GB2157932A

GB2157932A - Fishing weights

Info

Publication number: GB2157932A
Application number: GB08430657A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ross Keightley; Brian Richard Austin; Gerry Hart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-04-26
Filing date: 1984-12-05
Publication date: 1985-11-06
Also published as: GB8430657D0; GB2157932B; GB8410735D0

Abstract

A weight, for engagement on an angler's line, has a body which as a whole has a density greater than water and formed with a recess open to the exterior to receive the line, at least a portion of that part of the body which bounds the recess, or the entire body, being of a resiliently deformable material, the recess being so shaped and dimensioned in relation to the line that a portion of the line may be forced into the recess, with deformation of that resiliently deformable material, and retained in the recess by the grip exerted on it as a result of deformation of the resiliently deformable material, thereby to secure the weight on the line. In preferred forms, the recess is V-shaped or parallel-sided, and preferred material is resilient synthetic resinous plastics loaded with denser filler material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in fishing weights This invention relatesto aweightforuse on an angler'sfishing line.

Oneform of weight commonly in use is called a split shot, and is made of lead, and needs to be manipulated and deformed onto a line. A problem also exists that such lead shot may getswallowed by wildlife, and result in poisoning.

Afirst object of this invention is to provide an improved form of weight whch can be used as a substitute for the conventional lead weight, and which can be more readily attached to an angler's line withoutcausing damage to the line.

Anotherobjectisto provide a weight which is not toxic to wildlife.

According to the present invention a weight, for engagement on an angler's line, comprises a body which as a whole is of density greater than water and is formed with a recess open to the exterior, at least a portion of that part of the body which bounds the recess being of a resiliently deformable material, the recess being so shaped that a portion of the line may be forced into the recess, with deformaton of that resiliently deformable material, and retained in the recess bythe grip exerted on it as a resultof deformation ofthe resiliently deformable material, thereby to secure the weight on the line.

The entire body may be formed of resiliently deformable material.

The body may be formed of synthetic resinous plastics material of density greater than water, or of plastics material haveng in it a filler, or at least one insert of denser material, e.g. a relatively dense core such as iron, or a number of inserts enclosed within the plastics material.

In a first preferred form,the recess has across- section which is reduced in the direction from the surface of the body inwardly, e.g. is "V" shaped with its wider end atthesurfaceofthe body.

In a second preferred form, the recess is parallelsided and is of such width, in relation to the line with which it isto be used, that introduction ofthe line into the recess results in deformation of the material of the body. In use, the line is forced along the initially parallel-sided recess and results in deformation ofthe recess wall, orofthe body as a whole to widen the recess, to permitthe line to be firmly gripped.

In eitheroftheseforms,the body may advantageously be chamfered adjacent the outer end of the recess, to facilitate introduction of the line.

The body is advantageously a substantially regular solid polygon and the internal end of the recess is linear. In a particular embodiment, the body is substantially spherical, and the internal end of the recess is substantially diametral.

Two embodiments of angler's weight in accordance with the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Fig. 1 is an elevation of a first embodiment of weight ofthe present invention as it appears before being engaged onto a iine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, viewed from a first direction ofthe weight, seen engaged onto a line; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, viewed from a second direction at90 tothatof Fig. 2, to showthe weight engaged on the line; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of weight.

Referring to FIGS. 1,2 and 3, the weight comprises a body 1 in which is provided a recess 2which is generally parallel-sided, or nearly so, and which is flared slightly at3 for ease of insertion of a line. In the example shown, the inner end ofthe recess is along a diameter ofthe spherical body, butthe recess could extend to a greater or lesser extent into the body. The body need not be spherical, butcould be of any convenient shape suitable for use in water on a line.

The body 1 is made as a whole of a resiliently deformable material, which may be a plastics material loaded with a denserfiller.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the line4can beforced into the recess 2, with resilient deformation of the body 1, and then becomesfirmlygripped between the walls bounding the recess 2, in its widened state as at 2a.

In Fig. 4there is shown a second embodiment in which the body 5 is formed with a recess 6 which is made V-shaped in cross-section and terminates at its inner end substantially on a diameter ofthe body. In use, the line 4 is forced into the V-shaped recess sufficiently far forthere to be resilient deformation of at least the portions ofthe body bounding the recess, orthe body as a whole, such that the line becomes gripped by the body.

The body of the weight is preferably non-toxic as a whole.

Where the heavy material is in the form of very finely divided particles, e.g. as a filler in a plastics material, the plastics material may conveniently be bio-degradable, overthe long term, so that if any weights are lost in fishing waters, they will eventually 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 parted off when necessary, as distinct from loose packing.

Loaded plastics materials suitable for use in carruing outtheinvention are: 1. Bronze-loaded nylon marketed in the United Kingdom under the code B-MNY BZPL and having a density somewhat greaterthan 4; 2. Polypropylene loaded with barium sulphate marketed in the United Kingdom underthe name BPC 7501 having a density of the order of 2-3. This material has the advantage of being non-toxic.

