Abstract:
A fishing line cutter that is integral to a fishing pole. The fishing line cutter comprises a tubular section with an arcuate projection. The arcuate projection may extend from a same side as a reel mounted on the fishing pole. A spring means may springingly attach the arcuate projection to a slot. The slot can accommodate the arcuate projection upon depression into the fishing pole. An O-ring may be employed to slide along the fishing pole and facilitate depression of the arcuate projection. At least one sharpening means may be included in the fishing line cutter to maintain sharpness.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The field to which the disclosure generally relates includes a fishing pole, in particular a fishing line cutter integral to the fishing pole that is suitable for being used to cut a fishing line. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    It is generally known and recognized that the use of a fishing rod, line and tackle frequently involves a variety of tools and apparatus to aid in accomplishing certain tasks. However, a particular problem is involved in the changing of a lure while fishing. In this connection, the fisherman must locate the needed clippers or pliers in his tackle box and, thereafter, cut the fishing line and remove the lure. At this point, the line is free to fly in the wind and is sometimes difficult to retrieve. Because the fisherman generally uses both hands to remove the lure from the fishing line and select a new lure, it is difficult to hold the unsecured fishing line during the procedure. Some fishermen carry a knife in their tackle boxes to cut the line. Others carry an old razor blade. Some even carry a fingernail clipper or other line cutting means. 
         [0003]    Many other cutting devices have been used, all of which first must be located in the tackle box and held by hand during use in cutting. Most such prior cutting instruments that are located in a fisherman&#39;s tackle box are frequently under fish lures, fish hooks, reels, or other items of tackle and it is difficult to find the cutting device. Moreover, knives, razor blades, clippers or other prior cutting devices require that the fisherman hold the cutting device in his hand while his hand is needed for use of other purposes at the time. 
         [0004]    Thus, various methods and devices have been historically suggested for restraining or holding the line when winding a new one, threading line through small eyelets, clasping the line for attaching lures and hooks, or cutting the line for removing or replacing lures, hooks or the like. Many fishing line cutters that have a blade or blades for cutting a line are removably attachable to a fishing pole or a fishing reel. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,389,607 a fishing line cutter is described that is made as a single piece and is obtained by cutting out and stamping a metal plate. The fishing line cutter is secured to the body of the fishing rod by binding or whipping two longitudinal prongs located on the metal plate to the body. U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,874 describes a fishing line cutter that includes a body member to which is mounted an implement with a sharp edge or edges. The body member includes projections for facilitating the mounting of the cutter on a fishing pole. However, prior to the present invention, there is no fishing line cutter that is attached integrally to the fishing pole. 
         [0005]    Thus, there is a need for a fishing line cutter that is an integral part or section of the fishing pole. There is also a need for a fishing line cutter that can be used safely, minimizing the chance of injury to the user. 
       SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present application is directed to fishing line cutters for cutting fishing line, and more particularly, to fishing line cutters that are integral to a fishing pole and are capable of cutting the fishing line when it is threaded on the fishing pole. 
         [0007]    In one aspect, the fishing line cutter comprises a tubular section that is integrally attached to a fishing pole. The tubular section is located distally to a fishing reel on the fishing pole. An arcuate projection extends from the tubular section on the fishing pole. The arcuate projection is in a coplanar spatial orientation in relation to the fishing pole. The concave side of the arcuate projection faces the distal end of the fishing pole and comprises a sharpened edge for cutting the fishing line. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, the fishing line cutter comprises a tubular section that is integrally attached to a fishing pole, and a slot is located on the tubular section. A spring means attaches the arcuate projection to the slot. At least one sharpening means is attached within the slot. An O-ring is wrapped around the fishing pole, and when slid distally on the fishing pole, depresses the arcuate projection into the slot. The sharpened edge of the arcuate projection is sharpened by the sharpening means when depressed into the interior of the fishing pole by the sliding of the O-ring. 
         [0009]    In yet another aspect, the fishing line cutter includes a tubular section that is integrally attached to a fishing pole, a slot, and an O-ring that may include at least one sharpening means. 
