WO2000013500A1

WO2000013500A1 - Fishing tackle arrangement and method

Info

Publication number: WO2000013500A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/000731
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian Savaglia
Original assignee: SAVAQUIN Pty Ltd
Current assignee: SAVAQUIN Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1998-09-07
Filing date: 1999-09-07
Publication date: 2000-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 2001-03-07
Also published as: AUPP571398A0

Abstract

A fishing arrangement comprises a clip anchor (1) which is crimped, glued or moulded onto a fishing line (6). The clip anchor (1) has a dumbbell shape with an axial hole for the fishing line and a central circumferential clip passageway. A resilient wire clip (7) has a fastening end that is slightly greater in diameter than the clip passageway and is deformable to allow the clip (7) to be fitted about and within the clip passageway. The side portions of the clip anchor (1) restrain the clip (7) within the clip passageway which is free to rotate. To the clip (7), other fishing tackle may be fastened. The clip anchor (1) and clip (7) provide a swivel without the clip (7) bearing against the line (6), and also a simple knot-less connection system which is also relatively easily altered when rig changes are made.

Description

FISHING TACKLE ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD

The invention herein relates to a fishing tackle arrangement and method.

BACKGROUND

Whilst the invention disclosed herein may find application in professional fishing, amateur fishing is anticipated as being the main application of the invention. The invention is directed to the connection of terminal fishing equipment to a terminal end of a fishing line. The anticipated main application will be to rod and line fishing and more particularly to the attachment of hooks to a main line. The invention may form part of a knotless fishing system or replace only some knots. Fishing is a very popular past time enjoyed by many people in their leisure time. Often an amateur fishing person can only go fishing at infrequent times or during holidays from work. But fishing is a skilled sport involving not only the need to know methods, techniques, habitat and characteristics of fish species but also practiced skills to implement fishing methods. Unfortunately, an amateur fishing person often loses practice in fishing skills due to the infrequent enjoyment of their hobby. In particular, the skill of rigging the terminal end of a fishing line requires not only knowledge but skills for operations such as proper knot tying. Without practice, tying knots can be a frustrating and tedious task.

The situation can be exasperated due to the conditions under which fishing is often conducted. Some of the best fishing occurs when the environmental conditions are difficult, such as low light levels, rocking boat, wind and dangerous environment requiring constant vigilance and care. Under these conditions it can be much more difficult to tie a knot or rig correctly.

Poorly tied knots or inappropriate knots can significantly reduce the overall strength of a rig. In some circumstances properly tied but inappropriate knots can reduce the overall rig by as much as 50%. However, it is desirable to use the lightest line possible since this is well known to improve presentation of a bait and therefore fish strike rate and also adds to the sport of fishing. Consequently, a strong rig is desirable and thus well tied and appropriate knots are conventionally required. For an amateur fishing person these factors may add to frustration or lack of catch.

An example of known prior art is US 4,023,302 Hoaglin. There is disclosed a spherical bead having an axial hole for passage of fishing line and a equatorial channel to which a leader trace is tied. The bead is threaded onto line and either side stops are crimped to the line and between these the bead is free running.

Crimping small stops onto line can be very difficult in low light conditions of night or dawn when fishing is often conducted. Further, fishing is often conducted from a boat and the rocking motion commonly experienced makes crimping small stops onto line difficult. Finally, rig changing is not readily accomplished with the disclosed arrangement yet it is often desirable in fishing to change a rig.

In US 5,666,759 Thormondsen et al and US 5,926,996 Frazier other examples of free running sleeves are disclosed which use crimped stops to restrain axial movement. Comments concerning US 4,023,302 Hoaglin apply.

The sleeve concept is also applied in US 3,426,468 Hinkson where a swivel hanger is disclosed. The hanger has a sleeve like body which is threaded onto line and its axial movement is restrained by a tied stop at a terminal end. About the sleeve is a tubular member which is rotatable about the sleeve and axially slidable between stops incorporated into the sleeve. From the tubular member projects a closed two legged wire spreader to which a leader may be tied.

This arrangement is essentially a single rig. Changing rigs requires removal of the arrangement necessitating the tying of knots and other tasks which under common fishing conditions may be difficult to accomplish.

