Abstract:
An improved bead ( 10 ), for use on a string or a line ( 13 ), that allows addition to or removal from the string transversely rather than axially, obviating the task of threading the bead with the string. Such a bead finds great benefit when used as a fishing bead, sinker or float, but may be found useful in many other applications.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/742,788 filed 2012 Aug. 20 by the present Inventor. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Beads that remain permanently on a string have long been known, but in certain applications, such as fishing, it becomes necessary to frequently move, add or remove beads from along their string, for example to add weights or a float to the line. In this case, a slot in the bead allows the bead to be removed and inserted transversely to the string rather than along it. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,001,241 to De Vries (1934) discloses such a bead and discusses its benefits; De Vries &#39;241 comprises six component parts. U.S. Pat. No. 3,069,802 to Olsen (1962) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,662 to Hoyle (1965) disclose other attempts to incorporate this functionality. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,136 to Bank (1985) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,162,830 to Sims (2007) improve on De Vries &#39;241 by using only two separate component parts, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,805,881 to Kavanaugh (2010) discloses a single-component self-hinged device that closes over one string but also can be optionally equipped to close over a plurality of strings or to lock in position along these strings. International Patent WO 1998/018316 discloses a two-component bead that snaps together across two perpendicularly crossing strings to allow a number of hook lines to be attached along a main or drag line. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    As can be seen, each of these demands a certain amount of careful manual assembly in the field, coordinating several small parts and the strings to which they fasten, often in an icy water and bad weather environment. 
         [0008]    The present invention obviates these complex demands by employing novel molding methods and materials to produce a simple, single-piece device that snaps simply and directly over a string or fishing line by itself, stays in position unless deliberately moved and has the advantage of appearing, to a fish, like a tasty fish egg. A further advantage is the ability to add scented attractant materials within the side slot that tend to attract fish through their sense of smell. Yet another is the ability to lock the bead in position using a simple toothpick if it should become necessary. Perhaps the greatest advantage is the simplicity and low cost of manufacture, making this device financially available to a broad spectrum of users. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS—FIGURES 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an end view of the bead device, revealing its bore and slot. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bead device placed along a fishing line at a selected location. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bead device, taken from a point where the slot and its contents may be readily seen. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view taken along the plane indicated by lines  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the bead device showing added attractant material. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the bead device in place on a fishing hook. 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   DRAWINGS-REFERENCE NUMBERS 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                     
                   10 
                   bead 
                 
                 
                     
                   11 
                   slot 
                 
                 
                     
                   12 
                   bore 
                 
                 
                     
                   13 
                   line or string 
                 
                 
                     
                   14 
                   projection 
                 
                 
                     
                   15 
                   gap 
                 
                 
                     
                   16 
                   attractant 
                 
                 
                     