         [0010]    Other exemplary embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while disclosing exemplary embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fishing line cutter according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a fishing line cutter according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a fishing line cutter according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional side view of the third embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3A  along the center of the fishing pole, without O-ring slid over slot. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional side view of the third embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3A  along the center of the fishing pole, with O-ring slid over slot. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a fishing line cutter according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional side view of the fourth embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4A  along the center of the fishing pole, without O-ring slid over slot. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional side view of the fourth embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4A  along the center of the fishing pole with O-ring slid over slot. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of a fishing line cutter  10  described in the current application. In  FIG. 1 , the fishing line cutter  10  comprises a tubular section  18  that is integrally attached to a fishing pole  12 . The tubular section  18  is distally located with respect to a reel  14  on the fishing pole  12 . An arcuate projection  20  extends from the tubular projection  18 . The tubular section  18  and the arcuate projection  20  may be fabricated from metals, plastics and reinforced plastics. The arcuate projection  20  may be located on the same side as the reel  14  and is spatially oriented, coplanar, to the fishing pole  12 . The concave side  22  of the arcuate projection  20  faces the distal end  16  of the fishing pole  12  and includes a sharpened edge  24 . A fishing line (not shown) may be cut by the sharpened edge  24  of the arcuate projection  20  when engaged by a fisherman. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates a second embodiment of a fishing line cutter  30  described in the current invention. In  FIG. 2 , the fishing line cutter  30  comprises a tubular section  18  that is integrally attached to a fishing pole  12 . An arcuate projection  20  extends from the tubular section  18  and includes a sharpened edge  24  on the concave side  22  as described above in  FIG. 1 . The tubular section  18  also includes a slot  32  that is juxtaposed and coplanar to the arcuate projection  20 . The slot  32  is sized to accommodate the dimensions of the arcuate projection  20 . A spring means  34  springingly attaches the arcuate projection  20  to the tubular section  18  at the slot  32 . Depressing the arcuate projection  20  forces it into the slot  32  and into the interior  28  of the fishing pole  12 . Thus, when not in use, the arcuate projection  20  may be stored in the interior  28  of the fishing pole  12 . An O-ring  36 , positioned juxtaposed to the slot  32  and distal to the reel  14 , may be wrapped around the fishing pole  12 . The O-ring  36  can slide along the fishing pole  12  and depress the arcuate projection  20  into the slot  32 . The O-ring  36  also shields the arcuate projection  20  when the arcuate projection  20  is depressed into the interior  28  of the fishing pole  12 . The O-ring  36 , spring means  34 , and the slot  32  may be fabricated from the same materials as the tubular section  18 . 
         [0023]      FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate a third embodiment of a fishing line cutter  40  described in the current invention. In  FIG. 3A , a tubular section  18  is integrally attached to a fishing pole  12  and is distally located with respect to a reel  14 . A metallic arcuate projection  26  extends from the tubular section  18 . A spring means  34  springingly attaches the metallic arcuate projection  26  to a slot  32 . The slot  32  includes at least one sharpening means  38 . The sharpening means  38  is fixedly attached and coplanar to the slot  32 . The slot  32  may include a pair of sharpening means  38  that can be fixedly attached to either side  33  of the slot  32 . The pair of sharpening means  38  is distanced apart by a width of the concave side  22  of the metallic arcuate projection  26 . When the metallic arcuate projection  26  is depressed it passes between the pair of sharpening means  38 . As the metallic arcuate projection  26  is depressed into the slot  32 , a sharpened edge  24  of the concave side  22  passes by and rubs against the at least one sharpening means  38  (see  FIGS. 3B and 3C ). The rubbing of the sharpened edge  24  with the at least one sharpening means  38 , as the metallic arcuate projection  26  is depressed, maintains the sharpness of the sharpened edge  24 . An O-ring  36  in this embodiment of the fishing line cutter  40  may be wrapped around the fishing pole  12  and located distal to the reel  14 . The O-ring  36  can slide distally along the fishing pole  12  and contact the convex side  42  of the metallic arcuate projection  26  (see  FIG. 3B ). A first stop means  35  positioned at a distal end  39  of the slot  32  restricts further movement of the O-ring  36  distally along the fishing pole  12 . As the O-ring  36  is slid further along the fishing pole  12  the metallic arcuate projection  26  is urged through the slot  32  and into the interior  28  of the fishing pole  12  (see  FIG. 3C ). The O-ring  36  may completely shroud the slot  32  when the O-ring  36  is slid to the first stop means  35  (see  FIG. 3C ). 
         [0024]      FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate a fourth embodiment of the fishing line cutter  50  described in the current invention. In  FIG. 4A , a tubular section  18  is integrally attached to a fishing pole  12 , distally with respect to a reel  14 . A metallic arcuate projection  26  extends from the tubular section  18 , as described above in  FIGS. 3A-3C . A slot  32  is located on the tubular section  18 , and a spring means  34  springingly attaches the metallic arcuate projection  26  to the slot  32  (see  FIG. 4B ). An O-ring  46  may be wrapped around the fishing pole  12  along the distal end  16  of the fishing pole  12  (see  FIGS. 4A and 4B ). At least one sharpening means  38  is fixedly attached within the O-ring  46 . As described above in  FIGS. 3A-3C , a pair of sharpening means  38  may be used. As the O-ring  46  is slid proximally along the fishing pole  12 , towards the reel  14 , a sharpened edge  24  of the concave side  22  of the metallic arcuate projection  26  rubs against the at least one sharpening means  38  and maintains the sharpness of the sharpened edge  24  (see  FIG. 4B ). By sliding the O-ring  46  proximally along the fishing pole  12  towards the reel  14 , the metallic arcuate projection  26  is depressed into the slot  32 , and the sharpening means  38  sharpens the sharpened edge  24  (see  FIG. 4C ). A second stop means  44  positioned at a proximal end  41  of the slot  32  restricts further movement of the O-ring  46  proximally along the fishing pole  12 . The O-ring  46  may completely shroud the slot  32  when the O-ring  46  is slid to the second stop means  44 . 
         [0025]    The above description of embodiments of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations thereof are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.