Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – Fishing rod reel
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-14
2001-11-20
Marcelo, Emmanuel M. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
Fishing rod reel
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318655
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to drag mechanisms for conventional and spinning reels and, more particularly, to a drag apparatus utilizing drag washers of different materials.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art teaches fishing reels showing stacks of drag washers comprising metal washers having peripheral protrusions alternating with washers made of a friction material without peripheral protrusions. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,488,689, 4,796,828, 3,682,411, 5,603,465, and 4,728,054, all of which pertain to spinning style fishing reels; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,760,736 which pertains to a motor-driven spool and clutch mechanism for a fishing reel.
In a conventional reel, the drag works as a clutch between the main gear and the gear stud. The drag setting will determine the torque needed to rotate the main gear relative to the gear stud. In prior art reels, the drag consists of alternating friction material washers and metal washers nested in a pocket in the main gear. A typical stack would consist of a friction material washer, a metal washer keyed to the gear stud, another friction material washer, a metal washer keyed to the main gear, a third friction material washer, and finally a second metal washer keyed to the gear stud. When the main gear rotates relative to the gear stud, three drag surfaces work to resist this rotation. The main gear turns relative to the first washer keyed to the gear stud. The first washer keyed to the-, gear stud turns relative to the first washer keyed to the main gear; and the first washer keyed to the main gear turns relative to the second washer keyed to the gear stud. These three pairs sandwich the three friction material washers; resulting in only three effective drag surfaces.
It is desirable to increase the performance of these drag mechanisms. These mechanisms all exhibit a slipping characteristic; that is, the prior art mechanisms stuck and then slipped when the drag was used. Only one side of each friction material washer was forced to move relative to its adjoining washer.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to improve upon the drag produced by that mechanism and greatly improve the effectiveness of the drag apparatus.
A further object of this invention is to provide a ready means of varying the drag by varying the arrangements of the drag washers to adjust for different kinds of fishing; where the same number of washers are used in the drag mechanism.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In my improved drag stack, the friction material washers are made in a rigid form. Protrusions are added to the outside diameter of these drag washers. The protrusions or ears are keyed within slots around the perimeter of the main gear pocket in order to prevent rotation of the friction material washers relative to the main gear. A drag stack consisting of the same number of components as the prior art stack described above would be made up of a friction material washer, a metal washer keyed to the gear stud, a second friction material washer, a second metal washer keyed to the gear stud, a third friction material washer, and a third metal washer keyed to the gear stud. In this improved configuration, when the main gear rotates relative to the gear stud, five drag surfaces work to resist this rotation. A first working surface of a first friction material drag washer turns relative to the adjoining surface of a first metal washer keyed to the gear stud. The other surface of the first keyed metal washer turns relative to an adjoining surface of second friction material drag washer. The other surface of the second friction material drag washer turns relative to the adjacent surface of the second keyed metal washer. The other surface of the second keyed metal washer turns relative to the adjoining surface of the third friction material washer. Finally, an adjacent surface of the third metal keyed washer turns relative to an adjacent surface of the third friction material drag washer, resulting in five effective drag surfaces. All friction material washers that adjoin metal drag washers are forced to rotate relative to them.
The same drag improvement can also be adapted to increase drag torque in fixed spools. Inside diameters of the metal washers are keyed to the spool stud shaft, while the outside diameters of the friction material drag washers are keyed to the spool by peripheral radially extending ears.
This drag stack can be used with both conventional and spinning reels. The benefit of this drag is that on a typical reel utilizing three washers made from a friction material, there will be a 60% or more increase in the drag's torque for a given normal force placed on the drag stack, than would have been obtained by a prior art stack.
Another useful and innovative attribute of the improved drag system is the ability to arrange drag washers according to expected fishing conditions.
Simply by rearranging the layers of washers, a user can obtain one working frictional surface for a light, sensitive drag of 2-4 pounds tension (level
1
), while another arrangement will provide the working frictional surfaces for a medium drag of 4-8 pounds (level
3
) tension of the fishing line. Yet another arrangement will allow the maximum of five working frictional surfaces for a heavy drag of 6-12 (level
5
) pounds tension of the fishing line. See
FIGS. 1
,
2
and
3
and the plot
555
—Drag Test, FIG.
4
.
Thus, the unique shape of the fiber washers allows the user to increase maximum drag 60% more than the standard prior art style drag washer stack, while still allowing the user to attenuate the drag for light fishing application.
In accordance with my invention, both sides of the friction material are active. This is because the drag washers which are eared are made of a friction material.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3254861 (1966-06-01), Jahn
patent: 3682411 (1972-08-01), Dumbauld
patent: 4488689 (1984-12-01), Councilman
patent: 4549702 (1985-10-01), Councilman
patent: 4664330 (1987-05-01), Darden
patent: 4728054 (1988-03-01), Pisapio
patent: 5118048 (1992-06-01), Childre et al.
patent: 5607114 (1997-03-01), Henriksson
patent: 2123661 (1984-02-01), None
Benasutti Frank J.
Marcelo Emmanuel M.
Penn Fishing Tackle Maufacturing Co.
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