WO2005072521A1 - Knot tying tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A knot tying tool comprising a body (10) for receiving a line and mounting a hook or other line receiving implement relative to said line, an arm (12) extending away from said body (10) terminating in a tie ring (13) folding over to provide an open neck (14), a main housing (16) removably fitted to the body (10) and a funnel (19) removably fitted to the body (10) so as to bridge the junction of the main housing (16) wherein the respective interfaces of the body (10) and the main housing (16) include a shared line channel traversing the body (10) and communicating with the funnel (19), the line channel traversing a hook template for holding a hook with the hook eye aligned to the line channel such that the free or working end of a line can be fed into the funnel (19) to pass through the channel, threading the line hook, emerging from the body (10) and then be wound about the remainder of the line using any one or a combination of the arm (12), neck (14) and funnel (19) wherein upon completion of the knot, the funnel (19), body (10) and housing of the tool can be separated to free the hook or line receiving implement from the confines of the tool.

Description

"Knot Tying Tool"

Cross-Reference to Related Applications The present application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application No 2004900484 filed on 2 February 2004, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Introduction to the Invention This invention relates to the tying of knots in line and in particular, to the tying of knots by way of anchoring line to various implements, including fishing hooks. Such knots include Half Blood, Full Blood, Clinch and Hangmans/Uni knot.

Background of the Invention The application of line to fishing hooks and associated implements requires a high level of dexterity as fishing line is traditionally of quite narrow gage, resilient and not particularly bendable and of course, made of waterproof materials, often of a slippery nature and difficult to manipulate. In particular, the difficulties in tying fishing line to fishing hooks is well understood not only in respect of tying some of the more complex knots to sharp objects like fishing hooks, but also the environment in which this exercise is generally undertaken, being hostile, wet, cold, windy and inclement conditions. The art of tying fishing line to fishing hooks is well practiced. However, a tool to assist in such an exercise is a desirable commodity and many attempts have been made to produce a workable and reliable knot tying tool. Such knot tying tools can be found in disclosures including U.S. Patents 3,402,957; 5,593,189 and 4,403,797. However, all of these devices suffer various drawbacks including the ability to tie a limited number of knots and the inability to accept a wide range of implements in addition to hooks. It would be desirable to produce a more comprehensive and reliable knot tying tool for use on a wide range of implements, in addition to fishing hooks.

Statement of the Invention In a first aspect the invention provides a knot tying tool comprising a body for receiving a line and mounting a hook or other line receiving implement relative to said line, an arm extending away from said body terminating in a tie ring folding over to produce an open neck, a main housing removably fitted to said body and a frustro conically shaped funnel removably fitted to said body so as to bridge the junction of said main housing wherein the respective interfaces of said body and said main housing include a shared line channel traversing said body and communicating with said funnel, said line channel including a hook and/or implement template for holding a hook and/or implement with the hook eye aligned to said line channel such that the free or working end of a line can be fed into said funnel to pass through said channel, threading said line hook, emerging from said body and then be wound about the remainder of the line using any one or a combination of said arm, neck and funnel wherein upon completion of said knot, the funnel, body and housing of the tool can be separated to free the line receiving implement from the confines of the tool. The funnel preferably includes a longitudinal access slot adapted to align with said body/housing interface. The body may incorporate a removable cassette acting as said hook implement template. The cassette may incorporate part of said line channel. The arm may be fitted with one or more cleats or other means to assist in drawing the working end of the line from the line channel exit up and over said arm and neck region. The main housing may be detachably fitted to the by way of a hinge or similar fitting allowing the housing to be readily moved between the closed position with the housing/body interface shut and an open position with the housing/body interface open. The main housing may include one or more lugs for cooperation with corresponding holes in the body to ensure close alignment. The funnel may include a bayonet cap with a corresponding bayonet recess fitted to said body and/or shared with said housing. The bayonet cap may include a raised retaining ring for cooperation with a corresponding retaining channel - the bayonet cap may also include a ring to assist in alignment with the recess. The tool may be fitted with a line clip and/or cutting knife to hold the working end of the line and/or cut the line when needed. The line channel may be provided with a tapering second mouth immediately following the hook template to assist the line in traversing the full length of the line channel. The bayonet recess may also be provided with a tapering second mouth for cooperation with a tapered spigot at the terminal end of the funnel. The tool may include an optional auxiliary housing adapted to retro-fit behind the main housing. The auxiliary housing can be adapted to hold a range of implements including various hook sizes, swivels, lures or sinkers in an analogous manner to the main housing. The auxiliary housing includes a line channel and templates for said implements with the line channel having tapered secondary months immediately preceding each implement template. The auxiliary housing may include one or more lugs to assist in alignment with the main housing. The tool may include a manual hook/implement clamp adapted to cooperate with the rear interface of said main housing to allow manual clamping of hooks or implements. The invention will now be fully described with respect to the one particular embodiment as shown in the following figures and legend. Figure 1 shows an overall perspective view of the tool from the front. Figure 2 shows a rear perspective view of the tool with the optional auxiliary housing removed. Figure 3 shows an exploded drawing of the opened tool; Figure 4 shows a side elevation in partial cross-section of the tool including the auxiliary housing and the hook/implement cassette; Figure 5 shows the tool in use, tying a blood knot to a fishing hook; Figure 6 shows the tool in use, tying multiple lines to an implement and hook; Figure 7 shows the manual clamp in use; Figure 8 shows a blank cassette option; Figure 9 shows the auxiliary housing in two options; Figure 10 shows details of the line channel.

