Abstract:
A spring-loaded receptacle designed to accept and reversibly link a stringer spike to an angler or watercraft to collect and combine fish. The sheath is a dual lumen device comprised of an outer tubular shell, a vertically movable, hollow inner stem, and a helical spring about the lower portion of the inner stem. The inner stem manifests three holes drilled at 120 degrees from one another and beads placed in these holes for engaging and securing the spike. A conically shaped bead deflector skirts the inner stem, surrounds the bead system, and exhibits a widening circumference as it descends into the outer shell. Spike insertion is accomplished by depressing the stem, compressing the spring, and allowing bead movement downward and outward away from the sheath center. The beads grip the spike when the stem is released, the spring expands, and the beads move into the bead deflector&#39;s tapered angle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a fish stringing system, and more particularly, to an improved fish stringing system manifesting a point of connection between stringer and fisherman that allows for safe, reversible coupling, ease of fish attachment and detachment, and quick release. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    When in shore wade fishing for sport or leisure, it has long been customary to attach caught fish to ones self via a small line generally referred to as a stringer. This stringer may consist of a rope or cord exhibiting a plurality of hook closures for fish attachment or, as with this invention, a single piece of rope designed for successive fish attachment. In the later, once the fisherman has made his catch, the string is traditionally guided through the fish&#39;s gills and brought out of the mouth through the use of an attached beveled tip spike. Fish are collected in series and comprise what is commonly deemed a string of fish. To release the fish from the stringer, the fish are guided down the string and removed from the stringer. 
         [0005]    While the material used in the construction of the stringer may vary, the fundamental assemblages have remained relatively consistent over time. The basic design of a fish stringer is a variable length of rope with a means to block the release of fish at one end of the rope in the form of a ring or float and a beveled spike at the rope end closest to the fisherman. In the most rudimentary design, an angler may simply attach a stringer to his or herself by tying the stringer to a belt or belt loop. Utilizing this method is undesirable in that it requires both hands to secure the stringer onto the fisherman. In addition, the exposed stringer spike presents a possible stabbing hazard. In an attempt to address both issues, fishermen in the past have attached a stringer spike to their person via a wade belt pocket, but even when wading belts or similar fishing attire are worn, the pockets made to receive the stringer spike may not be uniformly snug to all spike diameters and may not tightly grip the stringer spike. What is more, neither method of attachment allows for quick release of the stringer in the event a predator such as a porpoise or a shark attempts to abscond with the fisherman&#39;s catch. Additionally, should the fisherman be outfitted in chest high waders, the predator may drag the angler&#39;s feet from under him or her and allow the waders to fill with water—causing almost certain drowning. 
         [0006]    Variations on the main theme have been developed, but no stringer system to date has had the capacity to reversibly couple to a stringer spike of varying diameters, allow for rapid release, and provide for the protection of the user from a stabbing hazard from an exposed, unsheathed beveled spike. The following patents are examples of improvements that answer some, but not all, of the concerns addressed by the current invention: 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat No. 5,203,480, issued to Day, teaches a D-shaped fish stringer handle that contains an orifice to receive the stringer needle inherent in the device. The invention promotes safe sheathing of the stringer needle, but is not spring loaded for rapid attachment and release. Further, the Day patent requires greater manual dexterity in its operation than the present invention and necessitates a complex manipulation in securing the stringer needle inside the invention with the stringer rope itself. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat No. 5,025,587, issued to Creed, and U.S. Pat No. 4,830,244, issued to Brannon, both teach sheathed stringer attachment, yet neither is spring loaded for rapid release and both demand specific spike design in the mechanisms use. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat No. 5,078,310, issued to Ferry, employs a spring and plunger arrangement to secure a stringer rod. Yet, the stringer rod in Ferry&#39;s device runs perpendicular to the mechanism and exposes the beveled tip. The &#39;310 invention does provide a tip cover to protect the fisherman from stabbing, however this cover forces another step in sheathing the stringer rod and increases the potential for possible stabbing either while attempting to cover the stringer rod or from a disassociated protective cap. In addition, the assembly is less esthetically appealing and less ergonomic than the present invention. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat No. 7,357,282, issued to Brull, describes a spring-loaded connector assembly capable of sheathing and reversibly coupling a stringer rod to a rod receptacle. While the invention sheaths the stringer rod and allows for quick release, the mechanism employed to secure the stringer rod relies on a groove around the circumference of the rod and a securing member that engages this groove to clutch the rod. Therefore, this system can only be utilized with a specific stringer rod exhibiting a set diameter and a specifically positioned groove. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat No. 4,570,836, issued to Mayo, as well utilizes a spring loaded system to sheath the stringer spike, but as in the previously mentioned &#39;282 patent, the stringer spike relies upon a locking pin and specifically placed groove system to securely engage the spike. Additionally, even when the spike is sheathed, the stringer cord is still attached to the system and thus to the fisherman raising concerns of the operator&#39;s overall safety. 
