US4459775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Weedless sinker
Assignee: Water Gremlin Co
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Filing: 1982-06-28
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Granted: 1984-07-17
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Expires: 2002-06-28
Abstract
Abstract An attachment for a fishing line which comprises an elongated sinker having an end section with line grippers for locking onto a fishing line and a pair of eyes for holding the fishing line in proper position. The interior of the sinker contains a groove which holds the fishing line in the center of the sinker and a pair of line gripping members located on the end of the sinker coact with the body of the sinker to firmly hold the line in the sinker. A line organizer forms part of the eye and prevents the opening in the end of the sinker from being closed during the tumbling action that sinkers encounter prior to use. The sinker body can be mounted on the fishing line so the sinker body remains symmetrical with respect to the fishing line to thereby produce a weedless sinker that maintains its alignment with the fishing line.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Ratte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:21
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K95/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A weedless type sinker for storage in a bulk condition prior to using the sinker, said sinker having a center line and a general streamlined shape comprising a sinker body having a first end and a second end; a nub located on one end of said sinker for folding over to grasp a line; a line organizer located in a spaced position from said nub, said line organizer including a first upward extending line engaging surface, a second upward extending line engaging surface and a third line engaging surface connecting said first upward extending line engaging surface to said second upward extending line engaging surface, said first upward extending line engaging surface and said second upward extending line engaging surface coacting to prevent lateral displacement of a line located therebetween, one of said line engaging surfaces forming a minimum diverging angle of about 15° with respect to the center line through said sinker to thereby prevent the opening between said first upward extending line engaging surface, said second upward extending line engaging surface and said third line engaging surface from being closed by repeated tumbling of said sinkers, said line organizer having sufficient height so that when said nub is folded over to grasp a line, said nub and said line organizer coact to define an opening in the end of said sinker to thereby function as an eye for a fishing line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A weedless type sinker for storage in a bulk condition prior to using the sinker, said sinker having a center line and a general streamlined shape comprising a sinker body having a first end and a second end; a nub located on one end of said sinker for folding over to grasp a line; a line organizer located in a spaced position from said nub, said line organizer including a first upward extending line engaging surface, a second upward extending line engaging surface and a third line engaging surface connecting said first upward extending line engaging surface to said second upward extending line engaging surface, said first upward extending line engaging surface and said second upward extending line engaging surface coacting to prevent lateral displacement of a line located therebetween, one of said line engaging surfaces forming a minimum diverging angle of about 15° with respect to the center line through said sinker to thereby prevent the opening between said first upward extending line engaging surface, said second upward extending line engaging surface and said third line engaging surface from being closed by repeated tumbling of said sinkers, said line organizer having sufficient height so that when said nub is folded over to grasp a line, said nub and said line organizer coact to define an opening in the end of said sinker to thereby function as an eye for a fishing line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The sinker of claim 1 wherein one of said line engaging surfaces diverges outward to prevent said opening in the end of the sinker from closing during handling of said sinker.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sinker of claim 1 wherein said sinker includes a V-shaped line engaging member having an apex located above the center line of said sinker.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sinker of claim 1 wherein said sinker has a nub on each end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The sinker of claim 1 wherein said line organizer projects sufficient distance to form a stop for said nub when said nub is folded around a fishing line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The sinker of claim 5 wherein said nub has a shape that conforms to the streamlined body shape of the sinker when the nub is in a folded position around a line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US399866A
Cited
US2733538A
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US2459287A
Cited
US2599973A
Cited
US3557486A
Cited
US4145833A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-17 | 1988-01-16 | 1988-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-17 | 1992-01-16 | 1992-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-17 | 1996-01-16 | 1996-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |