Abstract:
A fishing line cutter which is adapted to cut a fishing line closely adjacent the hook at the end of the fishing line. The fishing line may be inserted into the line cutter without any disassembly of the line cutter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a fishing line cutter and more particularly to a fishing line cutter which is ideally suited for use with drop lines which extend downwardly from a main line in a trotline fishing rig. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     One type of commercial fishing is known as trotline fishing. In most trotline fishing operations, a main line is set out and is supported by floats along the length thereof which may be more than a mile long. A plurality of horizontally spaced-apart drop lines are attached to the main line along the length thereof which have a baited hook secured to the lower end thereof. 
     After a period of time, the main line is pulled toward the fishing boat by a winch or the like. As each drop line reaches the boat, the fish, if any, which have struck the hook on the drop line, are removed from the hook and deposited in a compartment in the boat. As each drop line is reached, it is detached from the main line and stored separately from the main line. 
     A problem in the above method arises if a protected fish such as a dolphin or the like or a protected species such as a turtle or the like has been hooked. It has been found that it is less harmful to the protected fish or species to leave the hook in the mouth of the fish or turtle rather than try to remove the hook and then release the fish or turtle. The fishing line attached to the hook is usually cut so that the fish or turtle may be released with the hook in its mouth. After a period of time, the hook in the mouth of the fish or turtle will deteriorate and will become detached from the fish or turtle. If a long length of fishing line is left attached to the hook, the fishing line may become entangled or ensnarled around the mouth and/or body of the fish or turtle thereby endangering the life thereof. 
     Many fishing line cutters have been previously provided but they are believed to be inefficient, difficult to use and cumbersome. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A fishing line cutter is disclosed which comprises an oval-shaped first side plate having an upper end, a lower end, a first side edge, a second side edge, an inner surface and an outer surface. An upper line guide is secured to the first side plate at the inner surface thereof adjacent the upper end thereof. A lower line guide is secured to the first side plate at the inner surface thereof adjacent the lower end thereof. The first side plate has a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced-apart spacers secured thereto which extend inwardly from the inner surface thereof. An anvil is secured to the first side plate at the inner surface thereof between the upper and lower ends thereof. An actuator lever, having upper and lower ends, is also provided with the actuator lever having a cutting blade secured to the upper end thereof. The actuator lever is pivotally secured, intermediate its upper and lower ends, to the first side plate at the inner surface thereof above the lower end thereof. The actuator lever is selectively pivotally movable between a first non-cutting position towards a second cutting position whereby the cutting blade will pass beneath the anvil as it is moved from its first position towards the second position. 
     The fishing line cutter of this invention also includes a vertically disposed side plate assembly, having upper and lower ends, which is secured to the first side plate in a spaced-apart relationship thereto. The side plate assembly is secured to the spacers and the upper and lower line guides. The actuator lever is mounted on one of the spacers extending between the first side plate and the side plate assembly so that the lever is pivotally mounted thereon. The side plate assembly is comprised of a plurality of generally triangular-shaped side plate members which are spaced-apart from one another to permit the fishing line to be cut to be initially inserted between the first side plate and the side plate assembly without disassembling either the first side plate or the second side plate assembly and without cutting the fishing line while inserting the fishing line between the first side plate and the side plate assembly. 
     If a fishing line is to be cut, the fishing line is threaded into the line cutter by passing the same between the side plate members of the side plate assembly. A tag line is secured to the lower end of the actuating lever and the line cutter is lowered on the line to be cut until the line cutter is positioned closely adjacent the hook of the fishing line. The tag line is then pulled upwardly which causes the actuator lever to pivotally move from its first non-cutting position towards its second cutting position. As the cutting blade of the actuator lever passes in close proximity to the anvil, the blade on the actuator lever severs the fishing line. The fishing line cutter is then pulled upwardly from the water by means of the tag line. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved fishing line cutter. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a fishing line cutter which enables the line to be cut closely adjacent the hook of the fishing line. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a fishing line cutter wherein the line to be cut may be inserted into the fishing line cutter without disassembling the fishing line cutter or without cutting the line to be cut. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a fishing line cutter which is easy and efficient to use. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a fishing line cutter of the type described which is durable in use and refined in appearance. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the first side plate of the fishing line cutter; 
         FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  except that screws have been extended through the first side plate with the actuator lever being shown in its non-cutting position; 
         FIG. 3  is an inside perspective view of the first side plate having the line guides, spacers, anvil and actuator lever secured thereto; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the cutting blade of this invention mounted on the upper end of the actuator lever; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the anvil of this invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an end elevational view of the anvil of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the anvil of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the side plate members of the side plate apparatus; 
         FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  except that the side plate members have been secured in place; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the fishing line cutter of this invention showing the manner in which the line to be cut is threaded into the fishing line cutter; and 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating the actuator lever being pivoted by means of the tag line and which shows the compound cutting action achieved by the fishing line cutter. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The fishing line cutter of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral  10  while the fishing line to be cut is referred to by the reference numeral  12 . For ease of description, the line cutter  10  will be described as it is used, i.e., an upper end  14  and a lower end  16 . Line cutter  10  includes a first flat side plate  18  which is preferably constructed of a stainless steel material and which is generally oval in shape with an upper end  20 , lower end  22 , and outer side  24  and an inner side  26 . Side plate  18  includes a plurality of openings formed therein which are identified by the reference numerals  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42 . The numerals  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  and  58  refers to screws which extend inwardly through openings  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  40  and  42  respectively. 
     The numerals  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  69  refer to tubular spacers constructed of stainless steel or the like and which have internally threaded portions at the opposite ends thereof. One end of spacer  60  threadably receives screw  46  with one end of spacer  62  threadably receiving screw  48 . One end of spacer  64  threadably receives screw  52  and one end of spacer  66  threadably receives screw  54 . One end of spacer  68  threadably receives screw  56 . 
     The numeral  70  refers to a line guide which is mounted at the inner side of opening  28  in plate  18 . Screw  44  is screwed into the side of line guide  70 . Line guide  70  has a V-shaped groove  72  formed therein. Line guide  74  is mounted at the inner side of opening  42  in plate  18  with screw  58  screwed into the side of line guide  74 . Line guide  74  has a V-shaped groove  76  formed therein. The numeral  78  refers to an anvil which is positioned at the inner side of opening  34  with screw  50  being threadably secured to one side of anvil  78 . The details of anvil  78  will be described in more detail hereinafter. 
     The numeral  80  refers to an actuator lever having an opening  82  at one, end thereof. Lever  80  has a cylindrical hub portion  84  secured thereto intermediate the length thereof which is rotatably mounted on spacer  68 . A blade support  86  is secured to the upper end of actuator lever  80  and has a cutting blade  88  secured thereto by screw  90 . The inner end of blade  88  has a tapered and U-shaped cutting edge  92  formed therein. 
     The numeral  93  refers to a side plate assembly which is comprised of four plate members as will now be described. The numeral  94  refers to a generally triangular-shaped plate member having a diagonally extending lower edge  96 . Plate member  94  is provided with openings  98  and  100  formed therein. The upper end of plate member  94  is screwed to line guide  70  by means of screw  102  extending through opening  96  in plate member  94  and being threadably received by an internally threaded bore in the side of line guide  70 . The lower end of plate member  94  is secured to spacer  60  by means of screw  104 . 
     The numeral  106  refers to a generally triangular-shaped plate member having a diagonally extending upper edge  108  and a diagonally extending lower edge  110 . Plate member  106  includes an opening  112  at its upper end and an opening  114  at its lower end. The upper end of plate member  106  is secured to spacer  62  by means of screw  116  extending through opening  112  and being threadably received by the end of spacer  62 . The lower end of plate member  106  is secured to spacer  64  by screw  118  extending through opening  114  in plate member  106  and being threadably received by spacer  64 . 
     The numeral  120  refers to a generally triangular-shaped plate member having a diagonally extending upper edge  122  and a diagonally extending lower edge  124 . Plate member  120  has an opening  126  formed in its upper end and an opening  128  formed in its lower end. Plate member  120  is secured at its upper end to anvil  78  by means of screw  130  extending through opening  126  and into the side of anvil  78 . The lower end of plate member  120  is secured to spacer  68  by means of screw  132  extending through opening  128  and being threadably received by the end of spacer  68 . 
