GB2523410A

GB2523410A - A bait dispenser for dispensing bait during angling

Info

Publication number: GB2523410A
Application number: GB1403328.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Dove; Damian Keith Clarke; Michael William Waterton
Original assignee: Korda Developments Ltd
Current assignee: Korda Developments Ltd
Priority date: 2014-02-25
Filing date: 2014-02-25
Publication date: 2015-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2034-02-25
Also published as: GB2523410B; GB201403328D0

Abstract

A bait dispenser (2, fig 1) for dispensing bait (3, fig 1) during angling comprising a first body portion 4 for containing the bait, a second body portion 6 for closing the first body portion, hinge means 8 by which the first and second body portions open and close, fastener means 10 for releasably fastening the first and second body portions together; and attachment means 12 for attaching the bait dispenser to a fishing line 14, characterised in that the hinge means is positioned at a front end (16, fig 1) of the bait dispenser, the fastener means is positioned at a rear end (18, fig 1) of the bait dispenser, the attachment means is positioned at the rear end of the bait dispenser and the fastener means connects to the attachment means on the outside of the bait dispenser such that during use when the bait dispenser is being cast by an angler and is in flight, the fishing line applies continuous tension to the attachment means and causes the attachment means to hold the fastener means such that the fastener means keeps the first and second body portions closed and during use when the bait dispenser has been cast and is on water, the fishing line loses the continuous tension and allows the fastener means to slip from the attachment means and the first and second body portions to open, whereby the bait becomes dispensed.

Description

A BAIT DISPENSER FOR

DISPENSING BAIT DURING ANGLING

This invention relates to a bait dispenser for dispensing bait during angling.

Bait dispensers are well known for dispensing bait during angling.

Anglers traditionally load thebait dispensers with ground bait and then cast the bait dispensers to an area of water to be fished. One known type of bait dispenser comprises a first body portion for containing the bait, a second body portion for closing the first body portion, hinge means by which the first and the second portions open and close, fastener means for releasably fastening the first and the second body portions together, and attachment means for attaching the bait dispenser to a fishing line. This known bait dispenser has its fastener means at a front end of the bait dispenser, and the bait dispenser is required to strike the water nose first in order to release the fastener means and allow the first and second body portions to open. The striking of the bait dispenser nose first causes undue disturbance of the water, which may disturb fish. In addition, the fastener means has a tendency to stick in its closed position due to contact by the bait inside the bait dispenser.

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 bait dispenser for dispensing bait during angling, which bait dispenser comprises: (i) a first body portion for containing the bait; (ii) a second body portion for closing the first body portion; (iii) hinge means by which the first and second body portions open and close; (iv) fastener means for releasabty fastening the first and second body portions together; and (v) attachment means for attaching the bait dispenser to a fishing line, characterised in that: (vi) the hinge means is positioned at a front end of the bait dispenser: (vii) the fastener means is positioned at a rear end of the bait dispenser; (viii) the attachment means is positioned at the rear end of the bait dispenser; and (ix) the fastener means connects to the attachment means on the outside of the bait dispenser and such that: (a) during use when the bait dispenser is being cast by an angler and is in flight, the fishin9 line applies continuous tension to the attachment means and causes the attachment means to hold tte fastener means such that the fastener means keeps the first and second body portions closed; and (b) during use when the bait dispenser has been cast and is on water, the fishing line loSes the continuous tension and allows the fastener means to slip from the attachment means and the first and second body portions to open, whereby the bait becomes dispensed.

The bait dispenser of the present invention is advantageous in that its fastener means is positioned at the rear end of the bait dispenser, and it does not require the bait dispenser to dive nose first into the water in order to be operated. This thus avoids unwanted water distiirbance. In addition, the bait dispenser of the present invention is advantagebus in that fastener means is on the outside of the container, and is therefore out of contact with the bait inside the container so that the bait inside the container is not able to contact the fastener means and cause the fastener means to stick in its closed position and fail to move to its release position.

The bait dispenser may be one in which the fastener means comprises a hook, and in which the attachment means comprises a ring. Other types of fastener means and other types of attachment means may be employed.

