GB2523735A

GB2523735A - A hooklink system

Info

Publication number: GB2523735A
Application number: GB1402623.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steve Tasker
Original assignee: A & S Tasker Internat Ltd
Current assignee: A & S Tasker Internat Ltd
Priority date: 2014-02-14
Filing date: 2014-02-14
Publication date: 2015-09-09
Also published as: DE102015101958A1; GB201402623D0

Abstract

A lead clip 102, comprising: an elongate body 104 having means for attachment to a hook line at a first end, means for attachment to a rod line at a second end, and a clip arm 112 secured to the body 104 at the first end, the clip arm extending along the body between the first and second ends, wherein a distal end 114 of the clip arm is biased towards the body, characterized in that the means for attachment to the rod line comprises an aperture 110 formed within the body towards the second end. The attachment means on the first end of the body may be a core that has swivel arm extending from it. The body, clip arm and attachment means of the system may be formed as a single structure.

Description

A HOOKLINK SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a hooklink system for an angler's rig, and preferably, but not exclusively, relates to a hooklink system comprising a lead discharge system.

A known hooklink system includes a hooklink swivel having a central body, or barrel, with two rings provided at opposite ends of the body. The rings freely rotate and may separately freely rotate about a mutual longitudinal axis passing through the barrel.

It is important that the swivel is securely retained relative to the barrel so that a fish on a hook line is able pull the system away from an entangled lead rather than decoupling the swivel from the barrel, or snapping the lines.

For instance, if a fish on a hook exerts sufficient pressure on the hook line of a tangled lead, it will cause the swivel to detach from the barrel.

However, the fish will remain tethered to the hook line. It will be appreciated that a fish tethered to the hook line will likely suffer distress, and, ultimately, an untimely death due to starvation.

Attempts have been made by prior art hooklink systems to ensure that the swivel is securely retained relative to the system, but all have their limitations, particularly in the manufacturability and ease of use of such systems.

For example, as shown in Figure 1, 0B2394878 discloses a hooklink system 2 having an elongate body 4 with a barrel 29 inserted therein, whereby the barrel 29 has first and second loops 6 & 10 at each end thereof, for attachment to a hook line and a rod line respectively, whereby the loops 6 and 10 are swivelable i.e. moveable relative to the body 4.

A clip arm 12, is provided along the length of the body 4, whereby the clip arm 12 is attached to the body 4 towards a first end of the body 4, whilst a distal end of the clip arm 12 is biased towards the body 4 such that it is closed relative to the body 4 at second end of the body.

The clip arm 12 projects from the body 4 such that a lead weight (not shown) is attachable to the clip arm 12, e.g. via a ring or swivel, and maintained thereon within a gap 13, whereby the distal end of the clip arm 12 being biased against the body 4 closes the gap 13, such that the biasing force prevents a lead on the clip arm 12 detaching therefrom. If the lead weight becomes snagged during operation, then the clip arm 12 is retracted from the body 4, such that the lead weight detaches from the clip arm 12.

In the system 2 of the prior art, the body 4 comprises an outer surface 22 at the rod line end, whereby the clip arm 12 extends substantially along the full length of the outer surface 22. An outer surface 21 of the clip arm 12 is located a distance above the surface 22 i.e. the outer surface 21 of the clip arm 12 is raised relative to the outer surface 22 of the body 4.

As is known in the art, a sheath, or tail rubber, may be provided on the system 2, to prevent the lead detaching from the clip arm 12 during casting of the line.

However, in the hooklink systems of the prior art, the sheath must first be maneuvered onto the outer surface 22 and then further maneuvered over distal end of the clip arm 12 and onto the outer surface 21 thereof, which, as will be appreciated by the skilled person, is difficult in cold and/or wet weather.

Furthermore, the loops 6, 10, barrel 29 and body 4 are each manufactured as discrete elements. The 1oops 6 and 10 are assembled into the barrel 29 and the barrel/loop assembly are incorporated into the body 4 e.g. by welding or snap fastening to the swivel, or by injection moulding or casting around the barrel/loop assembly.