         [0012]    Clearly a need remains for a stringer attachment system that answers the aforementioned deficiencies. The present invention provides such an invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention relates to a means to provide an improved fish stringing system that safely and securely sheaths a stringer spike of varying diameters and allows for the rapidly reversible attachment of a stringer spike to an angler for the purpose of collecting and combining fish. The stringer spike sheath is a dual lumen device comprising a tubular outer body shell that is capped at either end to house the internal mechanism. This internal mechanism includes an inner stem that moves vertically within the outer body shell and is spring loaded for spike to sheath coupling and release. The spring loaded mechanism consists of a helical spring residing within the lower portion of the outer shell and is made to wrap around the inner stem. This helical spring is set and bound on one end by a flanged spring stop encircling and affixed to the outer circumference of the stem and at the other end by a base cap. The inner stem manifests three 0.31 inch diameter holes that are drilled at 120 degrees approximately 2 inches from the outer shell base. Three spheres having a circumference only slightly less than each hole&#39;s diameter are placed in each of the three holes for the purpose of engaging and securing the spike. Surrounding the area of the inner stem harboring the three sphere system is an internal bead deflector machined to have a conical shape that causes the spheres to engage the spike when the spring is extended and taut and allows for the movement of the beads away from the spike and the release of the spike when the spring is compressed. 
         [0014]    The present invention also provides for the attachment of a fish stringing system to a watercraft such as a boat or kayak. 
         [0015]    One embodiment of the invention also allows for the securing of a watercraft itself to the shore, a boating dock, or another vessel via a spike and sheath system. 
         [0016]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides a spike and sheath system for rapid attachment and detachment of watercraft rigging. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an assembled isometric front view of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates the bottom view of the Stringer Spike Sheath of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an isometric elevated perspective view of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an assembled and detailed schematic front view and inner mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a detailed schematic bottom view of the inner mechanism of the Stringer Spike Sheath of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the STRINGER SPIKE SHEATH taken along line  6  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0023]    FIG.  7 —an exploded detailed view of outer shell, inner mechanism, and caps of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7   a —an exploded view of the bead stop; 
           [0025]    FIG.  8 —an elevated perspective view depicting a sheathed spike; 
           [0026]    FIG.  9 —an elevated perspective view depicting an unsheathed spike; and 
           [0027]    FIG.  10 —a cross sectional view of the inner mechanism engaging the spike shaft. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but rather is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims and diagrams. 
         [0029]    Broadly, one embodiment of the present invention provides a stringer spike sheath engineered for inshore wade fishing stringers which is designed to securely and reversibly receive a stringer spike of varying diameters for the purpose of accumulating fish on a stringer. As depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 10 , the device&#39;s outer shell  12  harbors a spring loaded inner stem  14  that incorporates a three-bead spike securing apparatus  16 . Encircling the area of the three-beads  16  is a conically shaped bead deflector  18  that is tapered to a smaller diameter at the top  18 A and widens at the base  18 B. When the inner stem  14  is depressed and the helical spring  20  is made to contract, the stem&#39;s three beads  30  are free to move horizontally toward the bead deflector base  18 B. This horizontal movement facilitates stringer spike  22  insertion and removal. Conversely, when the inner stem  14  is released and the helical spring  20  is taut, the beads  30  are forced to move toward one another due to the upward pressure of the helical spring  20  and the narrowing of the bead deflector  18 A thus gripping an inserted stringer spike  22 . The inner stem  14 , in addition, serves a secondary function of protectively sheathing the inserted spike. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1-FIG .  3  illustrate one embodiment of the Stringer Spike Sheath. One embodiment of the Stringer Spike Sheath may be produced from corrosion resistant materials of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), stainless steel and/or brass. The outer body  12  may be a PVC tube that is approximately 3 inches in length and has an outer diameter that is approximately ¾ of an inch. The ends of the tube may be capped with two machined PVC pieces—a base cap  24  and a top cap  25  to maintain the working mechanism internally. Said top cap  25  may harbor a downward projecting bead deflector  18  (not depicted). Other embodiments may be formed from a mold that could be made to expedite the manufacturing process and make the device easier to assemble, more ergonomic, and/or more cosmetically appealing. 