The bait dispenser may be one in which the hook is fixed to the body portion, in which the ring is positioned on a mounting member, and in which the mounting member is fixed to the first body portion. In this case, the bait dispenser may be one in which the hook extends outwardly from an end face of the second body portion, and in which the mounting member extends outwardly from an end face of the first body portion. The mounting member may be a curved strip. Other types of mounting member may be employed.

The bait dispenser may be one in which the second body portion opens under the action of the water as the bait dispenser iè reeled in after having been cast. In this case, preferably, the first and second body portions are not spring biased to their open position. The opening of the first and second body portions is thus more gentle than would be the case if the first and second body portions were spring biased to their open position. This in turn may cause less disturbance of the water.

Preferably, the second portion opens 180° with respect to the first body portion so that the first and second body portions are in a line in their open position. When reeling in the bait dispenser, the first and the second body portions cause less resistance when they are in a line than when they are at an angle such for example as 900. The provision of the reduced resistance is advantageous firstly in facilitating ease of reeling in, and secondly for facilitating less water disturbance during the reeling in.

The hinge means may comprise two spaced apart first hinge formations on the first body portion, a second hinge formation which is on the second body poñion and which is redeived between the two first hinge formations, and a pivot pin which extends through apertures in the two first hinge formations and the second hinge formation.

The bait dispenser may include a wall which is in the first body portion and which prevents the bait sliding towards the rear end of the bait dispenser during the casting. This helps to ensure that sliding of the bait does not adversely affect stability of flight, as may occur if the bait slides towards the rear end of the bait dispenser during the casting.

The wall may form part of a cradle formation: for the bait. The cradle formation may extend into the second body portion when the first and second body portions are closed. The cradle formation may comprise two end walls, and two longitudinally extending side walls.

The bait dispenser may include shock absorbing means for absorbing shock forces between the first and second body portions and caused when the bait dispenser strikes the water after having been cast. The shock forces between the first and second body portions may cause noise and this is undesirable in case it should frighten fish. Also, shock forces between the first and second body portions may cause unwanted wear on the first and/or the second body portions. The use of the shock absorbing means may be effective to prevent both the unwanted noise generation and also the unwanted wear.

The shock absorbing means may comprise at least one flexible stop member. The flexible stop member may be made from a rubber material.

Other materials may be employed including plastics foam materials.

Preferably two of the flexible stop members are employed but a single flexible stop member or more than two of the flexible stop members may be employed if desired.

The bait dispenser may include buoyancy means for ensuring that the bait dispenser does not sink if the fishing line snaps during the casting, and also for facilitating the dispersion of the bait. The buoyancy means may ensure that the bait dispenser stays evenly balanced in the water and thereby promotes even distribution of the bait. The buoyancy means may be positioned where suitable in the bait dispenser, for example over a central portion, in order to ensure stable buoyancy.

The bait *dispenser may include weighting means for providing increased casting distance. The increased casting distance is as compared with the casting distance if the weighting means were not employed. The weighting means will normally be located in the front of the bait dispenser.

The weighting means may be made of any suitable and appropriate weighting material.

The bait dispenser may be one in which the first and second body portions define a tubular body, and in which the hinge means defines a curved nose to the tubular body.

