AU756084B2 - Berley/chum/ground bait dispenser - Google Patents

Description

S F Ref: 464530

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATON FOR A STANDARD PATENT 4*ur* S. S

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6

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ORIGINAL

I Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: William Evans Perry 9 Clipper Crescent Tascott New South Wales 2250

AUSTRALIA

William Evans Perry Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Berley/Chum/Ground Bait Dispenser ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [31] Application No(s) [33] Country PP3832 AU [32] Application Date 1 June 1998 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815 1 BERLEY I CHUM GROUND BAIT DISPENSER Technical Field The present invention relates to fishing tackle, and in particular relates to a dispenser for berley, otherwise known as chum or ground bait.

Background of the Invention To attract fish whilst fishing, fisherman often disperse finely chopped bait around the fishing area. Such finely chopped bait for this purpose is known under various terms including berley, chum and ground bait. The term berley is utilised throughout this specification, and is to be understood in the context of the specification as including chum ,o and ground bait.

Methods by which berley is currently spread include: eeooe Shand spreading of the berley over the back of a fishing boat, lowering a perforated dispenser containing berley into the water such that the berley can freely disperse through the perforation, or 15 lowering a sealed dispenser containing berley into the water and unsealing the canister by various means to allow the berley to freely disperse.

None of the above types of dispensers or methods provides for continuous S. controlled dispersal of the berley, and none of the above dispensers are suitable for casting on a line, and hence are not suitable for use when fishing from the shore.

20 Object of the Invention eeeeee It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at eeo.

:least some of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a berley dispenser comprising: a body having first and second ends and a cavity with an opening defined therebetween, said cavity having a depth which tapers from adjacent said body second end to adjacent said body first end; a lid hingedly secured at a first end thereof to said body at a hinge axis disposed toward said body first end, said lid substantially covering said opening when in a closed position; first line securing means for securing a casting line to said dispenser in a first configuration for casting and retrieval of said berley dispenser, said first means being [R:\LIBLL] I 3755.doc:TCW adapted to secure said casting line to said lid with said casting line extending through and beyond said body via said opening and said cavity, whereby tension on said line applied from beyond said body tends to close said lid towards said closed position; second line securing means for securing a casting line to said dispenser in a second configuration for troll or handline fishing, said second means being configured to secure said casting line to said body adjacent said hinge axis; and means for securing a fish hook to said lid toward a second end thereof for troll or handline fishing with said casting line in said second configuration; wherein said body is defined by end walls at said first and second body ends, side walls extending between said end walls, a base extending between a lower edge of each of said end and side walls and a flange extending about an upper edge of each of said end and side walls and defining said opening, the corners intersecting each of said end and side walls and said base each being rounded.

Typically, a gap exists between said lid and an end of said opening adjacent said S 15 body first end for passage of water therethrough.

Preferably, a gap exists between said lid and an end of said opening adjacent said body second end when said lid is in said closed position.

Preferably, limiting means are provided for limiting opening of said lid to a predetermined open position.

20 Preferably, said limiting means comprises a tie secured to said lid and said body.

Preferably, said tie is adjustable so as to enable adjustment of said predetermined open position.

Preferably, said lid protrudes beyond said second end of said body.

"•:More preferably, said lid protrudes beyond said second end of said body by a distance equal to between and V 2 a length of said body measured between said first and second ends.

Most preferably, said lid protrudes beyond said second end of said body by about y3 said body length.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a berley dispenser with the lid in the closed position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the berley dispenser of Figure 1.

[R:\LIBLL] I 3755.doc:TCW Figure 3 is a rear elevation view of the berley dispenser of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the berley dispenser of Figure 1 with the lid in the open position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the berley dispenser of Figure 1.

s Figure 6 is a perspective view of the berley dispenser of Figure 1 configured for troll fishing.

Brief Description of the Preferred Embodiments A berley dispenser 1 is provided with a body 2 having first and second ends 3, 4.

A cavity 5 for holding berley and having an opening 6 is defined between the ends 3, 4 of o0 the body 2. A lid 7 is hingedly secured to the body 2 at a hinge axis 8 which is e *o [R:\LIBLL] 13755.doc:TCW disposed toward the body first end 3. As depicted in Figures 1 to 3, the lid 7 substantially covers the opening 6 when in a closed position.

Casting and retrieval of the berley dispenser 1 is enabled with a casting line 9 which is secured to the lid 7 and extends through the opening 6 and cavity 5 through a hole 10 provided in the body 2 and beyond the body, typically to a rod, boat or a floating marker buoy from which the berley dispenser is to be suspended. Tension applied to the line by the rod, boat or floating buoy pulls upwardly on the lid 7, creating a moment about the hinge axis 8 which tends to close the lid toward the closed position depicted in Figures 1 to 3.

The casting line 9 is preferably secured to the lid 7 at any of-a plurality of holes 11 provided in the lid 7. The holes 11 are successively spaced further from the hinge axis 8 so as to allow adjustment of the length of the moment arm over which tension in the casting line 9 acts by preselecting which hole 11 to secure the casting line 9 through. This provides adjustment of the moment applied to the lid 7 about the hinge axis 8. Securing the casting line 9 to a hole 11 further from the hinge axis 8 provides a greater moment tending to close the lid. The casting line 9 is typically arranged such that the opening 6 of the cavity 5 is inclined at an angle of the order of 250 from the *vertical when the casting line 9 is vertical so as to provide a suitable orientation from dispensing when the lid 7 is open.

