1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fishing gears and more specifically, to a sinker used in fishing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional fishing sinkers are commonly made out of lead. A fishing sinker may be used in a fishing pole to force a lure/bait to sink. Fishing sinkers may also be used in a fishing net to force one side of the fishing net to sink rapidly. Because lead may cause toxic lead poisoning in ingested and because this oxic lead poisoning has led to many waterbird deaths and unknown numbers of deaths in other aquatic organisms, the manufacturer now promotes iron-based fishing sinkers instead of the lead-based fishing sinker under the consideration of ecology protection.
Further, when sinkers are used in a fishing net, sinkers may be fastened to the cord members of the fishing net by means of a tying process after the formation of the fishing net. Alternatively, sinkers may be sleeved onto cord members before knotting of cord members to form a fishing net. These installation procedures are complicated, requiring much labor and time. Further, when wishing to repair the meshes, it is complicated to dismount the sinkers from the fishing net. Further, seawater causes an iron based sinker to rust quickly. Iron rust may cut off the treads of a fishing net easily. When a fishing net is covered with a big amount of iron rust, the fishing net may become useless.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a fishing sinker that eliminates the aforesaid problems.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a fishing sinker that does not cause metal to rust, and avoids metal pollution in the environment.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fishing sinker, which is easy to mount and dismount in a rapid manner.
To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the invention provides a fishing sinker that can easily and detachably fastened to the fishing line of a fishing pole or one cord member of a fishing net. The fishing sinker is comprised of a first weight member and a second weight member. The first weight member comprises a metal block, and a plastic shell covering the metal block. The plastic shell of the first weight member has a junction surface and a longitudinal receiving groove formed in the junction surface. The second weight member comprises a metal block, and a plastic shell covering the metal block. The plastic shell of the second weight member has a junction surface and a longitudinal receiving groove formed in the junction surface. By means of fastening the junction surface of the first weight member to the junction surface of the second weight member, the first and second weight members are secured together to surround the fishing line of the fishing pole or the cord member of the fishing net.
Referring to
The first weight member 10 comprises a metal block 12 and a plastic shell 13. The metal block 12 is prepared from, for example, lead or iron, and then put in a mold (not shown) to receive an injection molding process. The plastic shell 13 is molded on the metal block 12 from a plastic material through an injection molding technique. The first weight member 10 has a specific gravity greater than water. Further, the first weight member 10 has a substantially semicylindrical shape, and a junction surface 14. The junction surface 14 has a longitudinal receiving groove 15 on the middle, and a plurality of female retaining portions 161 and male retaining portions 162 symmetrically arranged at two opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal receiving groove 15. The female retaining portions 161 are retaining holes formed in the junction surface 14 and arranged in a line along one lateral side of the longitudinal receiving groove 15. The male retaining portions 162 are retaining blocks with hook portions protruded from the junction surface 14 and arranged in a line along the other lateral side of the longitudinal receiving groove 15.
The second weight member 20 is substantially similar to the first weight member 10 in shape and structure and prepared in the same manner as the first weight member 10, having a junction surface 24. The second weight member 20 has a specific gravity greater than water. Further, the junction surface 24 has a longitudinal receiving groove 25 on the middle, and a plurality of female retaining portions 261 and male retaining portions 262 symmetrically arranged at two opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal receiving groove 25. The female retaining portions 261 are retaining holes formed in the junction surface 24 and arranged in a line along one lateral side of the longitudinal receiving groove 25 corresponding to the male retaining portions 162 of the first weight member 10. The male retaining portions 262 are retaining blocks with hook portions protruded from the junction surface 24 and arranged in a line along the other lateral side of the longitudinal receiving groove 25 corresponding to the female retaining portion 161 of the first weight member 10.
The fishing sinker can be fastened to the fishing line of a fishing pole (not shown) to force a lure or bait to sink. The fishing sinker can also be fastened to a fishing net 40. As shown in
According to the present invention, the metal material of the fishing sinker 1 is embedded in the plastic material, therefore the plastic material prohibits rust on the metal material. Further, because the fishing sinker 1 is formed of the first weight member 10 and the second weight member 20 that are detachably fastened together, the fishing sinker 1 can easily and detachably fastened to a fishing net 40. When a repair work is necessary, the fishing sinker 1 can easily be detached from the fishing net 40. Therefore, the fishing sinker 1 can be used repeatedly.
Further, the metal blocks embedded in the first and second weight members 10 and 20 can be lead, iron, cast iron, zinc, or any other cheap heavy material, such that the first and second weight members 10 and 20 have a specific weight greater than water. When the fishing sinker is fastened to a fishing line or fishing net, it forces the fishing line or fishing net to sink. Further, because a plastic material is used to surround the metal blocks of the fishing sinker, the invention prevents heavy metal pollution.
As stated above, the invention provides a fishing sinker that is formed of two symmetrical halves each having a metal block embedded in plastic shell. Therefore, the fishing sinker prevents rust and heavy metal pollution. Further, the two symmetrical halves are detachably fastened together by means of joint means, and therefore the user can easily and rapidly fasten the fishing sinker to a fishing line or fishing net.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.