GB2196221A

GB2196221A - Fishing weight

Info

Publication number: GB2196221A
Application number: GB08624634A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Peters Oliver
Original assignee: VERSON ENGINEERING CO Ltd
Current assignee: VERSON ENGINEERING CO Ltd
Priority date: 1986-10-14
Filing date: 1986-10-14
Publication date: 1988-04-27
Also published as: GB8624634D0

Abstract

A non-toxic lead free fishing weight (10) is formed of a rubber composition material, which may be natural or synthetic rubber and may have fillers of zinc oxide or barium sulphate to provide a specific gravity of at least 3.5. The weight may have a slit (11) formed therein by a first cut (12) extending to the centre of the weight (10) and a second cut (13) extending at an acute angle to the first cut (12), thereby providing easy insertion of a fishing line into the slit (11) so that the weight (10) is retained thereon. Alternatively the weight may be moulded onto a fishing line, hook or swivel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fishing weight This invention relates to fishing weights.

It has been the practice for very many years to weight fishing lines with one or more weights, and conventionally such weights have been lead spheres or other shaped solid bodies, for example double pyramid, pear shaped or the like. However, it has been realised that the lead weights, which often become detached from the line and are then left in the water or on the bank or shore, are extremely harmful to wild-life, such as swans in particular. There are many other disadvantages associated with lead weights. For example the weights usually have a slit in them to receive a fishing line. By squeezing the weight the line becomes trapped in the slit and the weight is thereby attached to the line.

However, since lead possesses no resilience and is easily deformable, the slit is easily unintentionally opened in use so that the weight becomes detached from the line and becomes lost. In addition, due to the method of manufacture e.g. dropping from a height to produce spheres or casting to produce other shapes, the weights produced vary considerably in shape, size and weight. In consequence, a float which is intended to be used within a specific weight will not float as it is intended if the weight used is not accurately its nominal weight. Furthermore, lead weights are somewhat reflective of light which can frighten fish away from the hook. Also the lead weight can chafe or snag the fishing line.

To overcome the toxicity problem and danger to wildlife, it has been proposed to make fishing weights out of various alternative metals. However, such weights have not been well received by the practising fishermen, primarily because of their cost in comparison with the relatively cheap lead weights.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fishing weight which avoids or reduces to a substantial extent the abovementioned disadvantages of the known types of fishing weight.

The invention provides a fishing weight formed of a rubber composition material. Preferably the rubber composition material comprises rubber having incorporated therein a filler or fillers which are of sufficient density and quantity that the rubber composition has a specific gravity of at least 3.5 and preferably at least 3.7. Suitable fillers may be zinc oxide or barium sulphate. The rubber may be a natural or a synthetic rubber. The fishing weight may have a slit therein for receiving a fishing line.

The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a fishing weight comprising moulding said weight of a rubber composition material. The fishing weight may be moulded into a fishing line, hook or swivel, or a slit may be cut into said fishing weight. The cutting of a slit in the fishing weight may be performed by making a first cut therein using a first knife and making a second cut therein using a second knife disposed at an angle to said first knife whereby a wedge-shaped slit is formed in said fishing weight. The method may include holding said fishing weight in a jig whilst said cutting steps are performed. As a further alternative a hook or swivel may be screwed into said fishing weight after the moulding thereof.

Preferably the moulding is effected by press moulding.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment, Figs. 2 and 2a are perspective views of a second embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment.

Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a fishing weight 10 of spherical shape. The weight 10 is moulded of a rubber composition material comprising rubber with zinc oxide filler so as to have a specific gravity of 3.7.

The weight, having been press moulded is accurately spherical. A slot 11 is cut in the weight 10 to receive a fishing line (not shown), the slot 11 being wedge shaped and formed by a first cut 12 and a second cut 13 at a small acute angle to the first cut 12.

Preferably the first cut 12 extends at least to the centre of the weight 10 so that the fishing line will be retained in the slot 11 with the weight 10 symmetrically disposed on the fishing line. If a single cut is made only, such cut tends to close up due to the resilience of the rubber so that it is very difficult to put the weight 10 on the fishing line. However, with a narrow wedge shaped slot 11 as shown, one can readily introduce the fishing line into the slot 11 and the resilience of the rubber is such that the weight 10 is held on the fishing line very effectively.

Alternatively, as shown in Figs. 2 and 2a, the weight 20, 22 may be moulded directly onto a length of wire 21, the wire 21 preferably passing along a diameter or major axis of the weight 20, 22. The weight 20, 22 may then be pulled off the wire 21 and attached to a fishing line. The weights 20, 22 may be spherical as shown in Fig. 2 or of an aerodynamic shape such as shown in Fig. 2a.

As a further alternative, as shown in Fig, 3, the weight 30 may be moulded with a swivel 31 or other item embedded therein.

As yet a further alternative a weight may be moulded without any slots, wires or swivels therein, and the fisherman may readily screw into such weight a swivel or other item as desired to produce a weight of the type shown in Fig. 3.

By means of the invention a non-toxic lead free fishing weight is provided. The weights can be readily press-moulded accurately to a desired size and shape so that the nominal weight is accurately achieved from weight to weight. In consequence a float will float correctly when used with such a weight of the nominal weight specified for such a float. The weights are non-reflective sothat fish will not be alerted to the presence of the hook. The cost of such weights is comparable with that of lead weights and this represents a considerable saving over the alternative metal weights previously proposed. In addition the weights of the type shown in Fig. 1 are more secure on a fishing line than was the case with lead or alternative metal weights due to the resilience of the rubber, and the fishing line cannot be snagged or chafed by the weights in accordance with the invention. Furthermore the weights in accordance with the invention can be easily cut by a knife so that a fisherman can readily adapt his weights to any size and shape he desired.

Claims

1. A fishing weight formed of a rubber composition material.

2. A fishing weight according to claim 1 wherein the rubber composition material comprises rubber having incorporated therein a filler or fillers which are of sufficient density and quantity that the rubber composition has a specific gravity of at least 3.5.

3. A fishing weight according to claim 2 wherein the specific gravity is at least 3.7.

4. A fishing weight according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the filler is zinc oxide.

5. A fishing weight according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the filler is barium sulphate.

6. A fishing weight according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the rubber is a natural rubber.

7. A fishing weight according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the rubber is a synthetic rubber.

8. A fishing weight according to any one of claims 1 to 7 having a slit therein for receiving a fishing line.

9. A fishing weight according to claim 8 wherein said slit is wedge shaped.

10. A method of manufacturing a fishing weight comprising moulding said weight of a rubber composition material.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the weight is moulded into a fishing line, hook or swivel.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the weight is moulded directly onto a length of wire passing along a diameter or major axis of the weight, the weight then being pulled off the wire and attached to a fishing line.

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein a slit is cut into said fishing weight.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the cutting of said slit in the fishing weight is performed by making a first cut therein using a first knife and making a second cut therein using a second knife disposed at an acute angle to said first knife whereby a wedge-shaped slit is formed in said fishing weight.

15. A method according to claim 14 including holding said fishing weight in a jig whilst said cutting steps are performed.

16. A method according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the first cut extends at least to the centre of the weight whereby a fishing line may be retained in the slot with the weight symmetrically disposed on said-fishing line.

17. A method according to claim 10 wherein a hook or swivel is screwed into said fishing weight after the moulding thereof.

18. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 17 wherein the moulding is effected by press moulding.

19. A fishing weight according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

20. A method of manufacturing a fishing weight according to claim 10 substantially as hereinbefore described.