Legend 10 Body 12 Arm 13 Tie Ring 14 Neck 16 Main Housing 17 First Interface 18 Second Interface 19 Funnel 20 Mouth 21 Hinge Region 22 Funnel mouth 23 Access slot 24 Cleat 25 Recess 26 Bayonet cap 28 Retaining ring 30 Bayonet recess 32 Retaining channel 34 Channel mouth 36 Line channel 37 Exit point 38 Secondary mouth 40 Hook template 42 Hook 44 Line clip/knife 46 Lug 47 Aperture 48 Auxiliary housing 50 Line 52 Free end 54 Swivel 55 Sinker 56 Spigot 58 Cassette 60 Cassette recess 62 Ejection eye 64 Blank cassette 66 Blank recess 68 Shank Channel 70 Manual clamp 72 Hollow housing 74 Clamp plate 76 Catch 78 Keeper 80 Spool 82 Knot apertures

Referring firstly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the tool can be seen to be made up of a number of components which is shown in the fully assembled state in Figures 1 and 2; and disassembled or opened in Figure 3. The tool comprises a main body 10 which takes the form of a solid or suitably molded construction sized and dimensioned for comfortable hand-grip with a single hand. In the normal orientation of use, the body has an arm 12 extending outward and away from the main body, with the arm rolling over in a tie ring 13 so as to form a hollow neck region 14. Returning now to the main body section 10 of the tool, the next component is a main housing 16 having a first interface 17. The main housing is adapted for pivotal attachment and abutment to the body 10 at a second interface thereof 18. The next component of the tool is a frustro conically shaped funnel 19 having an open mouth 20 wherein the funnel is adapted for removable fitting to the body 10 at a position bridging the first and second interfaces as previously described. The first and second interfaces of the housing and body respectively, include a mirror imaged and shared line channel 36, which traverses the body so as to communicate with the funnel 19 when fitted to the body. The line channel 36 includes an intermediate implement template 40 which can take the form of a single or multiple template and is shaped and configured to accept the appropriate implement, which in the case of this example, includes a range of hooks and one swivel. The template 40 is adapted to snugly engage the hook or swivel such that the eye is aligned along the path of the line channel 36. In this way, when the main housing 16 is closed against the body 10, and funnel 19 positioned on the body, the free or working end 52 of the fishing line can be readily fed into the funnel through the mouth 20 and be effortlessly guided through the line channel so as to thread the positioned hook or implement with the line emerging from the body at the exit point 37. A key element in the versatility of the tool is the ability of the component parts to be readily assembled and disassembled during use. In this manner, the main housing 16 is pivotally fitted to the body 10 by way of a hinge region 21 which allows housing to be readily moved between an open and closed position. The funnel 19 is fitted to the body by way of a funnel mount 22, which is most preferably molded in part on the body 10 and in part on the main housing 16. The funnel is provided with a bayonet cap 26 having a retaining ring 28 formed thereon for cooperation with the bayonet recess 30 and retaining channel 32 formed in the funnel mount. The funnel is provided with an access slot 23, which runs the length of the funnel including the bayonet cap and is adapted to specifically align at the interface of the body and the main housing when the funnel is fitted to the tool. In this manner, a line can be introduced into the funnel for passing through the body and subsequent manipulation including wrapping round the funnel such that, when a knot is completed, the body and housing can be separated, the funnel removed and completely separated from the line which passes through the access slot 23. In order to assist in the movement and looping of the working end of the line, the arm 12 is provided with a series of cleats 24 to assist in the drawing up and over of the working end of the line, across the tool and over the neck region 14. The line, at its working end 52, is then positioned for subsequent manipulation in whatever manner is suitable for preparation of the required knot. The passage of the working end of a line through the body, is assisted with a provision of tapered secondary mouths 38, along the length of the line channel 36. The first of a tapered secondary mouth is positioned as a channel mouth 34 at the end of the bayonet recess, with this tapered secondary mouth cooperating with a tapered spigot 56 formed at the end of the bayonet cap of the funnel. The other secondary mouths are formed along the length of the line channel at each point where the line channel is broken by an implement template 40. The tapered nature of the secondary mouth ensures that the working end of a line is not snared or interrupted from a smooth passage, completely through the body 10. In order to ensure that the removable or disassembled components of the tool are held in ready and accurate alignment, lugs 46 can be provided to cooperate with corresponding apertures 47. For example, lugs can be applied to the auxiliary housing 48 with aligning holes in the main housing 16 and a lug can also be applied to the bayonet cap 26 and a suitable aperture positioned within the bayonet recess 30. The lugs therefore ensure that the funnel correctly and accurately aligns with the body 