Another example of prior art is US 5,771,625 Savaglia where a trace line is disclosed with a plurality of beads crimped thereon. A leader is attached to the trace line by means of a two legged clip. The clip is fitted to straddle a bead and is free to rotate about the trace line but axial movement is restrained. The use of a clip facilitates rig changing. However the clip bears against the trace line and may foul or wear the trace line due to the two legs of the clip. Further, the clip is quite complex to manufacture.

In US 2,545,326 Westfall et al is disclosed an arrangement consisting of a sleeve with circumferential channels at each end, and a two legged closed spreader with each leg closed about a respective one of the channels. The spreader is free to rotate about the sleeve. A leader is formed by threading line through the spreader and being tied using knots. The sleeve has an axial aperture by which it is threaded onto line. It also has a screw within a threaded hole which communicated with the aperture which is for clamping the sleeve with respect to the line. Whilst this arrangement may be suitable for large heavy lines, for most commonly used fishing lines the screw would be very small and therefore difficult to adjust in practice. Further, the screw has a relatively small crimping surface which may cause localised damage to the line, therefore weakening the line. Finally, changing rigs requires the tying of knots, unscrewing and screwing the screw, and threading line through the sleeve. These operations may be difficult to accomplish under common conditions of fishing.

It is a proposed object of this invention to provide a fishing tackle arrangement or method or both to obviate or minimise at least one of the aforementioned problems, or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention may be said to reside, not necessarily in the broadest or only form, in a fishing tackle arrangement including: a clip anchor having an axial line passageway and circumferential clip passageway positioned between radially projecting side portions of an effective radial cross sectional side portion diameter, the clip anchor being adapted to be secured to a fishing line placed within the line passageway; and, a clip being resilient and having a clip end, the clip end having a fixing aperture of slightly greater diameter than the clip passageway diameter and of less diameter than the effective side portion diameter, and the clip being adapted to be secured to the clip anchor by intentional deformation of the clip to expand the fixing aperture to enable loose fitment of the clip by the fixing aperture around the clip passageway and restrained therein by the side portions, and the clip being resilient to resist unintentional removal from the clip anchor.

Each side portion is preferably a single radially projecting expansion of the clip anchor but discontinuous radially distributed projections may be used instead if desired. In one form the clip anchor has a shape substantially of a dumbbell. In a preferred form the clip anchor is substantially dumbbell in shape with the clip passageway being central between the expanded end portions of the dumbbell shape which are the side portions. In another form, the clip anchor has a plurality of clip passageways between side portions. In a preferred form the clip anchor is adapted to be secured to the line by distributed compressional radial forces between the clip anchor and the fishing line. In one form the clip anchor is deformable and has a contiguous body with an axial hole for the line passageway. The clip anchor is threaded onto fishing line by use of the line passageway and secured in place on the line by deformation of the clip anchor by crimping. Preferably the crimp is radially distributed about the fishing line and clip anchor thereby distributing the securing of the two together and minimising localised excessive damage to the fishing line. In another form the clip anchor is secured by the use of a suitable glue. For example a quick setting resin glue may be used.

In an alternative form, the clip anchor has axial sections each with axial channels, the sections are securable together about fishing line with the line within the line passageway formed by the axial channels. There may be two hinged sections which can be clipped together about fishing line which is gripped within the channels and held between the sections.

The clip anchor may be made of a plastics material including but not limited to brass, lead, bronze, or different alloys. In some embodiments suitable materials instead of metals can be used.

In a preferred form the fixing aperture in the clip is contiguous and the clip is of a resilient plastic or elastomer material such that it may be threaded onto the line and deformed over a side portion into the slip passageway.

In another form, the clip has a large aperture continuous with the fixing aperture via a narrows, the large aperture being greater than the extent of the side portions allowing the clip to be threaded on the fishing line and generally fitted about the clip anchor and the clip being secured to the clip anchor by expansion of the narrows to place the fixing aperture within the clip passageway. According to one form, the clip has an openable accessway into the large aperture for passing fishing line through to assist in ready use of the clip.

