AU2007237212B2 - Bait Attacher - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a bait attaching device (10) for attaching bait (21) to a fish hook (23), the device comprising a tubular body (12) for holding an elastomeric band (24) in a stretched-out condition with a space (13) within the bounds of the stretched-out elastomeric band. The fish hook and bait can be positioned in the space, and a sleeve (14), which is disposed slidably around the tubular body, can be used for disengaging the elastomeric band from the tubular body, to allow the band to contract around the fish hook and bait for securing the bait to the fish hook. 12 Figure 1 12 14 is id Figure 2 1

Description

BAIT ATTACHING DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to the attachment of bait to a fish hook, and more particularly, to a device and method for doing so. 5 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Traditionally, baiting a fish hook is done manually with bare hands. Anglers usually have to hold bait with their hands and attach the bait to the fish hooks. However, this method of attaching bait to a fish hook has a number of disadvantages some of which are discussed below. 10 There are many types of bait. Some of the more popular types are sand worms, bloodworms, mealworms, earth worms, shrimps and prawns. While using this type of bait is effective in luring big fish, handling such bait is often considered unpleasant by many people. Accordingly, the use of such bait has discouraged many people from angling. In addition, some people 15 suffer allergic reaction following skin contact with such bait. Furthermore, handling a sharp fish hook while attaching bait to it can result in inadvertent injury to the user. It is an object of the invention to ameliorate or overcome one or more of the disadvantages of the existing ways of attaching bait to fish hooks, or to 20 provide a useful alternative thereto. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bait attaching device for attaching bait to a fish hook, the device comprising: a tubular body for holding an elastomeric band in a stretched-out 25 condition with a space within the bounds of the stretched-out elastomeric band whereby the fish hook and bait can be positioned in the space, and 2 a disengaging means for disengaging the elastomeric band from the tubular body, to allow the elastomeric band to contract around the fish hook and bait for securing the bait to the fish hook. Preferably, the tubular body comprises at least one wall portion for 5 engaging the elastomeric band at a plurality of spaced apart locations along the elastomeric band. In a preferred embodiment, the disengaging means comprises a pushing surface for pushing the elastomeric band off the tubular body. It is preferred that the disengaging means is configured to slide relative tc 10 the tubular body. As another preferred option, the tubular body has a passages therein, the passage constituting said space. Preferably, the disengaging means comprises an outer sleeve disposed about, and slidable along, the tubular body. 15 In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises an actuator fixed to the tubular body and an aperture in the outer sleeve through which the actuator extends, such that the boundary of the aperture limits movement of the actuator and hence movement of the outer sleeve relative to the tubular body. 20 Optionally, the actuator comprises an elongate body. It is preferred that the outer sleeve has an end which is in the form of a gripping portion. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of attaching bait to a fish hook with an elastomeric band using a bait attaching 25 device, the method comprising the steps of: (i) disposing an elastomeric band on the tubular body in a stretched-out condition; 3 (ii) positioning the fish hook and bait into the space within the bounds of the elastomeric band; and (iii) disengaging the elastomeric band from the tubular body using the disengaging means, thereby allowing the elastomeric band to contract 5 around the fish hook and bait for securing the fish hook and bait to each other. In this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term "comprising" has the non-exclusive meaning of the word, in the sense of "including at least" rather than the exclusive meaning in the sense of 10 "consisting only of". The same applies with corresponding grammatical changes to other forms of the word such as "comprise", "comprises" and so on. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of 15 example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a bait attaching device according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along II-II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 1; 20 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 in one condition of use; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 in another condition of use. BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 25 In Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a bait attaching device 10. The device 10 comprises a band holder in the form of a tubular body 12 with a passage 13 therein. The device 10 further comprises a disengaging means in the form of a sleeve 14 which is disposed about, and which is slidable along, the tubular 4 body 12, so that the tubular body and sleeve are telescopically movable relative to each other. The sleeve 14 has a pushing surface 15 and has two slot-shaped apertures 16 at opposite sides thereof, each aperture having opposite ends. The sleeve 14 further has a handle portion 17 at one end for 5 gripping. The tubular body 12 has two thin actuators 18 fixed to it on opposite sides thereof. Each actuator 18 is in the form of an elongate body, and extends from the tubular body 12 through a respective one of the apertures 16 in the sleeve 14. 10 While the tubular body 12 is freely slidable within the sleeve 14, its movement relative to the sleeve is limited by the engagement of the actuators 18 with the ends of the apertures 16. The handle portion 17 assists a user of the device 10, such as an angler, in controlling the sliding movement of the sleeve 14 relative to the tubular 15 body 12. It also provides a gripping portion for the user to hold the device 10. The device 10 is preferably made of a rust-resistant material which is light-weight and hence convenient to carry. In particular, it is preferably made of light metal such as aluminium or strong plastic such as PVC. The method of operating the device 10 will now be explained. 20 The tubular body 12 is positioned relative to the sleeve 14 so that a portion 19 of the tubular body protrudes from the sleeve as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. An elastic band 24 is stretched out and placed around the portion 19 as indicated in Figure 4. The passage 13 of the tubular body 12 serves as a space to receive bait 21. 25 To achieve this, the tubular body 12 can be used as a scoop for scooping bait 21 into the passage 13. The sharp end of a fish hook 23 can then be inserted into the passage 13 adjacent to the bait 21. It will be appreciated that, when the bait 21 and fish hook 23 are received in the passage 13, they are also within the bounds of the elastic band 24 which is stretched out: 30 over the portion 19 of the tubular body 12.

