FLOAT

Abstract: A float comprises a chamber (9), located in a lower part (4) thereof, for receipt of a tablet (11) which generates and emits gas in contact with water. In addition to the first-mentioned chamber (9), the float comprises a second, downwardly opening chamber (15) in which generated gas may temporarily be accumulated with the purpose of forming a gas cushion and apply a successively increasing buoyancy to the lower float part (4) which, by swinging the float around a hull (2) located above said chambers, lifts the lower portion thereof to an upper end position in which the gas cushion is let out. Then said lower part is swung down to a lower end position from which the course of event is repeated, while the float is submitted to tilting motions at the same time as it floats.

Description: FLOAT Technical Field of the Invention This invention relates to a float comprising a chamber, located in a lower part thereof, for receipt of means which generates and emits gas in contact with water with the purpose of setting the float in motion in water. Background of the Invention and Prior Art Floats for fishing purposes are most often used for ang¬ ling in the form of conventional angling as well as casting angling. In such cases, a fishing line is connected to the float, of which one end is associated with an angling or cast¬ ing rod and the opposite end of which has a hook and a sinker. Conventional angling floats comprise a hull in the form of a body of cork or cellular plastic in which a through hole for a long and narrow, peg-shaped clamp element is recessed, by means of which the float may be locked in the desired position rela¬ tive to the line. Such floats may also be used for casting ang- ling, although for this purpose automatically latchable floats of the kind which is the subject of the SE-patent 9102146-9 is preferred nowadays. Fishes seek prey mainly by means of two senses, viz. by means of sight and smell . The perception of the prey by means of the sight is of course facilitated the clearer the water is, but also to a high extent if the prey moves in the water. Thus, it is generally known that fishes at angling bite better if at least gentle waves blow on the surface of the water and set the float and thereby the bait, e.g. a worm, in motion, than if it is calm and the bait is still. With the purpose of guaranteeing movability of a bait, even in the absence of waves on the water, there has previously been developed a float of the kind referred to in the preamble, more precisely by DE 3 816 875. In this known float, there is arranged, in a lower half thereof, a perforated container in which gas-forming chemicals may be loaded so as to form gas- bubbles at contact with water, which bubbles are fed out through the perforations. The upper part of the float delimits a cavity which at the top co-operates with a valve, which is opened when it is situated above the surface of the water and closed when it sinks below the surface of the water. When the float is thrown out in the water, it will sink in its entirety below the surface of the water, the gas-development being ini- tiated. The gas bubbles which are generated in the lower cham¬ ber rise to the upper cavity and are retained therein as a con¬ sequence of the valve being held closed as long as it is below the water surface. Therefore, a gas cushion having successively increasing buoyancy is formed in the cavity, which cushion finally brings the float to float up to the surface. When this happens, the valve is opened, the gas cushion being able to be evacuated from the upper cavity. This has as a consequence that the float sinks again, and then the course of events is repea¬ ted. However, a serious disadvantage of this known float is that it is dependent on that the float in its entirety sinks below the surface of the water, for the function thereof. This means that the fisherman cannot separate, on one hand, a normal sinking course, or, on the other hand, a bite from a fish. Objects and Features of the Invention The present invention aims at obviating the above- mentioned disadvantages of the previously known float and at creating an improved float. Thus a primary object of the inven- tion is to create a float by means of which the bait, always being located deep down in the water, may be kept in motion without for that sake the float as such being dragged down, except if a fish bites . According to the invention, at least the primary object is attained by the features defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are furthermore defined in the dependent claims. Brief Description of the Appended Drawings In the drawings : Fig l is a perspective view of a float according to the inven¬ tion observed obliquely from below, Fig 2 is a perspective view showing the float obliquely from above, Fig 3 is a an enlarged, partly cut perspective view showing the interior of a lower shaft part of the float, Fig 4 is a perspective view showing the float during casting in the water, Fig 5 is a view showing the float floating on the surface of the water in an initial state, Fig 6 is a similar view showing the float in two different functional states, Fig 7 shows enlarged portions of the lower shaft part of the float in the two functional states according to fig 6, Fig 8 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the float according to the invention, Fig 9 is a side view at 90° angle to the view according to fig 8, Fig 10 is an exploded view which in section shows two halves, together forming the float according to fig 8 and 9, Fig 11 is an end view A-A in fig 8, and Fig 12 is an exploded cross section through a shaft part included in the float taken in section B-B of fig 8. