GB2170682A - Improvements in fishing weights - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing weight, for engagement on an angler's line, has a body which as a whole is of a density greater than water and including a first portion (1) and a second portion (2) coupled by a connector (3) so as to be movable into open and closed conditions, each portion having respective gripping face (6, 12) such that the line can be gripped between them when the portions are in closed condition, the two portions having respective latching formations (4a, 4b, 5) able to coact to retain the portions in their closed condition. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in fishing weights This invention relates to a fishing weightfor use on an angler's iine.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of weight, to be used as a substitute for the conventional lead weight, which can be more readily attached to an angler's line without causing damage to the line.

According to the present invention, a fishing weight, for engagement on an angler's line, comprises a body which as a whole is of a density greater than water, said body having a first portion and a second portion which are coupled by a connector so as to be relatively movable into a closed condition and an open position, each portion having a respective gripping face positioned thereon such that in closed condition an angler's line may be gripped between them, and latching formations provided respectively on each said portion and able two coactto retain the portions in closed condition.

In a convenient form, said connector is a flexible tongue which may advantageously be formed integrally with the first and second portions of the body.

One ot both of said latching formations may be resiliently deformable, and may both be integrally formed on the respective body portion. Advan tegeouslytheyare releasable.

In a preferred manner of construction, said latching formations comprise a latching tenon formed on one said body portion, and a latching recess formed in the other of said body portions, and foexample the latching tenon may include a lip, and said latching recess may be bounded by a shoulder behind which said lip can be engaged to latch the portions in closed condition.

In a preferred embodiment, said latching tenon includes a passageway open atone end and into whichthe line can be engaged, whenthetwo body portions are in open condition, so as to be gripped betweenthetwo body portions when they are in closed condition.

Said body may be substantially spherical orsub stantiallycylindrical, and said latching tenon positioned substantially centrally on one body portion and engaging into a latching recess which is substantially centrally positioned in the other body portion.

Each gripping face advantageously has a respective reliefformation to enhance grip on the line, and in a preferred form the reliefformation of one of said body portions is a channel, and the reliefformation ofthe other of said body portions is a series of resiliently flexiblefingers aligned with said channel.

The body may be made as a whole of a resiliently deformable material, and for example that material may by a synthetic resinous plastics material loaded with a denserfiller, or incorporating grains of a denser material.

Advantageously, the plastics material is bio-degradable, and/or non-toxic.

In orderthatthe nature ofthe invention may be readily ascertained, some embodiments of fishing weight in accordance therewith are hereinafter particularly described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a first embodiment, seen in open condition; Fig. 2 is an end elevation ofthe first embodiment, seen in closed condition; Fig. 3 is a perspective elevation of a second embodiment, seen in open condition; Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the second embodiment, seen in closed condition; Figs. 5-8 show a third embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the fishing weight comprises a first portion 1 and a second portion 2 which are connected by a flexible or resiliently bendable hinge tongue 3.

The portions 1 and 2 could be hemi-spherical or hemi-cylindrical or any other shape capable of coacting in the manner to be described, and they need not necessarily be substantially equal half portions ofthe whole.

The hinge tongue 3 may bean integral part of one or both ofthe portions, or may be secured to one or both portions in any convenient manner. In a preferred arrangement, the portions 1 and 2 and the hinge tongue 3 are all integral and are made of a material having the flexibility needed at the relativelythin hinge 3.

