WO1991008664A1

WO1991008664A1 - Fishing tackle

Info

Publication number: WO1991008664A1
Application number: PCT/GB1990/001970
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leonard Haigh; Victor Harold Barley
Original assignee: Needle Industries Limited
Priority date: 1989-12-20
Filing date: 1990-12-18
Publication date: 1991-06-27
Also published as: PT96275A

Abstract

A fishing tackle comprising an element such as a snood (15) having first attachment means adapted releasably to attach a member such as a hook (14) or a leader (12) to the element and to permit the member to be released from the element when a predetermined separating force is applied to the member and the element. The member is moved transversely into engagement with the element and released therefrom by longitudinal movement as a result of transverse movement of abutment elements of the attachment means to permit passage of the member therebetween.

Description

Title: "Fishing Tackle"

This invention relates to fishing tackle having an element, which may comprise a snood, connected to a member such as a fishing hook or a fishing line.

The fishing tackle may be of the "long line" type having a plurality of fishing hooks connected at spaced positions along the length of a fishing line by a plurality of snoods. The length of such "long lines" varies from several metres up to two or three kilometres or even longer with snoods at typically a half to one metre intervals along at least a substantial part of the fishing line length.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fishing tackle.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a fishing tackle comprising an element having first attachment means adapted releasably to attach a member to the element and to permit the member to be released from the element when a predetermined separating force is applied to the member and the element.

The element may have a longitudinally extending axis and said force may be applied parallel to said axis.

The first attachment means may comprise a transverse abutment part which extends transversely to a longitudinal axis of a body part of the element, is adapted to abut a transversely extending part of the member and is adapted to be laterally displaceable, to permit of release of the member from the element, by . a force resulting from said separating force.

Means may be provided to retain said transverse abutment part in connecting relationship with the member.

The first attachment means may have a pair of transversely extending abutment elements which co-operate to provide said abutment part and said abutment elements being displaceable transversely away from each other by said resultant force to permit the transversely extending part of the member to pass therebetween.

The first attachment means may comprise an enlarged portion, at one end of the body part, having wall means defining a passageway terminating in and extending between open mouths disposed transversely to said axis of the fishing tackle, the end wall of the passageway at the end thereof distant from the elongate body part being divided to provide said abutment elements.

Said member may have a body part with said transversely extending part being rigid with the body and having a free end, said transversely extending part projecting rigidly from said body part in a predetermined transverse relationship to said axis of the fishing tackle and into said passageway through an open mouth at one end thereof.

The side walls of the passageway may be formed so as releasably to retain the transverse abutment part adjacent said end wall ^" of the passageway.

The side walls may be formed with a rib upstanding from at least one side wall and adapted to engage a part of the member facing away from the end wall.

Resilient biasing means may be provided normally to bias a transverse abutment part into attaching relationship with the transversely extending part and to permit the abutment part to be displaced out of said attaching relationship when said predetermined separating force is applied.

Where the transverse abutment part comprises a pair of transversely extending abutment elements, at least one and preferably both of said abutment elements are acted upon by said resilient biasing means normally to bias said elements together and to permit the elements to be displaced transversely away from each other by said resultant force. The resilient biasing means may comprise a spring element made of appropriate material such as spring steel and may be mounted on the attachment means or moulded integrally therewith.

Where the attachment means comprises said enlarged portion with a transversely extending passageway therethrough with said abutment elements being provided at the ends of the side walls of the passageway the resilient biasing means may comprise a generally U-shaped clip member comprising a pair of spaced parallel limbs which are mounted on the exterior of said side walls of the passageway and normally bias said side walls in a direction towards each other, the limbs being inter¬ connected by a transversely extending part which is offset to accommodate the remainder of the element.

The side walls may be provided with longitudinally extending grooves within which said limbs are received.

Alternatively, the resilient biasing means may comprise a torsion spring comprising a transversely extending torsion member having at one end a first laterally extending leg adapted to bias one of said abutment elements and having at its other end a second transversely extending leg adapted to bias the other of said elements in the opposite direction to the bias provided by the first leg so as thereby to bias said elements towards each other.

The resilient biasing means may comprise a spring element having a tubular body mounted on the attachment means with a longitudinal axis of the tub parallel to said axis of the element and there being an opening in said body to receive said transversely extending part of the member.

