GB2480077A

GB2480077A - Angling float with replaceable sighting antenna

Info

Publication number: GB2480077A
Application number: GB1007490A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adam Taylor
Original assignee: Fox International Group Ltd
Current assignee: Fox International Group Ltd
Priority date: 2010-05-04
Filing date: 2010-05-04
Publication date: 2011-11-09
Also published as: GB201007490D0

Abstract

An angling float comprises a float body 12, and a retainer 20 which extends through at least part of the float body. An upper end 24 of the retainer defines a first, upper hollow 22 which receives and grips a sighting antenna (50, fig. 5). A lower end 28 of the retainer defines a second, lower hollow 26 which receives and grips a stem 36. The sighting antenna is selected from a plurality of antennae which can be fitted into the retainer, such that the antenna may be changed according to fishing conditions. The selected antenna may be brightly coloured, such as fluorescent, or darkly coloured, such as black. An upper end of the retainer may be provided with a permanently or releasably attached hook or loop 34, e.g. a coiled wire loop, for attaching the float to a fishing line (not shown). The float body 12 may comprise balsa wood, and the stem 36 may comprise glass fibre. The upper and lower hollows of the retainer may be tapered to promote gripping of the antenna and stem respectively. A portion of the stem may be glued in the lower hollow portion.

Description

A float for use in angling The present invention relates to a float for use in angling comprising a main float body and a generally cylindrical elongate retainer at least a portion of which is within the main float body, which retainer is formed with an open hollow in an intended upper part of the retainer, a portion of any selected one of a plurality of bristles being insertable into the said open hollow when the float is in use.

Such a float is described in EP-A-l982588. This has a stem which extends into the main body of the float and which is secured therein by means of adhesive. A disadvantage of such a construction is that the retention * * *** of the stem in the main body is dependent upon the ****** adhesive, and also that the only coupling between the :.: * stem and the bristle is by way of the main body. This * results in a relatively weak construction.

::. The present invention seeks to provide a remedy.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a float for use in angling having a construction as set out in the opening paragraph of the present specification, characterised in that a stem of the float extends into the main float body and through an intended lower end of the retainer into a second hollow portion of the retainer.

This provides a robust construction of float.

Preferably, a longitudinal axis of the retainer is generally upright when the float is in use so that the bristle is clearly visible. The bristle may be brightly coloured, for example fluorescent coloured to increase its visibility. Alternatively, it may be dark, even black, to improve its visibility as a silhouette on water, the surface of which is bright, as viewed by the user, being lit for example by daylight or sunlight or artificial light.

An upper end of the retainer may be provided with a hook or a loop for retaining fishing line. The hook or the loop may itself be provided with attachment means to enable it to be attached to the retainer either permanently or releasably. Such attachment means may comprise a coil of wire. * * ***.

The stem may comprise glass fibre. The main float body may comprise balsa wood. The said open hollow of the retainer may taper to improve the grip of the *** * retainer on the said portion of the bristle.

::. Preferably, the said second hollow portion has a hollow which tapers to improve the grip of the retainer on the stem. Alternatively or in addition, a portion of the stem may be glued in the said second hollow portion of the retainer.

The present invention extends to the combination of a float having a construction as set out in one or more of the preceding paragraphs in combination with a bristle having a portion which is inserted into the said open hollow of the retainer.

An example of a float for use in angling made in accordance with the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a float embodying the present invention; Figure 2 shows an axial sectional view of the float shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an axial sectional view of a part of the float shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a perspective view from one side and from above of an upper portion of the part shown in Figure 3; and Figure 5 shows a side view of a further part used *I..

in conjunction with the float when the ****.* * * latter is in use. * S. * S S

The float 10 for use in angling comprises a S..

* generally teardrop-shaped balsa wood main body 12 which :::. tapers more rapidly at its intended upper end 14 than it does at its intended lower end 16. The main body 12 is thus streamlined in the direction of its longitudinal axis 18. It can vary in size as well as general streamlined shape. A generally cylindrical elongate rubber retainer 20 extends into the upper end 14 of the main body 12 and is secured therein either as a tight fit and/or by means of adhesive. The retainer 20 is identical in a whole range of different floats (not shown) which may be provided to enable the user to select the most appropriate float for the prevailing conditions. The retainer has a first hollow 22 which is open at an upper end 24 of the retainer 20 and a second hollow 26 which is open at the lowermost end 28 of the retainer 20. Both hollows 22 and 26 taper at their inner ends, and in this particular embodiment open into one another at a position along the retainer 20 which is a little below centre.

