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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
TERMINAL TACKLE INCLUDING BEARING FOR FISHING LINE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2005/089401
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
A terminal tackle for securing a fishing lure to a fishing line and wherein the terminal tackle includes a slidable (and in some cases, rotatable also) ring that is trapped to the terminal tackle and whereby a bearing is trapped to the ring but is slidable on and rotatable about the ring and wherein the bearing receives the fishing line therein. The fishing line is then crimped or knotted to secure the fishing line within the bearing.

Inventors:
LEHMANN ROGER W (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2005/008809
Publication Date:
September 29, 2005
Filing Date:
March 16, 2005
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
LEHMANN ROGER W (US)
International Classes:
A01K91/00; A01K91/04; F16B45/00; F16B45/02
Foreign References:
US2784519A1957-03-12
US3184880A1965-05-25
US3785011A1974-01-15
US2392147A1946-01-01
US2189841A1940-02-13
US6101755A2000-08-15
US5655329A1997-08-12
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
SLOMOWITZ, Scott M. (Rivise Bernstein,Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd.,12th Floor, Seven Penn Center,1635 Market Stree, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, US)
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Claims:
CLAIMS
1. A terminal tackle for use with a fishing line and including a ring that is trapped, but slidable, on said terminal tackle, said terminal tackle comprising a bearing for receiving the fishing line therein, said bearing being trapped, but slidable on and rotatable about said ring. 2. The terminal tackle of Claim 1 wherein said terminal tackle further comprises a hollow sleeve that is crimped around the fishing line to secure the fishing line in said bearing. 3. The terminal tackle of Claim 1 wherein said bearing comprises a grommet having a channel for receiving the fishing line therein. 4. The terminal tackle of Claim 3 wherein said grommet is shaped in the form of a pulley. 5. The terminal tackle of Claim 1 wherein said terminal tackle includes a swivel portion and wherein said ring is trapped, but slidable and rotatable about said swivel portion. 6. The terminal tackle of Claim 1 wherein said terminal tackle comprises a fish hook having a stem about which said ring is trapped but slidable thereon. 7. A method for reducing the stress and abrasion of a fishing line coupled to a terminal tackle, said method comprising the steps of: providing a terminal tackle having a ring that is trapped but slidable on said terminal tackle; trapping a bearing to said ring wherein said bearing is slidable on and rotatable about said ring; positioning the free end of the fishing line around said bearing; and securing the free end of the fishing line to the remainder of the fishing line, thereby trapping the fishing line in said bearing. 8. The method of Claim 7 wherein said step of trapping a bearing to saidring comprises shaping the bearing to have a pulley form which includes a channel. 9. The method of Claim 8 wherein said step of positioning the free end of the fishing line around said bearing comprises disposing the fishing line inside said channel. 10. The method of Claim 7 wherein said step of securing the free end of the fishing line comprises crimping said free end of the fishing line to the remainder of the fishing line. 11. The method of Claim 7 wherein said step of securing the free end of the fishing line comprises knotting said free end of the fishing line with the remainder of the fishing line.
Description:
TERMINAL TACKLE INCLUDING BEARING FOR FISHING LINE

SPECIFICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to fishing equipment and, more particularly, to a method used to attach terminal devices to the end of fishing line. 2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART One problem experienced by fisherman is to make certain that their fishing line is terminated in a manner that will not lead to failure during their attempt to catch a fish. This is even more of a consideration in sportfishing when the targeted species of fish are large and powerful such as for marlin, tuna and sharks. The fishing tackle system is no stronger than the weakest connection, and in most cases, that is the connection made by terminating the fishing line to the terminal tackle known as a swivel or snap clip. Fig. 1 depicts a conventional terminal tackle 1. In particular, the terminal tackle 1 comprises a swivel portion 2 having a snap loop 3 to which a lure having a leader (neither of which are shown) can be releasably coupled. At the other end of the swivel portion 2 is ring 4 that is trapped, but rotatable and slidable, inside a fitting 5. It is around this ring 4 that the fishing line 6 is formed into a knot 7 in order to couple the terminal tackle 1 thereto. However, the stresses in knots 7 tied in fishing line 6 at the attachment to the terminal tackle 1, in many cases, result in the failure or line breakage at the knot 7. hi addition, the slight constant movement, under pressure of the terminal tackle 1, where it is attached at the knot 7 abrades