AU2003200270A1

AU2003200270A1 - Fastening device & method

Info

Publication number: AU2003200270A1
Application number: AU2003200270A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Colin Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-18
Filing date: 2003-01-29
Publication date: 2003-10-16

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

SPECIFICATION

for the invention entitled: "Fastening Device and Method" The invention is described in the following statement: P:NPER3LJCfas1nar Spedoo-IW3/02 -1- FASTENING DEVICE AND METHOD This invention relates a method and device for fastening together two lengths of mono-filament, string, rope or the like. One advantageous application of the invention is in the field of fishing, wherein the method and device of the invention can be used to easily and securely fasten lengths of fishing line together.

Ordinarily, when two portions of line, string or the like need to be fastened together they are tied to one another using a form of knot. In some circumstances, however, the formation of an appropriate knot can be difficult and time consuming. For example, mono-filament fishing line is ordinarily fastened to a fishing hook by way of a clinch or blood-knot. With relatively thin line, the knot formation requires fine dexterity, and can be particularly challenging with cold fingers. In another case, two lengths of rope may need to be fastened together for towing or hoisting a load. A suitable knot for such application allows for ease of untying and requires some expertise in knots.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fastener for fastening together two lengths of mono-filament, string, rope or the like, including a ring, a securing protrusion and a loop spaced along a spine of the fastener, wherein the fastener is adapted to enable portions of the two lengths to pass through the ring, coil several times around the spine in a first orientation, pass around one side of the securing protrusion, and coil several times around the spine in a second, opposite orientation and through the loop.

The use of a fastener clip constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention allows two lengths of line or string to be easily fastened to one another in a secure, tension bearing manner without the use of a complex knot. Furthermore, the two lengths of line or string can be detached from each other and from the fastener clip with the same ease.

In one particular form of the invention, the fastener is formed from a piece of wire or the like, with the ring, securing protrusion and loop each formed from a bent portion of P:OPERCMft,~cr rsp doc-1M03/02 -2the wire. In the preferred form of the invention, the fastener is formed from three looped portions of wire spaced from one another by joining sections of wire forming the fastener spine.

The ring of the fastener may be in the form of a wire coil that extends into a spring clip section having an end portion which can be latched into the loop at the opposite end of the fastener under spring bias from the ring coil.

In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a method of fastening two lengths of mono-filament, string, rope or the like by way of a fastener having a ring, a securing protrusion and a loop spaced along a spine of the fastener, wherein portions of the two lengths are arranged to pass through the ring, coil several times around the spine in a first orientation, pass around one side of the securing protrusion, and coil several times around the spine in a second, opposite orientation and through the loop.

In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a configuration of two lengths of mono-filament, string, rope or the like with a fastener having a ring, a securing protrusion and a loop spaced along a spine of the fastener, wherein portions of the two lengths are arranged to pass through the ring, coil several times around the spine in a first orientation, pass around one side of the securing protrusion, and coil several times around the spine in a second, opposite orientation and through the loop.

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter, by way of example only and with reference to embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view diagram of a fastening clip constructed in accordance with a an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view diagram of the fastening clip of Figure 1 in an open configuration; Figure 3 is a side view diagram of the fastening clip including an illustration of the general path of a pair of strings or the like when fastened together by the clip; Figure 4 is a diagram of the fastening clip in an application with fishing apparatus.

P;OPERUCMfas.c qcpd.doc.-18/0302 -3- A fastening clip 10 is illustrated in the Figures, constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention. The fastening clip comprises generally a ring, a securing protrusion and a loop spaced along the spine thereof with a spring biased clip portion extending from the ring to the loop, in use. In the particular structure of the fastening clip 10, each of the ring, securing protrusion and loop comprise a respective wire coil (14, 16, 18) spaced along the spine 12 of the fastening clip. Preferably the fastening clip 10 is formed from a single length of wire or the like, wherein the wire coils 14, 16, 18 are integrally formed with wire spine sections 15, 17 which interconnect coils 14, 16 and 16, 18, respectively.

