GB2303528A - Line clip - Google Patents

Abstract

A line clip 20 is described for connecting a tensioning device 18 of a bite indicator to a line of a fishing rod. The line clip is a retaining member in the form of a hook that extends upwards from the tensioning device 18 and, in use, is hooked over the line. The retaining member has at one axial end a part-helical surface 20 along which the line can slide when the line is raised away from the tensioning device, the part-helical surface acting to guide the line towards the open side of the hook so that the line is released automatically from the retaining member.

Description

LINE CLIP Field of the invention The present invention relates to a line clip for use with a bite indicator.

Background of the invention Bite indicators are known that comprise a tensioning arm pivotably mounted on a body secured to a rod support. The arm, which is weighted, is connected to the line of the rod resting on the support by means of a clip that is required to apply a downward tensioning force to the line, but to release the line when the rod is raised from the support by the angler.

A clip is known in the form of U-shaped channel with limbs that are spring biased towards one another. If sufficient force is applied to the line, the limbs of the clip separate to allow the line to be released. However, in this case the clip releases the line very abruptly and the sudden change in line tension is undesirable. Furthermore, because the amount of tension applied to the line varies with conditions, the clip must be adjustable to vary the tension necessary for the line to be released. Apart from adding to the complexity of the clip, setting the release tension adds to the number of operations that an angler must perform to change the line tension, whenever the angling conditions change.

There is also known a line clip that comprises a U-shaped channel for receiving the line and a gate for bridging the gap between the limbs of the U-shaped channel above the line so as to close the channel and hold the line captive. The gate is pivotably mounted in such a manner that it opens automatically when the rod is raised from the rod support.

A disadvantage of this form of line clip is that it is costly to manufacture and to assemble. Inserting the line into the channel and closing the gate is also an intricate operation that is difficult to perform at night and in the cold. A further problem is that if the hinge should stiffen with age, the gate will not open reliably.

ObJect of the invention The present invention seeks to provide a line clip that has no moving parts and is therefore inexpensive to manufacture and inherently reliable.

Summary of the invention According to the present invention, there is provided a line clip for connecting a tensioning device of a bite indicator to a line of a fishing rod, the line clip comprising a retaining member in the form of a hook that extends upwards from the tensioning device and, in use, is hooked over the line, the retaining member having at one axial end a parthelical surface along which the line can slide when the line is raised away from the tensioning device, the part-helical surface acting to guide the line towards the open side of the hook so that the line is released automatically from the retaining member.

The retaining member may be formed as a part-cylindrical element with a machined end surface but it is manufactured most simply by bending the end of a length of wire secured to the tensioning device into half a turn of a helix.

Advantageously, the wire may be coated with PTFE to reduce friction and allow the line to slide easily out of the hook when the fishing rod is raised. Alternatively, the wire may be of a low friction material such as stainless steel or chromium-plated steel.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a line movement indicator fitted with a line clip of the invention, Figure 2 is a detail of Figure 1 to an enlarged scale and contains a front view of the line clip, Figure 3 shows the detail of Figure 2 when viewed from the right and contains an end view of the line clip, and Figure 4 and 5 are perspective views showing the effect of tilting the line clip when it is hooked over a fishing line.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment Figure 1 shows a line movement indicator that comprises a body 10 having a bracket 12 that engages in a rod rest.

Commonly, the bracket 12 has a dovetail groove that is a sliding fit over a plate secured to the rod rest or bank stick. A wire arm 14 is secured to a drum that is rotatably mounted on the body 10 and is biased by a coil spring. A control knob 16 allows the force acting on the wire arm 14 to be set as desired, to suit the angling conditions.

The end of the wire arm 14 is fitted with a tensioning device 18 connected by a line clip 20 to the line of a rod resting on the rod rest. The bite indicator is generally conventional and need not therefore be described in greater detail.

In use, the tensioning device 18 acts through the line clip 20 to pull downwards on the fishing line. This applies a tension to the line depending on the spring force acting on the wire arm and creates a loop of line that shortens when a fish increases the line tension by pulling on the line. The movement of the tensioning device indicates to the angler that a fish has taken the bait and the angler then picks up the rod to land the fish. The bite indicator illustrated uses a coil spring to vary line tension but it is alternatively possible to use weights on the wire arm to achieve the same effect.

It is important to design the line clip 20 such that it can allow a significant force to be applied to the line without the line becoming disengaged from the line clip 20. On the other hand, it is also important that when the angler raises the rod from the rod rest, the line clip should disengage itself automatically so as not to hinder the angler.

The line clip 20 of the preferred embodiment of the invention consists of a retaining member made from a length wire projecting from the tensioning device. When viewed from one end (Figure 3) the retaining member is in the shape of a hook that is hung over the fishing line. When viewed from the front or above, however, the retaining member is seen to have a part-helical region 20a. The effect of the helical surfaces of the wire is that if the line clip 20 is pointing downwards, as in Figure 4, then the line tends to slide up the helical section 20a and to remain captive in the hook.

On the other hand, when the line clip is pointing upwards, as in Figure 5, then the line tends to slide down the helical section 20a and to disengage itself automatically from the hook. Thus, while the rod is resting on its support, the line clip always remains in engagement with the fishing line. On the other hand, when the rod is raised from the support and, in the process, alters the attitude of the line so that the latter now points upwards, the line automatically slides out of the hook and is disengaged from the bite indicator.

The invention relies on the fishing line being able to slide readily relative to the line clip and it is thus desirable to reduce the friction acting between the line and the line clip 20. To this end, it is desirable to coat the line clip with PTFE or to make it of stainless steel or other corrosion resistant smooth material.

Though it is preferred to form the retaining member by bending a length of wire, it may alternatively be machined from a solid block. The essential features of the line clip are that it should have a loop that can be hooked over the line and that there should be a part helical guide surface along which the line can slide out of the hook when the line clip is tilted relative to the run of the fishing line.

Claims (5)

1. A line clip for connecting a tensioning device of a bite indicator to a line of a fishing rod, the line clip comprising a retaining member in the form of a hook that extends upwards from the tensioning device and, in use, is hooked over the line, the retaining member having at one axial end a part-helical surface along which the line can slide when the line is raised away from the tensioning device, the part-helical surface acting to guide the line towards the open side of the hook so that the line is released automatically from the retaining member.

2. A line clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining member is formed by bending the end of a length of wire secured to the tensioning device into half a turn of a helix.

3. A line clip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wire is coated with PTFE to reduce friction between the retaining member and the fishing line.

4. A line clip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wire is formed of a corrosion resistant low friction material.

5. A line clip constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.