WO1998004125A1

WO1998004125A1 - Improvements in or relating to fishing

Info

Publication number: WO1998004125A1
Application number: PCT/GB1996/001827
Authority: WO
Inventors: Terence George Mackay
Original assignee: Terence George Mackay
Priority date: 1996-07-25
Filing date: 1996-07-25
Publication date: 1998-02-05
Also published as: AU6623796A

Abstract

A fishing float arrangement (10) comprising first and second members (12, 16) that are physically co-operable with one another and arranged to adopt in use selectively a first condition in which they become fast with, e.g. trap, a fishing line portion (25), and a second condition in which said fishing line portion (25) is released.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FISHING

DESCRIPTION

Background to the Invention

This invention relates to fishing and in particular to fishing float arrangements.

It is common in fishing, particularly when fishing in deep water, to employ a so-called 'slider float' arrangement. In this a float provided with one or more rings or loops is mounted slidably on a fishing line that is provided with one or more hooks and weighted (e.g. by one or more leger weights) at or adjacent its end. A knot or other stop means is provided on the line at a predetermined distance from the weighted end, this distance conforming to the depth of water in which fishing is to be conducted. This ensures the float stays adjacent the line end during casting as well as whilst fishing, and yet permits the hook(s) and weight(s) to be withdrawn towards the float during reeling in of the line. However, when the line is reeled in, the line's stop means can become caught in the eyes of the rod and, when casting into waters of varying depth, it is necessary each time to reset the predetermined distance for the stop means' location on the line - which is time consuming and bothersome. Arrangements capable of overcoming such difficulties are therefore considered desirable.

According to this invention there is provided a fishing float arrangement comprising first and second members that are physically co-operable with one another and arranged to adopt in use selectively a first condition in which they become fast with, e.g. trap, a fishing line portion, and a second condition in which said fishing line portion is released. Advantageously the arrangement in use changes automatically between the two said conditions as the arrangement floats upwards from being fully submerged to (or towards) the surface of the water.

Preferably the first and second members exhibit different flotation characteristics when the arrangement is in buoyed up condition upon the surface of the water. Advantageously, in this buoyed up condition, the first member is substantially floating whilst the second member is substantially non-floating and is supported by the first member .

Preferably, the weight of the substantially non-floating second member (in the arrangement's said buoyed-up condition) serves to trap the said line portion between it and the substantially floating said first member.

Preferably the first member comprises an elongate hollow float having a bore therethrough provided with a tapered region, and the second member comprises an elongate float having at least a region of its exterior surface provided with a taper of a like or lesser taper angle to that of the taper of said bore, the second member being located in said bore with said line portion.

The line portion may extend in the tapered bore from end to end thereof , or may extend in the tapered bore from one end thereof to a lateral hole through the wall of the first member, or may extend in the tapered bore between a pair of axially (and optionally arcuately) spaced holes through the wall of the first member.

It will be appreciated that, in each such case, the second member wedges the line portion in the tapered bore of the first member when the arrangement is in its said first condition. Preferably the second member projects upwardly, beyond the upper end of the first member. Optionally the second member also projects downwardly beyond the lower end of the first member. Such an arrangement facilitates the production of the two members from the same or similar materials but nevertheless exhibiting different floatation characteristics such that when the two members rise to the surface of the water, the first member is fully buoyed up by the water but the second member is no longer so buoyed up and substantially its full weight is instead applied upon the line portion within the tapered bore such as to trap the line portion in the bore. The float arrangement thus becomes fast with the line automatically and upon the float arrangement rising to the surface of the water.

Brief Description of the Drawings

By way of example embodiments of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section through a float arrangement according to a first embodiment of this invention and in submerged condition, Figure 2a is a diagrammatic longitudinal section through a float arrangement according to a second embodiment of this invention and in submerged condition, Figure 2b shows the float arrangement of Fig 2a but when floating on the surface of the water, Figure 3a is a diagrammatic longitudinal section through a float arrangement according to a third embodiment of this invention and in submerged condition, and Figure 3b shows the float arrangement of Fig 3a but when floating on the surface of the water.

The three illustrated fishing float arrangements are functionally similar and differ only in the dimensions of their respective parts. Accordingly the same reference numerals will be used for the similar parts of each i1lustrated embodiment .

Each illustrated fishing float arrangement 10 comprises a first member 12 in the form of an elongate hollow float having a bore 11 therethrough that, at least in a lower region, has its internal surface provided with a taper 14 that reduces in diameter as bore 11 extends downwardly. Located in said bore 11 is a second member 16 in the form of an elongate float having at least the lower region of its exterior surface 17 provided with a taper 18 of a like taper angle to that of the taper 14 of bore 11. The second member 16 projects upwardly beyond the upper end 20 of the first member 12.

In the embodiment of Figs 1 and 2, the second member 16 also projects downwardly beyond the lower end 22 of the first member. The lower end 23 of the second member 16 is provided with a lateral projection 24 to prevent full disconnection of the two members 12,16.

In the embodiment of Figs 3a and 3b, the first member 12 has a tubular float element 13 attached to the upper region of the bore 11, and the second member 16 comprises an olive-shaped flotation chamber 6 attached to the upper region of a wire 21 which, at its lower end, is connected to a needle-like weighted element 19 defining the tapered surface 18. Disconnection between the two members 12,16 is prevented by abutment between the upper end of element 19 and the lower end of the tubular float element 13.

A portion 25 of the fishing line 26 extends in the tapered bore 14 from its lower end 22 to a lateral hole 28 through the wall of the first member 12. The line's upper end (not shown) is wound on a reel attached to a fishing rod suitable for fishing, and the line's lower end is attached in conventional fashion to a leger weight 30 and fishing hook 32 (see Fig 1, Fig 3).

