Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Fishing – Line-attached bodies – hooks and rigs
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-02-27
Ark, Darren W. (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Fishing
Line-attached bodies, hooks and rigs
C043S043130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192619
ABSTRACT:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to fishing, and particularly to an improved fisherman's release clip for holding a section of line, usually fishing line, and releasing the section of line when a predetermined tensile force is applied to the line.
In deep sea sportfishing, it is common for a single boat to put out multiple lines through the use of outrigger poles. Outrigger poles are long poles that extend from various positions on the boat and spread the fishing lines apart from one another. Each outrigger pole typically has an outrigger line fed over pulleys located at its inner and outer ends of the pole. Outrigger release clips are connected to the outrigger line at various locations spaced from one another. A fishing line may extend from a fishing rod, through a release clip on the outrigger line, to a bait or lure in the water. When a fish strikes the bait or lure, the tensile force causes the clip to release the line. Release of the line allows the bait to remain stationary in the water for a time so that the fish, after making an initial strike, is more likely to return and take the bait. Release of the line, of course, also allows the fisherman to reel in the fish. U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,148, dated Sep. 16, 1975, illustrates the use of a release clip in outrigger fishing.
Because the release clip releases the line to allow the bait to remain stationary in the water while trolling, a release clip is also known as a “drop back” clip. Release clips can be used in various modes of fishing, including simple trolling from a fishing rod.
Release clips are also used in downrigger fishing, to connect a fishing line releasably to a downrigger ball or hydrofoil (also known as a downplane), or to its cable, in order to maintain the bait or lure at a desired depth while trolling. U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,884, dated Apr. 29, 1975, illustrates the use of a release clip in downrigger fishing.
Similarly, in flat line fishing, a release clip may be attached to the fishing rod near the heel of the rod, or to a short tag line attached to the transom of the boat close to the water line. Flatline fishing reduces the tendency of a lure to splash along the surface of the water. Also, in the case of fishing with a weight to hold the lure or bait under water, it reduces or eliminates “bellying,” i.e. the tendency, in trolling, for the pressure of the water against the fishing line to produce a “belly” in the line, resulting in a pulling of the lure or bait toward the surface of the water. In flatline fishing, the release clip maintains the length of fishing line between it and the bait or lure close to, or below, the water surface. This reduces or eliminates bellying, and allows the lure or bait to run deeper in the water.
There are various other known uses for release clips. For example, clips may be used in kite fishing. The clip is attached to a kite string which, when let out, carries the clip to a distance away from the boat. The fishing line passes through the clip to the lure or bait, which is then situated on or near the surface of the water. When a fish strikes, the clip releases the fishing line.
In trolling with a weighted lure, the effect of bellying can also be counteracted by a hydrofoil or a torpedo-shaped weight, used to pull the lure downward. The hydrofoil or weight is ordinarily connected to the line, and the bait or lure is then connected to the hydrofoil or weight through a leader, usually several meters long. The hydrofoil or weight causes difficulties in reeling in the fish when it is caught, because it cannot be drawn through the top eye of the fishing rod. Thus, when a long leader is used and the hydrofoil or weight reaches the end of the rod, it is necessary to grasp the leader manually in order to haul in the fish. The drag of the hydrofoil or weight in the water also makes it difficult to reel in the fish.
Similar difficulties are encountered in float fishing. The float will not pass through the top eye of a fishing rod, and consequently, in the case of a long leader, it is necessary to grasp the leader manually in order to haul in the fish. Also, when a fish takes the bait or lure, the drag of the float on the water makes it necessary for the fisherman is fighting the float as well as the fish. Release clips have not heretofore provided a satisfactory solution to the problems encountered in fishing with a hydrofoil, weight or float.
Numerous release clips have been devised, and examples are set forth in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.:
2,838,866 Nov. 22, 1955
3,879,884 Apr. 29, 1975
3,905,148 Sep. 16, 1975
3,930,330 Jan. 6, 1976
4,428,142 Jan. 31, 1984
4,574,516 Mar. 11, 1986
4,574,518 Mar. 11, 1986
4,611,423 Sep. 16, 1986
4,856,224 Aug. 15, 1989
5,107,616 Apr. 28, 1992
5,170,581 Dec. 15, 1992
5,454,184 Oct. 3, 1995
All of these release clips are relatively complex and expensive. Moreover, in each case it is necessary to tie a knot or to use a special fastener to connect the clip to an outrigger line, downrigger cable, etc.
An important object of this invention is to provide a fisherman's release clip giving satisfactory or superior performance but sufficiently inexpensive that the fisherman can easily afford to keep several clips on hand in case of accidental loss. Another object of the invention is to provide a versatile fisherman's release clip capable of use in many different applications, such as outrigger fishing and weight or hydrofoil fishing. Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable fisherman's release clip that can be attached easily to an outrigger line, downrigger cable or the like. Another object is to provide for easy intentional detachment of the clip from a line or cable while avoiding unintentional detachment. Another object is to provide a simple fisherman's release clip having a very broad range of release tensions. Another object is to overcome the problems encountered in fishing with hydrofoils, weights and floats, which interfere with hauling in of fish when long leaders are used because they will not pass through the top eye of a fishing rod. Another object is to provide a release clip that is small in size and which exhibits only a very small drag in the water. Still another object of the invention is to provide a versatile release clip that can be easily and inexpensively manufactured.
The fisherman's release clip in accordance with the invention comprises a clip body including a pair of fingers extending in side-by-side, closely spaced, relationship to each other. The fisherman's release clip has gripping means on the fingers for frictionally gripping a fishing line extending between the fingers.
The spacing of the fingers is adjustable, preferably by a screw extending through one finger and threaded into the other finger. The gripping means are preferably a pair of gripper sleeves, one sleeve fitting onto each finger and the sleeves being in opposed, closely spaced, relationship to each other for frictionally gripping a fishing line extending between them. The gripper sleeves may be made removable, so that soft and firm gripper sleeves may be interchanged to extend the range of tension at which a fishing line will be released from between the clips. A clip body, and sets of gripper sleeves having different frictional properties, can be provided together as a kit.
Preferably, the clip body also includes a snap hook constituted by an eye comprising a hook element having a tip, and a gate. The gate has an outer surface facing toward the outside of the eye and an inner surface facing toward the interior of the eye, and is resiliently urged in a direction to expand the eye so that it normally engages a part of the tip of the hook element facing toward the interior of the eye. The snap hook permits a line to enter the eye by pressing against the gate, but prevents outwardly directed pressure exerted on the inner surface of the gate by a line inside the eye from effecting release of the line from the eye.
In a preferred embodiment, the gate has a part extending beyond the tip of
Ark Darren W.
Howson & Howson
Texan Corporation
LandOfFree
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