5 Then, the actuators 18 can be moved relative to the tubular body 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow F as shown in Figure 4. This causes the tubular body 12 to slide telescopically into the sleeve 14 so that the sleeve slides over the portion 19 as shown in Figure 5. As the sleeve 14 slides in 5 this manner, the pushing surface 15 pushes the elastic band 24 from the portion 19 off the tubular body 12. As the elastic band 24 moves clear of the tubular body 12, and because it is stretched out and therefore under tension, it contracts so as to snap around the bait 21 and fish hook 23, thereby securing the bait and hook together. 10 The bait 21 and fish hook 23 can then be removed from the passage 13, and used for fishing purposes. It will be appreciated that the device 10, and its manner of use, avoids the need for touching bait or the fish hook with bare hands when securing the bait to the hook. Thus, the undesirable aspect of touching bait as described 15 above, and the potential dangers of handling a sharp fish hook, can be minimised. The device 10 is simple in construction and is sufficiently small to be carried in a fishing kit. It can also be inexpensively manufactured. Although the invention is described above with reference to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is not 20 limited to those embodiments, but may be embodied in many other forms. For example, a suitable spring (not shown) may be provided to bias the tubular body 12 and sleeve 14 towards a particular relative position, such as that shown in Figure 4.

Claims (10)

1. A bait attaching device for attaching bait to a fish hook, the device comprising: a tubular body for holding an elastomeric band in a stretched-out condition with a space within the bounds of the stretched-out elastomeric band whereby the fish hook and bait can be positioned in the space; and a disengaging means for disengaging the elastomeric band from the tubular body, to allow the elastomeric band to contract around the fish hook and bait for securing the bait to the fish hook; wherein the disengaging means comprises an outer sleeve disposed about, and slidable along, the tubular body.

2. The bait attaching device of claim 1, wherein the tubular body comprises at least one wall portion for engaging the elastomeric band at a plurality of spaced apart locations along the elastomeric band.

3. The bait attaching device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the disengaging means comprises a pushing surface for pushing the elastomeric band off the tubular body.

4. The bait attaching device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tubular body has a passage therein, the passage constituting said space.

5. The bait attaching device of claim 1, comprising an actuator fixed to the tubular body and an aperture in the outer sleeve through which the actuator extends, such that the boundary of the aperture limits movement of the actuator and hence movement of the outer sleeve relative to the tubular body.

6. The bait attaching device of claim 5, wherein said actuator comprises an elongate body.

7. The bait attaching device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said outer sleeve has an end which is in the form of a gripping portion. 7

8. A method of attaching bait to a fish hook with an elastomeric band using the device of any one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising the steps of: (i) disposing an elastomeric band on the tubular body in a stretched-out condition; (ii) positioning the fish hook and bait into the space within the bounds of the elastomeric band; and (iii) disengaging the elastomeric band from the tubular body using the disengaging means, thereby allowing the elastomeric band to contract around the fish hook and bait for securing the fish hook and bait to each other.

9. A bait attaching device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Figures.

10. A method for attaching bait to a fish hook substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Figures. * ** * *