Patent Application
20050229472
The present invention relates generally to holders for fishing terminal tackle such as sinkers, hooks, swivels, lures, and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for a detachable clip for securing and supporting terminal tackle during temporary storage and transport of an assembly of fishing gear.
The present invention provides a detachable clip for securing terminal tackle such as sinkers, hooks, swivels, lures and the like on a fully rigged fishing pole. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for a detachable clip for securing and supporting terminal tackle during temporary storage and transport of an assembly of fishing gear.
In sport fishing, either fresh or salt water, it is often desirable to move from fishing spot to fishing spot. The fishing gear, including the rod, line, and terminal tackle, is already assembled, or fully rigged. Transport may occur by foot, automobile, cycle, boat or other means of transport, which may require temporary storage of the assembled fishing gear. During transport, a free end of the line extends from the tip of the rod to the terminal tackle, including lures, hooks, swivels, shot, sinkers, and the like. In order to avoid snagging and tangling of this free end of line the angler is usually required to hold the line taut or secure the loose end by some other means. Unless properly secured, this causes great inconvenience to the angler since it could cause entanglement and/or potentially dangerous unwieldy terminal tackle, such as a loose flying hook or heavy sinker.
Different solutions have been proposed in the past, some as simple as fastening the hook to a secure spot on the assembled fishing gear to utilizing devices such as hook holders or line holders. The cheapest and simplest method has been to secure the hook to the reel or rod guide and make taut the fishing line to keep it in place. Various devices are disclosed in the prior art which attach the terminal tackle to the rod to perform this function. Although these methods may reduce somewhat the problem of the hook, this does nothing to eliminate or reduce the problem of a loose and unanchored sinker, which are normally placed at the terminal point or attached a few feet above the hook.
Other solutions have been proposed such as line holders, for example, the Fishing Line Holder disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,095 (Stevenson, R. F.). Such devices accommodate different lengths of leader and secure terminal tackle to the rod, including multiple pieces of terminal tackle (e.g., by use of multiple devices). However, because such devices rely on friction to secure the fishing line, they potentially damage or weaken the fishing line. In addition, such devices are designed to be placed in a fixed location and are not easily adjusted up or down the rod without having to un-secure and re-secure the device each time.
Other devices for holding terminal tackle have been proposed, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,264, which discloses a Velcro mounted terminal tackle holder. Although this device accommodates different types of terminal tackle, it suffers because it is inconvenient to separate the two Velcro sides repeatedly to remove the tackle. In addition, the Velcro suffers because it attaches to other unintended items, causing greater inconvenience. In addition, Velcro has a pre-determined cycle life (number of openings and closings) before it fails to function properly.
A few fixed-spool reels have an integral line clip built into the spool. The function of this line clip is not for securing terminal tackle, but rather for securing the line to the spool when removed from the reel. The integral line clip is designed to keep the line wound taut around the spool without unraveling. A second purpose for the integral line clip is to retain the line at a fixed point to ensure accurate casting distance.
The use of rubber bands to secure the line requires two hands to secure and retrieve the line or terminal tackle. Rubber bands deteriorate quickly when exposed to sun and water and, although they are inexpensive and readily available, they are not reliable.
With respect to terminal tackle holders or line holders, such devices to date also suffer because they are 1) not easily or conveniently adjustable and 2) inconvenient in such as it requires the angler to use more then one hand to secure the line, lure, and/or terminal tackle. In addition, they require complete removal and re-placement and are thus inconvenient to keep pace with the ever-changing fishing conditions, which may require quickly adjusting the fishing set-up.
Accordingly, prior approaches to providing a solution to the problems of securing terminal tackle in a convenient and efficient manner have generally failed.
In its basic concept the apparatus of the present invention is a fishing line holder for securing terminal tackle on a fully rigged fishing pole (which may or may not include the bait). The device comprises a block having a slot therein for receiving the line and means for securing the block on the rod.
Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a fishing line holder for securing the free end of the fishing line along with its terminal tackle during transport of the gear assemblage.
