Abstract:
A live insect (e.g. cricket) dispensing cage to be used by fishermen enables one insect at a time to be selectively dispensed and encourages the insect to travel within the cage interior to a distal end portion of the cage housing that is less illuminated and that has a dispensing outlet. A trigger and pushrod linkage arrangement can be used to open and close a valve that registers in an outlet opening through which insects are to be dispensed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to devices for dispensing live bait to a fisherman and preferably for dispensing live insects such as crickets and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved live insect cage and dispensing device that features a housing having an outlet that is moveable between opened and closed positions, wherein an improved linkage enables a user to quickly open and close the outlet and wherein the housing has an outer wall that varies light transmission to the interior of the housing, preferably along a gradient between end portions of the housing so that the dispensing end portion is darker than other portions of the housing. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     Freshwater fishermen often use live insects as bait when pursuing certain freshwater fish such as bream, bass, perch and the like. For many, many years, a cylindrically shaped cage has been commercially available to fishermen. This prior art cricket cage contains live insects such as crickets, providing a dispensing end portion with an outlet through which the insects can be dispensed one at a time for use by the fishermen. These “cricket cages” as they are commonly called provide a closure plug for closing the outlet opening. The plug can be a cork, rubber stopper, or closure cap. In such commercially available cricket cages, a user must manually remove the cork, stopper or closure cap with one hand while holding the cage with the other hand. This is an awkward method and apparatus for dispensing live insect bait (e.g. crickets) because both hands of the user are occupied, one with the cage and the other with the closure cap or stopper. Additionally, such commercially available cricket cages typically provide a uniform screen wall that enable the crickets to disperse themselves evenly over the entire cage and away from the outlet opening. The user must typically hold the cage in one hand, remove the stopper, closure or cork, and then shake the cage in order to dispense one of the live insects through the outlet opening. Many crickets escape as the user attempts to catch them as they emerge from the cage via the outlet opening. 
     Another commercially available, prior art insect cage that is used by fisherman is a cube shaped or cylindrically shaped box container having a large opening on one wall. The opening enables the human hand to pass through it and obtain access to the inside of the cage. This large opening is surrounded by a peripheral skirt of a plastic material that is slippery (e.g. polypropylene or other soft plastic) so that the insects cannot easily crawl from the cage interior to the exterior thereof through this enlarged opening. However, the insects typically congregate immediately behind the annular skirt so that the fishermen must tap the cage several times against the bottom of the boat or dock in order to dislodge the insects. Hopefully the fisherman is quick enough to grab an insect before the insects quickly retreat behind the annular skirt at the top of the cage. 
     Various live bait cages for holding insects have been patented. The following are examples of U.S. Patents for such devices and all are hereby incorporated herein by reference: 
     An early U.S. Pat. No. 2,160,436 issued to Jones is entitled “Grasshopper Holder”. This patent shows a cage having solid walls and a tapered or conical section with an outlet opening having a closure plate. This cage apparatus is directed to holding grasshoppers for fishing purposes. 
     Another grasshopper dispenser is the subject of the Cave U.S. Pat. No. 2,579,549. 
     A dispensing receptacle is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 2,786,297. The apparatus is said to be useful for dispensing bait such as minnows, small fish or other live bait such as insects or the like. 
     The Dohrer U.S. Pat. No. 2,843,968 is directed to a storing and dispensing apparatus for crickets. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,857,705 issued to J. Woodcock provides a bait dispenser that includes a container having a conically shaped end portion with a dispensing outlet. The apparatus is said to be useful for preserving and dispensing bait such as crickets. 
     A fishing bait container for holding live insects is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,570 entitled “Fishing Bait Containers”. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,320 issued to Lee provides a bait dispenser for use by fisherman which includes a container for carrying live bait to be dispensed and a cooperating dispenser tube having a slot cut in the end thereof to form a pair of jaws with levers attached, which levers facilitate a widening of the slot when depressed. The bait dispenser also includes a spring loaded plunger on the dispenser tube which communicates with the interior of the tube to block the passage of live bait through the tube. 
     A cricket dispenser is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,230. In the &#39;230 patent, a cricket dispensing nozzle has a generally annular open end for communicating with the source of crickets. Four resilient prongs emerge from the annular member and converge toward a dispensing opening in a continuous manner. Spaces between the four prongs permit insertion of a hook, both through that space and through the space below so that the hook may be passed through the cricket twice and the cricket removed from the nozzle without otherwise damaging the cricket. 
     A cricket gun is disclosed in the Pleasants patent 5,103,585 that can be used by fishermen to dispense live insects such as crickets. The cricket gun of the &#39;585 patent includes a bait container for holding a limited supply of crickets with a bait dispensing head attached to the funnel end of the cage. On the opposite end of the cage is a spring loaded handle. By compressing the handle, a cricket is allowed to enter and be entrapped in the dispenser head chamber. The cricket may be discharged by pulling back on the release trigger. When the release trigger is pulled back the carriage is pulled forward allowing the cricket to fall out the bottom of the dispenser head. When the trigger is released the spring loaded carriage is pulled back into position. The cricket gun enables a fisherman to discharge one insect at a time or keep one in reserve in the isolated chamber for later use. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved live bait dispensing cage for dispensing live insects (for example, crickets, grasshoppers, grubs and the like). The apparatus has particular utility to fresh water fishermen. 
     The apparatus includes a housing having an outer wall surrounding a hollow interior. The housing includes proximal and distal end portions. 
     An outlet opening at the distal end of the housing extends through the housing wall. A trigger mechanism is attached to the housing for operating a linkage that connects between the trigger mechanism and a valve member. 
     The valve member is attached to the linkage and moves with it. The valve member is moved by the linkage between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the valve member closes the outlet opening so that no live insects can escape from the housing interior. 
     In one embodiment, the housing has a plurality of wall openings that enable light to pass through to the interior housing. In the preferred embodiment, more light passes through the wall at one end portion of the housing than at the other end portion of the housing. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the wall achieves variable light transmission (i.e. a gradient) by providing openings through the wall of larger diameter at the proximal end of the housing, holes of smaller diameter at the distal end of the housing, and holes at the central portion of the housing that vary in diameter between larger and smaller moving proximally to distally. 
     This variable light intensity can also be generated by other means such as by providing a solid, translucent wall that has a variable tint between its end portions, the darker tint being provided at the distal end portion. In the preferred embodiment, the outlet opening is preferably positioned at the opposite end portion of the housing from the trigger. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the housing can be an elongated tubular member. 
     In the preferred embodiment, a linkage can include a pushrod that extends between the trigger and the valve member. 