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention The float shown in figures 1 and 2 includes, in addition to a hull or buoyant body 2, upper and lower parts 3, 4 which are long narrow or shaft-like. As may be seen in fig 3, the lower shaft part 4 is composed of an outer sleeve or shell 5 and two tubes or tubular parts 6, 7 arranged therein. In prac¬ tice, all of these components are advantageously made of plas¬ tic. The first-mentioned tube 6, which in the example is cen¬ trally located relative to the hull 2, has, at the lower end thereof, a sinker 8 in the form of a cylindrical body of metal, e.g. brass, which is pressed into the lower portion of the tube. The second tube 7 delimits a first chamber 9, which opens in a mouth 10 at the free, lower end of the tube 7. Two cylin¬ der-shaped, solid bodies or tablets 11 are inserted in said chamber, which tablets are of such a nature that they emit at least gas when they are in contact with water. A stop device 12 is arranged in connection with the mouth 10 of the tube, which device in the shown example has the shape of a cross piece which may be swung away thanks to the fact that two longitudi- nal slits (not visible) are formed in the wall of the tube. In this way, the tablets 11 may be inserted into the tube via the mouth and then be kept in place by means of the stop device . Of course, other stop devices may also be a possibility. It is feasible, for instance, to make a throat-like flute in the vicinity of the lower end of the tube, and a number of longitu¬ dinal slits dividing the tube in individual lugs, which, on one hand, may spring away when a tablet is pressed into the tube and, on the other hand, retain the tablet when said lugs are returned to the starting position thereof due to inherent elas¬ ticity. As may be clearly seen in fig 3, a compression spring 13 in the form of a helical compression spring is arranged inside the tube 7, which spring holds the tablet or the tablets pressed against the stop device 12. More precisely, the spring guarantees that the lower end of the individual tablet always is held exposed to the water even after a certain consumption of the tablet. The sleeve 5 is, at the lower end thereof, formed with a widened, skirt-like portion 14 which delimits a second chamber designated 15. At the bottom, said chamber opens in a rela¬ tively wide mouth 16. An L-shaped element 17 formed at the outside of the sleeve 5 comprises a first shank 18 which is applied to the outside of the sleeve and a second shank 19 which extends down- wards from the shank 18, preferably parallel to the longitudi¬ nal extension of the sleeve. The upper shaft part 3 has, in the shown, preferred embodiment, the shape of a tine which at the upper, free end thereof has a loop or a ring 20. In practice, the tine 3 and the lower shaft part, in its entirety designated 4, may be made in one single piece, the hull 2 being made as a separate compo¬ nent which is applied to the tine afterwards. The hull may either consist of a solid, porous body, e.g. cellular plastic, or an air-filled shell, suitably of plastic. In figures 4 to 6, the float according to the invention is shown in connection with casting angling. Then, the float is arranged on a fishing-line 21 which at the free end thereof has a hook 22 and a sinker in the form of two separated balls 23, e.g. leaden. The opposite end of the line is rolled up on a reel of a casting rod by means of which a bait, e.g. a worm, fixed on the hook may, together with the float, be thrown out relatively far away from the fisherman. As may be seen in fig¬ ures 4 and 5, a stop member 24 is applied to the line 21 at a suitable distance from the sinker and the hook. The stop member 24 is at least somewhat larger than the diameter of the tine ring 20, so that said member cannot pass the ring. The Function of the Float According to the Invention When the bait and the float are to be thrown out, as shown in fig 4, the line-sinker 23 is applied in connection with the L-element 17 serving as a holder, more precisely in such a way that at least one ball is placed on one side of the L-element and with the part of the line extending inwards from the sinker running over to the opposite side of the L-element . In this way, it is guaranteed that the float cannot move fur¬ ther out towards the hook and the bait than what is settled by the distance between the hook and the sinker. When the float lands in the water, as shown in fig 5, the sinker 23 will auto- matically be released from the holder element 17 and drag the bait together with the line in the downward direction. The low¬ ering of the bait continues until the stop member 24 gets in contact with the tine ring 20, the desired depth for the bait then being obtained. When this happens, the float will assume an oblique