Fishing line package and dispenser and method

A fishing line package and dispenser is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser includes a housing, a fishing line spool provided in the housing, a fishing line wound on the fishing line spool, a display tab extending from the housing and an attachment tab carried by the display tab and adapted to detachably engage the housing. A method of transferring fishing line to a reel of a fishing rod is also disclosed.

FIELD

The present invention relates to fishing accessories. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fishing line package which can be displayed for marketing purposes and includes fishing line that can be dispensed or transferred from the fishing line package and onto a reel of a fishing rod. The present invention further relates to a method of transferring fishing line to a reel of a fishing rod.

BACKGROUND

A typical fishing rod and reel includes an elongated, flexible rod having a reel and a handle at one end. Fishing line is wound on a rotating line spindle provided in the reel and extended from the line spindle typically through guide loops provided at spaced intervals along the rod. A bait or lure and a hook and sinker are attached to the end of the fishing line and cast into a water body by grasping the handle while tossing the rod in a forward motion.

During fishing, a portion of the fishing line extending from a fishing rod frequently becomes tangled, and therefore, must be cut from the main portion of fishing line wound on the reel. Furthermore, after a cast the hook frequently becomes snagged or hung on stumps and the like, oftentimes rendering it necessary to break the fishing line. Therefore, over time the segment of fishing line wound on the reel becomes increasingly shorter such that it is eventually necessary to replace the fishing line on the reel. This is typically carried out by transferring the fishing line onto the reel from a spool on which replacement fishing line is wound. However, this can be a cumbersome exercise and frequently requires two persons.

SUMMARY

The present invention is generally directed to a fishing line package and dispenser. An illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser includes a housing, a fishing line spool provided in the housing, a fishing line wound on the fishing line spool, a display tab extending from the housing and an attachment tab carried by the display tab and adapted to detachably engage the housing.

The present invention is further directed to method of transferring fishing line to a reel of a fishing rod. An illustrative embodiment of the method includes providing a fishing line package and dispenser comprising a housing, a fishing line spool provided in the housing, fishing line wound on the fishing line spool, a display tab extending from the housing, and an attachment tab carried by the display tab and detachably attached to the housing; extending the fishing line from the housing; detaching the attachment tab from the housing; securing the attachment tab against the fishing rod; attaching the fishing line to the reel; and winding the fishing line onto the reel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially toFIGS. 3-5and7of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser is generally indicated by reference numeral10. Unless otherwise noted, the various components of the fishing line package and dispenser10may be a cardboard or paperboard material, for example. Alternatively or additionally, all or some components of the fishing line package and dispenser10may be plastic. The fishing line package and dispenser10includes a housing11typically having a front panel12; a rear panel13spaced-apart from the front panel12; a pair of side panels14and15, respectively, extending between the front panel12and the rear panel13; and a bottom panel17which extends between the front panel12, the rear panel13and the side panels14and15. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the housing11has a housing interior11a. A top panel16extends between the front panel12, the rear panel13and the side panels14and15and closes the housing interior11aof the housing11, as illustrated in FIGS.3and7. As illustrated inFIG. 4, in some embodiments of the fishing line package and dispenser10, the top panel16is pivotally attached to the front panel12and can be selectively opened and closed on the housing11. A top panel tab16amay extend from the top panel16for insertion between the top panel16and an attachment tab27, as illustrated inFIG. 7and will be hereinafter described, or alternatively, between the rear panel13and the top panel16, when the top panel16is closed on the housing11.

As further illustrated inFIG. 4, a fishing line spool31, on which is wound a supply of fishing line32, is provided in the housing interior11aof the housing11. A line slit20is provided in the side panel15of the housing11. As illustrated inFIG. 7, a line resistance strip24(shown in phantom) may be provided in the housing interior11a, adjacent to or against the interior surface of the side panel15. The line resistance strip24may be plastic, rubber or foam rubber, in non-exclusive particular. A line slit25is provided in the line resistance strip24and generally registers with the line slit20provided in the side panel15of the housing11. As illustrated inFIG. 4and will be hereinafter described, in typical application of the fishing line package and dispenser10, the fishing line32is partially unwound from the fishing line spool31and extended from the housing interior11athrough the line slit25of the line resistance strip24and the line slit20of the side panel15. As illustrated inFIG. 3, an opening21(shown in phantom) may be provided in the rear panel13of the housing11for purposes which will be hereinafter described. In a display configuration of the fishing line package and dispenser10, the opening21may be closed by an opening panel22which is attached to the edge of the opening21along multiple perforations.

A display tab26extends from the rear panel13of the housing11, beyond the top panel16. A rod slot23extends through the display tab26. The rod slot23facilitates hanging of the housing11on a display hanging rod (not illustrated) in a retail outlet such as a sporting goods store or the like, for example, during marketing display of the fishing line package10, as will be hereinafter further described. Various marketing and product identification indicia or labeling (not illustrated), such as trademarks and the like, may be provided on the exterior surfaces of the housing11and display tab26.

As illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5, a reinforcing display tab26atypically extends from the display tab26. A rod slot23aextends through the reinforcing display tab26a. An attachment tab27extends from the reinforcing display tab26a. The attachment tab27may be connected to the reinforcing display tab26aby a connecting portion28. In some embodiments, the reinforcing display tab26ais omitted from between the display tab26and the attachment tab27, in which case the attachment tab27extends from the display tab26.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 7, in a display configuration of the fishing line package and dispenser10, the reinforcing display tab26acan be folded forwardly with respect to the display tab26and the attachment tab27detachably attached to the interior surface of the rear panel13in the housing interior11aof the housing11, as illustrated inFIG. 7. The attachment tab27can be detachably attached to the interior surface of the rear panel13using any suitable technique known by those skilled in the art. For example, at least one attachment strip30may be provided for attaching the attachment tab27to the interior surface of the rear panel13. The at least one attachment strip30may be an adhesive such as glue or a hook-and-loop fastener, in non-exclusive particular. When the attachment tab27is attached to the interior surface of the rear panel13, the rod slot23aof the reinforcing display tab26agenerally registers with the rod slot23of the display tab26. Alternatively, the reinforcing display tab26acan be folded rearwardly with respect to the display tab26and the attachment tab27detachably attached to the rear surface of the rear panel13.

As illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5, in a line-dispensing configuration of the fishing line package and dispenser10, the attachment tab27can be detached typically from the interior surface of the rear panel13and attached to the front surface of at least one of the display tab26and the reinforcing display tab26a. This facilitates attachment of the fishing line package and dispenser10to a fishing rod34, as illustrated inFIG. 6and will be hereinafter described. The attachment tab27can be detachably attached to the front surface of at least one of the display tab26and the reinforcing display tab26ausing any suitable technique known by those skilled in the art. For example, at least one attachment strip29may be provided for attaching the attachment tab27to the display tab26and/or the reinforcing display tab26a. The at least one attachment strip29may be an adhesive or a hook-and-loop fastener, in non-exclusive particular. In embodiments in which the reinforcing display tab26ais omitted, the attachment tab27can be attached to the front or rear surface of the display tab26in the display configuration of the fishing line package and dispenser10and to the front surface of the display tab26in the line-dispensing configuration of the fishing line package and dispenser10.

Referring initially toFIGS. 1 and 2of the drawings, an illustrative method of fabricating the fishing line package and dispenser10by folding a blank10ais illustrated. It is to be understood that fabrication of the fishing line package and dispenser10by folding the blank10arepresents just one possible method of fabrication and that the fishing line package and dispenser10may be fabricated using any of a variety of suitable alternative techniques. The blank10aincludes a front panel12and a bottom panel17connected to the front panel12along a bottom panel fold line40. A rear panel13is connected to the bottom panel17along a rear panel fold line41, a display tab26is connected to the rear panel13along a display tab fold line42, a reinforcing display tab26ais connected to the display tab26along a reinforcing tab fold line43, and an attachment tab27is connected to the reinforcing display tab26aalong at least one connecting portion fold line44. In some embodiments, a pair of connecting portion fold lines44connects the attachment tab27to the reinforcing display tab26aand a connecting portion28extends between the connecting portion fold lines44.

A side tab18and a side tab19are connected to the bottom panel17along a side tab fold line45and a side tab fold line46, respectively. A side panel14and a side panel15are attached to opposite edges of the front panel12along side panel fold lines47and48, respectively. A side panel tab14ais attached to the side panel14along a tab fold line49, and a side panel tab15ais attached to the side panel15along a tab fold line50.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, a fold tab37(not illustrated inFIG. 2) may be attached to the top panel16along a fold tab fold line54. The fold tab37is typically separate from the adjacent side panel14. A reinforcing tab36is attached to the side panel15along a reinforcing tab fold line53and is typically separate from the adjacent top panel16. A continuous line slit20extends through a portion of the side panel15and a portion of the reinforcing tab36. A top panel16is attached to the front panel12along a top panel fold line51. A top panel tab16ais attached to the top panel16along a panel tab fold line52.

The fishing line package and dispenser10is fabricated by folding the blank10aalong the various fold lines and attaching the various components of the blank10ato each other. Accordingly, the front panel12is folded with respect to the bottom panel17along the bottom panel fold line40; the rear panel13is folded with respect to the bottom panel17along the rear panel fold line41; and the side panels14and15are folded with respect to the front panel12along the side panel fold lines47and48, respectively. The side tabs18and19are folded with respect to the side tab fold lines45and46, respectively, and glued or otherwise attached to the inside surfaces of the side panels14and,15, respectively.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the reinforcing tab36is folded along the reinforcing tab fold line53, against the inside surface of the side panel15such that the line slit20in the reinforcing tab36is generally aligned with the line slit20in the side panel15. The reinforcing tab36may be glued or otherwise attached to the side panel15. A line resistance strip24may be glued or otherwise attached to the inside surfaces of the side panel15and the reinforcing tab36, with a line slit25in the line resistance strip24generally aligned with the line slits20in the side panel15and reinforcing tab36, respectively.

