Apparatus for attaching a chemiluminescent device to a fishing line

• US 6,478,439 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell, Edward T.
• Original Assignee: Rockwell, Edward T.
• Inventors: Rockwell, Edward T.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US09/676,684
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 362/34, 362/396, 362/84, 362/551, 362/565, 362/577, 362/217, 43/175, 43/176
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 85/01 with light emission, sound emission, scent dispersal or the like

Abstract

A mechanism for attaching a light stick to a filament, includes opposing elements having proximal ends attached to the light stick and distal ends. A gap is formed between the elements. Near the distal end the gap is tapered to form a funnel portion wider than the filament. Near the proximal end the gap forms a gripping portion narrower than the filament.

Claims

1. A mechanism for attaching a light stick to a filament, comprising:

opposing elements, having proximal ends attached to the light stick and distal ends, wherein a gap is formed between the elements which near the distal end is tapered to form a funnel portion wider than the filament, and near the proximal end forms a gripping portion narrower than the filament.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the gap forming the gripping portion is of varying width, wider toward the distal end and narrower toward the proximal end.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the elements are formed of the same material as, and integrally with, the light stick.

4. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the elements are formed of material which is relatively flexible.

5. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein the elements can move relative to each other.

6. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the elements are formed of a material which is softer than that of the filament.

7. The mechanism of claim 6 wherein the elements are formed of low density polyethylene.

8. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the filament is fishing line.

9. The mechanism of claim 8 wherein the fishing line has a hardness similar to that of nylon.

10. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the elements further comprise respective substantially arctuate concave indentations located at facing locations within the gripping portion of the gap.

11. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the substantially arctuate indentations define respective portions of a substantially circular channel.

12. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein the size of the channel is smaller than that of the filament.

13. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the taper forming the funnel portion of the gap runs from the distal end to the indentations.

14. A mechanism for attaching a light stick to a filament, comprising:

a first element, having a distal end, and a proximal end attached to the light stick at a relatively central position and tapered in a first direction;

second and third elements, each having a distal end and a proximal end, the respective proximal ends attached to the light stick on either side of the first element, and each tapered in a second direction opposite the first direction to form a funnel portion;

each of the first, second and third elements having a respective substantially arctuate concave indentation relatively near the proximal end of the funnel portion, wherein the respective indentations define a channel aligned along a transverse direction and adapted for gripping the filament.

15. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein the first, second and third elements are relatively flat, and placed parallel to each other in a transverse direction.

17. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein the elements are formed of material softer than that of the filament.

18. The mechanism of claim 17 wherein the elements are formed of low density polyethylene.

19. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein the filament is fishing line.

20. The mechanism of claim 19 wherein the fishing line has a hardness similar to that of nylon.

21. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein the elements are formed of the same material as, and integrally with, the light stick.

22. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein the elements are formed of material which is relatively flexible.

23. The mechanism of claim 22 wherein the elements can move relative to each other.

24. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein the size of the channel is smaller than that of the filament.

16. A mechanism for attaching a light. stick to a filament, comprising:

a first element, having a distal end, and a proximal end attached to the light stick at a relatively central position and tapered in a first direction;

second and third elements, each having a distal end and a proximal end, the respective proximal ends attached to the light stick on either side of the first element, and each tapered in a second direction opposite the first direction to form a funnel portion;

each of the first, second and third elements having a respective substantially arctuate concave indentation relatively near the proximal end of the funnel portion, wherein the respective indentations define a channel aligned along a transverse direction and adapted for gripping the filament;

wherein

the first, second and third elements are relatively flat, and placed parallel to each other in a transverse direction; and

the first, second an third elements are each right trianguloid in shape and substantially identical to each other.

25. A mechanism for attaching a light stick to a filament, comprising:

a center element, having a distal end, a proximal end attached to the light stick at a relatively central position, and being tapered in a first direction;

a member, having a distal end and a proximal end, and a semicircular cross-section along the direction between the distal and proximal end, the proximal end being attached to the light stick so that the center of the semicircular cross-section is located substantially at the location where the taper of the center element meets the light stick, wherein the ends of the semicircular cross-section are each tapered in a second direction opposite the first direction to form a funnel portion;

wherein each of the center element and the ends of the semicircular cross-section has a respective substantially arctuate concave indentation relatively near the proximal end of the funnel portion, wherein the respective indentations are aligned along a transverse direction to define a channel adopted for gripping the filament.

26. The mechanism of claim 25 wherein the channel has a size which is longer in a first direction than in a second direction.

27. The mechanism of claim 26 wherein the size of the filament is larger than the size of the channel in the second direction.

28. The mechanism of claim 25 wherein the center element and the member are formed of material softer than that of the filament.

29. The mechanism of claim 25 wherein the center element and member are formed of the same material as, and integrally with, the light stick.

30. The mechanism of claim 25 wherein the center element and member are formed of material which is relatively flexible.

31. The mechanism of claim 30 wherein the center element and member can move relative to each other.

32. The mechanism of claim 25 wherein the elements are formed of low density polyethylene.