1. Aweight, for engagement on an angler's line, comprising a body which as a whole is of density greaterthan water and is formed with a recess open to the exterior, at least a portion of that part ofthe body which boundsthe recess being of a resiliently deformable material, the recess being so shaped that a portion of the line may be forced into the recess, with deformation of that resiliently deformable material, and retained in the recess bythe grip exerted on it as a result of deformation ofthe resiliently deformable

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in fishing weights This invention relatesto aweightforuse on an angler'sfishing line. Oneform of weight commonly in use is called a split shot, and is made of lead, and needs to be manipulated and deformed onto a line. A problem also exists that such lead shot may getswallowed by wildlife, and result in poisoning. Afirst object of this invention is to provide an improved form of weight whch can be used as a substitute for the conventional lead weight, and which can be more readily attached to an angler's line withoutcausing damage to the line. Anotherobjectisto provide a weight which is not toxic to wildlife. According to the present invention a weight, for engagement on an angler's line, comprises a body which as a whole is of density greater than water and is formed with a recess open to the exterior, at least a portion of that part of the body which bounds the recess being of a resiliently deformable material, the recess being so shaped that a portion of the line may be forced into the recess, with deformaton of that resiliently deformable material, and retained in the recess bythe grip exerted on it as a resultof deformation ofthe resiliently deformable material, thereby to secure the weight on the line. The entire body may be formed of resiliently deformable material. The body may be formed of synthetic resinous plastics material of density greater than water, or of plastics material haveng in it a filler, or at least one insert of denser material, e.g. a relatively dense core such as iron, or a number of inserts enclosed within the plastics material. In a first preferred form,the recess has across- section which is reduced in the direction from the surface of the body inwardly, e.g. is "V" shaped with its wider end atthesurfaceofthe body. In a second preferred form, the recess is parallelsided and is of such width, in relation to the line with which it isto be used, that introduction ofthe line into the recess results in deformation of the material of the body. In use, the line is forced along the initially parallel-sided recess and results in deformation ofthe recess wall, orofthe body as a whole to widen the recess, to permitthe line to be firmly gripped. In eitheroftheseforms,the body may advantageously be chamfered adjacent the outer end of the recess, to facilitate introduction of the line. The body is advantageously a substantially regular solid polygon and the internal end of the recess is linear. In a particular embodiment, the body is substantially spherical, and the internal end of the recess is substantially diametral. Two embodiments of angler's weight in accordance with the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Fig. 1 is an elevation of a first embodiment of weight ofthe present invention as it appears before being engaged onto a iine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, viewed from a first direction ofthe weight, seen engaged onto a line; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, viewed from a second direction at90 tothatof Fig. 2, to showthe weight engaged on the line; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of weight. Referring to FIGS. 1,2 and 3, the weight comprises a body 1 in which is provided a recess 2which is generally parallel-sided, or nearly so, and which is flared slightly at3 for ease of insertion of a line. In the example shown, the inner end ofthe recess is along a diameter ofthe spherical body, butthe recess could extend to a greater or lesser extent into the body. The body need not be spherical, butcould be of any convenient shape suitable for use in water on a line. The body 1 is made as a whole of a resiliently deformable material, which may be a plastics material loaded with a denserfiller. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the line4can beforced into the recess 2, with resilient deformation of the body 1, and then becomesfirmlygripped between the walls bounding the recess 2, in its widened state as at 2a. In Fig. 4there is shown a second embodiment in which the body 5 is formed with a recess 6 which is made V-shaped in cross-section and terminates at its inner end substantially on a diameter ofthe body. In use, the line 4 is forced into the V-shaped recess sufficiently far forthere to be resilient deformation of at least the portions ofthe body bounding the recess, orthe body as a whole, such that the line becomes gripped by the body. The body of the weight is preferably non-toxic as a whole. Where the heavy material is in the form of very finely divided particles, e.g. as a filler in a plastics material, the plastics material may conveniently be bio-degradable, overthe long term, so that if any weights are lost in fishing waters, they will eventually 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 parted off when necessary, as distinct from loose packing. Loaded plastics materials suitable for use in carruing outtheinvention are: 1. Bronze-loaded nylon marketed in the United Kingdom under the code B-MNY BZPL and having a density somewhat greaterthan 4; 2. Polypropylene loaded with barium sulphate marketed in the United Kingdom underthe name BPC 7501 having a density of the order of 2-3. This material has the advantage of being non-toxic. CLAIMS

1. Aweight, for engagement on an angler's line, comprising a body which as a whole is of density greaterthan water and is formed with a recess open to the exterior, at least a portion of that part ofthe body which boundsthe recess being of a resiliently deformable material, the recess being so shaped that a portion of the line may be forced into the recess, with deformation of that resiliently deformable material, and retained in the recess bythe grip exerted on it as a result of deformation ofthe resiliently deformable material, thereby to secure the weight on the line.

2. A weight, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the entire body is formed of resiliently deformable material.

3. Aweight, as claimed in eitherofclaims 1 and 2, wherein the body is of plastics material of density greaterthan water.

4. Aweight, as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the body is formed of a plastics material incorporating a filler.

5. A weight, as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the body is formed of a plastics material having in it at least one insert of denser material.

6. Aweight,asclaimed in any oneofthe preceding claims, wherein the recess has a cross-section which is reduced in the direction from the surface ofthe body inwardly.

7. Aweight, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cross-section ofthe recess is "V" shaped.

8. Aweight, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the recess is parallel-sided and of such width, in relation to the line with which it is to be used, that introduction ofthe line into the recess results in deformation of material ofthe body.

9. Aweight, as claimed eitherofclaims7and 8 wherein the body is chamfered adjacentthe outer end ofthe recess, to facilitate introduction of the line.

10. Aweight, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is a substantially regular solid polygon and the internal end of the recess is linear.

11. Aweight, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the body is substantially spherical, and the internal end of the recess is substantially diametral.

12. Aweight, for engagement on an angler's line, substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing.