Flexible swivel

Abstract

A flexible swivel has a flexible toroid described by an internal major diameter, a fore ring, a body, and an aft ring. The flexible toroid is attached to the fore ring. The fore ring is attached with a rotatable fore joint to the front of the body. The aft ring is attached to the back of the body.

Claims

1. A flexible swivel suitable for use in a ballyhoo fishing rig comprising: a) a flexible elastomeric toroid described by a major internal diameter; b) a fore ring; c) a body; and d) an aft ring wherein: e) said flexible elastomeric toroid is attached to said fore ring; f) said fore ring is attached to the front of said body with a rotatable fore joint; and g) said aft ring is attached to the back of said body.

2. The flexible swivel of claim 1 wherein said fore ring comprises a fore ring wire that passes through said major internal diameter of said flexible elastomeric toroid.

3. The flexible swivel of claim 2 wherein said fore ring is formed by steps comprising: a) insert a fore ring wire through said major internal diameter of said flexible elastomeric toroid, said fore ring wire comprising a first end and a second end; b) insert said ends of said fore ring wire through a fore hole of said body and into an interior space of said body; and c) swage said ends of said fore ring wire so that said ends will form said rotatable fore joint and remain inside said body when longitudinal tension is placed on said flexible swivel.

4. The flexible swivel of claim 2 wherein said flexible elastomeric toroid is formed by steps comprising: a) molding an elastomer through said fore ring.

5. The flexible swivel of claim 1 wherein said flexible elastomeric toroid is a regular toroid.

6. The flexible swivel of claim 1 wherein: a) said flexible elastomeric toroid is an irregular toroid; and b) said flexible elastomeric toroid is overmolded on to said fore ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is a photograph of a top view of the front of a prior art O-ring ballyhoo rig.

(2) FIG. 1B is a photograph of a side view of the front of a prior art rigid swivel ballyhoo rig.

(3) FIG. 2 is a rendering of a perspective view of a flexible swivel suitable for use in a ballyhoo fishing rig.

(4) FIG. 3 is a rendering of a longitudinal cross section of a perspective view of the flexible swivel of FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 4 is a rendering of a perspective view of a flexible swivel with an irregular flexible toroid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) The detailed description describes non-limiting exemplary embodiments. Any individual features may be combined with other features as required by different applications for at least the benefits described herein. As used herein, the term “about” means plus or minus 10% of a given value unless specifically indicated otherwise.

(7) As used herein, the term “shaped” means that an item has the overall appearance of a given shape even if there are minor variations from the pure form of said given shape.

(8) As used herein, the term “generally” when referring to a shape means that an ordinary observer will perceive that an object has said shape even if there are minor variations from said shape.

(9) As used herein, relative orientation terms, such as “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “distal” and “proximal” are defined with respect to an initial presentation of an object and will continue to refer to the same portion of an object even if the object is subsequently presented with an alternative orientation, unless otherwise noted.

Method of Manufacture

(10) Referring to FIGS. 3, a suitable method for manufacturing of a flexible swivel comprises the steps of: a) insert a fore ring wire 212 through a major internal diameter 308 of a flexible toroid 202, said fore ring wire comprising a first end 314 and a second end 316; b) insert said ends of said fore ring wire through a fore hole 318 of said body 206 and into an interior space 322 of said body; and c) swage 302 said ends of said fore ring wire so that said ends will form a rotatable fore joint 205 and remain inside said body when longitudinal tension is placed on said flexible swivel.

(11) The fore ring may be sized such that the fore ring ID 306 is about the same as the minor ID 304 of the flexible toroid. A suitable dimension for the fore ring ID and toroid minor ID is about 10 mm. Other sizes may be used in other applications. A suitable toroid major ID is about 10 mm. Other sizes may be used in other applications.

(12) In an alternative embodiment, the flexible toroid may be molded through the fore ring after the fore ring is formed. The flexible toroid may be made in a two-step double injection process.

(13) Referring to FIG. 4, a flexible swivel 400 with an irregular flexible toroid 402 is formed by overmolding the irregular flexible toroid on to the fore ring 204 such that the toroid major ID 403 is forward of the fore ring.

CONCLUSION

(14) While the disclosure has been described with reference to one or more different exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt to a particular situation without departing from the essential scope or teachings thereof. For example, the flexible toroids described herein do not have to be circular. They can be any shape and dimensions that would flex to admit a hook and barb and then, once past the barb, form a snug fit with the shaft of the hook. Said shapes include square, oval, and any solid shape with an opening to admit the hook. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention.