Line tool

Abstract

The present invention comprises a line tool device used for catching a line therein. The present device is generally comprised of two fixed plates, a fixed clamp, a movable clamp, a forward extension and a grip. The fixed clamp is located between and attached to the two fixed plates. The fixed clamp has one edge that contains a plurality of teeth. A movable clamp is pivotally attached to one of the fixed plates. The movable clamp also has one edge that contains a plurality of teeth. When the movable clamp pivots to a closed position the teeth attached to the fixed clamp and the teeth attached to the movable clamp meet and interlock. Additionally, the movable clamp contains a spring that allows the two sets of teeth to meet only when a force is applied to the device and a hand opening which allows the user to grasp the movable clamp. A guide is attached between and to the forward facing side of the two fixed plates. The forward extension contains at least one line guide that a lightweight line can pass over.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of devices made for throwing or catching a line. More specifically, the invention comprises a device for throwing or catching a line in order to prune a tree.

2. Description of the Related Art

As an alternative to using a ladder and chainsaw to cut down a high branch on a tree, a line or rope with a flexible saw at its midsection is often used instead. In order to use a line attached to a saw the line and saw must be thrown over a branch and then pulled back and forth, sawing through the branch until the branch is removed from the tree. However, the line is difficult and uncomfortable to grip when throwing the line over the branch.

There are many devices for securing a line. However, it is often difficult to use these devices in order to easily and accurately throw a line, as they do not provide a forward extension to lead the lightweight line away from the user's hand. This leading function allows the line to be launched through the air with more accuracy and speed over the desired branch. Additionally, the known mechanisms for securing a line do not provide an easy catch and release mechanism that can be operated to quickly and effectively release and stop a line.

Therefore what is needed is a device which allows the user to easily grasp the line in order to throw a line. The present invention achieves this objective, as well as others that are explained in the following description.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a line tool device used for catching a line therein. The present device is generally comprised of two fixed plates, a fixed clamp, a movable clamp, a forward extension and a palm grip. The fixed clamp is between and attached to the two fixed plates. The fixed clamp has one edge that contains a plurality of teeth. A movable clamp is pivotally attached to one of the fixed plates. The movable clamp also has one edge that contains a plurality of teeth. When the movable clamp pivots to a closed position the teeth attached to the fixed clamp and the teeth attached to the movable clamp meet and interlock. Additionally, the movable clamp contains a spring that allows the two sets of teeth to meet only when a force is applied to the device and a finger opening and index finger hole which allows the user to easily grasp the movable clamp. A palm grip is attached to the upward facing side of the two fixed plates and is designed to allow the user to grasp both the palm grip and the movable clamp with one hand. A forward extension is attached between and to the forward facing side of the two fixed plates. The forward extension contains at least one line guide that a line or wire can pass over.

When the user grasps and squeezes the movable clamp and the palm grip together the teeth meet and hold the line in place. As the line is held between the teeth the user can manipulate the line in the desired manner. Upon relaxing the clutch on the device the user can release the held line and allow it to move either forwards or backwards through the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing the present invention in an open position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, showing the present invention with one of the fixed plates removed to show the inside of the present invention in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, showing the movable clamp of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view, showing the movable clamp of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, showing the present invention in a closed position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, showing the present invention with one of the fixed plates removed to show the inside of the present invention in a partially closed position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, showing the present invention with one of the fixed plates removed to show the inside of the present invention in a closed position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, showing the user holding and squeezing the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, showing the present invention in use.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, showing the present invention in use.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-section view, showing the line in between a pair of rollers.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view, showing the forward extension.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

• 10 line tool
• 12 palm grip
• 14 fixed plate
• 16 fixed plate
• 18 movable teeth
• 20 fixed teeth
• 22 movable clamp
• 24 finger opening
• 26 forward extension
• 28 line guide
• 30 line
• 32 spring
• 34 pivot point
• 36 branch
• 38 saw
• 40 weight
• 42 tab
• 44 pivoting arm
• 46 fixed clamp
• 48 guide
• 50 user
• 52 user's hand
• 54 second device
• 56 index finger hole
• 58 heavy line
• 60 roller

