GB2456052A

GB2456052A - Float Connector

Info

Publication number: GB2456052A
Application number: GB0800126A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Raymond Burton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-01-04
Filing date: 2008-01-04
Publication date: 2009-07-08
Also published as: GB0800126D0

Abstract

A float connector 12 for attaching a float to a fishing line (10; figs 5, 6) comprising a rod 1 with a cone 2 wherein the rod has holes 5, 6 which extend through the diameter of the rod and the cone has a hole 4 and slots 3 on opposite sides of the cone. The slots 3 are in line with and extend from the holes 4, 5, 6. A rubber tube 7, designed to fit over the rod 1, is also provided. In use, a fishing line (10;figs 5, 6) passes through the hole 4 in the cone and the lower hole 5 in the rod. The fishing line is locked in position by the rubber tube 7 which slides down the rod 1 until it contacts the top of the cone 2. A snap link 9 is attached to the rod using the upper hole 6 in the rod. A float is then attached to the snap link 9. The present invention overcomes the problem with conventional devices, which attach pinching shot weights onto the fishing line to lock the float in position and balance it in the water, which can potentially damage the line.

Description

Float Connector This invention relates to a float connector,and in particular but not exclusively, to a float connector with attachment means to attach a float to a fishing line.

The most common method in use is to attach a float to a fishing line using the float attachment hole and pinching split shot weights onto the fishing line on both sides of the float. This locks the float in position and balances the float in the water. However, this method has the potential to damage the line.

The present invention has devised with the foregoing in mind. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a float connector as defined in claim 1.

Preferably, the means for attaching the rubber tube and the snap link to the float connector comprises a member for receiving the rubber tube and the snap link. The member and the rubber tube may be configured so that when the rubber tube is received by the member, a passage is provided through which the fishing line can pass. It is an advantage that the rubber tube can be easily changed.

In an embodiment of the invention, the member has a first portion on which the rubber tube is received and a second portion against which the rubber tube is retained. In a preferred embodiment, the first portion is a rod and the rubber tube has a bore through which the first portion of the float connector is received and the second portion is a cone. The rubber tube is thereby retained against the base of the cone, which has a diameter greater than that of the maximum diameter of the rod.

Preferably, the means for attaching the float connector to the snap link comprises a passage for threading the snap link through the float connector, More preferably the passage is provided by a hole through the float connector adjacent the opposite end from the cone.

In an embodiment, the float connector further comprises securing means for securing the float connector to a float. Preferably, the securing means is provided by the snap link. It is an advantage that the securing means is further operative to facilitate the easy changing of the float.

Preferably, the means for connecting the float connector to a fishing line comprises a passage for threading the fishing line through the float connector. The passage is configured such that the fishing line extends from the tip of the float connector past the base of the cone and back to the tip. One or more holes may be provided for threading the fishing line through the float connector. A first hole may be provided adjacent the tip and a second hole may be provided for threading the fishing line through the float connector at a position beyond the base of the cone. The line can be secured in position, without attaching any weights etc. directly to the line.

In an embodiment, The float connector further compnses securing means for securing the float connector onto the fishing line. Preferably, the securing means is a resilient means that holds the fishing line in contact with the float connector. More preferably, the resilient means is a length of rubber tubing.

In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a method of securing a float connector, as defined in claim 14. Preferably, one or both of the securing steps include the use of a resilient means that grips the float connector. The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 shows a float connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a rubber tube for use with the float connector of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a snap link for use with the float connector of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a preferred means of attaching a rubber tube and the snap link to the float connector of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a preferred means of attaching a fishing line to the float connector of Figure 1; and Figure 6 shows a preferred means of securing a fishing line to the float connector of Figure 1; In Figure 1, a float connector 12 includes a rod I with a cone 2 at one end. The rod I has a hole 5 at a position beyond the base of the cone 2 and a hole 6 adjacent the opposite end from the cone. The holes 5 and 6 extend through the diameter of the rod 1. and perpendicular to the length of the rod 1.