the line 6, further weakening it and fishing line failure results. One attempt to solve this problem is to attach the fishing line 6 to the terminal tackle 1 without the use of knots. Fig.2 depicts this configuration. This is accomplished by inserting the fishing line 6 thru a hollow sleeve 8 (e.g., Sevenstrand leader metal sleeves, suchNP-31-0062), around the ring 4 on the terminal tackle 1 , back thru the hollow sleeve 8 and then with a special tool (e.g., Jinkai crimping toolNP31-3019orNP-31-6148) squeezingthe sleeve 8 tightly around the fishing line 6, forming a secure connection. This eliminates failure from the stresses caused in the fishing line by the knots 7; however it doesn't solve the problem of the slight constant movement, underpressure of the terminal tackle 1 where it is attached to the line 6. The constant movement under pressure from fighting the fish and abrasion from the connection point 9 continues to weaken the fishing line 6 and causes failure at the connection point 9. Thus there remains a need to solve the problem of a secure, fail-safe attachment method of the fishing line 6 to the terminal tackle 1. All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A terminal tackle (e.g., snap swivels, ring swivels, fish hooks, lures, etc.) for use with a fishing line and including a ring that is trapped, but slidable, on the terminal tackle, and wherein the terminal tackle comprises: a bearing (e.g., a grommet or pulley-shaped member, etc.) for receiving the fishing line therein, wherein the bearing is trapped, but slidable on and rotatable about the ring. A method for reducing the stress and abrasion of a fishing line coupled to a terminal tackle (e.g., snap swivels, ring swivels, fishhooks, lures, etc.). The method comprises the steps of: providing a terminal tackle having a ring that is trapped but slidable on the terminal tackle; trapping a bearing (e.g., a grommet or pulley-shaped member, etc.) to the ring wherein the bearing is slidable on and rotatable about the ring; positioning the free end of the fishing line around the bearing; and securing (e.g., crimping, knotting, etc.) the free end of the fishing line to the remainder of the fishing line, thereby trapping the fishing line in the bearing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS The invention willbe described in conjunction withthe following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein: Fig. 1 is a conventional terminal tackle shown coupled to a fishing line using a knot; Fig. 2 is a conventional, terminal tackle shown coupled to a fishing line using a hollow sleeve that is crimped; Fig.3 depicts the terminal tackle of the present invention using a bearing that is coupled to the ring portion of the terminal tackle; Fig.4 is an enlarged partial view of the swivel portion of the present invention showing the bearing trapped, but slidable, on the ring; Fig. 5 depicts the present invention coupled to a fishing line using a hollow sleeve that is crimped; Fig. 5 A depicts the present invention coupled to a fishing line using a knot; and Fig.6 depicts another example of a terminal tackle (e.g., a fish hook) using the invention of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention willbe illustrated inmore detail with reference to the following examples, but it should be understood that the present invention is not deemed to be limited thereto. The present invention provides a terminal tackle with a bearing for fishing line. It should be understood that the term "terminal tackle" as used with reference to the present invention throughout this Specification is used in its broadest sense and is similar to the definition used by the United States Internal Revenue Service (namely, I.R.S.Revenue Ruling Rev. RuI. 88-52, Published June 20, 1988, pp. 153-154) for terminal tackle as follows: Terminal tackle includes, but is not limited to the following items- (A) Leaders. A leader is any article used for attaching the end of a fishing line to a hook or lure or any other device of terminal tackle. The term includes, but is not limited to, swivels and snaps. (B) Artificial Lures. Artificial lures are all devices (from whatever material made) that are designed to be attached to a fishing line, and that simulate an article considered edible to fish or that otherwise are intended to induce a fish to attempt to confront, swallow, bite or consume the device. An artificial lure usually includes one or more attached hooks. Artificial lures include, but are not limited to, plugs, spoons, jigs, feathers, spinners, soft-plastic lures, and spear fishing decoys. (C) Artificial baits. An artificial bait is any bait that simulates an article considered edible to fish and this is designed to be attached to a hook or lure. (D) Artificial Flies. An artificial fly consists of a hook to which feathers, beads, lead, or other items are attached to make the article resemble an insect or any other organism considered edible to fish. An artificial fly is usually designed to be attached to a fishing line, leader, swivel or snap. (E) Fishing Hooks. A fishing hook is any curved or bent metallic device that terminates in a sharp point and is designed for the purpose of catching, holding, or pulling fish or fishing bait. (F) Bobbers. A bobber is any device