Fishing reel

A fishing reel including a spool (5) for storing and dispensing line, and a winding mechanism for winding the line onto the spool (5) about a winding axis, the spool (5) is releasably secured in any one of a plurality of positions, each eccentrically offset from the winding axis to a different degree. In further embodiments a spool having an eccentrically positioned bore, a spindle positioned along an axis offset from the winding axis, the spindle being located within the bore of the spool, and a clutch releasably securing the spool in a desired position with respect to the spindle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fishing reel and more particularly to a fishing reel that is configured for enhanced fishing with lures. The spool of the fishing reel is movable between one or more eccentric position to a substantially concentric position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When fishing with a lure or spinning, it is desirable to be able to make the lure move erratically to more accurately imitate the motion of live bait. This can be achieved in part by the design of the lure itself which may be configured to spin, weave and/or dive within the water.

When fishing from a stationary boat or shore, the movement of the lure can be further enhanced by a process commonly known as “jigging” in which the angler regularly flicks the rod quickly backwards while winding in the line, thereby causing the lure to periodically accelerate and decelerate as it is reeled in.

While this method may be effective, particularly when fishing with larger lures, it takes considerable skill and effort and is not really practical when trying to simulate the fast darting movements of smaller bait.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,425,492 discloses a fishing reel in which the spool is movable between an eccentric and a concentric position. Line is wound onto the reel by rotating the spool. In the eccentric position “jigging” can be effected. The spool can only be positioned in one eccentric position and the point at which the spool moves from the eccentric to concentric position is preset and cannot be adjusted by the user. This restricts a user from setting the desired degree of eccentricity to achieve a desired movement of a lure and does not allow a user to set the force on the line required to move the spool from the eccentric to concentric position. The construction is complex as implemented in a fishing reel having a rotating reel.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fishing reel that overcomes or ameliorates one or more disadvantages of the prior art or which at least offers a useful alternative.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fishing reel including:

a spool for storing and dispensing line; and

a winding mechanism for winding line onto the spool about a winding axis,

wherein the spool may be releasably secured in any one of a plurality of positions,

each eccentrically offset from the winding axis to a different degree.

According to another aspect there is provided a fishing reel including:

a spool for storing and dispensing line having an eccentrically positioned bore therein;

a winding mechanism for winding line onto the spool about a winding axis;

a spindle positioned along an axis offset from the winding axis, the spindle being located within the bore of the spool; and

a clutch for releasably securing the spool in a desired position with respect to the spindle.

According to a further aspect there is provided a fishing reel including:

a spool for storing and dispensing line

a winding mechanism for winding line onto the spool about a winding axis;

said spool being mounted for selective movement between a first position wherein the axis of the spool is eccentrically offset from the winding axis and a second position wherein the axis of the spool is substantially concentric with the winding axis; and

a clutch enabling adjustment of the force required to move the spool from the first to the second position.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided a fishing reel including:

a spool for storing and dispensing line; and

a winding mechanism including an arm rotatable about a winding axis for winding line onto the spool, said spool being mounted for selective movement between a first position wherein the axis of the spool is eccentrically offset from the winding axis and a second position wherein the axis of the spool is substantially concentric with the winding axis.

Using a reel of the invention a lure can be wound in with the spool in the first eccentric position which causes the speed of the retracting line and lure to accelerate and decelerate with each rotation about the winding axis. Once there has been a “hit” and a fish is hooked, the spool automatically moves to the second position, which is substantially concentric with the winding axis, thus enabling the hooked fish to be reeled with the spool in the normal concentric location that provides an even speed winding action.

The spool is preferably releasably securable in a plurality of positions, each eccentrically offset from the winding axis to a different extent to allow a user to control the amount of “jigging”. The spool is preferably continuously adjustable between a most eccentric position and a concentric position. Stops on the spool and spool base (or another fixed part of the reel) may limit the range of movement of the spool with respect to the reel. Preferably the range of movement of the spool is limited to less than 180°.

