Abstract:
Disclosed is a line positioning device for use with fishing vessel outriggers. The positioning device employs a housing having a pulley, a resilient bushing positioned next to the pulley, and a lever arm that is strategically positioned to engage a halyard line against the resilient bushing. A halyard line placed through the device is partially wrapped around the pulley where the line can freely move. Locking of the line requires the partial rotation of the lever arm which includes a tip end that presses the line against the resilient bushing. The lever arm includes a detent for engagement of a biased ball for use in holding the lever arm in either a locked or unlocked position.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    In accordance with 37 C.F.R. 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/682,540 entitled “OUTRIGGER LINE LOCK POSITIONING DEVICE” filed Aug. 13, 2012. The contents of which the above referenced application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to the field of fishing and more particularly to a line positioning device for use on fishing boats to lock an outrigger positioning line. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Halyard lines are commonly known as the lines that are used to pull sails up a mast on a sailboat. At the end of a halyard line is a shackle that attaches to the sail. The line then runs to a pulley block at the masthead and comes back down alongside the mast. When the sail is up, the halyard is tied off tight to the mast cleat using a cleat hitch. Conventional halyards are made of high strength synthetic polymer fibers which lack memory but have the disadvantage of “creep,” whereby the material elongates under constant load. 
         [0004]    All known line locking devices, commonly referred to as “halyard locks” are used to address line creep issues. Traditionally a halyard lock includes a hook that latches to a ball-like fitting on the halyard. The lock operates like a door latch when the tension is relieved on the lock the latch will open to release the line. Earlier halyard locks used a trip line that attached to the latch and was tensioned for releasing the line. 
         [0005]    The principal of the Halyard style locks were adapted for use on outriggers commonly used on fishing vessels. Outriggers are defined as a pair of fiberglass, carbon fiber, or aluminum poles secured to the sides of a vessel for use in positioning fishing lines away from the vessel. Outriggers allow the fisherman to make a presentation in the water that would not otherwise be possible due to the width of the boat. For instance, a 30-foot boat, without outriggers, may have a 10 foot beam wherein fishing lines can only maintain a separate which equals the width of the boat. Placement of 15-foot outriggers on the same boat permits the placement of fishing lines at a distance of nearly 40 feet. On larger vessels the outriggers may be 40-feet and the width of the boat 20 feet wherein outboard fishing lines might be positioned 100 feet apart. By placement of fishing lines outside the width of the vessel, a greater “spread” of fishing lines and bait/lures are presented. The result is a greater opportunity to catch fish. 
         [0006]    Outriggers are commonly formed of a tubular mast of modest diameter which is strengthened against bending or buckling by longitudinal cable truss systems that include spreader arms to stand off the cable from the mast to create a truss unit, as disclosed in Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,050. Fishing with outriggers is performed when a fishing vessel is driven slowly, commonly referred to as trolling, which permits the strategic placement of bait behind the vessel. Each outrigger includes at least one pulley with a line, commonly referred to as the halyard line. To strategically place bait, a quick release clip is attached to the outrigger halyard line to hold the fishing line dragging bait. An outrigger halyard line can hold multiple fishing lines in this manner, spaced at intervals outwards from the boat. 
         [0007]    The wake generated by the vessel can appear to predator fish like a school of fish. Bait which appears to be struggling or separated from the school, or wake, are the most attractive to predator fish. If the bait is properly placed, the bait dragging on the fishing line will appear as struggling or separated fish. Once a fish strikes, the line is released so that it can be landed with the use of the traditional rod and reel. However, while dragging bait, the fishing line can pull on the outrigger&#39;s halyard line causing the previously mentioned line creep which decreases the chance of catching a fish. Line creep on the outrigger halyard line causes the release clips to move back towards the boat, which decreases the fishing territory and can result in tangled lines. The halyard line is used to position the release clip, and thus the fishing line, outboard of the vessel. 
