Abstract:
A fishing weight, and more particularly a diving fishing weight, is disclosed. The fishing weight is generally designed to provide, in certain circumstances, at least some degree of lesser resistance to pull from, for instance, a fishing line. In turn, the weight can provide better conditions for pulling a fish, pulling the weight or both.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/682,728, filed May 19, 2005. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to the field of fishing weights and more particularly to the field of diving fishing weights.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The fishing industry has employed weights for many years and various different weights have been designed. One particular type of weight is a diving weight that, in use, has a tendency to, at least to some degree, move away from the surface of water as it is pulled through the water. Such diving weights have been found useful for aiding in moving fishing lures to desired depths within bodies of water. Previous designs for such weights, however, have exhibited drawbacks. As one example, some prior diving weights have been difficult and/or expensive to manufacture. As another example, some prior diving weights provide undesirable degrees of resistance to being brought to the surface of a body of water during the actual event of catching a fish or otherwise. The present invention therefore provides a diving weight that overcomes one or both of the aforementioned drawbacks and/or other drawbacks that will become evident upon reading the detailed description below.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Accordingly, a fishing weight is disclosed. The fishing weight includes a body and a release. The body typically includes a weighted mass. The weight is designed to dive below the surface of water as it is pulled through the water. The body of the weight can have a shape, a weight distribution or both for assisting the weight in diving. The weight can also have an attachment mechanism by which the weight attaches to a fishing line for assisting the weight in diving. The release can be directly or indirectly connected to the body of the weight and the release is preferably designed to cause, upon a strike of a fish, disassembly of the weight, release of the weighted mass from the fishing weight or both. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description, claims, and drawings, of which the following is a brief description:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a blown up perspective view of an exemplary fishing weight according to an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a blown up bottom view of the exemplary fishing weight of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a blown up side view of the exemplary fishing weight of  FIGS. 1 and 2  being applied to a fishing line.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the exemplary fishing weight of  FIGS. 1 and 2  after application of the fishing weight to the fishing line.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is an assembled perspective view of another exemplary fishing weight in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an exemplary release member in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the exemplary weight of  FIG. 5  after release of a secondary release in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]     The present invention is predicated upon the provision of an improved fishing weight. The fishing weight will include one or more of the following features: 
        1) A body having a shape and or weight distribution for causing the weight to dive downwardly away from the surface of the water;     2) a release that causes, upon the strike of a fish, disassembly of the fishing weight and/or release of a mass from the fishing weight;     3) a member for guiding lateral motion of the fishing weight under water; and/or     4) a secondary release that can assist in easing the amount of energy needed for pulling the weight toward the surface of the water.        
 
         [0018]     Generally, it is contemplated that the fishing weight may be a singular integrated component. Alternatively, the fishing weight may be comprised of multiple components that can be assembled and disassembled relative to each other.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is illustrated an exemplary fishing weight  10  according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated fishing weight  10  includes a body  12 , a release  14  and a guide member  16 .  
         [0020]     The body of the fishing weight may be formed of a single component or multiple components, which may be releasably or substantially permanently assembled together. In the embodiment illustrated, the body  12  of the fishing weight  10  includes an optional outer disk  18  and a main disc  20 , which also serves as a weighted mass  22  for the fishing weight  10 . As can be seen, the main disc  20  is receivable within or adjacent a central opening  28  (e.g., through-hole or cavity) of the outer disk  18  and the central opening  28  extends into and/or through the outer disk  18 .  
         [0021]     As will be further understood below, in alternative embodiments, the mass  22  may be part of the body  12  of the fishing weight  10  or may be separate from the body of the fishing weight  10 . As one possible alternative example, the annular disc  18  could be replaced by a more continuous disc that has a mass releasably attached to a lower surface of the disc. Moreover, it will be understood that the body of the fishing weight and the weighted mass of the fishing weight could be configured to have a variety of alternative shapes and sizes within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0022]     It is contemplated that the guide member may be formed in a variety of shapes or configurations within the scope of the present invention, unless otherwise specifically recited. As such, the guide member may be substantially planar or may be contoured. The guide member  16  illustrated is generally elongated and planar with two side walls  30 ,  32  separated by a thickness of the guide member  16 .  
