Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/732070 filed on 01 Nov. 2005, the complete subject matter of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to a locking device for use in releasably securing elements to a line or filament. The preferred embodiment is intended for use as a releasable/slideable lock for a sinker used on a fishing line.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Attaching elements to lines or filaments, such as a sinker on a fishing line is well known in the art. Such an attachment means can be as simple as a loop and a knot in the filament. The problem with such systems is that 1) they cannot be removed without breaking the filament; and 2) the position of the element cannot be moved relative to the filament without great difficulty.  
         [0005]     Improved devices also exist. One example is to incorporate a corkscrew like feature into a sinker and screw the sinker into some other element on the filament. Such a device is made by Bullet Weights™ and sold under part number 33-423-556 sold by Bass Pro, Inc. (www.basspro.com). This solution does not really address either of the above problems.  
         [0006]     Another solution using a “peg”, being as simple as a toothpick or a rubber strip (such as made by Bullet Weights™ T-stops part number 33-43-656-01), sold by Bass Pro, Inc. These pegs are slid into the axial opening in the sinker along with the filament. The pegs are tapered so the filament becomes entrained between the opening and the peg. The pegs can be removed (perhaps by destruction thereof) and the sinker can be moved along the filament until re-pegged. This solution addresses problem no. 2 above but is no help in allowing the complete removal of the sinker from the line without cutting the line.  
         [0007]     There exists a need, in general, and specifically with elements attachable to fishing lines, to allow for releaseability and moveability of the element on the filament.  
         [0008]     There also exists a need to prevent breakage or damage to a line when a slideable element rapidly contacts a stop on the line (such as a knot).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The following summary is provided to assist the reader in reading this entire document. The scope of invention is defined by the claims, not this summary.  
         [0010]     There are many aspects of the invention. For example, there is disclosed a releasable slideable lock for securing the position of an element slideable on a filament line having a slideable element have two ends and a passage therethrough for receiving said line, a stop element point located proximate said passage, the element extending between send ends and having a sleeve connecting same, said stop element being capable of being twisted to cause engagement of sleeve with the line; an anti-rotation element configured to engage said stop and slideable elements to prevent counter rotation of the stop element relative to said slideable element after making twisting engagement with the line; so that, when said stop element is twisted to engage the line and prevented from untwisting by the anti rotation element, the slideable element is thereby prevented from sliding along the line until the anti-rotation element is disengaged.  
         [0011]     There is also disclosed a method of releasably fixing the position of a slideable element having a passage therethrough, on a line comprising the steps of: elongating an elastomeric twistable sleeve; inserting the sleeve into the passage while elongated, sliding the line through the sleeve within said slideable element; positioning the slideable element where desired along the line, twisting the sleeve sufficiently to engage the line and prevent slippage.  
         [0012]     This is also disclosed a method of manufacturing the locking device.  
         [0013]     There is also disclosed a shock protector for a slideable for an element having ends and a passage therebetween and being slideable on a line having a fixed stop, having a shock absorbing element extending from said ends and connected through said passage and having resilient portions which extend beyond said ends; so that when said slideable element encounters said fixed stop, the contact is cushioned by said resilient portions.  
         [0014]     There are other aspects of the invention which can be found in the complete description and drawings below. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tapered body sinker according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a securing feature according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a securing feature according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a securing feature according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a securing feature according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a tapered body sinker according to another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a partial cutaway view of a stop element according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a cross section of the sleeve feature according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a cross section of the sleeve feature according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a cross section of the sleeve feature according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a partial cutaway view of a tapered body sinker and stop element and securing feature according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a partial cutaway view of a tapered body sinker and stop element and securing feature according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 13  is a partial cutaway view of a tapered body sinker and stop element and securing feature according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  shows an element  100 , which in this case is a tapered body sinker of heavy metal. The element could be a bobber, a weight holder (a/k/a drop shot rig) or an element unrelated to the fishing arts, such as a connector or flag on a line or filament. Note that line or filament is meant in its most generic sense, such as from a micro-thin optical fiber to a large diameter steel cable. This invention is not limited to the type of line. The term filament is only used for convenience and is not a limitation.  
         [0029]     Through the core of the element is a passage  102  with openings  104  and  106  at its ends. The passage is shown as linear/straight, but can be serpentine, spiral or other path, though straight is preferred.  
         [0030]     Openings  104 / 106  can be circular, but the preferred structure is a non-round shape as it aids in its other function as a stop, as will be explained later. Therefore, other shapes are shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , such as round with ears (points of engagement)  108 , star shaped  106   c , hex or octagon  106   a  and cross/star/Phillips  106   b . Many other shapes are acceptable and are incorporated herewith. Such shapes have some element which would prevent the rotation of a stop element (discussed below). Thus the importance of the shape selection is its ability to mate with the stop element and prevent counter-rotation.  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  illustrates another feature of the invention. In addition to the passage  102  in the body  100 , a second cut into the body can be made from the outside. This access cut or slit  110 , permits the filament (any kind of line) to reach the passage  102  without the need to thread the filament through the passage end to end. This would require either cutting the line or having a free end to the line, something which is often impossible.  
         [0032]     Instead, the access cut, whether straight (not shown) or other pattern, provides a way to slide the line into the passage without having a free end. Thus the cut must be at least large enough to accommodate the filament (directly or under compression) and small enough that a portion of the stop element  114  can be inserted therein, preferably under compression or distention by stretching (elongating).  
