Abstract:
A hand reel ( 10 ) for a fishing line. The reel ( 10 ) including a body ( 11 ) and a retaining member ( 12 ). The body ( 11 ) defines a channel ( 15 ) for receiving the fishing line. The retaining member ( 12 ) is attached to, or forms part of the body ( 11 ). The retaining member ( 11 ) includes a lip portion ( 17 ) operable between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the lip portion ( 17 ) cooperates with the body ( 11 ) to substantially enclose the channel ( 15 ). In the open position, the lip ( 17 ) portion allows access to the channel ( 15 ).

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates a fishing reel of the hand reel type, which is also known as a hand caster reel. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Hand reels are known and are used with one end of a fishing line secured to the reel and the other end connected to one or more hooks. Other accessories such as floats, lures, etc. may also be attached to the fishing line. A hand reel is not used with a fishing rod. 
         [0003]    A disadvantage of known hand reels is that they leave the hooks, floats, lures, etc. exposed after the fishing line has been wound around the reel. Such exposed items are an injury risk, are untidy for storage, can entangle with the fishing line and other objects and create mess. It is time consuming and considered impractical to remove the accessories, store them separately, and re-attach them to the fishing line at the next use. Another disadvantage of known hand reels is that they are bulky and can occupy significant storage space. 
       OBJECT 
       [0004]    It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or to at least provide a useful alternative. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, the present provides a hand reel for a fishing line, the reel including:
       a body defining a channel for receiving the fishing line; and   a retaining member attached to, or forming part of, the body, the retaining member including a lip portion operable between an open position and a closed position,   wherein, in the closed position, the lip portion cooperates with the body to substantially enclose the channel and, in the open position, allows access to the channel.       
 
         [0009]    The retaining member preferably further includes a base portion connected to the lip portion, the base portion being attached to, or forming part of, the body adjacent to the channel. 
         [0010]    The lip portion is preferably flexible relative to the base portion between the open and closed positions. The lip portion is preferably stable in the open and closed positions. 
         [0011]    The body preferably includes a rim contiguous with the channel on a side opposite to the base portion of the retaining member, and, in the closed position, the lip portion circumferentially abuts the rim for enclosing the channel. 
         [0012]    The retaining member is preferably formed from a relatively flexible, elastomeric thermoplastic or elastomeric thermoset material, such as silicon, or TPE. 
         [0013]    The body is preferably formed from a relatively rigid thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene. 
         [0014]    The retaining member is preferably removably attached to the body. The retaining member is preferably fixed to the body. The retaining member is preferably co-moulded with the body. 
         [0015]    The body preferably further comprises at least one hole formed adjacent to the channel for mounting a hook attached to the fishing line. 
         [0016]    The lip portion preferably includes a wasted peripheral region adapted to facilitate flexure of the lip portion between the open position and the closed position and vice versa. The wasted peripheral region is preferably positioned just inboard of the channel in the body. The wasted peripheral region is preferably in the form of a peripheral groove in the lip portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fishing reel, in an open state; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  shows an alternate perspective view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  shows a back view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 1  in a closed state; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  shows an alternate perspective view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  shows a front view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  shows a back view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  shows a partial cross sectional view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  shows a partial cross sectional view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a fishing reel, in an open state; 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  shows a back view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  shows a bottom view of the view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  shows a cross sectional view view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  shows a side view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 18  shows a cross sectional view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 19  shows a front view of the fishing reel of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 20  shows an enlarged detail view from  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 21  shows an enlarged detail view from  FIG. 18 ; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 22  shows an enlarged detail view from  FIG. 16 ; 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]      FIGS. 1 to 5  depict a first embodiment of a hand reel  10 . The reel  10  is shown in an “open” state (which will be described in more detail below) in which a fishing line (not shown) can be wound on and off the reel  10 . 
         [0041]    The fishing reel  10  includes a body  11  and a retaining member  12  attached to the body  11 . The body  11  is injection moulded from a relatively rigid thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene. The retaining member  12  is injection or compression moulded from a relatively flexible, elastomeric thermoplastic, thermoplastic elastomer, or elastomeric thermoset material, such as silicon. The retaining member  12  has Shore A durometer hardness in the range of 30-50, preferably about 40. 
         [0042]    The body  11  is generally disc-shaped, and includes a rim  13  and an annular neck  14  (see  FIG. 4 ) that is contiguous with the rim  13 . The annular neck  14  forms an outwardly concave, peripheral channel  15  where the fishing line can be wound. 
         [0043]    The retaining member  12  is attached to the annular neck  14  of the body  11  on a side opposite to the rim  13 . The retaining member  12  includes an annular base portion  16  and a lip portion  17  integrally formed to the base portion  16 . The base portion  16  is removably attached to the neck  14  by a plurality of screws  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 . 
         [0044]    The lip portion  17  is flexible between an open position and a closed position corresponding to the open state (e.g. for use) and closed state (e.g. for storage) of the fishing reel  10 , line and hook(s)/accessories. The lip portion  17  is stable in both of these positions. The retaining member  12  is flexible and moulded in a stable position in the shape of the bowl, in the ready for use position. The retaining member  12  holds this shape with minimal tension in either the outer or inner surface. Put another way, the inner and outer surfaces are stable and not under any external stress through movement with their surface tension (both inner and outer) being stable. 
         [0045]    As best shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , when the retaining member  12  is manually folded inwardly (from A towards B) toward the body  11  of the reel  10 , the moulded shape (A) is subjected to surface tension and compression. This reaches a tipping point where the form inverts (from B towards C) until the retaining member  12  closes around the body  11  (D) on the other side of the body  11  where the channel  15  holding the fishing line is located. 
