Patent Application
20180117738
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The AP Vise was designed for the primary purpose of tying flies for fly fishing but may be utilized in any procedure that requires movement around a small object that needs to remain stationary during such procedure. Flies for fly fishing are typically wound on vises that are designed for holding various sizes of fish hooks. Holding these hooks is also an area of importance and requires enough clamping force to prevent any hook movement. A rotary cam for the hook holding jaws is typically placed on a vertical post that is mounted on a stable pedestal. In most cases, a rigid arm that is attached to the vertical post holds a wire of some kind for placing the bobbin thread.
There are a multitude of previous inventions that involve fly tying vises and, of these, a few involve the rotation of the hook along a center axis, i.e. the center axis being at the tip of the jaws and center of the cam. Fischer, U.S. Pat. No. 2,586,636; Stratton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,497; Renzetti, U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,562; Carter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,948; Norlander, U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,145; Newton, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,673; Renzetti, U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,079; Vogel U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,972; Strait, U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,304. However, these vises do not account for the different height of hook above the tip of the jaws, and do not allow the tier to adjust therefore. Several patents other than those already listed, have asserted claims that their vise jaws rotate laterally around the vertical post. Anderson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,305; Price U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,577; Roby, U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,867. Su, U.S. Pat. No. 7,950,638, took this one step further, allowing the jaws to rotate laterally during the tying process.” Others, referenced above, have claimed separate linear motion or rotation of certain parts of their vise but such positioning is highly limited. Furthermore, no previously referenced vise offered the tier a choice between tying with angled jaws or straight jaws.
In sum, issues with previous fly tying vise technology that this invention is designed to remedy, include but are not limited to the following: limited stability due to smaller, less stable pedestals; no measurement system incorporated into the fly tying vise to measure flies; limited or no means to secure fly tying tools and hooks on the pedestal and no means to magnetize or re-magnetize the hooks; limitation of movement around the hook due to the location of the cam, jaws, and hook relative to post that the cam and jaws are mounted to; inability to turn the cam vertically 360 degrees, allowing the tier to change the axis of rotation of the jaws from vertical to horizontal; inability or difficulty adjusting the vise to suit a left-hand dominant tier to a right-hand dominant tier and vice versa; inability to adjust the cam up and down the vertical post relative to the pedestal; limited hook holding power of the jaws, which allows the jaws to spread and/or the hook to slip; limited or no device or application to help the fly tier avoid tying tilted flies; limited or no flexibility for positioning the thread holder or the material pliers; and, the need to choose between straight or angled jaws when purchasing a vise.
Those who are skilled in tying flies need the fly fishing hook to be stable in the vise jaws even when excess force is applied. Such stability provides ease of tying when various materials are used. The friction adjustments on the offset cam can be set to the desired force giving complete control over fly tying. The ability to maneuver the various parts of the vise into different desired positions and angles, is ideal for good fly tying and tying different types of the flies. The ability to adjust the jaws, straight or angled, linearly with respect to the cam, allowing the tier to adjust the position of any size hook so that the shank of the hook rotates on a perfect center axis, is ideal for good fly tying. Bringing the bobbin thread holder and the back snatch near the hook at any position is important for the fly tier's' tying method. The art of the present invention implements these attributes in connection with tying a perfect fly. The invention provides the means to tie a fly pattern with ease by arranging the vise at any angular position that is most comfortable for the individual giving total control over the tying method.
