Patent Description:
Artificial soft fishing baits are often manufactured of polyvinylchloride (PVC). Those kind of fishing baits are not biodegradable and thus, they may be harmful to the environment.

Biodegradable baits often degrade easily and become useless too early. Further, their properties are far from the optimum.

<CIT> discloses a biodegradable artificial bait for use during fishing, which is composed of a gelatin aqueous solution mixed with a plasticizer, an additive agent and a cross-linking agent.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fishing bait, a mouldable composition for manufacturing the fishing bait and a method for manufacturing the fishing bait so as to solve the above problems. The objects of the invention are achieved by a fishing bait, a mouldable composition for manufacturing the fishing bait and a method for manufacturing the fishing bait which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. The preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The present fishing bait is biodegradable and durable in use.

The present fishing bait provides several advantages. The fishing bait can be used in the same manner as existing polyvinylchloride (PVC) soft baits. The fishing bait works as a natural bait in all kinds of fishing including sport fishing and commercial fishing. The material of the fishing bait is harmless for fishes, users of the fishing bait and the environment, i.e. the material is ecological and safe. The material degrades in water into harmless ingredients. The degradation takes place both in fresh and salt water. The material is also compostable.

The material is convenient to handle, i.e. it is not sticky, slimy, messy or stinky. The fishing bait may be clear and transparent if desired. When the material of the fishing bait gets wet in water, i.e. it absorbs water, the fishing bait becomes extremely responsive to movements and vibrates easily, i.e. the fishing bait moves much and with ease.

The dissolving speed of the material in water as well as density, softness and elongation of the material can be controlled and adjusted by recipes. Scent, flavour and colour release can be controlled at the same time. The material may be aerated or foamed in order to enhance buoyancy of the fishing bait.

In addition to the flavours and scents, which are added to the fishing bait during manufacturing, flavours and scents can be added during the use as the material absorbs liquids.

The production process is sustainable since it produces insignificant amount of waste and it is cost efficient. The fishing baits may be injected directly to final retail packages. Further, the production process allows to combine different densities, colours and flavours in the same product.

Certain terms are used in this description:
A mouldable composition means that it can be moulded by pouring into a mould. The mould is let to stand until the mouldable composition is solidified. The mould may an open mould or a closed mould.

A plasticizer means a component, which increases flexibility and softness of the fishing bait. Water is excluded because it is used in any case as a component of the mouldable composition.

An additive for attracting fishes means any component that may attract fish. The additive may be visual attractant, such as a colour, a flavour, or a scent, such as an aroma of a food that fishes eat, or a pheromone.

A cross-linking agent means an agent that is selected so that it has a capability of cross-linking a specific gelling agent. The cross-linking agent increases the strength of the fishing bait and gives to the fishing bait predictable degradation properties that are adjustable according to a need by varying the amount of the cross-linking agent (i.e. adjusting the degree of crosslinking) and/or changing the cross-linking agent itself.

A fishing bait means a bait that is used to catch fishes, crustaceans, such as crabs, or molluscs, such as octopuses. The main use is to catch fishes.

In order to manufacture a fishing bait a mouldable composition is made first. The mouldable composition comprises a basic solution comprising water, a gelling agent and a plasticizer. The gelling agent may be a gelling agent comprising protein or a gelling agent comprising polysaccharides. The gelling agent may comprise animal derived constituents or plant derived constituents. The animal derived constituents comprise, for example, gelatine and collagen. The plant derived constituents comprise, for example, pectin and agar. Gelatine and collagen belong to protein comprising constituents. Pectin and agar belong to polysaccharide comprising constituents. The preferred gelling agent is gelatine but other gelling agents may be used alone or in addition to gelatine.

Any gelatine may be used but preferred choices are fast setting gelatines whose mean molecular weight is at least <NUM> kDa. The mean molecular weight may be at least <NUM> kDa or at least <NUM> kDa. The mean molecular weight is determined by gel chromatography. The above mentioned gelatine may have a proportion which has a molecular weight of more than <NUM> kDa, the proportion being at least <NUM> wt. -% of the total amount of gelatine. Such gelatines can be obtained from various collagen-containing materials, in particular from connective tissue or bones of pigs, cattle, poultry or fish.

In addition to water and a gelling agent, the basic solution comprises a plasticizer, which increases flexibility and softness of the fishing bait. The plasticizer may be sugar alcohol, such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, erythritol, or glycerol. A preferred sugar alcohol is glycerol. The sugar alcohols contribute to the favourable rheological properties of the moulding composition.

The gelling agent, such as gelatine, is dissolved in water and the plasticizer, such as sugar alcohol, is added. Glucose syrup may also be added.

