GB2173982A - Fishing weight - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing weight has two body parts made of a resiliently deformable material, a first of those body parts including two gripper portions 3a, 3b which define between them a channel 4 into which a fishing line can be engaged, the other body part 2 having an opening enabling it to be forced over the two gripper portions, with resilient deformation thereof, to cause them to grip the line. In one form, the two gripper portions extend from the first body part to constitute a coupling member connecting the two body parts, and in another form the first body part is received in the opening of the second body part. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fishing weight.

This invention relates to a weight for engagement onto an angler's fishing line.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved weight which grips the line firmly as a result of resilient deformation when two parts of the weight are assembled together.

According to the present invention a fishing weight comprises two body parts made of resiliently deformable material, a first of said body parts including two portions which define between them a channel open at one end to receive a fishing line therein, the second of said body parts having an opening of a shape and size enabling itto be forced over said two gripper portions with resilient deformation thereof to grip the line.

The channel may taper in the direction away from its open end, or in another form the channel, in the unconstrained condition of the two gripper portions, may be substantially parallel-sided, and for use with a given diameter of line the width of the channel is advantageously less than the width of the line, such that forcing of the line into the channel causes spreading apart of the two gripper portions.

Preferably the length of the channel is such that, when the weight is in position engaged on the line, the line is substantially centrally situated in the weight.

At least one, and preferably both, of said gripper portions may be chamfered adjacent the free end to facilitate entry of the line into the channel.

In a first preferred form, the two gripper portions extend on said first body part to form a coupling means between the two body parts, whereas in a second preferred form the first body part is received in the opening of the second body part.

The weight as a whole has a density greater than that of water, and advantageously is made of a plastics material loaded with a particulate material of greater weight per unit volume.

Embodiments of fishing weight in accordance with the invention are hereinafter particularly described by way of example with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an elevation of a first embodiment of weight, showing two body parts prior to assembly radially onto a fishing line; Figure 2 is an elevation showing a first body part in the course of being engaged with a line; Figure 3 is an elevation of the weight assembled and engaged onto the line; Figure 4 is a perspective elevation of a second embodiment of weight, showing two body parts prior to assembly radially onto a fishing line; Figure 5 is an end elevation of the first body part of Figure 4 engaged with a line; Figure 6 shows the weight engaged on a line.

Referring to Figures 1-3, the weight comprises a first body part 1 and a second body part 2, which could each be part-spherical, or could be elongated e.g. part-cylindrical. The body part 1 includes a gripper member 3 extending thereon to form a coupling between the two body parts, said gripper member 3 having two gripper portions 3a, 3b which, when unconstrained, define between them a channel 4. As illustrated, the channel 4 is partially parallel-sided, as at 4a, and partially tapered, but it could alternatively be parallel-sided along its whole length. Each gripper portion may be chamfered adjacent its free end at 5 to facilitate entry of a line into the channel 4.The narrowest part of the channel 4, e.g. at4a,could be as small as 2 thousandths of an inch (-025 mm.) wide, i.e. less than the width of the smallest line to be used with the weight.

Figure 2 shows the body part 1 with a fishing line 6 forced into the channel 4 and resulting in spreading apart of the gripper portions 3a, 3b. The body parts 1 and 2 as a whole consist of a resiliently deformable material, so that when the line 6 is forced into the channel 4, it is gripped between the gripper portions 3a, 3b, which are resiliently deformed.

The other body part 2 has an opening 2a the width x of which is very slightly less than the maximum width yofthe unconstrained gripper member 3.

After the line 6 has been forced into the channel 4, the body part 2 is pressed onto the gripper portions 3a, 3b, as seen in Figure 3, resulting in forcing together of the gripper portions 3a, 3b such that the line 6 is even more firmly gripped between them, and remains spaced from the diametral faces of body parts 1 and 2, which do not need any recess to accommodate the line. The depth of opening 2a may be made less than the length of gripper member 3 so that the diametral faces cannot meet.

Referring now to Figures 4--6, the second embodiment of weight comprises a first body part 7 and a second body part 8. Part 8 is shown as being spherical, but it could be elongated, e.g. spherical.

Body part 7 includes two gripper portions 9a, Sb which, when unconstrained, define between them a parallel-sided channel 10 suitably dimensioned to receive a fishing line. Each portion 9a, Sb is chamfered at its free edge at 11 to facilitate entry of a line into channel 10.

Figure 5 shows the body part 7 with a fishing line 12 forced into the channel 10 to a substantially axial position, resulting in a spreading apart of the gripper portions 9a, 9b. The body parts 7 and 8 as a whole consist of a resiliently deformable material, so that when the line 12 is forced into the channel 10, it is gripped between the gripper portions 9a, 9b.

The other body part 8 has an opening 8a the width rof which is substantially the same as the widths of the unconstrained body part 7. Afterthe line 12 has been forced into the channel 10, the body part 8 is pushed axially onto the body part7 such that the latter is received in the opening 8a, resulting in forcing towards each other of the gripper portions 9a, 9b so that the line 12 is even more firmly gripped between them.

The body part 8 has a radial slot 13 to permit passage of the line 12, so that the body part 8 can be, like the body part 7, engaged radially onto the line.

Loaded plastics materials suitable for use are: 1. Bronze-loaded nylon marketed in the U.K.

underthe code B-MNY BZPL with a density somewhat greater than 4; 2. Polypropylene loaded with barium sulphate marketed in the U.K. underthe name BPC 7501 with a density of the order of 2-3, and which is nontoxic.

Claims (10)

1. A fishing weight comprising two body parts made of resiliently deformable material, a first of said body parts including two gripper portions which define between them a channel open at one end to receive a fishing line therein, the second of said body parts having an opening of a shape and size enabling it to be forced over said two gripper portions with resilient deformation thereof to grip the line.

2. A fishing weight, as claimed in claim 1, whereir the channel, in the unconstrained condition of the two portions, is tapered awayfrom its open end.

3. A fishing weight, as claimed in claim 1, whereir the channel, in the unconstrained condition of the two portions, is substantially parallel-sided.

4. A fishing weight, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the width, or the maximum width, of the channel is less than the width of the line, such that forcing of the line into the channel causes spreading apart of the two gripper portions.

5. Afishing weight, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4,wherein the length of the channel is such that, when the weight is in position engaged onto the line, the line is substantially centrally situated in the weight.

6. Afishing weight, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of said gripper portions is chamfered adjacent its free end to facilitate entry of the line into the channel.

7. A fishing weight, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the two gripper portions extend on said first body part to form a coupling means between the two body parts.

8. A fishing weight, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first body part is received in the opening of the second body part.

9. A fishing weight, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, made of a plastics material loaded with a particulate material of greater weight per unit volume.

10. Afishing weight substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 or Figures 4--6 of the accompanying drawings.