In sum, this invention improves or solves the above-described issues with prior art as follows: This invention has a larger, more stable pedestal and when combined with the solid, taller and larger-than-normal vertical post, serves as a platform to hold the back snatch, cam, and accessories; unlike prior art, the pedestal of this invention provides multiple means for storing tools, attracting and securing hooks and re-magnetizing jaws, and for measuring flies and materials; the offset cam does not restrict but allows 360 degree freedom of movement around the hook; the cam/jaw assembly may be moved up and down and 360 degrees horizontally around the vertical post; the jaws rotate 360 degrees and can spin freely or be secured in place at the tier's preference; the horizontal post allows for 360 degree rotation of the cam/jaw assembly, allowing the tier to turn the cam 90 degrees, changing the axis of tying rotation from horizontal or vertical; the invention easily adjusts to accommodate left-hand dominant and right-hand dominant fly tiers; the jaws have superior hook holding power due to improved tensioning system of the jaws; the cam has angular indicator markings that align on the bearing housing and jaw plate adjust, to help prevent the tier from tying tilted flies; the swiveling, flexible back snatch that holds the bobbin thread holder and material pliers is also adjustable up and down and 360 degrees around the vertical post, allowing the tier to move the back snatch almost anywhere the individual finds use for it; includes both a straight jaw plate or angled jaw plate, to suit the preference of any tier; and, these jaw plates allow the tier to adjust the jaws up and down with respect to the cam, allowing the tier to adjust the position of any size hook so that the shank of the hook rotates on a perfect center axis.
For purposes of this description, the term “cam/jaw assembly” refers to the combination of the cam, which includes a jaw plate release, knurled rotation grip, a bearing housing, and a jaw plate adjust, an angled jaw plate or a straight jaw plate; and, a pair of jaws (see
In reference to the drawings, each drawing shows the fly tying vise or a part thereof, which embodies the present invention. Each individual part or element of the vise is not new per se. However, the present invention is focused on the unique combination of angular positioning achieved by the vise, which, unlike any other vise before it, allows the tier to position the jaws and fish hook in a larger variety of angles than ever achieved by a previous fly tying vise. Please note that direction of rotation, linear movement, and other measurements utilized herein are utilized as a means to illustrate the angular positioning of the vise and may not be exact but are substantially as described.
For purposes of
Moving up
Unlike the rigid arms used in previous inventions, the flexibility of the back snatch allows the tier to position the thread holder and material pliers near the hook or in any number of desired positions, while the strength and stability of the back snatch hold it in place. When not in use the back snatch can be moved away from the work area and can easily be removed from the vise entirely, if desired, and replaced when needed.
Moving further up
Beginning on the far left of
The next part of the cam in
The next part of the cam in
The final major part of the cam in
The next parts of the cam/jaw assembly in
The final part of the invention described in
For complete, simple left-hand/right-hand conversion, the clamping mechanism, 17, must be loosened via the lever, 18. Then, the horizontal post, 19, is rotated 180 degrees, vertically spinning the cam/jaw assembly 180 degrees, and then, the cam/jaw assembly must be rotated around the vertical post, 8, so that the jaws point back toward the front end of the pedestal, 1, and then, the lever, 18, is tightened to secure the cam/jaw assembly in place. Next the lever on the jaws, 34, must be removed from the fixed jaw, 31, and screwed back into the adjustable jaw, 33. Finally, the micro-tension adjustment screw, 35, in the bearing housing, 25, must be removed from the top of the bearing housing, 25, and screwed into the bottom of the bearing housing, 25.
For purpose of
Although the vise is stable with the cam/jaw assembly pointed anywhere within the four corners of the pedestal, the ideal placement of the main parts or features of the vise for balance and stability while tying with the cam/jaw assembly in the horizontal position, is with the back sides of the pedestal where the vertical post is mounted, placed farther away from the tier and the front sides of the pedestal placed closer to the tier, the tip of the jaws pointing toward the front end of the pedestal, with the horizontal post running approximately parallel to the back, right side of the pedestal (i.e. the side that makes up the right side of the back ninety degree corner of the pedestal), and the cam/jaw assembly running approximately parallel to the right front side of the pedestal. Similarly, the ideal placement of the main parts or features of the vise for balance and stability while tying with the cam/jaw assembly in the vertical position, is with the back sides of the pedestal where the vertical post is mounted, placed farther away from the tier and the front sides of the pedestal placed closer to the tier, with the tip of the jaws pointing upwards in line with the center of the front end of the pedestal, with the back end of the horizontal post pointing toward the back corner of the pedestal where the vertical post is mounted and the front end of the pedestal pointing toward the front end of the pedestal.
