Abstract:
A fly line to leader connector comprising a leader with a modified, enlarged butt end, a securing collar, and a length of heat-shrinkable tubing, which contracts upon the application of heat. The result is a smooth, knotless connection between lines of dissimilar sizes and/or materials. Optionally, adhesive can be applied to the bore of the tubing. Additionally, shallow grooves can be inscribed on the surface of the end of the fly line.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates primarily to the field of fly fishing, with application in other fields for connecting two lengths of material having dissimilar diameters.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The art of fly fishing as presently practiced requires the attachment of fine, often tapered, monofilament leader line to thicker, woven, coated fly lines. The fly line, in its various manifestations (e.g., floating, sinking, shooting) provides the mass that is essential to propel the fly against air resistance to the fisherman&#39;s desired target. However, the fly line itself is too large to attach to a fly; further, its size will alert wary fish to the presence of an unnatural condition, thereby reducing the capture of fish. As a result, fishermen join a fine, less obtrusive leader line to the fly line, and attach the fly to the leader line.  
         [0003]     Because the fly line and the leader line are dissimilar in both material and diameter, they are difficult to join together. Presently, special knots are often used, but such knots are difficult and time-consuming to tie, especially for fishermen with limited eyesight or dexterity. Further, the knots increase the overall diameter of the line, impeding the movement of the leader and fly line through the ferrules, or guides, of the fly rod.  
         [0004]     To avoid the necessity of joining the leader and fly line with knots, sportsmen have developed a number of mechanical, adhesive, and splice connectors. Examples of these connections are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,821 to Moser (discloses a mesh “Chinese finger trap”); U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,767 to Drosdak (discloses a clamp connector) and; U.S. Patent No.  5 , 469 , 652  to Drosdak (discloses a threaded connector). However, none of these discloses a connector with the utility and advantages of the invention disclosed herein.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Using the present invention, a fisherman can connect a leader line to a fly line easily and effectively. The leader line used has a modified, enlarged butt end, either prefabricated or one that has been mechanically altered. The fly end of the leader is passed through a longitudinal opening in a cylindrical collar until stopped by the enlarged end. The butt end and collar are then slid into one end of a piece of heat shrinkable tubing, and the free end of the fly line is slid into the other end of the tubing, until it rests against the enlarged butt end of the leader line. The fisherman then applies heat to the tubing with a heat gun, or flame, causing it to contract, with the result that the end of the leader is fixedly attached to the end of the fly line. Optionally, the fisherman can use a piece of heat shrinkable tubing which includes a heat-activated adhesive material on the inner surfaces of the tubing, in order to provide an even stronger connection. In addition, shallow grooves can be inscribed on the surface of the end of the fly line, resulting in a stronger connection.  
         [0006]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-use connector to join two lines of dissimilar size and material (e.g., a fly line and a leader).  
         [0007]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector comprising a securing collar for the end of the leader line, and a piece of heat shrinkable tubing.  
         [0008]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a securing collar that can be manufactured from materials, having different densities, the choice depending on the type of fly fishing being practiced (e.g., in dry fly fishing, the fly stays on the water&#39;s surface, in wet fly fishing, the lure is presented under the water surface).  
         [0009]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a connector for a leader line to a fly line that results in a linear presentation, assuring that the leader and fly line are maintained in a line.  
         [0010]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a connector which does not impede the smooth movement of the fly line and leader line through the fly rod&#39;s guides. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIGS. 1A through 1C  show three different leader lines, each with a different enlarged butt end, with which the connector of the present invention may be used.  
         [0012]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show side perspective views of two different securing collars which can be used as part of the connector of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a side perspective view of the heat shrinkable tubing used as part of the connector of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, partially sectional view of the assembled parts of the connector prior to completion of the attachment of the leader line to the fly line.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged side perspective view of the connector, showing the completed attachment of the leader line to the fly line, after heat has been applied. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A through 1C , the butt ends of leader lines may be modified in different ways for use with the connector of the present invention.  