     The present invention also provides an improved method of dispensing live insects to a fisherman for use as live bait during fishing. 
     The method includes providing a housing having an interior with first and second end portions that enable a plurality of live insects to be caged, the housing having a wall surrounding the interior, a dispensing end portion with an outlet, defining said first end portion. 
     The method further includes the step of illuminating the interior of the housing differentially along a majority of the length of the housing between the first and second end portions. The housing interior is preferably illuminated to a lesser degree next to the outlet opening and to a larger degree at the second end portion. 
     A gradient of illumination is thus preferably provided for the housing interior between the first and second end portions. The interior gradually darkens as insects travel proximally to distally within the housing. This concentrates the insects at the darker, distal end as they seek shelter in the darker area. 
     In the preferred method, this step of illuminating the interior can be accomplished by providing a wall that has openings of varying diameter and positioning the varying diameter openings along the length of the housing to define light transmitting openings that illuminate the interior of the housing to a lesser degree distally and to a greater degree proximally. The light intensity within the housing interior can be a gradually increasing intensity along the length of the housing, distally to proximally. 
     The method can provide the use of a manually operable valve member to open and close the outlet opening. The method further contemplates a housing that is configured to encourage the insects contained within the house to gravitate toward the first or distal end portion of the housing, interior because it is illuminated less than the second or proximal end portion of the housing. The distal portion is also preferably illuminated less than the central portion of the housing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding, of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention taken along lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention taken along lines  4 — 4  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic view that illustrates injection molding of a section of the housing portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the trigger, pushrod, and valve in an open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1-4 show the preferred embodiment of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  10 . Live insect dispensing cage apparatus  10  is comprised of a housing  11  that can have a handle  12  for enabling a user to grip and manipulate the housing  11 . Housing  11  have end portions  13  and  14 . End portion  13  is a proximal end portion next to a users hand when the user grips the handle  12  during use. End portion  14  is a distal end portion that is next to a dispensing outlet opening  30 . Housing  11  can be an elongated structure that includes a generally cylindrically shaped portion or a section  15 . Housing  11  has an interior  16  for containing live insects  58  that are useful to a fisherman such as, for example, crickets, grasshoppers, grubs, or the like. 
     Proximal end portion  13  has a trigger support  17  that extends behind handle  12  as shown in the drawings. Trigger support  17  has trigger  18  pivotally attached thereto at pivot  19 . Trigger  18  can be used by an operator to move pushrod  20  or other suitable linkage. The pushrod  20  can be connected at one end portion to trigger  18  and at its other end portion to valve member  454 . The valve member  454  is moveable between open (FIG. 7) and closed (FIG. 2) positions for opening and closing the outlet opening  30 . 
     During use, an operator holds handle  12  using primarily the fingers of one hand. The user also grips trigger  18  with- the thumb of the same hand. The user then squeezes the trigger  18  toward handle  12  in the direction of arrow  46 . This action of squeezing trigger  18  overcomes the return spring  29  that normally holds the valve  454  in a closed position as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     Trigger support  17  can extend away from transverse plate  22  that is part of the cylindrical section  15  that is at the central part of the apparatus  10 . 
     In order to fill the apparatus  10  with live insects  58  such as crickets, grasshoppers, grubs or the like, a fill opening  47  is provided that communicates with interior  16 . Closure plate  21  can be fitted to opening  47  for closing it after a desired number of live insects  58  have been added to the interior  16 . Once the live insects  58  are contained within interior  16  and the closure plate  21  has been fitted and sealed to fill opening  47 , the apparatus  10  can be carried using handle  23 . By placing fill opening  47  and plate  21  in the side wall of housing  11 , away from its end portions, live insects  58  will not congregate at opening  47  thereby enabling them an opportunity to escape when cover  21  is removed. The handle  23  can be pivotally attached to cylindrical section  15  of housing  11  at pivots  24 ,  25 . 
     Once the insects  58  are contained within interior  16 , they tend to gravitate toward distal end portion  14  as will be described more fully herein after. The end portion  14  includes a cone-shaped portion  26  that is preferably a solid wall of material that does not have any openings. An outlet tube  27  is fitted to cone  26 . The outlet tube  27  can be beveled, providing beveled surface  28 . Outlet opening  30  is provided in outlet tube  27 . The combination of the outlet opening  30  and the beveled surface  28  provides a structure that enables a user to very quickly dispense a cricket from the apparatus  10  into a user&#39;s hand. When a live insect  58  enters the outlet tube  27  as shown in FIG. 7, the live insect  58  can be easily discharged into a users hand by rapidly flipping the outlet tube  27  in the direction of arrow  59  as shown in FIG.  7 . The outlet tube  27  communicates with interior  16  so that insects  58  contained within interior  16  can travel the length of the apparatus  10  and be dispensed through cone-shaped portion  26 , then outlet tube  27 , and through outlet opening  30 . 
     In order to ensure that most of the live insects  58  contained within interior  16  gravitate or travel toward distal end portion  14 , the wall  48  of housing  11  provides a gradient of light transmission that provides a brighter illumination to the interior  16  at proximal end  13  and a lesser illumination at end portion  14 . This can be provided, for example, by means of a plurality of openings that include smaller diameter openings  31  next to distal end portion  14  and larger diameter openings  44  next to proximal end portion  13 . In the preferred embodiment, there are a plurality of openings  32 - 43  in between the smallest openings  31  and the largest openings  43 . The openings  31 - 44  can be, for example, sequentially of larger and larger diameter, beginning with the smallest diameter opening  31  and gradually increasing in diameter with openings  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 , etc. until the largest diameter 44 is reached. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the valve  45  can simply be an enlarged diameter portion of pushrod  20  provided at the distal end portion of pushrod  20 . Trigger  18  can provide an upper end portion  49  to which pushrod  20  is attached at connection  50 . Pushrod  20  passes through channel  51  in transverse plate  22  of housing  11 . A flat washer or other retainer can be provided at channel  51  so that it retains one end of return spring  29 . The other end of return spring  29  presses against stop  52  mounted on pushrod  20 . The return spring  29  can thus be a coil spring that is mounted upon pushrod  20  as shown in the drawings. 
     The housing  11  can be formed in halves, each half being injection molded for example. In FIG. 6, mold sections  53 ,  54  are shown, the section  54  having a plurality of projections  55  for forming the openings  31 - 44 . An overlapping joint  56 , for example, can be used at the interface between the half sections of the housing  11 . The housing half sections can be fastened together using screws  57 . 
     PARTS LIST 
     The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention: 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                  PART NUMBER 
                 DESCRIPTION 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                       10 
                 Live insect dispensing cage 
               