The member may be. a hook and the hook may be engaged with the first attachment means and the body part of the hook comprising a shank having, at one end a hook shaped tine, and having, at the other end, said transversely extending part. Adjacent said other end of the shank the hook may be of generally U-shape, one limb of the U being integral with the shank of the hook, and the other limb of the U providing said retaining part and being of shorter length than the shank of the hook, terminating at a free end and the base part of the U comprising said transversely extending part of the hook.

The first attachment means may be of a configuration such that no cross-sectional dimension greatly exceeds the diameter of the hook shank to be attached thereto.

Alternatively the member may be a swivel, and the swivel may be engaged with the attachment means, the body part of the swivel comprising a shank having, at one end, said functional part, which comprises a swivel connector to connect the body part rotatably to a further component, and has, at the other end, said transversely extending part.

The first attachment means may comprise a receptacle at one end of the body part, the receptacle terminating, at the end thereof distant from the body part, in a transversely extending wall providing said abutment elements with which a head part of the member, which provides said abutment part, is engaged.

A slit may extend from a position adjacent the centre of the transversely extending wall to an opening in a side wall of the receptacle disposed intermediate the ends thereof, the opening permitting passage of the head part of said member therethrough and the slit permitting passage of a shank part of the member therethrough into the interior of the receptacle with the head in abutting relationship with said end wall, a further slit extending from adjacent the centre of the end wall to a position intermediate the ends of the side wall of the receptacle whereby the slits divide the end wall and provide said abutment elements. The receptacle may comprise a member formed separately from the body part of the snood and attached thereto.

The receptacle may comprise a metal clip.

The body part of the snood may have a recess in which a projecting part of the clip is received to attach the clip to the body part.

The member may be a hook and the hook may be engaged with the first attachment means and the body part of the hook may comprise a shank having, at one end, said functional part, which comprises a hook shaped tine, and having at the other end, said head part.

The head part may comprise a generally cylindrical portion having a diameter of greater diameter than the shank portion and the underside of the head which abuts the end wall of the receptacle being shaped to provide a transversely directed resultant force when a longitudinally directed force is applied to the shank, of the hook.

The first attachment means may be of a configuration such that no cross-sectional dimension greatly exceeds the diameter of the hook shank attached thereto.

Alternatively the member may be a swivel and the swivel may¬ be engaged with the attachment means, the body part of the swivel comprising a shank having at one end, said functional part, which comprises a swivel connector to connect the body part rotatably to a further component and having, at the other end, said head part.

The or each attachment means may be preformed. . The or each preformed attachment means may comprise a portion formed integrally with the remainder of the element.

The element may comprise a monofilament synthetic plastics material or a multifilament synthetic plastics material.

The body part may be of a drawn synthetic plastics material and the or each attachment means is undrawn.

The synthetic plastics material may comprise nylon. The element may be a snood having an elongate small-diameter body part.

The majority of the body part of the snood, except for the attachment means, may be a maximum cross-sectional dimension of less than 2 to 2.5mm.

The body part of the snood may have a portion adjacent to at least the first attachment means which is of greater diameter than the majority of the length of the body part.

The element may have a tensile strength of more than 50,000 lbs. per square inch (345,000 kPa) and a tensile elongation of less than 15%.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide fishing tackle comprising a fishing line, a swivel attached thereto and a snood according to the first aspect of the invention connected to the swivel and a fishing hook attached to the snood.

The fishing line may have a plurality of swivels attached thereto at spaced intervals thereon and a snood according to the first aspect of the invention being connected to at least a plurality of said swivels and a fishing hook being connected to said snoods.

The swivels may be attached to the fishing line by leaders.

The fishing line may be adapted to be suspended below the water surface by a plurality of buoys.

The fishing line may be a "long line".

According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a method of fishing including attaching a fishing tackle member to an element and, thereafter, releasing the member from the element by applying a predetermined separating force to the member and the element in a direction having at least a component parallel to the longitudinal axis.

The fishing tackle element may have a transverse abutment part which extends transversely to a longitudinal axis of a body part of the element and is adapted to abut a transversely extending part of the member, and the method may include the step of moving the member relative to the attachment means in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis to position the transverse abutment part in position to abut the transversely extending part of the member.

The method may include the further attaching step of moving the member relative to the attachment means in a direction longitudinally of said axis to move the transverse abutment part into abutment with the transversely extending part of the member.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a long line having a plurality of snoods attached thereto.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of a snood embodying the invention,

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the snood of Figure 2,

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of part of an apparatus for use in making a snood embodying the invention and illustrating a step in the method of making a snood embodying the invention,

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modification of the snood of Figure 1,

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the modification shown in Figure 5,

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of another snood embodying the invention,

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the snood of Figure 7,

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary rear elevation of a still further snood embodying the invention, FIGURE 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the snood of Figure 9, and

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the snood of Figure 9.

Referring now the Figure 1, there is shown a long line 10 supported at a desired level below the surface S of the sea by fishing floats 11. . The long line 10 may be of any desired length but is typically up to two or three kilometres in length, although it may be shorter or longer than this. At spaced positions along the length of the long line 10, for example at one metre or half metre intervals, are provided leaders 12 connected to the long line 10 in conventional manner. Each leader 12 is connected, in conventional manner to a swivel 13 to which a hook 14 is connected by a snood 15.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, each swivel 13 comprises a first eye 16 connected in conventional manner, for example by trying, to the leader 12. The eye is connected by a rotatable joint 17 to a generally U-shaped attachment element 18 which is releasably connected to the snood 15.

The snood 15 comprises an elongate circular in cross-section body part 20 having a hook attachment means 21 at- its "bottom" end and a line attachment means 22 at its "top" end and comprises a one-piece unitary structure made by moulding an intermediate product in an injection moulding apparatus, the intermediate product having the attachment means 21, 22, hereinafter to be described in more detail, moulded in their final form, and having a part 20' corresponding to the body part 20 but of greater diameter but shorter length than the finished dimensions illustrated in the Figures. As shown in Figure 4 the part 20' of the intermediate product corresponding to the body part 20 is heated and stretched by gripping the attachment means 21, 22 in relatively- movable grippers and moving the grippers apart until the body part is formed to the final configuration shown in Figures 2 and 3. The intermediate product has a stepped body part to provide the final dimensions illustrated.

Typically, the body part is heated by suitable means such as by contact with heater blocks H and the stretching operation is performed over a period of time lying in the range 30 to 25 seconds whilst the body part is heated to a temperature lying in the range 130 to 220°C where, as in the present case, the material of the snood is nylon. The blank is elongated such that the ratio of the maximum cross-section dimension (normally the diameter, since the body part would normally be of cylindrical configuration) of the elongate body part before and after stretching lies in the range 2:1 to 5:1 and the length of the snood is increased in the corresponding ratio. The snood has a diameter to length ratio lying, for example, in the range 1:600 and 1:1250.

With presently available moulding techniques it is not practicable to make a finished snood having a diameter to length ratio of, for example, at least 1:600 and hence it is not possible to mould a snood with integrally moulded attachment means and a body part of the required small diameter. In addition, a moulded snood, however thin, would generally have insufficient tensile strength and too much elongation. However, by moulding the attachment means integrally with an elongate part in an intermediate product, where the elongate part has a diameter to length ratio which can be moulded, and subsequently stretching the elongate part to the final desired length to diameter ratio a snood with moulded attachment means is provided in accordance with the present invention with added tensile strength and limited elongation.

Although in this example the snood comprises a monofilament of nylon it may be made from monofilament of other suitable material (such as polyethylene or polyester) in which a snood blank can be moulded with integral attachment means and then the elongate parts are stretched to produce a snood of the desired final length to diameter ratio. Alternatively, the snood may be made from multifilament material by moulding attachment means on the multifilament and then performing a stretching operation such as described hereinbefore to produce an elongate body part of the desired length to diameter ratio.

In one example of a snood embodying the present invention an intermediate part was made in RILSAN II nylon by a conventional injection moulding technique. The elongate body part of the intermediate product was approximately 100mm long and 3mm diameter over the majority of its length but has parts of 3.75mm diameter adjacent the ends.

The elongate part was heated to a temperature of 150°C and the blank was stretched for a period of 20 seconds and the elongate part was stretched to increase the length thereof 4.25 x its original length, i.e. to approximately 425mm. There was a corresponding reduction in the diameter of the elongate part of the intermediate product so that the diameter of the intermediate product was approximately two times larger than the final diameter of the elongate body part of the snood, which was 1.5mm diameter so far as the smallest diameter portion was concerned whilst the largest diameter of the end portion was correspondingly reduced.

