Abstract:
A modified reel and mounting assembly for attaching a fishing reel to a fishing rod. The assembly includes a cutout in the reel which conforms to the surface of the reel seat and an arcuate slot on both ends of the cutout. The cutout in the reel mates with surface of the reel seat, and the seat mounts are received by the arcuate slots. The arcuate slots create a lip which is clamped into place by the clamps of the rod seat. In the preferred embodiment, a clamp bar is also provided for increased stability.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to the field of fishing reels. More specifically, the present invention comprises a new fishing reel attachment mechanism for attaching a fishing reel to a fishing rod. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Many different attachment mechanisms are known for attaching a fishing reel to a fishing rod. The most common attachment mechanism, however, is a foot/seat attachment as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A, and  2 B. Reel  12  includes foot  26  which is attached to its base (in the orientation of  FIG. 1 ). Typically, foot  26  is attached to reel  12  with bolts, screws, or welding. Reel  12  also includes crank  24  and crank knob  42  which are used to spool the fishing line back into reel  12 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , reel  12  is attached to a fishing rod by placing foot  26  into rod seat  52  on rod  32 . Many different rod seats are known, but common rod seats typically feature a pair of adjustable seat mounts  44  and  46 . One common variety utilizes screw-type clamps as illustrated in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B . Adjustable seat mounts  44  and  46  each have collar  38  and  40  respectively. Generally, reel  12  is attached by inserting leading edge  48  of foot  26  into adjustable seat mount  44  between collar  38  and the surface of reel seat  52 . Adjustable seat mount  46  is then advanced along the length of rod  32  by a screwing motion until it locks foot  26  into place (as shown in  FIG. 2A ). In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , rod  32  has male threads along seat  52 , and female threads are used on the inside surface of adjustable seat mounts  44  and  46 . Adjustable seat mount  46  and adjustable seat mount  44  clamp foot  26  firmly to rod  32  so that reel  12  cannot move up or down rod  32  or rotate angularly about rod  32 . Although screw-type clamps are most common, adjustable seat mounts  44  and  46  may assume many different configurations. 
   Although this is the most commonly used mechanism for attaching a reel to a rod, the use of a foot/seat attachment mechanism such as shown in  FIG. 2A  has some negative effects. First, the use of a foot creates displacement between the reel and the rod. When the user applies force to turn crank knob  42 , the rod will try to twist. The user must attempt to counteract this twisting force with his or her rod-gripping hand. This may result in premature fatigue to an angler who is fighting a large fish for a long period of time. It also may reduce the angler&#39;s sensitivity to the action of the fish. 
   In addition, a foot is susceptible to bending or breaking from the reel when the fishing line is periodically subjected to large amounts of tension. When the fishing line is placed under tension, the reel is pulled in the direction of the tip of the fishing rod. Over time, these forces can deform the foot or cause the attachment mechanism which attaches the foot to the reel to weaken. 
   Accordingly it would be desirable to have an attachment mechanism for attaching a fishing reel to a fishing rod that minimizes torque and is less susceptible to failure. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention comprises a modified reel and mounting assembly for attaching a fishing reel to a fishing rod. The assembly includes a cutout in the reel which conforms to the surface of the reel seat and an arcuate slot on both ends of the cutout. The cutout in the reel mates with surface of the reel seat, and the seat mounts are received by the arcuate slots. The arcuate slots create a lip which is clamped into place by the clamps of the rod seat. In the preferred embodiment, a clamp bar is also provided for increased stability. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view, showing a prior art reel. 
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view with a cutaway, showing a prior art reel attachment mechanism. 
       FIG. 2B , is a perspective view, showing a prior art reel attachment mechanism 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view, showing the present invention. 
       FIG. 4A  is a bottom view, showing the present invention 
       FIG. 4B  is a front view, showing the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a section view, showing the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view, showing the present invention mounted on a rod. 
       FIG. 7A  is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7B  is a section view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               10 
               mount assembly 
               12 
               reel 
             
