초록 ▼

A device made of a thermoplastic material having two portions connected together with a web or hinge. A first portion forms a main body and the second portion forms a lid or cover. When the lid is aligned and closed onto the main body, the shape of the unitary device may be spherical, elliptical or

A device made of a thermoplastic material having two portions connected together with a web or hinge. A first portion forms a main body and the second portion forms a lid or cover. When the lid is aligned and closed onto the main body, the shape of the unitary device may be spherical, elliptical or another shape. The main body allows for one or more lines or strings to rest within a channel formed in the main body parallel to a pivot axis of the hinge so that when the lid is closed into the main body the strings are trapped within the channel of the main body by the lid.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A fishing line stop comprising: a main body having a channel extending both generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the main body and into the main body from an outer surface of the main body, a first end of the channel that extends into the main body at a first outer po

What is claimed is: 1. A fishing line stop comprising: a main body having a channel extending both generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the main body and into the main body from an outer surface of the main body, a first end of the channel that extends into the main body at a first outer portion of the main body and a second end of the channel that extends into the main body at a second outer portion of the main body, the channel including a first opposing sidewall and a second opposing sidewall, each of the opposing sidewalls having a lower portion and an upper portion, each of the lower portions of the opposing sidewalls having a concave groove extending along a length of the channel, each of the upper portions of the opposing sidewalls being curved going from an inner portion of the channel to the outer surface of the main body, the channel having widths perpendicular to a length of the channel, a width of the channel at a bottom portion of the channel being greater than a width of the channel at an upper portion of the channel, the channel including a channel offset that extends transverse to the length of the channel and divides the channel into a first portion and a second portion, the first and the second portions each having a depth which is different from the depth of the other, the first portion extending from the channel offset to the first outer portion of the main body and the second portion extending from the channel offset to the second outer portion of the main body; a lid including a wedge extending from a top portion of the lid, wherein a shape of a portion of the wedge and the concave grooves of the main body are congruent such that when the lid is aligned and engaged with the main body, the wedge engages with the main body in a portion of the channel, wherein the wedge includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the wedge first and second sidewalls extending along a length of the lid and having curved features at a bottom portion of the wedge that is furthest extended away from the top portion of the lid, wherein an outer width of the bottom portion of the wedge is greater than the width of the channel at the upper portion of the channel and is less than the width of the channel at the bottom portion of the channel, the lid including lid offset that divides the wedge into a wedge first portion and a wedge second portion, the first and the second portions of the wedge each having a height which is different from the height of the other; a flexible hinge interconnecting the lid to the main body, the flexible hinge having a pivot axis that is aligned in parallel to the channel; a gap that runs along the length of the channel and that is located between the main body, the lid, and the flexible hinge; and wherein the main body, the lid, and the flexible hinge form a smooth continuous outer surface of the fishing line stop. 2. The fishing line stop according to claim 1, wherein said wedge interlocks with said channel when said wedge is engaged with the main body, and wherein the channel is positioned within a central axis of the fishing line stop. 3. The fishing line stop according to claim 2, wherein a fishing line is positioned within the fishing line stop, and wherein the lid offset and the channel offset prevent the fishing line stop from sliding along the fishing line. 4. The fishing line stop according to claim 2, wherein a fishing line is positioned within the fishing line stop, and wherein the lid offset and the channel offset allow the fishing line stop to slide along the fishing line. 5. The fishing line stop according to claim 3, wherein the upper portion of the channel first opposing sidewall extends outwardly at an angle to the outer surface of the main body and the upper portion of the channel second opposing sidewall extends outwardly along a continuous curvature to the flexible hinge. 6. The fishing line stop according to claim 5, wherein an outermost width of the fishing line stop does not exceed 0.250 inch, wherein the fishing line stop and the fishing line are utilized in connection with a fishing pole, the fishing pole having eye loops and a fishing reel, and wherein the fishing line stop is reeled up and passed through the eye loops and onto the fishing reel. 7. The fishing line stop according to claim 5, wherein the main body, the lid, and the flexible hinge are made of a thermoplastic resin material. 8. The fishing line stop according to claim 7, wherein the channel offset and the lid offset create an area of reduced distance between the main body and the wedge. 