Auxiliary drag system for a spinning reel

An auxiliary drag system for a spinning reel comprising a generally cylindrical reel body having a standard rotor assembly for spooling fishing line onto a spool member. A standard handle assembly is operatively attached to the rotor assembly via drive gears. A standard spool assembly comprises the spool member and a spool shaft. A standard primary drag system has a clutch assembly located in the spool assembly. A spool shaft sleeve is generally located over the spool shaft and through the reel body and the rotor assembly. Upon rotation of the auxiliary drag lever in a first direction, the spool shaft sleeve is moved in an inline direction with respect to the spool shaft via the threaded auxiliary drag nut toward and frictionally engaging a spool member bushing located on the spool member thereby imposing a degree of frictional drag to the rotation of the spool member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drag-regulating systems for spinning reels used on fishing rods have been in existence for a long time. Typically, a drag system may be used to keep from ripping a hook away from a caught fish as well as to provide a force of resistance that aids in tiring out the fish as it is reeled in. The present invention features a novel auxiliary drag system for spinning reels of fishing rods, which allows a user to quickly and easily adjust the drag while reeling in a fish independent of the primary drag system.

SUMMARY

The present invention features an auxiliary drag system for a spinning reel providing rapid adjustment for drag when fishing. In some embodiments, the system comprises a generally cylindrical reel body having a standard rotor assembly for spooling fishing line onto a spool member. In some embodiments, a standard handle assembly is operatively attached to the rotor assembly via drive gears. In some embodiments, a standard spool assembly comprises the spool member and a spool shaft. In some embodiments, a standard primary drag system has a clutch assembly located in the spool assembly. In some embodiments, the spool member and the spool shaft are operatively connected via the clutch assembly

In some embodiments, a spool shaft sleeve anterior end comprises a spool shaft sleeve bushing. In some embodiments, the spool shaft sleeve is generally located over the spool shaft. In some embodiments, the spool shaft sleeve passes through the reel body and the rotor assembly. In some embodiments, the spool shaft sleeve posterior end interfaces with an auxiliary drag lever slidably located in a lever track located in the reel body. In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever comprises a centrally located threaded auxiliary drag nut. In some embodiments, a threaded spool shaft posterior end passes through the threaded auxiliary drag nut.

In some embodiments, upon rotation of the auxiliary drag lever in a first direction, the spool shaft sleeve is moved in an inline direction with respect to the spool shaft via the threaded auxiliary drag nut toward and frictionally engaging a spool member bushing located on the spool member thereby imposing a degree of frictional drag to the rotation of the spool member. In some embodiments, upon rotation of the auxiliary drag lever in a second direction, the spool shaft sleeve is moved in an inline direction with respect to the spool shaft via the threaded auxiliary drag nut away from and frictionally disengaging the spool member bushing thereby reducing the degree of frictional drag imposed upon the rotation of the spool member.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:100Auxiliary drag system200Reel body210Reel body anterior end220Reel body posterior end250Rotor assembly300Spool assembly310Spool shaft320Spool shaft anterior end330Spool shaft posterior end360Spool member65Spool member bushing400Handle assembly410Drive gears500Primary drag assembly510Clutch assembly520Primary drag nut610Spool shaft sleeve620Spool shaft sleeve anterior end630Spool shaft sleeve posterior end640Spool shaft sleeve bushing650Auxiliary drag lever660Lever track670Threaded auxiliary drag nut

Referring now toFIG. 1-5, the present invention features an auxiliary drag system (100) for a spinning reel providing rapid adjustment for drag when fishing.

In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a generally cylindrical reel body (200) having a reel body anterior end (210) and a reel body posterior end (220). In some embodiments, the reel body (200) comprises a standard rotor assembly (250) for spooling fishing line onto a spool member (360). In some embodiments, the reel body (200) comprises a rotor assembly (250) located on the reel body anterior end (210). In some embodiments, the reel body (200) comprises a standard handle assembly (400) operatively attached to the rotor assembly (250) via drive gears (410). In some embodiments, the handle assembly (400) is located on the reel body posterior end (220).

In some embodiments, the reel body (200) comprises a standard spool assembly (300) comprising the spool member (360) and a spool shaft (310). In some embodiments, the spool member (360) is located on the reel body anterior end (210). In some embodiments, the spool shaft (310) extends through a central cross-section of the reel body (200). In some embodiments, a standard primary drag system (500) having a clutch assembly (510) is located in the spool assembly (300). In some embodiments, the spool member (360) and the spool shaft (310) are operatively connected via the clutch assembly (510).

