Abstract:
An aid and method for tying fishing knots. A substantially key-shaped aid has a flat head, a shank having a groove therein, and a notch in the shank. The groove permits the tying of a knot across the shank, and over an object—either a line passed through the groove or a hook positioned under the shank—to which the knot is to be attached.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priority from provisional application No. 60/292,479, filed on May 22, 2001. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the tying of knots for fishing and, more particularly to a knot tying aid and method for use with different types of fishing line. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The tying of knots is an integral part of fishing. These may be needed for purposes of positioning a bobber on a line, to attach a leader, or to snell a hook. It is desired to be able to tie the knot necessary for a particular task in a relatively quick and easy manner. It is also desired to be able to tie the knot necessary for a particular.task in a manner that limits the amount of cutting of the line. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an aid and method that may be utilized for the efficient tying of certain types of fishing knots. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an aid and method that may be utilized to install a moveable bobber/float stop on a fishing line without cutting and re-rigging the fishing line. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an aid and method that may be utilized to install a leader on a line without cutting and re-rigging the line. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invent to provide an aid and method that will permit the snelling of a fishing hook. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a knot tying aid for use with fishing line is disclosed. The aid comprises, in combination: a flat head; a shank fixedly coupled to the flat head; wherein the shank has a first end proximate the flat head, a second end, and an upward-opening groove along a length thereof, so as to impart a substantially U-shape to the shank when viewed from the second end; a notch on an upper surface of the shank, formed into a wall surrounding the groove; wherein the notch is angled in a direction from the second end to the flat head so that the notch is deeper proximate the flat head than proximate the second end; one of a length of fishing line and fly line dimensioned to be inserted into the groove; and one of a knot string and a leader dimensioned to be hooked into the notch. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for tying a knot comprising the steps of: providing a flat head; providing a shank fixedly coupled to the flat head; wherein the shank has a first end proximate the flat head, a second end, and an upward-opening groove along a length thereof, so as to impart a substantially U-shape to the shank when viewed from the second end; providing a notch on an upper surface of the shank, formed into a wall surrounding the groove; wherein the notch is angled in a direction from the second end to the flat head so that the notch is deeper proximate the flat head than proximate the second end; providing a length of one of a fishing line and a fly line dimensioned to be inserted into the groove; providing one of a knot string and a leader dimensioned to be hooked into the notch and wherein the one of a knot string and a leader has a first end and a second end; holding the flat head; inserting the one of a fishing line and the fly line into the groove; grasping the first end of the one of a knot string and a leader; extending the second end of the one of a knot string and a leader across the shank, hooking the one of a knot string and a leader into the notch, and wrapping the one of a knot string and a leader around the shank a plurality of times so that the second end of the one of a knot string and a leader passes over a portion of the one of a knot string and a leader that has been extending across the shank; holding the one of a fishing line and a fly line and the one of a knot string and a leader in place in the groove and the notch; inserting the second end of the one of a knot string and a leader into the groove and under wrapped portions of the one of a knot string and a leader; pulling the second end of the one of a knot string and a leader until the wrapped portions of the one of a knot string and a leader are slightly tightened; separating the knot tying aid from the one of a knot string and a leader and the one of a fishing line and a fly line; and pulling on the first end and the second end of the one of a knot string and a leader. 
     In accordance with a still further embodiment of the present invention, a method for tying a knot is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a flat head; providing a shank fixedly coupled to the flat head; wherein the shank has a first end proximate the flat head, a second end, and an upward-opening groove along a length thereof, so as to impart a substantially U-shape to the shank when viewed from the second end; providing a notch on an upper surface of the shank, formed into a wall surrounding the groove; wherein the notch is angled in a direction from the second end to the flat head so that the notch is deeper proximate the flat head than proximate the second end; providing a rod line dimensioned to be hooked into the notch and wherein the rod line has a first end and a second end; providing a hook having an eye at an end thereof; placing the hook against a bottom side of the shank opposite the groove so that the eye is proximate the first end of the shank; threading the rod line through the eye, extending the rod line across the shank, hooking the rod line into the notch, and wrapping the rod line around the shank, the rod line, and the hook a plurality of times; inserting the second end of the rod line into the groove proximate the first end of the shank and under wrapped portions of the rod line; separating the knot tying aid from the rod line and the hook; sliding the wrapped portions along the hook to a point proximate the eye; and pulling on the first end and the second end of the rod line. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the stop knot key aid of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an end cross-sectional view of the stop knot key aid of FIG. 1 taken along line  2 — 2 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the shank portion of the stop knot key aid, showing a notch therein, taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the stop knot key aid of the present invention, showing one of a leader line and a knot string inserted into the notch. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the shank portion of the stop knot key aid, showing the one of a leader line and a knot string wrapped several times around the shank. 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the shank portion of the stop knot key aid, showing the one of a leader line and a knot string wrapped several times around the shank and re-inserted under the wrapped portions through the groove and away from the flat end. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the shank portion of the stop knot key aid, showing one of a fishing line and a fly line inserted through the groove under the one of a leader line and a knot string. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the one of a fishing line and a fly line, showing the one of a leader line and a knot string tied in a knot around the one of a fishing line and a fly line. 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the stop knot key aid of the present invention, showing a rod line inserted through the eye of a hook and wrapped around the shank. 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of the stop knot key aid of the present invention, showing a stop knot wrapped around a hook. 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the stop knot key aid of the present invention, showing a stop knot wrapped around a hook and the rod line reinserted under the stop knot. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the stop knot key aid, hereinafter stop knot key aid  10 , of the present invention is shown. The stop knot key aid  10  is substantially key-shaped and comprises a flat head  12  fixedly coupled to a shank  14 . 
