P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Knot Tying Jig The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: IP0087DescAsFiled.docx Title: Knot Tying Jig Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to the field of recreational line fishing and professional line fishing. In particular it relates to tying knots in fishing line. Background Art [0002] There have been a number of proposals for devices used to tie fishing line such as those in US Patent No.3,106,417 by Clew, US Patent No. 3,752,516 by Mumma, US Patent No. 4,101,152 by Gardipee, US Patent No. 4,403,797 by Ragland and US Patent No. 4,566,213 by Cossin. These documents relate to handheld devices used in tying knots of in the form of mandrels, tubular members or other elongate members. These devices are mainly used for tying hooks and other terminal tackle to a line and are held in one hand while the other hand is used to execute the knot. [0003] Japanese patent application JPH 0265128 by inventor Shinobu discloses a two-part container with grooves which allow a line to be fed into the container and a knot to be tied in one piece of line. [0004] US Patent No. 4,613,173 by Rosser discloses a knot tying jig with a U shaped bail on a stepped platform. The junction of the bail is located below the platform and helps stabilize the platform during use. The legs of the bail protrude through the top of the platform, one leg has an alligator clip for holding the hook and the other leg has a transverse slit to hold a line. [0005] While the above devices may have a role in allowing fishermen to tie knots there is still and need for a portable convenient knot tying jig which allows line to line knots to be tied out in the field. 2 IP0087DescAsFiled.docx [0006] The above references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. Disclosure of the Invention [0007] The present invention provides a knot tying jig suitable for tying line to line knots in fishing line said jig comprising: a) a first line tensioning means to allow at least a part of a first line to be releasably retained on the jig; b) a second line tensioning means to allow at least a part of a second line to be releasably retained on the jig; c) a bight forming means to allow a bight to be formed in at least one of the lines; wherein said bight forming means is interposed between said first and second line tensioning means such that, in use, a bight may be formed in one of the lines and appropriate windings formed in the other line to allow a knot to be created, at least in part, before removal of the lines from the jig. [0008] The term "line to line knots" refers to joining two separate lines together. These knots are loop and wound knots such as the Harro Knot, the Albright Knot and the Melville Special Knot. [0009] The term "fishing line" refers to any line used in fishing for example synthetic braid line, gut, nylon line, fluorocarbon line, Dacron® line and the like. Generally the invention will be used for joining very thin diameter braid line to much thicker diameter line. [0010] The term "line tensioning means" refers to any suitable means for holding the line under some degree of tension. [0011] The term "releasably retained under tension on the jig" means that the line can be retained on the jig and released therefrom. 3 IPOO7DescAsFiled.docx [0012] The term "bight forming means" refers to any suitable means on which a bight (bend, curve or loop) in the line may be formed. [0013] The term "a knot to be created, at least in part," refers to the nascent knot, where the lines are in the appropriate configuration, but not yet fully tightened. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the final tightening of the knot must be performed once the lines are removed from the jig. [0014] Preferably the first and second tensioning means and a bight forming means are mounted on a substantially flat base and are aligned such that, in use, the first and second lines lie in substantially the same plane or in adjacent parallel planes so that at least one line can slide along the other line as a knot is being created. [0015] Preferably the tensioning means comprise slits formed in resilient deformable material and the bight forming means comprises a bail or spaced apart posts. [0016] Preferably the base comprises cutaway sections which, in use, allow a user's fingers to readily access the retained lines. [0017] Preferably the jig comprises a kit of parts which may be assembled. Brief Description of the Drawings [0018] The invention will now be described with reference to the following non limiting illustrative drawings. [0019] Figure 1 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the jig. [0020] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the jig. 4 IP0087DescAsFiled.docx [0021] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the jig showing the initial phases of forming a knot. [0022] Figure 4 is a schematic representation showing a later stage of forming a knot. [0023] Figure 5a and 5b are perspective views of another embodiment of the jig. [0024] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the main part of the base of the other embodiment of the jig. [0025] Figure 7 is an underneath perspective view of the removable inner leg of the other embodiment of the jig. [0026] Figure 8 is a schematic representation showing a later stage of forming a knot on the other embodiment of the jig. Modes of Carrying out the Invention [0027] In the first embodiment knot tying jig 100 comprises a body in the form of a substantially flat base 10 with first arch 14 and second arch 16 formed by outer legs 1 7a and 1 7b and central leg 18. Viewed from above it can be seen that base 10 is E shaped, outer legs 17 and central leg 18 forming the outline of the letter E and cut away portions define arches 14 and 16. This arrangement allows of the jig to be light weight. Base 10 can be made of any suitable materials such as plastic or timber. [0028] First line tensioning means in the form of line grip 20 comprises a block 25 of cork with v-shaped notches 20a and 20b leading to slits 21 a and 21 b. Block 25 is mounted on the upper surface of outer leg 17a. Similarly second line tensioning 