         [0031]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4-FIG .  8 , the outer shell  12  is book ended between the flanged base cap  24  and the flanged top cap  25  and is designed to contain the working inner mechanism  16  that represents the functional portion of the present invention. This internal mechanism  16  that may include a chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) tube stem  14  may be approximately 4 and ¾ inches in length and have an outer diameter of approximately ½ of an inch. A spring stop  26  made from ½ inch PVC and machined at approximately a 19 degree angle  26 A may be located approximately 1 and ½ inch from the base of the tube stem  14  and is made to encircle the circumference of the inner stem  14 . Three 0.31 inch diameter holes  38  may be drilled 120 degrees apart into the inner stem  14  and located approximately 2 inches from the flanged base cap  24  just above the spring stop  26 . To further stabilize the three bead system, said ball bearings  30  are held vertically restricted within the inner stem  14  by a bead stop  21  encapsulated within the inner stem  14 . This bead stop exhibits drilled holes  21 A identical in placement and diameter to the drilled holes in the inner stem  14 . Made to sync with the inner stem drilled holes  38 , the bead stop drilled holes  21 A create a horizontal track for ball bearing  30  movement and may allow the ball bearings  30  to be installed permanently once the flanged base cap  24  and flanged top cap  25  are secured onto either end of the outer shell  12 . An additional function of the bead stop  21  is depicted in  FIG. 7   a  where the top portion of the bead stop  21  is a machined concave top surface  21 B that serves to guide the beveled spike tip  34  into the bead stop  21  interior. While the aforementioned flanged base cap  24  is designed to seal the base of the Stringer Spike Sheath and abut spring  20 , the flanged top cap  25  manifests an additional component—a downwardly projecting bead deflector  18 . This conically shaped bead deflector  18 , may be internally machined at such a 7 degree angle  19  where the inner upper most portion  18 A exhibits a smaller diameter than the inner lower portion  18 B and creates a circular skirt to guide the ball bearings  30  toward one another as the helical spring  20  expands. In order to allow the horizontally moveable ball bearings  30  to engage the stringer spike shaft  36  or similar inserted material, the inner stem  14  is depressed, the helical spring  20  is compressed, and the ball bearings  30  are allowed to move away from one another and the inner stem  14  center by moving to the expanded diameter of the bead deflector  18 B. Once inserted, the stringer spike shaft  36  is engaged by the ball bearings  30  when the inner stem  14  is released, the helical spring  20  expands upwardly, and the ball bearings  30  are pushed to the narrow portion of the bead deflector by the upward force of the helical spring  20 . Conversely, post insertion, the stringer spike  22 , or other inserted material, may be correspondingly uncoupled from said Stringer Spike Sheath through subsequent inner stem  14  depression, spring  20  compression, and horizontal movement of said ball bearings  30  away from the Stringer Spike Sheath center and stringer spike shaft  36  facilitating an easy release. 
         [0032]    Once the Stringer Spike Sheath is assembled, a ½ inch×¾ inch CPVC reducer/receiver cap  32  may be fixed to the top of the Stringer Spike Sheath tube stem  14  to allow entry of a spike  22  and serve as a push down release handle. The internal mechanism can move vertically inside the ¾ inch PVC outer body shell  12  and may be spring loaded. 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  depicts a fully inserted stringer spike  22  into the Stringer Spike Sheath. 
         [0034]      FIG. 9  is illustrative of an uncoupled system where the stringer spike  22  is unsheathed and uncoupled from the spike sheath. 
