GB2197231A

GB2197231A - Fish hook sharpener

Info

Publication number: GB2197231A
Application number: GB08726578A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Collinson Poole
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-14
Filing date: 1987-11-13
Publication date: 1988-05-18
Also published as: GB8627306D0; GB8726578D0

Abstract

A fish hook sharpener 10 includes a block 12 of an abrasive material for example stone attached to securing means, which may be in the form of a C-shaped clip 14, for attaching the block to a fishing rod handle (not shown). The clip may be formed of two layers 16, 18 of resilient plastics material, or be shaped so as to provide a plurality of legs for gripping the handle. The securing means may be an elastic circular band, an adhesive backing or an adjustable strap. The block may be screwed to the handle, or the handle may be provided with lugs or other suitably shaped parts to frictionally retain the block. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fish hook sharpener This invention relates to a fish hook sharpener especially a fish hook sharpener of the type having an abrasive surface In order to function effectively it is essential that fish hooks have sharp points as a blunt point can prevent the hook from obtaining a secure grip on a fish caught on the hook. In order to maintain a sharp point on the fish hook it is known to provide a sharpener having an abrasive surface against which the fish hook can be sharpened. Such sharpeners do not necessarily have to be of a large size and it is an advantage, in order to minimise the weight, that a sharpener should not be large.

As these sharpeners are therefore often quite small they are relatively easy to misplace and lose. It would be an advantage therefore to have a sharpener which would always be to hand when required.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a fish hook sharpener which can be secured to a convenient location such that it will be easy to find.

With this object in view the present invention provides a fish hook sharpener comprising at least one block of abrasive material provided with securing means adapted such that the block can be secured to a handle of a fishing rod.

Advantageously the securing means is one or more resilient C-shaped clasps of metal or plastic which will be effective to grip a fishing rod handle.

Preferably the securing means is an adhesive backing which will act to stick the abrasive material where required.

Advantageously the securing means is an elastic circular band which can be stretched over the fishing rod handle to secure the abrasive material.

Preferably the abrasive material is attached to the securing means such that the abrasive material can be removed therefrom and replaced if desired.

Advantageously the securing means is provided with a plurality of claws or spring clips disposed so as to grip the abrasive material.

Preferably the block of abrasive material is provided with a number of lugs which locate in corresponding holes provided in the securing means.

Preferably the block of abrasive material is rotatably mounted so that different faces of the block can be presented for sharpening the fish hook. Optionally the block is mounted on pins inserted into opposing ends of the block, the pins being fixed to the securing means such that the block can rotate about them.

Advantageously the securing means is a strap adjustable in length such that the abrasive block can be attached to a fishing rod of any diameter. Alternatively the block can be screwed to the fishing rod handle which is preferably provided with pre-drilled screw reception holes. Advantageously the handle itself may be provided with lugs or other suitably shaped parts to frictionally retain the block thereto.

The invention will be described further by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of a second embodiment; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention; and Figures 4 to Figure 15 are perspective views comparable to Fig. 1 each illustrating a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 a preferred embodiment of the fish hook sharpener of the invention referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 includes a rectangular block 12 of an abrasive material for example stone or metal.

The block 12 is embedded in securing means in the form of a clip 14 formed of two C-shaped layers 16, 18 of a resilient material for example, plastics. Outer layer 16 has a hole 20 into which the block 12 is seated and which is then supported by the inner resilient layer 18 which is thus partially enclosed by the outer layer 16. The outer layer 16 is bonded to the inner layer 18 by, for example, glue or heat treatment. The C-shaped resilient clip 14 will deform to allow the clip 14 to accept a fishing rod's shaft or handle (not shown) and will then securely grip the rod such that it will not easily be dislodged. In this way the abrasive block 12 will always be available when required for the sharpening of fish hooks.

Figs. 2 to 15 illustrate different embodiments of the fish hook sharpener according to the invention. Parts similar to those in the first embodiment have been allocated the same reference numerals. In Fig. 2 the sharpener 22 is formed similarly to the first embodiment with an abrasive block 12 embedded in a resilient clip 14. In this embodiment however the clip 14 is formed of a single layer of, for example, plastics. This form of construction is simpler than that described for the first embodiment and lends itself readily to production line methods, the clip being produced by, for example, injection moulding. Fig. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the sharpener 24 which uses less resilient material to form the clip 26 than in the first and second embodiments 10, 22. This form of construction is especially advantageous when the clip 26 is of metal.As metal is less inclined to deform than plastics it can be difficult to fit the clip 26 to the handle of a fishing rod (not shown). The clip 26 in this third embodiment is of metal and is pro vided with legs 28 which will allow the clip 26 to deform and thus be attached to the fishing rod. The clip 26 mounts an abrasive block 12 similarly to the first and second embodiments.

A fourth embodiment 30 is illustrated in Fig.

4 including an abrasive block 12 and four legs 32. In this embodiment the legs are relatively thin and are preferably formed from a metal wire or a fairly rigid plastics.

The embodiment 34 illustrated in Fig. 5 is a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 4 where a clip 36 is formed of wire having four arcuate legs 38 to grip a fishing rod handle.

