GB2192521A - Improvements relating to fishing lines - Google Patents

Abstract

A joint is made between a braided line (1) and a monofilament (2) by mutually telescoping them and drawing the braid longitudinally to contract around the monofilament. It is retained by a coil (3) entwined around the braid, or by a slit sleeve (4) or by sticky tape. A joint between two monofilaments (11, 12) can also be made using a braided intermediate sleeve (13) and keep (14). With two lines (11, 12) of substantially different diameter the sleeve may have a narrowed throat (15) for retaining the knotted (18) end of the thinner line (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fishing lines This invention relates to fishing lines.

For fly fishing, it is customary for the main length of line to be a plastics monofilament.

To the end of this there is attached a leader, which preferably should be transparent, highly flexible, and of a buoyancy selectable by the angler so that it may float or sink at a given rate, according to choice. Leaders may be braided and made with a taper thinning towards the outer end. Beyond this, there may be a further very fine monofilament plastics line to which the fly is actually attached.

Braided leaders with controlled buoyancy are described in co-pending Applications nos.

8517643, 8522769 and 8601202.

These lines of different characteristics have to be mutually attached. A knot is untidy, difficult with fine, slippery filaments, and tends to snag. But with a braided line, advantage can be taken of its tendency to contract when under tension, and it is a known technique to feed the end of a monofilament co-axially into the end of a braided line, at least temporarily restrain them from pulling apart by a small application of adhesive or bonding agent, and then to achieve the main attachment by pulling the braided line so that it contracts around and grips onto the monofilament. The join may be encased in a sleeve, as described in British Patent No. 2038515B, although there reliance is placed mainly on the adhesive.

The application of adhesive is messy and awkward, and even though it may not provide the main means of attachment, it is normally permanent and the joint cannot be undone.

We have found that it is not essential, and all that is required is some temporary hold until the joint can be sleeved over with sufficient tightness to hold the braided line in the extended condition, and therefore contracted around the gripping onto the monofilament.

Another problem is placing the sleeve over a braided line. Since it has to be a close fit, it is virtually impossible to thread it over the normal full diameter of the braid, which tends to ruck up and expand as one attempts to push it through the sleeve. With a tapered braided leader the problem is not so acute since the smailer end, if of sufficiently reduced diameter, can generally be pushed through the sleeve, and the latter can then be slid along to the other end. However, there is still difficulty if one wants to attach a further line to the narrow end of a braided leader by this method, or if there is a fly or other impediment at the other end.

It is the aim of this invention to provide a solution to these problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a keep for a telescopic joint of two flexible members in which tension on the outer member causes it to contract and grip the inner one, characterised in that the keep is a flexible element applicable laterally to the joint and thereafter being self-retaining in a close embrace over the outer member.

The keep may be a resilient helical element or a resilient sleeve with an end-to-end slit.

For fitting, the helical element will be presented to one end of the joint at a slant so that one turn will embrace the outer flexible member. This turn can then be held by thumb and forefinger of one hand while the rest of the helical element is worked round and round the joint by the other hand, causing the joint progressively to enter the central passage of the helical element.

With the tubular sleeve, the end-to-end slit may be opened up and the joint entered laterally, the sleeve then closing about the outer member to retain it in its tensioned and contracted condition. The slit will preferably not be parallel to the axis, at least not throughout. It may take a shallow helical form, for example.

In another version, the keep is a length of tape with a sticky surface characteristic enabling adhesion to and peeling apart from the reverse surface of a similar tape.

Such tape may be wound helically over the joint with a pitch sufficiently tight to cause edge overlap, and thus mutual adhesion of adjacent turns. Reliance is not placed entirely on sticking to the outer member. However, the ability to peel apart enables it to be unwound and the joint parted.

Some lines are not capable of being telescoped together, but it may still be desirable to make a smooth joint between them. It is therefore a further aim of this invention to provide a solution to this problem, using the techniques described above.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for joining flexible lines effectively end to end characterised by a sleeve of braided construction at least at one end, and having a throat at the other end, in combination with a keep as defined above for application over said one end when a first line to be joined is entered therein, the throat having a passage in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve for insertion therethrough of the second line to be joined, withdrawal of the second line being prevented by a stopper knot or other abutment at its inserted end larger than the cross-section of said passage.

The inner end of the throat passage is preferably tapered to form a coned socket to receive the knot or abutment.

Normally, the second line is fitted first, being threaded through the throat passage until it projects from said one end of the sleeve.

The stopper knot can then be tied or the abutment secured or formed, and the line is drawn back until the knot or abutment seats against the inner end of the throat passage, concealed within the sleeve. After that, the braided end can be applied over the first line and the sleeve or wrapper which acts as a keep is fitted over that.

However, it may be preferred to have the device permanently fitted on the end of the first line, or at least for it to be possible to secure the second line without removing the joining device from the first.

In this case, the sleeve may have a lateral aperture and the throat may be contoured to lead the end of the second line out through it.

The knot can then be tied or the abutment secured or formed and the line drawn back, the aperture being big enough to allow the knot or abutment to pass through to within the sleeve, before it lodges against a restriction at the inner end of the throat.

It may also be possible to provide a barbed or spring expansion element on the end of the second line which couid be inserted through the throat but not withdrawn back through it once it had gone past the inner end and radially expanded.

