Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K91/00—Lines
  • A01K91/03—Connecting devices
  • A01K91/047—Connecting devices for connecting lines to lines

Definitions

• This invention relates in general to a device and method for linearly connecting strand materials and more particularly to a device which facilitates the connection of fishing lines.
• a fly fisherman must be equipped with a fishing rod, a fishing line called a fly line, a device such as a reel to hold the fly line, a leader line commonly called a leader, and flies.
• a leader is a relatively short, fine, tapered segment of monofilament line, with its larger or butt end attached to the fly line and its smaller or terminal end to the fly.
• Fly fishing involves casting a line a substantial distance over a body of water wherein only the weight of the line is used to effect the cast.
• a skilled fly caster typically uses a tapered line and a tapered leader at the end of this line.
• One of the more difficult aspects of fly fishing involves connecting the end of the leader to the end of the fishing line by tying a knot. The knot must be specially selected to avoid kinks and/or slip-separation of the leader from the line.
• a leader will range from as short as 5 or 6 feet to as long as 12 to 15 feet.
• leader material consist of lengths of varying diameter leader material tied together. Many fishermen favor the latter, that is the knotted leader, in that it enables them to tailor the leader to their own needs. But irrespective of whether the fisherman uses a truly tapered leader or a knotted leader, the fisherman will usually find it necessary to replace the end section or segment of the leader, often called the tippet, for this is where the leader is thinnest and weakest, and where it will break if its capacity is exceeded. Tippet replacement and repair usually require a fisherman to form a, knot. Moreover, when a fisherman changes to a smaller fly, a thinner tippet is often required. Hence, the typical fisherman must tie knots from time to time in leader material, which is usually monofilament line.
• the knots which join the lengths of leader material either to the fly line or to other leader sections must accommodate the varying diameters of material and must be strong.
• Nail knots and Albright knots meet these requirement, but are time consuming to tie and require skill, good eyesight and considerable manual dexterity.
• the knot is usually the weakest part of the fish line and may cause the breaking of the fish line at the knot.
• a splice system and method for linear connection of fishing lines include a female connector and a male connector.
• the female connector has an outer surface, first and second opposite ends, and a longitudinal axis. The outer surface has an aperture disposed thereon.
• the first end is connected to a first fishing line section and the second end has an opening therein.
• the connector has a coaxial interior feature with a radial extent.
• the male connector has first and second opposite ends and a longitudinal axis.
• the second end is connected to a second fishing line section and the first end is configured for coaxial insertion into the opening of the female connector.
• the second end has a radial extent greater than the radial extent of the interior feature of the female connector.
• At least one of the connectors is resilient so that the second end of the male connector compresses or the interior feature of the female connector expands to allow passage of the second end of the male connector axially past the interior feature.
• FIG. 1 is top plan view of one embodiment of the splice system of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the connectors of the splice system in a connected configuration.
• FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a connector of the splice system.
• FIG.4 is a side cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a connector of the splice system.
• FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a card holding multiple female connectors. While the above-identified drawing figures set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion.
• FIG. 1 is perspective view of one embodiment of the splice system of the present invention.
• Splice system 10 connects fly or fishing line 12 and leader 14 or other fishing line segments which are aligned generally along longitudinal axis 15 for connection.
• Splice system 10 includes two main components: male connector or bullet connector 16 and female connector or receiver 18.
• An exemplary embodiment additionally includes slidably mounted floats 20.
• bullet connector 16 is secured to leader 14 and receiver 18 is secured to fly line 12.
• leader 14 is permanently secured to bullet connector 16. Attachment of leader 14 to bullet connector 16 can be accomplished during manufacturing or can occur after each component has been produced.
• Suitable attachment methods include molding of leader 14 and bullet connector 16 as an integral unit or joining leader 14 and bullet connector 16 with a suitable adhesive, for example.
• fly line 12 is removably secured to reusable receiver 18 by knot 28.
• FIG. 1 illustrates bullet connector 16 prior to its connection to receiver 18.
• Bullet connector 16 moves in advance direction 22 for insertion into first opening 23 of receiver 18.
• radially extending petals 24 engage with an interior feature of receiver 18 to prevent disengagement of bullet connector from receiver 18 in reverse direction 26.
