Patent Application
20170071179
This invention relates to the class, Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying, and the sub-classes, line-attached hooks, bodies and rigs with adjustable weight or buoyancy. Specifically, this invention relates to an adjustable weight sinker designed to keep the bait floating at the correct depth.
The present invention is an improvement to the current state-of-the-art for fishing weights. Specifically, the current invention overcomes the main problem with the prior art, by allowing the user to add or subtract weight without un-tying the weight from the line. The current invention is cost-effective, and casts easily.
Fishing is a popular sport and recreation in the United States. Most fishers use a fishing pole with a fishing line attached. On the end of the fishing line, the fisher attaches a float, sinker, hook, and bait. The sinker is a weight that is tied to the fishing line. The fishing line is usually contained on a reel. The reel has a release button, which allows additional lengths of fishing line to come out. The fisher typically will cast the bait out into the water using a whip-like action with the pole while holding the release button. In order to effectively cast, the fishing line, float, sinker, hook, and bait must all be designed to fly through the air.
Since the float, sinker, and hook will all be in the water, they are all exposed to harsh environments. Additionally, due to repeatedly casting the line, there is a substantial likelihood that the float, weight and hook will eventually hit a rock, tree branch, or other hard obstacle. As a result, these parts are usually inexpensive, because they will need to be replaced quite often.
In order to catch a fish, the bait must float at the level or in the plane in which the fish is swimming. In order to get the bait to float at a particular level, the system of floats and sinkers are adjusted.
A float is a device which adds buoyancy in the system. A sinker is a weight element which decreases buoyancy in the system. To change the buoyancy of the system, the fisher must change the floats or sinkers. In a standard configuration, the float is closer to the pole, and further away from the hook, meaning that tying or untying the float is time consuming. As a result, in order to change the buoyancy level, the fisher will typically change the sinker.
Changing the sinker is, also, time-consuming, as it requires the fishing line to be untied and re-tied. In fishing competitions, or in fishing spots where the plane in the water in which the desired fish is swimming at is changing, the delay can be a burden. The market is looking for a cheap, durable sinker, that can be easily adjusted, in weight, while it is tied to the fishing line. Moreover, it has to be adjustable to both add and subtract weight while on a tied fishing line.
Many attempts have been made to create a weight or buoyancy system which is both quick and easy to use. U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,454, by named inventor Lumsden (“Lumsden 454”), is entitled, “In-line sliding fishing line release.” Lumsden 454 teaches an in-line, sliding line release for holding a sinker weight to a fishing line. The invention allows weight to be added and reduced without untying or cutting the fishing line. The sinker mount is comprised of a compression arm and rotational cam, which allows a pinching motion on the fishing line. The overall design is pretty complicated for the purpose, meaning that it will not cast well, and that it is, relatively speaking, expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. ,340,858, by named inventor Corbitt (“Corbitt '858”), is entitled, “Slip-on hydrodynamic symmetrical fishing sinker.” Corbitt '858 teaches a sinker which is aerodynamic while casting. Corbitt '858 further discloses an eyelet opening, through which the fishing line passes, which is biased to the closed position. The eyelet looks much like a clasp on a jewelry necklace. Again, this invention is relatively bulky, and would not cast well.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,837, by named inventor Ryder (“Ryder '837”), is entitled, Fishing accessory that can be a float or a sinker.” Ryder '837 teaches a method of changing the weight by allowing sand or water to be trapped in a chamber in the body, thus affecting the buoyancy of the unit. This unit is bulky, and being made out of plastic, would break easily if it were to hit a solid obstacle while casting.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,479, by named inventor Ratte (“Ratte '479”), is entitled, “Fishing sinker and method of making.” Ratte '479 teaches a symmetrical sinker, which is designed so as to not tangle or twist the fishing line. The sinker is held in place by a force fit. The user can remove the sinker by inserting a screwdriver and gently prying it apart. This invention would not remain secure through repeated casting, making it a bit of projectile risk.