The hook attachment means 21 comprises a generally stirrup shaped part comprising a transversely extending passageway 23 terminating in and extending between open mouths 23a, 23b disposed transversely to a longitudinal axis X-X of the fishing tackle. The passage 23b bounded at its bottom end by a split transverse abutment part 24 having a pair of abutment surfaces 24a, 24b and transversely facing side surfaces 25 in which grooves 25a are provided.

The transverse abutment part is thus pre-formed and extends transversely to a longitudinal axis X-X of the body part 20 over a transverse extent which is greater than the diameter of the body part. The top end of the passage 23 is closed by a cross-head part 26 connected to the transversely extending abutment part 24 by side members 27. Inwardly projecting ribs 28 are provided on the inwardly facing surfaces 29 of the side walls 27.

A resilient biasing means 210 is mounted on the stirrup shaped part to bias the side members 27 together and hence normally to maintain the abutment surfaces 24a, 24b together. However, when a longitudinal force in excess of a predetermined value is imposed on the abutment surfaces 24a, 24b in use, when the snood assembly is passed through a suitable apparatus to remove fish from the fishing tackle, the resultant force forces the abutment surfaces 24a, 24b apart against the bias of the resilient biasing means 210. There is thereby provided a facility whereby hooks may be automatically released from the fishing tackle simply by applying a suitable longitudinal force to the hooks, for example by appropriately urging a fish impaled on a hook.

The bias provided by the resilient biasing means is arranged so that the hook remains attached to the snood until the longitudinal load exceeds a predetermined value.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 the resilient biasing means 210 comprises a generally U-shaped spring steel clip comprising two spaced parallel limbs 211 which extend longitudinally and externally of the side members 27 and which are integrally formed with a generally U-shaped base part 212 which is offset to accommodate the body part of the snood. The free ends of the limbs 211 are splayed outwardly to facilitate assembly and part circular grooves 214 are formed in the external surfaces of the side members 27 to retain the clip in position.

In a modification shown in Figures 5 and 6, the resilient biasing means is indicated generally at 220 and comprises a spring steel clip in the form of a torsion spring comprising free end parts 221, 222 which act on opposite sides of the side members 27 adjacent the abutment surfaces 24a, 24b and which are connected by longitudinally extending legs 223 to an integrally formed transversely extending part 225, which passes through the passage means 23, by oppositely directed shoulder parts 226, 227. The mode of operation is as in the previously described embodiment.

In a further modification shown in Figures 7 and 8, which is as described in connection with Figures 2 and 3 except as hereinafter to be described, the resilient biasing means is indicated generally at 620 and comprises a spring steel sleeve in the form of a generally cylindrical tubular body 621 made by stamping a generally rectangular blank from a sheet of material and then rolling the blank to cylindrical tubular shape leaving a longitudinally extending gap 622 between the adjacent edges of the blank after forming to tubular shape so as to leave an opening for the transversely extending part 534 of the hook 514. The sleeve is also provided with a diametrically opposite slot 623 which extends only partially longitudinally of the sleeve to permit passage of the transversely extending part 534 and the retaining part 532 of the hook 514. The hook attachment means 521 is provided with collar or flange parts 524, 525 at opposite ends which project slightly outwardly compared with the remainder of the attachment means therebetween so as to provide retaining flanges for the sleeve 620. The inherent resilience provided by the sleeve 620 serves to urge the side members 527 together and again the mode of operation is as in the previously described embodiments.

If desired any other suitable resilient biasing means may be provided, either separately or formed integrally. For example, a suitable spring steel or other material resilient biasing means may be moulded integrally with the hook attachment means 21 so as to be embedded therein if desired. Alternatively the material of which the hook attachment means is formed may have sufficient resilient bias to retain the hook depending upon the longitudinally extending load at which it is desired that the hook becomes released. The hook 14 comprises a shank 30 having a conventional barbed hook shape 31 at its bottom end and a generally U-shaped configuration at its top end, the longer limb of the U being integral with the remainder of the shank 30 of the hook whilst the shorter limb 32 of the U terminates at a free end 33, is connected to the longer limb 30 by a transversely extending part 34 which is rigid with the body part and projects rigidly therefrom in a predetermined transverse relationship, i.e. perpendicular, to the axis X-X. The part 34 provides a retaining part which is spaced transversely from the shank. The shank and U-shaped parts of the hook are of circular cross-section.

The distance between the abutment surfaces 24a, 24b and an opposed surface 35 of the cross-head 26 approximates to the length of the shorter limb 32 of the U, i.e. the distance between the free end 33 and a tangent to the outer surface of the base part 34.

