GB2196821A

GB2196821A - Fish food dispenser/swimfeeder

Info

Publication number: GB2196821A
Application number: GB08723894A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel May; Stanley Lewis
Original assignee: DINSMORES Ltd
Current assignee: DINSMORES Ltd
Priority date: 1986-10-11
Filing date: 1987-10-12
Publication date: 1988-05-11
Also published as: GB8723894D0

Abstract

A fish food dispenser consists of a nylon barrel portion 1 containing holes through which maggot bait may pass and two releasable end caps 2, 3 closing the ends of the barrel. The end caps are retained in position against the barrel ends by means of a tensioned elastic cord 4 passing through the band and each end cap and including integral spherical portions at each end located on the outside of said end caps. The dispenser is weighted by means of a non-toxic releasable weight 10 attached to the banel. The dispenser is refilled by removing one or both of the end caps by stretching the elastic cord to enable bait to be inserted into the barrel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fish food dispenser The present invention relates to a fish food dispenser (Swimfeeder) for use by anglers.

Various devices are known that are designed to be attached to a fishing line ajdacent a baited hook and to carry bait that it is allowed to escape slowly thereby attracting fish to the area of the baited hook. Such devices need to be refilled with bait from time to time, and those presently on the market are not easy to refill especially on cold wet days.

We have now developed a Swimfeeder that is easy to refill with bait when necessary and is weighted to keep the end of the line low in the water.

The device of our invention comprises a central barrel portion containing a plurality of apertures and having at least one releasable end cap that is retained against an end of the barrel by resilient means having one end attached to the releasable cap and the other end to the barrel or other end cap, the barrel portion is weighted, preferably with non-toxic, for example, tin, weights.

The resilient means is preferably an elastic cord and preferably also the barrel portion has two releasable end caps, the elastic stretching through the barrel portion of the devices and having its other end attached to the other end cap. The ends of the elastic means may pass through both end caps and be secured by means of a hinged weight, preferably nontoxic, which is clipped on to the ends of the elastic adjacent the outer side of the said end caps.

Preferably the elastic material is a preformed thermoplastic rubber strand with expanded end portions, e.g: in the form of integral balls, which can be forced through holes in the end caps, the diameter of the holes being preferably only fractionally larger than the diameter of the cord.

It is also preferred that the end caps contains a plurality of holes and that both end caps be releasable.

It is clear that the holes in both the barrel portion and the end cap should be of such a size that permit bait, e.g: maggots, to pass through but not so large that more than one bait may pass through a hole at a time.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a longitudinal cross section of a feeder of the present invention.

Figure la is an end view of an end cap of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Figure 2 is an illustration of the feeder of Fig. 1 with both end caps released for filling with bait.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a Swimfeeder comprises a barrel portion 1 and two releasable end caps, two hemispherical end caps 2 and 3. Shoulders 11 and 12 are provided on the end caps to fit over the ends of 13 and 14 of barrel 1. An elastic cord 4 passes through the barrel and through holes 15 and 16 in the top dome portion of each end cap, and is located under tension by means of split weights 5 and 6 which are clinched onto the ends of the tensioned elastic. A plurality of holes 7 are formed in the barrel portion of the feeder to allow bait to escape and similarholes 8 and 9 also provided in each of the two end caps 2 and 3. Weight 10, of non toxic materials such as tin, is attached to the barrel 1 of the Swimfeeder, to ensure that the hook end of the fishing line is kept low in the water.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the elastic cord 4 is a preformed thermoplastic rubber including, at each end, integral spherical portions 17 and 18 having a diameter greater than that of holes 15 and 16 respectively through which the said portions can be forced. The length of the cord 4 is arranged such that with the portions 17 and 18 in the positions shown in Fig. 3, the tension is sufficiently great to ensure that the end caps are a firm fit, but not so great that the portions are forced back through the holes 15- and 16 when both end caps are removed for refilling with bait.

In use the feeder containing bait is secured to the end of fishing line adjacent baited-hook using the loop 19 shown in Fig. 3 to which a swivel may be attached. The weight on the feeder will maintain the feeder and hook deep in the water being fished, and the bait will slowly escape thereby, attracting fish to the baited hook.

When it is necessary to refill the feeder this is done simply by pulling off one or both end caps against the elastic cord 4 filling the feeder from one or both ends and then allowing the end caps to be snapped back into the position under the action of the elastic cord. It is therefore a relatively simple process to insert new bait into the feeder even on days when fingers are excessively cold without danger of the end caps being dropped or misiaid.

The dispenser is preferably formed of a plastic material such as nylon, other suitable materials may however be used if required.

Although the dispenser as described is weighted by means of an external weight, the necessary weight may be achieved by forming the dispenser from a suitable heavy material, e.g: tin.