The tapering of the hollow 26 is sharper than that of the hollow 22. The upper end 24 of the retainer 20 extends upwardly from the upper end 14 of the main body 12, and is formed with an outwardly extending flange 30 at its uppermost end.

A coil of wire 32 is wound around the outside of the retainer 20 between the flange 30 and the upper end 14 of the main body 12. A portion of the wire of the coil 32 * 15 extends laterally from the retainer 20 to form a loop 34 through which a fishing line (not shown) may be passed *..

* when the float is in use.

: .. A stem 36 of the float extends in line with the axis S...

** 18 of the main body thereof, upwardly through the lower end 16 thereof and into the hollow 26. The tapering of the hollow 26 affords a securing of the upper end of the stem 36 in the retainer 20, and adhesive is also used to effect a more secure attachment of the upper end of the stem 36 within the retainer 20.

When the float 10 is in use, a plastics bristle 50 may be secured to the float by inserting a lower end 52 of the bristle into the hollow 22 of the retainer 20.

The cross-section of the lower end 52 of the bristle 50 is a close fit with the greater part of the hollow 22, and forms a tight fit in the tapering part thereof. An abutment 54 of the bristle 50, located at the upper extremity of the lower end portion 52, abuts the flange 30 when that lower end 52 is fully inserted into the hollow 22 of the retainer 20.

A number of bristles 50, identical as regards the dimensions of their lower, male, ends 52 but otherwise varying as regards their diameters, lengths and fluorescent (or otherwise) colours, may be provided and any selected one of them may be releasably inserted into the retainer 20 of the float 10 in the manner described herein. For example there may be differently coloured fluorescent bristles 50 available and possibly even dark * ***** or black bristles 50 for providing a silhouette.

** * Numerous variations and modifications to the * * illustrated float may occur to the reader without taking the resulting construction outside the scope of the present invention. For example, the main body 12 may be substantially spherical in shape. The loop 34 may be secured to the retainer 20 by means of tail portions embedded in the upper end 24 of the retainer 20, instead of being retained by the coil 32.

Claims

Claims: 1. A float for use in angling comprising a main float body and a generally cylindrical elongate retainer at least a portion of which is within the main float body, which retainer is formed with an open hollow in an intended upper part of the retainer, a portion of any selected one of a plurality of bristles being irisertable into the said open hollow when the float is in use, characterised in that a stem of the float extends into the main float body and through an intended lower end of the retainer into a second hollow portion of the retainer.
2. A float according to claim 1, characterised in that a longitudinal axis of the retainer is generally upright when the float is in use so that the bristle is clearly visible.
3. A float according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the bristle is brightly coloured.
4. A float according to claim 3, characterised in that * 20 the bristle is fluorescent coloured.

* ** *** *
5. A float according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the bristle is dark.
6. A float according to claim 5, characterised in that *..: the bristle is black.

*..: 25
7. A float according to any preceding claim, characterised in that an upper end of the retainer is provided with a hook or a loop for retaining fishing line.
8. A float according to claim 7, characterised in that the hook or the loop may itself be provided with attachment means to enable it to be attached to the retainer either permanently or releasably.
9. A float according to claim 8, characterised in that the attachment means comprise a coil of wire.
10. A float according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the stem comprises glass fibre.
11. A float according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the main float body comprises balsa
12. A float according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the said open hollow of the retainer tapers to improve the grip of the retainer on the said portion of the bristle.
13. A float according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the said hollow portion has a hollow which tapers to improve the grip of the retainer * 20 on the stem.* ** *** *
14. A float according to any preceding claim, characterised in that a portion of the stem is glued in the said second hollow portion of the retainer.*..:
15. A combination of a float as claimed in any preceding claim and a bristle having a portion which is inserted into the said open hollow of the retainer.
16. A float or a combination of a float and a bristle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.II....' * I P. .a * S S * I * * P I * * #1 S. II S * *