position as shown with full lines in fig 6. In prac¬ tice, the angle of inclination of the tine is determined by a balance between, on one hand, the weight of the sinker, the hook and the bait and, on the other hand, the lever effect which is exerted by the weight of the lower shaft part 4. In practice, these weights should be so balanced that the tine gets an angle within the range of 30-60° relative to the sur¬ face of the water. When the tablet 11 positioned in the mouth area of the chamber 9 gets in contact with the water in the lower end posi- tion of the lower shaft part 4, gas bubbles are developed as shown at the bottom in fig 7. Said gas bubbles are accumulated in the second chamber 15 defined by the shirt portion, a grow¬ ing gas cushion being successively developed inside said cham¬ ber. This means that a successively increasing buoyancy is exerted upon the lower shaft part 4 lifting the lower end por¬ tion thereof to an upper end position, shown with dashed-dotted lines in fig 6. In the area of said upper end position, the angle of inclination of the float in relation to the surface of the water has been reduced so much that the gas cushion is let out of the second chamber, as indicated at the top in fig 7. At the moment when the gas cushion is let out, the lower shaft part quickly looses the buoyancy thereof, whereby said shaft part is quickly swung down to the lower end position thereof, in which the course of events is repeated. In other words, the float is set in intermittently repeated tilting or pendulous motions around a centre which is formed by the hull, while the bait is lifted and lowered at the same pace in the water. Dur¬ ing said tilting motions, the hull is always floating as long as no fish bites. In practice it is important that the first chamber, in which the gas-emitting tablet is loaded, mouths inside the other chamber in such a way that the tablet is reliably exposed to the water, at the same time as the emitted gas is collected in a cushion at the top part of the second chamber in such a way that the gas cushion can be quickly evacuated when the angle of the float is flattened. Reference is now made to figures 8 to 12 which illus¬ trate an alternative and in practice preferred float according to the invention. Similar to the earlier described embodiment, said float comprises a hull 2 ' , a lower part 4 ' in the form of a long narrow shaft, a tube 7' which delimits a first chamber 9 1 for receipt of a tablet 11', which is kept in place by means of a stop device 12' , and a widened skirt 14' which defines a second chamber 15' for the accumulation of gas. However, the float lacks an upper tine. Characteristic of the float according to figures 8 to 12 is that a central geometric axis C through the hull 2 ' extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft part 4 ' . In practice, said angle may be within the range of 5-15°. In the example, the angle attains 10°. In addition, the shirt portion 14 ' which delimits the accumulator chamber 15 ' protrudes from the lower portion of the shaft in the same direction as the hull 2' . This construction implies in practice that the deflec- tion angle of the float between upper and lower end positions when tilting is larger than in the earlier described embodi¬ ment. More precisely, the lower portion of the shaft part may be swung up to an upper end position closely below the surface of the water, in that the hull, by the obliquity thereof, exerts a more limited resistance to the upwardly directed pen¬ dulous motion of the shaft part. Furthermore, the mouth of the first chamber 9' is only partly surrounded by the shirt portion 15 ' , while a large part of the mouth area is directly exposed towards surrounding water. This guarantees a good contact between the gas-emitting tablet and the water at the same time as generated gas bubbles are collected in the chamber 15' with a high reliability in that the gas bubbles always strive to rise vertically in the water. As may be seen in fig 10, the float may be made of two shell-shaped halves or components 25, 25' having mainly identi¬ cal basic shape. Said components may be easily formed by plas¬ tic and then be permanently interconnected by glueing, e.g. heat glueing. In order to facilitate the assembling, the compo¬ nents may be formed with co-operating male and female elements 26, 27, which in a distinctive way determines the positions of the components relative to each other in connection with the glueing. In fig 10 it may be clearly seen how the two upper, shell-shaped portions 28, 28' together form a hull which is air-filled. In the given example, the shaft part 4 is, in the area between the hull and the shirt portion 14 ' , formed with a slit 29 which at least on one side thereof is delimited by a waved surface 30, which permits that a weight or a balance body 31 is moved to various positions along the shaft part. In this way, the fisherman himself may adjust the balancing of the float in the water. The line 21' runs in this case through two ring or loop- forming members 32, 33, of which the first-mentioned one includes a wedge element 34 by means of which the line may be fixed in the desired position relative to the float. A primary advantage of the invention is that the