Fin for fish bait

Abstract: A swim feeder provided with fins (26) to which bait may be attached when the feeder is in use. The fins (26) have portions which are readily retainably but releasably attached to one or more other parts (10, 40) of the feeder.

Description: The present invention relates to a swim feeder. One such feeder is disclosed in GB-2,304,018A. This comprises a central body and a plurality of fins surrounding the central body which are secured by means of ties. A disadvantage of this construction is that it is relatively cumbersome to manufacture. The present invention seeks to obviate this disadvantage. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a swim feeder comprising fins to which bait may be attached when the feeder is in use and one or more retaining parts to which the fins are readily retainably but releasably attached by means of slots provided in the said one or more retaining parts to receive portions of the fins, in which the slots are shaped in section to receive the said portions of the fins which are correspondingly shaped in section, the slots in section having a wider width on the inside. The slots may each be blind at one end to provide an abutment for the fin portions to reduce the likelihood that the fins will fall out for example on casting. The slots may be shaped to receive corresponding shaped parts of the fins. The slots may be dovetailed or keyhole-shaped. Each fin may be releasably held by two spaced-apart parts of the feeder. The or one of the parts to which the fins are releasably attached may comprise a leadweight. The feeder may further comprise a spacer which extends between the leadweight and respective portions of the fins to inhibit movement of the fins within the slots. A number of parts comprising respective different leadweights of different size and weight may be provided as a set from which the user may select one, the fins being readily retainably but releasably attached to any of those parts. Additionally, a number of different spacers of different sizes may be provided as a set, each spacer being designed for use with one or more of the leadweights constituting the set of leadweights. The leadweight may have a bore extending through it to enable it to be attached in the feeder with its centre of gravity substantially on the fishing line. A tube may extend through the bore. The tube may be of a yieldable material, for example rubber. The tube may accommodate a line link which can be pulled out of the tube in the event that the line breaks, so that the fin does not then tow the feeder around with it indefinitely. An example of a feeder made in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a leadweight of the example feeder; Figure 2 shows a view from one end of the leadweight shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a view from the other end of the leadweight shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a side view of a stem and tube combination of the example feeder; Figure 5 shows a side view of a fin of the example feeder; Figure 6 shows a side view of a tip of the example feeder; Figure 7 shows a side view of a further part of the example feeder; Figure 8 shows a view from one end of the part shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 shows a view from the other end of the part shown in Figure 7; Figure 10 shows a side view of an additional further part of the example feeder; Figure 11 shows a side view of the assembled example feeder with one fin absent for clarity; Figure 12 shows a view from one end of the feeder shown in Figure 11; Figure 13 shows a view from the other end of the feeder shown in Figure 11. The leadweight 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a generally cylindrical body 12 which is slightly convex at one end 14 and is provided with three slots 16 (one of which is visible in Figure 1), which extend inwardly from the circumference of the body 12 towards the axis thereof, which slots are open at the convex end 14 of the weight 12 and which extend only in that half of the weight 10 which includes the convex end 14, to provide abutments at their ends further from the convex end 14 of the weight. The three slots 16 are spaced apart around the axis of the body 12 with uniform angular spacing. The slots are keyhole-shaped in section with the wider width on the inside. The weight is provided with a throughbore 18 along its axis, which is of reduced diameter at one of its ends 19. Figure 4 shows a plastics stem 22 which is tubular, and, surrounding one end of that stem 22, a rubber sleeve 24 which is also tubular and which fits snugly around the outside of the stem 22. The sleeve 24 can extend within the bore 18 as a close fit, and the stem 22 can extend through the narrowed end 19 of the bore 18 as a close fit. Figure 5 shows a fin of hard plastics material 26 which has a straight edge 28 having a recessed portion 30, the upper and lower portions of the fin defining this straight edge and being keyhole-shaped in section to fit in the associated slots of the weight 10 and a part yet to be described. The fin has a frame-like construction to provide apertures 32. This facilitates the attachment of bait to the fin when the feeder is in use. Figure 6 shows an elongate rubber tip 34 which is provided with a throughbore 36 having a diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the stem 22. A plastics retaining part 38 is shown in Figure 7 which has a generally cylindrical body 40 and a slightly tapered end 42. Three keyhole-shaped slots 44 (only one of which is visible in Figure 7) extend inwardly from the circumference of the cylindrical body 40 towards the axis thereof, and extend from that end of the body 40 further from the tapered end 42 to a position adjacent to that tapered end. The retaining part 38 is also provided with a throughbore 46 along its axis. Figure 10 shows an elongate plastics spacer 47, possibly made by injection moulding, which has a tubular structure with a central bore 48, and flanges 49 extending circumferentially at either end. The parts shown in Figures 1 to 10 are assembled together to create the in-line swim feeder as shown in Figures 11 to 13. Thus, the stem 22 is threaded through the throughbore 18 of the leadweight 10 so that the rubber sleeve 24 is received in the throughbore 18. The spacer 47 is slid onto the stem 22 via its central bore 48 so that a first of the flanges 49 abuts the non-convex end of the leadweight 10. The retaining part 38 is also slid on to the stem 22 with its tapered end 42 further from the weight 10. Three fins, each as shown in Figure 5, are then inserted with their keyhole-sectioned edges 28 received in slots 16 and 44 of the weight 10 and the retaining part 38 respectively. The upper parts of the fins (26) extend beyond the non-tapered end of the retaining part (38) and abut the second flange 49 of the spacer 47. The spacer thus extends between the leadweight 10 and the upper parts of the fins 26 and thereby keeps them braced in positions relative to each other to inhibit the fins 26 from moving within the slots 16 of the leadweight 10. Finally, the tip 34 is threaded on to the end of the stem 22 further from the sleeve 24. The resulting construction shown in Figures 11 to 13, in which the fins 26 (only two of which are shown in Figure 10 for clarity) are releasably held in slots 16 and 44 of the weight 10 and the retaining part 38 respectively. When the assembled feeder is prepared for use, a fishing line 50 from a rod (not shown) is threaded through the stem 22 and coupled to a link 52 which is inserted in the sleeve 24. A hook line 54 extends from the link 52 back to a hook 56 which may be embedded in bait which is also attached to the fins 26. In the event that a fish is caught by the hook 56 and then subsequently breaks the line 50, so that the fish is now free, in time the fins 26 will become snagged by tree roots for example, and the link 52 with a remaining part of the line 50 will be pulled from the sleeve 24. In this way, the fish will be able to free itself from the feeder. Numerous variations and modifications to the present construction will occur to the reader without taking the resulting construction clear of the present invention. For example, the slots 16 and 44 and the portions of the fins 26 which engage those slots may be dovetailed instead of keyhole-shaped. It will also be appreciated that longer or shorter leadweights 10 may be used, of different respective weights and indeed a set of such weights may be taken with the user who may select any one of the weights appropriate for the fishing conditions he finds himself in. The longer weights are accommodated in the recesses 30. The stem 22 and tube 24 may, if the feeder is not intended to be an in-line feeder, be replaced by a wire on to which is moulded a plastics portion to be received in the weight 10.

