GB2183131A - Fishing weight - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing weight 10 comprises a bait-retaining capsule 12 composed of two halves 14 and 16 connected together by hinges 18 which are integral parts of a moulded body from which the capsule is formed. A collar 20 and sliding sleeve 22 operate to retain the capsule in the closed position during movement through the air, but the capsule automatically opens to release the bait upon impact with a water surface. A grapnel 28 is releasably attached to one end of a weighted nose position 26 of the capsule. The capsule may be hinged at the collar and may be adapted to close when the line is pulled. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fishing weight The present invention relates to a fishing weight, and more particularly to a fishing weight for use in sea fishing.

Although the present invention will be described in terms of a weight for sea fishing, it will be appreciated that the weight can be used for fishing in any type of water in which a weight that rests on the bed of the water is used.

Sea fishing equipment usually comprises a line and a weight secured at one end thereto.

A second line, known as a hook length or trace, extends from the main line, from a position above the weight, and one or more hooks are attached to this second line. Alternatively, a line (often called a trace) can be attached to the main line before the weight to which one or more baited hooks are attached.

The weight and lines are then cast and the weight rests on the sea bed.

It is generally thought desirable to cast the weight as far as possible. The baited hooks and line joining them to the main line reduce the distance which the weight can be cast, due to air resistance. Means are known, however, which reduce this problem. Such means comprise an elongate hollow body, having a grapnel at one end thereof, capable of accommodating one or more baited hooks joined to the main line by means of a trace. When this body is cast into the water, the impact with the water forces the body open thereby releasing the baited hooks. However, when retrieving the line there is a significant drag force due to the fact that the hollow body is in its open state and is unable to be closed.

Furthermore, the body, in its open state, could easily catch on rocks or the like on the sea bed and the grapnel could also easily become snagged. This could result in breakage of the line and the subsequent loss of the bait retaining body.

The present invention intends to provide an improved fishing weight which overcomes or reduces the above disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a fishing weight which comprises an elongate bait retaining body having means located at the rear of said body to retain said body in a first closed condition wherein the bait is trapped within the body prior to entry of the body in the water, and thereafter to allow said body to assume a second open condition upon impact with the water, wherein the bait is released from the body.

Said retaining means may comprise a collar integral with said elongate body and a sleeve arranged for a sliding fit around said collar.

Thus, when the weight hits the water, the sleeve is pushed backwards over the collar by the force of impact of the water, and allows the body to open.

Alternatively, the retaining means may comprise a tapered cover portion arranged for sliding movement over said bait retaining body such that it engages the bait retaining body when in its closed position to retain the bait therein.

Preferably the bait retaining body is made of moulded plastics material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a fishing weight which comprises an elongate bait retaining body which has a line connected to one end thereof such that a pulling force exerted on said line causes said bait retaining body to close automatically.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a fishing weight which comprises an elongate bait retaining body having a nose portion connectable thereto, said nose portion having a grapnel releasably attached at the distal end thereof.

The invention further provides for a mould which would be used in the formation of said nose portion.

Preferably said grapnel includes a female member having locating recesses therein for mating with corresponding locating lugs on a male member located at the forwardmost portion of the bait retaining body, said grapnel being attached to the bait retaining body by means of a line.

Thus, when the body is retrieved the grapnel is detached from the body and as the body is pulled through the water the grapnel turns around to present a reduced drag force whilst being towed behind the body. In this position the grapnel will not snag on any obstructions. The bait retaining body will be hereinafter referred to as a capsule.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an illustration of the capsule in its open position; Figure 2 illustrates the detachable grapnel arrangement for retrieval of the line; Figure 3 shows a second method of effecting opening and closing of the capsule; Figure 4 shows another alternative method of effecting opening and closing of said capsule; and, Figure 5 shows a different construction with the grapnel having its own sinker weight and not being an integral part of the capsule.

Referring to the drawings, a fishing weight 10 comprises a capsule 12 having two halves 14 and 16. Hinges 18, being integral parts of the moulded body are provided on one side of the capsule 12. A collar 20 is formed when the capsule is in its closed position and a sleeve 22 slides over this collar to act as a locking device. A line 24 is threaded through the sleeve 22 and collar 20 and is connected to each half 14 and 16 of the capsule 12.