In use, the shorter limb 32 of the hook is introduced into said passageway through an open mouth 23a fed transversely through the passageway 23 until the shank 30 engages one of the grooves 25a whereupon the hook is moved longitudinally in the direction of the axis X-X to move the base of the U past the opposed ribs 28 so that the ribs abut against the curved surface of the base of the U and serve to retain the hook with the abutment surfaces 24a, 24b in engagement with the inner surface of the part 34 of the hook. The shorter limb 32 is received within the other groove 25a and hence the transverse abutment part 24 is embraced by the shank 30, transversely extending part.34 and retaining part 32 of the hook. The hook 14 is therefore retained releasably in attachment with the snood by the attachment means 21 by virtue of releasable mechanical inter-engagement therewith. If it is desired to replace the hook, it is simply necessary to manipulate the hook initially axially parallel to the axis X-X to move the part 34 past the ribs 28 and then to withdraw the retaining part 32 transversely from the passageway 23. The line attachment means 22 is of the same basic configuration as the hook attachment means 21 provided at the other end of the snood and hence the description of the attachment means 21 contained hereinbefore is, except as hereinafter described, equally applicable to the attachment means shown at 22 and the same reference numerals are used in connection with the attachment means 22 as are used in connection with the attachment means 21.

The difference compared with the hook attachment means 21 is that the transversely extending part 24 is continuous and no resilient biasing means are provided. If desired, however, the line attachment means 22 can be the same as the hook attachment means 21 or, alternatively, the hook attachment means can be as the line attachment means illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 whilst the line attachment means are the same as the hook attachment means illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Extending from the rotatable joint 17 is a body 120 comprising a shank 121 having at one end said rotatable joint 117 and at its other end limbs of generally U-shape configuration, the longer limb 119 of the U 123 being integral with the remainder of the shank 121, whilst the shorter limb 124 of the U terminates at a free end 125. The shank 121 is cranked so that the central axis of the U 123 is co-axial with the axis of rotation of the rotatable joint 117. The shorter limb 124 is connected to the larger limb 119 by a transversely extending part 126 and provides a retaining part which is spaced transversely from the shank 121. The shank and U-shaped parts of the swivel are of circular cross- section.

The distance between the abutment surface 24a and an opposed surface 35 of the cross-head 26 approximates to the length of the shorter limb 125 of the U 123, i.e. the distance between the free end 125 and a tangent to the outer surface of the transversely extending part 134. In use, the shorter limb 124 is fed transversely through the passageway 23 until the limb 119 engages one of the grooves 25a, whereupon the swivel is moved longitudinally in the direction of the axis X-X to move the base of the U past the opposed ribs 28 so that the ribs abut against the curved surface of the base of the U 123 and serve to retain the swivel with the abutment surface 24a in engagement with the inner surface of the part 126 of the swivel. The shorter limb 124 is received within the other groove 25a and hence the transverse abutment part 24 is embraced by the shank 121, transversely extending part 126 and retaining part 124 of the swivel. The swivel 113 is therefore retained releasably in attachment with the snood by the attachment means 122 by virtue of releasable mechanical inter- engagement therewith. If it is desired to replace the snood, it is simply necessary to manipulate the swivel initially axially parallel to the axis X- X to move the part 126 past the ribs 28 and then to withdraw the retaining part 124 transversely from the passageway 23. In the embodiment illustrated, the attachment means 21 and 122 are identical and thus a hook or swivel can be attached to either end of the snood. If desired, however, the attachment means 122 may be of different size to the attachment 21, although of the same general configuration, if it is found convenient to make the attachment means for connection to the hook either larger or smaller than the attachment means for connection to a swivel and of course the corresponding parts of the hook and swivel would be correspondingly dimensioned.

A still further embodiment is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 where a snood 715 comprises a body part 720 made as described in connection with the previous embodiments. The snood 715 has a hook attachment means 721 at its "bottom" end and a line attachment means 722 at its "top" end and is again made by moulding an intermediate product as described in connection with the previous embodiments.

The line attachment means is as in the previous embodiments. The hook attachment means 721 comprises a circumferentially extending rib 723 having an abutment surface 724 lying in a radial plane and a part spherical surface 725. ^•

A cylindrical end portion 726 is longitudinally spaced from the abutment surface 724 by a reduced cross-section cylindrical neck portions 727.

