Modular sinker

An improved slip sinker having a hollow non-buoyant tubular body mounted intermediate a flanged head piece having a fish line receiving aperture and a weighted ballast piece. Surface projections at the head and ballast pieces mount and fasten to the bore of the tubular body. Alternative sinker configurations provide body pieces that support a ballast connector that receives mating interchangeable ballast weights. The hollow bodies of other sinkers support reflective devices, luminous materials, luminous devices, rattle pieces, granular ballast materials, scents, and/or a plug end. Profile expanding filaments can be adapted into the ballast, head or body pieces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved modular fishing sinker and in particular to a snag free, sliding sinker assembly comprised of a plastic mounting eye or head piece and a weight member that respectively plug mount to opposite ends of an intermediate hollow, non-buoyant tubular member capable of supporting additional connection pieces and/or rattle pieces and/or luminous materials and/or luminous/reflective devices and/or non-buoyant ballast materials and/or scent materials among other accessory appliances.

Fishing weights can comprise any device or item that can be attached to a fishing line to submerse further attached hook(s), artificial and/or live bait. Most weights designed for attachment to a fish line are molded or formed from lead, bismuth, steel or another dense, non-corroding, economical materials that are not buoyant in water (i.e. have a specific gravity greater than that of the fish containing water).

Wide varieties of special purpose fishing sinkers have been developed for salt and fresh water fishing with differing shapes and some of which include cast apertures, channels or eyelets. Some sinkers include accessory pieces (e.g. wire form) that attach to or are molded into the sinker. Of the former types, so called “egg” type sinkers provide a longitudinal bore. Of the latter type, “bottom bouncer” type sinkers” provide an eye or eyelet at a bent wire form that receives a fish line threaded through the eye or eyelet. All of the foregoing sliding sinkers anchor and support the fish line and attached bait in sliding relation on or near the bottom of a body of water. A hook secured to the fish line supports appropriate bait such that the fish line can freely move without the drag of the sinker upon releasing the line to a “free spool” condition with a fish striking the bait and hook. Stops (e.g. knots, split shot, pegs) can be secured to the line or sinker to restrict or limit line or sinker movement.

Some sinkers are constructed as an elongated configuration that is designed to permit the sinker to slide along the bottom or glide above the bottom of the lake or water bed. The elongated design minimizes snagging of associate debris and fauna found growing from the ocean floor, lake, stream or river bed. Other attractors (e.g. slide stops, beads, spinner blades, hooks, filamentary skirts, colorized devices) can be supported to the fish line above or below the sinker.

The present invention provides a novel, improved slip sinker wherein one end of a hollow tubular body mounts to a molded plastic head piece that includes an eye or aperture that receives a threaded fish line and an opposite end mounts to modular ballast pieces of differing weights. Shaped surfaces molded into the head piece and ballast piece restrain the head and ballast pieces to the tubular body to define an elongated assembly wherein a ballast piece of appropriate weight is supported to contact or glide adjacent the river bed, lake bottom or the like. Alternative sinker configurations contain luminous materials or devices, rattle pieces, and ballast materials within the body piece and/or provide a ballast connector that mounts to the body piece and receives interchangeable weights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a substantially snag-free slip sinker.

It is further object of the invention to provide a sinker with a molded eyelet piece having a formed fastener surface that grips the interior of a hollow body piece and an eye shaped and relieved to receive a fastener or fish line without abrasion as the line slides to and fro in the eye.

It is further object of the invention to provide an elongated, slip sinker having a hollow chamber that contains rattle members and/or luminous members and/or luminous devices and/or scent devices, and/or a molded plug end connector that attaches to mating interchangeable weights, among sundry other accessories.

It is further object of the invention to provide a slip sinker including a molded head piece and a molded ballast piece having fastener surfaces that attach to a hollow tubular body piece such as by compression within the bore of the body piece.

It is further object of the invention to provide a molded head piece with a formed fastener surface that grips the interior of a hollow body piece.

It is further object of the invention to provide a molded ballast piece with a surface formed to interconnect with the body member.

It is further object of the invention to provide a molded ballast fastener piece that permanently mounts to a hollow body piece and provides a shaped cavity that interchangeably receives modular ballast members of selective weight and shape.

It is further object of the invention to provide a molded ballast fastener or connector piece with a first surface that grips the interior of a hollow body piece and a second surface that grips and connects to a mating surface of a ballast piece.

The foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention are obtained in a presently preferred, novel, improved slip sinker wherein a hollow tubular body mounts intermediate and to a molded plastic head piece that includes an eye or aperture that receives a threaded fish line and a modular weight or ballast piece. Fastener surfaces molded into the head piece and weighted ballast piece compressively plug mount within or to the bore of the tubular body piece to define an elongated assembly wherein the weighted ballast piece is supported to contact or glide adjacent the river or lake bed.

