GB2512995A

GB2512995A - Bait Fixing device

Info

Publication number: GB2512995A
Application number: GB1402877.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Preston
Original assignee: Preston Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Preston Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2013-03-02
Filing date: 2014-02-18
Publication date: 2014-10-15
Also published as: GB201402877D0; GB201303783D0

Abstract

A bait fixing device comprising a connector portion 20, having a pointed, relatively sharp end (20a, fig 7) for piercing an item of bait. An elongate longitudinal slot 22 is provided in the side wall of the connector portion. The device further comprises a curved, resiliently flexible fastener (24, fig 7) comprising a loop portion 26 and an elongate prong portion 28. In use, a user slots the prong portion of the fastener through a metal ring of a rig, such that the ring lies within the loop portion of the fastener. The user then applies sufficient force to the prong portion to push it into the elongate slot in the side wall of the connector portion of the device, which is configured to retain the prong portion therein by means of surface interference. The user then pushes or screws the connector portion of the device into an item of bait, such that the prong portion is securely held within the slot and the loop portion is closed to retain the device on the rig. The connector portion may be in the form of a screw or column shaped or conical peg and may be provided with barbs

Description

BAIT FIXING DEVICE

This invention relates to a bait fixing device and, more particularly, to a bait fixing device for use with a fishing rig.

It is increasingly common for anglers not to attach bait directly to the hook on a fishing line, but instead to use a rig, such as a hair rig' or chod rig' to achieve more effective bait presentation.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a hair rig essentially comprises a short length of fishing line, usually referred to as a hair 1, with a loop 2 tied at its end. The hair 1 is tied onto a fishing hook 3, and an item of bait 4 can then be attached to the hair 1 using one of several known types of bait stop, with a typical example 5 being illustrated in Figure 1. Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, another way of fixing the bait to a hair rig is to form a knotted loop 6 in the hair 1 itself, which loop 6 is tied around the item of bait 4.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, a chod rig' is commonly formed by making a stiff loop 7 of fishing line tied to the shank of the hook 3, to which a metal or plastic ring 8 is fitted. The item of bait 4 can then be fixed to the metal ring 8 by a lasso knotted fishing line loop 9, or by means of a plastic or metal peg 10, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, another popular method of bait attachment is to fit the metal ring 8 directly onto the shank of the hook 3, and the ring 8 is then held in place by two soft plastic beads 11, that are also threaded onto the hook 3. The bait 4 can then be fixed to the metal ring 8 by similar methods to those described above, i.e. in the example shown in Figure 5, by means of a lasso knotted fishing line loop 9 affixed around the bait 4. This method is particularly used to allow movement of the ring 8 and the attached bait 4 up and down the hook shank, restricted only by the positioning of the soft plastic beads 11.

A common problem with the known rig arrangements described above is that the method of attaching the bait to the rig must be permanently fitted to the rig at the time of its construction, thereby limiting the versatility of the completed rig in use. Another problem is that the tying of lassos and other knots in fishing line in order to fix the bait to the rig can be difficult and time-consuming to do.

Therefore, ready-made fishing rigs are becoming increasingly popular.

Such rigs are often provided with a metal ring attached to the hook shank or hair rig loop, and the end user is then only required to attach an item of bait thereto, generally by tying a small lasso loop, which is again time-consuming and can be difficult to achieve with reliable results.

Thus, products have been developed to aid the attachment of bait to the metal rings or loops of line of a chod or hair rig. For example, and referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, spike-shaped or screw-like devices have been developed that have a loop 12 provided at one end to attach to the rig, and have a spike 13 (Figure 6 (a)) or an auger-like screw 14 (Figure 6(b)) formed at the other end to attach to the bait. However, the problem with such products is that if the rig is already made, or purchased pre-tied, it is not possible to fit such devices to the rig, as the loops in the devices and the metal rings on the rig are closed. It is also not possible to remove and change the bait fixing device without dismantling the rig.

Embodiments of the present invention seek to address at least some of these issues, and provide a bait fixing device that enables an angler to use a typical pre-assembled rig and quickly and conveniently attach bait to it in a secure and reliable manner.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a bait fixing device comprising an elongate connector portion configured to be connected to an item of bait and a releasable fastening means coupled to said connector portion, said fastening means being configured to move from a first, open configuration for receiving a portion of a fishing rig, and a second, closed configuration for securing said device to said fishing rig.

In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector portion is in the form of a screw-threaded connector, and more preferably in the form of a substantially auger-shaped screw.

In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector portion is in the form of a substantially column-shaped or conical peg, in which case, the connector portion preferably comprises one or more barbs extending from a side wall of said connector portion.

Beneficially, the connector portion has a pointed end for piercing an item of bait, in use, in order to enable said device to be attached thereto.

In one preferred exemplary embodiment, the fastening means comprises a curved prong including a loop portion and a prong portion. In this case, the connector portion may comprise a slot for receiving said prong portion of said fastening means when said fastening means is in said closed configuration.

