Apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for connecting a fish hook to a line. The apparatus includes a body of pen like configuration. The body has a first and a second end and defines a bore which extends from the first to the second end of the body. A shaft is slidably disposed within the bore, the shaft having a first and a second extremity. The first extremity of the shaft is disposed adjacent to the first end of the body and the second extremity of the shaft is disposed adjacent to the second end of the body. A biasing device is provided for urging the shaft in a direction from the first towards the second end of the body. The first extremity of the shaft defines a transverse slot such that in use of the apparatus, when the line has been threaded through an eye defined by the fish hook, the line is then passed around the body so that the line generates a loop, the body is then turned so that the loop attains a plurality of twists. The shaft is then urged through the bore in opposition to the biasing device. A tail end of the line disposed outside the loop is then guided into the transverse slot. The shaft is then urged by the biasing device so that the tail end of the line is trapped within the slot and within the bore adjacent to the first end of the body. The trapped tail end is then pulled through the loop thus connecting the hook to the line.

1 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line, said apparatus comprising:
 a body of pen like configuration, said body having a first and a second end, said body defining a bore which extends from said first to said second end of said body;   a shaft slidably disposed within said bore, said shaft having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said shaft being disposed adjacent to said first end of said body, said second extremity of said shaft being disposed adjacent to said second end of said body;   a biasing device for urging said shaft in a direction from said first towards said second end of said body; and   said first extremity of said shaft defining a transverse slot such that in use of the apparatus, when the line has been threaded through an eye defined by the fish hook, the line is then passed around said body so that the line generates a loop, the body is then turned so that said loop attains a plurality of twists, said shaft is then urged through said bore in opposition to said biasing device, a tail end of the line disposed outside said loop is then guided into said transverse slot, said shaft is then urged by said biasing device so that said tail end of the line is trapped within said slot and within said bore adjacent to said first end of said body, said trapped tail end is then pulled through said loop thus connecting the hook to the line.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 said body is fabricated from a plastics material.   
   
   
       3 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 said body defines a clip for fastening said apparatus within a user's pocket.   
   
   
       4 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 said bore defines a radial ledge disposed between said first and said second end of said body;   
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 said shaft is fabricated from metal.   
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 said body and said shaft therein are fabricated from a ball point pen.   
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 4  wherein
 said shaft defines an annular collar disposed between said first and second extremities of said shaft.   
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 7  wherein
 said biasing device is a compression spring extending from said radial ledge to said annular collar for urging said shaft relative to said body in said direction from said first towards said second end of said body.   
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 said transverse slot extends more than halfway across a diameter of said first extremity of said shaft.   
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 said transverse slot and said first extremity of said shaft protrude from said first end of said body when said shaft is urged through said bore in opposition to said biasing device.   
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 10  wherein
 said transverse slot protrudes a distance within a range 0.01 to 0.75 inches from said first end of said body when said shaft is urged through said bore in opposition to said biasing device.   
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 said transverse slot is cut at an angle relative to an axis extending through said first and second extremities of said shaft, said angle being within a range 20 to 90 degrees.   
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 12  wherein
 said angle is defined between said slot and a portion of said axis extending from said slot to said first extremity of said shaft.   
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 1  wherein
 said second extremity of said shaft defines a button such that in use of said apparatus when a user depresses said button, said shaft is urged in opposition to said biasing device so that said first extremity of said shaft and said transverse slot protrude from said first end of said body.   
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 14  wherein
 said button defines a transverse channel such that when the line is inserted within said channel and said button is depressed, the line is sheared through an interaction of said button and said second end of said body.   
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 15  wherein
 said transverse channel defines an acute angle relative to an axis extending between said extremities of said shaft, said acute angle being defined between said transverse channel and a part of said axis extending from said transverse channel to said first extremity of said shaft.   
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line as set forth in  claim 14  wherein
 said button defines a transverse hole such that when the line is inserted within said hole and said button is depressed, the line is sheared through an interaction of said button and said second end of said body.   
   
   
       18  An apparatus for connecting a fish hook to a line, said apparatus comprising:
 a body of pen like configuration, said body having a first and a second end, said body defining a bore which extends from said first to said second end of said body;   a shaft slidably disposed within said bore, said shaft having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said shaft being disposed adjacent to said first end of said body, said second extremity of said shaft being disposed adjacent to said second end of said body;   a biasing device for urging said shaft in a direction from said first towards said second end of said body;   said first extremity of said shaft defining a transverse slot such that in use of the apparatus, when the line has been threaded through an eye defined by the fish hook, the line is then passed around said body so that the line generates a loop, the body is then turned so that said loop attains a plurality of twists, said shaft is then urged through said bore in opposition to said biasing device, a tail end of the line disposed outside said loop is then guided into said transverse slot, said shaft is then urged by said biasing device so that said tail end of the line is trapped within said slot and within said bore adjacent to said first end of said body, said trapped tail end is then pulled through said loop thus connecting the hook to the line;   said body being fabricated from a plastics material;   said body defining a clip for fastening said apparatus within a user's pocket;   said bore defining a radial ledge disposed between said first and said second end of said body;   said shaft being fabricated from metal;   said body and said shaft therein being fabricated from a ball point pen;   said shaft defining an annular collar disposed between said first and second extremities of said shaft;   said biasing device being a compression spring extending from said radial ledge to said annular collar for urging said shaft relative to said body in said direction from said first towards said second end of said body;   said transverse slot extending more than halfway across a diameter of said first extremity of said shaft;   said transverse slot and said first extremity of said shaft protruding from said first end of said body when said shaft is urged through said bore in opposition to said biasing device;   said transverse slot protruding a distance within a range 0.01 to 0.75 inches from said first end of said body when said shaft is urged through said bore in opposition to said biasing device;   said transverse slot being cut at an angle relative to an axis extending through said first and second extremities of said shaft, said angle being within a range 20 to 90 degrees;   said angle being defined between said slot and a portion of said axis extending from said slot to said first extremity of said shaft;   said second extremity of said shaft defining a button such that in use of said apparatus, when a is user depresses said button, said shaft is urged in opposition to said biasing device so that said first extremity of said shaft and said transverse slot protrude from said first end of said body;   said button defining a transverse channel such that when the line is inserted within said channel and said button is depressed, the line is sheared through an interaction of said button and said second end of said body;   said transverse channel defining an acute angle relative to said axis extending between said extremities of said shaft, said acute angle being defined between said transverse channel and a part of said axis extending from said transverse channel to said first extremity of said shaft; and   said button defining a transverse hole such that when the line is inserted within said hole and said button is depressed, the line is sheared through an interaction of said button and said second end of said body.   
   
   
       19  A method of connecting a fish hook to a line, the method comprising the steps of:
 slidably disposing a shaft within a bore defined by a body of pen like configuration, the body having a first and a second end, the bore extending from the first to the second end of the body, the shaft having a first and a second extremity, the first extremity of the shaft being disposed adjacent to the first end of the body, the second extremity of the shaft being disposed adjacent to the second end of the body, the first extremity of the shaft defining a transverse slot;   urging the shaft in a direction from the first towards the second end of the body by a biasing device;   threading the line through an eye defined by the fish hook;   passing the line around the body so that the line generates a loop;   turning the body so that the loop attains a plurality of twists;   urging the shaft through the bore in opposition to the biasing device;   guiding a tail end of the line disposed outside the loop into the transverse slot;   urging the shaft by the biasing device so that the tail end of the line is trapped within the slot and within the bore adjacent to the first end of the body; and   pulling the trapped tail end through the loop thus connecting the hook to the line.