float, as soon as a tablet is loaded therein, guarantees that the bait connected thereto via the line is kept in motion whether the water surface is broken by waves or is glassy. In doing so, the float is always kept floating as long as no fishes bite, in that the motions up and down of the bait in the water are achieved by tilting or swinging the float around a centre which is formed by the hull, which does not sink unless a fish bites. A particular advantage of the embodiment according to figures 1 to 7 is that the bite-resistance of the bait is radically reduced compared to a conventional float. When a fish swallows the bite and sets it in motion, no immediate resistance arises from the hull at the float according to the invention, in that the line is connected to the free end of the relatively long tine 3. Therefore, initially this tine will swing a centre which is constituted by the hull without the hull being exerted to an immediate pulling force from the line. In other words, the fish has time to bite into the hook before the hull is affected. Feasible Modifications of the Invention The invention is not solely restricted to the embodiment described and shown in the drawings . Thus, the two chambers which are necessary to house the gas-emitting tablet and accu¬ mulate the emitted gas may be formed in another arbitrary way than those exemplified. Furthermore, the sinker for the float may be formed in another way than in the form of a cylindric metal body. Thus, an alternative is to apply a ring, e.g. of metal, outside the tube in which the tablet is housed. It is also conceivable to totally spare particular sinkers in that a correct balancing may be obtained by a suitable dimensioning and a suitable material choice in the lower shaft part of the float. It should also be mentioned that the gas-emitting means may be in another form than a tablet or solid body. Thus, the means may also be powdered. In the gas-emitting means, also scent-emitting agents may be incorporated so as to further attract fish in excess of what is achieved by the tilting motions of the float with the ensuing motions of the bait. The float according to the invention may also be used for other purposes than fishing. Thus, a lamp or a flag may be mounted on the tine for warning or marking purposes, the tine not being needed to be made with a member for connection of a line. It should also be mentioned that a lamp or diode may be applied also to angling floats with the purpose of facilitating fishing at dusk or in the dark.

Claims: Claims 1. Float comprising a chamber (9, 9') , located in a lower part (4, 4') thereof, for receipt of means (11, 11') which generates and emits gas in contact with water with the purpose of setting the float in motion in water, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said float, in addition to the first-mentioned chamber (9, 9') , comprises a second, downwardly opening chamber (15, 15') in which generated gas may temporarily be accumulated with the purpose of forming a gas cushion and apply a successively increasing buoyancy to the lower float part (4, 4') which, by swinging the float around a hull (2, 2') located above said chambers, lifts the lower portion thereof to an upper end posi¬ tion in which the gas cushion is let out, and then said lower part is swung down to a lower end position from which the course of event is repeated, while the float is submitted to tilting motions at the same time as it floats. 2. Float according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the gas-generating means is in the shape of a solid body or tablet (11, 11 ' ) . 3. Float according to claim 1 and 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first chamber (9, 9') is housed in a tube (7, 7') which, in the area of an open lower end, has a stop device (12, 12') for retaining the gas-generating body (11, 11') , and inside which a compression spring (13) is arranged which always strives to keep said body pressed against the stop device. 4. Float according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the opening or mouth (10, 10') of the first chamber (9, 9') is at least partly located inside of the second chamber (15, 15 ' ) . 5. Float according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second chamber (15) is delimited by a widened lower portion (14) of an outer sleeve (5) . 6. Float according to any one of the preceding claims, said lower part (4') being in the shape of a long narrow shaft, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a central geometric axis (c) through the hull (2') extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft part, and that a shirt portion (14') which delimits the gas-generating chamber (15') protrudes vertically from the shaft part, more precisely in the same direction as the hull (2' ) . 7. Float according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a - r a c t e r i z e d in that said float is composed of two shell-shaped halves (25, 25') having mainly identical basic shape .

Inventors: SAHLEN SUNE, SWAERD LEIF, SAHLEN, SUNE, SWAERD, LEIF
Applicants: EXESS FISKE I SOEDERHAMN AB, SAHLEN SUNE, SWAERD LEIF, SAHLEN, SUNE, SWAERD, LEIF
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A01K93
IPC codes: A01K91, A01K93