Device to hold, dispense and install slotted weights used with fishing line

In combination, a sinker handling unit including a holder, dispenser and installer for a plurality of split shot sinkers, each of the split shot sinkers having a slot, the slot having a spread state and a closed state, the sinker handling unit comprising:

• a) advancement means to provide for placing one of the split shot sinkers as a target sinker, the target sinker being the next sinker to be dispensed from the sinker handling unit;
• b) retaining means to provide for holding the target sinker in the spread state for placement of a line within the slot of the target sinker;
• c) clamping means to provide for a pressure to be applied to the target sinker to close the slot from the spread state to the closed state;
• d) a removal member to provide for removal of an installed split shot sinker secured to the line, the removal performed by crimping of a pair of removal members situated on the split shot sinker distal from the slot, the crimping resulting in an opening of the slot to release the line;
• whereby the sinker handling unit holds the plurality of split shot sinkers and the advancement means places one of the split shot sinkers as the target sinker where the line may be placed within the slot of the target sinker where pressure closes the slot and attaches the target sinker to the line and the removal member may remove the installed split shot sinker from the line.

In combination, a dispensing unit including a holder, dispenser and installer for split shot sinkers, each of the split shot sinkers having a slot and alignment means, the slot having a spread state and a closed state, the alignment means to provide for an ordered contact, the ordered contact to provide for a nestable stacking of adjacent split shot sinkers while held in a contacting state wherein each set of adjacent split shot sinkers is in contact, the dispensing unit comprising:

• a) a dispensing end to provide for access to a target sinker, the target sinker being the split shot sinker next to be dispensed from the dispensing unit;
• b) a retaining member to provide for a prevention of a premature discharge of the target sinker from the dispensing unit, the retaining member located in close proximity to the dispensing end, the retaining member to cooperate with the target sinker while the slot of the target sinker is in the spread state to prevent discharge of the target sinker from the dispensing unit;
• c) a guide channel to provide for retention of the split shot sinkers in the ordered contact, the guide channel to provide for a passage of the split shot sinkers to the dispensing end of the dispensing unit;
• d) an advancement member to provide for a controlled advancement, the controlled advancement moving the split shot sinkers along the guide channel while in the contacting state toward the dispensing end of the dispensing unit following removal of the target sinker from the dispensing end, the advancement member to provide for a continuous pressure between each adjacent set of the split shot sinkers within the guide channel;
• e) a clamping member to provide for a controlled pressure to be applied to the target sinker, the controlled pressure to provide for a closure of the slot of the target sinker, the target sinker being releasable by the retaining member following the closure of the slot, the clamping member positioned in close proximity to the dispensing end;
• f) a removal member to provide for removal of an installed split shot sinker secured to the line, the removal performed by crimping a pair of removal members situated on the split shot sinker distal from the slot, the crimping resulting in an opening of the slot to release the line;
• whereby the dispensing unit holds a plurality of split shot sinkers in the ordered contact position within the dispensing unit, the target sinker is disposed at the dispensing end ready for closure of the slot using the clamping member, following closure of the slot the target sinker is released from the dispensing unit and the remaining split shot sinkers advance along the guide channel with the split shot sinker previously adjacent the target sinker becoming the target sinker.

In combination, a unit including a holder, dispenser and installer for reuseable weights, the reuseable weights for attachment to a fishing line, each of the reuseable weights having a slot, the slot having a spread state and a closed state, each reuseable weight of a type having features rendering the slot easily openable from the closed state, the unit comprising:

• a) advancement means to provide for an advancement of all the reuseable weights in the unit, any adjacent pair of the reuseable weights having a physical contact therebetween during and following the advancement, the advancement means placing an outermost reuseable weight as a target sinker, the target sinker being the next reuseable weight to be dispensed from the unit, the slot of the target sinker in the spread state prior to being dispensed from the unit;
• b) a tubular housing member;
• c) retaining means to provide for holding the target sinker in a dispensing position within the unit for placement of the fishing line within the slot of the target sinker and wherein the retaining means further comprises a flexible radially disposed member secured in a first end of the tubular housing member and wherein the first end of the tubular housing member and the flexible radially disposed member secured therein are penetrated by opposing notches, the opposing notches to provide for access to the slot of the target sinker to permit insertion therein of the fishing line;
• d) clamping means to provide for a controlled pressure to be applied to the target sinker to close the slot from the spread state to the closed state wherein the target sinker is releasable from the unit following closure of the slot from the spread state to the closed state and any remaining reuseable weights advance by means of the advancement means;
• whereby the unit holds a plurality of reuseable weights and the advancement means places one of the reuseable weights as the target sinker in the dispensing position where the line may be placed within the slot of the target sinker where the controlled pressure closes the slot and attaches the target sinker to the line and where the target sinker is then released from the unit and any remaining reuseable weights advance by means of the advancement means.