Claims: A swim feeder comprising fins (26) to which bait may be attached when the feeder is in use and one or more retaining parts (10, 40) to which the fins (26) are readily retainably but releasably attached by means of slots (16, 44) provided in the said one or more retaining parts (10, 40) to receive portions of the fins (26), characterised in that the slots (16) are shaped in section to receive the said portions of the fins (26) which are correspondingly shaped in section, the slots in section having a wider width on the inside. A swim feeder according to claim 1, characterised in that the slots (16, 44) are each blind at one end to provide an abutment for the fin portions to reduce the likelihood that the fins (26) will fall out for example on casting. A swim feeder according to claim 2, characterised in that the slots (16, 44) are dovetail-shaped in section. A swim feeder according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the slots (16, 44) are keyhole-shaped in section. A swim feeder according to any preceding claim, characterised in that each fin (26) is releasably held by two spaced-apart parts (10, 40) of the feeder. A swim feeder according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the or one of the parts (10) to which the fins (26) are releasably attached comprise a leadweight. A swim feeder according to claim 6, characterised in that it further comprises a spacer (47) which extends between the leadweight (10) and respective portions of the fins (26) to inhibit movement of the fins (26) within the slots (16). A swim feeder according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterised in that the leadweight (10) is one of a number of different leadweights of different size and weight constituting a set from which the user may select one, the fins (26) being readily retainably but releasably attached to any one of the set. A swim feeder according to claim 8 read appendant to claim 7, characterised in that the spacer is one of a number of different spacers of different sizes constituting a set, each spacer being designed for use with one or more of the leadweights constituting the set of leadweights. A swim feeder according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the leadweight (10) has a bore (18) extending through it to enable it to be attached in the feeder with its centre of gravity substantially on the fishing line. A swim feeder according to claim 10, characterised in that a tube (24) extends through the bore (18). A swim feeder according to claim 11, characterised in that the tube (24) is of a yieldable material. A swim feeder according to claim 12, characterised in that the yieldable material comprises rubber. A swim feeder according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterised in that the tube (24) can accommodate a line link which can be pulled out of the tube (24) in the event that the line breaks, so that the fish does not then tow the feeder around with it indefinitely.

Inventors: COTTIS MAXWELL STEWART, FOX CLIFFORD ROYSTON, COTTIS, MAXWELL STEWART, FOX, CLIFFORD ROYSTON
Applicants: FOX DESIGN INT, FOX DESIGN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A01K85
IPC codes: A01K97