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,888, by named inventors Ball, et. al., (“Ball '888”), is entitled, “Device to hold, dispense and install slotted weights used with fishing line.” Ball '888 teaches a device to dispense weights onto a fishing line. The weights have a wedge-shaped opening. The unit crimps the weight onto the fishing line, one at a time. This invention is overly complex and bulky, meaning that it would not cast well and is, relatively, expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,042, by named inventors Rinker, et. al., (“Rinker '042”), is entitled, “Fishing sinker having interchangeable weights.” Rinker '042 teaches a method for adding weights to a fishing sinker in discrete amounts. Rinker discloses a sinker weight being comprised, amongst other things, of a flexible sinker sleeve with an aperture (opening), a connector, and a sinker weight that is long with a head (e.g., a nail). The weights are interchangeable. This invention uses nails as weights. The sharpened end of the nail is free, meaning that it creates a hazard.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,976, by named inventor Svoma (“Svoma '976”), is entitled, “Fishing line sinker and mold for making same.” Svoma '976 discloses a combinable fishing weight comprised of small monolithic rectangles of metal that can be attached, on to another. On one short edge surface of each monolith is a wire loop that connects to the short edge at both ends. On the other short edge surface of each monolith is a feature that the wire can be threaded through. Afterwards, the wire is bent, to secure weights together. The invention it adjustable allowing for weights to be both removed and added. The finger crimping of the wire is an annoyance, and the weights will only last a couple of casts, because the wire will fatigue-fail relatively quickly.
U.S. Pat. 4,040,199, by named inventor Raptis (“Raptis '199”) is entitled, “Fishing line sinker assembly.” Raptis '199 discloses a heavy sinker, intended for deep sea fishing. Raptis '199 teaches largely cylindrical weights that can be attached and detached easily. The first weight has means of mounting a fishing line on one of its flat surfaces. In its other surface is a screw hole. The remainder of the weights have screws protruding from the center of one flat surface and a screw hole centered in the other flat surface, allowing weights to be added to the first weight, or to subsequent weights. The first weight includes protrusions of the curved surface of the cylinder, to prevent the weight from rolling when placed on the deck. Raptis '199 claims a substantial weight, and teaches individual weights ranging from 1 pound (453 grams) to 2 pounds (906 grams). The assembly of the weights can weigh as much as 4 pounds (1.812 kg).
U.S. Pat. No. 2,863,253, by named inventor Hettinger (“Hettinger '253”), is entitled, “Compound sinker for fishing lines.” Hettinger '253 teaches a compound sinker, having a plurality of equality sized weight elements. The weight elements are cylindrical. There is a screw hole centered on one of the flat circular surfaces. There is a threaded protrusion centered on the other flat circular surface. The threaded protrusion has two perpendicular flat faces, orthogonal to the flat circular surface of the weight, itself. An aperture extends through the flat faces. The centerline of the aperture is perpendicular to the flat faces. The weight elements are made from bronze or lead. Hettinger '253 would not be cheap to manufacture, because of the extensive machining required to make a protrusion with two flat faces, and screw threads extending between the flat faces. Additionally, such an arrangement has a substantial risk of being mis-threaded. With lead and bronze, a single mis-threading can ruin a screw and screw hole, because the metals are so soft. Last, Hettinger '253 teaches a compound sinker, in which the radius of each protrusion in each weight element is roughly half the radius of the weight element, itself. This wastes material, and is more expensive to machine than a smaller screw.
U.S. Pat. No. 549,332, by named inventor Sewell (“Sewell '332”), is entitled, “Fishing line sinker.” Sewell '332 teaches a sectional sinker that is a frusto-conical shape. The top section has an eyelet to attach it to the fishing line. All of the sections, including the top section, are fabricated with lead or bronze cast around a hard metal core. Except for the top section, all of the additional sections have a screw stem extending from the center of their smaller circular flat surface. All of the sections, including the top section, have a screw-threaded socket centered on the larger circular flat surface. Overmolding metal on metal is an expensive operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 77,774, by named inventor Smith (“Smith '774”), is entitled, “Line sinker.” Smith '774 discloses a sinker made up of several components. There is a component containing a long screw shaft. There is another component containing a socket with screw threads, into which the screw shaft fits. There are a plurality of discs with holes through their center. The fisher can add or remove weight from the sinker by adding or removing discs. This invention requires machining operation for each disc, plus a machining and fabricating operation for each of the screw-shaft-containing and threaded-socket containing components. The invention is relatively complex to both make and use.