9. The fishing line stop according to claim 7, wherein the wedge is engaged with the main body and wherein the lid and the main body form a continuous smooth rounded outer surface that is less than 0.250 inch when the main body and the lid are aligned and engaged in a closed position. 10. The fishing line stop according to claim 7, wherein the smooth continuous outer surface of the fishing line stop is interrupted by a second gap, the second gap being between an outer edge of the lid and the upper portion of the channel first opposing sidewall, the second gap extending along the length of the channel when the main body and the lid are aligned and engaged in a closed position. 11. A device comprising: a main body having a channel extending into the main body toward a central axis of the main body, and extending through the main body between a first outer surface and a second outer surface of the main body, the channel including a first opposing sidewall, a second opposing sidewall, and a bottom wall, each of the first opposing sidewall, the second opposing sidewall, and the bottom wall running along an entire length of the main body in a direction at least approximately parallel to the central axis of the main body, the bottom wall including two surfaces having depths within the device which are different from each other, the two surfaces separated by a channel dividing line that extends at least approximately perpendicular to the central axis of the main body, each of the two surfaces extending from the channel dividing line to a respective one of the first and second outer surfaces of the main body, the first and the second opposing sidewalls having concave shapes, the channel having a lower portion, a middle portion, and an upper portion, the lower portion being closest to the bottom wall and the upper portion being furthest away from the bottom wall, the middle portion being between the lower portion and the upper portion, each of the lower, the middle, and the upper portions having a width, wherein the width of the middle portion is greater than the width of the upper and lower portions; a lid including a wedge extending there from, wherein the main body receives a portion of the wedge in the channel, and wherein the wedge engages with the main body in said channel when the main body and the lid are aligned and engaged in a closed position, and wherein the wedge interlocks with said channel when said wedge is engaged with the main body, the wedge having a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a bottom wall, each of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the bottom wall running along the entire length of the main body in the direction that is at least approximately parallel to the central axis of the main body, the bottom wall running between and connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the first sidewall having a shape that is congruent with the concave shape of the channel first opposing sidewall, the second sidewall having a shape that is congruent with the concave shape of the channel second opposing sidewall, the wedge having a lower portion, a middle portion, and an upper portion, wherein when the wedge is engaged with the channel the wedge lower portion is closest to the channel bottom wall and the wedge upper portion is furthest away from the channel bottom wall and the wedge middle portion is between the wedge lower and upper portions, each of the wedge lower portion, the wedge middle portion, and the wedge upper portion having a width, wherein the width of the wedge middle portion is greater than the widths of the wedge lower and upper portions, wherein the channel middle portion is adjacent to the wedge middle portion when the wedge is engaged with the channel; a flexible hinge interconnecting the lid to the main body, the flexible hinge having a pivot axis that is at least approximately parallel to the central axis of the main body, the flexible hinge and the pivot axis running along the entire length of the main body, wherein the flexible hinge allows for the lid to be rotated about the pivot axis towards and away from the main body; and a gap that is adjacent to the flexible hinge and that is between the lid and the main body, the gap running along the entire length of the main body in a direction that is at least approximately parallel to the central axis of the main body. 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein an outermost width of said device does not exceed 0.250 inch, and wherein the gap is parallel to the channel. 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said device is a fishing line stop, wherein said device has an elliptical shape, and wherein the wedge bottom wall includes two surfaces having depths which are different from each other within the device, the two surfaces of the wedge being separated by a wedge dividing line that is at least approximately perpendicular to the central axis of the main body. 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the channel dividing line is aligned with the wedge dividing line such that one of the two channel bottom wall surfaces opposes one of the two wedge bottom wall surfaces and that another one of the channel bottom wall surfaces opposes another one of the two wedge bottom wall surfaces, and wherein the channel and the wedge surfaces and dividing lines form a stair-step offset in said channel that limits or restricts movement of a string in said channel. 15. The device according to claim 11, wherein an inner surface of said hinge forms a planar surface parallel to the channel, the planar surface extending along the main body central axis, wherein a shape of an outer surface of said hinge is congruent with a shape of an adjacent surface of said device such that the hinge outer surface and the adjacent surface form an uninterrupted curved surface, wherein the device is made entirely of a thermoplastic resin material, and wherein the uninterrupted curved surface is less than 0.250 inch.