Locking swivel apparatus

Abstract

A unified swivel snap device provides optional rotational motion for use as fishing tackle to couple lures, bait hooks, and weights to a main fishing line. Embodiments include a rod rotatably held within a housing and a snap configured to lock the swivel by attaching to both the housing and the rod. Embodiments of the swivel can be unlocked by attaching the snap to the rod alone and allowing the rod to swivel relative to the housing. The swivel snap can be used for enhancing a variety of fishing mechanisms including the shank of jigs and the spindle of lures and other apparatus attached to fishing lines. Embodiments of the locking swivel snap can be used in other applications which call for selective locking of swivel motion.

1 . A locking swivel snap apparatus, including:
 a housing extending along a generally longitudinal axis between an upper end and a lower end, the housing comprising:
 a fishing line receiving member located at or near the upper end of the housing; 
 a hollow interior region, the hollow interior region comprising a bearing surface at the lower end of the housing; and 
 an opening located at the lower end of the housing, wherein the opening is in communication with the hollow interior region; and 
   a rotatable member, wherein at least a portion of the rotatable member is retained within the housing, the rotatable member comprising:
 a head portion retained within the hollow interior region of the housing, the head having a cross-sectional dimension which is larger than a cross-sectional dimension of the opening in the housing; 
 a shaft portion extending through the opening along an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing; and 
 a threaded portion; 
   a nut configured to rotatably interact with the threaded portion of the rotatable member to inhibit rotation of the rotatable member relative to the housing;   a first fishing line secured to the housing via the fishing line receiving member; and   a piece of terminal fishing tackle or bait secured to the rotatable member.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable member comprises an aperture extending through a lower portion of the rotatable member, and wherein the piece of terminal fishing tackle or bait is secured to the rotatable member via said aperture. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded nut portion comprises an inwardly facing surface, and wherein the inwardly facing surface comprises threads configured to rotatably interact with the threaded portion of the rotatable member. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nut comprises a threaded nut, and wherein rotation of the threaded nut relative to the rotatable member advances the nut along the threaded portion of the rotatable member. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein advancement of the threaded nut along the rotatable member brings an upper surface of the threaded nut into contact with a lower surface of the housing to inhibit rotation of the rotatable member relative to the housing. 
   
   
       6 . A swivel snap apparatus comprising:
 a first end and a second end, said first end and said second end being configured to receive a fishing line therein, said second end being adapted to be switchable between a first configuration in which said second end is fixed relative to said first end and a second configuration in which said second end is rotatable relative to said first end.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said first end comprises a housing and said second end comprises a member internal to said housing. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a threaded nut configured to thread onto the second end to fix the second end against rotation relative to the first end. 
   
   
       9 . A method of inhibiting rotation of a swivel snap apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises:
 a housing extending along a generally longitudinal axis between an upper end and a lower end, the housing comprising:
 a fishing line receiving member located at or near the upper end of the housing; 
 a hollow interior region; and 
 an opening located at the lower end of the housing; and 
   a rotatable member comprising:
 a head portion retained within the hollow interior region of the housing, the head having a cross-sectional dimension which is larger than a cross-sectional dimension of the opening in the housing; 
 a shaft portion extending through the opening along an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing; and 
 a threaded exterior portion; 
   a nut having a threaded interior portion;   a first fishing line secured to the housing via the fishing line receiving member; and   a piece of terminal fishing tackle or bait secured to the rotatable member;   wherein the method comprises rotating the nut relative to the rotatable member to advance the nut in a longitudinal direction along the rotatable member to inhibit rotation of the rotatable member relative to the housing.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein advancing the nut along the rotatable member comprises bringing an upper surface of the nut into contact with a lower surface of the housing. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein inhibiting rotation of the rotational member comprises increasing a frictional force between a lower surface of the housing and an upper surface of the nut to inhibit rotation of the rotatable member.