A fish hook 714 comprises a shank 730 having a conventional barbed hook shape 731 at its bottom end and a generally cylindrical head portion 732 at its top end.

The hook attachment means 721 also comprises a spring member

728 formed to a generally cylindrical configuration from a metal strip such as a stainless steel strip. An opening 729 is formed in' one wall of the cylindrical spring member of a diameter so as to permit passage of the head 732 of the hook 730 therethrough.

A slit 733 is provided to extend longitudinally from the opening

729 to a position adjacent the centre of a free end 734 of the spring member 728. The slit 733 is of a width slightly smaller than the diameter of the shank 730 to prevent free passage of the shank therethrough. A narrower diametrically opposite slit 735 extends from adjacent the centre of the free end 734 towards the- rib 723 and terminates opposite the end of the opening 729 which is adjacent the rib 723.

The diametrically opposite slits 733, 735 permit of elastic deformation of the spring member 728 to permit passage of the head 732 through the opening 729 and the shank 730 through the slit 733 into an interior space 736 of the spring member 728 under manual or . machine applied pressure whilst preventing accidental passage of the shank 730 outwardly of the space 736 through the slit 733.

A pair of diametrically opposite circular openings 737 are formed in the cylindrical body of the spring member 728 centred on an axis which is at right-angles to the plane containing the slits 733, 735. End portions of the body of the spring member 728 between a respective opening 737 and the opposite end 738 of the body are deformed inwardly about a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body so as to provide inwardly directed tabs 739 which engage within the reduced neck portion 727 and thus positively retain spring member 728 on the snood.

In use, a hook is attached to the snood by passing the head 732 transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tackle through the opening 729, the body deforming by slight opening of the slits 733, 735 to permit such passage. The hook is then manipulated to the left in Figure 10 so that the under surface of the head which is bevelled as shown at 740 is moved into engagement with transversely extending abutment surfaces 741a, 741b provided at the free end 734 of the body of the spring member 728 provided at the end.

In use, when it is desired to remove a fish hook from the body, an axial load in excess of a predetermined value is applied to the fish hook as in the previously described embodiments. This imposes resultant forces on the abutment surfaces 741a, 741b to force them apart against the bias of a resilient biasing means provided by the spring member 728 by virtue of the inherent resilience of the material, thereby enabling the head 732 to snap out of engagement with the spring member 728. There is therefore again provided a facility whereby hooks may be automatically released from the fishing tackle simply by applying a suitable longitudinal force to the hooks, for example by appropriately urging . a fish impaled on a hook. Again the bias provided by the resilient biasing means is arranged so that the hook remains attached to the snood until the longitudinal load exceeds the above mentioned predetermined value.

In the case of the above described examples the tensile strength of the snood was measured and was found to be 67218 lbs per sq. inch (463468 kPa). The assembly failed in the elongate part of the snood. well spaced from the attachment means, thereby demonstrating that the attachment means do not comprise the weakest part of the assembly snood as was frequently the previous case when a conventional hitch or other knot comprised the attachment means.

The diameter of the elongate part of the snood intermediate product is determined by experiment so as to produce a finished snood of the required strength, flexibility and size to hold a selected load. Other forms of heating device may be provided so long as the are capable of heating the elongate part accurately to the desired temperature and again any desired elongating means may be provided so long as it elongates the moulding by grasping it in both extremities so as to extend the heated area without extending the attachment means. The diameter and the amount of elongation vary depending upon the desired final diameter and are determined empirically. A snood according to the present invention avoids the disadvantages encountered in practice when a snood is fastened to a fishing line or hook by tying a hitch or other knot since it is found that in such circumstances the strength of the snood is diminished in the region of the hitch or other knot and the snood typically fails at the hitch or other knot.

Although the invention is primarily intended for use in commercial fishing operations with long lines, if desired the invention may be used in any desired application, for example, in recreational fishing where a single hook may be attached to a line using a snood embodying the invention.

The attachment means configuration described hereinbefore in connection with a snood or moulded and drawn synthetic plastics material may be utilised, if desired, in other elements of fishing tackle and/or with a snood made in a different way or of different material. If desired any configuration described hereinbefore for a hook (first) attachment means may be used for a line (second) attachment means and vice versa. If desired any of the line attachment means described in our specification UK- A-2214043 may be provided instead of the line attachment means described hereinbefore.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fishing tackle comprising an element having first attachment means adapted releasably to attach a member to the element and to permit the member to be released from the element when a predetermined separating force is applied to the member and the element.