The device is designed for joining two lines of substantially different diameters. Where they are the same, or virtually so, they can be joined by a braided sleeve which receives, at respective opposite ends, end portions of the lines to be joined, and a keep as defined above is applied to confirm the grip.

There may be a single keep over the length of the braided sleeve, or separate ones at respective ends. The latter may be advisable or necessary when the lines are not of exactly the same diameter, in which case the sleeve may be tapered. The lines may then not abut, although they will preferably do so.

For a better understanding of the invention, some embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a telescoped joint with a helical gripper element being applied, Figure 2 shows a telescoped joint with a slit sleeve gripper element, Figure 3 shows a telescoped joint with a sticky tape gripper element, and Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a joint between two lines using a braided sleeve and a gripper element similar to that of Fig. 1.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 a braided line 1 has an end length of a monofilament line 2 telescoped into it. The mutual attachment is achieved by tension on the line 1 causing it to contract and grip onto the end of the line 2, this extension being held by the surrounding gripper element.

In Fig. 1 the gripper element is a helical coil 3 of resilient plastics material. It is shown being applied to the joint, being worked around it so that the joint progressively enters between the turns of the helix. While the first turn or two is taken, there is sufficient length of braided line 1 enveloping the monofilament line 2 to be gripped between finger and thumb, holding the lines temporarily together.

After that, the grip can be transferred to the coil 3 as its entwinement is completed.

In Fig. 2 the gripper element is a resilient plastics sleeve 4 with a slit 5 extending from end-to-end. The slit is of shailow helical form, but other configurations are possible, preferably avoiding a straight slit parallel to the axis.

The telescoped portions of the lines 1 and 2 can be worked in from one end while being held together.

In Fig. 3 the gripper element is a sticky tape 5 wound helically over the joint, preferably so that the turns overlap and mutualiy adhere.

With ail these arrangements, it is possible to remove the gripper element and ease the lines 1 and 2 apart, for example to change the leader of a fly fishing line.

Fig. 4 shows a joint between a line 11, which can be a fly line, and the line 12, which may be a monofilament. A braided sleeve 13 fits closely over the end of the line 11 and is gripped onto it in the manner described above, aided by a helical keep 14, similar to the coil of Fig. 1.

At the other end, a solid plug 15 is bonded within the sleeve 13. This has a co-axial passage 16 which opens up towards the inner end to form a coned socket 17.

Before the sleeve 13 is fitted to the line 11, the line 12 is threaded through the passage 16 until its end projects beyond the sleeve at the opposite end from the plug 15. A stopper knot 18, such as a "figure of eight", is tied in the end of the line 12 which is then drawn back again until the knot 18 seats in the socket 17. It will be too big to pass through the passage 16. The sleeve 13 is then fitted to the line 11, as described, and a substantially smooth joint is achieved. By tapering the sleeve 13, for example as described in our copending Application No. 8615847, and having a correspondingiy smaller diameter plug 15, the joint can be made considerably smoother.

Another way of having a less abrupt shoulder is to form the exposed end of the plug 15 with a tapered nose, as shown in broken lines.

If it is desired to attach the line 12 without removing the sleeve 13 from the line 11, there could be a hole 19 laterally in the braid and the passage 16 through the plug 15 would be contoured so that the end of the line 12 being pushed through the passage would be let out of the hole 19 for the knot to be tied. The hole would be big enough for the knot to be drawn back through it so that it finally rests within the sleeve 13 against a restriction in the passage.

Claims (13)

1. A keep for a telescopic joint of two flexible members in which tension on the outer member causes it to contract and grip the inner one, the keep being a flexible element applicable laterally to the joint and thereafter being self-retaining in a close embrace over the outer member.

2. A keep according to Claim 1, wherein it is a resilient helical element.

3. A keep according to Claim 1, wherein it is a resilient sleeve with an end-to-end slit.

4. A keep according to Claim 3 wherein the slit is deviant from a straight line parallel to the axis of the sleeve.

5. A keep according to Claim 1, wherein it is a length of tape with a sticky surface characteristic enabling adhesion to and peeling apart from the reverse surface of a similar tape.

6. A keep according to any preceding claim, in combination with two lines one of which is braided and the other of which is telescoped within an end of said one line, the keep having a close embrace over the outer member in the region of the telescoped joint.

7. A keep substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1, 2 or 3 of the accompanying drawing.

8. A device for joining flexible lines effectively end-to-end comprising a sleeve of braided construction at least at one end, and having a throat at the other end, in combination with a keep as claimed in any preceding claim for application over said one end when a first line to be joined is entered therein, the throat having a passage in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve for insertion therethrough of the second line to be joined, withdrawal of the second line being prevented by a stopper knot or other abutment at its inserted end larger than the cross-section of said passage.

9. A device according to Claim 8, wherein the throat passage terminates in a socket to receive said knot or abutment.

10. A device according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the sleeve has a lateral aperture and the passage is contoured to lead the second line out through said aperture for formation of said knot or application of said abutment, the aperture being big enough for the latter to pass through to within the sleeve.

11. A device according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein there is an abutment on the second line in the form of a barbed or spring expansion element allowing it to be inserted through the throat but not subsequently withdrawn after radial expansion beyond the inner end thereof.

12. A device for joining flexible lines effectively end-to-end substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawing.

13. A device for joining flexible lines effectively end-to-end, comprising a braided sleeve to receive, at respective opposite ends, end portions of the lines to be joined, in combination with at least one keep as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 for application over said sleeve where the latter receives said end portions.