         [0023]     The release of the fishing weight, like the other components of the fishing weight, could also be provided in a variety of shape and configurations within the scope of the present invention. For example, releasable fasteners such a clip, members with tear seams, rubber bands or others may be employed as the release of the present invention unless otherwise stated.  
         [0024]     In the particular embodiment illustrated, the release  14  includes a pin  36  and a receiving member  38 . The receiving member  38  illustrated is a generally cylindrical receiving member  38  that extends outwardly from a bottom area of the guide member  16 . The receiving member  38  is shown as having an opening  42  (e.g., a cavity or through-hole) suitable for receipt of the pin  36 . The pin  36  is illustrated as having two coextensive legs  46  extending from a base portion  50  of the pin  36 . The pin  36  is also shown to have a planar member  52 , which as further described below can act as a rudder or stabilizer for the weight  10 .  
         [0025]     The components of the fishing weight including the body, the weighted mass, the release, the guide member, the receiving member, the pin and the others as further discussed below can be formed of a variety of materials including metals, polymeric materials (e.g., plastics), fibrous materials, combinations thereof or the like. As such, each of the components can be shaped using metal shaping techniques such as stamping or bending or shaped using polymeric or plastic shaping techniques such as molding (e.g., injection molding, blow molding, compression molding or the like) or other shaping techniques.  
         [0026]     In the illustrated embodiment, the outer annular disk  18 , the guide member  16  and the release  14  are all formed of plastic such as a thermoplastic (e.g., a polyamide, a polyethylene, combinations thereof or the like). The weighted mass  22  or inner disc  20  illustrated is partially or substantially entirely formed of material that at least includes a metal (e.g., lead) or other material that is relatively dense. Preferably the density of the material is greater than about 0.15 lb/in 3 , more preferably greater than about 0.25 lb/in 3  and even more preferably greater than about 0.35 lb/in 3 . The total weight of the weighted mass is typically at least about 0.2 lbs., although it could be less, more typically at least about 0.35 lbs and still more typically at least about 0.44 lbs. The total weight of the weighted mass is typically less that about 1.0 lbs., although it could be more, more typically less than about 0.70 lbs. and even more typically less than about 0.58 lbs.  
         [0027]     In one preferred embodiment, the fishing weight includes a weighted mass (which may be a singular member or may include multiple members) that has a mass or weight that is at least 150%, 200%, 400% or more of the mass or weight of at least the guide member and the release combined or 150%, 200%, 400% or more the mass or weight of all of the remaining components of the fishing weight. For purposes of clarity and example, it should be understood that 150%, 200% and 400% of mass or weight of 10 grams is respectively 15 grams, 20 grams and 40 grams.  
         [0028]     Assembly  
         [0029]     Assembly or attachment of the fishing weight to a fishing line typically involves attachment of the fishing line to the release and/or attachment of the weighted mass to the release and/or fishing wherein one or both of the attachments is releasable. Generally, the assembly of the fishing weight will depend upon the configuration and parts used for the fishing weight. As one example, if the fishing weight is entirely or substantially entirely formed of a singular material, the fishing weight may not require substantial assembly and may be suitable for attachment to a fishing line (e.g., via a clip or other release) upon formation of the fishing weight. Thus, it should be understood that the following detailed discussion of the assembly of the fishing weight  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  to a fishing line is for exemplary purposes and that, depending upon the type of release used for the fishing weight or depending upon other variables, assembly of the fishing weight  10  could be different while still remaining within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0030]     With reference to  FIG. 3  and  4 , the fishing weight  10  is illustrated during and upon assembly thereof to a fishing line  58 . In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the line  58  is extended into and through an opening  60  (e.g., a through-hole) in an upper portion of the guide member  16  and into and through an opening  62  (e.g., a through-hole) in the annular disc  18 . The line  58  is then located in an opening  66  (e.g., a cavity) between the legs  46  of the pin  36  and may optionally be wrapped one or more times about the pin  36 . The line  58  is lastly preferably extended through an opening  70  (e.g., a through-hole) in the planar member  52 .  
