US 10,440,941 B2Granted

Reusable rock holder for fishing sinker

OwnerGarrett Alan Hallinventor

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Abstract

A reusable rock holder for use as a fishing sinker is disclosed. According to embodiments of the disclosure, instead of using a conventional fishing sinker in a fishing rig, the reusable rock holder can secure a rock or other object for use as a sinker. The reusable rock holder can secure rocks or objects having different or irregular shapes and/or sizes corresponding to materials naturally occurring in the environment. Furthermore, the reusable rock holder can release the rock or other object when snagged, allowing the fisherman to retrieve the rock holder and the rest of the fishing rig. The fisherman can then simply find another rock, secure it in the rock holder, and resume fishing. The availability of rocks at the fishing location can provide a zero-cost source of eco-friendly sinkers.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A reusable object holder for use with a fishing rig, comprising:

a release mechanism configured for temporarily securing an object, the release mechanism comprising:
a central loop configured to be disposed proximate to the object temporarily secured by the release mechanism and a plurality of independently flexible arms physically connected to the central loop, configurable around an outer surface of the object as a whole without passing through an interior of the object, wherein the plurality of independently flexible arms comprises:
a first member that forms an arm with a first hook and another arm with a first loop at opposite ends of the first member, wherein the first hook and the first loop are configured to physically couple while the release mechanism temporarily secures the object,
a second member that forms an arm with a second hook and another arm with a second loop at opposite ends of the second member, wherein the second hook and the second loop are configured to physically couple while the release mechanism temporarily secures the object,
wherein each of the arms formed by the first and second members is configured to be independently flexible, and
wherein the first and second members are formed from two different discrete pieces of malleable material;
wherein the release mechanism is capable of securing objects of different shapes and sizes;
and
wherein the release mechanism is configurable for releasing the object when the object has become immobilized and a first force is applied to the release mechanism which releases the object without any arm of the plurality of independently flexible arms being physically disconnected from the central loop of the release mechanism.

6 more elements

A method of retaining and releasing an object during fishing, comprising:

temporarily securing an object within a release mechanism by wrapping a plurality of independently flexible arms that are each physically connected to a central loop around an outer surface of the object as a whole without passing through an interior of the object;
forming a first member into an arm with a first hook and another arm with a first loop at opposite ends of a first member and coupling the first hook with the first loop;
forming a second member into an arm with a second hook and another arm with a second loop at opposite ends of a second member and coupling the second hook with the second loop, wherein each of the arms of the first and second members are independently flexible, and wherein the first and second members are formed from two different discrete pieces of malleable material;
adjusting the release mechanism to secure the object regardless of the object's shape and size;
and
activating the release mechanism to release the object when the object has become immobilized by applying a first force to the release mechanism.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.