         [0035]      FIG. 10  exemplifies a fully engaged inner mechanism  16  where the helical spring  20  is extended, the bearings  30  are forced into the narrow angle  18 A of the bead deflector  18 , and the bearings  30  engage the spike shaft  36 . 
         [0036]    To use the Stringer Spike Sheath, the tapered tip end  34  of the stringer spike  22  is inserted into the top of the Stringer Spike Sheath CPVC reducer/receiver cap  32  ultimately engaging the internal mechanism  16  through direct contact with the  3  ball bearings. The inner stem  14  is manually depressed vertically downward via increased pressure on the CPVC reducer/receiver cap  32 . The downward movement of the inner stem  14  creates a corresponding pressure on the helical spring  20  to compress at the point of interface—the spring stop  26 . The helical spring  20  become depressed, causing the deflection of the beads  30  away from one another and the mechanism center. When the spike  22  is fully inserted, the inner stem  14  is released, the helical spring  20  pushes back against the spring stop  26  thereby wedging the beads  30  between the spike shaft  36  and the uppermost portion of the bead deflector  18 A. This force engages the spike shaft  36  and secures the spike  22  within the Stringer Spike Sheath. The illustrated embodiments of the 
         [0037]    Stringer Spike Sheath as in  FIG. 8  may accommodate spikes having an outer diameter raging between ⅛ inch to ¼ inch. To release the spike  22  from the Stringer Spike Sheath, the user will simply push down on the receiver reducer  32  and inner stem  14 , compressing the helical spring  20 , allowing the beads to move away from the spike and towards the bead deflector base  18 B. The inner stem  14  moves vertically downward within the outer shell and the beads  30  are sent horizontally away from the sheath center thus disengaging from the spike shaft  36 . The spike  22 , unencumbered, may then be easily removed from the Stringer Spike Sheath. Other embodiments may be assembled in a fashion that, instead of pushing down to release the spike, the user may pull up on the internal mechanism stem to release the spike or stringer material. 
         [0038]    To make one embodiment of the Stringer Spike Sheath, a ¾ inch PVC tubing  12  can be cut to a length of 3 inches. Next ½ inch CPVC tubing (“the stem”)  14  may be cut to a length of 4 and ¾ inches and three holes  38  having a diameter of approximately 0.31 inch may be drilled at 120 degree angles from one another at about 2 inches from one end. A machined PVC bead stop  21  exhibiting three drilled holes  21 A matching the three drilled stem holes  38  is then machined at one end to create an inverse conical shape to facilitate spike  22  insertion through the bead stop  21  interior and past the bearings  30 . This bead stop is permanently affixed into the ½ inch CPVC stem  14  and glued to align holes  12 A with stem holes  38 . A ½ inch diameter PVC (“the spring stop”)  26  can then be cut to 0.25 inch long and belt sanded at approximately a 19 degree angle  26 A which is then glued flat side down around the outside of the ½ inch CPVC stem, 1.5 inches from the same end that the holes were drilled. A machined PVC cap  24  can then be glued to one end of the ¾ inch PVC tubing  12  and set to dry. Once dry, the helical spring  20  is then inserted into the ¾ inch PVC tubing base (abutting the cap) and the ½ inch CPVC internal assembly is inserted into the helical spring  20  causing the helical spring  20  to be sandwiched between the PVC base cap  24  and the inserted ½ inch CPVC inner stem spring stop  26  leaving just enough room to install 3 brass beads  30  into the drilled holes  38  and  21 A. After the beads  30  are installed and the inner stem  14  is inserted into the outer body PVC shell  12 , a second machined flanged PVC cap  25  containing a downwardly projecting bead deflector  18  may be glued to the outer body PVC shell  12  most proximal to spike insertion and set to dry. Finally a cup shaped PVC reducer  32  may be glued on top of the ½ inch CPVC inner stem  14  to facilitate ease of spike insertion. 
         [0039]    On a larger physical scale, a similar mechanism may be used as a boat anchor mooring system. In this example, a spike on the end of an anchor rope could be used as a quick release anchor system. 
         [0040]    In yet another marine application the spike and sheath system could be used in a boat mooring system providing for quick release capability from another vessel, a boat dock, or shore. 
         [0041]    On a smaller or larger scale, the spike and sheath system may have value as a securing mechanism for sea vessel or boat riggings. 
         [0042]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.