Method of assembly of combined fixed and slip bobber

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method of making a stem of a fishing float. The method includes a first step of using injection molding to form a first stem part, a second step of using injection molding to form a second stem part, and a third step of mounting the first stem part to the second stem part.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of making a stem of a fishing float comprising:
 using injection molding to form a first stem part having a semicircular cross section of a radius of about 2.2 mm or greater and a length between 4 cm and 15 cm, and comprising a wall having an outer surface and an inner surface and a wall surface connecting the outer surface to the inner surface with a thickness of the wall defined as a distance from the outer surface to the inner surface, a first slot passing from the outside surface of the wall into the wall without passing to the inner surface of the wall;   using injection molding to form a second stem part having a semicircular cross section of a radius of about 2.2 mm or greater and a length between 4 cm and 15 cm, and comprising a wall having an outer surface and an inner surface with a thickness of the wall defined as a distance from the outer surface to the inner surface, a first slot passing from the outside surface of the wall into the wall without passing to the inner surface of the wall; and   mounting the first stem part and the second stem part to form a stem such that the first slot on the first stem part aligns with the first slot on the second stem part, and the semicircular cross section of the first stem part and the semicircular cross section of the second stem part are aligned to form a channel along the length of the stem with openings at opposite end of the stem.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein mounting the first stem part and the second stem part to form the stem aligns the member extending outwardly from the outer surface of the first stem part to align with the member extending outwardly from the outer surface of the second stem part. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wall surface of the first stem part includes one or more of pegs extending from the wall surface or openings extending into the wall surface, and the wall surface of the second stem part includes one or more of pegs extending from the wall surface or openings extending into the wall surface and mounting the first stem part and the second stem part to form a stem comprises the one or more pegs aligning and fitting into the one or more openings. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mounting a buoyant member to the stem. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the buoyant member has a channel therethrough and mounting the buoyant member to the stem comprises inserting the stem into the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising applying an adhesive to the buoyant member or stem to adhere the buoyant member to the stem. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mounting a spring to the stem. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first stem part further comprises a second slot passing from the outside surface of the wall into the wall without passing to the inner surface of the wall and the second stem part further comprises a second slot passing from the outside surface of the wall into the wall without passing to the inner surface of the wall, wherein the second slot in the first stem part passes from the outer surface of the wall into the wall at a different position along the length of the first stem part than the first slot and the second slot in the second stem part passes from the outer surface of the wall into the wall at a different position along the length of the second stem part than the first slot; and
 wherein mounting the first stem part and the second stem part to form the stem such that the first slot on the first stem part aligns the second slot on the first stem part aligns with the second slot on the second stem part.   
     
     
         9 . A method of making a stem of a fishing float comprising:
 using injection molding to form a first stem part having a cross section of a diameter of about 4.75 mm or greater and a length of between about 55 mm and about 70 mm, and comprising a wall having an outer surface and an inner surface and a wall surface connecting the outer surface to the inner surface with a thickness of the wall defined as a distance from the outer surface to the inner surface, a channel passing between an opening at a first end and an opening at a second end, a first slot passing from the outside surface of the wall into the wall without passing to the inner surface of the wall;   using injection molding to form a second stem part having a circular cross section of a diameter of about 5 mm or greater and a length between 55 mm and 70 mm, and comprising a wall having an outer surface and an inner surface and a wall surface connecting the outer surface to the inner surface with a thickness of the wall defined as a distance from the outer surface to the inner surface, a channel passing between an opening at a first end and an opening at a second end, and further comprising a tubular member extending outwardly from the first end and having an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of the second stem part and approximately the same as the diameter of the channel in the first stem part; and   inserting the tubular member of the second stem part into the opening into the channel at the second end of the first stem part to form a stem such that the channel in the first stem part and the channel in the second stem part align with a common longitudinal axis and a joint is formed at the intersection of the first stem part and the second stem part.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a majority of the length of the channel in the assembled fishing float stem has a diameter of about 1.0 mm to about 3.2 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the channel in the first stem part has a diameter of between about 1.3 and 1.5 mm when adjacent to the first slot. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the outer diameter of the first stem part or the second stem part may be between about 4.4 mm and about 10 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the outer diameter of the first stem part has an outer diameter of between about 5.2 mm to about 5.5 mm when adjacent to the first slot. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising mounting a buoyant member to the stem. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the buoyant member has a channel therethrough and mounting the buoyant member to the stem comprises inserting the stem into the channel such that the float member surrounds the joint. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first stem part and the second stem part are joined without the use of an adhesive between the tubular member and the opening into the channel in the first stem part. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising using injection molding to form a cap part having a circular cross section of a diameter of at least about 4 mm and a length between 10 mm and 40 mm, and comprising a wall having an outer surface and an inner surface and a wall surface connecting the outer surface to the inner surface with a thickness of the wall defined as a distance from the outer surface to the inner surface and being between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, a channel having an opening at a first end and having a diameter of between 1.0 mm and 3.00 mm, and further comprising a tubular member extending outwardly from the first end and having an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of the cap part and approximately the same as the diameter of the channel in the second stem part; and
 inserting the tubular member of the cap part into the opening into the channel at the second end of the second stem part such that the channel in the cap part and the channel in the second stem part align with a common longitudinal axis and a joint is formed at the intersection of the cap part and the second stem part.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cap part and the second stem part are joined without the use of an adhesive between the tubular member and the opening into the channel in the second stem part. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising mounting a spring to the stem. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a second slot passing from the outside surface of the wall into the wall without passing to the inner surface of the wall, wherein the second slot passes from the outer surface of the wall into the wall at a different position along the length of the first stem part than the first slot.