In the preferred construction the spool has an eccentrically offset bore and is rotatable about a spindle positioned along an axis offset from the winding axis. Preferably, the spool mounting is configured to enable a self centring action from an eccentric to a concentric position when the load on the line exceeds a set threshold.

A clutch is preferably provided for securing the spool in a desired eccentric position and setting the load threshold for allowing movement between the eccentric to the concentric position. The clutch preferably includes a frictional surface between the spool and a spool base. A variable compression means is preferably provided to allow adjustment of the compressive force between the spool and the spool base. The variable compression means preferably consists of an adjustable nut which may be positioned along a threaded shaft to vary the compressive force applied by a spring.

The knob may include means for visually indicating the compressive force applied by the spring.

The reel may include a clicker in the form of a flexible strip mounted to a stationary part of the wheel which engages projections of a rotating part of the reel or vice versa.

There is further provided a spoof and spool base for a fishing reel wherein the spool may be releasably secured in any one of a plurality of positions, each eccentrically offset from the winding axis to a different degree.

There is still further provided a spool and spool base for a fishing reel wherein the spool base includes an eccentrically located spindle extending therefrom and the spool includes an eccentrically located bore for receiving the spindle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring firstly toFIGS. 1–12a reel according to a first embodiment will be described. The fishing reel includes a body part1having a foot2for securing the reel to a fishing rod. Rotation of crank3causes gear housing18and bale arm4to rotate about spool5. When the bale arm4is in its closed position (as shown) rotation of bale arm4about spool5causes line to be wound upon spool5or unwound therefrom depending upon the direction of rotation.

When spool5is in a substantially concentric position (as shown inFIGS. 1 and 8) the line is wound at a relatively even rate upon spool5. When spool5is moved from a substantially concentric position (as shown inFIG. 8) to substantially eccentric position (as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10A) the winding characteristics change. As the position of spool5becomes increasingly eccentric the speed of retraction of the line accelerates and decelerates with each rotation about the winding axis. This causes a lure attached to the line to accelerate and decelerate accordingly. This allows movement of the lure, commonly known as “jigging”, to be varied according to the extent to which spool5is eccentrically positioned.

Referring now toFIG. 6the mechanism for achieving eccentric positioning of spool5will be described. Spool base6has a spindle7extending therefrom. Spindle7is eccentrically positioned with respect to central bore8. Shaft9passes through bore8to mount spool base6to the reel. Shaft9extends along the winding axis about which line is wound onto spool5.

Spool5has an eccentrically located bore10. Spindle7locates within bore10and spool5is rotatable about spindle7. In the position shown inFIG. 8spindle7and bore10are offset from the winding axis (along the line of shaft9) to the same extent. In this relative position spool5is substantially concentric with the winding axis, as shown inFIG. 8. If spool5is rotated by 180° from this initial position the spool becomes offset from the winding axis by the displacement of bore10from the winding axis plus the displacement of spindle7from the winding axis to assume the position shown inFIG. 10A. In this position the greatest acceleration and deceleration of line will be achieved during winding.

As shown inFIG. 10Bstop29on spindle7may move within arcuate groove30to abut stops30A and30B at either end of travel. This limits movement within a range of 180° of relative movement.

In use spool5may be moved to a desired eccentric position and secured by a clutch. Whilst the spool is secured in an eccentric position winding of the line on spool5will result in a “jigging” action of the lure. When a fish is hooked a load is applied to the line and, when the load is sufficient to overcome the resistance of the clutch, spool5is forced back to the concentric position as shown inFIG. 8. Line can then run smoothly from the reel, utilising a drag control if desired, or be wound in smoothly to retrieve a fish. The arrangement described allows a user to position spool5with a desired amount of eccentricity with respect to the winding axis. It may then be secured in place by the clutch.