Such assembly of multiple discrete component parts is a time consuming process, whilst complex systems are required to trace and assemble the discrete components.

Furthermore, in the prior art the distal ends of the clip arm snag whilst an angler is fishing e.g. in weeds, river grass etc. Once snagged, the force on the clip arm will be pulled from the body such that a lead weight located thereon will fall off, which is not desireable, and maybe costly for the angler if it happens repeatedly.

Furthermore, in order for a lead weight to be attached to the clip arm, the clip arm must be pulled from the body. Over time, the clip arm material may become strained e.g. it may undergo plastic deformation, such that the force biasing the distal end of the clip arm towards the body weakens.

Therefore, a lead attached to a strained clip arm may fall off the clip arm in normal use, i.e. when the lead weight is not snagged resulting in the loss of the lead.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved hooklink system which address

the aforementioned problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hooklink system, comprising: an elongate body having means for attachment to a hook line at a first end, means for attachment to a rod line at a second end, and a clip arm secured to the body at the first end, the clip arm extending along the body between the first and second ends, wherein a distal end of the clip arm is biased towards the body, characterized in that the means for attachment to the rod line comprises an aperture formed within the body towards the second end.

In a preferred embodiment a bottom surface of the distal end of the clip arm is located below a top surface of the body at the second end.

Preferably, the means for attachment to a hook line is a core having a swivel arm extending therefrom, and moveable relative thereto.

Preferably, a top surface of the distal end of the clip arm is substantially level with the top surface of the body at the second end.

More preferably, further comprising grooves located between the aperture and the second end for retaining a portion of fishing line therein.

Preferably, further comprising formations formed on the top surface of the body towards the second end and formed on the top surface of the distal end of the clip arm. Very preferably, the formations are concentric about the top surface of the body and the top surface of the distal end.

In an advantageous arrangement, the body, the clip arm and the attachment means are fabricated as a single structure. The single structure may be fabricated by injection moulding or casting of a plastics material.

A fishing rig can comprise a hooklink system as described above.

Figure 1 shows a hooklink system of the prior art;

Figure 2a shows a side view of a hooklink system of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2b shows a front view of the hooklink system of Figure 2a; and Figure 2c shows a side view of a clip arm of the hooklink system of Figure 2a.

Figure 2a shows a side view of a hooklink system 102; and Figure 25 shows shows a front view of the hooklink system 102.

In the present embodiment, the hooklink system 102 has an elongated body 104. From a first end of the body 104 extends hook line attachment means, in the form of a ring 106, for attaching a hook line (not shown).

The hooklink system 102 also has rod line attachment means in the form of an aperture 110 formed within the body 104 itself at a rod line end 107, for attaching a rod line (not shown).

Preferably, the body 104 comprises a core 129 e.g. metal, plastics fixededly retainable within the body 104, e.g. by injection moulding, whereby the metal core 129 comprises a swivel arm 130.

Preferably, the ring 106 is provided on the swivel arm 130, such that the swivel arm 130 is moveable relative to the core 129. In an alternative embodiment, the swivel arm 130 is fixed relative to the core 129, whereby the core 129 is moveable relative to the body 104. In a further alternative embodiment the swivel arm 130 and core 129 are fixed relative to the body 104.

Furthermore, formations in the form of grooves 120 are provided in the body 104 such that the rod line may be located within the grooves 120 when attached to the aperture 110. Such grooves 120 may be used as a line guide for the rod line to maintain the system 102 in the correct orientation before, during and/or after casting.

The grooves 120 are shown in greater detail in Figure 2b, whereby the grooves 120 are shown as hemispherical structures formed in the body 104 at the rod line end 107. In operation, the rod line will be located within the grooves 120.

A clip arm 112, extending along the body 104 is attached to the body 104 towards a hook line end 105, whilst a distal end of the clip arm is located towards a rod line end 107, and biased towards the body 104. The clip arm 112 projects from the body 104, such that a gap 113 is formed between the clip arm 112 and the body 104.

