GB2498218A - Apparatus for cutting fishing bait - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus 2 for cutting fishing bait comprising a tubular container 4 for receiving the fishing bait, cutter means (6, fig 3) positioned in the tubular container and plunger means 8 which operate to force the fishing bait longitudinally along the tubular container and past the cutter means so that the cutter means cuts the fishing bait. The container is preferably a cylindrical tubular container and may be provided with finger gripping aid portions 28. The plunger may be provided with guide means in the form of fins (22, fig 4) for guiding the plunger along the container. The plunger may also be provided with a handle. The fishing bait is preferably in the form of a round ball such as a boilie.

Description

APPARATUS FOR CUlliNG FISHING BAIT This invention relates to apparatus for culling fishing bait.

During angling, there are often occasions when it is desired to cut fishing bait, for example from round balls of fishing bait which are known as boilies.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide apparatus which is able to cut the fishing bait.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for cutting fishing bait, which apparatus comprises a tubular container for receiving the fishing bait, cutter means positioned in the tubular container, and plunger means which operates to force the fishing bait longitudinally along the tubular container and past the cutter means so that the cutter means cuts the fishing bait.

The apparatus of the present invention is convenient and easy to use.

The tubular container is able to contain required fishing bait such for example as a plurality of the round balls of fishing bait known as boilies. The plunger means is easily operated to force the fishing bait past the cutter means so that the cutter means cuts through the fishing bait. The apparatus is easily able to be held in an angler's hand. The angler is able to hold the tubular container in one hand, and operate the plunger means with the other hand.

The apparatus may be one in which the tubular container has a first open end through which the cut bait is forced by the plunger means during operation of the apparatus.

The apparatus may be one in which the plunger means is separable from the tubular container, and in which the tubular container has a second open end which receives the fishing bait and the plunger means. The plunger means is then able to be pushed longitudinally along the tubular container to cause the fishing bait to be cut.

The tubular container is preferably of circular cross section. The tubular container may however be of other cross sectional shapes if desired so that it may be, for example, square or hexagonal.

The apparatus may be one in which the cutter means is a blade which extends transversely across the tubular container and such that the blade has a cutting edge which faces the plunger means.

The plunger means may include a pusher portion for pushing the fishing bait towards the cutter means. The pusher portion may have a recessed formation for receiving all of the cutter means, whereby the pusher portion is able to extend past the cutter means and thereby push the fishing bait completely past the cutter means in order to ensure that the cutter means passes completely through the fishing bait.

When the cutter means is a blade, then the recessed formation is preferably a slot. Other types of recessed formation may however be employed. Preferably the blade is centrally positioned in the tubular container so that the fishing bait is cut in half. If desired, the blade could be positioned off-centre in order to cut the fishing bait in unequal portions. Also if desired, other types of cutter means may be employed, for example two parallel blades for cutting the bait into three portions, or two blades in the form of a cross for cutting the bait into four portions.

The plunger means may include guide means for guiding the plunger means along the tubular container. The guide means may be outwardly extending fins. Other types of guide means may be employed. Preferably there are four of the fins but more or less than four of the fins may be employed.

The plunger means may include a shank portion. The shank portion may have an outwardly extending formation which is for aligning the shank portion as it passes through the tubular container. The outwardly extending formation may be a star-shaped formation. Other types of outwardly extending formation may be employed.

The plunger means may include a handle.

The handle may be a fixed handle. The fixed handle may extend longitudinally of the plunger means. Such a fixed handle is aesthetically pleasing and the entire apparatus can then be in the form of a tube. If desired however the handle may extend transversely to a longitudinally axis of the plunger means.

Alternatively, the handle may be a pivoting handle. The pivoting handle may pivot from a storage position in which the handle extends longitudinally of the plunger means, to a use position in which the handle extends transversely of the plunger means.

The apparatus of the present invention may incrude fastener means for releasably fastening the pivoting handle to the tubular container when the pivoting handle is in the storage position. The fastener means may comprise a button that locates in an aperture in the tubular container. Alternatively, the fastener means may comprise a pair of spaced apart hooks which are positioned on the pivoting handle and which releasably clip into a pair of holes in the tubular container. Other types of fastener means may be employed.

The tubular container may have finger-gripping formations for facilitating holding of the tubular container when pushing the plunger means through the tubular container to cut the fishing bait. The finger-gripping formations may be transversely extending grooves which are separated by raised ring-like formations. Other types of finger-gripping formations may be* employed.

The apparatus of the present invention may include the bait.

The bait is preferably a plurality of round balls of fishing bait. The round balls of fishing bait are preferably those known as boilies. Other shapes for the bait may be employed. The bait may be of any suitable and desired constitution and it may have other than the ingredients employed in the boilies.

