GB2373982A - Fishing tackle device for releasably retaining a fishing weight - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing tackle device (2, fig 1) for use during bottom fishing comprises a retaining means 8 for releasably retaining a fishing weight 3. The device comprises a retaining arrangement, preferably made of elastomeric material, configured to engage directly part of a fishing weight 3, preferably via a snap fit mechanism. The retaining means releases 8 the fishing weight 3 when a force exceeding a predetermined magnitude is applied to the fishing weight 3, pulling it away from the retaining means 8. The retaining means 8 is configured for attachment to a fishing line 9,10,11.

Description

PATENTS ACT 1977 PI 521 SGB-SJW/SJP/smt "Improvements in or Relating to Fishing Tackle" THE PRESENT INVENTION RELATES to a fishing tackle and more particularly relates to a fishing tackle device releasably retaining a fishing weight.

The fishing tackle device of the present invention is particularly suited for use by an angler when bottom fishing which is a technique in which a weight, also known as a sinker, attached to the main fishing line or"leader line" is allowed to rest on the bed of the sea, a river, reservoir, lake or canal (hereinafter referred to as"the bottom"). In a bottom fishing arrangement, one or more hook lines are secured at positions along the leader line and carry at their end respective hooks.

A problem with bottom fishing arrangements, is that the weight attached to the end of the leader line can sometimes become tangled or fouled on the bottom which, if an excessive strain is applied to the fishing line in an attempt to free the weight, can cause the fishing line to snap and cause fishing tackle, or fish caught on the hooks, located below the point at which the line breaks, to be lost.

There have already been proposed arrangements to allow the fishing weight to be released from the remainder of a bottom fishing tackle arrangement. Typically, these arrangements include the use of a weak link line securing the fishing weight to the main leader line. The weak link line has a lower breaking strain than the main leader line such that should the fishing weight become snagged on the bottom, any excessive strain applied to the fishing line causes the line to break at a point along the weak link line rather than the leader line, with the result that the leader line becomes detached from the lead weight and can be retrieved, along with the hooks and any fish caught thereon, leaving behind only the lead weight and a small length of the weak link line.

However, the above mentioned prior art arrangements suffer from some significant disadvantages. For example, after the arrangement has released the fishing weight, leaving it on the bottom, there is also left behind a length of the weak link line which can represent a significant environmental hazard. Furthermore, the use of an extra length of fishing line necessitates the tying of extra knots and generally results in a complicated arrangement which is time consuming and difficult to prepare reading for casting. A still further disadvantage of this type of arrangement is that, when casting the arrangement, one or more of the fishing hooks can become snagged on the extra link line, hence tangling the arrangement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fishing tackle device for releasably retaining a fishing weight.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a fishing tackle device for releasably retaining a fishing weight, the device comprising: retaining means to engage directly part of a fishing weight, the retaining means being configured to release a fishing weight so engaged when a force exceeding a predetermined magnitude is applied to the weight pulling it away from the retaining means; the retaining means further being configured for attachment to a fishing line.

Preferably, the retaining means engages the fishing weight as a snap-fit.

Conveniently the retaining means has a groove configured to receive a co-operating flange carried by a fishing weight.

Advantageously, the retaining means engages a fishing weight as an interference fit.

Preferably, the retaining means is made of an elastomeric material.

Conveniently, the retaining means comprises a sheath configured to fit over part of a fishing weight.

Advantageously the fishing tackle device is provided in combination with a fishing weight.

So that the invention may be more readily understood and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, an embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 shows a device according to the present invention in use, secured to the end of a fishing line; FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view through the fishing tackle device of the present invention and through a fishing weight, the fishing weight being detached from the fishing tackle device; and FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding generally to that of Figure 2, illustrating the fishing weight engaged by the fishing tackle device of the present invention.

Turning initially to Figure 1, there is illustrated a fishing tackle arrangement suitable for use when bottom fishing. The arrangement comprises a main fishing line 1, which is known in the art as a leader line. At the end of the leader line 1, there is provided a fishing tackle device 2 according to the present invention, which will be described in more detail hereinafter and which is illustrated in Figure 1 engaging part of a fishing weight 3. Part way along the leader line 1, there is provided a swivel link arrangement 4 of a type known per se which provides a junction between the leader line 1 and a hook line 5 which carries at its end a fishing hook 6 which can be baited in the usual way.

However, it should also be appreciated that a simple loop of line could be used in place of the swivel link 4.

As will be seen from Figure 1, the fishing weight 3 sinks until its rests upon the bottom 7. By virtue of the connection between the fishing weight 3 and the leader line 1, the leader line 1 therefore extends to the bottom 7 all the way to and through the surface of the water to a conventional fishing rod or the like (not shown). It should be appreciated that whilst the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 depicts only one hook line 5 and associated fishing hook 6, bottom feeding arrangements can comprise a plurality of hook lines 5 and associated fishing hooks 6, at positions spaced along the length of the leader line 1, such that a single cast of the arrangement can deploy a plurality of fishing hooks 6 and hence catch a plurality of fish.

Turning now to consider Figures 2 and 3, the fishing tackle device of the present invention will be described in more detail. The fishing tackle device comprises a retaining means 8 which, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, takes the form of an elongate sheath of predominantly elastomeric material. At the top end of the retaining means 8 (in the orientation illustrated in Figures 2 and 3), there is provided a swivel link 9 of a type known per se in the fishing field. The swivel link 9 comprises an eye 10 which is arranged for rotational movement relative to the main body of the swivel link 9. The swivel link 9 is securely engaged within the retaining means 8, as illustrated at 11 in Figure 2.

This engagement is preferably provided simply by moulding the elastomeric material of the retaining means 8 around the swivel link 9.