Alternative sinker configurations provide body pieces that support a ballast connector that receives interchangeable ballast weights. The connector includes a fastener surface that plugs into and fastens to the body piece. Other connector surfaces are formed to interconnect with the ballast connector. Still other sinkers support or contain reflective, luminous materials or luminous devices, rattle pieces, ballast materials and/or an end connector piece in and/or to the bore of the body piece.

Still other objects, advantages, distinctions, constructions and combinations of individual features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description with respect to the appended drawings. The description to each combination should therefore not be literally construed in limitation of the invention. Rather, the invention should be interpreted within the broad scope of the further appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 5, several views are shown to the construction of a novel sinker2of the invention outfitted with several alternative accessory pieces. A slip sinker mounting of the sinker2is shown atFIG. 1and wherein the sinker2is mounted to slide along a fish line4spooled, for example, to a reel and fishing rod (not shown). Secured along the fish line4is a hook6of appropriate size and form. Live bait8is attached to the hook6. The hook6can be constructed to any desired shape and size and can include one or more barbed ends10. The live bait8can comprise any desired bait preferred by a targeted fish specie. Artificial baits8(e.g. flies, jigs, plug lures, spinner lures etc.) may also be secured to the fish line4alone or in combination with other hooks6and/or live bait8.

The fish line4is threaded through an eye12of a head piece14fitted to the sinker2. The sinker2is thereby suspended to radiate from and freely slide along the fish line4. Beads16and a stop piece18(e.g. a knotted line piece, peg) limit the range of motion of the sinker2. One or more of a variety of different stops18and/or bored beads16can be mounted to the fish line4or at the eye12to restrict or limit motion of the sinker2. Other attractors of differing colors, sizes and movement actions (e.g. beads, spinner blades, feathers, filamentary skirts etc.) can also be supported in any desired combination to the fish line4and/or to either or both sides of the sinker2. The attractors can add color, flash/reflection, illumination, vibration and movement to the presentation of the live or artificial bait8.

FIG. 2depicts the sinker2ofFIG. 1in a perspective exploded assembly view. The head piece or eyelet14is secured to one end of an intermediate tubular body piece20. A ballast piece or molded weight22is secured to an opposite end of the body piece20. A number of rattle pieces or beads24(e.g. metal shot or beads or other hardened members that create sound when jostled) are contained in a hollow through bore26of the body piece20.

With attention also directed toFIG. 3, the head piece14is molded from a suitable plastic or water resistant material. The aperture or eye12is let through a narrow arcuate portion28that is sufficiently narrowed or laterally relieved to permit attachment of swivels, snap fasteners or the like (not shown) to the eyelet12. The eye12is also shaped to permit free movement of the line through the eye without abrasion.

A series of flat, flexible flanges32radiate from a stem30that projects aft from the eye12and terminates at a distal hemispherical end34. Longitudinal ribs36also project from the stem30. The belled sides of the end34facilitate insertion of the end34and stem30into the body piece20. The flanges32and longitudinal ribs36maintain a secure connection between the head piece14and the body piece20. Other types of projecting surfaces (e.g. ribs, filaments, barbs) or recesses can be formed into the head piece14to facilitate and maintain a connection.

The body piece20is constructed of a tubular plastic material with smooth walls that withstand abrasion and are not susceptible to stretching or breakage from normally encountered objects, snagging etc. The body piece20can be opaque or transparent and can be coated or colored to any preferred color or pattern. The body piece20can be cut to any desired length and the shape of the outer walls and/or bore can exhibit any desired geometric cross sectional size and configuration (e.g. circular, octagon, square, triangular etc.). The body piece20can also be bent or twisted. A variety of materials can be used to construct the body piece20provided they withstand UV, heat and normal conditions. The body material should also be resilient to expand and compress over the raised fastener surfaces of the head piece and ballast piece22upon being inserted into the body20.

The plastic material presently used is thermally susceptible to soften and/or expand in the presence of an elevated temperature. Upon threading the stem30into the bore26, the body20cools and compresses over the flanges32and ribs36to provide a strong connection resistant to detachment of the head piece14. A softer, resilient material (e.g. an elastomer) can also be used that permits the head piece14to be withdrawn to change the body length etc. and/or add accessory pieces to the body20.