On the portion 1 there is provided a latching tenon 4 adapted to engage into a latching recess 5 in the portion 2. The latching tenon 4 comprises two legs 4a, 4bwhich projectfrom a gripping surface 6. Between the legs 4a, 4bthere is defined a channel 7 extending upto (asshown) or neartothe gripping surface5. On each of the legs 4a, 4bthere is formed a latching tooth 8. In the portion 2 the latching recess 5 is formed with shoulders 9a, 9b bounding a passage 10.The width of the passage 10 is such that, when the two portions 1 and 2 are moved into engagementabouttheir hinge tongue 3, the latching tenon 4 as a whole can enterthe recess 5 and, when the pegs 4a, 4b have entered sufficiently far into the recess 5, the teeth 8a, 8b can engage each with a respective shoulder 9a, 9bto retain the two portions 1 and 2 latched together in the closed condition seen in Fig. 2. The latching tenon 4 and/orthe material of the portion 2 bounding the recess 5, are made of resiliently deformable material, such thattheteeth 8a, 8bcan snap into engagement each overthe respectiveshoulder9a,9b,and give a "snap-locking" action.The resilient engagement may be such that the two portions 1 and 2 thereby become locked permanently with each other and cannot subsequently be opened or separated, short of destruction of the interengaging latch means, but it is preferred if the resilient engagement is such that the two portions 1 and 2 may be subsequently re-opened and re-closed a numberoftimed, by application of adequate force.

For engagement of the weight onto a fishing line, the line 11 is seated into the channel 7, with the two portions 1 and 2 in the open condition of Fig. 1. Then the two portions are closed together and latched, wherebythe line 11 becomes trapped between the gripping surface 6 of portion 1 and gripping surface 12 of portion 2. To enhance the grip ofthe weight on the line 11, one or both ofthe gripping surfaces 5 and 12 may be serrated, toothed or otherwise provided with a reliefformation. Where the line 11 is gripped between the end face of the channel 7 and the face 12, that end face may likewise be provided with a relief formation toenhancegrip.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is shown a second embodimentoffishing weight.

The weight comprises a first pOrtion 13 and a second portion 14which are connected by a flexible or resiliently bendable hinge tongue 15. The portions 13 and 14 have been shown astogetherforming a substantially ovoid whole, but they could be hemi spherical or hemi-cylindrical or any other shape capable of coacting in the mannerto be described, and they need not necessarily be substantially equal half portions ofthe whole.

The hiigetongue 15may bean integral partofone or both ofthe portions, or may be secured to one or both portions in any convenient manner. In a prefer red arrangement, the portions 13 and 14 and the hinge tongue 15 are all integral and are made of a material having thefelxibility needed atthe relatively thin hingetongue 15.The hingetongue 15 isshown as projecting externally, but it could be formed within the periphery ofthe whole, similarly to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, to avoid external projection.

On the portion 13 there is provided a latching lip 16 adapted to engage into a latching recess 17 in the portion 14.

The portions 13 and 14each have a respective peripheral rim surface 19 and 20 which abut in the closed condition of the weight. To accom modate a fishing line 21 between the closed portions ofthe weight, each ofthe rim surfaces has troughs 22 together bounding a channel receiving the line with clearance. On the portion 13 there is provided a flexible gripping surface 23, and on the portion 14 there is provided an opposed surface 24. To enhance the gripping action, the surface 23 is provided with a plurality of resiliently flexible fingers 25, and the surface 24 has a channel 26 aligned with the roughs 22, such that when the line 21 is laid in the channel 26, and the two portions are closed together, the fingers 25 bear on the line and force it into firm engagement with the base ofthe channel 26 serving as a gripping face.Resilient deformation ofthefingers 25 also permits accommodation of iines of different dia meters.

The resilient engagement of the latching lip 16 and the recess 17 gives a "snap-locking" action and may be such that the two portions 13 and 14 become permanently lacked with each otherand cannot subsequently be opened or separated, short of destruction, but it is preferred if the resilient engage mentissuchthatthetwo portions 13and14 may be subsequently re-opened and re-closed a number of times, byapplication ofadequateforce.

In figures 5-8 there is shown a third embodiment, fig. 5 being an elevation ofthe weight in open condition, fig. 6 being an elevation of a male portion of the weight with a fishing line engaged therein, fig. 7 being an elevation ofthe weight in closed position on a line, and fig. 8 being a perspective elevation ofthe weight engaged on the line.

In this construction he fishing weight comprises a first body portion 27 and a second body portion 28 which are connected by a flexible or resiliently bendable hinge tongue 29. The portions 27 and 28 could be hemi-spherical (as shown) orhemi-cylindric- al orof any othershape capable of acting in the manner described, and need not be equal half portions ofthe whole body.