The bait dispenser may include fins for facilitating the flight of the bait dispenser during the casting. The fins may be near the rear of the tubular body. With the fins and a tubular body, the entire bait dispenser is able to have a rocket-like appearance. Preferably there are four of the fins. More or less than four of the fins 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: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a bait dispenser for dispensing bait during angling; Figure 2 is a view of the bait dispenser of Figure 1 from the front, one side and above; Figure 3 is a view of the bait dispenser from the rear, above and one side; Figure 4 shows the bait dispenser in an open condition and from the rear, one side and above; Figure 5 is a view like Figure 4 but shows the bait dispenser from the rear, one side and underneath; Figure 6 is a top plan view of a dispenser in an open condition; Figure 7 is a side view of the bait dispenser in an open condition; Figure 8 is an underneath plan view of the bait dispenser in an open condition; Figure 9 is a top plan view of the bait dispenser in a closed condition; Figure 10 is an underneath plan view of the bait dispenser in a closed condition; Figure 11 is a view from one side of the bait dispenser in a closed condition; Figure 12 is a front view of the bait dispenser in the closed condition; Figure 13 is a rear view of the bait dispenser in the closed condition; and Figure 14 is a section through a bait dispenser of the present invention and showing an over-nioulded nose to body design.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a bait dispenser 2 for dispensing bait 3 during angling. The bait dispenser 2 comprises a first body portion 4 for containing the bait 3. The bait 3 may be boilies as shown, or any other suitable and appropriate bait, for example breadcrumbs, The bait dispenser 2 also comprises a second body portion 6 for closing the first body portion 4. Hinge means 8 enable the first and second body portions 4, 6 to open and close. Fastener means 10 is provided for fastening the first and second body portions 4, 6 together. Attachment means 12 is provided for attaching the bait dispenser 2 to a fishing line 14. The fishing line 14 may be a mainfishing line leading to a fishing reel on a fishing rod, or it may be an auxiliary line for connecting to a main fishing line.

The bait dispenser 2 is such that the hinge means 8 is positioned at a front end 16 of the bait dispenser 2. The fastener means 10 is positioned at a rear end 18 of the bait dispenser 2. The attachment means 12 is also positioned at the rear end 18 of the bait dispenser 2.

The fastener means 10 connects to the attachment means 12 on the outside of the bait dispenser 2. The connection of the fastener means 10 to the attachment means 12 on the outside of the bait dispenser 2 is such that during use, when the bait dispenser 2 is being cast by an angler and is in flight, the fishing line 14 applies continuous tension to the attachment means 12. This causes the attachment means 12 to hold the fastener means 10 such that the fastener means 10 keeps the first and second body portions 4, 6 closed. The connection of the fastener means 10 to the attachment means 12 on the outside of the bait dispenser 2 is also such that during use when the bait dispenser 2 has been cast and is on water, the fishing line 14 loses the continuous tension and allows the fastener means 10 to slip from the attachment means 12. This enables the first and second body portions 4, 6 to open, whereby the bait 3 becomes dispensed.

The bait dispenset 2 is advantageous in that it can be cast such that it lands horizontally on the water. This horizontal-type landing causes less water disturbance than would be the case if the bait dispenser 2 were to have to enter the water with its front end 16 first and at a steep angle. The bait dispenser 2 is also advantageous in that the fastener means 10 is on the outside of the bait dispenser 2 and is therefore out of contact with the bait 3 inside the first body portion 4. Thus the bait 3 does not engage the fastener means 10 and thus cannot cause the fastener means 10 to malfunction. The bait dispenser 2 is able to be produced with a minimum of moving parts, which helps to make the bait dispenser 2 cheaper and more reliable than more complex constructions of comparable known bait dispensers.

The fastener means 10 comprises a hook 20. The attachment means 12 comprises a ring 22. The hook 20 is fixed to the second body portion 6.

The ring 22 is positioned on a mounting member 24. The mounting member 24 is fixed to the first body portion 4. More specifically, the hook 20 extends outwardly from an end face of the second body portion 6. The mounting member 24 extends outwardly from an end face 28 of the first body portion 4.

The mounting member 24 is a curved strip as shown.

The bait dispenser 2 is one in which the second body portion 6 opens under the action of the water as the bait dispenser 2 is reeled in after having been cast. The first and second body portions 4, 6 are not spring biased to their open position. The opening of the first and second body portions 4, 6 is thus more gentle than would be the case if the first and second body portions 4, 6 were spring biased to their open position. The gentler opening facilitates less disturbance of the water and therefore less disturbance for fish in the vicinity of the bait dispenser 2 in the water. The second body portion 6 opens 1800 with respect to the first body portion 4. The first and second body portions 4, 6 are thus in line in their open position. This in line open position offers less resistance to the water when the bait dispenser 2 is being reeled in, than would be the case if the second body portion 6 were to open only 900 with respect to the first body portion 4.

