Abstract:
An oscillation mechanism for a fishing reel utilizing an improved level wind bracket having a shaft mount positioned such that the overall width of a fishing reel incorporating the invention is reduced. The oscillation mechanism also reduces the juggling force which occurs during operation of a fishing reel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to fishing reels of the type having a compact design. More particularly, the present invention relates to mechanisms for selectively providing an oscillating motion to elements of fishing reels in a space saving manner. 
   Fishing reel design is constrained by the limited space into which the reel mechanism must be contained because of the necessary portability and balance required by the user. It is well known that complex mechanisms often require more space due to the shear number of components required. Users of fishing reels generally prefer to have a smaller reel with a lighter body. Previously, fishing reel makers have satisfied this requirement by reducing the length of the body and at the same time maintaining the necessary oscillating movement needed for line laying. However, further reduction in the length of the reel makes compaction of the desired mechanism difficult. Conventionally, in making a reel slimmer, components have generally been either made smaller or the mechanism made simpler. In addition, fishing reel makers have had to use a relatively greater amount of material in the shaft and oscillation mechanism, most notably the level wind bracket, to accomplish compaction conventionally. This greater amount of material results in a large shock force that produces a juggling motion of the reel when the oscillation mechanism is in operation. This force makes operation of the reel more difficult and generally detracts from the advantages of an otherwise smooth operation. The present invention is directed toward solving these problems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly stated the present invention in a preferred form is generally directed toward reducing the width occupied by an oscillation mechanism of a fishing reel. 
   The oscillation mechanism of a fishing reel utilizes a drive gear which provides the motive force to a level wind gear. Generally, a pole structure is present on the level wind gear to provide a link to transfer and convert the rotational motion of the drive gear to a linear motion in the level wind bracket. A shaft is attached to or part of the level wind bracket. The motion of the bracket allows for such things as the level laying of fishing line onto a spool attached to the shaft. 
   To reduce the width occupied by the mechanism, the connection between the shaft and the level wind bracket is on the side of the level wind bracket partially in line with the slot. Although the direction of the connection between the shaft and the level wind bracket does not change relative to conventional mechanisms, the repositioning of the connection reduces the thickness occupied by the level wind bracket. 
   An object of the invention is to provide an oscillation mechanism with a relative smaller dimension allowing reels incorporating the invention to contain more components and more complicated mechanisms. 
   Another object of the invention is to reduce the felt juggling force associated with conventional reels when oscillating. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1 , is a side sectional view, partly in phantom, of a spinning fishing reel having an oscillation mechanism in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken from below, partly in phantom, of the spinning fishing reel of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a level wind bracket with a shaft and locking device employed with the reel of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view from the back, partly in phantom, of a spinning fishing reel of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front view, partly in phantom, and partly in diagrammatic form of a level wind bracket. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a level wind bracket with shaft utilizing an alternative shaft mounting surface in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a prior art level wind bracket with shaft. 
       FIG. 8  is a front view, partly in phantom, of a prior art level wind bracket. 
       FIG. 9  is a simplified force diagram of a prior art oscillation mechanism. 
       FIG. 10  is a simplified force diagram of an oscillation mechanism consistent with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the several figures, an oscillation mechanism in accordance with the present invention is generally designated by the numeral  101 . 
   One type of fishing reel that incorporates the invention is a spinning type fishing reel with a rotor mechanism well known in the art. A fishing reel  10  has a body  3  which encases the oscillation mechanism  101 . A level wind gear  5  is supported at least in part by the body  3  and is driven by a drive gear  2 . The level wind gear and drive gear may interact through such things as gear teeth, frictional surfaces or through intermediary components which allow rotational force to be transmitted. A level wind bracket  4  is located on top of or in close proximity to the level wind gear and can be moved in a fore and an aft direction, as shown by the  FIG. 2  arrows, along a linear path while being guided by guiding surfaces  102 . The guiding surfaces may be associated with the reel body or other parts, such as the reel cover. 
   A slot  105  is located in the level wind bracket  4  on the side facing the level wind gear. A pole  8  is attached to, or is part of, the level wind gear and is in mechanical contact with the slot of the level wind bracket. The pole device may move inside the slot of the level wind gear. The pole device transmits and converts the rotary motion of the level wind gear to an oscillation motion of the level wind bracket. The slot  105  generally defines an area between the ends of the level wind bracket in a linear path. However, the slot may define a non-linear path wherein it has a curve or multiple curves along its length. 