The ballast or weight piece22is constructed to a preferred shape and weight. A cylindrical, slightly bent (e.g. banana) shape is presently preferred. Nominal weight sizes useful for fresh water applications are ¼ to 4 ounces. The depicted cylindrical shape is preferred due to its resistance to snagging when debris, rocks, weeds etc. are encountered. The ballast or weight piece22is molded from relatively hard lead and normally exhibits and maintains a slight arcuate curvature38over the longitudinal length of the weight22. Ballast pieces22of other shapes and lengths can alternatively be secured to the body piece20. The ballast pieces22can also include other permanent or detachable attachments, for example, rigid filaments78(ref.FIG. 5), joints, cavities or attached attractors. The filaments78typically would be molded with the ballast piece22and increase the profile of the sinker2to prevent snagging. The filaments78might also be adapted into either the body20or head piece14.

Formed into a narrowed diameter, concentric stem portion40of the ballast piece22are a series of raised ridges, flanges or projections42and a hemispherical fore end44. The end44and ridges42facilitate mounting and retention of the ballast piece22to the body piece20. Once inserted, the body piece20compressively grips the ridges42and retains the ballast piece22against substantially all normal conditions. Depending upon the material, the ballast piece22could be changed as desired by progressively shortening the body and/or heating the body20with a suitable heating appliance, removing the ballast22, and inserting another weighted ballast piece22exhibiting a desired weight or possibly varying the amount of granular material70(ref.FIG. 5) or inserting a desired attractor(s) appliance into the bore26or to depend from the body20.

In the latter regard, several rattle pieces24are retained in one construction of the sinker2in the hollow cavity space of the bore26. Metal beads24are presently used that freely move about in the bore26or hollow sound chamber to create sound and vibrations that attract fish.

FIGS. 4 and 5depict alternative materials and devices that can be secured in the bore26.FIG. 4depicts a transparent body piece20that alternatively supports a luminous member60(e.g. a cylume glow stick, battery powered LED light assembly), a luminous granular material62or ribbon or reflective/colored filamentary members64. The luminous members61and64are shown mounted and removed from the bore26. The luminous and reflective members60,61,62, and64enhance visual attraction properties to the body20.

The body20might also include a scented material66and apertures68at the sidewalls to permit the scent to escape. The luminous and reflective members60,61,62, and64and scent material66can be added and/or changed as necessary upon removing and reattaching the head piece14or ballast piece22as discussed above. The luminous material/device60,61and62may also be selected to be water activated and illuminate only in the presence of water.

FIG. 5depicts another ballasting arrangement of the sinker2and wherein the bore26is filled with a granular or other relatively high specific gravity material70(e.g. lead shot, sand, split shot). Indicia marks71can be provided along the body20to convey information to weighting depending upon the length of the body20(e.g. 1/16 to 1½ ounces). A lightweight plug end72constructed of plastic or a heavy weighted plug72molded from lead or other weighted material and having ridges74and a tapered or belled end76can be used to secure the weighted material70to the body. The plug end72may also include a shaped surface, bore or cavity to interconnect to other ballast pieces or attractors.

The plug end72might also include several resilient, flexible, filamentary members78that project to prevent the sinker2from becoming snagged in crevices, rocks and the like. It is to be appreciated the filamentary members78might also be molded into the ballast pieces22ofFIG. 1,2or4. The body piece20might also include apertures68to activate a luminous material or device62,61or permit the release of scent66placed in the bore26.

FIG. 6depicts an exploded assembly drawing to another alternative sinker80wherein a ballast piece82of suitable weight, size, shape and length is interchangeably or detachably secured to a ballast connector piece84that attaches to a suitable body piece20and head piece14. The ballast connector84provides a stem86that supports a number of radiating flanges or projections88. A hemispherical head portion90, flanges88and shoulder92exhibit diameters slightly oversized to the diameter of the bore26to facilitate the fitting of the connector84to the body piece20and the compression of the sidewalls of the body piece20around the flanges88, head and shoulder92.

Formed into the aft end of the ballast connector84is a cavity or bore94. A longitudinal keyway96and cavity98communicate with the bore94and receive a mating and interconnecting stem100of the ballast piece82. A key fastener or projection102at the stem100slides along the keyway96and fastens within the cavity98. The keyway96and cavity98can be constructed to provide a suitable interconnection (e.g. snap-action, twist action or compression fit). Threads might also be provided at the stem100to mate with a threaded surface at the bore94. Still other suitable interchangeable fastenings can be included as desired. Collectively the connector84permits the selective interchanging of the ballast piece82to the body piece20.

While the invention is shown and described with respect to a presently preferred sinker assembly and several considered improvements, modifications and/or alternatives thereto, still other sinker assemblies and arrangements may be suggested to those skilled in the art. It is also to be appreciated that the singular features of the sinker can be arranged in different combinations. The foregoing description should therefore be construed to include all those embodiments within the spirit and scope of the following claims.