Opening of the lid to the open position as depicted in Figures 4 and 5 is achieved when the moment applied to the lid 7 by the casting line 9 is overcome by a moment applied to the lid 8 in an opposing direction. With swell and rocking of the boat, floating marker buoy or other fixture to which the casting line is attached, and currents within the water, the tension in the casting line will vary. If the tension in the casting line slackens sufficiently, the weight of the lid 7 alone may be sufficient to overcome the moment applied by the casting line 9 allowing the lid to momentarily open. The pressure of water currents and eddies may also act on the lid tending to open it. This effect can be increased by ensuring the lid 7 protrudes beyond the body 3 when in the closed position, thereby exposing at least part of the inwardly facing [N:\LIBLL] 16431:TCW surface of the lid to water current pressures acting in the direction of lid opening. As the berley dispenser 1 bobs up and down in the water it will also create relative water flow about it which will also tend to open the enlarged lid 7. Here the lid 7 protrudes beyond the second end 4 of the body 2 so as to maximise the moment applied by any water pressure acting on the protruding lid portion 12. The lid 7 preferably protrudes beyond the body second end 4 by 1/4 to 1/2 the length of the body 2 as measured between the first and second ends 3, 4. Here the lid 7 protrudes by approximately 1/3 the body length. Alternatively, or additionally, the lid 7 could protrude beyond the sides 13, 14 of the body 2.

o10 Limiting means 15 are here provided for limiting opening of the lid 7 to a :predetermined open position as depicted in Figure 4 and 5, thereby preventing the berley dispenser 1 from opening completely and spilling its entire contents rapidly.

The limiting means 15 here comprises a tie 15 which is secured to the lid 7 and the body 2, here adjacent the body second end 4. The tie 15 can be adjusted in length to enable adjustment of the predetermined open position. This open position will typically be adjusted to allow dispensing of berley of varying size. Larger pieces of berley will require a larger opening. A larger opening will also enable a more rapid dispensing of the berley which may be desirable under certain fishing conditions. Rather than using a tie 15 as a limiting means, the person skilled in the art will appreciate that the alternative limiting means may be provided such as a detent integrally formed with the body which engages the lid, or perhaps a torsion spring arrangement at the hinge axis 8.

A weight 16, here in the form of a standard sinker, is secured to the body '1ist end 3 via a hole 17 provided in the flange 18 which borders the opening 6. The weight 16 helps sink the dispenser 1 toward the river lake sea floor and helps maintain tension in the casting line 9. If desired, a fish hook can be secured to the dispenser 1, depending from beneath the sinker 16, so that the arrangement doubles as both a berley dispenser and a fishing line. If a fish hook is to be so arranged hole 17 may need reinforcing depending on the material from which the body 2 is formed.

[N:\LIBLL]16431:TCW The flat square hinge 19 by which the lid 7 is hingedly secured is spaced slightly from the end 20 of the opening 6 adjacent the body first end 3 such that a gap 21 exists between the lid 7, which has its end at the hinge 19, and the opening end A gap 22 is also created between the lid 7 and the opposing end 23 when the lid 7 is closed as a result of the flange 18 bordering the opening 6 being flat and the adjacent region of the lid 7 having a curved profile. These gaps 21, 22 enable some flow of water through the cavity 5 even when the lid 7 is in the closed position, providing for some small dispensing of berley when the dispenser is closed.

The cavity 5 has a depth which tapers from adjacent the body second end 4 to o 1o adjacent the body first end 3 as best depicted in Figures 1 and 4. This tapered shape provides minimal fluid drag during casting when the body first end 3 points in the direction of travel through the air water. The dispenser 1 hence naturally assumes this orientation during casting, with air water flow over the lid, along with the tension in the casting line 9, ensuring the lid remains closed during casting, preventing the load of berley from being lost prematurely. As the cast dispenser sinks through the water, the small water flow into the cavity via the gap 21 and out of the cavity via the gap 22 extracts a trace of berley which forms a slick from the water surface down to the berley dispenser 1, thereby attracting fish toward the berley dispenser 1.

When the berley dispenser 1 is being retrieved, the relative water flow acting on the protruding portion 12 of the lid 7 will tend to open the lid 7 and will typically overcome the casting line 9 tension to open the dispenser 1 and dispose of any remaining berley during the retrieval.

The uberley dispenser body 2 and lid 7 can be moulded inexpensively from plastics material, or alternatively pressed from sheet metallic material such as stainless steel alloy. Use of the flange 18 bordering the opening, as well as providing a sealing surface for the lid, acts to increase the rigidity of the body 2, enabling the use of thinner material.

In use, the filter berley dispenser 1 is typically cast allowing for the tide and current to bring the dispenser back toward the fishing area. When casting from the [N:\LIBLL]16431:TCW shore over rocks or over heavy sea growth the berley dispenser should be retrieved before grounding.

