GB2167931A - Device for tying a line to a fishing hook - Google Patents

Abstract

A device 1 for tying a line 19 to a fishing hook 20 comprises a body 2 having an end formed as a pair of clamping jaws 3 for holding the fishing hook. First and second apertures respectively extend through the body 2, the first aperture being located closer to said end than the second aperture. First and second elongate tying elements 15, 16 extend respectively through the first and second apertures and are moveable therethrough. The first element 15 is adapted to project further from the body 2 than the second element and is further adapted to hold a length of fishing line against the body 2. The first tying element 15 is associated with an inclined surface 17 extending downwardly away from the end of the body towards the second tying element 16 to facilitate passage of a loop of line over the first tying element 15. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for tying a line to a fishing hook This invention relates to a device for tying a line to a fishing hook.

Although manufacturers of fishing tackle supply fishing hooks ready whipped to a length of nylon (for attachemnt to the anglers line), it is generally cheaper for the angler to purchase 'loose' hooks and to tie (or whip) the hooks to nylon for himself.

Generally the anglers line will be nylon monofilament and the tying of such line to hooks (particularly small hooks) can be a little difficult due to the 'spring' of the nylon and the small size of the hook.

U.K. Patent No. 1 180,976 provides a device for tying a fishing hook to a line. This device comprises a handpiece slotted at one end within which slot a fishing hook can be clamped with its shank projecting lengthwise of the handpiece. The device incorporates a U-shaped member which has limbs of different length which locate in respective apertures provided in the handpiece whereby the Ushaped member is movable in a plane transverse to the handpiece. The longer of the two limbs is located closerto the clamping end of the handpiece than the other limb and its end is bent over into the form of a hook.

The manner in which the device is used to tie a length of nylon to a hook is illustråted in Figs. 4-9 of the patent. In one stage of the hook tying process, (Fig. 7 of the patent), the U-shaped member is pushed outwardly of the handpiece such that the free end of the shorter limb locates within the respective aperture and the hook shaped end of the longer limb projects a short distance above the body of the handpiece. In this position of the U-shaped member the hook shaped end of the longer limb of the 'U' traps a length of line between itself and the hand piece. Additionally, a loop of line previously located around the shorter limb of the 'U' has been freed.

In the next stage of the process, the fishing line must be pulled (Fig. 8 of the patent) so that the free loop of line (i.e. that previously located around the shorter limb) is simply drawn over the hook-shaped end of the longer limb. The hook-tying process may then be completed as shown in Fig. 9 of the patent.

Whilst the above device has proved to be very successful for use in tying lines of comparatively low breaking strain (i.e. 'thin' lines) to hooks, there is a disadvantage when the device is used for lines of higher breaking strain (i.e. comparatively 'thick' lines). The problem stems from the fact that the 'thicker' line, when trapped between the hook shaped end of the longer limb and the handpiece, does not allow the U-shaped member to be pushed as far outwardly of the handpiece as is the case for 'thinner' lines. Consequently, when the hook tying device is in the configuration shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the patent, the hook shaped end of the longer limb projects a greater distance above the handpiece than is the case for thinner lines.

As a result, simple pulling of the line may not be sufficent to cause the free loop of line to be drawn over the hook shaped end of the longer limb and the loop remains fast on the projecting end of the longer limb. It is then necessary to grip the loop between the fingers and pass it over the projecting end of the limb. Obviously, this interrupts the otherwise smooth operation of the hook tying process.

It is an object of this invention to provide a hook tying device which obviates or mitigates the abovementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for tying a line to a fishing hook, the device comprising a body having an end formed as a pair of clamping jaws for holding a fishing hook, first and second apertures extending through the body and positioned such that said first aperture is located closer to said end than the second aperture, a first elongate tying element extending through said first aperture, and a second elongate tying element extending through the second aperture, said first and second elements being moveable through the respective apertures, and said first element being adapted to project further from the body than the second element and being further adapted to hold a length of line against the body wherein said first element is associated with an inclined surface extending downwardly away from said end towards said second element to facilitate passage of a loop of line over the first element.

Preferably the inclined surface is provided by the end of the first tying element which is bent-over so as to.be at an acute angle with respect to the body of the device. Preferably also a recess is provided in the body for accommodating the bent-over end when the first tying element is in a retracted position.

For preference the first and second tying elements are provided as the limbs of a U-shaped element which is movable transversely of the body of the device.

The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a partially exploded perspective view of one embodiment of hook tying device in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the body of the device shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 iullustratethe use of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for tying a line to a fishing hook; and Fig. 5 shows a modification of the device shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a hook tying device 1 comprises an elongate moulded plastics body 2 having, at one end, a pair of clamping jaws 3 (defined by a diametral slot 4) and, at the other end, an eyelet 5. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, body 2 has recesses 6 along its length. The ends of recesses 6 are defined by ridge surfaces 7, the purposes of which will be described below.

