GB2193421A - Weight for fishing lines - Google Patents

Abstract

A weight for a fishing line (13), readily attached and removed without the need of tools, and not harmful to wild life, particularly swans, comprises an elongate weight member (10) preferably a metal (e.g., spring steel and aluminium) rod with tapered or straight ends, depending on size of weight required (11), and a pair of resilient securing members (12) preferably plastics (e.g., P.V.C.) sleeves adapted to be removably engaged one to each end of the elongate member, thereby securing the ends at least to the line (13). An additional weight (14) in the form of a metal (e.g., brass) tube is adapted to slide over the elongate weight member (10) and be held in place by the resilient securing members (12). The elongate weight member (10) and/or the additional weight (14) may be one of a number with different weights to suit different fishing requirements. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Weights for fishing lines This invention relates to weights for fishing lines.

Weights for fishing lines commonly comprise pre-formed lead weights having a groove into which the line may be located, the weight being secured to the line by crimping the lead.

Such weights have the disadvantage that a tool or human teeth is or are required for effecting the crimping and they are difficult to remove from the line when it is desired to reduce the weight. Lead can also create a toxic hazard dangerous to wild life, particularly swans.

The primary object of the invention is to provide weights for fishing lines that can be readily attached and removed without the need of any tool or use of human teeth.

A secondary object is to provide weights that are not harmful to wild life.

According to the present invention, a weight for a fishing line comprises at least one elongate weight member and a pair of resilient securing members adapted to be removably engaged one to each end of the elongate member and to secure at least those ends to the fishing line.

The elongate weight member is preferably a metal rod e.g., of spring steel or aluminium with tapered or square cut ends, and the resilient securing members are plastics sleeves, e.g., of P.V.C., affording frictional grip on the ends of the metal rod; the sleeves being threaded on the fishing line ready for securing the metal rod thereto by trapping the line between themselves and the tapered ends of the rod. The metal rod may be one of a number of rods of different weights (e.g., determined by different lengths and/or diameters) and/or a metal tube or tubes (e.g., of brass) may be adapted to slide over the metal rod, to add to the weight thereof, and to be held in place by the plastics sleeves when these are engaged on the ends of the metal rod.

Alternatively, the elongate weight member may be a metal tube, e.g., of brass with a split extending therealong, and the resilient securing members are plastics plugs, e.g., of P.V.C., with longitudinal slits and affording frictional grip in the ends of the metal tube; the split in the tube and the slits in the plugs being for threading of the fishing line therethrough, with the slits in the plugs out of register with the ends of the split in the tube for the assembly to be secured to the line.

Each plug may have a spherical body and a tapered spigot for insertion into the end of the tube. The tube may be one of a number of tubes of different weights (e.g., determined by different lengths and/or thickness) and/or a similar tube or tubes may be adapted to slide over the metal tube, to add to the weight thereof, and to be held in place by the plastics plugs when these are engaged in the ends of the inner or innermost metal tube.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows in side elevation the basic components of a weight in accordance with the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are similar views showing how the weight is assembled in relation to a fishing line, with an additional weight being added; Figure 4 shows the weight and additional weight secured to the line; Figure 5 corresponds to Figure 1 but shows the basic components of another weight in accordance with the invention Figure 6 is an end elevation of one of the plugs show in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 5 showing how the weight is assembled on a fishing line, with an additional weight being added; and Figure 8 shows the weight and additional weight of Figures 5 and 7 secured to the line.

The weight for a fishing line, shown in Figure 1 comprises an elongate weight member 10 consisting of a metal rod (e.g. of spring steel or aluminium) with tapered ends 11, as shown, or with square cut ends, and a pair of resilient securing members 12 adapted to be removably engaged one to each end of the elongate member, the resilient securing members being formed as plastics sleeves (e.g., of P.V.C) affording frictional grip on the tapered ends 11 of the rod 10.

Figure 2 shows the sleeves 12 threaded on a fishing line 13 and one tapered end 11 of the rod 10 being directed into one of the sleeves, thus trapping the line 13 between the tapered end 11 and the sleeve 12, as shown in Figure 3, which also shows an additional weight 14 in the form of a metal tube (e.g., of brass) being fitted on the metal rod 10 before the other sleeve 12 is pushed on to the other tapered end 11 of the rod (see Figure 4) thereby again trapping the line 13 and securing the metal rod 10 and the metal tube 14 to the line.

The metal rod 10 may be one of a number of rods of different weights (e.g., determined by different lengths and/or diameters) and/or the metal tube 14 may be one of a number having different weights (e.g., determined by different lengths and/or thickness) to suit vari ous fishing requirements.

The weight for a fishing line shown in Fig ure 5 comprises an elongate weight member 20 consisting of a metal tube (e.g., of brass) with a split 21 extending therealong, and a pair of resilient securing members 22 adapted to be removably engaged one to each end of the elongate member, the resilient securing members being formed as plastics plugs (e.g., of P.V.C) with longitudinal slits 23 (see also Figure 6) and affording frictional grip in the ends of the metal tube 20, the split 21 in the tube and the slits 23 in the plugs being for threading of a fishing line 13 therethrough, with the slits 23 in the plugs 22 out of register with the ends of the split 21 in the tube 20 (see Figures 7 and 8) for the assembly to be secured to the line.

Figure 7 also shows an additional weight 24 in the form of another metal tube (e.g., of brass), also with a longitudinal split 25, being fitted on the tube 20, each plug 22 having a spherical body 26 effecting retention of the tube 24 on the tube 20 when a spigot 27 is pushed into an end of the tube 20.

The tube 20 may be one of a number of tubes of different weights (e.g., determined by different lengths and/or thickness) and/or the tube 24 may be one of a number of tubes of different weights, to suit various fishing requirements.

Claims (17)

1. A weight for a fishing line comprising at least one elongate weight member and a pair of resilient securing members adapted to be removably engaged one to each end of the elongate member and to secure at least those ends to the fishing line.

2. A weight as in Claim 1, wherein the elongate weight member is a metal rod, and the resilient securing members are plastics sleeves affording frictional grip on the ends of the metal rod.

3. A weight as in Claim 2, wherein the metal rod has tapered ends, or square cut ends.

4. A weight as in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the metal rod is one of a number of rods of different weights.

5. A weight as in any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein a metal tube is adapted to slide over the metal rod, to add to the weight thereof, and to be held in place by the plastics sleeves when these are engaged on the ends of the metal rod.

6. A weight as in Claim 5, wherein the metal tube is one of a number of tubes of different weights.

7. A weight as in claim 1, wherein the elongate weight member is a metal tube with a split extending therealong, and the resilient securing members are plastics plugs with longitudinal slits and affording frictional grip in the ends of the metal tube.

8. A weight as in claim 7, werein each plug has a spherical body and a tapered spigot for insertion into the end of the tube.

9. A weight as in Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the metal tube is one of a number of tubes of different weights.

10. A weight as in any one of Claims 7 to 9, wherein a similar metal tube is adapted to slide over the metal tube, to add to the weight thereof, and to be held in place by the plastics plugs when these are engaged in the ends of the inner or innermost metal tube.

11. A weight as in Claim 10, wherein the similar tube is one of a number of tubes of different weights.

12. A weight as in any one of Claims 2 to 11, wherein the metal rod or rods are of spring steel or aluminium and the metal tube or tubes are of brass.

13. A weight as in any one of Claims 2 to 12, wherein the plastics sleeves or plugs are of P.V.C.

14. A weight for a fishing line substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A weight for a fishing line substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A weight for a fishing line substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A weight for a fishing line substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.