The side panel tab14ais folded with respect to the side panel14along the tab fold line49and the side panel tab15ais folded with respect to the side panel15along the tab fold line50. The side panel tabs14aand15aare each glued or otherwise attached to the inside surface of the rear panel13to complete fabrication of the housing11. In the closed configuration of the housing11, illustrated inFIG. 3, the top panel tab16a(FIGS. 1 and 2) can be inserted between the top panel16and the attachment tab27(after attachment of the attachment tab27to the interior surface of the rear panel13in the display configuration) or between the top panel16and the rear panel13(in embodiments in which the attachment tab27is attached to the rear surface of the rear panel13in the display configuration) to close the housing interior11aof the housing11.

Referring next toFIGS. 3-7of the drawings, in typical application, the fishing line package and dispenser10is initially packaged in the display configuration illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 7for purposes of marketing the fishing line package and dispenser10. The fishing line package and dispenser10is then obtained by a user and attached to a fishing rod34, as illustrated inFIG. 6, to transfer the wound fishing line32from the fishing line spool31(FIG. 4) in the housing11of the fishing line package and dispenser10and onto a reel35provided on the fishing rod34. The fishing rod34may be conventional and typically includes an open-bail or closed-bail reel35and a handle38provided at one end of the fishing rod34. A line spindle (not illustrated) is rotatably mounted in the reel35and engaged for rotation in a selected forward or reverse direction by a reel handle35a. Multiple fishing line guide loops33may be provided on the fishing rod34in spaced-apart relationship to each other.

In the display configuration of the fishing line package and dispenser10illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 7, the fishing line spool31(FIG. 4), on which is wound the fishing line32, is contained in the housing interior11aof the housing11, as illustrated inFIG. 4. As illustrated inFIG. 7, during fabrication and packaging, the reinforcing display tab26ais folded forwardly with respect to the display tab26. The attachment tab27is typically inserted in the housing interior11aof the housing11and detachably attached to the interior surface of the rear panel13, such as by using the attachment strip or strips30, for example. Accordingly, the rod slot23a(FIG. 1) of the reinforcing display tab26ais generally aligned with the rod slot23of the display tab26. The top panel16of the housing11is closed typically by insertion of the top panel tab16abetween the attachment tab27and the top panel16. Alternatively, the attachment tab27may be detachably attached to the rear surface of the rear panel13, in which case the top panel tab16ais inserted between the top panel16and the rear panel13of the housing11. The housing11may be wrapped in cellophane (not illustrated) prior to marketing, typically in conventional fashion. The fishing line package and dispenser10can be displayed in a retail establishment or the like by, for example, inserting a hanging rod (not illustrated), which is attached to a peg board (not illustrated) or the like, through the rod slots23,23aand hanging the fishing line package and dispenser10on the hanging rod.

After purchase of the fishing line package and dispenser10, the housing11is opened typically by removing the top panel tab16atypically from between the attachment tab27and the top panel16of the housing11and extending the top panel16from the front panel12, as illustrated inFIG. 4, to open the housing interior11a. The fishing line spool31is then partially removed from the housing interior11aand the end segment of the fishing line32is unwound from the fishing line spool31. The end segment of the fishing line32unwound from the fishing line spool31is inserted through the line slit20provided in the side panel15and through the line slit25(FIG. 2) provided in the line resistance strip24on the interior surface of the side panel15, as illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5.

The fishing line package and dispenser10is attached to the fishing rod34by detaching the attachment tab27typically from the interior surface of the rear panel13and initially extending the attachment tab27in coplanar relationship to the reinforcing display tab26a, as illustrated inFIG. 4. The attachment tab27is then bended forwardly with respect to the reinforcing display tab26aand the fishing rod34is placed between the reinforcing display tab26aand the attachment tab27, after which the attachment tab27is attached to the front surface of at least one of the display tab26and the reinforcing display tab26a, as illustrated inFIG. 6, such as via the at least one attachment strip29. The end segment of the fishing line32is then further pulled from the housing11through the line slit20and attached to the line spindle (not illustrated) of the reel35. Next, the fishing line32is pulled from the fishing line spool21in the housing11and wound on the line spindle of the reel35by rotating the reel handle35aof the reel35in the reverse direction. As the fishing line32is pulled from the line slit20, the line resistance strip24applies resistance to the fishing line32through the line slit25(FIG. 2) of the line resistance strip24, thereby maintaining tension in the fishing line32between the housing11and the reel35as the fishing line32is wound on the line spindle of the reel35. The opening panel22(FIG. 3) can be detached from the rear panel13of the housing11to open the opening21in the rear panel13. If needed, the fishing line spool31can be manually rotated through the opening21during transfer of the fishing line32to the reel35in the event that rotation of the fishing line spool31in the housing interior11ais inadvertently hindered, for example.

After the desired quantity of the fishing line32is transferred from the fishing line spool31to the reel35, the portion of the fishing line32which is wound on the reel35is cut away from the housing11. The cut end of the fishing line32is then extended through the fishing line guide loops33and then rigged and baited typically in conventional fashion for use of the fishing rod34. The fishing line package and dispenser10is detached from the fishing rod34and then typically stored for later transfer of additional fishing line32from the fishing line package and dispenser10onto a reel35of the same or a different fishing rod34, as needed.