Fisherman's Knot Tying Device

Abstract

A hard plastic cylinder 5/8 inch in diameter and 3/4 inch long is freely rotatably mounted in a semi-cylindrical recess provided centrally in the upper surface of a 2 .times. 4 .times. 1/16 inch rigid sheet plastic carriage. Line anchoring notches are provided in the carriage ends and sides and a loop receiving slot is formed axially in the recess bottom with circumferential loop anchoring recesses at its ends. The cylinder has two line twisting slots extending lengthwise thereof, and a central diametral loop receiving hole capable of alignment with said loop receiving slot in the carriage. Diametral line guide grooves are provided in the cylinder ends. The carriage recess has central conical free spaces at its ends whereby lines being tied into a knot may be rotated with the cylinder in order to twist two strands of a line together.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a means for the simple and rapid tying of four basic knots in monofilament fishing lines. Monofilament line, by nature, is relatively stiff and slippery and requires that line manufacturers recommendations for knot tying be strictly observed in order to retain full line strength. The present invention permits "to the letter" observance of these recommendations. It also reduces finger dexterity requirements to a minimum by providing the necessary openings, guides and line holding points so that an inexperienced operator may easily and consistently accomplish perfect knots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the device being used to tie a barrel knot.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view taken in the direction of the arrow 3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the invention illustrating the use of this in tying a dropper loop knot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring specifically to the drawings, the device 10 of the invention comprises a carriage 11 and a cylinder 12 rotatably mounted on the carriage. Both of these elements are preferably molded of hard plastic and snapped together so as to remain firmly united.

The carriage 11 comprises a flat rectangular plate 13 having cord anchoring notches 14 and 15 at one end, 16 and 17 at the opposite end, 18 and 19 along one side and 20 and 21 on the opposite side. A boss 25 extends downwardly from the plate 13 in a central location thereon and a semi-cylindrical recess 26 extends downwardly from the upper surface of said plate and into said boss as shown in FIG. 2. The recess 26 is enlarged at its ends by semi-conical free spaces 27 formed in the upper surface of the plate 13. Formed centrally in the bottom of the boss 25 is an elongated hole 28 having line anchoring notches 29 extending laterally from its opposite ends. Four posts 30 are formed integral with the plate 13 and extend upwardly opposite the four corners of the recess 26 and converge inwardly toward each other over side portions of the recess.

The cylinder 12 is adapted to be admitted by downward pressure between the tips of the four posts 30 whereby the cylinder will snap into place into the recess 26 and be trapped in this while being freely rotatable therein as shown in FIG. 2. Formed in the cylinder 12 in a lengthwise axial diametral plane is a pair of shallow grooves 31 formed in the end faces of the cylinder while a diametral central elongated hole 32 is formed in the same plane so as to pass entirely through the cylinder. Symmetrically formed in the cylinder 12 in parallel relation with the grooves 31 and the hole 32 is a pair of slots 33, the bottoms of which lie in a diametral plane of the cylinder 12 which is disposed at a right angle with respect to said slots.

OPERATION

The invention is shown in FIG. 1 in the process of tying a barrel or blood knot which is the preferred knot for joining two lengths of monofilament line since it results in a secure and smooth junction which presents no hindrance as the line passes through the pole guides and tip. This knot is formed between two loose ends of two separate pieces of monofilament line. To tie the knot, lay each of the two lines to be joined which will be designated lines A and B across the device through the line twisting slots 33 with the free end of Line A pressed downwardly in the notch 14 so as to be anchored therein while the main portion of line A will be pressed downwardly and anchored in the notch 16 at the opposite end of the device 10. The free end of line B, on the other hand, will be pressed down in and anchored in notch 17 and the main body of line B will be pressed down and anchored in notch 15 at the opposite end of the device 10.

The cylinder 12 is now frictionally engaged by the thumb so as to rotate the cylinder five times which forms two five turn twists in the line at opposite ends of the cylinder 12 as shown in FIG. 1, the cylinder being halted with slots 33 horizontal. The free end of line B is now removed from the slot 17 and threaded horizontally along the adjacent groove 31 and through the triangular opening between lines A and B shown at the near end of the cylinder 12 and then re-anchored in notch 19 at the far side of the carriage. In a like manner, the free end of line A is removed from notch 14 at the far end of the device, threaded along the adjacent groove 31 and through the triangular opening between the two lines formed at the far end of the cylinder 12 and then re-anchored in notch 20 at the near side of the device. The cylinder 12 is now rotated to place grooves 31 vertically and guide slots 33 in vertical upwardly disposed position as shown in FIG. 1. While the free ends of lines B and A remain anchored respectively in notches 19 and 20 the main portions of said lines are now lifted from engagement with notches 15 and 16 and pulled apart to draw the knot tight while simultaneously lifting the lines from the line guide slots 33 as the turns produced in the knot by the device 10 gather in response to the tension applied in opposite directions to lines A and B. When the knot has thus been drawn tight, the short ends of lines A and B are removed from notches 19 and 20 and are clipped close to the knot.