             
               14 
               clamp bar 
               16 
               clamp screw 
             
             
               18 
               cutout 
               20 
               cutout 
             
             
               22 
               arcuate slot 
               24 
               crank 
             
             
               26 
               foot 
               28 
               clamp screw hole 
             
             
               30 
               lip 
               32 
               rod 
             
             
               34 
               fishing line 
               36 
               spool 
             
             
               38 
               collar 
               40 
               collar 
             
             
               42 
               crank knob 
               44 
               adjustable seat mount 
             
             
               46 
               adjustable seat mount 
               48 
               leading edge 
             
             
               50 
               trailing edge 
               52 
               reel seat 
             
             
               54 
               hexagonal reel seat 
               56 
               hexagonal cutout 
             
             
               58 
               arcuate slot 
               60 
               adjustable seat mount 
             
             
               62 
               adjustable seat mount 
               64 
               hexagonal collar 
             
             
               66 
               hexagonal collar 
               68 
               clamp bar 
             
             
               70 
               hexagonal cutout 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention, mount assembly  10 , is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Mount assembly  10  generally includes reel  12  and clamp bar  14 , which are attached together around a fishing rod when reel  12  is positioned in the reel seat. Reel  12  may be any type of fishing reel. The particular version shown in  FIG. 3  is a “conventional” type (as opposed to a spinning type). Reel  12  includes crank  24  and crank knob  42  which are used to spool fishing line back into reel  12  once the line has been unspooled. 
   Cutout  20  is provided in the surface of reel  12  which faces the reel seat. In the preferred embodiment, cutout  20  is a substantially defined by a portion of a cylindrical surface having a central axis running from a rear of the reel  12  to the front of the reel  12  cylindrical cutout. Cutout  20  may be other shape that would conform to the surface of the reel seat, however. In the preferred embodiment, the diameter of the cutout  20  may be set to accommodate the diameter of the fishing rod that will be used with the fishing reel. Cutout  20  allows reel  12  to be mounted as closely to the fishing rod as possible. This minimizes the twisting torque applied to the rod when the user turns crank  24  since the displacement of the crank-turning force from the fishing rod is minimized. Cutout  20  also creates a more stable attachment by increasing the “contact” surface area between reel  12  and the reel seat. Arcuate slot  22  is included on both ends of cutout  20  so that reel  12  may be mounted to most common fishing rods with seat clamps. 
   Clamp bar  14  also has cutout  18  to increase “contact” surface area between clamp bar  14  and the surface of the reel seat. Cutout  18  is preferably cylindrical to conform to the surface of most reel seats. A pair of clamp screws  16  are provided to attach clamp bar  14  to reel  12 . This allows clamp bar  14  and reel  12  to be tightly clamped around the fishing rod. Clamp bar  14  may also be a simple metal plate that is bent to conform to the surface of the reel seat. 
   The various cutouts in the surface of reel  12  are shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 4A and 4B .  FIG. 4A  is a bottom view of reel  12 , and  FIG. 4B  is a front view of reel  12 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , cylindrical-shaped cutout  20  forms an oval shape in the bottom of reel  12 . An arcuate slot  22  is provided on both ends of cutout  20 , each of the arcuate slots  22  having an opening circumscribed by a perimeter and a depth, the depth extending from the opening into the reel  12  in a direction which is parallel to the central axis of the portion of the cylindrical surface defining the cutout  20 . The combination of cutout  20  and arcuate slot  22  forms lip  30 . Clamp screw holes  28  are provided on both sides of cylindrical cutout  20  and are configured to receive the pair of mount screws  16  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   These “cutouts” may be easily made either by hand machining or by computer controlled machine tools such as a CNC machine. They can also be cast into the reel if the reel body is made by casting. Although the term “cutout” is used frequently throughout this specification to describe these features, it should be understood that these features may also be created using molding, casting or other techniques. 