The basic solution may comprise <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of gelatine, <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of water and <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of sugar alcohol. The basic solution may comprise <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of glucose syrup, i.e. it is also possible that the basic solution does not contain glucose syrup. The glucose syrup is preferably a highly hydrolysed glucose syrup with a dextrose equivalent of <NUM> or more, preferably of <NUM> or more.

According to one embodiment, the basic solution may comprise <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of gelatine, <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of water, <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of glucose syrup and <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of sugar alcohol, such as glycerol.

According to another embodiment, the basic solution may comprise <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of gelatine, <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of water, <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of glucose syrup and <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of sugar alcohol, such as glycerol.

According to still another embodiment, the basic solution may comprise <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of gelatine, <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of water and <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of sugar alcohol, such as glycerol.

The basic solution of the mouldable composition is prepared first. The gelatine component is dissolved in hot water having a temperature of about <NUM> to <NUM>° C. Then a plasticizer, such as sugar alcohol, e.g. glycerol, and glucose syrup, if it is in the particular recipe, are added. A salt component may also be added to the basic solution. The salt component may comprise one salt or a mixture of different salts. The salt component may also comprise auxiliary agents.

The basic solution is boiled, preferably using slight overpressure, and thereafter treated under negative pressure in such a manner that water evaporates. The dry matter content of the basic solution can be adjusted by the evaporation.

After the basic solution has the targeted solids content at least one additive for attracting fishes may be added. The additive for attracting fishes may be a visual attractant, such as a colour, a flavour, or a scent, such as an aroma of a food that fishes eat. Suitable flavour- or scent-based attractants are, for example, fish oil, fish meal, molluscs (such as mussels) and jointed-legged animals (such as crustaceans). If necessary the attractants may be ground or crushed in such a manner that they are suitable for use in the fishing baits. Suitable visible attractants are, for example, colours and glitters that may be biodegradable. In addition to the additives for attracting fishes the additives may comprise, for example, pH regulating substances or preservatives, such as salt or acid.

A cross-linking agent is also added to the basic solution in order to form the mouldable composition. The cross-linking agent is selected so that it has a capability of cross-linking the specific gelling agent. Preferred cross-linking agents are cross-linkers that are found in nature or their synthetic equals. Suitable cross-linking agents are plant-derived cross-linking agents, such as plant-derived polyphenols or extracts comprising plant-derived polyphenols. Plant-derived polyphenols comprise, for example, oleuropein, tannic acid, gallic acid and hydroxycinnamic acids. Hydrocinnamic acids comprise caffeic acid, caftaric acid and ferulic acid. The extracts comprising plant-derived polyphenols comprise e.g. olive leaf extracts, coffee and grape juice.

According to one embodiment, a plant derived cross-linking agent is used. A plant derived polyphenol or an extract comprising plant-derived polyphenols, such as an olive leaf extract, is used as a cross-linking agent in a moulding composition comprising a basic solution comprising gelatine, water and sugar alcohol, such as glycerol. In addition to the basic solution and the cross-linking agent the moulding composition comprises at least one attractant for attracting fishes. Gelatine may be a fast setting gelatine having a mean molecular weight of at least <NUM> kDa, preferably at least <NUM> kDa and more preferably <NUM> kDa. The moulding composition may comprise biodegradable fibers.

Generally, the cross-linking agent may be selected among non-toxic cross-linkers, which are capable of cross-linking the specific gelling agent. The cross-linking agent may belong to aldehydes, dialdehydes, isocyanates, diisocyanates, carbodiimides and alkyl dihalides.

The cross-linking agent may have a dual role in the mouldable composition. In addition to the cross-linking property the cross-linking agent may act as an additive for attracting fishes. For example, the cross-linking agent may have a bright colour that attracts fishes.

The mouldable composition may comprise biodegradable fibers, which may belong to natural fibers, man made fibers or regenerated fibers. The fibers may be of e.g. cellulose, regenerated cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) or polylactic acid (PLA). The fibers give extra strength to the fishing bait. They also fine-tune the texture of the fishing bait. The properties of the fibers, e.g. their length, are selected so that they are compatible with the other components of the fishing bait. The distribution of the fibers into the mouldable composition may be an important factor. The length of the fibers may be at the most <NUM>. The fibers may be fine and flexible. Their share in the mouldable composition may be at the most <NUM> wt.

The basic solution, the additives and the cross-linking agent form the mouldable composition. pH of the mouldable composition is preferably around <NUM>, i.e. pH shall be slightly acidic. The mouldable composition is moulded to fishing baits by pouring the composition into casting moulds. The temperature of the moulding composition is preferably at least <NUM> when it is moulded. The casting moulds may be separate moulds, or they may be a part of sales packages, i.e. the fishing baits are directly moulded to a tray, which forms a part of the sales package. The fishing bait may resemble e.g. a small fish, a worm or some other aquatic animal which certain fish species eat.