         [0008]    Braided nylon is the most popular line material for outriggers. The line has no memory and is easy to deal with when the poles are retracted or removed from the bases. Monofilament may also be used and works well with fixed-length poles that remain on the boat. Trolling with fishing lines attached to outriggers can strain the halyard line wherein the line can easily creep as the release clip attachment is known to work its way back to the vessel while fishing. The most common fix to stop line creep is by use of a halyard style line lock. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,342,115 to Lindstrom discloses a device at a cleat for a vessels in order to provide detachable locking of the line to a sail, a rig or the like, where the line runs over a sheave on an elevated level and having a cleat for locking the line situated at a distance from the deck of the boat. In the device, the line runs over a sheave, which is provided with ratchet back stop, and is arranged to co-operate with a movably actuatable mechanism, which activates the ratchet back stop. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,125 to Renton discloses a line-handling block for vessels having an attachment device rotatably mounted in the body. A locking device is slidably connected in keyhole slots and can slide into or out of engagement with the attachment device. When the locking device is engaged, only limited rotation of the attachment device to either side of a central position may be permitted. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,033 to Jarrell discloses a pulley or roller-type block with a locking arrangement. The locking arrangement can form a permanent weak spot in the line due to a highly concentrated clamping contact. At least a portion of a rolling unit is formed of resilient material, whereby the clamping contact on the line, as squeezed between the rolling unit and the clamping mechanism, is distributed by flexion of the roller unit resilient material. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,023 to Muller discloses a pulley over which a rope moves with an eccentric cam which is pivotable to selectively clamp or release the rope against the pulley and a pivotable lever to which the cam is connected such that motion of the lever pivots the cam between its clamping and releasing position. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, what is disclosed is a line positioning device that is used to prevent line creep in an outrigger fishing assembly. The line positioning device of the present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art by providing a simple locking pulley device which holds the line against a resilient bushing in a secure locked position. The locking lever can also provide quick visual confirmation of whether the device is in a locked position. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The instant invention is an outrigger line positioning device with assimilates a halyard locking principle. The positioning device employs a housing having an internal chamber for placement of a pulley, resilient bushing, and lever arm. The device allows ease of passage of a line under normal conditions, and when the line is desired to be tensioned so as to be placed in a non-movement position, the lever arm is rotated so as to pinch the tip end against a uniquely fastened resilient bushing that provides improved frictional engagement. The lever arm includes a ball actuated detent for engagement of a biased ball for use in holding the lever arm in either a locked or unlocked position. 
         [0015]    An objective of the invention is to provide a line positioning device having a mechanically operated lever arm to engage an outrigger positioning line. 
         [0016]    Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a line positioning device that is inexpensive to manufacture and constructed to permit the mounting of internal components by use of externally inserted driv-lok pins. 
         [0017]    Another objective of the invention is to disclose a use of a spring biased ball detent in combination with the lever arm to provide a tactile feel when positioning a halyard type line in a locked or unlocked position. 
         [0018]    Still another objective of the invention is to disclose the use of a one piece housing that can be manufactured from plastic, aluminum or stainless steel. 
         [0019]    Yet still another objective of the invention is to provide lever arm indicia to provide a lever that provide visual indication as to the status of the locking device. 
         [0020]    Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objectives and features thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  depiction of the interaction of the line positioning device with an outrigger; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional side view of the line positioning device in a locked position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the line positioning device in an unlocked position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the line positioning device; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of multiple line positioning devices coupled together. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]    Referring now to the figures, set forth is the outrigger line positioning device of the instant invention. The positioning device is defined as a housing  10  having an inner chamber  12  with a series of through holes  14  constructed and arranged to receive driv-lok pins  16  for the mounting of various internal components. Driv-lok pins  16  bridge the inner chamber  12  to allow for an equal loading on the components due to fishing line drag. The housing  10  can be formed from a single piece of injection molded plastic as the use of driv-lok pins  16  lessen the need for a reinforced wall member. However, it is preferred that the housing  10  is formed from aluminum or stainless steel due to the superior life of the materials when exposed to sunlight for years. The use of the externally positioned driv-lok pins  16  again allow for a single piece housing  10  as the components are positioned within the inner chamber  12  but secured by driv-lok pins  16  attached from outside the inner chamber  12 . The housing  10  includes a mounting aperture  18  to permit ease of securement to a vessel typically by use of a flexible cord  112 . 