On the portion 27 there is provided a latching tenon 30 adapted to engage into a latching recess 31 ofthe portion 28. The latching tenon 30 comprises two legs 30a and 30bwhich projectfrom a gripping surface 32.

Between the legs 30a, 30bthere is defined a channel 33 extending up to the surface 32. The channel 33 may be parallel-sided or may taper slightly towards the surface 32. The overall width ofthetenon 30, in its unconstrained condition, is such as to make it a resilienttightfit into the recess 31. The fishing line 34 is introduced fully into the channel 33 and, according to the diameterofthe line, may cause the legs 30a, 30b to be forced slightly outwardly, as seen in Fig. 6. Then the two portions 27 and 28 are closed together as seen in fig.7,therebytrapping the line in the channel.

In all embodiments, the body as a whole may be made of a resiliently deformable material, which may be a synthetic resinous plastics material loaded with a dense filler, or incorporating grains of a denser material.

Preferablythe weight is non-toxic.

Where the heavy material is in the form of finelydivided particles, e.g. as a filler in a plastics material, the plastics material may conveniently be bio-degrad- able, overthe long term, so that if any ofthe weight are lost in fishing waters, they will disintegrate and the filler material may be washed away or reduced by reaction with the water.

Where the weights are formed by injection moulding of plastics material, they may conveniently be formed in a string from which they can be individually parted off when necessary.

Loaded plastics material suitable for use in carrying outthe invention are: 1. Bronze-loaded nylon marketed in the United Kingdom underthecode name B-MNYBZPLand having a density somewhat greaterthan 4; 2. Polypropylene loaded with barium sulphate marketed in the United Kingdom underthe name BPC 7501 and having a density of that order of 2-3. This material hasthe advantage of being non-toxic.

Claims (18)

1. Afishing weight, for engagement on an angler's line, comprising a body which as a whole is of a density greaterthan water, said body having a first portion and asecond portion which are coupled bya connector so as to be relatively movable into a closed condition and an open position, each portion have a respective gripping face positioned thereon such that in closed condition an angler's line may be gripped between them, and latching formations provided respectively on each said portion and ableto coactto retain the portions in closed condition.

2. Afishing weight, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector is a flexible tongue.

3. Afishing weight, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tongue is formed integrally with the first and second portions ofthe body.

4. Afishing weight, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one or both of said latching formations are resiliently deformable.

5. Afishing weight, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said latching formations are both integrally formed on the respective body portion.

6. Afishing weight, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5,wherein said latching formationsare releasable.

7. Afishing weight, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said latching formations comprise a latching tenon formed on one said body portion, and a latching recess formed in the other of said body portions.

8. Afishing weight, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said latching tenon includes a lip, and wherein said latching recess is bounded by a shoulder behind which said lip can be engaged to latch the portions in closed condition.

9. Afishing weight, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said latching tenon includes a passageway open at one end and into which the line can be engaged, when the two body portions are in open condition, so asto be gripped between the two body portions when they are in closed condition.

10. Afishing weight, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said body is subsequently spherical or substantially cylindrical, and wherein said latching tenon is substantially centrally positioned on one body portion and engages into a latching recess which is substantially centrally positioned in the other body portion.

11. Afishing weight, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each gripping face has a respective reliefformation to enhance grip on the line.

12. Afishing weight,as claimed in claim 11, wherein the reliefformation of one of said body portions is a channel, and wherein the reliefformation ofthe other of said body portions is a series of resilientlyflexiblefingers aligned with said channel.

13. Afishing weight, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is made as a whole of a resiliently deformable material.

14. Afishing weight, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the resiliently deformable material is a synthetic resinous plastics material loaded with a denserfiller.

15. Afishing weight, asclaimed in claim 13, wherein the resiliently deformable material is a synthetic resinous material incorporating grains of a denser material.

16. Afishing weight, as claimed in either of claims 14and 15, wherein the plastics material is biodegrad- able.

17. Afishing weight, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the r, iaterial is one ofthe materials names in the foregoing description.

18. A fishing weight substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, orto Figs. 3 and 4, or Figs. 5-8, ofthe accompanying drawings.