The hinge means 8 comprises two spaced apart first hinge formations 30, 32, a second hinge formation 34, and a pivot pin 36. The first hinge formations 30, 32 are on the first body portion 4. The second hinge formation 34 is on the second body portion 6. The second hinge formation 34 is received between the two first hinge formations 30, 32. The pivot pin 36 extends through an aperture 38 in each of the first hinge formations 30, 32 and an aperture 40 in the second hinge formation 34.

The bait dispenser 2 includes a wall 42 which is in the first body portion 4. The wall 42 prevents the bait 3 sliding towards the rear end 18 of the bait dispenser 2 during casting. This ensures that the bait 3 does not slide and thereby adversely affect stability of flight during casting of the bait dispenser 2. The wall 42 forms part of a cradle formation 44 for the bait 3. The cradle formation 44 extends into the second body portion 6 when the first and second body portions 4, 6 are closed. The cradle formation 44 comprises the end wall 42, an opposite end wall 46, and two longitudinally extending opposite side walls 48, 50.

The bait dispenser 23 includes shock absorbing means 52 for absorbing shock forces between the first and second body portions 4, 6.

These shock forces are caused when the bait dispenser 2 strikes the water after being cast. The shock forces may cause the generation of noise as the first and second body portions 4, 6 strike each other. The noise may be in the form of a single clapping sound. The shock forces may also cause wear between moving parts of the bait dispenser 2. The shock absorbing means 52 comprises two flexible stop members 54, 56. The two flexible stop members 54, 56 are preferably made from a soft rubber material but they may be made of other materials if desired.

The first and second body portions 4, 6 define a tubular body. The hinge means 8 defines a curved nose to the tubular body. The bait dispenser 2 includes fins 62 for facilitating the flight of the bait dispenser 2 during the casting. The fins 62 are at the rear 18 of the tubular body. There are two fins 62 on the first body portion 4, and two fins 62 on the second body portion 6.

The bait dispenser 2 includes buoyancy means for ensuring that the bait dispenser 2 does not sink if the fishing line 14 snaps during the casting.

The buoyancy means also facilitates the dispersion of the bait 3, for example enabling the bait dispenser 2 to sit evenly in the water whilst the bait 3 becomes dispersed. The buoyancy means may be provided where desired in the bait dispenser 2, for example in the middle part of the bait dispenser 2.

The bait dispenser 2 also includes weighting means for providing increased casting distance of the bait dispenser 2, this increased* casting distance being as compared with the bait dispenser without the weighting means. The weighting means will usually be provided at a front end of the bait dispenser 2.

The buoyancy means and the weighting means are advantageously formed as a single component by having an over-moulded nose to body design. An example of such an over-moulded nose to body design is shown in Figure 14. Figure 14 may be regarded as being the same as, or a modification to, the bait dispenser as shown in Figures 1 -13.

The bait dispenser 2 can be laid horizontally one the surface of water and still deposit the bait 3. Such horizontal laying on the surface of the water will be preferred by anglers to the nose diving of the bait dispenser 2 in a nose first fashion, which would cause more water disturbance which is undesirable. The bait dispenser 2 is such that the first and second body portions 4, 6 open with respect to each other through 1800. There is less resistance to winding in of the bait dispenser 2 in its open condition than would be the case if the first and second body portions 4, 6 only opened 900 with respect to each other. The fastener means 10 is a simple uncomplicated device. This means that there is little to go wrong with its operation. It is also cheaper to produce than a complicated mechanical device. The fastener means 10 is on the outside of the bait dispenser 2 and thus it is not contacted by the bait. With known bait dispensers, if the bait contacts a front release mechanism, then there is a probability that the bait will eventually lodge the bait dispenser 2 shut. In addition to being cheap to produce, the fastener means 10 shown in the drawings also increases longevity of the bait dispenser 2 because there are basically no parts to fail due to use. The buoyancy means in the bait dispenser 2 ensures stability. The weighting means ensures further distance when casting. The buoyancy means helps to ensure that the bait dispenser does not sink, in spite of the presence of the weighting means, for example if the fishing line 14 were to snap during use.