10 at the same time ensuring the auxiliary housing aligns with the main housing 16. In order to assist the temporary holding of the working end of a line, and/or severing of the line once the knot is completed, the main housing is provided with a line clip and/or knife 44. In order to maximise the versatility of the tool, in particular with respect to loading hooks or other implements, the body 10 may be provided with an optional hook or implement template 40 in the form of a removable cassette 58, which is adapted for fitting within a cassette recess 60 formed within the body 10. In this manner, the cassette 58 can be adapted for a dedicated range of hook type or sizes and/or implement configurations and can even be pre-loaded with hooks and implements, allowing for ready insertion into the tool when required. The positioning of the cassette 58 is shown in detail in side view in Figure 4. A further extension of the hook or implement cassette concept, is provided in Figure 8 where a blank cassette 64 is provided and adapted for fitting within the cassette recess 60 in the body 10 where the blank cassette has the line channels 36 already in place for automatic alignment with the body 10, but has a blank recess 66, which forms a hollow adapted to accept a wide range of hooks. The blank cassette has a plurality of shank channels 68 in the form of a partial template for receiving the shank region of a hook. The shank channels may be of varying thickness to accommodate different gauges of hook or implement, which can be particularly adapted for receiving large or unusually shaped implements or hooks into the blank cassette 64. Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the tool of the invention will be described in use where a half blood knot is tied in a fish hook with the use of the tool of the invention. Beginning with Figure 5 a, the line 50 is introduced with a free or working end 52 being inserted into the mouth 20 of the funnel 19. The frustro conical tapering of the funnel allows the line to be readily guided into the line channel 36 and through the eye of the hook 42, which has been previously inserted into the hook template. Referring now to Figure 5b and 5 c, once the working end of the line passes through the line channel and out the line channel exit 37, the working end is drawn up the arm 12 and laced around the cleats 24 and drawn over the tie ring 13 and down to be wound around the funnel 19 usually 5 to 6 times depending on weight of line. The free end of the line is then drawn up and passed through the neck 14 and down onto the clip 44 of the housing 16. Referring now to Figures 5d to 5e, the funnel 19 can be removed or withdrawn from the bayonet recess 30 so as to free the wound loops of line, which now circle the line 50. The line 50 is removed from the cleats and then be drawn through the access slot 23 of the funnel. Once the funnel has been removed, the line working end 52 is drawn tight against the remainder of the line 50 where the tightened knot can penetrate down through the knot aperture 82 to pull up tight onto the captive implement eye. Finally, in Figure 7f, the working end of the line has been drawn into a tight knot around the remainder of a line 50 and through the hook 42 and the free end of the line can be cut. The line and hook are now free to be removed from the tool and are ready for use. The tool is then reloaded and reassembled by fitting of the funnel and the main housing to the body and is instantly ready for re-use and the tying of another knot. Referring now to Figures 6a to 6d, the versatility of the tool,^' articularly when used in conjunction with the cassette 58 is demonstrated in this particularly preferred embodiment, where a cassette is used incorporating templates for a number of hooks and an implement, which is fed into the body 10 of the tool, for threading with the line 50. In the first instance, an implement is being threaded as shown in Figure 6a. Once the implement has been threaded, it can be reinserted as shown in Figure 6b for attachment of any one of a number of lines, which can then be subsequently attached to other implements or various hooks. Figure 6c shows two spools 80, fitted to the device to allow convenient handling of partially knotted hooks and implements. Figure 6d shows one example of the versatility of the invention with its ready ability to tie together a number of implements and hooks as required. Referring now to Figures 7a to 7d, an optional feature of the current invention includes a manual clamp 70, fitted to the body 10 of the tool. The manual clamp 70 is pivotally attached to the body 10 and provides for the manual location and clamping of a hook 42 to the tool, independent of the hook template and mounting facilities provided by the tool by cooperation between the main housing 16 and the body 10. This feature provides the ability of the tool to handle unusual shaped hooks or implements that are incapable of fitting into the hook template; or, for example, hooks for which the user of the tool may not have, a particular hook template as is required. The manual clamp provides the tool with the added versatility of not restricting the owner to the particular hook templates they may currently have available. The clamp 70 is made up of a hollow housing 72, such that the large aperture provided, readily accommodates a wide range of hooks and other implements without the need for a dedicated template. Figures 7b, 7c and 