Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to a device attachable to a string, rope, wire, cord or other flexible line. More particularly, the attachment device of the present invention is attachable to and will remain on a string without having to thread the string through a hole in the device. The device may be quickly attached to a string by snapping together a top and bottom portion of the device to form the unitary device locked on the string. The device can be used to, for example, mark a location on the string, adorn the string as a decorative bead, or used to bundle two or more strings together by locking a single device on two or more stings. 
         [0003]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0004]    A bead typically has a spherical shape with a hole extending through a central axis of the bead. The end of a string may be pushed or threaded through the hole in the bead so that the bead is affixed to the string but can slip along the string. A bead of this design is put on a string by pushing the string through the hole in the bead. In order to be able to affix the bead on the string, the end of-the string must be free of knots or restrictions and cannot be tied to some other device. In other words, if knots or obstructions are on the string that portion or end of the string will not be able to be pushed through the hole in the bead. The user may have no alternative but to cut the string so that the string can go into the hole in the bead. The typical bead also typically has a hole in the bead larger than the diameter of the string so the string is more easily pushed through the hole. 
         [0005]    Over the years, various devices have been constructed for attachment to a string through a fixed hole in the device. In many situations a user may wish to rig a string with one or more objects attached to the ends of the string. While using the rigged string the user may also wish to attach an additional object to the string without removing the objects already affixed on either end of the string. 
         [0006]    For example, a user may wish to add a bead to a string of beads without removing any of the beads that are already threaded on the string. The bead to be added may, for example, be of a different color so as to compliment the beads presently on the string. Preferably, the additional bead should be added to the string without removing any of the beads presently on the string. To add a bead to the middle of a string of beads would require half the beads to be removed, the new bead could be added and all the beads that were removed would have to be strung back on the string of beads again. 
         [0007]    Devices have been described in an attempt to allow for quick attachment to a string. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,931,786 describes a fisherman sinker-bobber; U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,107 describes a fishing line limit assembly; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,443 describes glass fishing weights. Although these devices may be attached to a string or line without threading through a hole, the disadvantages of these devices and the advantages of the present invention should become apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the description of the invention. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The device of the present invention quickly attaches to a string without having to thread the end of the string through the device. The device has a first half or main body, a second half, lid or cover, and a hinge that interconnects the main body to the lid. The main body has a channel that extends into the main body from an outer surface of the main body. A first end of the channel extends into the main body at a first outer portion of the main body and a second end of the channel extends into the main body at a second outer portion of the main body. At least a portion of the channel has concave sidewalls. The lid includes a wedge extending from a portion of the lid, wherein a shape of a portion of the wedge and the concave sidewall of the main body are congruent. When the lid is aligned and engaged with the main body, the wedge engages with the main body in a portion of the channel. When engaged, the wedge interlocks with the channel. Another aspect is that a bottom of the channel may align with and extend through a central axis of the main body. Another aspect is that an outermost width of the device does not exceed 0.250 inches. A device having this outermost width is suitable for use as a fishing line stop. 
         [0009]    The hinge may include a pivot axis that aligns parallel with the channel and may also have a shape of an outer surface of the hinge that is congruent with a shape of an adjacent surface of the device when the wedge engages with the main body. When the main body and lid are coupled or snapped together, the inner portion of the hinge is contained and concealed within the unitary structure formed by the main body and lid. 
         [0010]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the device is particularly well suited for attachment to a string and configurable as decorative beads or alternatively as a bobber stop on a fishing line. The beads can be added to any location on the string without needing to remove beads already on the string. The user simply positions the main body at a desired location on the string and then closes the lid onto the main body, snapping them together. A unitary bead is then created on the string without needing to remove beads already on a string of beads. When the body and lid are snapped together, the bead has the appearance of a solid, unitary bead. 
         [0011]    A hole, channel or aperture formed in the center of the bead when it is closed may be designed to be smaller so as to fit tightly on the string, thereby reducing the likelihood that the bead can slide on the string. It may be desirable to have a bead on a string that does not slide on the string so that other beads on the string are stopped from sliding past a point on the string. Alternatively, the user may tie a knot in the string to keep the bead from slipping past a certain point on the string, similar to, for example, a string of pearls. By sizing the channel so that the string fits tightly within the channel, the user does not have to tie a knot in the string, although a friction fit on the string would allow the bead to be forced or pulled along the string to a new location. 