         [0027]    A pulley  20  component is mounted within the inner chamber  12 . The pulley  20  includes a centrally disposed bearing  22  for ease of rotation. Driv-lok pin  16   a  is placed through a first side wall  30  of the inner chamber  12  extending to a second side wall  32  of the inner chamber  12  providing the previously mentioned uniform support. For instance, should a line be placed through the wheel of the pulley  20  and drawn taught, having a driv-lok pin  16   a  that extends across the inner chamber  12  will maintain the pulley in-line with the halyard line  100  to prevent off center halyard line  100  loading. The pulley  20  is constructed and arranged to receive the halyard line  100  around a portion of the pulley  20  to allow attachment of the device in any convenient position. 
         [0028]    Bushing  34  is positioned next to the pulley  20  at a distance sufficient to allow clearance of the halyard line  100  during rotation, yet close enough so that the housing  10  can be kept to a minimum size. The bushing  34  is formed of a resilient material such as rubber and employs two driv-lok pins  16   b  which are offset from a center line of the bushing  34  depicted by mounting holes  17 . The offset is important so as to provide a leading side edge  36  of the bushing  34  that has a predefined deformation that allows the halyard line  100  to be pinched, without marring, during a locked condition. The offset further prevents rotation of the bushing  34 . A lever arm  40  is pivotably attached to the housing  10  by use of driv-lok pin  16   c.  The lever arm  40  includes a tip end  42  and a shank  44 . 
         [0029]    A first detent  46  on the lever arm  40  is constructed and arranged to receive a biased ball  52  for maintaining the lever arm  40  in an open position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The open position allows ease of halyard line  100  movement. The second detent  48  on the lever arm  40  operates in combination with the biased ball  52  for positioning the lever arm  40  in a fixed closed position, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , to prohibit halyard line  100  movement. The lever arm  40  may include indicia  50  placed along a side surface so as to provide a visual representation of the lever arm  40  for operational purposes. The lever arm  40  is maintained in either an open or closed position by use of the biased ball  52 . The ball  52  is biased by spring member  54  positioned within spring chamber  43 , the spring chamber  43  maintains the spring member  54  in a proper position. 
         [0030]    In operation, the biased ball  52  is securely maintained in the first detent  46  which prohibits movement of the lever arm  40  from the open position and prevents the halyard line  100  from accidently engaging the lever arm  40 . The lever arm  40  is rotated in an outward position wherein the biased ball  52  is moved from within the first detent  46  to the second detent  48  and the shank  44  of the lever arm  40  extends outward from an edge of the housing  10  providing a visual indication that the halyard line  100  is crimped. Movement of the lever arm  40  into a closed position requires rotation of the lever arm  40  across a flat surface  47  to second detent  48 . The flat surface  47  allows for a positive tactile feel between the first detent  46  and the second detent  48  so an operator can positively confirm through sound or touch that the lever arm  40  has been moved from one position to another. 
         [0031]    In the closed position the tip end  42  of the lever arm will frictionally engage the halyard line  100  forcing the halyard line  100  against the resilient bushing  34  to securely hold the halyard line  100  in a fixed or locked position. In this position, the shank  44  of the lever arm  40  is in a substantially perpendicular position to the halyard line  100  providing a visual indication of a locked position. The bushing is made of a material that is temporarily deformable in combination with the placement of the driv-lok pins  16   b  so as to pinch the halyard line  100  between the tip end  42  of the lever arm  40  and the leading side surface  36  of the resilient bushing  34  without marring the halyard line  100 . The material of the bushing  34  is preferably rubber having no memory characteristics. 
         [0032]    The device can return to an open position by rotating lever arm  40  causing the biased ball  52  to move from the second detent  48  back to the first detent  46 . As the biased ball  52  moves it compress spring member  54  into the spring chamber  43  so that it can pass over the flat surface  47 . In the open position, the halyard line  100  can be moved to bring the line clip  104  along the outrigger  102  either towards the boat or into a position to troll for fish. 
         [0033]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , multiple outrigger line positioning devices can be connected in series by using a coupler  106 .  FIG. 5  shows three devices connected using a coupler  106  and coupler bolt  108 , however the same concept can be applied to attach any number of line positioning devices together. The coupler bolt  108  passes through the mounting aperture  18  of the housing  10  of each device. When multiple line positioning devices are connected the mounting aperture  18  is no longer available to connect to a flexible cord  112  and so the coupler aperture  110  allows the group of housings to be connected to a stable object on the boat. The attachment depicted is a clip wire  114  secured to the flexible cord  112  by a swivel  116 . 
         [0034]    One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.