GB2389505A

GB2389505A - Groundbait Preparation Tool

Info

Publication number: GB2389505A
Application number: GB0212346A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Peter John Chalk
Original assignee: LAYER PRODUCTS
Current assignee: LAYER PRODUCTS
Priority date: 2002-05-29
Filing date: 2002-05-29
Publication date: 2003-12-17
Also published as: GB0212346D0

Abstract

A tool 10 for the preparation of groundbait balls 19, the tool comprising a first pair of opposed scoops 11,12, each having an associated elongate handle 13,14, the handles being pivotally connected together and biassed apart by means of a spring 18. The scoops are preferably hemispherical in shape and have a diameter of 45mm. At least one scoop may be provided with a drainage hole 21, having a diameter of 2mm. Preferably, the scoops are formed from stainless steel or aluminium, and are removably mounted on the handles. The tool may comprise a second pair of scoops. Advantageously, the handles are connected by means of a nut and bolt assembly 17 and are formed from cast aluminium coated with plastics material, such as PVC. At least one handle may be shaped to accomodate a user's fingers.

Description

238950h Fishina Accessorv This invention relates to a fishing accessory.

More particularly, it relates to a tool for forming and shaping groundbait balls prior to dispensing the balls into an area of water to be fished 5 The use of groundbait in both competition and hobby angling is well known and has become widespread in recent years, particularly in pole fishing. The general principle is to supply the groundbait to an area of water to be fished, known as a "swim", to attract fish into the swim to feed on the groundbait. The composition of the particular to groundbait used varies depending on the type of fish being targeted, and the type and condition of the swim.

A common method of supplying groundbait to a swim, involves mixing the groundbait with water at the waterside, and forming the resultant mixture into balls which are then thrown, dropped or s catapulted into the water, closely adjacent to the fisherman's hook.

Preparing the groundbait at the waterside rather than in advance, allows the fisherman to take into account all possible variables, such as weather conditions or flow rate of a river, and to vary his groundbait composition accordingly. It is also important to be able to control the 20 amount of water mixed with groundbait, as this will determine how well the prepared balls will hold together, and the speed with which the bait will be dispersed once in the water.

However, despite the widespread use of groundbait and "balling" as fishing techniques, the usual method of forming groundbait balls is

- 2 to roll them by hand. This is not only a crude and unsophisticated method in what is becoming an increasingly "hi-tech" sport, but is also rather unpleasant, as groundbait tends to be a particularly malodorous substance. The origins of the present invention stem from the realisation that there is a need for a clean alternative to the manual preparation of groundbait balls.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tool for the preparation of groundbait balls prior to delivery to of the prepared balls to a swim, said tool comprising a first pair of opposed scoops, each having an elongated handle associated therewith, the handles being pivotally connected together and normally biased apart by means of a high tensile spring, such that manual squeezing together of the handles causes the opposed scoops to 15 move towards one another.

Although the primary aim of the present invention is to facilitate the clean preparation of groundbait balls, there are further advantages associated with its use. In particular, the scoops allow groundbait balls to be produced to a uniform size and shape. This allows a 20 fisherman, or a fishing competition regulator, to monitor exactly how much groundbait is being used. Furthermore, producing balls to a substantially uniform size and shape enables the fisherman to throw or catapult the balls more accurately into the same area of the swim. A further advantage associated with the present invention stems from

- 3 the use of a high tensile spring, which allows the fisherman to compact the balls to a greater degree than would be possible manually, thus forming balls which will disperse slower in the water.

Whilst groundbait balls may conceivably be of any shape, it is generally preferred that they should be substantially spherical.

Consequently, it is preferred that each scoop of the opposed pair of scoops is substantially hemi-spherical in shape.

Similarly, the scoops and the groundbait balls prepared therewith may be of any convenient shape However, it is preferred to that each scoop has a diameter of substantially 45mm, to enable the groundbait balls produced therewith to be used in existing catapults.