2. A fishing tackle according to Claim 1 wherein the element has a longitudinally extending axis and said force is applied parallel to said axis.

3. A fishing tackle according to Claim 2 wherein the first attachment means comprises a transverse abutment part which extends transversely to a longitudinal axis of a body part of the element, is adapted to abut a transversely extending part of the member and is adapted to be laterally displaceable, to permit of release of the member from the element, by a force resulting from said separating force.

4. A fishing tackle according to Claim 3 wherein means are provided to retain said transverse abutment part in connecting relationship with the -member.

5. A fishing tackle according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the first attachment means has a pair of transversely extending abutment elements which co-operate to provide said abutment part and said abutment elements being displaceable transversely away from each other by said resultant force to permit the transversely extending part of the member to pass therebetween.

6. A fishing tackle according to Claim 5 wherein the first attachment means comprises an enlarged portion, at one end of the body part, having wall means defining a passageway terminating in and extending between open mouths disposed transversely to said axis of the fishing tackle, the end wall of the passageway at the end thereof distant from the elongate body part being divided to provide said abutment elements.

7. A fishing tackle according to Claim 6 wherein said member has a body part with said transversely extending part being rigid with the body and having a free end, said transversely extending part projecting rigidly from said body part in a predetermined transverse relationship to said axis of the fishing tackle and into said passageway through an open mouth at one end thereof.

8. A fishing tackle according to Claim 7 wherein the side walls of the passageway are formed so as releasably to retain the transverse abutment part adjacent said end wall of the passageway.

9. A fishing tackle according to Claim 8 wherein the side walls are formed with a rib upstanding from at least one side wall and adapted to engage a part of the member facing away from the end wall.

10. A fishing tackle according to any one of Claims 3 to 9 wherein resilient biasing means are provided normally to bias a transverse abutment part into attaching relationship with the transversely extending part and to permit the abutment part to be displaced out of said attaching relationship when said predetermined separating force is applied.

11. A fishing tackle according to Claim 10 when dependent upon any one of Claims 6 to 9 wherein at least one of said abutment elements is acted upon by said resilient biasing means normally to bias said elements together and to permit the elements to be displaced transversely away from each other by said resultant force.

12. A fishing tackle according to Claim 11 wherein the resilient biasing means comprises a spring element mounted on the attachment means or moulded integrally therewith.

13. A fishing tackle according to Claim 12 when dependent upon any one of Claims 6 to 9 wherein the resilient biasing means comprises a generally U-shaped clip member comprising a pair of spaced parallel limbs which are mounted on the exterior of said side walls of the passageway and normally bias said side walls in a direction towards each other the limbs being inter-connected by a transversely extending part which is offset to accommodate the remainder of the element.

14. A fishing tackle according to Claim 13 wherein the side walls are provided with longitudinally extending grooves within which said limbs are received.

15. A fishing tackle according to Claim 12 when dependent upon any one of Claims 6 to 9 wherein the resilient biasing means comprises a torsion spring comprising a transversely extending torsion member having at one end a first laterally extending leg adapted to bias one of said abutment elements and having at its other end a second transversely extending leg adapted to bias the other of said elements in the opposite direction to the bias provided by the first leg so as thereby to bias said elements towards each other.

16. A fishing tackle according to Claim 12 when dependent upon any one of Claims 6 to 9 wherein the resilient biasing means comprises a spring element having a tubular body mounted on the attachment means with a longitudinal axis of the tube parallel to the said axis of the element and there being an opening into the body to receive said transversely extending part of the member.

17. A fishing tackle according to Claim 7 or any one of Claims 8 to 16 when dependent upon Claim 7 wherein the member is a hook and the hook is engaged with the first attachment means and the body part of the hook comprises a shank having, at one end, a hook shaped tine, and having, at the other end, said transversely extending part.

18. A fishing tackle according to Claim 17 wherein adjacent said other end of the shank the hook is of generally U-shape, one limb of the U being integral with the shank of the hook, and the other limb of the U providing a retaining part and being of shorter length than the shank of the hook, terminating at a free end and the base part of the U comprising said transversely extending part of the hook.

19. A fishing tackle according to Claim 18 wherein the first attachment means is of a configuration such that no cross-sectional dimension greatly exceeds the diameter of the hook shank to be attached thereto.