7d, show the manual clamp in operation where the knot tying action is analogous to that performed when the hook template feature of the tool is used. Referring now to Figure 8, the concept of using a cassette for loading of hooks and implements has been extended in this optional aspect of the invention, where the cassette is provided as a blank cassette 64 having a blank recess 66 formed within. The blank cassette 64 is sized and configured to fit within the cassette recess 60 of the body 10 in a manner analogous to that of the hook template. The blank cassette however, is provided only with the line channels 36 and a series of shank channels 68 connecting the line channel to the blank recess 66. This form of blank cassette allows a wide range of hooks and other compliments to be fitted to the tool where only the shank region needs to be held by the template. Referring now to Figure 9, the tool may incorporate an auxiliary housing 48 which is adapted for fitting to the rear of the body 10. The auxiliary housing is adapted for fitting so as to align with the exit point 37 of the line channel 36. In this manner, the auxiliary housing is provided with its own line channel 36 and one or a plurality of templates 40 for receiving a variety of implements including a swivel, sinker or lures. Figure 9 shows two alternative auxiliary housings, which are clearly adapted to accommodate a variety of different implements and can be manufactured as a retro- fittable and after market accessory to the tool of the invention. The auxiliary housing is preferably provided with a suitable means for attachment to the body 1 including a lug 46, which ensures accurate alignment to the body 10. The auxiliary housing 48 is most preferably made up of a two part unit which can be hinged together. The configuration of the auxiliary housing and positioning of the hinged connections, are most preferably made to align with the configuration of the main tool such that as shown in Figure 2, the auxiliary housing can readily attach to the main tool with accurate alignment of all the corresponding features. In order to maximise the efficient operation of the tool, the smooth passage of line through the line channel is desirable. Figure 10 shows in cross-section, an auxiliary housing 48 including a variety of templates to accommodate a swivel 54, sinker 55 or hook 42. A tapered secondary mouth 38 leads into the continuation of the line channel, so as to ensure that the line is not snared or interrupted during its passage through the housing 48. The mouth taper 38 is formed at the beginning of any continuation of the line channel in the region of the hook template. A version of the body or an auxiliary housing is shown where a plurality of hooks can be threaded simultaneously and a plurality of tapered secondary mouths 38 ensure smooth passage throughout the whole length of the line channel from the point where the working end of the line traverses the funnel spigot 56 and begins its passage along the line channel. In addition to the primary functions of the tool as previously described, a number of modifications and improvements to the basic tool are envisaged. The main body may include a variety of clips in order to control and maintain the operation of previously tied lines and generally assist in the handling of fishing line during the tying operations. The main body 10 and main housing 16 incorporate a small gap at the first and second interfaces 17 and 18 in order to assist in the extraction of line after completion of a knot. The gap may be varied to allow for different gauges of line. The tool may be provided in left and right hand configurations. The general layout and configuration of the tool can of course be varied in accordance with particular user requirements and is exemplified only in respect of the tying of fishing line to hooks but can be extended to a wide range of other tying operations and implements. The tool may also incorporate a measuring device or tape measure in order to assist in the correct cutting of line lengths for operations of choice. The funnel component of the invention, whilst exemplified with an elongate access slot, can be provided without a slot in order to render the tool useable in a simplified fashion, notwithstanding the need for the user to thread the eye of the hook and/or implement manually. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A knot tying tool comprising a body for receiving a line and mounting a hook or other line receiving implement relative to said line, an arm extending away from said body terminating in a tie ring folding over to provide an open neck, a main housing removably fitted to said body and a funnel removably fitted to said body so as to bridge the junction of said main housing wherein the respective interfaces of said body and said main housing include a shared line channel traversing said body and communicating with said funnel, said line channel traversing a hook template for holding a hook with the hook eye aligned to said line channel such that the free or working end of a line can be fed into said funnel to pass through said channel, threading said line hook, emerging from said body and then be wound about the remainder of the line using any one or a combination of said arm, neck and funnel wherein upon completion of said knot, the funnel, body and housing of the tool can be separated to free the hook or line receiving implement from the confines of the tool.