     FIG. 5  is a section view illustrating how reel  12  may be attached to a fishing rod. In the present illustration reel  12  is sectioned but not the fishing rod. Reel  12  has fishing line  34  attached to spool  36  and fed through guides (not shown) to the tip of rod  32 . Reel  12  is attached to the reel seat between collars  38  and  40  of adjustable seat mounts  44  and  46 . Although adjustable seat mount  44  with collar  38  and adjustable seat mount  46  with collar  40  are illustrated in  FIG. 5 , any type of seat clamp may be used. 
   To attach reel  12  to the reel seat of rod  32 , lip  30  is inserted between adjustable seat mount  44  and rod  32  so that collar  38  of adjustable seat mount  44  is received in the forward arcuate slot  22 . Reel  12  is held flush against the reel seat so that the reel seat is maintained within cutout  20 . Adjustable seat mount  46  is then rotated about rod  32  so that it travels in the direction of reel  12 . As adjustable seat mount  46  nears reel  12 , lip  30  is captured between collar  40  of adjustable mount  46  and rod  32 . The wall of collar  40  simultaneously enters arcuate slot  22 . The user continues to turn adjustable seat mount  46  until reel  12  is firmly clamped between adjustable seat mount  46  and adjustable mount  44 . Clamp bar  14  is then positioned on the surface of rod  32  opposite reel  12  and clamp screws  16  are used to attach clamp bar  14  and reel  12  together around rod  32 . 
     FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the same assembly. Reel  12  is mounted in the reel seat of rod  32  between adjustable seat mount  44  and adjustable seat mount  46 . Reel  12  is also mounted to the reel seat by clamp bar  14  by clamp screws  16 . 
   The reader will appreciate that reel  12  may also be connected to rods having other varieties of seat clamps other than the clamps depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . For example, reel  12  may also be connected to a rod having hexagonal reel seat  54  with a hexagonally-shaped cross-section as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . In this embodiment, hexagonal collars  64  and  66  are provided on adjustable seat mounts  60  and  62 . Hexagonal collars  64  and  66  swivel on adjustable seat mounts  60  and  62  so that they may be rotated independently of the adjustable seat mounts. Hexagonal cutout  56  which conforms to the surface of hexagonal reel seat  54  is provided on the bottom of reel  12 . Arcuate slots  58  are provided on both ends of hexagonal cutout  56  and are configured to receive hexagonal collars  64  and  66 . Clamp bar  68  also has hexagonal cutout  70  which is shaped to conform to the surface of hexagonal reel seat  54 . 
   Reel  12  with hexagonal cutout  56  is installed on the rod similar to the embodiment shown and described in relation to  FIGS. 3-6 . Reel  12  is placed on hexagonal reel seat  54  and is mated with adjustable seat mount  60  so that hexagonal collar  64  is received within arcuate slot  58 . Adjustable seat mount  62  is then rotated with respect to the rod until hexagonal collar  66  is received within arcuate slot  58 . Clamp bar  68  is then attached as before. 
     FIG. 7B  is a section view illustrating how hexagonal cutout  56  of reel  12  and hexagonal cutout  70  of clamp bar  68  conform to the surface of hexagonal reel seat  54  when the two components are clamped around hexagonal reel seat  54 . The reader will appreciate that the cutouts can be made in many different shapes to conform to various reel seat surfaces. For example, the reader will easily envisage that cutouts can be provided to conform to any regular or irregular surface including but not limited to reel seats having triangular, square, oval, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal cross-sections. 
   Although the preceding descriptions contain significant detail they should not be viewed as limiting the invention but rather as providing examples of the preferred embodiments of the invention. For example, arcuate slot  22  may be formed in shapes other than an arch. The mount assembly would function the same if arcuate slot  22  was rectangular although the dimensions of the a rectangular slot would be different than the arch-shaped slot shown in the drawing views. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims, rather than the examples given.