• bullet connector 16 is a "one-way" connector that can only be removed from receiver 18 in advance direction 22.
• Aperture 30 is provided on a surface of receiver 18.
• a user advances bullet connector 16 in direction 22 out of receiver 18 through aperture 30.
• the user can then cut leader 14 to remove bullet connector 16 and leader 14 from receiver 18.
• the user can then insert another leader 14 with bullet connector 16 into first opening 23 of receiver 18 to connect leader 14 and fly line 12.
• tensile forces on the assembly in opposite directions 22 and 26 prevent unintentional disengagement of bullet connector 16 and receiver 18.
• a connected system 10 of bullet connector 16 and receiver 18 is less than about 1.0 inch (25.4 mm) long and less than about 0.140 inch (3.56 mm) in diameter.
• fly line 12 is about 0.032 inch (0.81 mm) to about 0.042 inch (1.07 mm) in diameter.
• leader 14 is about 0.020 inch (0.51 mm) to about 0.026 inch (0.66 mm) in diameter.
• bullet connector 16 and receiver 18 are each molded from a lightweight, resilient and durable material such as plastic or nylon.
• Nylon 66 available from E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Co., Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, is used in one suitable embodiment.
• floats 20 can be used with splice system 10 to provide buoyancy to the connection.
• buoyancy is incorporated into bullet connector 16 and/or receiver 18 by using buoyant materials or adding buoyant features such as dispersed hollow glass beads in the bulk material.
• each float 20 is formed of a closed-cell or open-cell foam and can be configured as a tapered cylinder having axial bore through which either fly line 12 or leader 14 can pass to secure float 20.
• float 20 is formed of open-cell foam having a specific gravity of at least about 0.5.
• float 20 is formed of extruded open-cell foam having a specific gravity of less than about 0.6.
• Floats 20, when brightly colored, are functional as strike indicators because they visibly signal movement of leader 14 and fly 34 during a fish strike. In some applications, floats 20 are not used because a sinking line is preferred.
• each float 20 is radially symmetrically disposed and includes tapered surface 32 to enhance the movement of splice system 10 through air and water. Tapered surface 32 is symmetric about axis 15 and extends from a narrow diameter near distal end 33 to a greater diameter toward bullet connector 16 or receiver 18 , respectively.
• FIG.2 is a side cross-sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 , showing the connectors of the splice system in a connected configuration.
• Bullet connector 16 includes head 36 and a plurality of resiliently deformable petals 24, the plurality of petals 24 having a radial extent greater than the radial extent of head 36.
• Bullet connector 16 is shaped to facilitate its advance in direction 22 through axial bore 38 of receiver 18 and, once fully inserted into receiver 18, to prevent its motion in direction 26 through bore 38.
• head 36 has a hemispherical shape and each petal 24 has a narrow width at head 36 and gradually widens in a direction away from head 36.
• leader 14 is integrally formed with bullet connector 16.
• receiver 18 includes interior annulus 40 having axial bore 38 therethrough and defining radially extending shoulder 42.
• Axial bore 38 is wide enough to allow the passage of fly line 12 but not wide enough to allow the passage of knot 28 formed at the end of fly line 12.
• Cavity 46 is wide enough to accommodate knot 28 and deep enough to accommodate knot 28 and bullet connector 16 while allowing space for bullet connector 16 to exit aperture 30.
• fly line 12 thereby connected to receiver 18 and leader 14 connected to bullet connector 16
• fly line 12 and leader 14 can be connected to each other by moving bullet connector 16 along axis
• a radial extent, such as half of an outer diameter, of petals 24 (in an uncompressed state) is greater than a radial extent, such as half of an inner diameter, of annulus 52.
• the petals 24 are resiliently radially inwardly compressed to fit through the annulus 52.
• an audible snap or click is heard, and a tactile click is also felt, as petals 24 of bullet connector 16 resiliently return to their uncompressed dimension.
• either one or both of bullet connector 26 and radial annulus 52 resiliently defo ⁇ n to allow petals 24 to move past annulus 52 and then return to about the original dimension.
• Such resilient deformation can be accomplished by the choice of materials and the geometry of bullet connector 16 and receiver 18.
• the shape of head 36 can take other forms, such as a tapered cone shape, for example.
• the shape of petals 24 can similarly take other forms, such as radial ribs, stems, and detents, for example.
• annulus 52 has a flat surface 56 which projects radially inward and faces free ends of petals 24 to prevent petals 24 from slipping back past annulus 52.
• an outer diameter of bullet connector 16 at petals 24 is slightly larger than an inner diameter of cavity 46 to facilitate an interference fit of bullet connector 16 in receiver 18, thereby leading to an even more secure connection.
• flat surface 56 is slightly undercut (i.e., moving radially outward from axis 15, flat surface 65 slopes toward second end 50) so that annulus 52 forms an annular barb which further prevents the disconnection of bullet connector 16 and receiver 18.