1. A fish food dispenser comprises a central tubular portion containing a plurality of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fish food dispenser The present invention relates to a fish food dispenser (Swimfeeder) for use by anglers. Various devices are known that are designed to be attached to a fishing line ajdacent a baited hook and to carry bait that it is allowed to escape slowly thereby attracting fish to the area of the baited hook. Such devices need to be refilled with bait from time to time, and those presently on the market are not easy to refill especially on cold wet days. We have now developed a Swimfeeder that is easy to refill with bait when necessary and is weighted to keep the end of the line low in the water. The device of our invention comprises a central barrel portion containing a plurality of apertures and having at least one releasable end cap that is retained against an end of the barrel by resilient means having one end attached to the releasable cap and the other end to the barrel or other end cap, the barrel portion is weighted, preferably with non-toxic, for example, tin, weights. The resilient means is preferably an elastic cord and preferably also the barrel portion has two releasable end caps, the elastic stretching through the barrel portion of the devices and having its other end attached to the other end cap. The ends of the elastic means may pass through both end caps and be secured by means of a hinged weight, preferably nontoxic, which is clipped on to the ends of the elastic adjacent the outer side of the said end caps. Preferably the elastic material is a preformed thermoplastic rubber strand with expanded end portions, e.g: in the form of integral balls, which can be forced through holes in the end caps, the diameter of the holes being preferably only fractionally larger than the diameter of the cord. It is also preferred that the end caps contains a plurality of holes and that both end caps be releasable. It is clear that the holes in both the barrel portion and the end cap should be of such a size that permit bait, e.g: maggots, to pass through but not so large that more than one bait may pass through a hole at a time. The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a longitudinal cross section of a feeder of the present invention. Figure la is an end view of an end cap of the embodiment of Fig. 1. Figure 2 is an illustration of the feeder of Fig. 1 with both end caps released for filling with bait. Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Referring to the drawings, a Swimfeeder comprises a barrel portion 1 and two releasable end caps, two hemispherical end caps 2 and 3. Shoulders 11 and 12 are provided on the end caps to fit over the ends of 13 and 14 of barrel 1. An elastic cord 4 passes through the barrel and through holes 15 and 16 in the top dome portion of each end cap, and is located under tension by means of split weights 5 and 6 which are clinched onto the ends of the tensioned elastic. A plurality of holes 7 are formed in the barrel portion of the feeder to allow bait to escape and similarholes 8 and 9 also provided in each of the two end caps 2 and 3. Weight 10, of non toxic materials such as tin, is attached to the barrel 1 of the Swimfeeder, to ensure that the hook end of the fishing line is kept low in the water. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the elastic cord 4 is a preformed thermoplastic rubber including, at each end, integral spherical portions 17 and 18 having a diameter greater than that of holes 15 and 16 respectively through which the said portions can be forced. The length of the cord 4 is arranged such that with the portions 17 and 18 in the positions shown in Fig. 3, the tension is sufficiently great to ensure that the end caps are a firm fit, but not so great that the portions are forced back through the holes 15- and 16 when both end caps are removed for refilling with bait. In use the feeder containing bait is secured to the end of fishing line adjacent baited-hook using the loop 19 shown in Fig. 3 to which a swivel may be attached. The weight on the feeder will maintain the feeder and hook deep in the water being fished, and the bait will slowly escape thereby, attracting fish to the baited hook. When it is necessary to refill the feeder this is done simply by pulling off one or both end caps against the elastic cord 4 filling the feeder from one or both ends and then allowing the end caps to be snapped back into the position under the action of the elastic cord. It is therefore a relatively simple process to insert new bait into the feeder even on days when fingers are excessively cold without danger of the end caps being dropped or misiaid. The dispenser is preferably formed of a plastic material such as nylon, other suitable materials may however be used if required. Although the dispenser as described is weighted by means of an external weight, the necessary weight may be achieved by forming the dispenser from a suitable heavy material, e.g: tin. CLAIMS

1. A fish food dispenser comprises a central tubular portion containing a plurality of apertures formed in the walls thereof to permit the controlled escape of bait and including end caps closing the ends of the said tubular portions, at least one of said end caps being releasable, the said releasable end cap being retained in position under the action of a tensioned resilient cord passing through the said tubular portion and having each end attached to a respective end cap, the weight of the dispenser being such that, when secured to a fishing line, it maintains the line hook below the water surface.

2. A fish food dispenser according to claim 1 wherein each end cap includes an aperture through which the said cord passes and the cord is attached to the said end caps by means extending the diameter of each end of the said cord on the outer side of the respective end cap.

3. A fish food dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the said means comprises a hinged weight that is clamped onto each end of the said cord.

4. A fish food dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the resilient cord is formed of a preformed thermoplastic rubber and the said means consists of integral spherical portions at each end of the cord having diameters greater than the diameters of the apertures in the end caps.

5. A fish food dispenser according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein apertures are formed in the end caps to permit the controlled escape of bait.

6. A fish food dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the dispenser is formed from a plastic material and is weighted by the attachment of a weight thereto.

7. A fish food dispenser according to claim 6 wherein the weight is formed from a nontoxic material.

8. A fish food dispenser according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein there is provided a looped cord having both ends attached to the dispenser and for use in securing the dispenser to a fishing line.

9. A fish food dispenser substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.