         [0046]    The retaining member  12  will holds the position/shape D shown in  FIG. 12  as the surface of the retaining member  12  has compression forces from the inner surface (when its shape inverts) pushing its material against and into the rim  13  of the body  11 . If the rim  13 /body  11  were not present, the retaining member  12  would return to the bowl shaped stable position/shape D on the opposite side to that which it started. 
         [0047]    The action driving this change in position and shape is the input of manual energy from a user, which compresses the outer surface of the retaining member  12  and stretches the inner surface of the stable bowl shape (A) when the reel  10  is in the open/ready to use position. When moved from its stable position (A) it is unstable and the elastomeric material wants to move to a stable or neutral position (A or D). The bowl shaped retaining member  12  reaches a tipping point where the outer compressed surface and the inner stretched surface invert the bowl shape, as the surface tension in each side moves to stabilise the shape. As the rim  13 /body  11  blocks the ability of the retaining member  12  to completely invert, it is held against the rim  13 /body  11  with some surface tension in its outer surface and inner surface. A reverse of the above operation occurs when the retaining member  12  is flexed from the closed position (D) back to the open position (A). Put another way, the retaining member is movable between the stable open (A) and closed (D) positions in a manner akin to an over-centre mechanism. 
         [0048]    The outer peripheral edge of the retaining member  12  distorts as it stretches the furthest to reach the tipping point before inverting, without over stressing or rupturing its elastomeric material. 
         [0049]    In the open position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the lip portion  17  is in a shape of a bowl or a truncated inverted cone that extends generally outwardly from the channel  15 . This helps to guide the fishing line into the channel  15  during winding in, and out of the channel  15  during releasing. From the open position, the lip portion  17  can be flexed relative to the base portion  16  toward the rim  13  of the body  11 , in the direction shown by arrows  18 ,  19  (see  FIG. 4 ), in order to switch to the closed position. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 to 10 , in the closed position, the lip portion  17  of the retaining member  12  abuts the whole circumference of the rim  13 , thereby substantially enclosing the channel  15 . The lip portion  17  is sized to provide overlapping contact between the lip portion  17  and the rim  13  in the closed position. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the body  11  also includes handle means in the form of flanges  26   a  either side of an oblong opening  26   b.  In use, the user may insert his fingers into the opening  26   b  to grasp the flanges  26   a  and thus the body  11 . The oblong shape of the opening  26   b  helps to restrict angular movements of the body  11  relative to the fingers. 
         [0052]    The body  11  also includes one or more slotted holes  27 ,  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32  adjacent to the channel  15 , allowing a hook (not shown) attached to one end of the fishing line to be securely mounted. The body  11  also includes a fishing line cutter  33  (see  FIGS. 3 and 5 ), being a moulded blade within a slot on the rim  13 . 
         [0053]      FIGS. 6 to 10  show various views of the reel  10  in the closed state, in which the lip portion  17  of the retaining member  12  is in the closed position, e.g. after the fishing line has been wound. As illustrated, the lip portion  17  is flexed toward the rim  13  of the body  11 , and circumferentially abuts the rim  13 . As the lip portion  17  is elastic, a tight contact is formed between the lip portion  17  and the rim  13 , thereby substantially enclosing the channel  15  ( FIG. 4 ). As a result, the fishing line and attached accessories such as hooks, floats, lures, etc. can be neatly and securely contained within the channel  15 . Risks of injuries by accidental pricks by the hooks are reduced or eliminated. The whole fishing reel  10  can also be conveniently stored or carried without requiring additional containers for the accessories. 
         [0054]    From the closed position as shown in  FIGS. 6 to 10 , the lip portion  17  can be disengaged from the rim  13 , e.g. by pulling the lip portion  17  toward the fore side of the rim  13  nearer to the neck  14 , to switch back to the open position. As the engaging member  12  is made from an elastic material, the lip portion  17  can be flexed back and forth multiple times without damage. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 13 to 22  depict a second embodiment of a hand reel  10 ′. The hand reel  10 ′ is very similar to the hand reel  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 12  and like features are indicated with like reference numerals. However, as best shown in  FIG. 22 , the reel  10 ′ includes a wasted peripheral region, in the form of a peripheral groove  40 , in the lip portion  17  of the retaining member  11 . The groove  40  assists in the consistent flexure of the lip portion  17  between the open position and the closed position and vice versa, particularly the over-centre mechanism type action that the lip portion  17  undergoes when being moved between the open and closed positions. The groove  40  is positioned just inboard of the channel  15  in the body  11 . 
         [0056]    In addition, as best shown in  FIG. 21 , the cutter  33  in the reel  10 ′ is in the form of a stainless steel blade co-moulded into the rim  13 . 
         [0057]    Further, as best shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the lip portion  17  when viewed from the side has an outwardly concave shape. This assists in locating the reel  10 ′ on a user&#39;s body under an arm, leaving both hands free to handle hooks, lines, bait or fish etc. 
         [0058]    The fishing reels described above have many advantages. Firstly, they provide a simple and cost-effective solution to the problems associated with winding a fishing line together with accessories such as hooks, floats, lures, etc. The respective components can also be adapted for different sizes and lengths of the fishing line. The size of the reel is also reduced in the closed position/state, which is an advantage during storage. The (relatively soft) material of the lip portion also provide friction or grip to the reel when it sits on a surface (open or closed) which helps it to remain where placed, which is particularly advantageous when fishing from a boat. The opening in the body is also helpful in locating the reel on a branch, pole or the like. The lip portion is also helpful after a line has been cast as then placing it in the closed position causes it to provide a dragging action on the line to prevent unintentional line running (e.g. due to wind or fish strike etc.). 
         [0059]    Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. For example, the retaining member may be fixed to the body. The retaining member can also be co-injection moulded with the body.