First and second apertures 8 and 9 respectively extend through clamping jaws 3 and a third aperture 10 is provided between apertures 8 and 9.

As seen most clearly in Fig. 2, one end of aperture 8 is associated with a recess 11.

Fixed within aperture 10 is a bolt 12 on the free end of which a finger-nut 13 is rotatably mounted.

Rotation of wheel 13 causes it to move along bolt 12 so as to provide for opening or closure of jaws 3.

A U-shaped element 14 having first and second limbs 15 and 16 respectively locates in apertures 8 and 9 in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. The first limb 15 of element 14 is greater length than second limb 16 and its free end is bent over as at 17 so as to extend at an acute angle downwardly and away from the adjacent end of body 2. To facilitate assembly of the device 1, the end of limb 15 is only bent over after insertion of the limb through aperture 8.

U-shaped element 14 is movable transversely of body 2 between the extended position shown in Fig.

3 and the retracted position shown in Fig. 4. In this retracted position, the free end of limb 15 seats in recess 11 whith a portion ofthe inclined end 17 projecting above the body 2 (see Fig. 4).

Additionally, the free end of limb 16 abuts against the face of finger-nut 13.

The device is used for whipping a line 19 to the shank of a fishing hook 20 (see Figs. 3 and 4). The method by which the line is tied to the hook is generally as shown in Figs. 4 to 9 of U.K. Patent No.

1 180 976. Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings show the stages of the hook tying procedure which are relevant to the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 3 a loop 21 of line is formed around limb 16 and U-shaped element 14 is subsequently retracted to trap line 19 between the bent-over end 17 of limb 15 and the body 2 (Fig. 4).

Line 19 must now be pulled to draw loop 21 over limb 15. This procedure is facilitated by the inclined surface provided by the end 17 of limb 15.

In other words, end portion 17 acts as a ramp over which loop 21 may be drawn.

The device 1 may be used for Wing comparatively thick lines to fishing hooks since the ramp surface will ensure that loop 21 may be drawn over limb 15 and not become caught thereagainst.

Eyelet 5 may be used for tightening the line on the fishing hook. For this purpose, hook 20 is positioned in eyelet 5 as shown and the line is pulled away from body 2 whilst a thumb of the user locates in a recess 6 against a surface 7 to prevent movement of the device towards the hook.

The provision of the eyelet 5 is an important feature of the illustrated device in that it allows comparatively thick lines to be tightened easily onto the hook 20. Without such an eyelet, the tightening of these thick lines can be difficult.

The hook tying device shown in Fig. 5 is generally similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 and, for convenience, like parts as designated by like reference numerals suffixed, " ' ".

As shown in Fig. 5 both ends of the U-shaped member 14' are bent over at 1800. Additionally, the body 2' of the device has a ramp-like surface 50 at the upper end of aperture 8'.

At the stage of the hook tying process illustrated in Fig. 5 (which is a similar stage to that illustrated in Fig. 4), further retraction of U-shaped member 14' from the body 2' of the device is prevented by abutment of the free end (not shown) of its limb 16' against the face of finger-nut 13'. Additionally, the top of limb 15' locates below the top of ramp surface 50. When the loop 21' of line 19' is drawn tight, it is able to move up ramp surface 50 and hence past limb 15' to complete the tying process.

In a modification (not illustrated) of the device shown in Fig. 5, the inclined surface may be provided as a raised ramp on the body of the device (rather than being inset as shown in Fig. 5).

Claims (8)

1. A device for tying a line to a fishing hook, the device comprising a body having an end formed as a pair of clamping jaws for holding a fishing hook, first and second apertures extending through the body and positioned such that said first aperture is located closer to said end than the second aperture, a first elongate tying element extending through said first aperture, and a second elongate tying element extending through the second aperture, said first and second elements being moveable through the respective apertures, and said first element being adapted to project further from the body than the second element and being further adapted to hold a length of line against the body wherein said first element is associated with an inclined surface extending downwardly away from said end towards said second element to facilitate passage of a loop of line over the first element.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second tying elements are provided as the limbs of a U-shaped element which is movable transversely of the body of the device.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inclined surface is provided by the end of the first tying element which is bent-over so as to be at an acute angle with respect to the body of the device.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein a recess is provided in the body for accommodating the bent-over end when the first tying element is in a retracted position.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inclined surface is formed in or on the body of the device.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 which incorporates means for the engagement of a hook to facilitate tightening of a line thereon.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means is an eyelet.

8. A device for tying a line of fishing hook substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 or Fig. 5.