Preferably, at least one scoop of a pair is provided with drainage holes This enables the fisherman to prepare the groundbait balls with an excess of water and then to squeeze out the excess water using the handles. Alternatively, a dry mix may be prepared, and the closed scoops then submerged to allow ingress of water through the drainage holes. Preferably, the drainage holes have a diameter of substantially 2mm. The tool of the present invention may be formed from any 20 convenient material, however it is generally preferred that it be formed of metal. Most preferably, the scoops are formed from stainless steel or cast aluminium, whilst the handles are formed from cast aluminium.

The handles may additionally be coated with plastics material, preferably a polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The handles may additionally

- 4 be shaped so as to provide a grip for the user's fingers. This may be achieved by moulding of the plastics material to mirror the shape of the fingers.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first pair of scoops are removably mountable on the handles, there being provided at least one additional pair of scoops, interchangeable with said first pair. It is envisaged that a range of interchangeable scoops of differing sizes and shapes would be provided, supplied either together with the tool or as separate components.

10 Preferably, the pivotal connection of the handles is achieved by means of a nut-and-bolt assembly. Most preferably, the nut-and-bolt assembly is of the type and size commonly designated M5.

The tool may conceivably be of any size, however for convenience it is generally preferred that it should have a length of 15 substantially 200mm. The maximum possible separation of the handles at their tips is preferably substantially 160 mm.

In order that the present invention may be better understood, a specific embodiment will now be described in detail, though only by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in 20 which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a tool according to the present invention; and Figure 2 shows a view from above of the tool of Figure 1.

Referring simultaneously to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a

- 5 groundbait balling tool, generally indicated 10, having first and second opposed scoops 11, 12 at one end thereof. Each scoop 11, 12 has an elongated handle 13, 14 associated with it. The first and second handles 13, 14 each have a hole 15 extending therethrough. A bolt 16 5 passes through the hole 15 and is secured by a nut 17 in order to pivotally connect the first and second handles 13, 14 together.

The first and second handles 13, 14 are normally biased apart by means of a high tensile spring 18 provided therebetween. In use, squeezing together of the handles 13, 14 compresses the spring 18 to and causes the opposed scoops 11, 12 to move towards one another until they eventually close, thus forming a groundbait ball 19.

The scoops 11, 12 are provided with drainage holes to allow the ingress and egress of water during preparation of the groundbat ball 19. The handles 13, 14 are covered along a portion thereof with a 15 PVC coating, which on the first handle 13, is shaped 22 to accommodate the user's fingers.

Claims

- 6 CLAIMS

1. A tool for the preparation of groundbait balls prior to delivery of the prepared balls to a swim, said tool comprising a first pair of opposed scoops, each having an elongated handle associated 5 therewith, the handles being pivotally connected together and normally biased apart by means of a high tensile spring, such that manual squeezing together of the handles causes the opposed scoops to move towards one another.

2 A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scoops are to substantially hemi-spherical in shape.

3 A tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein the scoops have a diameter of substantially 45mm.

4. A tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one scoop is provided with drainage holes.

s

5. A tool as claimed in claim 4, wherein the drainage holes have a diameter of substantially 2mm.

6. A tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the scoops are formed from stainless steel or cast aluminium.

7 A tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the 20 scoops are removably mountable on the handles.

8. A tool as claimed in claim 7, further comprising at least one additional pair of scoops, interchangeable with said first pair.

9. A tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the handles are pivotally connected together by means of a nut-and-bolt

- 7 assembly.

10 A tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the handles are formed from cast aluminium.

11. A tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the handles are coated with plastics material.

12. A tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the plastics material is PVC.

13. A tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one handle is shaped so as to accommodate the user's fingers.

to

14. A tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having a length of substantially 200mm.

15. A tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the maximum possible separation of the handles is substantially 160 mm.

16 A ground-bait scoop as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as 1s herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.