The buoyancy means also helps to sit the bait dispenser 2 optimally in its open condition for providing optimal bait dispensing. The internal wall 42 ensures that the bait 3 does not slide to the back of the bait dispenser 2 and thereby cause instability in flight during casting, as occurs with the above mentioned known bait dispenser. The flexible stop members 54, 56 stop a clapping noise occurring and caused by the first and second body parts 4, 6 hilling each other as the bait dispenser 2 strikes the water.

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, the shape of the first body portion 4, the second body portion 6, and the fins 62 may be varied. Other types of hinge means, fastener means and attachment means may be employed. The bait dispenser 2 may be moulded from plastics materials. Any suitable plastics materials 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.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bait dispenser for dispensing bait during angling, which bait dispenser comprises: (i) a first body portion for containing the bait; (ii) a second body portion for closing the first body portion; (iii) hinge means by which the first and second body portions open and close; (iv) fastener means for releasably fastening the first and second body portions together; and (v) attachment means for attaching the bait dispenser to a fishing line, characterised in that: (vi) the hinge means is positioned at a front end of the bait dispenser; (vii) the fastener means is positioned at a rear end of the bait dispenser; (viii) the attachment means is positioned at the rear end of the bait dispenser; and (ix) the fastener means connects to the attachment means on the outside of the bait dispenser and such that: (a) during use when the bait dispenser is being cast by an angler and is in flight, the fishing line applies continuous tension to the attachment means and causes the attachment means to hold the fastener means such that the fastener means keeps the first and second body portions closed; and (b) during use when the bait dispenser has been cast and is on water, the fishing line loses the continuous tension and allows the fastener means to slip from the attachment means and the first and second body portions to open, whereby the bait becomes dispensed.
2. A bait dispenser according to claim I in which the fastener means comprises a hook, and in which the attachment means comprises a ring.
3. A bait dispenser according to claim 2 in which the hook is fixed to the second body portion, in which the ring is positioned on a mounting member, and in which the mounting member is fixed to the first body portion.
4. A bait dispenser according to claim 3 in which the hook extends outwardly from an end face of the second body portion, and in which the mounting member extends outwardly from an end face of the first body portion.
5. A bait dispenser according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the mounting member is a curved strip.
6. A bait dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second body portion opens under the action of the water as the bait dispenser is reeled in after having been cast.
7. A bait dispenser according to claim 6 in which the first and second body portions are not spring biased to their open position.
8. A bait dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second body portion opens 1800 with respect to the first body portion so that the first and second body portions are in a line in their open position.
9. A bait dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims in which the hinge means comprises two spaced apart first hinge formations on the first body portion, a second hinge formation which is on the second body portion and which is received between the two first hinge formations, and a pivot pin which extends through apertures in the two first hinge formations and the second hinge formation.
10. A bait dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims and including a wall which is in the first body portion and which prevents the bait sliding towards the rear end of the bait dispenser during the casting.
11. A bait dispenser according to claim 10 in which the wall forms part of a cradle formation for the bait.
12. A bait dispenser according to claim 11 in which the cradle formation extends into the second body portion when the first and second portions are closed.
13. A bait dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims and including shock absorbing means for absorbing shock forces between the first and second body portions and caused when the bait dispenser strikes the water after having been cast.
14. A bait dispenser according to claim 13 in which the shock absorbing means comprises at least one flexible stop member.
15. A bait dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims and including buoyancy means for ensuring that the bait dispenser does not sink if the fishing line snaps during the casting, and also for facilitating the dispersion of the bait. 4 p
16. A bait dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims and including weighting means for providing increased casting distance.
17. A bait dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and second body portions define a tubular body, and in which the hinge means defines a curved nose to the tubular body.
18. A bait dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims and including fins for facilitating the flight of the bait dispenser during the casting.
19. A bait dispenser for dispensing bait during angling, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.