GB2120912A - Fishing floats - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing float comprises a hollow cylindrical body (10) having an upper frusto-conical portion (11) to which an indicating tip (14) can be attached, and having a lower frusto-conical portion (12) to which an extension, for receiving a fishing line, can be attached. The float is provided with an opening (17) adjacent the lower end of the float for placing fishing bait inside the body. After being cast the fishing bait can leave the body through the opening. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fishing floats This invention relates to fishing floats.

Afishing float generally comprises a body and an indicating tip extending from said body the end of the float opposite to the indicating tip being weighted so that, in use, the tip is visible above the surface of the water.

In fishing it is an established technique to supply ground bait to attract fish to the area in which the baited hook is disposed. This ground bait can take a variety of forms and can be put into position by throwing or by means of a catapult. The accurate disposition of the ground bait in this matter does however require considerable skill in propelling the ground bait to the desired location and then casting so that the baited hook is in the same location.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel fishing float which provides an improved method of ground-baiting.

According to the present invention, we provide a fishing float having a body and an indicating tip, said body being hollow and being provided with an opening communicating with said hollow interior, and the opening being at, or adjacent to, the end of the body remote from the indicating tip.

Preferably, the opening is provided in a sidewall of the body and permits easy loading of the float with ground bait.

Conveniently, the body comprises a hollow generally cyclindrical main portion and may have a frusto-conical portion at each end, one of which is adjacent the indicating tip, and the other of which is remote from the indicating tip. In a preferred construction at least a part of the opening is provided in a part of the frusto-conical portion remote from the indicating tip; in a particularly preferred construction the opening is provided in a part of the frusto-conical portion remote from the indicating tip and in part of the adjacent cyclindrical portion, This arrangement provides for convenience in loading the float with ground bait and also for a desired rate of discharge of the bait from the float when in position in water.

The shape of the opening is desirably defined by a first and second margin which are at an angle to one another. The first margin is desirably adjacent the end of the body remote from the indicating tip and is preferably at a small angle to or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

The second margin is preferably at an obtuse angle to or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Advantageously, the end of the body opposite to the indicating tip is provided with an extension having an aperture to receive a fishing line so that the float can be weighted and positioned on the line by means of conventional weights.

The purpose of the hollow body is to receive ground bait such as maggots. Before casting the angler can fill the hollow body with maggots by way of the opening and when the float is in position in the water the maggots will fall through the opening and will be distributed as ground bait in the area beneath the float.

In order to facilitate exit of the maggots from the float, suitable vents may be provided at, or adjacent to, the end of the body having the indicating tip.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fishing float according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a scrap side elevation of the lower part of the fishing float as shown in Figure 1.

The fishing float comprises a hollow, generally cylindrical body 10 terminating in an upperfrustoconical portion 11 and a lowerfrusto-conical portion 12.

The upper frusto-conical portion 11 terminates in a socket part 13 which receives an indicating tip member 14.

The lowerfrusto-conical portion 12 terminates in an extension 15 which is provided with a transverse aperture 16 to receive a fishing line which can be weighted in a conventional manner to the choice of the angler.

The lowerfrusto-conical portion 12 is provided with an opening 17, the opening comprising a slot in the wall of the portion 12 and the adjacent part of the body 10. The relative dimensions of the opening 17 are preferably such that when a body 10 of about 1.25 cm. is employed the opening length (a - b) (see Figure 2) is between 0.5 and 1 cm, more preferably between 0.6 and 0.9 cm. and most preferably about 0.8 cm.

The shape of the opening can be seen clearly in Figure 2 and it comprises a first margin 17a at a small acute angle a to the longitudinal axis of the float and a second margin 1 7b at an obtuse angle ss to the longitudinal axis of the float.

In order to facilitate the flow of water into the hollow cylindrical portion, a pair of slots 18 are provided in diametrically opposed positions only one slot 18 being visible in Figure 1.

The body 10 and frusto-conical portions 11 and 12, socket 13 and extension 15 may be formed as a single unit and may be moulded, for example, by injection moulding. In order to faclitate injection moulding the body unit may be moulded in two pieces which are subsequently joined together the joint-line being defined by a plane including the longitudinal axis of the float.

It will be apparent that the fishing floats according to the present invention represent a considerable step forward in the technique of coarse fishing. In particular, it is possible to provide the ground bait in the area in which it is required and this does not require a separate action but is automatically achieved when casting.

Furthermore, the fact that the ground bait is provided in the desired area results in a considerable saving of ground bait and thereby renders the ground-baiting operation less expensive.

The positioning and shape of the opening is such as to be convenient to load with ground bait whilst also providing for a relatively slow discharge of the ground bait when the float is in position in the water.

Claims (12)

1. A fishing float having a body and an indicating tip, said body being hollow and being provided with an opening communicating with said hollow interior, and the opening being at, or adjacent to, the end of the body remote from the indicating tip.

2. Afishing float according to Claim 1 in which the opening is provided in a sidewall of the body.

3. Afishing float according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the body comprises a hollow generally cylindrical main portion having a frusto-conical portion at each end, one of which is adjacent the indicating tip, and the other of which is remote from the indicating tip.

4. Afishing float according to Claim 3 in which at least a portion of the opening is provided in a part of the frusto-conical portion remote from the indicating tip.

5. Afishing float according to Claim 3 in which the opening is provided in a part of the frusto-conical portion remote from the indicating tip and in a part of the adjacent cylindrical portion.

6. Afishing float according to any preceding claim in which the opening is defined by a first and second margin which are at an angle to one another.

7. A fishing float according to Claim 6 in which the first margin is adjacent the end of the body remote from the indicating tip.

8. Afishing float according to Claim 6 or 7 in which the first margin is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the float.

9. A fishing float according to any one of Claims 6 to 8 in which the fishing float is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the float.

10. A fishing float according to any preceding claim in which the end of the body remote from the indicating tip is provided with an extension having an aperture to receive a fishing line so that the float can be weighted and positioned on the line by means of conventional weights.

11. A fishing float according to any preceding claim in which the vents are provided at or adjacent to the end of the body adjacent the indicating tip.

12. A fishing float substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.