GB2078472A

GB2078472A - Sinker weight for an angler's line

Info

Publication number: GB2078472A
Application number: GB8020942A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-06-26
Filing date: 1980-06-26
Publication date: 1982-01-13

Abstract

A Sinker (9) is made up from a plurality of Sections (10 to 16) supported on a hanger (17) which can be attached to a fishing line by a ring (17a). The hanger has two legs (17c) normally sprung apart so that the hooked ends (17d) engage in recesses in the lower surface of the lowermost weight. To remove a weight section or add another one, the sections on the hanger are pushed upwardly, the legs (17c) are pushed together and the legs can then pass through central apertures in the weight sections. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sinker weight for an angler's line This invention relates to a sinker weight for an angler's fishing line. Such a sinker weight is nor really attached at or near the end of the line and after the line has been cast out or lowered, rests on the bed of the sea, river or other water to hold the line and the bait in position.

A problem exists in heavy or fast moving water that the weight may not have sufficient mass to remain on the bed or may have too much mass so as to make the fishing line too heavy and insensitive.

The normal way to overcome this is to use a variety of fishing sinkers having a weight ranging from 2 ozs. (57 gms.) to 2 Ibs. (0.92 kgms.) These weights are individually attached to the line to match the flow of water and need to be changed frequently to obtain the most effective weight as the tide conditions change. The angler must therefore carry a large number of expensive heavy sinkers and lose time frequently detaching and exchanging them.

An object of this invention is to provide a variable weight sinker which can be readily adjusted by removing or adding weight sections from a retaining hanger, which remains attached to the fishing line.

Accordingly the present invention provides a sinker weight for an anglers' fishing line comprising a plurality of weight sections, a retaining hanger for supporting one or more of the weight sections and having fastening means at one end for attachment to a fishing line and retaining means at the other end for engaging the lower supported weight section, the retaining means being manually movable between a retaining position in which it prevents the lower section being disengaged from the hanger and a release position in which it allows sections to be removed or added to the hanger without disconnectins the hanger from the fishing line.

Preferably in the retaining position the lower weight section prevents the movement of the retaining means to its release position. In this case the lower weight section is normally moved along the hanger from the retaining position towards the end attached to the fishing line to a position in which the retaining means can be moved to the release position.

Preferably the retaining means is sprung towards the retaining position. In a preferred embodiment the hanger has two legs of sprung wire and the natural spring of the wire urges these apart to provide the spring loading. The weight sections are provided with apertures of a size through which the leg Znds can pass only when the ends are moved together. The ends are preferably bent outwardly and may engage in recesses or apertures in the lower surface of the weight sections so that in the retaining position the ends of the legs cannot be moved together to the release position.

One embodiment of a sinker, in accordancewith the invention, will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view showing a sinker fully assembled to its maximum weight, Figures 2A and 2B are plan and axial cross sectional views respectively of one weight section of the sinker, Figure 3 is a side view of the central retaining hanger on an enlarged scale, and Figure 4, parts a. to f. show a side view of the sinker with one weight assembled and showing how weight sections are added or removed.

A sinker 9, of conventional form, that is conical and circular in transverse cross section although it could be rectangular or polygonal, is made up from a plurality of sections numbered 10 to 16. A retaining hanger 17, is made from a single piece of spring wire and comprises an eye 17a of circular form forming a fastening means for attaching it to a fishing line, followed by a twisting form 17b and legs 17c, the ends of which are turned outwardly through 180 to form hooks 17d. The spring of the wire naturally urges the legs apart so that the hooked ends form a sprung retaining means at the lower end of the hanger.

One weight 16 is shown in Figures 2A and B. but it should be understood that each of the weight is similar. Weight 16 is formed with a rectangular aperture 16c extending axially therethrough and a pair of apertures or recesses 16b on either side of the central aperture and opening at least to the lower surface 1 6a of the weight. As there is seen in Figure 4 the central aperture 1 6c is sufficiently large that when the legs 1 7c of the hanger are pushed together they can pass through the central aperture so that weight sections can be pushed on or removed from the hanger.

In the retaining position of the hanger the legs spring apart and the hooked ends 17d enter into the apertures or recesses on either side of the central aperture of whichever weight section is lowermost on the hanger. In this retaining position the legs cannot be moved together until the weight sections on the hanger are pushed upwards releasing the hooks from the apertures or recesses and allowing the hooks to be pushed together to the release position in which they can pass through the central apertures in the weight sections.

It will be appreciated that with this arrangement sections can be easily removed from or added to the hanger without the need to disconnect it from the fishing line. In addition only one sinker rather than a number of sinkers of different weights need be carried.

It is not necessary for the hanger to comprise two legs with sprung apart and turned out ends. For example in anotherform a simple rod hanger could have an end which is pivotable between a position aligned with the remainder of the hanger and a retaining position transverse thereto.

