GB2236039A - Fishing sinker - Google Patents

Abstract

The sinker comprises a cast lead body 1 having four flat, generally triangular wing portions 3 which radiate outwardly from a central axis 4. An attachment wire 2 extends axially from the leading end of the body 1 to form a stem portion 9, and is then formed into an eye 10. The wire is then wrapped several times around the stem portion, as indicated at 11, following which it extends perpendicularly from the stem to form a bait clip 12, and the extreme end 13 of the wire is bent back perpendicularly towards the body 1. <IMAGE>

Description

FISHING SINKER TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sinkers as used in sea fishing to carry a baited fishing hook out to sea and thereafter to carry it below the surface of the water.

BACKGROUND Most sinkers are formed of lead or at least include lead as a major constituent, usually with a steel wire included for attachment to a fishing line. Numerous shapes of lead sinker have been proposed over the years.

Fishing in rocky areas has always posed something of a problem to the sea angler because of the high risk of the sinker becoming snagged by submerged rocks, and most anglers lose large numbers of sinkers in this way.

In recent years it has been proposed to attach a pair of plastics wings to the wire of a conventional lead sinker in an attempt to make it rise in the water when the line is reeled in. However, the amount of lift which they generate is limited, and they may also become detached from the wire during casting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes a fishing sinker inclcuding a cast lead body having at least three distinct flat or substantially flat wing-like portions radiating outwards from a central or substantially central axis, and in which the outer edges of the winglike portions progressively converge towards the aforementioned axis from a region at or adjacent to a trailing end of the body towards a leading end of the body.

It has been found that the wing-like portions create a considerable and sustainable lift in the water as the sinker is reeled back to shore, and the sinker may frequently be observed to rise to the surface of the water thus lifting it completely clear of any submerged rocks or other objects. In addition, it has been found that since the lead body is considerably more aerodynamic than many other shapes commonly used, the sinker can travel further out to sea than other forms of sinker.

Although the use of three, five or even more wing portions is possible, four appears to be the optimum number. Moreover, it is relatively easy to cast a lead body having four wings whereas other numbers could prove to be more difficult.

The body will normally have a wire stem projecting axially from its leading end, with the opposite end of the wire to the body being formed into an eye for attachment of a fishing line. After forming the eye the free end of the wire is preferably wrapped at least once around the stem, from whence it projects laterally of the stem. A baited hook may thus be impaled upon the projecting end of the wire during casting. The sinker thus incorporates the features of a lead weight, a flight or lift feature, and a bait clip, all in one article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sinker of the invention, and Figure 2 is an end elevation of the sinker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The sinker comprises a cast lead body 1 and a wire attachment porion 2.

The lead body 1 consists of four flat wing portions 3 which radiate outwardly from a central axis 4 and lie on two mutually intersecting palnes so that, in end view, the body is of cruciform shape. Each wing portion 3 is of substantially uniform thickness and, in side view, is of generally triangular shape. More specifically, the inner, longest edge 5 of each wing is straight, and at the leading end of the flight this edge meets an outer edge 6 which is again substantially straight and is inclined at an acute angle to the inner edge 5. Towards the trailing end of the flight the outer edge 6 meets a rear edge 7 which in turn meets the inner edge 5 at a relatively steep angle. The rear edge 7 is also chamfered at both sides of the wing so that it is of shallow V-shaped section.The wings each contain an aperture 8 which extends perpendicular to the axis 4 and breaks through the respective outer edge 6 adjacent to the rear edge 7. These apertures can each receive a grip wire for anchoring the sinker to the sea bed in rough tidal waters, in known manner.

The lead body 1 can easily be cast in a two-part mould.

The attachment portion 2 is formed from a single length of stainless steel wire, one end of which is cast into the lead body. The wire extends axially from the leading end of the body to form a stem portion 9, and is then formed into an eye 10. The wire is then wrapped several times around the stem portion, as indicated at 11, following which it extends perpendicularly from the stem to form a bait clip 12.

The extreme end 13 of the wire is bent back perpendicularly towards the body 1 so that when a baited hook is impaled upon the free end of the wire it will be carried with the sinker during casting.

However, on impact with the water the baited hook will invariably become free of the sinker.

The finished sinker is thus a one-piece article which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and, when used as outlined above, has all of the above-mentioned advantages.

Claims (10)

1. A fishing sinker including a cast lead body having at least three distinct flat or substantially flat wing-like portions radiating outwards from a central or substantially central axis, and in which the outer edges of the wing-like portions progressively converge towards the aforementioned axis from a region at or adjacent to a trailing end of the body towards a leading end of the body.

2. A sinker according to Claim 1, having precisely four such wing-like portions.

3. A sinker according to Claim 2, in which the body is of cruciform shape in end view.

4. A sinker according to any preceding claim, in which the wing-like portions are of substantially uniform thickness.

5. A sinker according to any preceding claim, in which each wing-like portion has a straight inner edge which, and at the leading end of the flight, meets a substantially straight outer edge of the wing-like portion and which is inclined at an acute angle to the inner edge, and towards the trailing end of the winglike portion the outer edge meets a rear edge which in turn meets the inner edge at a relatively steep angle.

6. A sinker according to Claim 5, in which the rear edge is chamfered at both sides of the wing-like portion so that it is of shallow V-shaped section.

7. A sinker according to any preceding claim, in which the body has a wire stem projecting axially from its leading end, with the opposite end of the wire to the body being formed into an eye for attachment of a fishing line.

8. A sinker according to Claim 7, in which, after forming the eye, the free end of the wire is wrapped at least once around the stem, from whence it projects laterally of the stem.

9. A sinker according to Claim 8, in which the extreme end of the wire is directed back towards the cast body.

10. A fishing sinker substantially as described with reference to the drawings.