         [0031]     To set the release  14  and complete assembly, the receiving member  38  is extended into and through an opening  72  (e.g., through-hole) in the body  12  of the weight  10  and more particularly in the weighted mass  22 . The guide member  16  and the weight mass  22  are both received in or adjacent the openings  28  (e.g., cavities) formed in the annular disc  18 . Then, the pin  36  is inserted into the opening  42  of the receiving member  38 , thereby lodging the body  12  including the weight mass  22  and the annular disc  18  at least partially between the pin  36  and the guide member  16 . In the embodiment illustrated, upon insertion, the pin  36  interferingly engages the receiving member  38  to releasably fasten the pin  36  to the receiving member  38 .  
         [0032]     Before, after or during assembly of the fishing weight to the fishing line, depending upon the configuration of the fishing weight or other factors, a fish hooking device is typically attached (e.g., tied) to a distal end of the fishing line. In the embodiment shown, the fishing line is tied to a fish hooking device  80 , which is shown as a single fish hook. However, it will be understood that the fishing weight may be employed in conjunction with several types of fish hooking devices including, without limitation, lures (e.g., spoons, plugs or the like), live bait (e.g., worms, minnows, leaches or the like), flies, rubber worms, combinations thereof or the like all of which typically include or are use in conjunction with hooks.  
         [0033]     Operation  
         [0034]     Generally, the body of the fishing weight of the present invention will have a shape and/or a weight distribution that, optionally in conjunction with forces placed upon the fishing weight by a fishing line, causes the fishing weight to dive downwardly away from the surface of a body of water. As an example, it is contemplated that the fishing weight may have a surface or wall that is downwardly skew relative to the path of travel of the fishing weight. As an additional or alternative example, the body of the fishing weight could have a weight distribution that places a greater amount (e.g., greater than 50%, 55%, 60%, 70%, 80% or even more) of the mass or weight of the total fishing weight in a forward portion (i.e. forward at least 50% of the total volume of the fishing weight) of the fishing weight.  
         [0035]     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a dashed line  84  has been employed for dividing the fishing weight  10  into a forward portion  86  and a rearward portion  88 . As can be seen, the weighted mass  22  includes a higher volume and/or weight portion  90  that is designed to be located in the forward portion of the weight  10  upon assembly thereof for assisting the diving of the weight  10 . This weighted portion  90  assists in creating the aforementioned weight distribution. The body  12  or annular disc  18  of the fishing weight  10  has a surface or wall  94  that is skew relative to the expected path of travel  100  of the fishing weight  10  for assisting the diving of the weight  10 . It can also be seen that, by virtue of the line  58  extending through the opening  60  of guide member  16  and then attaching to the pin  36  below the opening  60 , pulling of the fishing weight  10  through the water will assist the fishing weight  10  in angling and/or diving downwardly.  
         [0036]     Upon placement and pulling of the fishing weight in the water, the fishing weight will dive downwardly through the water thereby diving the fish hooking device downwardly as it trails the weight. Advantageously, the design of the fishing weight can be such that the fishing weight can be configured to dive to a particular depth or range of depths, which may be dependent upon the amount of line between the fishing weight and the surface of the water and other factors (e.g., speed at which the fishing weight is being pulled through the water by a trolling boat or the reeling in of the fishing line). For the exemplary embodiment illustrated, it is contemplated that multiple different weighted masses such as the weighted mass  22  illustrated that have been modified to have varied different higher volume and/or weight portions similar to but different from as the portion  90  illustrated may be employed in conjunction with the other components of the weight  10  to make the weight dive to different predetermined depths or depth ranges.  
         [0037]     Additionally, the fishing weight may include a guide member that provides the fishing weight with the tendency to move laterally underwater. Such a guide member will typically provide a surface or wall that, underwater, is or becomes skew relative to the fishing line pulling the weight. In the embodiment illustrated, the receiving member  38 , the guide member  16  or both have a protrusion  106  extending therefrom. Upon assembly of the weight, the protrusion is typically located within one of a plurality of openings  108  (e.g., cavities) which are extensions of the main opening  72  of the weighted mass  22 . Depending upon the opening  108  into which the protrusion is placed, the fishing weight  10  will either have a tendency to move laterally right or left relative to the fishing line  58  or travel a relatively straight line behind the fishing line due to the different positioning of the guide member  16  relative to the fishing line.  