The capsule has a weighted nose portion 26 connectable thereto which can be sold as an integral part of said capsule or as a separate entity. A grapnel 28 is releasably attached to the distal end of said nose portion. When in its anchored position on the sea bed the grapnel 28 is held in the nose portion 26 by means of a locking mechanism comprising a male member 30 and a female member 31. A line 32 retains the grapnel 28 when it has been released from the nose portion 26. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 3, the capsule 12 could have a tapered cover portion 34 arranged for sliding movement over said capsule. In this embodiment the sleeve 22 is an integral part of the cover portion 34.

In another embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the capsule 12 is hinged at the collar 20, such that the capsule opens and closes in a vertical manner.

Fig. 5 illustrates a different embodiment in which the grapnel 28 has its own sinker weight and is connected to the capsule by means of a hook or the like.

When fishing, the weight 10 is cast into the sea with the capsule 12 in its closed position.

When the weight hits the water, the impact causes the sleeve 22 to slide off the collar 20 and the capsule 12 to subsequently open.

One or a plurality of baited hooks (not shown) are thereby released into the water. The weight 10 sinks to the bottom of the water and the grapnel 28 anchors on the sea bed.

Normally the capsule becomes closed when it comes to rest on the sea bed due to the action of the tide or current on the main line.

Even if it does not close in this way, it will do so when the line is pulled in due to the force exerted on one part of the capsule relative to the other. This pulling force also causes the grapnel 28 to detach itself from the nose portion 26 of the capsule 12 and the grapnel 28 will effectively "turn around" so that its spines will face in the opposite direction and will therefore not "snag" on any obstructions.

When the weight 10 is retrieved the grapnel 28 can of course be replaced in the nose portion 26 and the apparatus can be used repeatedly. The nose portion 26 may be a solid metal element. Alternåtively it may be a hollow plastics structure which, in use, can be filled with ''hook samples" (for instance, small pieces of fish or mussel) and/or scent or other attractants.

A distinct advantage of the invention is that the weight can be cast a considerable distance from the angler and it is able to be retrieved much more easily. This minimises the risk of line breakage and the subsequent loss of the weight. A further advantage is that the collar and sleeve mechanism provides a much more reliable method of effecting opening of the capsule on impact with the water.

Furthermore the device of the invention may be used with soft bait which would otherwise fly off the hook during casting.

It will be apparent from the above description and illustration of preferred embodiments of the invention, that a fishing weight is provided having an elongate bait retaining body in the form of a capsule formed in two parts which are interconnected viq a hinge, and can be relatively pivoted betweeh open and closed positions. The capsule therefore has a "lid" which forms a substantially integral part of the capsule, and which can therefore be readily reassembled following opening of the capsule and release of the "bait".

In addition, the "lid" closes under tension from the line to which the capsule is attached.

The sliding collar feature, whereby the capsule can be retained in the closed position until impact with a water surface is also a significant technical advantage in the described embodiments.

Claims (9)

1. A fishing weight which comprises an elongate bait retaining body having means located at the rear of said body to retain said body in a first closed position wherein the bait is trapped within the body prior to entry of the body in the water, and thereafter to allow said body to assume a second open condition upon impact with the water, wherein the bait is released from the body.

2. A fishing weight according to Claim 1, in which said retaining means comprises a collar integral with said elongate body, and a sleeve arranged for a sliding fit around said collar.

3. A fishing weight according to Claim 1, in which the retaining means comprises a tapered cover portion arranged for sliding movement over said bait retaining body such that it engages the bait retaining body when in its closed position, to retain the bait therein.

4. A fishing weight according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bait retaining body is made of moulded plastics material.

5. A fishing weight which comprises an elongate bait retaining body which has a line connected to one end thereof and arranged such that a pulling force exerted on said line causes said bait retaining body to close automatically.

6. A fishing weight which comprises an elongate bait retaining body having a nose portion connected thereto, said nose portion having a grapnel releasably attached at the distal end thereof.

7. A fishing weight according to Claim 6, in which said grapnel includes a female member having locating recesses therein for mating with corresponding locating lugs on a male member located at the foremost portion of the bait retaining body, said grapnel being at tached to the bait retaining body by means of a line.

8. A fishing weight according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bait retaining body takes the form of a capsule composed of two parts, one of which comprises a lid hingedly connected to the other part.

9. A fishing weight according to Claim 1, Claim 4, or Claim 5, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.