1. Asinkerweightforan anglers' fishing line comprising a plurality of weight sections, a retaining

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Sinker weight for an angler's line This invention relates to a sinker weight for an angler's fishing line. Such a sinker weight is nor really attached at or near the end of the line and after the line has been cast out or lowered, rests on the bed of the sea, river or other water to hold the line and the bait in position. A problem exists in heavy or fast moving water that the weight may not have sufficient mass to remain on the bed or may have too much mass so as to make the fishing line too heavy and insensitive. The normal way to overcome this is to use a variety of fishing sinkers having a weight ranging from 2 ozs. (57 gms.) to 2 Ibs. (0.92 kgms.) These weights are individually attached to the line to match the flow of water and need to be changed frequently to obtain the most effective weight as the tide conditions change. The angler must therefore carry a large number of expensive heavy sinkers and lose time frequently detaching and exchanging them. An object of this invention is to provide a variable weight sinker which can be readily adjusted by removing or adding weight sections from a retaining hanger, which remains attached to the fishing line. Accordingly the present invention provides a sinker weight for an anglers' fishing line comprising a plurality of weight sections, a retaining hanger for supporting one or more of the weight sections and having fastening means at one end for attachment to a fishing line and retaining means at the other end for engaging the lower supported weight section, the retaining means being manually movable between a retaining position in which it prevents the lower section being disengaged from the hanger and a release position in which it allows sections to be removed or added to the hanger without disconnectins the hanger from the fishing line. Preferably in the retaining position the lower weight section prevents the movement of the retaining means to its release position. In this case the lower weight section is normally moved along the hanger from the retaining position towards the end attached to the fishing line to a position in which the retaining means can be moved to the release position. Preferably the retaining means is sprung towards the retaining position. In a preferred embodiment the hanger has two legs of sprung wire and the natural spring of the wire urges these apart to provide the spring loading. The weight sections are provided with apertures of a size through which the leg Znds can pass only when the ends are moved together. The ends are preferably bent outwardly and may engage in recesses or apertures in the lower surface of the weight sections so that in the retaining position the ends of the legs cannot be moved together to the release position. One embodiment of a sinker, in accordancewith the invention, will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view showing a sinker fully assembled to its maximum weight, Figures 2A and 2B are plan and axial cross sectional views respectively of one weight section of the sinker, Figure 3 is a side view of the central retaining hanger on an enlarged scale, and Figure 4, parts a. to f. show a side view of the sinker with one weight assembled and showing how weight sections are added or removed. A sinker 9, of conventional form, that is conical and circular in transverse cross section although it could be rectangular or polygonal, is made up from a plurality of sections numbered 10 to 16. A retaining hanger 17, is made from a single piece of spring wire and comprises an eye 17a of circular form forming a fastening means for attaching it to a fishing line, followed by a twisting form 17b and legs 17c, the ends of which are turned outwardly through 180 to form hooks 17d. The spring of the wire naturally urges the legs apart so that the hooked ends form a sprung retaining means at the lower end of the hanger. One weight 16 is shown in Figures 2A and B. but it should be understood that each of the weight is similar. Weight 16 is formed with a rectangular aperture 16c extending axially therethrough and a pair of apertures or recesses 16b on either side of the central aperture and opening at least to the lower surface 1 6a of the weight. As there is seen in Figure 4 the central aperture 1 6c is sufficiently large that when the legs 1 7c of the hanger are pushed together they can pass through the central aperture so that weight sections can be pushed on or removed from the hanger. In the retaining position of the hanger the legs spring apart and the hooked ends 17d enter into the apertures or recesses on either side of the central aperture of whichever weight section is lowermost on the hanger. In this retaining position the legs cannot be moved together until the weight sections on the hanger are pushed upwards releasing the hooks from the apertures or recesses and allowing the hooks to be pushed together to the release position in which they can pass through the central apertures in the weight sections. It will be appreciated that with this arrangement sections can be easily removed from or added to the hanger without the need to disconnect it from the fishing line. In addition only one sinker rather than a number of sinkers of different weights need be carried. It is not necessary for the hanger to comprise two legs with sprung apart and turned out ends. For example in anotherform a simple rod hanger could have an end which is pivotable between a position aligned with the remainder of the hanger and a retaining position transverse thereto. CLAIMS

1. Asinkerweightforan anglers' fishing line comprising a plurality of weight sections, a retaining hanger for supporting one or more of the weight sections and having fastening means at one end for attachment to a fishing line and retaining means at the other end for engaging the lower supported weight section, the retaining means being manually movable between the retaining position in which it prevents the lower section being disengaged from the hanger and a release position in which it allows sections to be removed or added to the hangerwithout disconnection from the fishing line.

2. A sinker weight according to Claim 1, in which in the retaining position the lower weight section prevents the movement of the retaining means to its release position.

3. A sinker weight according to Claim 2, in which the lower weight section must be moved along the hanger towards said one end from the retaining position before the retaining means can be moved to the release position.

4. A sinker weight according to any of Claims 1 to 3, in which the retaining means is sprung towards the retaining position.

5. A sinker weight according to Claim 4, in which the hanger has two legs of spring wire which are naturally sprung apart to provide the spring loading.

6. A sinker weight according to any of Claims 1 to 5, in which the hanger has a pair of legs normally spaced apart and having outwardly extending ends.

7. A sinker weight according to Claim 6, in which each weight section is provided with an aperture of a size through which the outwardly extending leg ends can pass only when the leg ends are moved together to the release position.

8. A sinker weight according to any of Claims 4 to 7, in which the ends of the legs are hooked and each oftheweightsections is provided in a lower surface with apertures or recesses into which the hooked ends engage in the retaining position so as to prevent said leg ends being moved togetherto the release position.

9. A sinker weight substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.