         [0038]     In the event of a fish striking the fish hooking device, it is preferable for the fishing weight to transform to a non-diving configuration and/or for the fishing weight to release the weighted mass or another portion of the fishing weight. In the embodiment shown, a fish strike will typically cause the pin  36  to be pulled out of or released from the opening  42  of the receiving member  38 . In that event, the weighted mass  22  is released from the rest of the components (i.e., the guide member  16 , the annular disc  18 , and the pin  36  and rudder  52 ) of the fishing weight  10  and released from the fishing line  58 . However, the remaining components (i.e., the guide member  16 , the the annular disc  18 , and the pin  36  and rudder  52 ) remain connected to the fishing line  58  since the line  58  extends into and/or through enclosed openings  60 ,  62 ,  70  of those components. Of course, as an option, the weighted mass  22  could having an opening (e.g. a through-hole) through which the line  58  could be extended such that the weight mass  22  is also maintained on the line  58  in the event of fish striking the fish hooking device  80 . Advantageously, this reconfiguration and/or loss of weight mass provides a fisherman with a more desirable fish fighting experience.  
         [0039]     Additional or Alternative Features and/or Embodiments  
         [0040]      FIGS. 5-7  illustrate an alternative or additional embodiment of a fishing weight  110  according to the present invention. It should be understood that the fishing weight of  FIGS. 5-7  is substantially similar or identical to the fishing weight of  FIGS. 1-4  with certain exceptions. As such, discussions of components, assembly and operation of the fishing weight of  FIGS. 1-4  are also used to describe those features of the fishing weight of  FIGS. 5-7  where applicable.  
         [0041]     The fishing weight  110  of  FIGS. 5-7  includes a body  112 , a guide member  114 , a primary release  116  and a secondary release  118 . The body  112  includes only a weighted mass  122 , although it could include other components as well.  
         [0042]     The secondary release is typically configured for, upon application of significant force to a fishing line (e.g., from a fishing line source such as a fishing pole and/or reel), release of at least a portion of the secondary release from the rest of the fishing weight such that the fishing weight has a lesser tendency to dive. Thus, an individual or otherwise can apply significant force to the fishing weight by pulling on the fishing line (e.g., typically pulling on the line between the fishing line source and the fishing weight) such that the secondary release releases and changes the force diving dynamic of the fishing weight.  
         [0043]     In  FIGS. 5-7 , the secondary release  118  includes a secondary release receiving member  130  and a secondary release protrusion member  132 . As can be seen, the receiving member  130  includes an opening  136  shown as a cavity suitable for receipt of the protrusion member  132 . As shown, the protrusion member  132  is at an upper portion of the guide member  114 , however, it may be elsewhere located if desired. The secondary release  118  also includes an opening  140  (e.g., a through-hole) for receiving fishing line  142 .  
         [0044]     As can be seen, the fishing line  142  (e.g., from a fishing line source) can extend through the opening  140  in the secondary release  118  then through an opening  144  in a forward portion  148  of the fishing weight  110  shown in the exemplary embodiment as through-hole in the forward portion  148  of the guide member  114 . The line  142  can then be engaged by the primary release  116  as was described in relation to the fishing weight of  FIGS. 1-4 .  
         [0045]     In operation, the fishing weight  110  tends to dive since the source line  150  (i.e., the portion of the line  142  between the weight  110  and the source of the line  142 ) pulls on the release  118  at an upward region of the fishing weight  110  assisting in providing for the tendency of the fishing weight to dive. Then, if it becomes desirable to bring the weight  110  to the surface of the water, a significant force can be applied to the source line  142  releasing the secondary release  118  without releasing the primary release  116 . Thus, the source line  142  pulls at the forward portion  148  of the weight  110  and the tendency of the weight  110  to dive is at least significantly lessened.  
         [0046]     In addition to the above, it is contemplated that the fishing weight may be without a weighted mass. In such an embodiment, the weighted mass of the above embodiment could be replace by one of more alternative lighter weight pieces that, upon the strike of a fish, disassemble from the other components of the fishing weight and either are release as with the weighted mass or remain on the line.  
         [0047]     Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Plural structural components can be provided by a single integrated structure. Alternatively, a single integrated structure might be divided into separate plural components. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0048]     The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed. A person of ordinary skill in the art would realize however, that certain modifications would come within the teachings of this invention. Therefore, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of the invention.