For each illustrated embodiment of float arrangement 10 the first and second members 12,16 exhibit different flotation characteristics when the arrangement is in buoyed up condition upon the surface 15 of the water. Specifically, when in this buoyed up condition, the first member 12 is substantially floating whilst the second member 16 is substantially non-floating and is primarily supported by the floating first member 12. The weight of the substantially non-floating second member 16 (in the arrangement's said buoyed-up condition) thus serves to trap the line portion 25 between its tapered outer surface 18 and the correspondingly tapered surface of bore 14 of the substantially floating first member 12.

It will be seen that the first and second members 12,16 are thus physically co-operable with one another and can in use adopt selectively: a first condition - arising when the arrangement is at the water's surface - in which they become fast with, i.e. trap or wedge, the fishing line portion 25 between the mating tapered surfaces 14,18; and a second condition - arising when the arrangement is fully submerged - in which said fishing line portion 25 is released.

It will be appreciated that providing member 16 of greater longitudinal extent than member 12 enables the two members

12,16 to be made from the same or similar materials but nevertheless exhibit different flotation characteristics.

These different flotation characteristics ensure:

(a) that, when the two members 12,16 are fully submerged, they do not trap the line portion 25 between them and thus allow the weighted end of the line 26 to fall to the bottom of the water dragging line through the float arrangement 10;

(b) that, when the two members 12,16 rise to the surface of the water, the first member 12 is fully buoyed up by the water but the second member 16 is no longer so buoyed up and substantially its full weight is instead applied upon the line portion 25 within the tapered bore 14 such that the line portion 25 is trapped or wedged in the bore 14 by the outer surface 18 of member 16.

Thus, during casting, the hook(s) 32 and leger weight(s) 30 at the end of the line 26 can fall freely to the bottom of the water - whatever its depth - and the float arrangement 10 adjusts itself to that depth before it becomes fast with the line 26 automatically upon the float arrangement 10 rising to the surface 15 of the water.

It will also be appreciated that the line portion 25 may, in one alternative construction, extend through the tapered bore 14 for its whole length, i.e. from its upper to lower ends 20,22 and, in another alternative construction, may extend between lateral hole 28 and another such hole spaced therefrom axially and/or arcuately.

It will be noted that the embodiments as illustrated in Figs 1 and 3 provide for the bore of member 12 to be tapered only over the part thereof that portion 25 of fishing line 26 is to overlie, and that member 16 has its external surface tapered only over a corresponding longitudinal portion thereof. It will also be noted that the embodiment as illustrated in Fig 1 and the embodiment as illustrated in Figs 2a.,2_ each provides for different angles of taper between the surfaces 14 and 18 whereby the line is trapped at a point at the lower end of line portion 25 rather than over the whole length of line portion 25. It will thus be appreciated that, to effect trapping of line portion 25, surface 18 need not necessarily be tapered but could be rounded or even be a straight edged shoulder.

It will be further appreciated that each of the above- described and illustrated embodiments of the invention can function like a conventional sliding float and can move freely up and down the line during casting, but (unlike a conventional sliding float) is not attached on either side by locking shot and does not simply slide up the line until it reaches a stop knot or other abutment at a pre-set position. The float arrangement can rest on a leger stop before and during casting, simply sliding up the line after casting until it reaches the water's surface when it 'locks' itself securely in place on the line. It can then function as a float bite indicator although it is in fact being used for so-called legering.

Other modifications and embodiments of the invention - and which are to be deemed within its ambit and scope - will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art. Thus the invention is not to be deemed limited to the particular embodiment(s) hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail without departing from the scope of the patent monopoly hereby sought.

Claims

1. A fishing float arrangement comprising first and second members that are physically co-operable with one another and arranged to adopt in use selectively a first condition in which they become fast with a fishing line portion, and a second condition in which said fishing line portion is released, characterised in that the arrangement changes in use automatically between the two said conditions as a result of the arrangement floating upwards from being fully submerged to, or towards, the surface of the water.

2. A fishing float arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first and second members in said first condition trap the fishing line portion between them.

3. A fishing float arrangement according to either preceding Claim, wherein the first and second members exhibit different flotation characteristics when the arrangement is in buoyed up condition upon the surface of the water.

4. A fishing float arrangement according to Claim 3, b wherein, in said buoyed up condition, the first member is substantially floating whilst the second member is substantially non-floating and is supported by the first member.

0 5. A fishing float arrangement according to Claim 4, wherein the weight of the substantially non-floating second member - in the arrangement's said buoyed-up condition - serves to trap the said line portion between it and the substantially floating said first member. 5 fa. A fishing float arrangement according to any preceding Claim, wherein the first member comprises an elongate hollow float having a bore therethrough provided with a tapered region, and the second member comprises an elongate float having at least a region of its exterior surface provided with a taper of a like or lesser taper angle to that of the taper of said bore, the second member being located in said bore with said line portion.

7. A fishing float arrangement according to Claim 6, wherein the said line portion extends from end to end of said bore.

8. A fishing float arrangement according to Claim 6, wherein the said line portion extends in the tapered region of said bore from one end thereof to a lateral hole through the wall of the first member.

9. A fishing float arrangement according to Claim 6, wherein the said line portion extends in the tapered region of said bore between a pair of axially spaced holes through the wall of the first member.

10. A fishing float arrangement according to Claim 9, wherein the pair of axially spaced holes are also arcuately spaced apart.

11. A fishing float arrangement according to any preceding Claim, wherein the second member projects upwardly, beyond the upper end of the first member.

12. A fishing float arrangement according to any preceding Claim, wherein the second member projects downwardly beyond the lower end of the first member.

13. A fishing float arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 or to Figures 2a and 2b. of the accompanying drawings.

14. A fishing float arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3a and 3b of the accompanying drawings.