SPRING-FREE FLOATING DEVICE FOR LOCKING ABOUT A FISHING LINE

Abstract

The present invention provides a floating locking device that includes two components that thread together adjacent the external perimeter, and an internal central locking mechanism that includes a compressing closing section and a receiving opening section (male and female) that can lock the device at a desired location on a fishing line.

Claims

1. A floating locking device comprising: a buoyant housing having two mating threaded sections, and a centrally located compression section interior to the buoyant housing.

2. A spring-free floating device for locking about a fishing line, said device comprising: (i) a first housing component having a first internally threaded section and a first compression section, and (ii) a second housing component having a second threaded section for mating with the first threaded section of the first housing component, said second housing component also having a second compression section for mating with the first compression section of the first housing component, said first compression section and said second compression section adapted for engaging with and at least temporarily locking the device about the fishing line.

3. The floating device of claim 2, which further comprises at least one of: (iii) an O-ring component for positioning between the first housing component and the second housing component and a washer for positioning within the floating device to render it watertight.

4. The floating device of claim 2, which has an ability to adjust bait depth without having to tie knots on the fishing line.

5. The floating device of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first housing component and the second housing component is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: a polymer, nylon, wood, metal, cork, foam or combinations thereof.

6. The floating device of claim 2 wherein the first internally threaded section of the first housing component extends upwardly and inwardly from a lowermost edge of the first housing component closest to where the first housing component engages with and connects to an uppermost edge of the second housing component, said uppermost edge of the second housing component being externally threaded from a raised region of the second housing component, said raised region not extending outwardly beyond an outermost surface of the second housing component.

7. The floating device of claim 2 wherein the first compression section of the first housing component includes a male element that extends from a first end of the first housing component inwardly toward an open end of the second housing component, and the second compression section of the second housing component includes a female element for receiving at least some portion of the male element of the first housing component when the first housing component and the second housing component are brought together.

8. The floating device of claim 7 wherein the male element includes two or more prong heads.

9. The floating device of claim 8 wherein the two or more prong heads of the male element define a central aperture.

10. The floating device of claim 2 wherein the fishing line extends axially into and through a centermost region of the first housing component and exits a centermost region of the second housing component.

11. The floating device of claim 2, which further includes at least one of: (i) a light emitting element, (ii) a sound emitting element, (iii) a noisemaker and (iv) one or more weight elements.

12. The floating device of claim 2 wherein the first housing component and the second housing component are provided with an elongated slit for allowing the fishing line to be installed inside.

13. The floating device of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first housing component and the second housing component are provided with a plurality of slits or apertures to allow a chum component added to the floating device and exiting through said plurality of slits or apertures.

14. The floating device of claim 2 wherein an external surface of at least one of the first housing component and the second housing component includes at least one of: (a) means for assisting a user to grip the first housing component and the second housing component when joining together about the fishing line; and (b) a directional line indicator.

15. The floating device of claim 14 wherein the gripping assist means includes one or more of: (i) an exterior surface treatment that includes projections, indentations or both; (ii) a hex-shaped lateral end to the first housing component, the second housing component or both housing components; and (iii) one or more wing-nut ends.

16. The floating device of claim 2, which has a concave face at one end.

17. A spring-free floating fishing line bobber comprising: (i) a first housing component having a first internally threaded section and a first compression section, (ii) a second housing component having a second threaded section for mating with the first threaded section of the first housing component, said second housing component also having a second compression section for mating with the first compression section of the first housing component, said first compression section and said second compression section adapted for engaging with one or more sections of fishing line to at least temporarily secure the bobber thereto and easily change a location of the bobber along the fishing line; and (iii) to render the device watertight, at least one of: (a) an O-ring component for between the first housing component and the second housing component; and (b) a rubber washer.

18. The floating bobber of claim 17 wherein the first compression section of the first housing component includes a male element that extends from a first end of the first housing component inwardly toward an open end of the second housing component, and the second compression section of the second housing component includes a female element for receiving at least some portion of the male element of the first housing component when the first housing component and the second housing component are brought together with fishing line engaged between.

