Locking tweezers for tying fly-fishing hooks

• US 5,884,954 A
• Filed: 06/04/1997
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Trozera
• Original Assignee: Thomas Trozera
• Inventors: Trozera, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERRY, JOHNNY DAN
• Application Number:
  US08/869,296
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 294/8.5, 294/11, 294/16, 294/33, 294/99.2, 294/100, 294/116, 7/106, 29/270, 29/278, 43/4, 43/5, 43/53.5, 43/54.1, 81/3.8, 81/427, 81/427.5, 269/907, 606/210
• US Class Current: 294/100
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/26 Fly tying devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 9/02 without sliding or pivotal connections, e.g. tweezers, onepiece tongs

Abstract

Fly-fishing tweezers which are engageable with hackle or fishing line are formed from either metallic or polymeric material and include a pair of substantially parallel legs that extend from a proximal joint end. Each end of the legs of the fly-fishing tweezers is formed with an inwardly directed gripping member which has a friction bearing surface that will fixedly engage the hackle or fishing line. Furthermore, the tweezers are fitted with a locking slide that when moved in the distal direction, flexes the legs together and holds the gripping portions together. The fly-fishing tweezers include a rod member extending from the proximal end of the tweezers designed to be placed between the index finger and the thumb of an operator to faciliate the rotation of the tweezers around an axis, such as a fishing hook.

Claims

1. Tweezers for tying hackle on fly-fishing hooks comprising:

a pair of flexible legs, each leg having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis between said ends, each leg further having an outwardly directed surface and an inwardly directed surface, said legs fixedly joined at said proximal ends forming a proximal joint, said joint having an outwardly facing surface;

gripping portions mounted on said outwardly directed surface of said legs and positioned on said distal end of said legs;

an arcuate camming configuration on the outwardly directed surface of said legs and intermediate the ends thereof;

a locking slide embracing said legs to slidably engage over said arcuate camming configuration so that when moved from a proximal position to a distal position, said locking slide flexes said legs together and forces said gripping portions together; and

a cylindrical rod member secured to said outwardly facing surface of said proximal joint, said rod member projecting perpendicular from said longitudinal axis.

2. Tweezers for tying hackle on fly-fishing hooks as recited in claim 1 further comprising a lateral projection extending from said locking slide.

3. Tweezers for tying hackle on fly-fishing hooks as recited in claim 1 wherein said legs are made of a metallic material.

4. Tweezers for tying hackle on fly-fishing hooks as recited in claim 1 wherein said legs are made of a polymeric material.

5. Tweezers for tying hackle on fly-fishing hooks as recited in claim 1 wherein said locking slide is made of a metallic material.

6. Tweezers for tying hackle on fly-fishing hooks as recited in claim 1 wherein said locking slide is made of a polymeric material.

7. Tweezers for tying hackle on fly-fishing hooks as recited in claim 1 further comprising a sleeve rotatably engaged with said cylindrical rod member.