The fastening means may be formed of a resiliently flexible material.

The releasable fastening means may be integrally formed with said connector portion.

These and other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to a person skilled in the art from the foregoing description and the following specific description of embodiments of the present invention, described by way of examples only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a first type of hair rig

according to the prior art;

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a second type of hair rig

according to the prior art;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a first type of chod rig

according to the prior art;

Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a second type of chod rig

according to the prior art;

Figure 5 is a schematic side view illustrating another method of

bait attachment according to the prior art;

Figure 6 illustrates schematically two prior art bait fixing devices; Figure 7a is a schematic front view of a bait fixing device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7b is a schematic side view of the bait fixing device of Figure 7a; Figure 8a is a schematic cross-sectional front view of the bait fixing device of Figure 7a in the open configuration; Figure Sb is a schematic cross-sectional front view of the bait fixing device of Figure 7a in the closed configuration; Figure 9 is a schematic illustration of the bait fixing device of Figure 7a, in use; Figure lOa is a schematic front view of a bait fixing device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure lOb is a schematic side view of the bait fixing device of Figure ba; Figure 11 a is a schematic cross-sectional front view of the bait fixing device of Figure ba in the open configuration; Figure 11 b is a schematic cross-sectional front view of the bait fixing device of Figure lOa in the closed configuration; and Figure 12 is a schematic illustration of the bait fixing device of Figure ba, in use.

Referring to Figures 7a and 7b of the drawings, a bait fixing device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises an auger-like screw portion 20, having a pointed, relatively sharp end 20a for piercing an item of bait, such as formed boilie' baits, or artificial bait such as a soft foam ball, or organic baits such as luncheon meat or fishmeal feed pellets.

Referring particularly to Figure 7b of the drawings, an elongate longitudinal slot 22 is provided in the side wall of the screw portion 20. The device further comprises a curved, resiliently flexible fastener 24 comprising a loop portion 26 and an elongate prong portion 28. The screw portion and fastener may be formed integrally of a resiliently flexible plastic material, for example, but this is not essential. In alternative embodiments, the screw portion and the fastener may be formed as two separate portions and connected together by any suitable means.

Referring additionally to Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, in use, a user slots the prong portion 28 of the fastener 24 through a metal ring 8 of a rig, or the hair of a different type of rig as described above, such that the ring 8 or hair lies within the loop portion 26 of the fastener. The user then applies sufficient force to the prong portion 28 to push it into the elongate slot 22 in the side wall of the screw portion 20 of the device, which is configured to retain the prong portion therein by means of surface interference. The user then screws the screw portion 20 of the device into an item of bait 4, such that the prong portion 28 is securely held within the slot and the loop portion 26 is closed to retain the device on the rig.

Referring to Figure 10 of the drawings, a bait fixing device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a peg portion having a pointed, relatively sharp end 30a for piercing an item of bait, such as a soft foam ball, or organic bait, such as luncheon meat or worm meal.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 Ob of the drawings, an elongate longitudinal slot 22 is provided in the side wall of the peg portion 20. One or more barbs 32 may be provided, extending from the side wall of the peg portion 30. The device further comprises a curved, resiliently flexible fastener 24 comprising a loop portion 26 and an elongate prong portion 28. The screw portion and fastener may be formed integrally of a resiliently flexible plastic material, for example, but this is not essential. In alternative embodiments, the screw portion and the fastener may be formed as two separate portions and connected together by

any suitable means.

Referring additionally to Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings, in use, a user slots the prong portion 28 of the fastener 24 through a metal ring 8 of a rig, or the hair of a different type of rig as described above, such that the ring 8 or hair lies within the loop portion 26 of the fastener. The user then applies sufficient force to the prong portion 28 to push it into the elongate slot 22 in the side wall of the peg portion 30 of the device, which is configured to retain the prong portion therein by means of surface interference. The user then pushes the peg portion 30 of the device into an item of bait 4, such that the barbs retain it therein and the prong portion 28 is securely held within the slot, and the loop portion 26 is thus held closed to retain the device on the rig.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bait fixing device comprising an elongate connector portion configured to be connected to an item of bait and a releasable fastening means coupled to said connector portion, said fastening means being configured to move from a first, open configuration for receiving a portion of a fishing rig, and a second, closed configuration for securing said device to said fishing rig.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said connector portion is in the form of a screw-threaded connector.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said connector portion is in the form of a substantially auger-shaped screw.
4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said connector portion is in the form of a substantially column-shaped or conical peg.
5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said connector portion comprises one or more barbs extending from a side wall of said connector portion.
6. A device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said connector portion has a pointed end for piercing an item of bait, in use, in order to enable said device to be attached thereto.
7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said fastening means comprises a curved prong including a loop portion and a prong portion.
8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said connector portion comprises a slot for receiving said prong portion of said fastening means when said fastening means is in said closed configuration.
9. A device according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said fastening means is formed of a resiliently flexible material.
10. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said releasable fastening means is integrally formed with said connector portion.
11. A bait fixing device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 7 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.