When a floating marker buoy is utilised, the marker buoy is secured to the casting line 9, with the berley dispenser 1 being secured to the line at a distance from the buoy corresponding to the desired dispenser depth. A further line is typically secured to the dispenser body 2, preferably in place of the weight 16 through the hole 17, with a weight or anchor at the opposing end of this further line securing the line to the sea bed and thereby generally fixing the position of the berley dispenser and the marker buoy. The swell acting on the marker buoy will tend to open and close the lid 10 7. As the swell tends to rise the buoy, tension on the casting line and further line will tend to close the lid 7, whilst slack in the lines as a result of lowering of the buoy in troughs between peaks in the swell will tend to allow the lid to open. The marker buoy provides simple identification of the spot at which the dispenser has been located for :o dispenser retrieval. Using such marker buoys enables several berley dispensers 1 to be o located around a fishing area.

The berley dispenser 1 described above can also be reconfigured to serve as a ooo* lure for troll or hand line fishing. Such a configuration is depicted in Figure 6. The casting line 9, rather than passing through the hole 10 in the body 2, is secured to hole 17 in the opposing end of the body 2 adjacent the hinge axis 8. The end of the casting line may be further tied to any of the holes 11 in the lid such that the casting line 9 will still be secured to the dispenser 1 even if it pulls from the hole 17. A running sinker is threaded onto the casting line 9, prior to securing the line to the dispenser body 2 at hole 17, for weighting the line and dispenser. The tie i5 limits the opening of the lid 7 to a predetermined position in a similar manner to as discussed above. A fish hook line 31 is secured to the lid 7 through an extra hole 32 provided on the lid protruding portion 12, with a fish hook 33 being secured to the free end of the fish hook line 31.

The fish hook line 31 can be an extension of a free end of the tie 15, as depicted, or may be a separate line. In such an arrangement the dispenser may be used purely as a [N:\LBLL]16431:TCW lure or may be also used to dispense berley. Rather than securing a fish hook 33 to the lid, a snare could be secured in a similar manner if so desired.

When trolling the wedged shape of the body 2 will ensure the dispenser 1 is dragged freely through the water with the hinged end leading. If the dispenser is filled with berley, water passing into the cavity through the gap 21 adjacent the hinge and out through gap 22 will form a slick of berley trailing the dispenser 1. The flow of water over the flange 18 helps to stabilise the body 2 against rotation about its longitudinal axis as it passes through the water, thereby preventing line twists. The flange 18 also has a diving effect which causes the lid to flap up and down free of the casting line 9, 10 helping to attract fish.

.*oo The same arrangement can also be used for hand line fishing, with the running sinker 30 weighing the dispenser to the sea bed when the casting line 9 is lowered. The slack in the line is then taken up to ensure the running sinker 30 is located against the dispenser body.

•..:..dispenser body.

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Claims (9)

1. A berley dispenser comprising: a body having first and second ends and a cavity with an opening defined therebetween, said cavity having a depth which tapers from adjacent said body second end to adjacent said body first end; a lid hingedly secured at a first end thereof to said body at a hinge axis disposed toward said body first end, said lid substantially covering said opening when in a closed position; first line securing means for securing a casting line to said dispenser in a first configuration for casting and retrieval of said berley dispenser, said first means being adapted to secure said casting line to said lid with said casting line extending through and beyond said body via said opening and said cavity, whereby tension on said line applied •from beyond said body tends to close said lid towards said closed position; second line securing means for securing a casting line to said dispenser in a 15 second configuration for troll or handline fishing, said second means being configured to S.*i •secure said casting line to said body adjacent said hinge axis; and means for securing a fish hook to said lid toward a second end thereof for troll or handline fishing with said casting line in said second configuration; wherein said body is defined by end walls at said first and second body ends, .i side walls extending between said end walls, a base extending between a lower edge of each of said end and side walls and a flange extending about an upper edge of each of said end and side walls and defining said opening, the comers intersecting each of said end and side walls and said base each being rounded. S.

2. The berley dispenser of claim 1, wherein a gap exists between said lid and an end of said opening adjacent said body first end for passage of water therethrough.

3. The berley dispenser of claim 2, wherein a gap exists between said lid and an end of said opening adjacent said body second end when said lid is in said closed position.

4. The berley dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein limiting means are provided for limiting opening of said lid to a predetermined open position.

The berley dispenser of claim 4, wherein said limiting means comprises a tie secured to said lid and said body.

6. The berley dispenser of claim 4, wherein said tie is adjustable so as to enable adjustment of said predetermined open position. [R:\LIBLL]I 3755.doc:TCW

7. The berley dispenser of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said lid protrudes beyond said second end of said body.

8. The berley dispenser of claim 7, wherein said lid protrudes beyond said second end of said body by a distance equal to between and V2 a length of said body measured between said first and second ends.

9. The berley dispenser of claim 8, wherein said lid protrudes beyond said second end of said body by about said body length. A berley dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 24 October, 2002 William Evans Perry Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON *o* e* o000 6*000 *00 0 [R:\LIBLL]I 3755.doc:TCW