According to one preferred form, the clip has an attachment portion with which further fishing tackle is attached to the clip. It is common for hooks to be sold pre-snelled, tied, to one end of short trace lines and at the other end of which is a tied looped end. Accordingly a hook may be attached to the clip by the looped end and the clip attached to a fishing line using a clip anchor. In this way either no knots need to be tied or only very simple knot of passing the looped end of the trace through an eyelet and then passing the hook through the looped end and pulling the hook tight.

The invention may also be said to reside, again not necessarily the only or broadest form, in either the clip or the clip anchor described just previously. It will be understood here that the invention may reside in either the clip or the clip anchor rather than only in the combination of the arrangement previously described. It will be appreciated that the clip and the clip anchor may be packaged separately and a fisher person purchase a desired number of each. The clips are expected to have a considerable useable life and may be reused again and again. The clip anchors once fixed to a trace line will need to be replaced when the trace is replaced which will typically be quite often since it is well known that abrasion can significantly weaken a trace requiring it to be replaced as a preventative measure rather than risk losing a sizeable fish.

Alternatively, the invention may be said to reside, again not necessarily the only or broadest form, in a fishing line trace including one or more secured thereto clip anchors as previously described. In a preferred form, the trace is provided in bulk and a fisher person cuts a trace of desired length from the bulk. The bulk trace line can be wound on a reel for ease of storage and dispensing.

Again not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention could be said to reside in a method of rigging a fishing line using a clip anchor and a clip as previously described.

To assist in the understanding of the invention preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sketch of the side view of the clip anchor; Figure 2 is a sketch of the end view of the clip anchor;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the clip anchor along AA';

Figure 4 is a sketch of the side view of the clip anchor crimped onto fishing line;

Figure 5 is a sketch of the end view of the clip anchor crimped onto the fishing line;

Figure 6 is a sketch of the side view of the clip;

Figure 7 is a sketch of a plan view of the clip; Figure 8 is a sketch of the side view of the clip anchor and the clip together;

Figure 9 is a sketch of the end view of the clip anchor and the clip together; Figure 10 is a sketch of a side view of a line fastener;

Figure 11 is a sketch of the line fastener shown in figure 10 with line fasten to the line fastener;

Figure 12 is a sketch of the top view of the clip anchor and a further clip together; Figure 13 is a sketch of the side view of the clip anchor and the clip shown in figure 12;

Figure 14 is a sketch of a side view of a further embodiment of a clip anchor;

Figure 15 is a sketch of an end view of the clip anchor shown in figure 14; and,

Figure 16 is a sketch of a cross sectional view along BB' of figure 15 of the clip anchor shown in figure 14.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The same reference numeral will be used throughout the figures to refer to the same feature. It will also be appreciated that the accompanying figures are sketches and as such may have inaccuracies or deficiencies when compared to more photo-realistic representations. However, the skilled addressee will be able to understand the figures with reference to the description.

The fishing tackle arrangement includes a clip anchor (1) having an axial line passageway (2) and circumferential clip passageway (3) of a radial cross sectional clip passageway diameter between radially projecting side portions (4 and 5) of an effective radial cross sectional side portion diameter. It will be seen the clip anchor is substantially dumbbell in shape with an axial hole. The clip anchor is made of aluminium and has a length of about 3 mm, an end portion diameter of about 2 mm, the clip passageway has a diameter of about 1 mm, and the line passageway has a diameter of about 0.3 mm. The clip anchor is threaded onto fishing line by passing the line through the line passageway. The clip anchor is adapted to be secured to a fishing line (6) placed within the line passageway by distributed compressional radial forces between the clip anchor and the fishing line as results from crimping the clip anchor to the fishing line. A pair of suitable crimping pliers can be used. In this way the clip anchor is secured to the fishing line by distributed compressional radial forces substantially about the fishing line. Alternatively, the crimping process is conducted by a machine in the manufacture of trace lines that our purchased pre- made. Over crimping can result in damage to the line leading to weakening of the line.

