GB2191671A - Fishing float - Google Patents

Abstract

The fishing float has an antenna constructed to give high visibility with minimum displaced volume. The antenna is constructed with thin walled tubing, perforated or open at both ends in order that water displacement is limited to the volume of the tube wall. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION High Visibility Sensitive Fishing Float This invention relates to fishing floats.

Fishing floats are designed with two primary objectives: 1. To perform the function of a visible bite indicator in that part or all of the float submerges when a fish pulls on the line.

2. To act as a buoy, allowing the hook which is attached to the float by a length of fishing line, to be fished at any depth, from the surface of the water to the river or lake bed.

These objectives are achieved by using a buoyant material, manufactured to a streamlined shape with retaining rings/rubber or synthetic bands which hold the float in a fixed position on the line, and attaching weights to the line in order that the float is held vertically on the surface of the water. (See Figure 1).

The new design is primarily addressed to the function of the float as a bite indicator.

Two conflicting attributes are sought:- a) The float should present minimum resistance to the fish when it pulls the line, or else it will let go of the bait.

b) The unsumberged part of the float should be clearly visible to the angler.

Apart from the initial energy required to give the submerged portion of the float and its associated weighting some momentum, the major resistance apparent to the fish is the weight of the volume of water displaced by the float top as it submerges.

Such is the importance of 'sensitivity', i.e.

minimum resistance to the fish, that there are very many designs of float currently available that have very thin antennaes above the water (See Figure 2a.). Alternatively the float is designed to show only a very small proportion of the float above the water (See Figure 2b).

These current designs sacrifice visibility for sensitivity and are very effective for those anglers which excellent sight or if fished at short range.

However when fished at longer range (10 yards+), or in poor light, or by anglers with less than perfect eye sight, viewing a small antennae or small top becomes at least a considerable strain or, in many instances, impracticable.

To improve visibility, designs are available with a large solid bead of light material fixed to the top of an antenna (See Figure 2c). However, as the float submerges the resistance increases dramatically as the water level reaches the solid bead, nullifying the inherent sensitivity of an antenna.

The present invention addresses the problem of ensuring both high visibility and sensitivity.

The main body of the float is designed and manufactured according to established principies and practices.

The float top (the bite indicator) is designed to meet both of the attributes required: a) Good visibility.

b) Minimum water displacement.

This is effected by constructing the float top of thin section tube. (See Figure 3). Contrary to current designs the tube is not sealed but is open at its top end and also perforated throughout it's length.

As the float is pulled below the water surface the float top fills with water and the water displacement resulting is only that generated by the thin section of the tube wall.

When the fish releases the line, the water drains out of the tube and the float rises to its normal position of equilibrium.

The perforations in the tube need to be of such a size that the water flow into the tube is unrestricted and capilliary impacts minimised: otherwise the fish will feel a major resistance while the tube fills or the float will not drain correctly and rise when the hook is released.

The tubular section is selected due to its inherent strength. Similar advantages of visibility and sensitivity can be gained by using a float top of other cross sections such as shown in Figure 4a. or possibly the tubular arrangement shown in Figure 4b. However models have demonstrated that these have practical disadvantage in terms of inherent strength and proneness to damage.

'Seesense' Models so far developed have used a variety of thin wall section tubes which have proved extremely effective. It should be noted that the float top need not be of a buoyant material and both aluminium and plastic tubes have been successfully utilised.

Using 0.15 mm wall thickness tube, the following gains in visibility are made:- Antenna Equivalent diameter perforated tube Visibility (mm) (mm) gain 1.0 2.08 2.08 1.25 3.25 2.6 1.50 4.68 3.12 1.75 6.38 3.64 2.00 8.33 4.65 Moreover, as the resolution capacity of the eye is limited to some 30 seconds of arc, the distance at which the float top can be tracked by the eye is also increased by these factors.

Manufacture would follow established practices, most probably using a shaped balsa-wood body with plastic or wood dowling for the bottom stem and conventional metal or plastic top and bottom rings.

The new float top would be either thin section plastic or light metal tube, with large perforations accounting for some 20% of the surface area. The top is coated with bright paint and except at very close range, the perforations are not noticeable to the angler.

In the case of the smailer diameters the new top would be inset in the top of the float body. For larger tube sizes the top of the float body would be inset into the tube.

It is not apparent from inspection of any of the current UK angling publications that the new design described herein is currently manufactured or marketed.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows a basic float design.

In the drawings Figure 2 shows current sensitive float designs.

In the drawings Figure 3 shows the invention; the Seesense Float.

In the drawings Figure 4 shows alternative high visibility sensitive float designs.

Claims (3)

1. Asensitive but highly visible fishing float where sensitivity and visibility attributes are achieved by using an antenna with maximum visible surface area with minimum water displacement.

2. A fishing float as claimed in Claim 1 where the antenna is constructed from high strength, low annular cross section perforated tube. (See Figure 3).

3. A fishing float as claimed in Claim 1 where the antenna is constructed from high strength, low annular cross section tube, supported by a central spigot from the float body. (See Figure 4b).