19. The floating bobber of claim 18 wherein the male element includes a multi-pronged head.

20. The floating bobber of claim 17, which further includes at least one of: (i) a light emitting element, (ii) a sound emitting element, (iii) a noisemaker and (iv) one or more weight elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0060] Further features, advantages and objectives of this invention will become clearer from the following Detailed Description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0061] FIG. 1 is an upper side perspective view of one embodiment of this invention having a concaved, upper outer face and a directional arrow;

[0062] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a second embodiment showing the internal washers, O-ring, weights and/or bead noisemakers therein;

[0063] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the upper housing component to the floating device depicted sectionally in above FIG. 2;

[0064] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the lower housing component to the floating device depicted sectionally in above FIG. 2;

[0065] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a third embodiment showing a plurality of slotted chum slits in the lower housing component;

[0066] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the two housing components to a fourth embodiment having a two-pronged male compression section, said two prongs forming a centrally located line aperture therebetween;

[0067] FIG. 7 is a sectional perspective of a fifth embodiment of device according to this invention, said fifth embodiment having more of a spherical exterior when upper and lower housing components are joined together;

[0068] FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a sixth embodiment, more bullet shaped, with a fishing line inserted therein through a slit extending through both the upper and lower housing components;

[0069] FIG. 9 is a sectional perspective view of the slitted sixth embodiment shown in accompanying FIG. 8;

[0070] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment with the slitted upper and lower housing components disconnected (i.e., unscrewed apart);

[0071] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment showing the two components for a bullet-shaped device, the male element thereof comprised of three prongs;

[0072] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a ninth embodiment wherein the two main components are polygonal for easier joining and separating about a fishing line (not shown);

[0073] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a tenth embodiment that is mostly spherical and has a plurality of circular-shaped chum apertures in its lower housing component;

[0074] FIG. 14 is a cross sectional perspective view of the spherical chum bobber version depicted in accompanying FIG. 13;

[0075] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an eleventh embodiment of device in which both upper and lower housing components having a hexagonal shaped head element for assisting with easier joining and separating (or unjoining);

[0076] FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the hexagonal head variation depicted in accompanying FIG. 15;

[0077] FIG. 17 is a side sectional view of a twelfth embodiment of device, both upper and lower housing components having thumb tabbed joinder assists;

[0078] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the twelfth embodiment of FIG. 17 with a pair of fishing line sections extending therethrough;

[0079] FIG. 19 is a sectional view of a thirteenth embodiment of device having an elongated female compression section extending from a housing component but no male compression section equivalent per se; and

[0080] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of fourteenth embodiment wherein the two prongs of the male compression section are provided with crimping teeth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0081] Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for clarity and understanding, very similar components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views, though typically in the next hundred series. Furthermore, the various embodiments hereof are shown as divided into two main components/sections/physical parts. Sometimes they may be loosely referred to as halves though they may not be equally sized (by weight, height, material used, etc.). They may also be described (and claimed) as two main elements, a male and female section or possibly even into an upper and lower housing component.

[0082] It is believed that for this invention to work, i.e., grip onto a desired segment of fishing line, two interactions should happen. First, the tapered male prongs go into the tapered female shaft (receiver). This tapering, male to female, is what creates the gripping force necessary for the male prongs to lock onto the fishing line. Secondly, the threads about the perimeters of the two main housing components, when they are twisted together, will serve to pull the male and female, centrally located tapered sections together thus locking the male prongs onto the fishing line. They are co-dependent on one another and must occur at the same time. They work in conjunction to affix this fishing device to the desired spot/s on the line proper.

[0083] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a first embodiment of device, generally 10, with its main elements being a first (or most often upper) housing component 12 and a second, or lower housing component 14 beneath. Preferably, to make the two components watertight, they are joined together about a central O-ring 16.

[0084] At a top end 18 of this device as shown, there is provided an inwardly curved, or concave face 20. With such purposeful curvature, the device is more likely to attract fish when being popped or jerked at intervals, concave face forward, through the water.

[0085] Note that the device 10 is specially designed to accommodate inserting a fishing line therethrough. Line is fed into a top aperture 22, through the main body of device 10 and then out the bottom aperture 30. If it is a full female internal slip bobber (per FIG. 19), one could feed fishing line through the bottom; but it should otherwise be only fed in the direction of the direction indicator, or arrow 24.

[0086] Preferred embodiments of this invention are also illustrated in FIG. 1. Particularly, the exteriors to both upper housing 12 and lower housing 14 are shown having outwardly protruding surface extensions, items 26 and 28, respectively. They assist the device user with both tightening the two components together and loosening them apart.

[0087] FIGS. 2 through 4 show a second embodiment of device, now numbered 110 with its own upper housing 112 and lower housing 114. Other elements common to that shown in FIG. 1 are commonly numbered though in the next hundred series. Still other features/components in these sectional (FIG. 2) and perspective views (FIGS. 3 and 4). Notably, upper housing 112 has an internally threaded section 148 for mating with the externally threaded section 150 of lower component 114, with both components being joined about a common O-ring 116 for water tightness.

[0088] Within the current configuration depicted, upper component 112 has a male compression member 140 extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, said male member including two or more prongs 144 (two are shown here) that terminate in a central prong aperture 146 through which a section of fishing line is meant to extend. Conversely, lower housing 114 has its mated female compression member 136. It should be noted that the component/section labels may also be flipped without detracting from the value of having a floating unit made up of TWO main housing components that interact and join together about a section of fishing line (not shown in this view).