The arrangement also includes a resilient clip (7) made of wire. It has a clip end (7) having a fixing aperture (9) of slightly greater diameter than the clip passageway diameter and of less diameter than the effective side portion diameter. The clip further has a large aperture (10) contiguous with the fixing aperture and separated by narrows (11). To ease ready use the clip has an openable accessway (12) permitting fishing line, hook trace line or tackle eyelets to be past into the large aperture. The openable accessway comprises a eyelet (13) on arm (14) and a hook (15) on arm (16). Due to the resilient nature of the clip arm (14) is biased in an open position as shown in figure 6 but by depressing and manipulation the hook may be engaged with the eyelet to close the openable accessway as shown in figure 9. At the other end of the clip is an attachment portion (17) into which hook trace line or the like will tend to reside when the clip is in use.

The clip is adapted to be secured to the clip anchor by intentional deformation of the clip to expand the fixing aperture by widening the narrows to enable loose fitment of the clip by the fixing aperture around the clip passageway. It is restrained therein by the side portions and the resilient nature of the clip which closes the narrows and so resists unintentional removal from the clip anchor past the narrows. With the clip anchor crimped onto fishing line the clip is placed about the line and clip anchor by opening the openable accessway and entering the fishing line and clip anchor into the large aperture. The clip passageway of the clip anchor is aligned with the narrows and then by pressing the narrows are forced open to fit the fixing aperture within the clip passageway. This is best seen in figures 8 and 9. Once in place the clip can rotate about the clip passageway thus a swivel is formed. Then to secure a snelled hook to the fishing line the loop end of the hook trace is looped into the large aperture, pulled to the attachment portion and the openable accessway closed.

In use it is preferred to make up a terminal trace line which is secured to the main or back line of a rod and reel fishing arrangement. It is preferred that a swivel be secured in place between the terminal trace line and the main line. At spaced intervals along the terminal trace a number of clip anchors are crimped. The person fishing uses one or more clips to attach hooks to respective ones of the clip anchors. In this way one or more clip anchors may be used at the discretion of the person fishing. To vary the relative depth of a hook the respective clip is removed from the respective clip anchor and then the clip and hook secured to another clip anchor at a desired relative depth. Unused clip anchors are small and present little warning to a fish of the fishing line and they do not pose a significant risk of fouling in weed or rocks. Such terminal trace lines may be commercially manufactured and sold to the public as a fishing tackle item. Whilst it will be appreciated from the above that the need to tie knots is significantly reduced and the speed with which a rig may be changed is significantly increased compared to conventional methods a further part may be used to substantially eliminate the need to tie any knot.

A line fastener (18) is provided. This is made from a piece of resilient wire by bending. It has a clip portion (19) at one end, a central eyelet (20) and a remote eyelet (21) at the opposite end. The clip portion has a hook (22) which can be engaged with the central eyelet to hold the clip portion closed and minimises unintentional opening of the openable accessway. When the hook is not so engaged the resilient nature of the line fastener biases arm (23) away from the central eyelet in an upward direction when considering figure 10. The remote eyelet and the wire used means the end (24) is resiliently deformable from the eyelet allowing passage of fishing line to be past into the remote eyelet.

In use fishing line (25) is threaded through the central eyelet and folded back on itself. The line passing through the eyelet is held in place and the line and the folded line end are wound around shank (26) preferably at least five times and then past into the remote eyelet. This is depicted in figure 11.

Referring to figures 12 and 13 a further clip is illustrated. This clip is substantially the same as that illustrated in figures 8 and 9. The difference lies in end (27) where the wire forming the clip is bent completely about to from an eyelet. This eyelet may be used to attach a snelled hook. A selection of hooks may be attached to a number of respective clips (7) prior to a fishing trip in conditions suited to the operation. Then in use the fisher person selects which hook is required and with the clip secures it to a line with secured clip anchors.

This arrangement may reduce tangles by acting as a spreader. Whilst the clip of figures 12 and 13 has the wire of the eyelet (27) squashed together another variation has the wire not so squashed. Then a looped end of pre-snelled hooks may be placed into the clip and the line of the loop wound through the wire of the eyelet so that the loop is within the eyelet.

A second embodiment of a clip anchor is illustrated in figures 14, 15 and 16. This clip anchor is essentially the same as that previously mentioned excepting it is effectively two of the previously mentioned clip anchors joined end on end. It has two circumferential channels (28 and 29) to retaining clips as previously described and has an intermediate projecting side portion (30) and two projecting side portions (31 and 32) at respective ends. This clip anchor is use in the same manner as that described for the previous form. It allows two clips to be attached to the clip anchor as may be desired where a float and a hook, attached to respective clips are required.

It will be appreciated that this disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to preferred embodiments or details thereof. It will be appreciated that variation and different forms incorporating the invention will be apparent to a skilled addressee and these all will fall within the spirit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A fishing tackle arrangement including: a clip anchor having an axial line passageway and a circumferential clip passageway positioned between radially projecting side portions, the clip anchor being adapted to be secured to fishing line placed within the line passageway; and, a resilient clip having a clip end, the clip end having a fixing aperture of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the clip passageway and of less diameter than the radial extent of the side portion, and the clip being adapted to be secured to the clip anchor by intentional deformation of the clip to expand the fixing aperture to enable loose fitment of the clip by the fixing aperture around the clip passageway and restrained therein by the side portions, and the clip being resilient to resist unintentional removal from the clip anchor.

2. A fishing arrangement as in claim 1 wherein each side portion is a single radially projecting expansion of the clip anchor.

3. A fishing arrangement as in claim 2 wherein each side portion is radially discontinuous.

4. A fishing arrangement as in claim 2 wherein the clip anchor has a shape of a dumbbell with the clip passageway being centralmost and the side portions being at each end of the dumbbell shaped clip anchor.

5. A fishing arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clip anchor has a plurality of clip passageways between side portions.

6. A fishing arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clip anchor is adapted to be secured to the line by distributed compressional radial forces between the clip anchor and fishing line within the line passageway.

7. A fishing arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clip anchor is deformable and has a contiguous body with an axial hole for the line passageway.

8. A fishing arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clip anchor is adapted to be secured by the use of an adhesive.

9. A fishing arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clip anchor may be made of a plastics material.

10. A fishing arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clip has a large aperture continuous with the fixing aperture via a narrows, the large aperture being greater than the extent of the side portions allowing the clip to be threaded on the fishing line and generally fitted about the clip anchor and the clip being secured to the clip anchor by expansion of the narrows to place the fixing aperture within the clip passageway.

11. A fishing arrangement as in claim 10 wherein the clip has an openable accessway into the large aperture for passing fishing line through to assist in ready use of the clip.

12. A fishing arrangement as in any one of claims 10 or 11 wherein the clip has an attachment portion with which further fishing tackle is attached to the clip.

13. A fishing arrangement including one or more clip anchors each according to any one of the claims 1 to 12 secured to a fishing line trace.

14. A fishing arrangement as in claim 13 wherein the trace is provided in bulk and adapted to that a fisher person can cut a trace of desired length including one or more clip anchors from the bulk.

15. A fishing arrangement as in claim 14 wherein the bulk trace line is wound on a reel for ease of storage and dispensing.

16. A fishing arrangement as in claim 13 wherein the trace is provided with line terminations on each end of the trace adapted to be connected to other fishing tackle.

17. A fishing arrangement as in any one of claims 13 - 16 wherein the trace is a multi-filament line and the clip anchors are moulded onto the line.

18. A fishing arrangement comprising a kit including one or more clip anchors each according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, one or more clips adapted to be selectively secured to the clip anchors, and the kit being adapted so that a fisher person may make a trace using the clip anchors and clips.

19. A method of making a trace for fishing including the steps of securing to fishing line one or more clip anchors each having an axial line passageway and a circumferential clip passageway positioned between radially projecting side portions, the clip anchor being adapted to be secured to fishing line placed within the line passageway, and fastening one or more resilient clips to the clip anchors, each clip having a clip end, the clip end having a fixing aperture of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the clip passageway and of less diameter than the radial extent of the side portion, and the clip being adapted to be secured to the clip anchor by intentional deformation of the clip to expand the fixing aperture to enable loose fitment of the clip by the fixing aperture around the clip passageway and restrained therein by the side portions, and the clip being resilient to resist unintentional removal from the clip anchor.

20. A fishing tackle arrangement including a crimpable clip anchor having an axial line passageway and a circumferential clip passageway positioned between radially projecting side portions, the clip anchor being adapted to be secured to fishing line placed within the line passageway by being crimped thereto and have a clip loosely retained within and about the clip passageway by the side portions.