         [0033]     The use of a serpentine cut  110  makes it more difficult for the line to slide free on its own without manual assistance. A notched cut (having a jog offset portion)  112  in  FIG. 12  is an alternative. It has a sharp right angle which accomplishes the same effect as the serpentine cut, but is even more reliable in preventing separation of the element; however, it is much more difficult to insert the line therein.  
         [0034]     To make the invention have the slideable feature, a stop (or stopper) element  114  is inserted into the opening  102  and it is friction created by twisting of the stop element which locks the filament to the element  100 , such as a sinker or bobber, in the fishing arts. In this embodiment, the stop element is shown as a sleeve that separates the line  140  from the inner surface of the passageway  102 .  
         [0035]     Stop element  114 , has an elongated body/twistable sleeve  116 , preferably made of an elastomeric material. The body is preferably sized to extend to and preferably beyond the length of passage  102  so that it extends beyond the opening  104  and  106 .  
         [0036]     At the end of the body are preferably anti-rotation elements (ears)  118  on either or both ends. These anti-rotation elements/features are shown with ears  120  which correspond to notches/recesses  108  in or associated with (i.e. in some way mechanically linked with) element  100  in  FIG. 2 . It can be appreciated, that when the ears and notches mate, the body is secured against rotation on both ends.  
         [0037]     It is possible to create this securing feature with other shapes as shown both in  FIGS. 2-5  and  8 - 10  (oval, rectangular, hex or non circular cross section, etc), so long as an interlocking engagement is achieved to prevent relative rotation. Entirely different anti-rotation elements or means are contemplated within the scope of this term. It is only required that the counter rotation be prevented when the element is twisted to the desired degree.  
         [0038]      FIG. 11  illustrates the concept of how the stop  114  engages the filament  130  (shown in broken lines as it passes through the element  100  and passage  102 ).  
         [0039]     The stop is first inserted into the element  100  in one of two ways. Either by forcing it through one opening  104 / 106  to the other, or by forcing it through the cut  110  (not shown in  FIG. 11 ). It may be preferable to stretch the stop lengthwise to make it thinner for purposes of getting into the cut  110  since it will generally be preferred to make it wider than the cut, so that it cannot fall out.  
         [0040]     With the stop in place, and the filament threaded therethrough, it is now possible to lock the element (such as a bobber, sinker or some other element) to the line/filament.  
         [0041]     In the preferred embodiment, the user twists either (bulbous) end  122  of the stop  114 . The shape of the end  122  should be large enough so as not to be drawn into the passage  104 . It may help to pull end  122  upwardly away from the element  100  for ease of twisting. This will cause the body  116  to engage the filament  130  and prevent it from slipping. This twisting is schematically suggested by line  140  in  FIG. 11  ( 140  is not a serpentine cut).  
         [0042]     It is possible that the stop could become untwisted; thereby allowing the filament to be released, but the addition of engagement elements will prevent this.  
         [0043]     The preferred engagement element are the anti-rotation elements  118  which engage recesses  108  ( FIG. 2 ) but as shown in  FIGS. 2-5  and  8 - 10 , there are a multiplicity of ways to prevent counter rotation of the twisted body  116 . Fundamentally, it is necessary to engage both ends of the stop element with the main element  100  to prevent counter rotation. Shaping the elements  118  to mate with like recesses  108  (of any shape) will accomplish this.  
         [0044]     Note that it would be possible to fix one end  122  and twist the other. Fixing could be accomplished by gluing or swedging (or like means for fixing) the end against counter-rotation. It would be possible to eliminate one of the bulbus ends  122  by gluing or otherwise fixing the body  116  to the element  100  near one end (it must be however free to twist at least a portion of the body to insure engagement with the line).  
         [0045]      FIG. 12  shows a cut  112  in element  100  which is not serpentine but has at least one shoulder (though it may be curved and not at right angles as shown) to prevent the stop body from sliding out of the element  100 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 13  illustrates another advantage of the present invention. In this configuration the element  100  has a stop and the ends of the stop  130  are shown. The line  130  has a knot  150  (or other fixed stop on the line) and when the stop  114  is in its released/relaxed position, the element is free to slide along the line  130 . This might be a common occurrence in any use of this device.  
         [0047]     A common problem with heavy objects which are slideable is that they encounter fixed stops and with the stop the impact can damage the line. In the case known, the impact of a heavy sinker could snap the line or gradually weaken it. Thus it would be desireable to prevent hard impacts. The ends  122  of the stop element provide the additional advantage that they cushion the impact of a slideable object against the shock of a fixed stop on the line.  
         [0048]     It is appreciated that this shock absorbing/protecting feature can be provided to any slideable element without the need for the stop/locking engagement feature of twisting the body  114  around the line  130 . In such case, the anti-rotation features of this device are not required. Rather, only an elastomeric or other cushioning material extending from at least one end of the slideable element  100 .  
         [0049]     It will be appreciated that this detailed description of the invention and preferred embodiments is not all encompassing. To cover every possible variation would make this text impossibly long. Instead, the inventive concepts and some preferred embodiments were explained in detail but deviation from the preferred embodiments to other structures within the scope of the inventive concepts is to be considered part of this invention.

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