible strip is of sufficient stiffness (I) that the flexible strip naturally extends away from the apparatus and thereby does not unduly hinder filling of the apparatus with the bait, and (ii) that the flexible strip causes the apparatus to sit up in the water during recovery of the apparatus such that a clean and minimum resistance recovery is obtained.

4. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first connector comprises an abutment member for abuthng a downstream side of mounting means on the apparatus.

5. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims in which the closed aperture is drop-shaped.

6. A connector according to any of the preceding claims in which the plastics material is nylon.

7. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims in which there are three of the flexible strips, three of the first connector means, and one of the second connector means, the second connector means being integrally moulded to each second end of each flexible strip.

8. A connector for connecting apparatus for dispensing bait for fishing to a fishing line, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. The combination of a connector according to any one of the preceding claims and the apparatus.

10. The combination according to claim 9 in which the or each flexible strip has a first end which connects to its own mounting means on the apparatus.

11. The combination according to claim 10 in which the mounting means is a mounting lug.

12. The combination according to claim 11 in which the mounting lug has a slit through which part of the first connector passes.

13. The combination according to any one of claims 9 -12 in which the apparatus comprises a tubular body for containing the bait, and a nose at one end of the tubular body.

14. The combination according to any one of claims 9 -13 in which the rear end of the tubular body adjacent the dispensing opening has a plurality of stabilising fins.

15. The combination according to claim 9 and substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.