                   17 
                   fishing hook 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    One embodiment of the bead device is best seen in  FIG. 1  as item  10 , showing the slot  11  into which the line  13  is placed. Slot  11  has a width preferably narrower than the diameter of line  13 , such that line  13  must be forced through slot  11  and thence retained in bore  12  by elastic recovery of bead  10 ′s original shape. 
         [0016]    Bead  10  may be selected from a range of sizes, colors and materials, as well as a range of dimensions chosen for a particular fit on lines  13  of particular size and characteristics. 
         [0017]    In practice, the user would first decide which particular characteristic of bead should be chosen, and where along the line it should be placed. In one single and simple operation, the line  13  would be drawn into the slot  11 , as in  FIG. 2 , and forced with tension to pass through the slot  11  into the bore  12 . Consequently, line  13  is held in place within bore  12  by the combination of elastic forces and circumferential forces. 
         [0018]    If one end of the line  13  might be anchored, as when wrapped around a fishing reel for example, then the entire operation of installing the bead  10  could be accomplished using but one hand. More typically, perhaps, line  13  might be free along its length, calling for an extra hand to maintain tension along line  13 . In either case, this assembly of the bead  10  to the line  13  is markedly simpler than any known in the prior art. 
         [0019]    The elastic forces holding bead  10  in position along line  13  are generally sufficient to withstand sliding displacement by water running past the bead, as in trolling a line, yet they can be overcome by manually forcing the bead  10  along the line  13  for specific adjustment if desired. Such may be desired if several beads are strung together in a lineup of beads to simulate a nest of eggs. Careful design of the shape of bore  12  allows the bead to be removed from the line and reused if desired. In alternative embodiment, this shape of bore  12  may be deliberately chosen to prevent removal, for example by changing the sharpness of any fillet transition between slot  11  and bore  12 . 
         [0020]    Where for specific reasons it becomes desirable to lock the bead  10  in place along line  13 , the tip of a low-cost conventional wooden toothpick may be inserted into bore  12  to jam line  13  in place. After insertion, such a toothpick may be broken off against the edge of bead  10  where bore  12  exits bead  10 . Alternatively, a lengthy, taper-shaped fiber may be introduced by its thin end into bore  12  adjacent to line  13  and pulled from the thin end of its taper such that it gradually jams line  13  in place. Subsequently, the free ends of such a wedge may be trimmed at the ends of bore  12  and discarded or left in place to look like vegetable matter. Examples of such wedges are E-Z Pegs and Super E-Z Pegs as currently described on the World Wide Web at &lt;http://www.lazylarrys.com/pegs.php&gt;. 
         [0021]    If desired, to improve chances of capturing a fish, a supplemental wax-, cream-, or gel-like attractant material may be smeared into slot  11  after bead  10  is in place, as seen in  FIG. 5 . Such a material may, for example, exude smells or tastes into the surrounding water, leaving a trail in current or if trolling, or dispersing around the bead if stationary. 
         [0022]    Moreover, with beads simulating fish eggs, there is a tendency for the fish to target the bead  10  and not properly engage the fishing hook  17 , such that the hook&#39;s end snags on the outside of the fish rather than within its mouth. In effect, the bead  10  is swallowed and the fishing hook  17  is not. In fishing terms this is known as being “foul hooked,” and is illegal in some jurisdictions. With the instant invention, the shank of the hook  17  itself may be considered as a line  13 , placing the bead  10  directly on, and as a part of, the fishing hook  17 , thereby not causing external injury or infection to the fish&#39;s body in the frequent case where the fish is released back to the wild. 
       Method of Manufacture 
       [0023]    To manufacture the invention, economy is paramount. Complex and expensive beads as seen in the prior art may be justifiable in commercial fishing, but may be prohibitively expensive for the casual weekend fisherman. One example of an inexpensive and simple way to manufacture the bead  10  would be by injection molding. 
         [0024]    With injection molding, a cavity is created that dimensionally mimics the outside shape of the bead  10 , and fluid plastic resin is injected into this cavity to completely fill it. The cavity is provided with a means for opening along a so-called parting line in such a manner as to allow retrieval of the cooled and hardened plastic molded part. By the nature of this invention, it lends itself to extremely inexpensive injection molding wherein the major cost is primarily that of the material itself. No secondary operations need be applied. 
         [0025]    By electing the parting line as being coincident with the plane of section  4 - 4  as shown in  FIG. 3 , two identical hemispherical cavities would together define the spherical outside of bead  10 , and two symmetrically identical blades, each within one hemisphere and butting tightly together at the plane of  4 - 4 , would together define the sides of slot  11 . 
         [0026]    With such a simple mold, it would furthermore be trivial to create small, detailed concavities adjacent the tips of each blade that would, taken together, define the shape of a projection  14  formed integrally with the body of bead  10 . One example of such a projection  14  is shown in  FIG. 3  as a dimple within the slot, but other configurations of concavities could as well produce an annular ring within the bore  12 , or even an offset in the axis of bore  12  to help grip the line  13  more firmly. 
         [0027]    Such a projection  14  could provide a local point where the slot  11 , bore  12  or both are substantially narrowed, as shown at gap  15 , past which line  13  need be manually snapped or forced into bore  12  such that line  13  is retained by compression stress impinging against it by projection  14  against bore  12 . Alternatively, projection  14  may be shaped to use with a wider slot  11 , to allow easy entry of line  13  into slot  11  while also allowing line  13  to freely slide within an enlarged bore  12 . 
         [0028]    With disclosure of this novel and useful invention, other detail modifications are clearly within the scope of the Claims thereto. One such might be the provision of rounded edges or fillets at various intersections of certain surfaces within the device, for example.