Another important aspect of the vise, is the ability to break it down for travel or for cleaning. The jaws, 31-34, are easily removed from the cam by releasing the jaw plate, 28 or 29, from the jaw plate adjust with the jaw plate release knob, 20. By removing the screw, 30, from the back of the jaw plate, 28 or 29, and the fixed jaw, 31, the jaws can be easily removed from the jaw plate, and then disassembled themselves by unscrewing lever, 34, and then pushing the hinge, 32, out. Next the cam, horizontal post, 19, and clamping mechanism, 17, can
In sum, the present invention claims 360 degree horizontal rotation of the vertical post, perpendicular to the stable pedestal, a horizontal plan. The cam, which houses the jaws, can be positioned in multiple ways at any given time: (i) it can be moved and secured at any position up and down the vertical post, parallel to the pedestal; (ii) it also claims 360 degree lateral rotation around the vertical post, parallel to the pedestal; (iii) then, the horizontal post connecting the cam to the vertical post provides a horizontal axis (running perpendicular to the vertical post and parallel to the pedestal) and can be rotated vertically 360 degrees on the horizontal axis, this being ideal for tying parachute patterns when the jaws are pointed upwards allowing the hook shank to be in a vertical position during horizontal rotation; (iv) finally, the cam itself has an internal horizontal axis (running perpendicular to the vertical post and horizontal post), which allows the tier to free spin the jaws or braked and secure the jaws in any desired position on a 360 degree horizontal, vertical, or any axis in between depending on the position of the cam itself as positioned in section (iii) of this paragraph. The jaws themselves, via the jaw plate that runs perpendicular to the jaws, can be positioned up and down along the jaw plate, allowing the tier to position the hook ideally to achieve perfectly balanced rotation regardless of hook size or position of the cam relative to the horizontal or vertical post. Meanwhile, the flexible back snatch can be positioned at almost any angle, allowing the tier to place the thread holder or material clip almost anywhere relative to the hook (within the 12″ reach of the flexible arm).
Any combination of the above-described simultaneous angular positioning options for the various parts of the AP Vise allow the tier to achieve an infinite number of unique positions that suit the tier's comfort and/or preference. While previous inventions have achieved one or maybe two of the above-described angular positions simultaneously, none have achieved the number of simultaneous angular positions claimed by the AP Vise. Furthermore, while few of the fly tying vises previously described have allowed conversion for both right and left handed tiers, no other vise has allowed the above-described positioning to be achieved conveniently by both right and left hand tiers by means of a simple conversion. The angular rotational markings on the cam, allow the tier to achieve substantially perfect alignment of the hook, to avoid tying tilted flies.
The up and down movement of the vise is also important for those that need to have the vise closer to their eyes for better viewing, comfort, or other relevant purposes. The implementation of the cam offset in relation to the jaws is an attribute of this invention. Keeping the hook on center is a key factor for tying ease and accuracy. With complete offset adjustment an individual can use various hook sizes without limitation.
While tying a fly, ideally the curve of the hook is placed in the jaws of the fly tying vise, which allows the shank to stand above and parallel to the jaws. This invention implements angular markings on the offset cam so that the proper angle can be achieved for a particular type of fly, allowing the fly tier a better chance to avoid tying tilted or askew flies. The friction adjustment is used to keep the jaws in place at a set angle for tying ease or can be disengaged to allow the jaws to free spin 360 degrees.