         [0012]    Further, the device can be made small and very streamlined so that when added to a fishing line, for example, it can be used as an attractant or as a bobber stop. When used as a bobber stop the streamline shape allows the device to be attached at any place along the fishing line and when the line is reeled up the device will slide through the eye loops in the fishing pole and into the fishing real. 
         [0013]    Without limitation, the main body may have a spherical shape, an elongated shape or other suitable shape, and may be injection molded of a thermoplastic material, a buoyant material, or other suitable material. Other features of the invention are further described in the detailed description, claims, and accompanying drawings in which like numerals in the several views refer to corresponding parts. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an elongated bead of the present invention attached to a string having a lid shown in the open position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bead of the type as shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid in the closed position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the bead of the type as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the bead of the type as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the bead of the type shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the bead of the type shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the bead of the present invention having a cover shown in an open position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the bead of the type shown in  FIG. 7  having the cover in a closed position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an end view of the bead of the type shown in  FIG. 7  having the cover in the open position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is an end view of the bead of the type shown in  FIG. 7  having the cover in the closed position; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a top sectional view of the bead of the type shown in  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present invention described herein are exemplary and modifications may be made without departing from the intended scope of the invention. For example, without any limitation intended, although the bead of the present invention is shown in the drawings as being elliptical or spherical, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the bead of the present invention includes alternative shapes and sizes without departing from the intended scope of the invention. 
         [0026]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a bead  10  of the present invention is shown having a string  12  positioned within the bead  10 . The bead  10  includes a main body  14  and lid  16 . A channel  18  is formed in the main body  14  of the bead  10  and is suitable for receiving the string  12  within the channel  18 . The channel  18  includes an offset  20  and the interior of the lid  16  likewise includes an offset  22  that is shaped to conform to the offset  20  of the channel  18 . The string  12  is cradled in the channel  18  such that when the lid  16  is closed on the main body  14 , the longitudinal surface of the channel and the longitudinal surface of the interior of the lid  16  press against the string  12  in opposite directions, thereby fixing the string in place with respect to the bead  10 . When the lid  16  is closed on the main member  14 , the channel  18  is generally aligned with a central axis of the bead  10 , such that the bead  10  is equally balanced on the string  12  so that the bead  10  does not hang disproportionately on the string  12 . Further, when the lid  16  is closed, the external surface of the bead  10  is generally smooth and without abrupt contours that easily catch or snag on adjacent objects. 
         [0027]    Referring next to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the engagement and disengagement of the lid  16  to the main body  14  is shown in greater detail. The main body  14  and lid  16  are interconnected by a web or hinge  30 . The hinge  30  aligns the lid  16  parallel to the main body  14  when it is snapped in place. The main body  14 , lid  16  and hinge  30  are preferably made, without limitation, from a thermoplastic resin material. The channel  18  within a solid main body  14  is defined by first and second opposing walls  32  and  34 . Concave grooves  36  and  38  are formed within each opposing wall that extends the length of the channel  18 . First and second upper portions  40  and  42  of the opposing walls  32  and  34  are rounded to reduce friction as the lid  16  engages within the channel  18 . The first upper portion  40  extends outwardly along an angle  44  to the outer surface of the bead  10 . The second upper portion  42  extends outwardly along a continuous curvature  46  to the hinge  30 . 
         [0028]    The interior surface of the lid  16  is formed to include a wedge or protrusion  50  having sidewalls  54  and  56  and a shape congruent or mating with the channel  18  and grooves  36  and  38  when the lid  16  is closed on the main body  14 . An outer width between the sidewalls  54  and  56  of protrusion  50  is greater than a distance between the first and second opposing walls  32  and  34 . When the lid  16  is snapped together into the main body  14 , the sidewalls  32  and  34  of the main body  14  slide over the side walls  54  and  56  of the lid  16 . Further, when the lid  16  is snapped into the main body  14 , an outer edge  52  of the lid  16  rests against or close to the angled surface  44  of first upper portion  40 . When the outer edge  52  rests close to the angled surface  44  the outer surface of the bead  10  is smooth. 