Coil 18 is located at a first end of the fastener clip spine 12, and is adjacent one end of the wire length from which the fastener is constructed. Coil 14 is located at the other end of the spine 12, at which the wire length is coiled substantially around to extend in the direction of the spine first end to form a clip portion 20. The clip portion 20 includes the other end of the wire length, which terminates in a bent tip 22 adapted to latch into the coil 18 under spring bias of the coil 14, as illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 2 illustrates the condition of the fastener clip 10 when the bent tip 22 is unlatched from the coil 18, placing the fastener clip in an open configuration.

The fastener clip 10 is useful for fastening two lengths of mono-filament, thread, string, twine, cord, rope, fibre or similar (hereinafter referred to generally as "lines") together and to the fastener clip 10. The two lines are twisted around the fastener clip with both of the lines following the same path. An exemplary path 25 for the two lines with respect to the fastener clip 10 is illustrated in dashed lines in Figure 3. The lines are fastened to the clip 10 whilst the clip is in the open configuration (Figure 2) and then the clip 10 is placed in the closed configuration (Figures 1 and 3).

The path 25 followed by the lines in fastening them to the fastener clip 10 is as follows. The two lines pass through the ring (coil 14), and are twisted several times around the spine section 15 in a first direction. Approximately 4-5 turns of the lines PA0PERICN sfasenrspc.d 1tV03/02 -4around the spine section 15 are recommended to securely fasten the lines. The lines then pass around one side of the securing protrusion (coil 16) enabling them to be twisted several times around the spine section 17 in a second direction, opposite to the twisting direction around spine section 15. The loop (coil 18) holds the ends of the lines extending therefrom and prevents them from untwisting from the fastener clip The clip portion 20 shown in the Figures extending from the ring (coil 14) to latch on the loop (coil 18) is not required to secure the lines to the fastener, and is primarily provided so that the profile of the fastener clip 10 is relatively smooth, both for visual appearance and to reduce the potential for the fastener clip 10 to snag on anything during use. Accordingly, the fastener of the present invention can function without the clip portion, for example simply formed as three spaced wire coils or loops as shown in Figure Although the embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing are formed from wire or the like, many alternative forms of the invention are also possible without departing from the essence of the invention. Figure 6 illustrates one possible structure of a fastener 50 which could be moulded from plastic or stamped from sheet material. The fastener 50 as shown includes a ring formation 52, coupled to a securing protrusion 54 by way of a first spine section 53. The securing protrusion 54 is also coupled to a loop formation 56 by way of a second spine section 55. The path of a line secured to the fastener 50 is illustrated at 60 in Figure 6.

A fastener constructed according to the principles of the present invention may be any suitable size, as appropriate for the type of line which is to be secured. By way of example, a fastener suitable for fine mono-filament or thread might be only a couple of centimetres in length and constructed from relatively fine gauge wire. On the other hand, a fastener adapted for fastening ropes such as for hitching or hoisting might be several tens of centimetres long to permit coiling of the line thereabout, and be constructed from relatively thick metal rod material, or other strong material.

P: OPERUCM~VuAi r sp.d-1- MMlA)2 Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a fastener clip 10 in use for securing a fishing hook 32 on the end of a fishing line 34. The fastening of the hook on the fishing line can be accomplished as follows. The end of the fishing line is taken from a reel 30 or the like and passed through the ringl4, fish hook eye 33 and back through the ring 14.

With the fastener clip in the open configuration, the doubled fishing line is then wrapped several times around the spine section 15, around one side of coil 16, and then wrapped several times around spine section 17 in the opposite direction. The fastener clip can then be placed in the closed configuration as illustrated in Figure 4. The length of the looped portion of fishing line between the fastener clip 10 and the fishing hook becomes the leader. The fishing line is thus secured firmly to the fastener, whereby tension can be applied between the line end attached to the reel 30 and the loop through hook eye 33 which exceeds the tensile strength of the fishing line without the line slipping.

It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that a fastener according to an embodiment of the present invention can be formed from-a length of wire or the like using a suitable wire forming machine or jig adapted to form a series of spaced coils as hereinbefore described. As mentioned, however, many other alternative constructions are also possible whilst still retaining the essence of the invention, such as moulding or stamping of suitable materials.

The foregoing detailed description has been presented by way of example only, and is not intended to be considered limiting to the present invention which includes every novel feature and novel combination of features herein disclosed.

DATED this 23/1/2003