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the present invention in the preferred embodiment. The line tool 10 is generally made up of two fixed plates 14, 16, fixed clamp 46, movable clamp 22 and forward extension 26. It is preferable that the two fixed plates 14, 16 are spread apart, to provide a slot which receives movable clamp 22. Fixed plates 14, 16, fixed clamp 46 and movable clamp 22 can be made from any number of materials, including stainless steel or aluminum. Fixed clamp 46 sits between fixed plates 14, 16. Forward extension 26 extends from the forward facing side of two fixed plates 14, 16. Forward extension 26 and fixed plate 14 are preferably one integrated plate. Forward extension 26 contains two line guides 28 running along the edge of forward extension 26. Line guides 28 can be any type of open shape or hardware, such as a hook, a pin or a roller, which allows line 30 to slip easily in and out of line guide 28. The present view shows line guides 28 as small hooks however a small screw would work just as well. Movable clamp 22 and fixed clamp 46 have movable teeth 18 and fixed teeth 20 respectively used to grip a prior art line 30. Teeth can be gear teeth as shown or other suitable shapes as well. Additionally alternative gripping material may be applied in the place of or coated on teeth, such as but not limited to, rubber or sandpaper like materials. Movable clamp 22 is pivotally attached to two fixed plates 14, 16 at pivoting arm 44 such that movable teeth 18 swing toward and between the two fixed plates 14, 16, to a closed position (as shown in FIG. 5). Finger opening 24 is located at the approximate center of movable clamp 22 and index finger hole 56 passes through both fixed plates 14, 16. Palm grip 12, preferably made of a rubber or plastic material that is comfortable to grip, is attached to fixed plates 14, 16 and fixed clamp 46. A prior art line 30 passes through line guides 28 on forward extension 26, over fixed clamp 46, between fixed plates 14, 16 and continues out of the rearward facing side of the line tool 10.

Fixed plate 16 is removed from FIG. 2 to show the inside of line tool 10 in the open position. As shown; movable clamp 22 is attached to fixed plate 14 at pivot point 34.

From the view shown in FIG. 2, the path that line 30 takes through the line tool 10 can be seen clearly. Line 30 passes through line guides 28 on forward extension 26 and over fixed teeth 20 on fixed clamp 46. Forward extension 26 is attached to fixed plate 14 at the forward facing side of fixed plate 14. Movable clamp 22 pivots toward fixed clamp 46 such that movable teeth 18 and fixed teeth 20 meet and interlock.

A large view of movable clamp 22 apart from the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. Pivoting arm 44 extends away from the body of movable clamp 22. Pivot point 34 is located at the far end of pivoting arm 44. Finger opening 24 is centrally located on the body of movable clamp 22. Spring 32 and tab 42 are offset from the body of movable clamp 22 on the opposite side of movable teeth 18. Tab 42 attaches to the body of movable clamp 22 and to spring 32, such that tab 42 provides a surface for spring 32 to compress against as movable clamp 22 is forced into a closed position (shown in FIG. 5). As an alternative, tab 42 could be fully integrated with movable clamp 22.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view looking down on movable teeth 18 of movable clamp 22. This view illustrates that the diameter of spring 32 is wider than the width of movable clamp 22. The extension of spring 32 beyond the body of movable clamp 22 allows spring 32 to contact fixed plates 14, 16 and compress when the present invention is in a closed position, as shown in FIG. 5 and described below. Returning to FIG. 4, spring 32, as shown, is a compression spring and is in a relaxed, expanded state without any force applied.

FIG. 5 shows the line tool 10 in a closed position. Spring 32 compresses when two points on the periphery of spring 32 contact fixed plates 14, 16 and opposing forces are applied to movable clamp 22 at finger opening 24, index finger hole 56 and palm grip 12. When movable clamp 22 is fully closed, line 30 is held in place. Index finger hole 56 passes through both fixed plates 14, 16 and is unobstructed when movable clamp 22 is in the closed position.

FIG. 6 illustrates the line tool 10 in a semi-closed position without any force applied line tool 10. Spring 32 is shown resting against fixed plate 14. Fixed teeth 20 and movable teeth 18 are slightly separated such that line 30 can move freely back and forth between fixed clamp 46 and movable clamp 22. When opposing forces are applied to movable clamp 22, index finger hole 56 and palm grip 12, fixed teeth 20 and movable teeth 18 squeeze together and interlock, as shown in FIG. 7. Spring 32 contacts the rearward facing upper edges of fixed plates 14, 16, shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 5 and is compressed between fixed plate 14 and fixed plate 16 and tab 42. Returning to FIG. 7, line 30 is shown secured and immovable between fixed teeth 20 and movable teeth 18.

The illustration in FIG. 8 portrays the user grasping and squeezing the line tool 10 such that line 30 is secured between fixed clamp 46 and movable clamp 22. User's hand 52 is shown providing opposing forces to finger opening 24, index finger hole 56 and palm grip 12. Movable clamp 22 is forced towards fixed clamp 46 as palm grip 12 and fixed plates 14, 16 are held in place causing spring 32 to be compressed between tab 42 and fixed plates 14, 16. This grasping function allows the user to grasp line 30 firmly without line 30 cutting into or causing discomfort to user's hand 52.