Another object is to provide an apparatus, which does not interfere with bait on the hook.
Yet another object is to provide a fishing line holder, which is simple and easy to install and use.
A further object is to provide a device, which is of low cost and is easy to manufacture.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention and the manner in which they are achieved will be made apparent in the following specification and claims.
The present invention provides a detachable clip 110 for holding terminal tackle. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The clipping means can be made of materials distinct from the body or similar to the body, and can be made as a continuous flow of the body or be securely mounted to the body. In addition, the clipping means 200 can be adjacent to the body or slightly separated, to allow the terminal tackle to sit a short distance from the rod. Preferably, the clip and body, in conjunction, will be streamlined as to not protrude and easily catch on foreign objects. In addition, or alternatively, the outer edge of the clipping means can be flared out or upwards to facilitate engagement with the line and or allow pulling on the clipping means.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clipping means 200 is created by the flap 210 and the body 220. When the terminal tackle or fishing line is emplaced between the body and the flap, the terminal tackle is held in place by the flap, or alternatively, by tightening the fishing line to secure the terminal tackle in place.
The device may further comprise a longitudinal slot 230 defined therein for accommodation of fishing line. This may be created at the juncture between the body and the clipping means by a small hollowed out channel 230. When placed about a fishing rod, the fishing line would fit through the slot to the terminal tackle. When pulled taut, the terminal tackle would snugly fit against the lower end (away from rod tip) 240 of the flap and/or body, restraining the terminal tackle in place. In a preferred embodiment, the outer edge(s) of the slot can be flared to facilitate engagement with the line and or tackle.
One or more of the devices may be used on a rod concurrently, and the equipment may be properly secured thereby. One may use, for example, a holder on the line, the leader, the hook, the lure, and/or the sinker.
The invention may be manufactured in a few dimensions as to allow for the varying diameters of current and future fishing rods.
Beyond the obvious aspects, the present invention also offers the multiple advantages of being of light weight construction, convenient adjustability, waterproof (and therefore shrink proof), low-profile, and of low cost.
Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
When a fisherman decides to move from fishing spot to fishing spot he will retrieve his line by cranking the reel handle, leaving a length of free line with whatever terminal tackle is attached, normally less than the length from the tip of the rod to the reel, handle, or butt of the rod. He will then lift the rod tip thereby swinging the end of the line towards him for the purposes of securing line, lure, and/or terminal tackle. The line, lure, and/or terminal tackle are typically caught in the opposite hand of the one holding the rod either above or below the hook.
As seen in
In a preferred method, the terminal tackle 330 or the line 320 is then pressed into the clipping means 340 of the holder 300 of the present invention, shown in its first embodiment. If a slot 350 is present, the line 320 adjacent to the terminal tackle 330 is placed in the slot 350 with or without a portion of the terminal tackle 330 within.
The line 320 may then be tensioned either by continuing to retrieve the line by cranking the reel handle or by sliding the device 300 towards the butt end of the rod until the fishing line 320 becomes taut. Either of these methods will pull the terminal tackle into abutment with the side of block as shown in
The device will also accept the short protruding barrel or wire that exits many common drop-shot or down-shot sinker designs.
Multiple clips may be employed for each terminal tackle or various points of the line.
Placement of the device on the rod may vary because the placement of the terminal tackle may vary. Because the fishing conditions may vary for placement of the terminal tackle, the clip can be re-positioned by sliding up or down the rod or by removal and reattachment to accommodate the new placement. This is particularly applicable in the case of adjustable drop shot placement, which can be slid up and down the fishing line to accommodate the fishing conditions.
Because the device is durable, resilient and pliable, it will retain its' shape and contour of the rod so it does not slip during significant pressure from the tautness of the line.
The terminal tackle may be released at will by either releasing the tension of the line or by simply unclipping the terminal tackle.
The holder according to the present invention can appear on the rod more than once, as a holder. The holders may be fitted around a rod body of the fishing rod as illustrated. The holders are shown in
Modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/562,744, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60562744 | Apr 2004 | US |