         [0029]    In use, when the lid  16  is closed on the main body  14 , the material near an outer surface of the hinge  30  will stretch while the material near an inner surface of hinge  30  compresses. A gap near the hinge  30 , and between the lid  16  and main body  14 , allows for the compression of the hinge  30  when the lid  16  is closed onto the main body  14 . The outer portion of hinge  30  does not extend past the outer surface of bead  10 , creating a flush outer shape when the lid  16  is closed. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6  the offset  20  in the channel  18  of the main body  14  and offset  22  in the lid  16  are shown. When the lid  16  is closed, this offset will pinch or crimp the string  12  preventing the string  12  from sliding within the bead  10 . The offset may alternatively allow enough of a gap between lid  16  and main body  14  so that string  12  slides within the channel  18 . The gap size may be varied so that when the lid  16  is closed varying tensions against the string  12  are achieved. 
         [0031]    Referring first to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an alternative bead  10  of the present invention is shown having a string  12  positioned within the bead  10 . The bead  10  includes a main body  104  and lid  106 . A channel  108  is formed in the main body  104  of the bead  10 . A recession  114  is formed in a lower portion of the channel  108  and is suitable for receiving the string  12  within the recession  114 . The string  12  is cradled in the recession  114  such that when the lid  106  is closed on the main body  104 , the longitudinal surface of the channel  108  and the longitudinal surface of the interior of the lid  16  press together to trap the string  12  in the recession  114  within the bead  10 . Alternatively, the size of the recession  114  or string  12  may vary so that a surface of the lid  106  engages with a surface of the string  12 . When the lid  106  is closed on the main body  104 , the channel  108  is generally aligned with a central axis  108  of the bead  10 , such that the bead  10  is equally balanced on the string  12  so that the bead  10  does not hang disproportionately on the string  12 . Further, when the lid  106  is closed, the external surface of the bead  10  is generally smooth and without abrupt contours that easily catch or snag on adjacent objects. Although a spherical shape is shown, alternative shapes may equally apply. 
         [0032]    Referring next to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the engagement and disengagement of the lid  106  to the main body  104  is shown in greater detail. The main body  104  and lid  106  are interconnected by a web or hinge  130 . The hinge  130  aligns the lid  106  parallel to the main body  104  when it is snapped in place. The main body  104 , lid  106  and hinge  130  are preferably made, without limitation, from a thermoplastic resin material. The channel  108  within the main body  104  is defined by first and second opposing walls  132  and  134 . Concave grooves  136  and  138  are formed within each opposing wall that extends the length of the channel  108 . First and second upper portions  140  and  142  of the opposing walls  132  and  134  are rounded to reduce friction as the lid  106  engages within the channel  108 . The first upper portion  140  extends outwardly along an angle  144  to the outer surface of the bead  10 . The second upper portion  142  extends outwardly along a continuous curvature  146  to the hinge  130 . 
         [0033]    The interior surface of the lid  106  is formed to include a protrusion  150  having sidewalls  154  and  156  and a shape mating with the channel  108  and grooves  136  and  138  when the lid  106  is closed on the main body  104 . An outer width between the sidewalls  154  and  156  of protrusion  150  is greater than a distance between the first and second opposing walls  132  and  134 . When the lid  106  is snapped together into the main body  104  the sidewalls  132  and  134  of the main body  104  are forced to slide over the side walls  154  and  156  of the lid  106  snapping them together 
         [0034]    Further, when the lid  106  is snapped into the main body  104 , an outer edge  152  of the lid  106  rests against or close to the angled surface  144  of first upper portion  140 . The outer edge  152  rests flush to the angled surface  144  the outer surface of the bead  10  is smooth with no gap between surface  152  and surface  144 . An optional enhancement of the design is to leave a gap between surface  152  and  144  allowing for a sharp tool to be wedged into the gap and pry open the bead  10 . This will allow the bead  10  to be removed and used again. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the hinge  130  is shown with an outside surface of the hinge congruent with an outer surface of the bead  10  and an inner surface of the hinge forming a planar interior parallel with channel  108 . When the lid  106  is closed on the main body  104 , the material near an outer surface of the hinge  130  will stretch while the material near an inner surface of hinge  130  compresses. A gap near the hinge  130 , and between the lid  106  and main body  104 , allows for the compression of the hinge  130  when the lid  106  is closed onto the main body  104 . The hinge  130  does not extend past the outer surface of bead  10 , creating a flush outer shape when the lid  106  is closed. 
         [0036]    This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different constructions, and that various modifications, both as to the construction and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.

Technology Category: 4