The invention is shown in FIG. 4 as when employed in the formation of a dropper loop knot. This knot produces a dropper loop at any desired point on the line to which additional gear may be secured. The loop will remain at the desired size and no appreciable weakness in the line will result. To use the device of the invention in forming this knot, form a loop C in the line D in which the knot is to be tied and lay the two strands formed by the separation of loop C from the line in the guide slots 33 of the cylinder 12 with end portions of the two strands thus brought into parallelism anchored at one end in notches 14 and 15 of the carriage 11 and at the other end in notches 16 and 17 thereof. Now, holding the lines within the guide slots 33 with the thumb and first finger of one hand, rotate the cylinder 12 five turns and stop with the line guide slots 33 in a vertical position. The thumb and finger may be removed after the first turn of the cylinder 12. Now, pinch the center of the loop formed in the line and insert the loop in the hole 32 of the cylinder 12. Push the loop through until it exits from the hole 28 of the carriage 11. A slight rotation of the cylinder 12 will cause the loop to engage itself in a pair of the dropper loop anchor notches 29. The loop will be held in this position until the knot is completed. FIG. 4 illustrates the relation of the line and the cylinder at this point. The next step is to remove the line from the line holding notches 14 and 17 and pull outwardly on the portions of the line at opposite ends of the knot being formed. As the turns gather to the cylinder 12, lift the line from the line guide slots 33 leaving the loop secured. Slowly and evenly draw the turns up taut. Rotate the cylinder 12 to bring the line guide slots 33 back to a vertical position and the loop will be released from the dropper loop anchor slots 29 and may then be withdrawn from the hole 28 and the hole 32 of cylinder 12.

The device 10 may be used in tying many other kinds of fisherman's knots and it is unnecessary to illustrate all of these in order to point out the utility of the invention in the typing of fisherman's knots. For instance, it can be used to tie a clinch knot, the function of which is to tie a hook, lure or other gear to the end of a monofilament line. To do this, the line is passed through the eye of the gear and placed against one end of the cylinder 12. The line itself and the end portion which was threaded through said eye are now placed in the two guide slots 33 and anchored in anchor slots 16 and 17 at the near end of the carriage 11. The cylinder 12 is now rotated five turns and stopped with the slots 33 in horizontal position. The short end of the line is now removed from its line holding notch, looping it to permit threading it through the triangular opening between the lines at the end of the cylinder 12. Pass the end of the line back through the large loop just formed and pull together the turns in the knot at the cylinder 12. Then rotate the cylinder 12 so that the line guide slots 33 are again in a vertical position. As the final step, lift the line and gear from the device and, holding the gathered turns between the fingers, pull on the standing part of the line to draw the gathered turns to the gear, draw the knot up snug and tight and sever the excess line from the short end.

The device of the invention may also be used for forming an end loop knot in the end of a line. To form this knot, double approximately 8 inches of the line back on itself into a U shape. Anchor the U in anchor notch 16 at the near end of carriage 11. Treating the double line as a single strand, lay it in the near guide slot 33 and then bring it back through the other slot 33 and anchor the doubled line in anchor notch 17. Rotate the cylinder five turns and stop with the line guide slots 33 in a horizontal position. Remove the U loop from the line holding notch 16 and, guiding it in the near groove 31, pass it through the triangular opening between the lines at the end of the cylinder 12. Now, rotate the cylinder to place the line guide slots 33 in a vertical position. Grasp the U loop between the fingers of one hand and remove the double line from line anchoring slot 17. Lift the line from the device and hold the U loop at the size of loop desired. Draw the knot taut by pulling on the double line. Clip the short end of the double line at the point where it leaves the knot.

While the device 10 is shown and described as an independent article of manufacture, it may be incorporated with or mounted on a fishing kit box cover or on the top surface of a container in which fishing line is sold, so as to be available for use in knot tying.

Claims

I claim:

1. A fisherman's knot tying device comprising:

a line twisting cylinder having line receiving slot means formed lengthwise in the exterior surface thereof;

carriage plate means providing a central semi-cylindrical means for rotatably mounting said cylinder therein while exposing said slot means to access and leaving free axial spaces at opposite ends of said cylinder in which strands of said line occupying said slot means may be twisted together when said cylinder is rotated; and

line anchoring means on said carriage means.

2. A fisherman's knot tying device as recited in claim 1 wherein said slot means in said cylinder include a pair of slots symmetrically disposed with reference to a diametral plane of said cylinder, the bottoms of said slots lying in a diametral plane at right angles to the first diametral plane.

3. A fisherman's knot tying device as recited in claim 2 wherein

a diametral hole is provided in said cylinder in said first mentioned diametral plane for receiving a line loop, and

a hole is provided in said carriage, said hole being alignable with the aforesaid hole for receiving and anchoring said loop during a knot tying operation.

4. A fisherman' s knot tying device as recited in claim 3 wherein

the loop receiving hole in the carriage has anchor slot means at its ends for effecting the temporary anchoring of said loop on said carriage.

5. A fisherman's knot tying device as recited in claim 1 wherein

the ends of said cylinder are provided with shallow diametral loose line end guide grooves.

6. A fisherman's knot tying device as recited in claim 1 wherein

said bearing means comprises a semi-cylindrical bore in which said cylinder freely rotates, and posts provided on said carriage and overlying said cylinder so as to confine the same in said bore.