FIG. 9 shows one use of the present invention. User 50 grasps line tool 10 which has line 30 passing through it. A small removable weight 40 is located at one end of line 30. Upon securing line 30 in place by squeezing the line tool 10 user 50 can utilize the line tool 10 to swing the line 30 (arrows show the motion of line 30 through the air), thereby generating the speed necessary to launch line 30 over branch 36. Forward extension 26 directs line out and away from user's hand 52, as shown in FIG. 8, which enables user 50 to easily and effectively launch line 30 over branch 36. The length of forward extension 26, acting as an extension of the user's arm and wrist, allows for greater acceleration and speed of line 30 when launching line 30 through the air. Additionally, the quick action release and clamp function of line tool 10 provides user 50 with an easy way to stop or continue the feed of line 30 through line tool 10.

Once line 30 is looped over branch 36, as shown in FIG. 10, the user can attach heavy line 58 and saw 38 to lightweight line 30 and pull line 30 and heavy line 58 until saw 38 is aligned with branch 36. Prior art lighter line 30 is a lightweight surveyor's string and prior art saw 38 is similar to a chain saw blade in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In order to cut branch 36 down the user 50 pulls line 30 back and forth thereby pulling saw 38 back and forth forcing saw 38 to cut through branch 36. By utilizing the present invention a user can avoid dangers associated with climbing trees and avoid causing damage to the tree with spikes or climbing lines. Additionally, while this use of the product is detailed, there may be other uses for this device including but not limited to rock climbing or electrical work.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 11. Using palm grip 12 and fixed plates 14, 16 as the x-axis, forward extension 48 is angularly offset from the x-axis by approximately 45 degrees. Additionally, forward extension 48 is thin and elongated. In this embodiment forward extension 26 is preferably made from a fiberglass material, so that forward extension 26 can easily bend and snap when line tool 10 is used to throw line 30 over branch 36 as shown in FIG. 9. In the present embodiment, line guides 28 are shown as small screws.

Another alternate embodiment of the forward extension 26 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. FIG. 12 shows a pair of opposing rollers 60 with line 30 traveling between the rollers 60. A roller or pair of rollers 60 can be used in place of line guides. As shown in FIG. 13 two pairs of opposing rollers 60 are be positioned on forward extension 26.

The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. As an example, the two fixed plates 14, 16 could be one integrated unit. Additionally, a different mechanism to attach line 30 to guide 48 could be used instead of line guide 28. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. A line-throwing device allowing a user to grip and throw a line, comprising:

a. a fixed member having a forward portion;

b. a set of fixed teeth set in a fixed position with respect to said fixed member;

c. a set of movable teeth, positioned to selectively bear against said set of fixed teeth, with said set of fixed teeth and said set of movable teeth being configured to clamp said line therebetween;

d. a forward extension extending forward from said forward portion of said fixed member; and

e. at least one line guide attached to said forward extension in a position so that said line can be passed between said set of fixed teeth and said movable teeth and then past said line guide.

2. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said movable clamp is pivotally connected to said fixed member.

3. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a spring positioned to bias said set of movable teeth away from said set of fixed teeth.

4. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a spring positioned to bias said set of movable teeth away from said set of fixed teeth.

5. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one line guide is selected from the group consisting of a pin, a roller, and a hook.

6. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said forward extension is made of flexible material.

7. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 6, wherein said forward extension is a tapered rod.

8. A line-throwing device as illustrated in claim 1, wherein:

a. said fixed member includes a palm grip; and

b. said movable member includes a finger opening.

9. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 8, wherein said fixed member includes an index finger opening.

10. A line-throwing device allowing a user to grip and throw a line, comprising:

a. a palm grip, having a forward portion;

b. a set of fixed teeth set in a fixed position with respect to said palm grip;

c. a set of movable teeth positioned to selectively bear against said set of fixed teeth, with said set of fixed teeth and said set of movable teeth being configured to claim said line therebetween;

d. a forward extension extending forward from said forward portion of said palm grip;

e. wherein said forward extension is aligned with said set of fixed teeth, so that said line can be passed through said set of fixed teeth and said set of movable teeth, and then along said forward extension; and

f. at least one line guide attached to said forward extension.

11. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 10, wherein said movable clamp is pivotally connected to said fixed member.

12. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 10, further comprising a spring positioned to bias said set of movable teeth away from said set of fixed teeth.

13. A device as recited in claim 11, further comprising a spring positioned to bias said set of movable teeth away from said set of fixed teeth.

14. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 10, wherein said at least one line guide is selected from the group consisting of a pin, a roller, and a hook.

15. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 10, wherein said forward extension is made of flexible material.

16. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 15, wherein said forward extension is a tapered rod.

17. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 10, wherein said movable member includes a finger opening.

18. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 17, wherein said fixed member includes a finger opening.

19. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 2, further comprising a spring positioned to bias said set of movable teeth away from said set of fixed teeth.

20. A line-throwing device as recited in claim 11, further comprising a spring positioned to bias said set of movable teeth away from said set of fixed teeth.