Fish bait tier

Abstract

A device is provided for enclosing fish bait in a permeable mesh bag using a base with a well therein into which the central portion of such mesh may be depressed and wherein the bait may be placed in the mesh. A pair of metal plates are provided which act to close over the bait the mesh protruding from the well.

I claim: 
     
       1. Device for enclosing fish bait comprising: a base   means defining an upwardly opening well having sides and bottom in said base dimensioned to receive nylon mesh and some bait therein,   a pair of horizontally arranged metal plates and means mounting each said plate for movement to enable said plates to slide in a horizontal relative longitudinal sliding direction over one another in side by side relationship,   said plates being designed to slide relative to each other in said sliding direction between an open and a closed limiting position,   wherein, in said open position, said plates are shaped together to define an aperture aligned with said well,   and in said closed position said plates substantially close said aperture over said well.   
     
     
       2. Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each plate defines diverging edges facing the direction of movement of the plate toward closed position, and said aperture is defined by said diverging edges, whereby movement of the plates relative to each other toward closed position causes the aperture defined by the two sets of diverging edges to decrease the size. 
     
     
       3. Device as claimed in claim 2 wherein upstanding ridges on each side of said base provide side guides to limit lateral movement of said plates relative to said aperture. 
     
     
       4. Device as claimed in claim 2 wherein end stops are provided on said base, limiting movement of said plates relative to said base in said relative sliding direction, whereby in open position each plate is resting against a stop with the aperture aligned with said well and in closed position each plate is resting against the other stop with material clamped in said substantially closed aperture located over said well. 
     
     
       5. Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plates are provided with mutually interacting releasable detent means for releasably retaining said plates in closed postion. 
     
     
       6. Device as claimed in claim 5 wherein upstanding ridges on each side of said base provide side guides to limit lateral movement of said plates relative to said aperture. 
     
     
       7. Device as claimed in claim 5 wherein end stops are provided on said base, limiting movement of said plates relative to said base in said relative sliding direction, whereby in open position each plate is resting against a stop with the aperture aligned with said well and in closed position each plate is resting against the other stop with material clamped in said substantially closed aperture located over said well. 
     
     
       8. Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plates are provided with mutually interacting releasable detent means for releasably retaining said plates in closed position. 
     
     
       9. Device as claimed in claim 8 wherein upstanding ridges on each side of said base provide side guides to limit lateral movement of said plates relative to said aperture. 
     
     
       10. Device as claimed in claim 8 wherein end stops are provided on said base, limiting movement of said plates relative to said base in said relative sliding direction, whereby in open position each plate is resting against a stop with the aperture aligned with said well and in closed position each plate is resting against the other stop with material clamped in said substantially closed aperture located over said well. 
     
     
       11. Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plates is provided with side edges substantially parallel to the relative sliding direction and said mounting means comprising providing one of said plates with opposed side flanges bent back over said plate to define a mutually facing grooves which slidably receive the other said plate and guide its relative movements. 
     
     
       12. Device as claimed in claim 11 wherein end stops are provided on said base, limiting movement of said plates relative to said base in said relative sliding direction, whereby in open position each plate is resting against a stop with the aperture aligned with said well and in closed position each plate is resting against the other stop with material clamped in said substantially closed aperture located over said well. 
     
     
       13. Device as claimed in claim 11 wherein upstanding ridges on each side of said base provide side guides to limit lateral movement of said plates relative to said aperture. 
     
     
       14. Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein upstanding ridges on each side of said base provide side guides to limit lateral movement of said plates relative to said aperture. 
     
     
       15. Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein end stops are provided on said base, limiting movement of said plates relative to said base in said relative sliding direction, whereby in open position each plate is resting against a stop with the aperture aligned with said well and in closed position each plate is resting against the other stop with material clamped in said substantially closed aperture located over said well. .Iadd. 
     
     
       16.  A method of heat sealing bait in a thermoplastic mesh bag, comprising partially filling a thermoplastic mesh bag with fish bait,   placing the closed end of the bag containing the bait in a large recess in a housing,   temporarily gripping the bag adjacent its open end, and outwardly of said recess, between the converging edges of two metal plates which are mounted on the housing to slide into and out of closed positions in which they overlie and substantially close off the open end of said recess, and in which positions said converging edges of the plates surround and releasably hold said bag closed adjacent to but inwardly of its open end, and   temporarily applying sufficient heat to said bag at the side of said plates remote from said recess to cause the open end of said bag to be heat sealed closed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       17.  Device for use in enclosing and heat sealing bait in a thermoplastic mesh bag, comprising a base,   means on said base defining a well having an open end and dimensioned to receive the closed end of a thermoplastic mesh bag containing fish bait, and   heat sink means on said base comprising a pair of metal plates mounted on said base with substantial portions thereof disposed in overlapping relation, one of said plates being movable relative to the other and selectively into and out of a closed position in which recessed edge portions of said plates overlie and substantially close the open end of said well,   said recessed edge portions of said metal plates having thereon confronting, converging edges operative, when the closed end of said bag is in said well and the open end of the well is closed by said plates, to surround and releasably to hold said bag closed adjacent to and inwardly of its open end, and   said overlapping portions of said plates having substantial surface areas thereof disposed in substantially coplanar engagement with each other when said one plate is in its closed position, whereby when the bag is heat sealed closed by applying heat to a portion of said bag that projects beyond the sides of said plates remote from said well, said plates disperse by conduction and radiation heat which might otherwise damage that portion of the bag located within said well. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       18.  Device as contained in claim 17, including means interconnecting said plates for sliding movement relative to one another in adjacent, parallel planes, and   means removably supporting the interconnected plates on said base for movement selectively, and as a unit, onto or off of said base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. Device as claimed in claim 17, wherein   said plates have registering, longitudinally extending side edges slidably connected to each other,   said recessed edge portions are formed in a pair of overlapping ends of said plates, and   a transverse lip is formed on the opposite end of each plate for use in shifting said plates relative to each other. .Iaddend.