The cone 2 has a hole 4, in line with and parallel to holes 5 and 6. The cone 2 also has slots 3 on opposite sides of the cone 2. The slots are in line with, and extend from, holes 6. 5. and 4 to the base of the cone 2. The slots 3 are configured so that they have a depth level with the rod 1.

Figure 2 shows a rubber tube 7 with a round hole 8 of sufficient diameter to allow the rubber tube 7 to fit onto the rod 1 and be stopped by the cone 2.

Figure 3 shows a snap link 9 with means for attaching to and detaching from the rod 1 Figure 4 shows a preferred means of attaching a rubber tube 7 and the snap link 9 to the rod Figure 5 shows a preferred means of attachment for attaching a float connector 12 to a fishing line 10 by threading the line 10 through holes 4 and 5 and slots 3 in a loop. The dotted lines indicate passage of the fishing line 10 through the float connectorl2.inside the rod I and the cone2.

In use the fishing line 10 is looped around the rod 1 and the cone 2, as shown in figure 5. The rubber tube 7 slides down the rod I until it comes into contact with the top of the cone 2 as shown in figure 6, This secures the fishing line 10 to the float connector. A float can then be attached to the snap link to secure it in position.

Figure 6 shows the fishing line 10 locked in position on the float connector 12 using the length of rubber tubing 7. and the snap link 9 ready to receive a float, type unspecified. As can be readily appreciated, the present invention allows quick and easy change of the float.

Claims

CLAIMS: A float connector for attaching a float to a fishing line, comprising.

a) means for attaching the float connector to the fishing line; b) means for attaching a rubber tube to the float connector, c) means for attaching a snap link to the float connector; and d) means for securing the float connector to a float; wherein the snap link is attachable to and detachable from the float connector, to facilitate attachment and detachment of the rubber tube.

2 The float connector according to claim 1, wherein the means for attaching the rubber tube and the snap link to the float connector comprise a member for receiving the rubber tube and the snap link 3 The float connector according to claim 2, wherein the member and the rubber tube are configured so that when the rubber tube is received by the member a passage is provided through which the fishing line can pass without damage to the fishing line.

4 The float connector according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the member has a first portion on which the rubber tube and the snap link are received and a second portion against which the rubber tube is retained.

The float connector of claim 4, wherein the fist portion is a rod and the rubber tube has a bore through which the rod portion of the float connector is received and the second portion is a cone, wherein the rubber tube is retained against the base of the cone, which has a diameter greater than that of the maximum diameter of the rod 6 The float connector of any preceding claim, wherein the means for attaching the float connector to the fishing line comprises a passage for threading the fishing line through the float connector 7 The float connector according to claim 6,wherein the passage is configured such that the fishing line extends from the tip of the float connector to a position beyond the base of the cone and back to the tip.

8 The float connector according to claim 7, wherein one or more holes are provided for threading the fishing line through the float connector.

9 The float connector according to claim 8, wherein the fist hole is provided adjacent the tip and a second hole is provided for threading the fishing line through the float connector at a position beyond the base of the cone.

The float connector of any preceding claim, further comprising securing means for securing the float connector onto the fishing line.

11 The float connector according to claim 10, wherein the securing means is a resilient means that holds the fishing line in contact with the float connector.

12 The float connector according to claim 11, wherein the resiliant means is a length of rubber tubing.

13 The float connector according to claim 12, wherin the resilient means is a length of rubber tubing placeable around the rod.

14 A method of securing a float connector according to any one of claims 7 to 9, comprising the steps of.

threading the fishing line through the passage auaching the rubber tube to the float connector such that the fishing line extends past the rubber tube and back to the tip; securing the float connector to the fishing line.

The method of claim 14, whererin one or both of the securing steps include the use of a resillient means that grips the float connector.

16 A float connector of any previous claim, wherein the means for securing a snap link to the float connector comprises a passage for threading the snap link through the float connector.

17 The float connector according to claim 16, wherein the passage is provided by a hole through the float connector adjacent the end opposite the cone.

18 The float connector according to claim 16 or claim 17, further comprising securing means for securing the float connector to a float.

19 The float connector according to claim 18, wherein the securing means is provided by the snap link A float connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1- 6 of the accompanying drawings.