A structural projection 115 is formed integral to the body 104 such that the projection 115 is proximate a distal end 114 of the clip arm 112, thereby substantially closing the gap 113 relative to the body 104.

As shown in greater detail in Figure 2c, the distal end 114 is located adjacent the projection 115, such that a bottom surface 121 of the clip arm 112 is located below a top surface 122 of the projection 115, such that a portion of the top surface 125 of the clip arm 112 is substantially at the same level as the top surface 122 of the projection 115.

A force is applied to the clip arm 112 to pull the distal end 114 a distance away from the body 104, such that a lead weight is fed onto the clip arm 12 e.g. via a ring or a swivel. Once the force is removed from the clip arm 112, which is formed of a resilient plastics material, the clip arm 112 returns to its original position such that the distal end 114 is closed relative to the body 114, whereby the projection 115 provides a stop surface which prevents the lead weight from falling off the clip arm 112 in normal use (i.e. when the lead is not snagged), for example, if the biasing force of clip arm 112 is weakened by repeated stretching.

In the event of the lead weight becoming entangled in an underwater obstruction e.g. weeds/grass, the lead weight applies sufficient force to pull the distal end 114 a distance away from the body 104, such that the bottom surface 121 of the clip arm 112 is located above the top surface of the projection 122, such that the lead weight is removed from the clip arm 112 before the rod and/or hook lines break, or the loop 106 decouples from the body 104.

The body 104 and top surface 125 of the clip arm 112 are also provided with grip formations formed thereon and integral thereto. In the present embodiment, the grip formations are provided as concentric projections 124. The concentric projections 124 provide grip for a sheath provided on the rod line to prevent the lead detaching from the clip arm during casting of the line. The fact that the surfaces 125 and 122 are substantially at the same level means that a sheath will engage with body 104 and the top surface 125 of the clip arm 112 more easily than conventional systems whereby the top surface of the clip arm is raised relative to the top surface of the body.

In alternative embodiments, e.g. when the lead is required to be retained on the clip arm, the concentric projections may be replaced with a thread formation, whereby the thread on the surfaces 122 and 125 engages with a corresponding thread on the sheath.

The hooklink system described above provides for ease of manufacturability in comparison to known systems of the prior art, ease of application of a sheath and a reduction in the likelihood of a lead detaching from the clip arm caused by a reduction in the biasing force.

The body of the integrated hooklink system is conveniently fabricated by injection moulding or casting, although other methods of manufacture will also be apparent to those skilled in the art having read this disclosure. As will also be appreciated, the aperture fabricated within the body results in a reduction of discrete components in comparison to known systems.

Claims

Claims 1. A hooklink system, comprising: an elongate body having means for attachment to a hook line at a first end, means for attachment to a rod line at a second end, and a clip arm secured to the body at the first end, the clip arm extending along the body between the first and second ends, wherein a distal end of the clip arm is biased towards the body, characterized in that the means for attachment to the rod line comprises an aperture formed within the body towards the second end.
2. The hooklink system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for attachment to a hook line is a core having a swivel arm extending therefrom, and moveable relative thereto.
3. The hooklink system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a top surface of the distal end of the clip arm is substantially level with the top surface of the body at the second end.
4. The hooklink system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising grooves located between the aperture and the second end for retaining a portion of fishing line therein.
5. The hooklink system as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising formations formed on the top surface of the body towards the second end and formed on the top surface of the distal end of the clip arm.
6. The hooklink system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the formations are concentric about the top surface of the body and the top surface of the distal end.
7. The hooklink system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body, the clip arm and the attachment means are fabricated as a single structure.
8. A hooklink system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the single structure is fabricated by injection moulding or casting of a plastics material.
9. A fishing rig comprising a hooklink system as claimed in any preceding claim.
10. A hooklink system substantially as previously hereinbefore described with reference to figures 2a-2c.