• head 36 has a largest diameter of about 0.068 inch (1.72 mm); bullet connector 16 at petals 24 has a largest diameter of about 0.093 inch (2.36 mm); bore 54 has an inner diameter of about 0.068 inch (1.72 mm); and cavity 46 has an inner diameter of about 0.099 inch (2.51 mm). In each case, a radial extent is half of a diameter.
• the passage of petals 24 into cavity 46 forms a permanent and strong connection between bullet connector 16 and receiver 18, thereby connecting leader 14 and fly line 12.
• the materials and dimensions of bullet connector 16 and receiver 18 are chosen so that bullet connector 16 and receiver 18 cannot be separated with manual tensile or separation force along axis 15 of at least about 8 pounds (3.6 kg) .
• bullet connector 16 and receiver 18 cannot be separated with tensile or separation force along axis 15 of at least about 10 pounds (4.5 kg).
• Nylon is an especially suitable material for bullet connector 16 and receiver 18 because it swells slightly in water, leading to an even stronger interference connection between bullet connector 16 and receiver 18.
• receiver 18 includes annular grooves 58 on an exterior surface at each of first end 48 and second end 50. Grooves 58 are configured to mate with raised annuli 60 on floats 20 for secure connection of floats 20 onto first end 48 and second end 50 of receiver 16.
• leader 14 with attached bullet connector 16.
• a user attaches fly line 12 to receiver 18 as discussed above. The user attaches leader 14 to fly line 12 by inserting bullet connector 16 into receiver 18 to form a permanent, locked connection.
• leader 14 To replace leader 14 with a different leader 14, the user removes the old leader 14 by moving bullet connector 16 in advance direction 22 out of aperture 30 of receiver 16. While interference of petals 24 and annulus 52 prevents movement in direction 26, movement of bullet connector 16 from receiver 18 in direction 22 is allowed.
• Leader 14 can be cut at severance point 62 near bullet connector 16 or severance point 64 near float 20. If cut at point
• leader 14 is removed by pulling leader 14 in direction 26. If cut at point 64, leader 14 is removed from receiver 18 by pulling bullet connector 16 in direction 22 out aperture 30. The severed portions of leader 14 can be discarded along with bullet connector 16. A new leader 14 connected to new bullet connector 16 is obtained.
• Float 20 is removed from end 50 of receiver 18. Distal end 35 (see FIG. 1) of leader 14 is threaded through float 20 so that bullet connector 16 is proximate the end of float 20 which connects to receiver 18.
• Bullet connector 16 is moved axially through bore 54 so that petals 24 pass radial annulus 52, resulting in the connected position of bullet connector 16 and receiver 18 shown in FIG.2. Float 20 is thereafter reattached to receiver 20.
• FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of receiver 18 of splice system 10.
• Receiver 18 further includes internal ramp surface 66 to aid in diverting bullet connector 16 out of aperture 30.
• receiver 18 is reusable and thus does not need to be replaced to change leader 14. However, if receiver 18 is damaged or otherwise requires replacement or repositioning on fly line 12, it can also be easily replaced or repositioned.
• a user moves knot 28 of fly line 12 in direction 26 out aperture 30 of receiver 18.
• Fly line 12 can be cut at severance point 66 near knot 28 or severance point 68.
• FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a card 72 holding multiple receivers 18.
• Card 72 provides for convenient storage of, and easy accessability to, receivers 18.
• Card 72 is easily stored in a user's vest pocket, providing a convenient storage unit for receivers 18, which might otherwise be easily lost because of their small size.
• receivers 18 are integrally molded with card 72, leaving connecting members 74 and 76 at first end 48 and second end 50 of each receiver 18, respectively.
• FIG. 5 also illustrates the process of removal of one receiver 18 from card 72.
• each connecting member 74 and 76 secures the respective receiver 18 to card 72 during routine handling, but is easily broken with manual force for the removal of a receiver 18 from card 72.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Husbandry (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Encapsulation Of And Coatings For Semiconductor Or Solid State Devices (AREA)
• Die Bonding (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

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Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (1)

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Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (18)

• 2003
  • 2003-07-28 US US10/628,219 patent/US20050034356A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2004
  • 2004-06-10 CA CA002533802A patent/CA2533802A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-06-10 JP JP2006521824A patent/JP2007500006A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-06-10 AT AT04754864T patent/ATE386433T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-06-10 WO PCT/US2004/018394 patent/WO2005015991A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2004-06-10 DE DE602004011943T patent/DE602004011943T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-06-10 ES ES04754864T patent/ES2300800T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-06-10 EP EP04754864A patent/EP1651032B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (4)

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