Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fishing devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process of creating fishing sinkers.
2. Description of Related Art
Weight is traditionally added to a casting line to increase the distance that a fisherman can achieve and to guide the fishing lure to an appropriate position in the water. This weight is commonly known as a sinker. Sinkers may be composed of any dense material, such as lead or bismuth. Sinkers can be attached to the line in a variety of ways, including tying the sinker to the baited end using a separate leader or attaching it directly to the main line either by threading it through a loop in the sinker and tying it off or by compressing a split shot to the line.
Numerous patents involving fishing sinkers have been issued throughout the years. Most traditional sinkers are created out of lead due to its density and wide availability. These sinkers often become detached from the line during casting or snag on underwater obstacles. In recent years, the safety of lead in the environment has been highly questioned. Lead is toxic to fish and birds, and is also toxic to humans. Many states have actually banned the use of lead sinkers for these reasons.
Some patents have addressed the need for non-toxic fishing weights. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,779 A provides for a snag-less fishing sinker having a non-toxic biodegradable woven case encompassing non-toxic metal balls. U.S. Pat. No. 8,261,484 B2 describes a detachable sinker with a disintegrating water soluble material. While these sinkers are non-toxic, they suffer from several drawbacks. They are complex, involving the use of multiple materials and sometimes even hand crafting to achieve the weight. They lack an aerodynamic build and could impact a fishermen's casting ability. Further, they require the production of new materials and material costs render them incapable of replacing traditional lead sinkers.
The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a means of creating fishing sinkers out of recycled firearm ammunition shell casings, otherwise known as bullet cartridges. The process of creating the sinker begins with the firing of the weapon, which releases a spent shell casing. The shell casing, which would otherwise be discarded, is then obtained and provided a new use as a fishing sinker after our processing of it. The shell casing is generally made of non-toxic brass, but can be made from steel or another rigid metal or combination of metals, making it a far safer alternative than traditional lead sinkers.
The use of these recycled shell casings creates an environmentally friendly way to add weight to the fishing line. The recycled firearm shell casing makes an ideal fishing sinker as it is cylindrical in shape and fastens easily to the line. This low cost means of creating a non toxic sinker will allow it to replace the inexpensive but dangerous lead sinkers on the market today.
To process the firearm shell casing for use of a fishing sinker, the firing pin is first removed from the ammunition shell casing, allowing the easy passage of the line through the weight. The firing pin is removed using a depriming tool which deprimes or decaps cartridges. The depriming tool uses different fittings to accommodate the depriming of any size cartridge. After depriming, the shell casing is sent through a tumbler to clean and shine it. Course media is deposited into the tumbler to refine and shine the brass. The casing is additionally shined with brass polish. In this preferred embodiment, the hollow, deprimed recycled shell casing is then threaded twice through the fishing line, thus becoming the ideal, environmentally friendly fishing sinker.
The various calibers of bullets, and hence varying sizes of cartridges, make for a variety of sinker weights. Larger caliber casings can be used for deep sea fishing or other deep water fishing, while lighter caliber casings can be used for in shore fishing, including rivers and streams.
While the process of obtaining the fired ammunition shell casing and cleaning it through the tumbler remains constant, different variations can be made to the casing itself to make it an ideal fishing weight. In another embodiment, rather than using the hollow, deprimed casing, the recycled ammunition shell casing is filled with a mixture of non-toxic materials such as concrete, adding weight to the sinker. A hole wide enough to allow passage of the fishing line is then drilled through the entirety of the shell casing. Just as in the initial preferred embodiment, the fishing line is then looped twice through the sinker to secure it.
In another embodiment, the firearm ammunition casing is split using a metal cutter, allowing it to be fastened to the line like a traditional split shot sinker. Alternatively, the casing itself remains intact but a piece of metal, rubber, or other substance is passed through the top of the empty shell casing, through the hollow interior, and out of the bottom of the shell casing, in which the firing pin has been removed. The piece of metal can then be clamped to the line as a traditional split shot sinker, allowing ease of attachment of the sinker and doing away with the need to re-tie the line.
The recycled shell casings can be readily packaged and sold for use of fishing sinkers. The low cost of creating these sinkers, which comprise no new materials, will allow them to be a viable alternative to dangerous lead sinkers, which many states have banned the use of.
The cylindrical design of the fishing sinker creates ease of casting for the fishermen. It is aerodynamic and does not have the common problem of impeding casting. Further, the sinker does not tangle the line. It is fastened securely above the lure or bait. Given its cylindrical design, its chance of becoming entangled on underwater obstacles is minimal.
Firearm cases, when polished after firing, have the additional benefit of being shiny. Fish are attached to shiny objects, and will be drawn to the shiny casing.
This process of creating a fishing sinker from a firearm ammunition shell casing provides a simple, environmentally friendly means of adding weight to one's line. The fishing sinker is entirely composed of recycled materials that will not harm fish or wildlife. Firearm ammunition casings come in a wide variety of weights and sizes, allowing them to be made into fishing sinkers that will accommodate any fishing condition, including off shore fishing.
Whereas the wide adoption of other non-toxic sinkers has been hindered by price, the described fishing sinker's use of entirely recycled materials allows it to replace inexpensive but dangerous traditional lead sinkers.
Referring now to the invention in more detail, in
The sinker is of aerometric design, as depicted in
In another embodiment, the once hollow recycled firearm shell casing is filled with a non-toxic material, such as concrete. A transparent view of the sinker as provided in
Turning back to a detailed examination of the sinker's design,
In another embodiment, the recycled ammunition casing is actually split, as in
In yet another embodiment, a piece of metal, rubber, or any other material is inserted through the top of the empty shell casing, as depicted in
In all embodiments, the sinker is created by a process of obtaining a recycled firearm ammunition casing which consists of brass, steel, or another rigid metal or combination of metals, and altering the casing so that it can function as a fishing sinker. The firing pin of the casing is generally removed, as in
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61946378 | Feb 2014 | US |