Patent ID: 7621070

Claim:
A line shield for a sinker line that attaches to a sinker, the line shield comprising: a resilient tube having a tube passage through which the sinker line can freely pass, said tube terminating in a tube leading end and a tube trailing end, said tube trailing end being enlarged, said tube trailing end further comprising: a trailing end ledge facing toward said tube leading end; and means for securing said tube trailing end with respect to the sinker, said means for securing said tube trailing end with respect to the sinker further comprising a hood of resilient material having a hood passage therethrough which is configured to frictionally connect to the sinker, said hood further comprises: at least one rearward-facing ledge formed by at least one cutout in said hood, said at least one cutout extending through the hood transverse to a longitudinal axis of said hood, said at least one cutout communicating with said hood passage at an inner end thereof and with an exterior of said hood at an exterior end thereof, said at least one cutout being positively engaged by said trailing end ledge of said tube when said tube trailing end is inserted into said hood passage and said trailing end ledge extends into said at least one cutout and engages said at least one rearward-facing ledge; and said tube trailing end further comprises a tapered guide portion that facilitates insertion of said tube trailing end into said hood, the frictional connection of said hood passage to the sinker and the frictional engagement of said hood passage with said tube trailing end serving to secure said tube trailing end with respect to the sinker so as to flexibly maintain said tube trailing end in close proximity to the sinker to allow said tube to guide the sinker over obstructions.