The fishing tackle device of the present invention is secured to the end of a leader line 1, simply by tying the leader line 1 to the eye 10 of the swivel link 9. By virtue of the rotational mounting of the eye 10 within the main body of the swivel link 9, the entire retaining means 8 is allowed to rotate freely relative to the leader line 1.

As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, along most of its length, the retaining means 8 simply comprises a mass of elastomeric material 12 which is stable enough to provide a defined shape to the retaining means 8, whilst also allowing for a degree of pliability. However, it is also envisaged that the mass of elastomeric material 12 may be provided with reinforcement, such as, for example, a wire frame or the like embedded in the material. The retaining means 8 preferably takes the form of a generally conical or frusto-conical configuration having a generally circular transverse cross-section throughout its length.

At the lowermost end of the retaining means 8 (in the configuration illustrated in Figures 2 and 3), there is provided an internal space 13 which communicates with the exterior of the retaining means 8 via a narrowed neck portion 14 defined by a generally circular inwardly directed lip or flange 15 The internal space 13 can therefore be considered to define an internal groove 16 within the retaining means 8.

Also illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 is a fishing weight 3 of a type known per se which is illustrated as having a torpedo-type shape with an enlarged lower end 18. The fishing weight is provided at its narrow end 19 with a circumferential outwardly directed flange 20 to define an engaging region 21 which is enlarged relative to the adjacent narrowest part 19 The engaging portion 21 takes the form of a generally circular-cylindrical boss.

The dimensions of the internal space 13 of the retaining means 8 is dimensioned so as to be slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical boss 21 of the fishing weight 3, whilst the narrowed neck portion 14 of the retaining means 8 is dimensioned to be slightly greater than the narrowest part 19 of the fishing weight 3.

It will therefore be appreciated that, due to the flexible nature of the retaining means 18, particularly in the region of the space 13 (that region being particularly pliable given that it comprises less elastomeric material than the region 12) the enlarged boss 21 of the fishing weight 3 can be forced through the narrow neck portion 14 of the retaining means 8 so as to be received within the space 13. As the enlarged boss 21 of the fishing weight 3 is pushed into the interior space 13, the surrounding material of the retaining means 8 deforms and then returns to its original position such that the narrowed neck portion 14 engages the narrowest part 19 of the fishing weight 3, trapping the enlarged boss 21 therebehind so that the arrangement adopts the configuration illustrated in Figure 3. It will therefore be appreciated that the groove 16 within the interior space 13 receives the flange 20 of the fishing weight 3, such that the retaining means directly engages the fishing weight.

The density of the elastomeric material of the retaining means 8 is chosen to provide a degree of stability to the retaining means 8 which is sufficient to retain the fishing weight 3 in a configuration as illustrated in Figure 3, as the device is cast into the water on the end of the leader line 1. As the fishing tackle device of the present invention, complete with the associated fishing weight 3 enters the water after having been cast, it sinks and rests upon the bottom 7 as illustrated in Figure 1, where it remains until such time as the arrangement is reeled in to retrieve fish caught on the hooks 6 or, if the fisherman has been unlucky, simply to retrieve the fishing tackle. As will be appreciated from a consideration of Figure 1, as the arrangement begins to be reeled in, the fishing tackle device and the associated fishing weight 3 will be dragged along the bottom 7 and hence might become snagged on a rock, crevice or the like. If this occurs, then due to the resiliency of the elastomeric material of the retaining device 8, should the resulting force pulling the fishing weight 3 away from the retaining device 8 exceed a predetermined value (defined as a function of the resiliency of the elastomeric material), the retaining means 8, in the region of the interior space 13, is caused to deform such that the enlarged boss 21 of the fishing weight is allowed to pass through the narrowed neck portion 14 such that the fishing weight is released from the retaining means 8.

This enables the entire fishing tackle assembly illustrated in Figure 1, with the exception of only the fishing weight 3, to be retrieved.

Because the fishing tackle device of the present invention eliminates the need for relatively weak link lines between the fishing weight and the leader line 1 (because the retaining means engages the fishing weight directly), in the event that the fishing weight is disengaged in the retaining means, the only component left on the bottom 7 is the fishing weight, without any length of fishing line which, as identified previously, can represent a significant environmental hazard. It will also be appreciated that the snap-fit arrangement of the preferred embodiment, provides a very simple and easy to operate mechanism by which the fishing tackle device can releasably engage a fishing weight.

Whilst the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, it should be appreciated that certain modifications or variations could be effected without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the retaining means 8 could be configured simply to engage a fishing weight as an interference fit rather than as a snap fit.

In the present specification"comprise"means"includes or consists of' and"comprising"means"including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. A fishing tackle device for releasably retaining a fishing weight, the device comprising : retaining means to engage directly part of a fishing weight, the retaining means being configured to release a fishing weight so engaged when a force exceeding a predetermined magnitude is applied to the weight pulling it away from the retaining means; the retaining means further being configured for attachment to a fishing line.
2. 2. A fishing tackle device according to Claim 1, wherein the retaining means engages the fishing weight as a snap-fit.
3. 3. A fishing tackle device according to Claim 2, wherein the retaining means has a groove configured to receive a co-operating flange carried by a fishing weight.
4. 4. A fishing tackle device according to Claim 1, wherein the retaining means engages the fishing weight as an interference fit.
5. 5. A fishing tackle device according to any preceding claim, wherein the retaining means is made of an elastomeric material.
6. 6. A fishing tackle device according to Claim 5, wherein the retaining means comprises a sheath configured to fit over part of the fishing weight.
7. 7. A fishing tackle device according to any preceding claim provided in combination with a fishing weight.
8. 8. A fishing tackle device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying representations.
9. 9. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.