     Preferably the flat head  12  end defines an aperture  16  (shown in FIG. 1) to facilitate coupling of the stop knot key aid  10  to a key chain, clip, string, or the like (not shown). 
     Referring now to FIGS.  1  and  3 - 7 , the shank  14  of the stop knot key aid  10  has a.first end  18  (shown in FIGS. 1,  3  and  4 ), a second end  20  and an upward-opening groove  22  the length thereof, so as to impart a substantially U-shape to the shank  14  when viewed from the end  20  (see FIG.  2 ). The shank  14  further defines a notch  26  on a raised portion  28  of the top side of the shank  14 . 
     One purpose of the stop key aid  10  as illustrated in FIGS. 4-8 is to install a.moveable bobber/float stop knot  24  on a fishing line  30  and to re-install the bobber/float stop without cutting and re-rigging the fishing line  30 . To accomplish this task, one may or may not rig the line  30  for fishing. Preferably, the flat head  12  of the stop knot key aid  10  is held in the left hand between the thumb and middle phalanges of the index finger, although it should be understood that the stop knot key aid  10  could be secured in an alternative position. A fishing line  30  must be inserted into the groove  22 . Then, a piece of knot string  32  (shown in FIGS. 4-8) having a first end  33  and a second end  35  should be hooked into the notch  26  of the stop knot key aid  10 . Preferably, the knot string  32  is six to ten inches in length, although it should be understood that substantial benefit could be derived from a knot string  32  which deviates, even substantially, from the preferred length in either direction. Preferably, one holds the fishing line  30 , the knot string  32  and the stop knot key aid  10  in place between the thumb and index finger, although an alternative position may be used so long as the stop knot key aid  10 , the fishing line  30 , and the knot string  32  can all be held together securely. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the finger tip of the index finger can be used to hold the second end  35  of the knot string  32  and wraps of the knot  24  against the back side  36  (shown in FIG. 1) of the knot stop key aid  10  to keep the knot  24  from unwrapping. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, the second end  35  of the knot string  32  should then be inserted into the groove  22  at the first end  18  of the shank  14  and fed under the wraps  34  toward the second end  20  of the shank  14 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, once passed under the wraps  34 , the second end  35  of the knot string  32  is preferably pulled until the wraps  34  are slightly tightened. 
     Referring now to FIG. 8, the stop knot key aid  10  is removed leaving the knot  24  loosely coupled to the fishing line  30 . In the preferred embodiment, one can accomplish this task by pinching the wraps  34  between the right thumb and the index finger and sliding the stop knot key aid  10  out of the knot  24 . 
     Once this is done, the knot  24  should be tightened onto the fishing line  30  by pulling both the first end  33  and the second end  35  of the knot string  32 . After this, both the first end  33  and the second end  35  of the knot string  32  should be trimmed to approximately ⅛inch from the knot  24 . 
     Referring a second time to FIGS. 4-8, in order to use the stop knot key aid  10  to attach leaders, a substantially similar method is used. In this embodiment, reference number  32  refers to the leader, which one should take and hook into the notch  26 . Next, the second end  35  of the leader  32  should be wrapped around the shank  14  preferably six to eight times, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternate number of wraps  34  which deviates, even substantially, from the preferred number of wraps  34  in either direction. 
     In this embodiment, reference number  30  refers to a fly line, which should then be inserted into the groove  22  of the stop knot key aid  10 . This time, however, the fly line  30  should be inserted from the second end  20  of the shank  14  towards the first end  18  of the shank  14 . Preferably, the fly line  30  should extend approximately 4 inches beyond the wraps  34 , although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from the extension of a fly line which deviates, even substantially, from the preferred 4 inch extension in either direction. Once again, the stop knot key aid  10  is removed, leaving the knot  24  loosely coupled to the fly line  30 . The knot wraps  34  should be tightened around the fly line  30  so that the knot wraps  34  stay in position, but not so tight that the knot wraps  34  cannot slide on the fly line  30 . The fly line  30  should then be pulled through the knot  24  until the knot  24  is approximately a half inch from the end of the fly line  30 . Once this is done, the knot  24  should be tightened onto the fly line  30  by pulling both the first end  33  and the second end  35  of the leader line  32 , while making sure not to let the wraps  34  overlap. Preferably, the second end  35  of the leader line  32  should be trimmed flush from the knot  24 , and the short end of the fly line  30  should be trimmed flush from the knot  24 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 9-11, the stop knot key aid  10  can also be used to snell a hook  38 . Referring now to FIG. 9, a hook  38  is placed against the bottom side  40  of the shank  14  opposite the notch  26 . The eye  42  of the hook  38  should be pointed towards the first end  18  of the shank  14 . One threads a second end  35  of a rod line  32  through the eye  42  of the hook  38  and then wraps the second end  35  of the rod line  32  around the notch  26  to form a stop knot  24  in substantially the same fashion as done in forming the bobber stop knot described above. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 10-11, the wraps  34  should not be so tight as to make insertion of the second end  35  of the rod line  32  under the wraps  34  difficult. The second end  35  of the rod line  32  should be inserted into the groove  22  under the wraps  34  from the direction of the first end  18  of the shank  14  towards the second end  20  of the shank  14 . The stop knot key aid  10  is removed leaving the knot  24  loosely coupled to the hook  38 . Once this is done, the knot  24 , tightened lightly to the shank of the hook  38 , should be slid up to the eye  42  of the hook  38  and tightened securely by pulling both the first end  33  and the second end  35  of the rod line  32 . 
     In addition to creating a stop knot  24  on a fishing line  30 , attaching a leader  32  to a fly line  30 , and snelling a hook  38 , one may use the stop knot key aid  10  key to join two pieces of fishing line together or couple other fishing items to various types of lines.