Pigtail fastener

Abstract

The present invention includes an inventive pigtail fastener and the associated method of attaching line thereto. The pigtail fastener is comprised of an elongated shaft at the proximal end of the device and a tightly coiled portion of the shaft at the distal end of the device. The pigtail fastener is constructed and arranged in such a manner so as to provide an amount of tension sufficient to pinch and thereby secure a quantity of line between the coiled portion and the shaft. The tension being provided as a result of the narrow confines of the space between the shaft and the coiled portion or alternatively as a result of the coiled portion being biased against a portion of the shaft.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pigtail fastener comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end including a coiled portion which extends from and is adjacent to said shaft, said coiled portion defining an arc of about 540 degrees or more.  
     
     
         2 . The pigtail fastener of    claim 1    wherein the pigtail fastener is composed of spring steel.  
     
     
         3 . The pigtail fastener of    claim 1    wherein the coiled portion is constructed and arranged to provide a biasing force against the shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The pigtail fastener of    claim 1    further comprising a line which is biasly secured within the coil.  
     
     
         5 . The pigtail fastener of    claim 4    wherein the coiled portion has a line receiving lip portion which protrudes away from the shaft, the lip portion constructed and arranged to receive a portion of the line therein.  
     
     
         6 . The pigtail fastener of    claim 1    further comprising a line which is looped around said shaft and held between the shaft and the coiled portion.  
     
     
         7 . The pigtail fastener of    claim 6    wherein the coiled portion and the shaft are separated by a gap, said line being biasedly trapped in said gap.  
     
     
         8 . The pigtail fastener of    claim 1    wherein the shaft has a predetermined diameter, a region of the coiled portion having a diameter less than the predetermined diameter of the shaft.  
     
     
         9 . The pigtail fastener of    claim 1    wherein the coiled portion is characterized as having an initial diameter region and a reduced diameter region, the reduced diameter region having a diameter less than the initial diameter region, the reduced diameter region defining about 400 degrees of the arc of about 540 degrees or more which are furthest away from the shaft.  
     
     
         10 . The pigtail fastener of    claim 1    wherein a region of the coiled portion is characterized as being flat.  
     
     
         11 . A pigtail fastener comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end including a coiled portion which is adjacent to said shaft, said coiled portion defining an arc not less than about 450 degrees.  
     
     
         12 . An implement for attaching a line thereto comprising: 
 a pigtail fastener having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end including a shaft, the distal end including a pigtail fastener, said pigtail fastener including a coiled portion which is adjacent to said shaft, said coiled portion defining an arc of about 540 degrees or more, the coiled portion providing a biasing force of sufficient strength to receive and removably retain a predetermined amount of line therein.    
     
     
         13 . A method for attaching line to a pigtail fastener comprising the following steps: 
 (a) providing a pigtail fastener characterized by having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining a shaft, the distal end including a coiled portion which defines an arc of about 540 degrees or more, the coiled portion being immediately adjacent to said shaft;    (b) providing a length of line having a free end and a secured end;    (c) winding the line about the shaft so that the secured end is positioned toward said proximal end of said pigtail fastener and the free end is positioned toward said distal end of said pigtail fastener, thereby producing a plurality of wound loops about the shaft;    (d) crossing said free end of the line and said secured end of the line in opposing directions across the wound loops, relative to the fishhook;    (e) pulling the secured end of the line toward the distal end of the fishhook while providing tension upon the free end of the line so as to prevent unwinding of the line from said shaft; and    (f) pulling the secured end of the line and the wound loops between the shaft and the coiled portion thereby securing the wound loops therebetween.    
     
     
         14 . A method for attaching line to a pigtail fastener comprising the following steps: 
 (a) providing a pigtail fastener characterized by having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining a shaft, the distal end including a coiled portion of the shaft which defines an arc of about 540 degrees or more, the coiled portion having an eyelet which passes therethrough, the coiled portion being adjacent to said shaft, the coiled portion further having a line receiving lip portion which protrudes away from the shaft, the lip portion constructed and arranged to receive a portion of the line therein;    (b) providing a length of line having a free end and a secured end;    (c) threading the free end of the line through the eyelet;    (d) wrapping the free end of the line against the shaft;    (e) winding the secured end of the line around the shaft and free end of the line one or more times; and    (f) pulling the secured end of the line back toward the coiled portion and inserting the secured end of the line in between the coiled portion and the line receiving lip portion thereby securing the secured end of the line.    
     