In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag system comprises a spool shaft sleeve (610) having a spool shaft sleeve anterior end (620) and a spool shaft sleeve posterior end (630). In some embodiments, the spool shaft sleeve anterior end (620) comprises a spool shaft sleeve bushing (640) located on the end. In some embodiments, the spool shaft sleeve (610) is generally located over the spool shaft (310). In some embodiments, the spool shaft sleeve passes through the reel body (200) and the rotor assembly (250).

In some embodiments, the spool shaft sleeve posterior end (630) interfaces with an auxiliary drag lever (650) slidably located in a lever track (660). In some embodiments, the lever track (660) is located in the reel body (200). In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) comprises a centrally located threaded auxiliary drag nut (670) affixed to the center. In some embodiments, a threaded spool shaft posterior end (330) passes through the threaded auxiliary drag nut (670).

In some embodiments, upon rotation of the auxiliary drag lever (650) in a first direction, the spool shaft sleeve (610) is moved in an inline direction with respect to the spool shaft (310) via the threaded auxiliary drag nut (670) toward and frictionally engaging a spool member bushing (365) located on the spool member (360) thereby imposing a degree of frictional drag to the rotation of the spool member (360). In some embodiments, the first direction moves the spool shaft sleeve (610) toward the spool member bushing (365) and the reel body anterior end (210). In some embodiments, a first direction of rotation for the auxiliary drag lever (650) is a clockwise rotation when facing the reel body posterior end (220).

In some embodiments, upon rotation of the auxiliary drag lever (650) in a second direction, the spool shaft sleeve (610) is moved in an inline direction with respect to the spool shaft (310) via the threaded auxiliary drag nut (670) away from and frictionally disengaging the spool member bushing (365) thereby reducing the degree of frictional drag imposed upon the rotation of the spool member (360). In some embodiments, the second direction moves the spool shaft sleeve (610) away from the spool member bushing (365) and the reel body anterior end (210). In some embodiments, a second direction of rotation for the auxiliary drag lever (650) is a counterclockwise rotation when facing the reel body posterior end (220).

In some embodiments, a spool member bushing (365) is pressed into a posterior end of the spool member (360). In some embodiments, the spool member bushing (365) is metal. In some embodiments, the spool member bushing (365) is brass. In some embodiments, the spool member bushing (365) traverses the inside surface of the spool member (360) from a front surface to a rear surface. In some embodiments, the spool member bushing (365) traverses a portion of the inside surface of the spool member (360). In some embodiments, the spool member bushing (365) comprises a bearing.

In some embodiments, an aperture in the reel body (200) from which the auxiliary drag lever (650) projects is generally lined with a seal to inhibit dust or water entry into the reel body (200).

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a pressing force from a spool shaft sleeve bushing (640) against the spool member bushing (365) to impose an auxiliary drag from a separate, independent source onto the spool member (360). This novel mechanism contrasts with the prior art, as illustrated inFIG. 4-5. FIG. 4 is from U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,639.

In some embodiments, the prior art provides an additional pulling force on an existing primary drag system (24), further compressing a clutch pack from a primary drag system (24) using a knob on the second end to impose additional drag on the spool member.

In some embodiments, the present invention applies additional drag to the spool member (360) from a separate, independent mechanism with operational movement in a direction away from a user. The prior art applies additional drag to the spool member using a secondary activation method on the same mechanism with operational movement in a direction toward the user.

In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) rotates about 30 degrees. In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) rotates about 45 degrees. In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) rotates about 90 degrees. In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) rotates about 180 degrees.

In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) extends through the reel body in a general downward direction when the handle assembly (400) projects from a side. In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) extends through the reel body in a general upward direction when the handle assembly (400) projects from a side. In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) extends through the reel body in an inline direction with respect to the handle assembly (400) when the handle assembly (400) projects from a side. In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) extends through the reel body in an inline, opposite direction with respect to the handle assembly (400) when the handle assembly (400) projects from a side.

In some embodiments, the spool shaft sleeve bushing (640) comprises a friction enhancing lining.

In some embodiments, the spool shaft sleeve (610) is constructed from a metal.

In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) comprises a cam-shape, wherein the spool shaft sleeve posterior end (630) comprises a cam-shape, wherein the cam-shaped auxiliary drag lever (650) slidably interfaces with the cam-shaped spool shaft sleeve posterior end (630).

In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) is disposed on the reel body anterior end (210). In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) is disposed on the reel body posterior end (220). In some embodiments, the auxiliary drag lever (650) is disposed in a middle section of the reel body (200).

As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. For example, an embodiment wherein the reel body is about 10 inches in length includes a reel body that is between 9 and 11 inches in length.