[0089] Further in these views, additional preferred though not necessarily mandatory options are also shown. Particularly, this embodiment includes an uppermost rubber washer 132 and plurality of beads (i.e., noisemakers) which can also serve as weighted elements, depicted as balls 134. Lead weights, like the donut-shaped unit 138 at the base of lower housing 114 can be left loose, adhered into place or friction fit into place.

[0090] FIG. 5 is quite similar to the preceding embodiment except that it has purposefully added to the lower housing component 214 of device 210, a plurality of elongated slots 254 through which a chum component, generally 256, may leak out for assisting the user with bringing/baiting fish to this floating device. It should be noted that later on, in FIGS. 13 and 14, slotted chummers are replaced with spherically shaped, aperture versions, item 954 therein.

[0091] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative profile for its device 310 that is more equally sized and shaped. Hence, the two housing components 312, 314 resemble more of a left half, right half that are brought together and joined about a section of fishing line (not shown). In FIG. 6, it should be noted that the male compression component 340 has two distinct prong halves 344 that defined a more pronounced central aperture 346 through which line is threaded.

[0092] In the more spherical version of device 410 depicted in FIG. 7, features common to earlier bullet-shaped versions are still commonly numbered though in the next hundred (the 400's) series. Noteworthy, however, in this version is its inclusion of BOTH a centrally located O-ring 416 . . . AND an upper water tightening washer 432. When the device is truly watertight, electronic elements may be included in the central body though not shown herein per se. Representative electronic elements may include battery-powered lights, sound generators, possibly even GPS locators/tracking means.

[0093] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate yet another variation of device 510, this time with a representative section of fishing line FL positioned therein/passing therethrough. With other common elements being commonly numbered in the 500 series, the other MAIN distinction of this device variant from earlier versions is its additional of an axially extending slit through which fishing line FL may be passed, possibly even if after the device has been joined together for a first use, slightly loosened for moving to another line location before retightening. In particular, the slitting for line accommodating is best served via respective slits 560 and 562 in upper housing 512 and corresponding slits 564, 566 in lower housing 514.

[0094] In FIG. 10, similar line slitting is shown as items 660, 662 of upper housing 612 and slit components 664, 666 in lower housing 614.

[0095] For the version of device 710 shown in FIG. 11, in two open sections, it should be noted that the male prong element within upper housing 712 is actually made up of THREE subelements, 744a, 744b and 744c. But even greater prong quantities (four, or more) of prongs may be used herewith, too.

[0096] The version of device 810 shown in FIG. 12 is meant to underscore how overall body configurations can be exploited to better enhance gripping during joinder and separation. Particularly, in this view, an octagonally shaped upper component consists of 812a, b, c, d and e (the others are blocked from view), while its lower components include polygonal sections 814a through 814h.

[0097] FIGS. 13 and 14 show a spherical shaped device 910 in perspective view, partially assembled (FIG. 13) and sectionally (FIG. 14). As noted earlier, this version of spring-free, floating fishing line locking device also shows an optional variation using circular shaped CHUM apertures 954 through which an added chum element (solid or semi-liquid) may be periodically dispensed when in use.

[0098] FIGS. 15 and 16 depict another variation of gripping assists for its device embodiment 1010. Particularly, both outermost ends to upper housing component 1012 and lower housing component 1014 are fitted with hexagonal heads, 1070, 1072 respectivelyto assist its user in tightening together or loosening apart the two halvesespecially when wet and/or cold fishing temperatures prevail.

[0099] FIGS. 17 and 18 show yet another variation for device 1110 but for this embodiment both upper and lower housing halves 1112, 1114 are provided with wing nut style, thumb twisting ear tabs 1174 and 1176. These FIGS also illustrate the possible use of this particular embodiment for tightening about TWO separate fishing lines FL1 and FL2 should that need arise.

[0100] In FIG. 19, a variant of device 1910 is shown in which, for a given application, it may not be necessary to include ANY male prong members. Rather the elongated tunnel 1242 for female compression may be sized to abut against just a washer unit 1232 within the head end of top housing component 1212.

[0101] Lastly, the device 1310 of FIG. 20 shows a potential variation in which the prong elements 1340 within upper housing component 1312 are purposely fitted with a series of ridged teeth 1380 for better line gripping should a situation warrant.

[0102] While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same, it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0103] Having described the best modes currently known for practicing this system and method, it is to be understood that the scope of this invention may be further described by the attached claims.

SEQUENCE LISTING

[0104] Not applicable.