The apparatus of the present invention may be made of a plastics material. The apparatus may be moulded from the plastics material. Other materials may be employed.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

S

Figure 1 is a perspective view from the side and one end of first apparatus for cuffing fishing bait; Figure 2 is a view from the side and the other end of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and taken on a line which is at right angles to cutter means forming part of the apparatus; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and taken on a line which extends in the plane of the cutter means; Figure 5 is a perspective exploded view from the side and one end of second apparatus for cutting fishing bait; Figure 6 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Figure 5; Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus shown in Figure 5 and taken on a line which is at right angles to cutter means forming part of the apparatus; Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus shown in Figure 5 and taken on a line which extends in the plane of the cutter means; and Figure 10 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 5 but without a pivoting handle so that an aperture part of fastener means can be seen.

Referring to Figures 1 -4, there is shown first apparatus 2 for cutting fishing bait. The apparatus 2 comprises a tubular container 4 for receiving the fishing bait. Cutter means 6 is positioned in the tubular container 4. Plunger means 8 operates to force the fishing bait longitudinally along the tubular container 4 and past the cutter means 6 so that the cutter means 6 cuts the fishing bait.

The tubular container 4 has a first open end 10 through which the cut bait is forced by the plunger means 8 during operation of the apparatus 2.

The plunger means 8 is separable from the tubular container 4. The plunger means 6 is thus able to* be pulled completely out of the tubular container 4 through a second open end 12. This second open end 12 receives the fishing bait and the plunger means 8.

The tubular container 4 is of circular cross section as can best be appreciated from Figure 1.

The cutter means 6 is in the form of a blade which extends transversely across the tubular container 4 and such that the blade has a cutting edge 14 which faces the plunger means 8.

The plunger means 8 includes a pusher portion 16 for pushing the fishing bait towards the cutter means 6. The pusher portionl6 has a recessed formation in the form of a slot 18 for receiving all of the cutter means 6, as can best be appreciated from Figure 3. This enables the pusher portion 16 to extend past the cutter means 6 and thereby push the fishing bait completely past the cutter means 6 in order to ensure that the cutter means 6 passes completely through the fishing bait. As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the cutter means 6 in the form of the blade is centrally positioned in the tubular container 4 so that the fishing bait is cut in halt The plunger means 8 includes guide means 20 for guiding the plunger means 8 along the tubular container 4. The guide means 20 are four outwardly extending fins 22.

The plunger means 8 includes a shank portion 24. The plunger means 8 also includes a handle 26. The handle 26 is a fixed handle which extends longitudinally of the plunger means 8.

The tubular container 4 has finger-gripping formations 28 for facilitating holding of the tubular container 4 when pushing the plunger means 8 through the tubular container 4 to cut the fishing bait. The finger-gripping formations 28 comprise a plurality of slightly concave portions 30 which are separated by ring-like portions 32.

Referring now to Figures 5 -10, there is shown second apparatus 34 for cutting fishing bait. The similar parts as in the apparatus 2 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding.

The apparatus 34 has a handle 36 which is different from the handle 26 in the apparatus 2. More specifically, the handle 36 is a pivoting handle which pivots from a storage position as shown in Figures 5 and 6 in which the handle 36 extends longitudinally of the plunger means 8, to a use position in which the handle 36 extends transversely of the plunger means 8. The handle 36 pivots about a pivot 38. In the storage position of the handle 36 as shown in Figure 5 and 6, it will be seen that the handle 36 covers the second open end 12 of the tubular container 4.

The handle 36 also comprises fastener means 40 for releasably fastening the handle 36 to the tubular container 4 when the handle 36 is in the storage position. The fastener means 40 comprises a button 42 (not yet shown) which locates in an aperture in the tubular container 4.

The apparatus 34 is such that the shank portion 24 includes an outwardly extending formation 46 which is for aligning the shank portion 24 as it passes through the tubular container 4. The formation 46 is a star-shaped formation 46.

The apparatus 2, 34 is able to be moulded in a plastics material. The apparatus 2, 34 is easy and convenient to operate. A gripping ring 48 may be gripped during the bait cutting action. Because the plunger means B is removable from the container 4, the apparatus 2, 34 is easily able to be loaded with the bait and cleaned as desired. The cutter means 6 in the form of the blade is housed within the tubular container 4 and thus the tubular container 4 is able to prevent the cutter means 6 from being exposed and possibly cutting an angler. The apparatus 2, 34 is able to be moulded from a plastics material in a cost effective manner. Any suitable and appropriate ptastics material may be employed. The tubular container 4 is easily loaded with the fishing bait which is preferably in the form of round bails known as boilies.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, another type of cutter means 6 in the form of a wire could be employed instead of a blade. The cutter means 6 cuts the bait in half but different types of cutter means may be employed to cut the bait into three or four portions if desired. The apparatus may be made in various sizes. Other types of handles may be employed. Other types of finger-gripping formations 28 may be employed. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention. I0