     The numeral  134  refers to a generally triangular-shaped plate member having a diagonally extending upper edge  136 , an opening  138  at its upper end and an opening  140  at its lower end. The upper end of plate member  134  is secured to spacer  68  by screw  142  extending through opening  138  and being threadably received by the end of spacer  68 . The lower end of plate member  134  is secured to line guide  74  by means of screw  144  extending through opening  140  in plate member  134  and being threadably secured to one side of line guide  74 . 
     As seen in the drawings, the lower edge  96  of plate member  94  is parallel to and spaced from the upper edge  108  of plate member  106 . As also seen in the drawings, the lower edge  110  of plate member  106  is parallel to and spaced from the upper edge  122  of plate member  120 . Further, it can be seen from the drawings that the lower edge  124  of plate member  120  is parallel to and spaced from the upper edge  136  of plate member  134 . Plate members  94 ,  106 ,  120  and  134  are flat in configuration and are preferably constructed of a stainless steel material as are the screws which secure the plate members  94 ,  106 ,  120  and  134  in place. 
     Anvil  76  is selectively reversibly mounted at the inner side of plate  18  and includes a central internally threaded bore  146  extending between the sides  148  and  150  thereof. A pair of oppositely extending anvil members  152  and  154  are provided at the ends of anvil  76  and have V-shaped notches  156  and  158  formed therein respectively. The anvil  76  is selectively rotatably mounted so that either the anvil members  152  or the anvil members  154  face inwardly. Tag line  160  is secured to actuator lever  80  as seen in  FIG. 11 . 
     The fishing line cutter of this invention is used as follows. The fishing line  12  to be cut will be grasped and extended around the left side of line guide  70  (as viewed in  FIG. 10 ) and moved inwardly through the slot formed by lower edge  96  of plate member  94  and upper edge  108  of plate member  106  so as to pass between the spacers  62  and  60 . The line  12  will then be threaded inwardly between lower edge  110  of plate member  106  and the upper edge  122  of plate member  120  so as to pass between anvil  78  and spacer  64 . The line  12  is then threaded inwardly between the lower edge  124  of plate member  120  and the upper edge  136  of plate member  134  between spacer  66  and the hub  84  of actuator lever  80 . The line  12  is then passed over the upper and right sides of line guide  74 . The line  12  is then “trapped” between the first side plate  18  and the side plate apparatus  93 . 
     When the line  12  is extended through the line cutter  10 , the line  12  will be partially received by the V-shaped notch  156  in anvil  78 , which assists in centering the line  12  in line cutter  10 . The peripheral grooves  72  and  76  in line guides  70  and  74  respectively maintain the line  12  centrally between the first side plate  18  and the side plate assembly  93 . When it is desired to cut the line  12  near the hook on the lower end of the line  12 , the line cutter  10  is allowed to move downwardly on line  12  by gravity while the tag line  160  is allowed to freely follow the line cutter  10 . When the line cutter  10  has reached the vicinity of the hook, the tag line  160  is pulled upwardly which causes the lever  80  to pivot about spacer  68  which causes the cutting blade  88  to be moved inwardly into engagement with the line  12  with the tapered and U-shaped cutting edge  92  receiving the line  12  to sever the line  12 . As the tag line  160  pivots the actuating lever  80 , a compound pivoting action is achieved to enhance the cutting action of the cutting edge  92  since the line cutter  10  also tends to pivot in a clockwise direction as seen in  FIG. 11 . When the line  12  has been severed, the tag line  160  is used to raise the line cutter  10  from the water to enable the line cutter  10  to be retrieved. 
     Thus it can be seen that a fishing line cutter has been provided which enables the fishing line  12  to be severed near the hook on the fishing line  12  so that only a very short length of fishing line is left attached to the hook. It can also be seen that the line cutter  10  may be quickly and easily mounted on the fishing line  12  without any disassembly of the line cutter  10  and without the fishing line  12  being cut so as to enable the fishing line  12  to be threaded into the line cutter  10 . Thus it can be seen that the fishing line cutter of this invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.