In addition to the above-mentioned components the mouldable composition may comprise lubricating agents. A lubricating agent may comprise long-chain fatty acids and / or long-chain alcohols. Another lubricating agent may comprise, for example, erucamide, oleamide, stearamide, or behenamide. Still another lubricating agent may be a vegetable-based wax whose meltig point is below <NUM>.

The mouldable composition may also contain particles whose aim may be to adjust the weight and/or the set of the bait and/or the solubility of the bait. Such particles include e.g. nanoclays which are nanoparticles of clay minerals, such as montmorillonite, bentonite, kaolinite, hectorite, and halloysite.

The fishing baits starts to cool in the casting mould. At the same time the material of the fishing baits begins to crosslink. The material may be solid enough shortly after moulding.

The physical properties of the fishing baits can be adjusted by the cross-linking agent. The amount and the properties of the specific cross-linking agent has an effect on the physical properties of the fishing baits. As the cross-linking agent is spread through the whole volume of the basic solution the fishing bait has stabile properties throughout its volume and therefore, it has predictable degradation properties. The degradation properties can be adjusted by the selection of the cross-linking agent and its amount. In connection with gelatine, it is possible to use other gelatines instead of the fast setting gelatines since the cross-linking agent assists in solidifying gelatine.

The end product, i.e. the bait, has <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of dry matter and <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of water. Preferably the end product has <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of dry matter and <NUM> to <NUM> wt. -% of water. The low water content enhances the shelf-life of the fishing bait and it makes possible to use the closed moulds because there is no need for evaporation from the moulds. The closed moulds are advantageous because they enable complete three-dimensional shapes of the fishing baits.

<FIG> shows an example of a fishing bait <NUM>. The fishing bait <NUM> may have a shape of a fish as shown in <FIG>. The shape may attract predatory fishes. <FIG> shows a fishing hook <NUM> which may be e.g. a hook attached to a line of a fishing rod. The fishing bait <NUM> is impaled by the hook <NUM> in <FIG>.

Samples of fishing baits were manufactured. The fishing baits were evaluated by testing the following features:.

Marks <NUM> (bad) to <NUM> (good) were given to the samples. Target marks were from <NUM> (min) to <NUM> (max).

A mixture comprising additives for attracting fishes and a cross-linking agent was prepared. The cross-linking agent was an olive leaf extract and its amount in the mixture was <NUM> wt.

A basic solution comprising <NUM> gelatine having a gel strength of <NUM> (<NUM> Bloom), <NUM> water, <NUM> corn syrup and <NUM> glycerol was boiled. Water was evaporated in a vacuum chamber having negative pressure of -<NUM> bar to - <NUM> bar and temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> in such a manner that the total solids content of <NUM> wt. - % was reached. The mixture comprising additives for attracting fishes and the cross-linking agent was added to the basic solution in order to form a mouldable composition. The amount of the mixture was <NUM> wt. -% of the total mass of the mouldable composition. The mouldable composition was poured into oiled moulds to form fishing baits.

A basic solution comprising <NUM> gelatine having a gel strength of <NUM> (<NUM> Bloom), <NUM> water and <NUM> glycerol was boiled. Water was evaporated in a vacuum chamber having negative pressure of -<NUM> bar and temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> in such a manner that the total solids content of <NUM> wt. - % was reached. The mixture comprising additives for attracting fishes and the cross-linking agent was added to the basic solution in order to form a mouldable composition. The amount of the mixture was <NUM> wt. -% of the total mass of the mouldable composition. The mouldable composition was poured into oiled moulds to form fishing baits.

A basic solution comprising <NUM> gelatine having a gel strength of <NUM> (<NUM> Bloom), <NUM> water and <NUM> glycerol was boiled. Water was evaporated in a vacuum chamber in such a manner that the total solids content of <NUM> wt. - % was reached. The mixture comprising additives for attracting fishes and the cross-linking agent was added to the basic solution in order to form a mouldable composition. The amount of the mixture was <NUM> wt. -% of the total mass of the mouldable composition. The mouldable composition was poured into oiled moulds to form fishing baits.

Claim 1:
A method for manufacturing a fishing bait comprising
- forming a basic solution comprising water, gelatine and sugar alcohol at a temperature of at least <NUM>, the basic solution having a volume,
- boiling the basic solution,
- evaporating water under negative pressure in order to adjust the dry matter content of the basic solution,
- forming a mouldable composition by adding a cross-linking agent to the volume of the basic solution after water has been evaporated from the basic solution, and
- pouring the mouldable composition into at least one mould to form the fishing bait.