Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – Fishing rod reel
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-31
2001-10-02
Marcelo, Emmanuel M. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
Fishing rod reel
C242S296000, C242S303000, C242S306000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296200
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fly fishing reel, more particularly to a fly fishing reel that is convenient and safe to operate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fly fishing is a popular form of recreational activity, and there is a wide variety of fly fishing equipment and peripheral products available in the market. When purchasing fly fishing equipment, consumers tend to focus more and more on the ergonomic aspect of the products, in addition to the practical aspect thereof.
FIG. 1
shows a conventional fly fishing reel. As shown, the conventional fly fishing reel includes a fishing-rod connecting member
1
, a main shaft
2
extending axially from a center of the fishing-rod connecting member
1
, a plastic pawl
2
C fitted onto a central shaft at an end portion of the main shaft
2
, a spring
2
B retained at the end portion of the main shaft
2
, and a spool
3
sleeved rotatably on the main shaft
2
. An O-ring
4
, a tapered washer
5
, and an internally threaded knob
6
are mounted in sequence on a threaded section
2
A of the main shaft
2
that projects from an outer end of the spool
3
. An inner periphery of the spool
3
is formed with an annular toothed surface
3
A for engaging the pawl
2
C so as to create a clicking sound during rotation of the main shaft
2
. The spool
3
is further provided with a handle
3
B at the outer end thereof. By rotating the knob
6
, drag resistance on the spool
3
can be adjusted. In other words, when the knob
6
is turned in one direction, the tapered washer
5
can be pushed to press against the O-ring
4
so as to increase the area of friction between the O-ring
4
and the spool
3
to thereby achieve a greater drag force on the spool
3
. Hence, when the spool
30
rotates, it is subjected to the drag force, so that rotation of the spool
3
can be instantly stopped when an external force applied thereto is released. Besides, the contact between the pawl
2
C and the annular toothed surface
3
A provides additional drag on rotation of the spool
3
. However, although the conventional fly fishing reel described above permits adjustment of drag on the spool
3
, it suffers from certain drawbacks, as set forth below:
1. When the fisherman grips a fishing rod with one hand, and holds the spool
3
with the other hand, since the handle
3
B and the knob
6
are located on the same side of the fly fishing reel, and since the knob
6
is disposed at a center of rotation of the handle
3
B, when the line is pulled by a fish and starts to run, the fisherman will normally rotate the knob
6
to create a drag force on the line to slow down the running of the line and prevent breaking of the same. However, since the fisherman's fingers or palm will naturally rub against the outer end of the fast-turning spool
3
during drag adjustment, the fisherman's hand may be injured. Besides, if the fisherman wishes to tighten the knob
6
for adjustment purposes, his fingers may be hit by the fast-turning handle
3
B.
2. As the O-ring
4
wears easily, the drag effect is weakened. Moreover, since the area of contact between the O-ring
4
and the spool
3
is small, the braking effect is not satisfactory. Furthermore, the fisherman is unable to feel the amount of displacement of the knob
6
by the rotation thereof during drag adjustment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a fly fishing reel that is convenient and safe to operate, and that utilizes a dual disk type braking mechanism to provide a large braking surface area, and that enables the fisherman to feel the amount of displacement of the braking mechanism.
Accordingly, a fly fishing reel of the present invention includes a fishing-rod connecting member, a main shaft, a spool, a retaining member, a brake device, and a drag adjustment device. The fishing-rod connecting member has a central hole formed therethrough. The main shaft extends rotatably through the central hole in the fishing-rod connecting member, and has a left end, a right end, and an outward flange that extends radially and outwardly from the main shaft near the left end. The spool is sleeved on the main shaft so as to rotate synchronously therewith, and is provided with a handle. The retaining member is mounted removably on the right end of the main shaft, and is disposed adjacent to the handle for retaining the fishing-rod connecting member and the spool between the outward flange of the main shaft and the retaining member. The retaining member is capable of being removed from the main shaft for replacement of the spool. The brake device is disposed between the left end of the main shaft and the fishing-rod connecting member for stopping rotation of the main shaft within the fishing-rod connecting member when a force applied to the handle is released. The drag adjustment device includes a rotary knob, which engages threadedly the fishing-rod connecting member near the left end of the main shaft so as to rotate relative to the fishing-rod connecting member for adjusting drag resisting rotation of the main shaft within the fishing-rod connecting member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1470640 (1923-10-01), Pelletier
patent: 2116581 (1938-05-01), Moor
patent: 2858998 (1958-11-01), Nadolskey
patent: 4461435 (1984-07-01), Kovalovsky
patent: 4728054 (1988-03-01), Pisapio
patent: 5482221 (1996-01-01), Peterson
patent: 5626303 (1997-05-01), Bringsen
patent: 5921492 (1999-07-01), Bauer
patent: 5988547 (1999-11-01), Koelewyn
patent: 2181331 (1987-04-01), None
patent: 2203211 (1988-10-01), None
Chang Liang-Jen
Christensen O'Connor Johnson & Kindness PLLC
Marcelo Emmanuel M.
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