GB2369762A

GB2369762A - Fishing equipment retrieval device

Info

Publication number: GB2369762A
Application number: GB0029984A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Emile Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-12-07
Filing date: 2000-12-07
Publication date: 2002-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2020-12-07
Also published as: GB2369762B; GB0029984D0

Abstract

The device comprises two hollow plastic cones (1) which in use fit one within the other. Both have a hole (4) in the top centre of the cone and a slit (3) leading from the hole to the outer edge of the cone, the tab (5) on the inner cone is used to line both slits up so the fishing line can be threaded through to the middle holes and locked by turning the inner cone slit away from the outer cone slit. The device can then slide along a line and when in contact with water any current will accelerate the device until it hits a snagged spinner forcing it free. Both the device and spinner are retrieved by then reeling in.

Description

MADONA This invention relates to a device used in fishing to release snagged spinners from the riverbed.

The present invention called the otter is designed for use by game fishermen fishing for trout & salmon with spinning tackle. Spinning involves throwing out a long line & retrieving the spinner/lure through the water by reeling in the line.

The madona is designed primarily for game fishing but can be used with reasonable

success in Coarse fishing involving a"swim-feeder"or"bait trotting"method of fishing within the current of a river.

Fishermen constantly suffer the irritation & expense of losing spinners when fishing rivers. They get snagged on the bottom of the riverbed on rocks & weed. By using force to pull on the line the result is often a snapped line and losing an expensive spinner. It is often too deep to wade in and manually release the snagged spinner & the strong current can make it dangerous. It can take much time in battle to retrieve the spinner & fishermen can lose up to 20 per month. These lost spinners litter beds of rivers damaging the river environment, the trail of nylon also left behind poses a threat for birdlife.

The devise that has carried out the task somewhat unsuccessfully of releasing snagged spinners is called an"Otter". It is manufactured out of plastic, and is a disc shape with a hole in the centre & a slit leading from it to the outer edge for the line to thread through when attaching it to the fishing line. There is a locking mechanism to lock the device onto the line to allow it to run down the line. The aim of the device is to be connected to the line & slid down towards the river, the river current catches the devise pushing it along the surface of the water beyond the snagged spinner. The fisherman must then try & force the spinner up from the riverbed by lifting the rod with force so that the pull on the spinner is from downstream. Both spinner and otter are then retrieved by reeling in the line.

1.) There are several otters to a pack due to its unreliability & distinct chance of losing them.

2. ) The fisherman must use force to help release the spinner and this force can break the line losing the spinner, otter & length of tackle (line).

3. ) The otter travels on the surface of the water where the current is the weakest.

4. ) The otter can only be used by game fishermen in fast flowing waters and cannot be used by coarse fishermen.

5. ) The otter does not work against weed due to the restrained surface area to gain enough force from the current thus preventing the otter from floating down stream of the spinner.

6. ) It has been said that the littering of spinners lost on the riverbed is becoming bad for the river environment, the breaking of the line leaving a trail of nylon attached to the spinner can also be very harmful to bird life.

With reference to the previous points about the weaknesses of the present inventionthe otter, I describe the benefits of my invention-the madona.

1. ) The madona is almost 100% reliable & it should not be necessary for the fisherman to carry spares.

2. ) The fisherman does not have to apply any force to the line. The madona due to its cone shape is forced under the water to where the current is much stronger than on the surface.

3. ) Because the madona travels under the water it avoids the floating weed, & due to its streamline shape it is more likely to get past the weed.

4. ) The madona can be used in both coarse fishing and game fishing.

5. ) The Madonna uses a more forceful way of releasing the snagged spinner than the otter. It hits the spinner at speed & uses the strength of current up against the cone to force the snagged spinner up from the riverbed.

6. ) Because the madona is more reliable than the otter, fewer spinners will be lost reducing harmful effects on the environment & bird life.

A Madonna comprising two cones, the inner one being adapted to move within the outer cone, the inner cone including a hole in the centre top of the cone with a slit leading from the hole to the outer edge of the cone. Also includes a small tab that is made up as part of the cone. The outer cone including a hole in the centre top of the cone with a slit leading from the hole to the outer edge of the cone, also includes three

small tabs that are made up as part of the cone, adapted to bend underneath the inner cone to nx both cunes tugeuier.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG 1 shows one side of the two cones that fit within each other.

FIG 2 shows the other side of the two cones that fit within each other, also showing the slit.

FIG 3 shows one side of the cones both attached to each other using the three tabs.

FIG 4 shows the other side of the two cones when connected together (showing slits) FIG 5 shows a view with the invention on its side.

FIG 6 shows the inside of the invention. Once the madona has been firmly attached to the line, the fisherman must hold the rod high to allow the madona to slide down the line towards the river current. Once the madona hits the water the current will immediately act on the coned surface area & will be sucked under due to the hollow cone catching the current. The madona will itself be pushed along & due to its streamline shape it will not get caught on any rocks & weed. The madona hits the snagged spinner at the end of the line forcing it from where it's caught, weather its on stones, rocks, weed or another stationary object as it travels down stream. As spinners are too large to fit through the holes in both cones it fixes to the madona & when the line is reeled in both madona & spinner are retrieved.

No work is required to be done by the fisherman after the madona has hit the water.

To disconnect the madona from the line the two slits must be lined up by using the inner cone tab to turn the inner cone. The line can then be moved from the holes through the two lined up slits in the cones.

Referring to FIGS 1-6 drawings the madona comprises two cones (1), the inner cone is fixed to the outer cone with three tabs (2) that are made up as part of the inner cone to support & hold it.

Both cones have slits running from a hole at the top centre of both cones (4) to the edge of both cones (3) the slits are positioned in-between tabs (b & c) On the inner cone there is made up as part of the cone a small tab (5) that is used to turn the inner cone thus adjusting the slit position.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.) A madona comprising two cones, the inner one being adapted to move within the outer cone, the inner cone including a hole in the centre top of the cone with a slit leading from the hole to the outer edge of the cone. Also includes a small tab that is made up as part of the cone. The outer cone including a hole in the centre top of the cone with a slit leading from the hole to the outer edge of the cone, also includes three small tabs that are made up as part of the cone, adapted to bend underneath the inner cone to fix both cones together. 2. ) A madona substantially as described herein with reference to FIGS 1-6 of the accompanying drawings. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. The Madona is a device shaped as a cone to maximise use of water pressure to propel the Madona down the line to the snagged hook.

2. The Madona comprising two hollow plastic cones, the shape as claimed in claim 1, the inner one being adapted to move within the outer cone. It is a rigid device which fits onto the line.

3. The Madona comprises a hole in the centre top and a slit leading from the hole to the outer edge on both cones. The inner cone includes one small tab that is attached to the outer edge as shown on the accompanying drawing. The outer cone includes three small tabs attached to the outer edge as shown on the accompanying drawing. In the case of the inner cone there could be more than one tab and in the case of the outer cone there could be more or less than three tabs.

4. The Madona as claimed in claim 1 and referred to in claims 2 and 3 is of a lightweight material/plastic commensurate with the breaking strain of the fishing line and current and size of river.

5 A Madona substantially as described herein with reference to FIGS 1-- 6 of the accompanying drawings.