         [0017]     In  FIG. 1A , a monofilament, tapered leader line  10  has a butt end  11  which was modified during manufacture to form an expanded end  12  with a diameter approximating that of a fly line. In  FIG. 1B , leader line  13  has a butt end  14  which has been expanded in the field by use of heat from a heat gun or a match in order to form a protuberance  15  with a diameter approximating that of a fly line. In  FIG. 1C , leader line  16  has a butt end  17  which has been enlarged in the field by tying an overhand knot  18  with a diameter approximating that of a fly line.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show the securing collars  20 ,  21  through which the narrower end of a leader line  10 ,  13 ,  16  can be threaded until the expanded end  12 , protuberance  15 , or knot  18  is snug against the first end  22 ,  23  of the securing collar  20 ,  21 .  FIG. 2A  shows a securing collar  20  with a flat second end  24 .  FIG. 2B  shows a securing collar  21  with a tapered second end  25 . The securing collar  20 ,  21  can be manufactured using a rigid or semi-rigid material, with the density selected depending on the fisherman&#39;s preference. For instance, low density materials, less than 1.0 g/cc, would be preferable for dry fly fishing in order to reduce the tendency of the leader to sink. Examples of low density materials include rigid silicone tubing and porous ceramics. A high density material would be preferable for wet fly fishing because it would increase line sink rate. Examples of high density materials include lead or bismuth alloys and ceramic. The dimensions of the securing collar  20 ,  21  used depend on the weight (size) of the fly line and leader line. The outer diameter (O.D.) of the securing collar  20 ,  21  should approximate the outer diameter of the fly line selected. The inner diameter (I.D.) of the securing collar  20 ,  21  should be slightly greater than the outer diameter of the butt end  11 ,  14 ,  17  of the leader line  10 ,  13 ,  16  prior to its enlargement. The thickness of the wall  26 ,  27  of the securing collar  20 ,  21  depends on the fly line and leader weight combination, as well as the material selected; in any event, the wall  26 ,  27  must be sufficiently strong enough to prevent the expanded end  12 , protuberance  15 , or butt  18  from pulling all the way through the securing collar  20 ,  21 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows the heat-shrinkable tubing  30  used as part of the connector of the present invention. Lengths of heat-shrinkable tubing are commercially available in many materials, sizes, and colors, e.g. TycoTUGA-series; Raychem KYNAR. The inner diameter (I.D.) of the first end  31  of the heat-shrinkable tubing  30  recovered after heating should be less than the outer diameter (O.D.) of the fly line, and the inner diameter (I.D.) of the second end  32  of the tubing  30  recovered after heating should be less than the outer diameter of the securing collar  20 ,  21 , so that a secure connection results. A heat-activated adhesive material, such as thermosetting polyethylene ASTM D-4236, or “glue stick,” can be applied to the bore  33  of the tubing to strengthen the connection. The adhesive material can be pre-applied during the manufacture of the tubing  30 , or it can be applied in the field.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows the parts of the connector  40  prior to the application of heat. The free end of the unmodified fly line  41  has been inserted into the first end  31  of the heat shrinkable tubing. The tapered end of the leader line  10  has been inserted into the first end  22  of the collar  20  and out the second end  24 , with the expanded end  12  stopped by the wall  26  of the securing collar  20 . The securing collar  20 , holding the expanded end  12  of the leader line  10 , is inserted into the second end  32  of the heat-shrinkable tubing  30  until the expanded end  12  of the leader line abuts the fly line  41 . As noted supra, shallow grooves can be inscribed on the surface of the end of the fly line  41 , resulting in a stronger connection.  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , heat has been applied, shrinking the tubing  30  and forming the connector  40  between the leader line  10  and the fly line  41 . The heat can be applied with a heat gun that is powered by batteries or electricity, or even with heat from a flame. The taper  42  of the connector  40  allows easy passage of the fly line  41  and leader line  10  through fly rod guides. The connector  40  is semi-rigid, allowing the presentation of leader and attached fly to extend straight from the fly line  41 .  
         [0022]     Although the connector of the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that additions, modifications, substitutions, deletions and other changes not specifically described are possible, and that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not as self-limiting.