     
         15 . A method for attaching line comprising the following steps: 
 (a) providing an implement having a pigtail fastener, the pigtail fastener having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining a shaft, the shaft having a predetermined length and being connected to the device, the distal end including a coiled portion of the shaft which defines an arc of about 540 degrees or more, the coiled portion being adjacent to the shaft;    (b) providing a length of line having a free end and a secured end;    (c) securing the line to the pigtail fastener so that the secured end is received and removably retained within the coiled portion and the free end is substantially entangled with the shaft and the coiled portion, the line being removable from the pigtail fastener intact.    
     
     
         16 . The method of attaching line of    claim 15    wherein the implement is a fishhook.  
     
     
         17 . A fishhook comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining a hook region, the hook region including a distally extending shaft, the distal end defining a pigtail fastener, the pigtail fastener including a coiled portion extending from the shaft, the coiled portion being adjacent to the shaft, said coiled portion defining an arc of about 540 degrees or more.  
     
     
         18 . The fishhook of    claim 17    wherein the coiled portion is constructed and arranged to provide a biasing force against the shaft.  
     
     
         19 . The fishhook of    claim 18    further comprising a line which is looped around said shaft and held between the shaft and the coiled portion.  
     
     
         20 . The fishhook of    claim 19    wherein the coiled portion and the shaft are separated by a gap, said line being biasedly trapped in said gap.  
     
     
         21 . The fishhook of    claim 17    wherein the pigtail fastener is composed of spring steel.  
     
     
         22 . The fishhook of    claim 17    wherein the coiled portion has a line receiving lip portion which protrudes away from the shaft, the lip portion constructed and arranged to receive a portion of a line therein.  
     
     
         23 . A pigtail fastener comprising a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end including a coiled portion which extends from and is adjacent to the rod, the coiled portion being defined by an arc of about 540 degrees or more, the coiled portion having an initial diameter region and a reduced diameter region, the reduced diameter region extending from the initial diameter region, the reduced diameter region defining about 400 degrees of the arc of about 540 degrees or more, the initial diameter region having a predetermined diameter, the reduced diameter region having a diameter less than that of the diameter of the initial diameter region.  
     
     
         24 . The pigtail fastener of    claim 23    wherein the reduced diameter region is characterized as being flattened relative to the initial region.  
     
     
         25 . A universally adjustable securement strap comprising a flexible bungee cord and at least one pigtail fastener attached thereto, each pigtail fastener characterized as having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining a hook region, the hook region including a distally extending shaft, the distal end including a coiled portion of the shaft which defines an arc of about 540 degrees or more.  
     
     
         26 . A method of forming a universally adjustable securment strap comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing at least one pigtail fastener, the at least one pigtail fastener characterized as having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining a hook region, the hook region including a distally extending shaft, the distal end including a coiled portion of the shaft which defines an arc of about 540 degrees or more, the coiled portion having an eyelet which passes therethrough, the coiled portion being adjacent to said shaft, the coiled portion further having a line receiving lip portion which protrudes away from the shaft, the lip portion constructed and arranged to receive a portion of the line therein;    (b) providing a line, the line having a predetermined length, the line further characterized as having a first end and a second end; and    (c) attaching the at least on pigtail fastener to any point along the length of the line with the process of threading a first end of the line through the eyelet, holding the first end of the line against the shaft, winding a second end of the line around the shaft and the first end of the line one or more times, and pulling the second end of the line back toward the coiled portion and inserting the second end of the line in between he coiled portion and the line receiving lip portion thereby securing the second end of the line.    
     
     
         27 . The method of making a universally adjustable securement strap of    claim 26    further comprising the step of: 
 attaching a second pigtail fastener at any point along the length of the line not occupied by the at least one pigtail fastener in the same manner as the at least one pigtail fastener.  
 
     
     
         28 . The method of making a universally adjustable securement strap of    claim 27    further comprising the step of: 
 securing the respective first ends of the line to the line located between the at least one pigtail fastener and the second pigtail fastener utilizing one or more line retaining devices.  
 
     
     
         29 . The method of universally making a securement strap of    claim 26    wherein the line is characterized as being a flexible and stretchable cord.  
     
     
         30 . The method of universally making a securement strap of    claim 26    wherein the hook regions of each pigtail fastener have blunted ends.