20. A fishing tackle according to Claim 7 or any one of Claims 8 to 16 when dependent upon Claim 7 wherein the member is a swivel and the swivel is engaged with the attachment means, the body part of the swivel comprising a shank having, at one end, said functional part, which comprises a swivel connector to connect the body part rotatably to a further component and has, at the other end, said transversely extending part.

21. A fishing tackle according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the first attachment means comprises a receptacle at one end of the body part, the receptacle terminating, at the end thereof distant from the body part, in a transversely extending wall providing said abutment elements with which a head part of the member, which provides said abutment part, is engaged.

22. A fishing tackle according to Claim 21 wherein a slit extends from a position adjacent the centre of the transversely extending wall to an opening in a side wall of the receptacle disposed intermediate the ends thereof, the opening permitting passage of the head part of said member therethrough and the slit permitting passage of a shank part of the member therethrough into the interior of the receptacle with the head in abutting relationship with said end wall, a further slit extending from adjacent the centre of the end wall to a position intermediate the ends of the side wall of the receptacle whereby the slits divide the end wall to provide said abutment elements.

23. A fishing tackle according to Claim 21 or Claim 22 wherein the receptacle comprises a member formed separately from the body part of the snood and attached thereto.

24. A fishing tackle according to Claim 23 wherein the receptacle comprises a metal clip.

25. A fishing tackle according to Claim 26 wherein the body part of the element has a recess in which an inwardly projecting part of the clip is received to attach the clip to the body part.

26. A fishing tackle according to any one of Claims 21 to 25 wherein the member is a hook and the hook is engaged with the first attachment means and the body part of the hook comprises a shank having, at one end, a hook shaped tine, and having at the other end, said head part.

27. A fishing hook according to Claim 26 wherein the head part comprises a generally cylindrical portion having a diameter of greater diameter than the shank portion and the underside of the head which abuts the end wall of the receptacle is shaped to provide a transversely directed resultant force when a longitudinally directed force is applied to the shank of the hook.

28. A fishing tackle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each attachment means is pre-formed.

29. A fishing tackle according to Claim 28 wherein the or each pre¬ formed attachment means comprises a portion formed integrally with the remainder of the element.

30. A fishing tackle according to Claim 29 wherein the element comprises a monofilament synthetic plastics material or a multifilament synthetic plastics material.

31. A fishing tackle according to any one of Claims 28 to 30 wherein the body part is made of a drawn synthetic plastics material and the or each attachment means is undrawn.

32. A fishing tackle according to Claim 31 wherein the synthetic plastics material comprises nylon.

33. A fishing tackle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the element is a snood having an elongate small-diameter body part.

34. A fishing tackle according to Claim 33 wherein the majority of the body part of the snood, except for the attachment means, has a maximum cross-sectional dimension of less than 2 to 2.5mm.

35. A fishing tackle according to Claim 33 or Claim 34 wherein the body part of the snood comprises a portion adjacent to at least the first attachment means which is of greater diameter than the majority of the length of the body part.

36. A fishing tackle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or 5 and 6 or 7 and 8 or 9 to 11 ^"of the accompanying drawings.

37. A fishing tackle comprising a fishing line, a swivel attached thereto and a snood providing an element as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 36 and connected to the swivel and a fishing hook attached to the snood.

38. A fishing tackle according to Claim 37 wherein a fishing line has a plurality of swivels attached thereto at spaced intervals thereon and a snood being connected to at least a plurality of said swivels and a fishing hook being connected to said snoods.

39. A fishing tackle according to Claim 38 wherein the swivels are attached to the fishing line by leaders.

40. A fishing tackle according to Claim 39 wherein the fishing line is adapted to be suspended below the water surface by a plurality of buoys.

41. A method of fishing including attaching a fishing tackle member to an element and, thereafter, releasing the member from the element by applying a predetermined separating force to the member and the element in a direction having at least a component parallel to the longitudinal axis.

42. A method according to Claim_^41 wherein the fishing tackle element has a transverse abutment part which extends transversely to a longitudinal axis of a body part of the element and is adapted to abut a transversely extending part of the member, and the method includes the step of moving the member relative to the attachment means in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis to position the transverse abutment part in position to abut the transversely extending part of the member.

43. A method according to Claim 42 wherein the method includes the further attaching step of moving the member relative to the attachment means in a direction longitudinally of said axis to move the transverse abutment part into abutment with the transversely extending part of the member.