   Locations  103  show some of the positions that the level wind bracket may take along the linear fore and aft pathway. A locking device  6  affixes a shaft  1  into a mounting surface of the level wind bracket. This ensures a solid mechanical connection between the parts. The shaft has a central axis  111  which is parallel with the fore and aft linear pathway. The fore and aft direction is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the level wind gear  104 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 2 , the drive gear  2  in one embodiment of the invention is supported within the body by a bushing  9 . A washer  7  may be present to separate the body and the level wind gear, for example, to reduce friction or wear of the surfaces. The level wind bracket  4  is driven by the pole device as the pole  8  rotates with the level wind gear. 
   With reference to  FIG. 3 , the shaft may have an insert end  250  with a configured insert part  108 . The insert part may be angled, sloped or beveled to ensure positive fit when it is inserted into a shaft mount  110  of the level wind bracket. The shaft mount  110  is positioned at a side of the level wind bracket and is located at a point wherein a portion of the insert part  108  is in intersecting alignment with a portion of the slot  105 . The shaft having a longitudinal axis and the intersecting alignment being anywhere along the axial projection of the shaft. The shaft is affixed to the level wind bracket by the locking device  6  which may be a pin, screw, bolt or similar device. 
   With reference to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment of the invention the pole  6  may be formed as a unitary part of the level wind gear  5 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment of the invention, the level wind bracket  4  has a top surface  200  and a bottom surface  202 . The shaft is attached at the shaft insert portion to the level wind bracket. The attachment point is such that a portion of the insert part  108  overlaps with a portion of the slot  105 . In some cases the diameter of the shaft at the shaft insert end  250  ( FIG. 3 ) may be substantially coextensive with the distance  204  between the top and bottom surfaces thereby providing a sleek and efficient level wind bracket shaft configuration. In other cases a portion of the diameter of the shaft may extend above or below the top and/or bottom surfaces while another portion is in intersecting alignment with the slot. The insert portion of the shaft may have a flattened or otherwise configured surface  206 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 6 , in one embodiment of the invention the shaft mount may be configured as a pair of flanges  121  which extend out from a side of the level wind bracket. The shaft  1  is affixed to the shaft mount with a locking device  6 , which may clamp the shaft insert between the flanges in another sleek and efficient mount configuration. 
   The invention may be appreciated by reference to FIG.  7  and  FIG. 8  which depict prior art oscillation mechanisms. A shaft  130  is inserted in a bracket  131 . In the Figures, insert part  134  of the shaft  130  is located at a position above the slot  133  of the bracket  131 . It should be appreciated that a horizontal plane running along the central axis of the shaft  141  is offset from a horizontal plane passing through the slot  133 . Therefore, the whole oscillation mechanism  140  occupies a greater thickness. A thicker (transverse dimension) fishing reel body is thus needed to encase the mechanism thereby also making the fishing reel body significantly bulkier and heavier. 
   The invention may be further appreciated by reference to  FIG. 9  which depicts a prior art oscillation mechanism  140  with a shaft  130  having a central axis  141 . The shaft is attached to the bracket  131  by a fastener  126 . The pole  143  operates within the slot  133  in the bracket. When the mechanism is operated, a force  150  is transmitted from the pole to the bracket through a contact point  151 . The shaft has a moving pivot point  155  on the shaft axis. A reaction force  152  is from the shaft  130  to the bracket along the shaft axis  141 . Due to the conventional offset arrangement, a moment  153  against the pivot point  155  on the shaft axis is generated. The moment has a magnitude proportional to a perpendicular distance  154  between the contact point and the shaft axis. 
   With reference to  FIG. 10 , the invention has an oscillation mechanism  101  with a shaft  1  having a central axis. The shaft is attached to the level wind bracket at its insert end and is held in place by a locking device. The pole  8  operates within a slot of the level wind bracket. When the mechanism is operated a force  30  is transmitted from the pole to the level wind bracket at a point of contact  31  between the pole and the level wind bracket. The shaft has a moving pivot point  35  on the shaft axis. A reaction force  32  is exerted from the shaft to the bracket along the shaft axis. A moment  33  against the pivot point is generated with a magnitude proportional to a perpendicular distance  34  between the contact point and the shaft axis. It should be appreciated that the magnitude of the moment is less than a conventional oscillation mechanism. 
   While the preferred embodiments have been shown to describe various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.