Strengthening members 40 are provided between respective pairs of the legs 38. The abrasive block 12 is attached to the clip 36 by means of four retaining lugs 42 attached to each leg 38 of the clip 36. In Fig. 6 a clip 44 substantially similar to that depicted in Fig.

2 is provided with a flat upper surface having two holes 48 therein. These holes serve to locate two lugs or pins disposed on the abrasive block 12. In this manner the block 12 can be securely seated on the clip 44. An alternative method is depicted in Fig. 7 wherein a clip 26 having legs 28 is provided with six upwardly projecting pins 50 having inwardly projecting gripping elements 52, the pins 50 being arranged in pairs such that the respective gripping elements 52 are in opposition. The abrasive block 12 is inserted between the pins 50 and is held in place due to friction between the gripping elements 52 and the block 12. In this respect the pins 50 and/or the gripping elements 52 are preferably of a resilient material, for example, plastics.

Fig. 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the sharpener in which the abrasive block 12 is attached to an elastic band 54 which, when stretched, will fit over a fishing rod handle. In this embodiment further abrasive blocks are provided, in this example a second and a third abrasive block 56, 58 respectively. Either of these blocks 56, 58 may, for example, be of material having different abrasive characteristics or could be of the same material and thus provided to be available as replacements after use of one of the other abrasive blocks.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate further methods by which the block 12 can be secured to the clip 14. In Fig. 9 the clip 14 is provided with a housing 60 having four upstanding walls corresponding in shape to the abrasive block 12 so that said block 12 can be seated therein.

In order to retain the block 12 in the housing 60 it is preferable to glue or otherwise adhere the block 12 in place. A similar housing 62 is provided on the embodiment illustrated in Fig.

10, however, the housing 62 has only three walls thus permitting the slideable insertion of the abrasive block 12 into the housing 62. In order to retain the block 12 securely the housing 62 is preferably shaped so that the block 12 is a tight friction fit therein. In this embodiment the block 12 is composed of two different types of abrasive material, one, for example, being relatively rough 64 and the other relatively smooth 66. Thus the most appropriate type of abrasive material for a particular situation may be selected.

Fig. 11 illustrates a further embodiment in which the abrasive block 12 is attached to an elastic or elasticated band 68. In order to provide a secure mounting for the block 12 a plate 70 is provided attached to the band 68, on which the block 12 is seated and which is secured there by, for example, an adhesive, rivets or pins etc. Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate two embodiments of the sharpener using claw type clips for retaining the sharpener on a fishing rod handle. In the embodiment of Fig.

11 the block 12 is secured to a plate 72 by, for example, an adhesive, to which plate 72 is then attached two claw type clips 74, 76 by rivets or other similar means. Alternatively, as illustrated in this embodiment of Fig. 12, two holes 78, 80 respectively may be provided through the abrasive block 12 such that the two claw type clips 74, 76 can be disposed so as to pass therethrough and hence be secured to the block 12.

Fig. 14 illustrates yet another embodiment of the sharpener in which the abrasive block 12 is rotarably mounted on pins 82 projecting from end plates 84, 86 mounted on a Cshaped clip. In this manner the block 12 may be rotated as desired so as to present different faces for the sharpening of a fish hook.

All the previous embodiments have utilised an abrasive block having a rectangular configuration, however, this need not be so and Fig.

1 5 shows an embodiment in which C-shaped clip 88 having a plate 90 has a disc-like abrasive block 92 mounted thereon.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative and not restrictive of the scope of the invention and variations may be made thereto. For example, the clips may be made of any convenient material having the required resilience to be a spring fit on a fishing rod handle. The abrasive block can be of any suitable material and of any desired shape. A groove may be provided in an exposed face of the block to facilitate sharpening of a fish hook. Instead of providing a C-shaped clasp the abrasive block could be provided with an adhesive backing so that the block can be adhered directly to the fishing rod handle. Alternatively the block can be mounted on a plate which is provided with one or more screws to secure the plate to the fishing rod handle which is preferably provided with predrilled screw reception holes. Further the securing means can be provided on the handle as parts or lugs shaped so as to frictionally retain the block on the handle.

Claims

1. A fish hook shapener comprising at least one block of abrasive material provided with securing means adapted such that the block can be secured to a handle of a fishing rod.

2. A fish hook sharpener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the securing means is one or more resilient C-shaped clasps which will be effective to grip the fishing rod handle.

3. A fish hook sharpener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the securing means is an elastic circular band.

4. A fish hook sharpener as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the securing means is provided with a plurality of claws or spring clips disposed so as to grip the block of abrasive material.

5. A fish hook sharpener as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the abrasive material is provided with a plurality of lugs which locate in corresponding holes provided in the securing means.

6. A fish hook sharpener as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the block of abrasive material is rotatably mounted such that different faces of the block can be presented for sharpening a fish hook.

7. A fish hook sharpener as claimed in claim 6 wherein the block is mounted on pins inserted into opposing ends of the block the pins being fixed to the securing means such that the block can rotate about them.

8. A fish hook sharpener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the block of abrasive material is mounted on a plate which is provided with one or more screws to secure the plate to a fishing rod handle.

9. A fish hook sharpener as claimed in claim 1 wherein the securing means are provided on the handle in the form of parts shaped to frictionally retain the block on the handle.

10. A fish hook sharpener substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.