2. A tool according to claim 1, wherein said funnel includes an elongate access slot adapted to align with said body/housing interface.

3. A tool according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said arm and neck are integral and extend from said body adjacent the fitted position of said funnel.

4. A tool according to claim 3 wherein said arm is fitted with a guide means to assist in drawing the working end of said line from the line channel exit up and over said arm and neck.

5. A tool according to claim 3, wherein said guide means are a plurality of cleats.

6. A tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said body incorporates a removable cassette acting as said hook template.

7. A tool according to claim 6, wherein said body includes a cassette recess adapted to receive said cassette.

8. A tool according to claim 7, wherein said cassette incorporates part of said line channel.

9. A tool according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said main housing is removably fitted to said body by a hinge connection allowing said main housing to be pivoted away from said body to expose said hook template.

10. A tool according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further including a manual clamp removably fitted to said body and sandwiching said main housing so as to clamp a hook or implement to the rear interface of said main housing.

11. A tool according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said funnel is frusto conical in shape and provided with a bayonet cap for fitting into a corresponding bayonet recess shared between said body and said main housing.

12. A tool according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further including an auxiliary housing comprising an auxiliary body and auxiliary main housing wherein said auxiliary housing as adapted to retro fit behind the main housing and body.

13. A tool according to claim 12 wherein said auxiliary housing communicator with the main tool by alignment of a shared line channel.

14. A tool according to claims 6 to 8 wherein said cassette includes a blank recess formed within for receiving an implement by attachment of the shank only.

15. A knot tying tool according to any one of claims 1 to 12 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the figures.