Patent Application
20080060250
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
a shows a front view of the spear stopper in the closed position, according to the present invention.
b shows a side view of the spear stopper in the closed position, according to
Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
The spear stopper 10 adapted to be used in conjunction with a spear, the stopper comprising:
a main body 20 adapted to be slid into a spear shaft 30, the main body including a front end 40, a back end 50;
at least one wing 60 pivotally connected to the front end 40 of the main body 20;
a threaded sleeve 70 connected to the back end 50 of the main body 20;
a breaking clip 80 connected to the threaded sleeve, the breaking clip including a first breaking clip 90 and a second breaking clip 100, wherein the first and second breaking clip surround the threaded sleeve 70;
a locking nut 110 connected to the breaking clip 80.
The spear stopper according to the present invention prevents the back end of a spear from exiting the fish after the front of the spear has passed through the fish.
The stopper can be made of any number of rigid and durable materials, but preferable is made of a stainless steel. Depending on the size of the shaft of the spear the spear stopper can measure between 1.0 to 4.0 inches long, 0.5 to 1.50 inches wide.
The main body 20 is generally in the shape of an annular cylinder with an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface. The inner wall surface defines an opening slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft of the spear to allow the main body to slide on the spear shaft. The main body 20 measures between 0.75 to 2.0 inches long, 0.5 to 1.5 inches wide.
The main body 20 includes a front end and a back end. The front end comprises a slot 120 for receiving a rubber gasket 130 (rubber band). The slot is between 1.0 to 6.0 mm depth, preferably 2.1 mm depth. The slot allows the wings to move in the downward and upward position like a roller cam action. The rubber band is a cylindrical rubber gaskets having 2.1 mm thickness and 6 mm external diameter.
In Applicant's prior spear stopper, the rubber gasket was located at the front of the main body to hold the wings in the open position once fired. This prior design exposed the band to the water creating dragging and reducing energy from the spear. In order to prevent the above disadvantages, in the design of the stopper according to the present invention, the wings snap back into the closed position once the energy of the impact has subsided. Making the spear stopper more user friendly.
In addition, the rubber gasket that holds the wings in the close position now sits in a groove cut (slot) into the new bulleted front end eliminating exposure and greatly reducing drag of the spear once fired. The operation of the rubber gasket has been changed; it no longer snaps over and locks. It now simply slides up the smooth tapered main body of the spear stopper and then slides back into place.
The wings measure between 0.75 to 1.50 inches long, 0.15 to 0.35 inches wide. The overall open position from tip to tip is between 1.75 to 3.0 inches, preferably 2.5 inches. The overall closed position from tip to tip is between 0.90 to 1.40 inches, preferably 1.10 inches.
The wings 60 are pivotally attached to the main body 20 by any suitable fastening means, preferably a pin 140. The pin is fit into a hole through the main body and the wing, thus the wings are allowed to pivot in a downward and upward position.
Referring now in detail to
Although Figures depict in the present application include two wings, it should be understood that other numbers of wings such as, one, three, five, and six can also be used.
It is the function of the rubber band to hold the wings against the spear shaft during the flight through the water. As the shaft of the spear enters the fish, the wings open up and the rubber stretches, and rolls across the main body of the stopper. As the band is pulled back by the wings it slides along the smooth tapered body into the open position. Once all the energy of the spear has been transfer to the fish, the band and wings will automatically go back to the closed position making the spear stopper ready to use again. Thus, once all energy is transferred and all the stopping action has ended the spear stopper will close automatically.
In order to reduce the drag in the water presented by the inventor's prior design, the front end of the spear stopper has been changed from flat to a bulleted shaped and the front end of the wings have been changed from flat to curved.
The design of Applicant's prior spear stopper does not provide enough breaking action when high powered guns are using this spear stopper because the spear stopper slides down the shaft when fired. In the present invention, the breaking bands on the rear of the prior spear stopper have been replaced by a thread down locking system that holds the stopper in place on the shaft preventing it from moving. This new design makes it easier for the operator since it no longer has to be put back in position after each firing.
The back end of the spear stopper has now a new thread down breaking/locking action. The breaking clip 80 includes first breaking clip 90 and second breaking clip 100. Both clips are made of a metallic material and include a locking tab 105. The breaking clips fit over the slotted threaded rear end of the spear stopper. The clips are placed surrounding the treaded sleeve on the back end of the stopper. Then a locking nut 110 is treaded all the way down the sleeve against the body of the spear stopper. This action allows the breaking clips to be compressed as the locking nut is passing over them and against the body. By threading the locking nut off the spear stopper, will compress the locking tabs against the body of the spear. The more you thread it back the tighter it gets until you can not thread it any more locking the spear stopper in place.
In this design, the main body is slid onto the spear shaft, then the threaded sleeve is placed at the back end of the main body. The breaking clips are placed surrounding the threaded sleeve and the nut is threaded back compressing breaking clips A & B against the spear shaft locking it in place. Thus, the spear stopper does not move down the spear shaft.
The spear stopper of the present invention helps in the retrieving of a hit fish because the spear stopper prevents the deep penetration beyond the fish causing the spear to be heavily weighted to one side, making it very difficult for the fish to stabilize itself which reduces his ability to travel any distance.
It is obvious that the spear stopper of the present invention can be applied also to arrows or other fishing implements.
Although this invention has been disclosed and described in its preferred form with a certain degree, of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form is only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of operation and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