What the market is searching for is a small, cheap sinker that can be tied to the line a single time, and then can have weight added or subtracted from it.
The present invention is a system of compound adjustable fishing sinker, which contains a plurality of easily interchangeable, durable, inexpensive, and compact components. The system is comprised of a set of incremental weights. Each weight has at least two flat surfaces. In one flat surface is centered a threaded screw shank and in the other flat surface is centered a screw-threaded socket. Each top screw shank contains a through-hole aperture, which allows the weight to be tied to a fishing line. As a result, any of the weight elements in the compound adjustable fishing sinker can be tied to the fishing line. Once the first weight is tied to the line, each incremental weight can be added by screwing it on. When repeatedly casting, the user can, by touch, easily verify that the weights are still screwed together.
The compound adjustable fishing sinker is, in aggregate, typically, less than 100 grams or approximately four (4) ounces. The heaviest single weight element is 56 grams, or two (2) ounces. The present invention can be fabricated from any suitable metal, such as steel, lead, bronze or zinc. Steel, bronze, and lead all lend themselves to easy and cheap manufacture using lathes, CNC, screw machines, or a combination of the above. These metals do not need to be cast, as that would only increase the cost.
For steel parts, a suitable anti-corrosion coating would be added, such as powder coating, hexavalent chromium, chromium (III and IV), zinc plating (galvanizing), or a conversion coating.
There are thirteen (13) relevant drawings.
The following description represents the inventor's current preferred embodiment. The description is not meant to limit the invention, but rather to illustrate its general principles of operation and construction. Examples are illustrated with the accompanying drawings.
From
The screw elements 1, 3 of
Each of the three embodiments 100, 101, 102 of the compound adjustable fishing sinker have weight elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 104, 105. Additional weight elements, similar to the shown weight elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 104, 105 can be used with each of the three embodiments 100, 101, 102.
The present invention, a compound adjustable fishing sinker, weighs less than 100 grams, when all weight elements are added together. In fact, for a three weight element embodiment, such as those shown in 100, 101, the weight is between 49-56 grams (1 ¾ounce-2 ounces) for all three weight elements 4, 5, 6, and 7, 8, 9. The largest weight elements 4, 7, 105 all weigh approximately 28 grams or 1 ounce. The medium weight element 5 for the first embodiment 100 weighs 14 grams or ½ ounce. The medium weight element 8 for the second embodiment weights 21 grams or ¾ ounce. The small weight 104 for the third embodiment 102 weighs 14 grams or ½ ounce. For each of the three embodiments 100, 101, 102, the respective weight is 49 grams (1 ¾ ounce), 56 grams (2 ounces) and 42 grams (1 ½ ounce).
The weight elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 104, 105 can be fabricated from any common metallic material, including steel, lead, zinc, tungsten, bronze, aluminum, or a combination of one or more of the above materials. All of the materials would lend themselves to screw-machine and lathing. Of course, steel is commonly used in screw machines and lathes as a material. Modern lathes and screw machines can turn lead shapes very quickly and easily, with high precision, because lead is softer than steel. For steel weight elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 104, 105, the top surface 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 114, 115, bottom surface 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 124, 125, lateral surfaces 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 144, 145, screw shank 1, 2, 3, and screw receptacle 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 154, 155, can all be corrosion coated, using powder coating, hexavalent chromium, chromium (III and IV), zinc plating, or a conversion coating.
The cylindrical weight elements 7, 8, 9, 104, 105 of the second 101 and third 102 embodiments are designed to have the sinker fall through the water smoothly. The frusto-conical shape of the first embodiment 100 will cause that sinker to undulate from side-to-side as it sinks.