In sum, the AP Vise improves or solves the above-described issues with previous inventions as follows: The vise has a larger, more stable pedestal and when combined with the solid vertical post, which is taller than previous inventions, serve as a platform to hold the back snatch, cam, accessories, and accommodate heavier flies; Unlike previous inventions, the vise has a large, depressed flat area within the surface of the pedestal, that contains a rare earth magnet which attracts hooks and metal tools and serves to magnetized and re-magnetize the jaws and the pedestal has six large holes along the outside of the vise that hold tools; The offset cam does not restrict but allows 360 degree freedom of movement around the hook; The horizontal post allows for 360 degree rotation of the jaws, allowing the tier to turn the cam 90 degrees, changing the axis of tying rotation from horizontal or vertical, allowing the tier to tie parachute patterns; Vise easily adjusts to accommodate left-hand dominant and right-hand dominant fly tiers; The cam/jaw assembly is easily adjusted up and down the vertical post, allowing the tier to place the jaws closer or farther from their line of vision; (viii) Superior hook holding power due to improved tensioning system of the jaws; (ix) Angular indicators that align on the bearing housing and jaw plate adjust, help prevent the tier from tying tilted flies; (x) Swiveling, flexible back snatch that holds the bobbin thread holder and material pliers is also adjustable up and down, allowing the tier to move the back snatch almost anywhere the individual finds use for it; and, (xi) Includes both a straight jaw plate or angled jaw plate, to suit the preference of any tier.
This invention, the vise, could be utilized in any field which requires close up, detailed work, on an item small and light enough to be secured by a stable structure that also allows for freedom of movement around the item and stable structure, i.e. this vise may be put to use by jewelers, medical practitioners, photographers, electronics, etc. In reality, the potential uses for this vise, are rather numerous within these limits. However, the preferred embodiment of this vise is for use in fly tying, where the fly tier uses the jaws to securely clamp the curve of the hook between the tip of the jaws, then adjusting the shank of the hook (depending on hook size) up and down within the jaw plate adjust until a perfect rotation is reached. Furthermore, the almost unlimited ability to adjust the location of the hook means that the tier can simply move the hook around in multiple directions to examine the fly.
It is considered within the scope of this invention that the vise (excluding the back snatch) may be constructed out of any type of strong, rigid material as long as the same balance, maneuverability, and stability is achieved. However, it is preferable for the jaws to be made of a magnetic strong metal material (as magnetization of the jaws with the rare earth magnet helps hold the hook in place while clamping the jaws around the hook), that is either hard enough to hold hooks or other items without spreading but soft enough so that it will not break due to brittleness, or a metal which can be hardened to achieve the same.
It is contemplated that any optional feature of the inventive variations described may be set forth and claimed independently, or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein. Reference to a singular item, includes the possibility that there is a plurality of the same items present. More specifically, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “said,” and “the” include plural referents, unless specifically stated otherwise. In other words, use of the articles allow for “at least one” of the subject item in the description above as well as the to be appended claims. It is further noted that the to be appended claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation.
Without the use of such exclusive terminology, the term “comprising” in the to be appended claims shall allow for the inclusion of any additional element irrespective of whether a given number of elements are enumerated in the to be appended claim, or the addition of a feature could be regarded as transforming the nature of an element set forth in the to be appended claims. Except as specifically defined herein, all technical and scientific terms used herein are to be given as broad a commonly understood meaning as possible while maintaining to be appended claim validity.
The breadth of the present invention is not to be limited to the examples provided and/or the subject specification, but rather only by the scope of the to be appended claim language. Use of the term “invention” herein is not intended to limit the scope of the to be appended claims in any manner. Rather it should be recognized that the “invention” includes the many variations explicitly or implicitly described herein, including those variations that would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present specification. Further, it is not intended that any section of this specification (e.g., the Summary, Detailed Description, Abstract, Field of the Invention, etc.) be accorded special significance in describing the invention relative to another or the to be appended claims. All references cited are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Although the foregoing invention has been described in detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is contemplated that certain modifications may be practiced within the scope of the to be appended claim.
This application claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 62/393,040 filed Sep. 11, 2016.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62393040 | Sep 2016 | US |
