Reel seat

This invention relates to a device for securing a fishing reel to a fishing rod. The rectangular foot of a fishing reel sits in flanges of sleeves positioned at either end of the rectangular foot. A threaded shaft passes through these sleeves and screws into a correspondingly threaded inside diameter of a fishing rod grip. A spacing tube is disposed between the sleeves to provide rigidity and enhance the appearance of the inventive system. The end of the threaded shaft opposite the threaded end is terminated by a knob. The knob urges the second sleeve towards the first sleeve as the threaded shaft is screwed into the fishing rod grip. The distance between the sleeves is decreased and the said rectangular foot is clamped between the sleeves. Thus the fishing reel is effectively clamped to the fishing rod.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to a fishing rod incorporating novel means for 
securing a fishing reel to a fishing rod without a cumbersome length of 
rod behind the reel. 
BACKGROUND 
Fishing reels generally include a double-ended, substantially rectangular 
foot by which the reel is clamped to the rod. Conventional means of 
clamping a reel to a rod make use of a stationary clamping sleeve mounted 
near the end of the fishing rod, and having a slot into which one end of 
the rectangular foot of the reel slips, and a slidable clamping sleeve 
with a slot into which the other end of the rectangular foot slips. The 
slidable sleeve is disposed around a portion of the rod and facing the 
stationary sleeve opposite its slot. This portion is threaded and the 
slidable sleeve is urged towards the stationary sleeve by rotating a nut 
matingly threaded with the threaded portion of the rod and located behind 
the slidable sleeve. Thus the conventional means are provided for securing 
a reel to rod by clamping the substantially rectangular foot of the reel 
within and between the stationary sleeve and the slidable sleeve with the 
reel held tightly by a nut on the threaded portion of the fishing rod. 
A necessary result of this conventional method of securing a reel to a rod 
is an excess portion of the threaded shaft extending behind the reel, away 
from the rod tip, which adds weight and distance to the fishing rod. This 
excess portion of shaft detracts from the appearance of the rod and is a 
disadvantage when casting. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
The invention, as claimed, is intended to provide a remedy. It solves the 
problem of how to secure a fishing reel to a fishing rod while maintaining 
a minimum of rod length at the end of the rod, thus overcoming 
disadvantages in casting and comfort. 
Unlike conventional methods which utilize a slidable sleeve which is urged 
towards a stationary sleeve by the rotation of a nut on the threaded 
portion of the rod, the inventive device secures the reel to the rod in a 
new and advantageous manner. The inventive device has a stationary sleeve 
which can be permanently attached to the rod handle. A second or slidable 
sleeve is located on a shaft which has its forward portion threaded. This 
second sleeve is free to rotate angularly about the shaft. This shaft is 
terminated by a knob which bears upon and holds the second sleeve in 
position when in use. The rod handle is provided with an axial bore hole 
threaded to securely engage the threaded portion of the shaft The 
substantially rectangular foot of the reel is positioned between the 
stationary sleeve and the second sleeve and aligned with slots defined by 
these sleeves. The threaded portion of the shaft passes through the 
stationary sleeve and is screwed into the bore hole opening at the end of 
the rod handle. The knob bears against the second sleeve The rectangular 
foot, and thus the reel, is clamped between the stationary sleeve and 
second sleeve on the shaft and secured in position by the shaft. The shaft 
is screwed into the rod causing the knob to bear upon the second sleeve 
and provide the pressure necessary to securely clamp the reel in position. 
The rod handle thus extends behind the second sleeve only the thickness of 
the knob.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a rod 1 comprises a mast 3, eyes 5 and a reel 
seat 10. Referring to FIG. 2, the rod incorporating the inventive reel 
seat 10 comprises a rod grip 12 incorporating a threaded axial bore hole 
14. A stationary sleeve 16 abuts the end of rod grip 12. Rod grip 12 has a 
threaded, axial bore hole 14. A spacing tube 18, positioned between 
stationary sleeve 16 and a fixed second sleeve 20,, maintains rigidity, 
protects the threaded sleeve from the elements, and enhances the 
appearance of the system when in operation. 
A threaded shaft 22 is terminated on the exposed end, outside the threaded 
bore hole, by a knob 26. This knob provides the mechanical advantage 
necessary to securely screw the threaded shaft 22 into the threaded bore 
hole 14. As the threaded shaft 22 is screwed into the threaded bore hole 
14 the knob 26 bears against the second sleeve 20 pushing the second 
sleeve towards the stationary sleeve 16 and thus the length between 
stationary sleeve 16 and second sleeve 20 is decreased. Foot 28 of reel 30 
slips into stationary sleeve flange 32 and second sleeve flange 34. 
Threaded shaft 22, with its forward portion threaded as indicated by shaft 
threads 24, goes through second sleeve 20, a spacing tube 18 and 
stationary sleeve 16 and screws into the threaded bore hole 14. The 
rectangular foot 28 of the reel 30 is in this manner securely clamped 
between stationary sleeve 16 and the second sleeve 20 and thus reel 30 is 
clamped to the rod. Rectangular foot 28 is advantageously matched in 
length to the length of tube 18. 
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the components of one embodiment of the 
inventive device. The rod grip 12 has a threaded axial bore hole 14. The 
stationary sleeve 16 is positioned so as to abut rod grip 12. The 
stationary sleeve can either be permanently attached to the rod grip or 
can be held in place by the clamping force of the operational system. The 
spacing tube 18 provides rigidity to the inventive system. Both the 
stationary sleeve 16 and the second sleeve 20 are flanged as indicated 
respectively by stationary sleeve flange 32 and second sleeve flange 34. 
Sleeves 16 and 20 are maintained in position by resting on shaft 22 which 
passe through holes 36 and 38, respectively. See FIG. 4. The rectangular 
foot 28 of the reel 30 sits upon these flanges within the associated slots 
40 and 42. The threaded shaft 22 has its forward portion partially 
threaded as indicated by shaft threads 24. The other end of the threaded 
shaft 22 is terminated by a knob 26. The threaded shaft 22 passes through 
the second sleeve 20, the spacing tube 18 and the stationary sleeve 16 and 
screws into the threaded bore hole 14. The inventive device is operated by 
rotating the knurled knob 26 causing the threaded portion of the threaded 
shaft 22 to engage the threading in the bore hole 14. The knob 26 bears 
upon the second sleeve 20 pushing said second sleeve towards the 
stationary sleeve 16 securing the rectangular foot 28, and thus the reel 
30, to the rod. Lock washer 44, engaged between the knurled knob 26 and 
the second sleeve 20, prevents loosening or unscrewing while the rod and 
reel are in use. From the above description it will be appreciated that 
the inventive device provides a unique and advantageous method of 
attaching a fishing reel to a fishing rod utilizing a minimum of space. 
As an alternative to selecting a tube 18 matched in length to the fishing 
reel, a spring loaded adjustable length tube 50 comprising first and 
second tube sections 52 and 54 joined by a spring 56 may be employed as 
shown in FIG. 5. While an illustrative embodiment of the invention has 
been described, it is of course understood that various modifications will 
be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and 
modifications are within the scope of the invention which is limited and 
defined only be the appended claims.