5 IPOO7DescAsFiled.docx means in the form of line grip 40 with v-shaped notches 40a and 40b leading to slits 41 a and 41 b comprises a block 45 of cork mounted on the upper surface of outer leg 17b. V-shaped notches 20a and 20b assist in guiding first line in the form of leader fluorocarbon line 11 into slits 21. Similarly braid mainline 12 is guided into slit 41 a on block 45. Slits 21 and 41 are of the same depth. While in this embodiment the line grips shown are made of cork, any resilient deformable material such as rubber (natural or synthetic) or the like may be suitable. [0029] Bight forming means in the form of bail 60 comprises a loop of wire mounted on the upper surface of inner leg 18. Line grips 20 and 40 and bail 60 are aligned and slits 21 and 41 are of such a depth that when a knot is being formed lines 11 and 12 lie in substantially the same plane or in adjacent parallel planes so that at least one line can slide along the other line as a knot is being created. [0030] From Figure 3 it will be seen that leader 11 is passed through slit 21 a, around bight forming means 60 and then out through slit 21 b to form bight 11 a with tag end 11T hanging loose from jig 100. Depending on the handedness of the user the position of leader 11 and braid line 12 may be reversed. Bight 11 a is held under moderate tension allowing good control so that braid line 12 also secured (via slit 41 a) in jig 100 can be wound appropriately around bight 11 a as shown in Figure 4. [0031] Bail 60 acting in concert with slits 21 a and 21 b holds bight 11 a open. This allows bight 11 a to contract on itself without twisting once the windings are applied. It will be seen from Figure 4 that bight 11 a is now partially closed by the windings of braid line 12 (12 W). The windings 12 W are further tightened by pulling the main braid line tag and 12 T in the direction of the arrow. As the braid line windings 12 W are tightened these may be pushed together by a finger. During this process lines 11 and 12 are retained by, yet easily move through, slits 21 a, 21 b and 41 a. When the windings are as tight as practicable, tag end 12 T in mainline 12 is placed in the 6 IP0087DescAsFiled.docx configuration specific to the knot being tied, the knot is further tightened by pulling tag end 12 T. The knot is completed by removing leader 11 from slits 21 a, 21 b and bail 60 and removing braid mainline from slit 41 a. The knot is further tightened by pulling 11 and 11 T together as one at the same time as pulling 12 and 12 T together as one. When the knot is completed and fully tightened both sides of what was bight 11 a are bound very tightly together by the windings of braid mainline 12 W and tag end 12 T exits through the end of what was bight 11 a. Terminal tackle such as hook, swivel, snap swivel et cetera maybe then added to the end of leader 11. [0032] It will be seen from Figures 1 to 4 that the spacing of outer legs 17, inner leg 18 and the height of blocks 25 and 45 and bail 60 allows easy access for a user's fingers. [0033] Another embodiment of jig 200 (Figures 5 to 7) is smaller and has a removable inner leg 218 with posts 260a and 260b on its upper surface. Posts 260a and 260b provide the bight forming means in this embodiment and are function similarly to bail 60 in the first embodiment. The advantage of posts 260a and 260b is that they enable a nearly complete knot to be placed on a single post where it can be further formed and tightened. [0034] Inner leg 218 has filament 213 which is a relatively short length of thread to open a turn in braid line 12. The turn is made to allow the tag end 12T to be passed through the wounds 12W near completion of a particular knot prior to removal from jig 200. In use filament 213 is inserted at the appropriate place in the windings 12W and the resulting turn is held open by pulling filament 213 in the appropriate direction. Once tag end 12T of braid line 12 has been passed through the turn and is correctly placed, filament 213 is removed and the knot is completed. 7 IP0087DescAsFiled.docx [0035] The underside of inner leg 218 has a stepped surface 218a with pins 219 which mate with holes 215 on the upper surface of base 210. Inner leg 218 may be positioned accordingly so that there is more space on one side of inner leg 218 than the other (as shown in figure 5a); depending on which side it is intended to make the windings. [0036] The present inventor set out to enable easier, more controlled and better tying of fishing line to line knots such as a loop and wound knots. Examples of these are the Harro Knot, the Albright Knot and the Melville Special Knot. In particular it is difficult under field conditions to tie very thin diameter braid line too much thicker diameter nylon or fluorocarbon line. This is because braid line can be very thin and limp and usually is easily blown around in the wind. Poorly tied, incorrectly tied and unsuitable knots used to tie braid line to thicker nylon or fluorocarbon line often fail with very little force applied. This is commonly because the braid line cuts through the nylon fluorocarbon line easily unless a suitable knot is used which has been correctly tied. [0037] In both embodiments bases 10 or 210 may have holes so that jig 100 or 200 may be fitted with a lanyard to allow it to be carried around a user's neck. This allows for easy knot tying where jig 100 or 200 can be propped against a user's chest or placed on the user's lap leaving both hands free to operate the jig. This two handed operation provides a significant advantage over the prior art. Another advantage of the inventor's jig is that it allows the bight to be formed and securely held while the knot is being tied. [0038] From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiment illustrated herein is intended or should be 8 IP0087DescAsFiled.docx inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. [0039] Throughout this specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise the words "comprise", "comprises", "comprising" will be understood to mean the inclusion of the stated integer, step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any of other integer, step or group of integers or steps. 9