Knot tying device

The combination of a tying device for tying a knot in a line and a spool carrier for holding the tying device, said tying device comprising:

• a frame having a base and first and second legs projecting from the base, there being a gap between the legs;
• a separating element mounted on the frame and projecting into the gap where it is spaced from the two legs;
• and first and second winders mounted on the first and second legs respectively, each winder being hollow with its hollow interior opening generally toward the gap so that a line can be extended through the winder into the gap, each winder being capable of rotating on the leg on which it is mounted, each winder having a winding element located in the gap, the winding element projecting generally radially with respect to the axis of rotation for the winder and being configured to grip and hold the line;
• said spool carrier comprising:
• a base to which the frame of the tying device is fitted such that the legs of the tying device are presented away from the base, a bracket on the base, the bracket being capable of holding a plurality of spools of line so that a line can be withdrawn from any of the spools and connected by a knot at the tying device with a line withdrawn from another of the spools or with a fish hook.

A method of joining first and second lines, said method comprising:

• inserting the first line through the hollow interior of a left winder that is capable of rotating on a left leg which projects from a base;
• inserting the second line through the hollow interior of a right winder that is capable of rotating about substantially the same axis on a right leg which also projects from the base, but is spaced from the first leg so that a gap exists between the two legs;
• extending the first line from the first winder past one side of a post which projects from the base into the gap between the two legs and engaging the first line with the end of a winding element on the second winder where the winding element projects away from the axis and moves through the gap when the second winder rotates;
• extending the second line past the other side of the post and engaging it with the end of a winding element on the first winder, where the winding element projects away from the axis and moves through the gap when the first winder rotates;
• rotating the winders and their winding elements in opposite directions so that the first line wraps around the second line between the post and the second winder and the second line wraps around the first line between the post and the first winder to create an opening between the wound lines at the post;
• and thereafter inserting the ends of the first and second lines through the opening between the lines at the post.