               
                 11 
                 housing 
               
               
                 12 
                 handle 
               
               
                 13 
                 end portion 
               
               
                 14 
                 end portion 
               
               
                 15 
                 cylindrical section 
               
               
                 16 
                 interior 
               
               
                 17 
                 trigger support 
               
               
                 18 
                 trigger 
               
               
                 19 
                 pivot 
               
               
                 20 
                 pushrod 
               
               
                 21 
                 closure plate 
               
               
                 22 
                 transverse plate 
               
               
                 23 
                 hand1e 
               
               
                 24 
                 pivot 
               
               
                 25 
                 pivot 
               
               
                 26 
                 cone shaped portion 
               
               
                 27 
                 outlet tube 
               
               
                 28 
                 beveled surface 
               
               
                 29 
                 return spring 
               
               
                 30 
                 outlet opening 
               
               
                 31 
                 smallest opening 
               
               
                 32 
                 opening 
               
               
                 33 
                 opening 
               
               
                 34 
                 opening 
               
               
                 35 
                 opening 
               
               
                 36 
                 opening 
               
               
                 37 
                 opening 
               
               
                 38 
                 opening 
               
               
                 39 
                 opening 
               
               
                 40 
                 opening 
               
               
                 41 
                 opening 
               
               
                 42 
                 opening 
               
               
                 43 
                 opening 
               
               
                 44 
                 largest opening 
               
               
                 45 
                 valve 
               
               
                 46 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 47 
                 fill opening 
               
               
                 48 
                 wall 
               
               
                 49 
                 upper end portion 
               
               
                 50 
                 connection 
               
               
                 51 
                 channel 
               
               
                 52 
                 stop 
               
               
                 53 
                 mold section 
               
               
                 54 
                 mold section 
               
               
                 55 
                 projection 
               
               
                 56 
                 overlapping joint 
               
               
                 57 
                 screw 
               
               
                 58 
                 live insect 
               
               
                 59 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise. 
     The foregoing embodiments are-presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.