used as a means to suspend a fishing line or lure in the water column, or that can be used to visually track the location and status of fishing line and associated hooks and bait. A bobber can be attached to fishing line and is made of wood, cork, plastic, styrofoam, or other material. It can be any size, shape or color. (G) Sinkers. A sinker is any device wholly or in part made of lead or another metallic substance designed to attach to a fishing line or to items of terminal tackle in order to cause the terminal tackle to descend into the water column. A sinker can be of any size or shape. (H) Snaps. A snap is a catch, clip, or fastening device. It is designed at one end to attach to a swivel or tie onto the end of a fishing line and to attach, by means of a clasp at the other end, to items of terminal tackle. (I) Drayles. A drayle (or drail) is any article made, wholly or in part, of lead or another metallic substance that can be tied or otherwise attached to the end of a fishing line to which are attached leaders or other items of terminal tackle. A drayle (drail) is designed to be trolled behind a boat so that the line or terminal tackle descends into the water column. (J) Swivels. A swivel is any device designed so that fishing line and/or items of terminal tackle can be attached to one or more of the ends of the device. The device is also designed so that the end(s) of the fishing line and/or items of terminal tackle attached to the ends of the device can pivot freely. As such, the present application depicts two types of terminal tackle, e.g., a snap swivel (Figs. 3-5) and a fish hook (Fig. 6), by way of example only. Thus, it should be understood that the invention of the present application of providing a terminal tackle with a bearing for fishing line includes all of the above definitions of "terminal tackle" and is not limited to only those shown. Fig. 3 depicts the present invention 20 whereby the terminal tackle (in this case, a snap swivel) includes a bearing 21 that is trapped but slidable on the ring 24 of the terminal tackle; as shown, the terminal tackle of the present invention 20 includes a swivel portion 22 having a snap loop 23 to which a lure having a leader (neither of which are shown) can be releasably coupled. At the other end of the swivel portion 22 is ring 24 that is trapped, but slidable, inside a fitting 25. However, unlike the prior art, the bearing 21 (e.g., a grommet) is trapped, but slidable, on the ring 24. The bearing 21, shaped like a small grooved pulley, and made from a strong material, e.g., Delrin® plastic or metal-like brass, aluminum or stainless steel, comprises a channel 30 for receiving the fishing line 6. This bearing 21 is attached to the swivel portion 22 by use of a intermediate welded ring 24 (see weld point 29) that passes thru the center hole 27 of the bearing 21 and also passes thru a hole 26 in the swivel fitting 25, making for a permanent attachment between the bearing 21 and swivel portion 22. As shown in Fig. 5, the fishing line 6 is attached around the bearing 21 and secured to the bearing 21 utilizing the method of crimping a hollow sleeve 28 (e.g., Sevenstrand leader metal sleeves, such NP-31-0062) around the line 6; any well-known crimping tool (e.g., Jinkai crimping tool NP31-3019 or NP-31-6148) canbeused to crimp the sleeve 28 around the fishing line 6. As can be clearly seen in Fig. 5, the free end 6A of the line is fed through the sleeve 28, around the bearing 21 and in the channel 30 and then back through the hollow sleeve 28 which is then crimped tightly to secure the fishing line 6 to the bearing 21. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 5A, the fishing line 6 can be secured around the bearing 21 by simply forming a knot 7 at the free end 6A of the fishing line. Thus, as shown in Figs. 5 and 5 A, the direct attachment of the fishing line 6 to the bearing 21 removes the stress from the fishing line 6 at this point because the line 6 is no longer attached to the terminal tackle, thereby eliminating the movement and stresses in such connection as discussed earlier. The bearing 21 is free to rotate and slide on the connecting ring 24 and it withstands all the stresses and wear associated with such connection and eliminates line failure at the terminal attachment. Fig. 6 depicts another example of the present invention 20 whereby a fish hook 32 is used instead of the snap swivel 22/23. As shown in Fig. 6, the bearing 21 that is trapped but slidable on the ring 24 of the terminal tackle. The bearing 21 (e.g., a grommet) is trapped, but slidable, on the ring 24. The bearing 21, shaped like a small grooved pulley, and made from a strong material, e.g., Delrin® plastic or metal-like brass, aluminum or stainless steel, comprises a channel 30 for receiving the fishing line 6 (not shown in Fig. 6). This bearing 21 is attached to the fish hook 32 by use of a intermediate welded ring 24 (see weld point 29) that passes thru the center hole 27 of the bearing 21 and also passes thru a hole 34 in the fish hook stem 36, making for a permanent attachment between the bearing 21 and fish hook 32. Other than that, the fishing line 6 is attached to the fish hook 32 in a manner described and shown in Fig. 5. While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.