A number of clutch mechanisms could be employed but a preferred arrangement will now be described with reference toFIG. 6. A plate16is mounted at a fixed position along shaft9. Spool base6is mounted adjacent plate16with shaft9passing through bore8. A sheet11having a frictional surface is sandwiched between plate16and spool base6. Alternatively a frictional coating could be applied to either the surface of plate16adjacent spool6or the underside surface of spool base6adjacent plate16or both. Alternatively spool base6may mechanically engage with plate16to prevent relative rotation or some similar arrangement may be employed.

Spool5is mounted to spool base6by spindle7passing through bore10. The underside of spool5or the surface of spool base6adjacent spool5, or both, are provided with a frictional coating to act as a clutch plate. Alternatively a separate clutch plate may be provided between the spool5and spool base6. Washer12is then placed upon a threaded end of shaft9and a compression means in the form of knob13, spring14and nut15is then secured. A frictional surface may be provided between washer12and spool5also. Spring14and nut15are located within knob13. Knob13may be rotated by a user so as to fasten or unfasten nut15. As nut15is fastened and unfastened spring14applies a greater or lesser compressive force between spool base6and spool5. Due to the frictional surface between spool5and spool base6and between washer12and spool15the force required to rotate spool5varies according to the compressive force applied by spring14. It will be appreciated that acceptable performance may be achieved utilising only one such frictional surface. The frictional surface may suitably be PTFE tape. A circlip28may be provided to contain nut15and spring14within knob13.

Accordingly, by adjustment of knob13a user can secure spool5in a desired position and set the compressive force applied between spool5and spool base6by adjusting knob13. Adjusting the compressive force applied between spool5and spool base6allows a user to set the line loading at which the spool may move from an eccentric to a substantially concentric position.

In use knob13may be rotated to loosen the compression means formed by spring14and nut15. Spool5may then be rotated about spindle7to a desired eccentric position. Knob13may then be adjusted until nut15compresses spring14to apply a desired compressive force. A lure may then be cast and wound in in the normal manner. Due to the eccentric position of spool5line will be wound at a variable speed to produce a “jigging” action.

When a fish takes the lure a number of events happen in sequence. Torque is applied to spool5by the fishing line as the fish loads the line. As the torque increases spool5overcomes the frictional resistance and rotates about spindle7until stop30engages stop30A of spool base6.

Once spool5assumes the concentric position spool5and spool base6rotate about shaft9. The amount of drag (i.e. resistance to rotation of spool5and spool base6about shaft9) may be adjusted by adjusting the compressive force applied by spring14by adjusting the position of nut15. Where a drag control mechanism is employed which controls rotation of shaft9, spool base6may be fixed to shaft9and the drag may be adjusted via a drag control knob of the fishing reel. With spool5in its concentric position line may be wound in at a uniform rate.

Referring now toFIGS. 11 and 12a clicker mechanism is shown. The clicker mechanism produces a clicking noise when spool base6rotates relative to gear housing18. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 11 and 12a clicker plate16is fixed to shaft9and a flexible strip17is affixed to the gear housing18by a rivet19. As gear housing18rotates flexible strip17clicks as it passes over the teeth20of clicker wheel16. It will be appreciated that an opposite arrangement may also be employed where serrations are provided about the interior surface of gear housing18and a flexible strip extends from clicker plate16.

Referring now toFIGS. 13 to 15an alternative embodiment is shown in which a rear knob21is used to adjust the clutch. The mechanism is substantially the same as that shown in relation toFIGS. 1–12except that the form of the variable compression means has been modified for rear adjustment. In this case shaft22extends through tube31and has a flat head23for applying compressive force to spool5. As in the previous embodiment knob21rotates nut25on a threaded end of shaft22to adjust the compression of spring26. This arrangement makes adjustment of knob21easier for some configurations and removes any obstruction from the front of spool5. A separate drag control mechanism may be provided with a separate drag control knob.

Referring now toFIG. 16a knob24including a visual indication means is shown. In this case a number of lines27are indicated on an end of nut25to enable a user to see the extent to which spring26has been compressed by the position of nut25with respect to knob24. This enables a user to set a desired threshold at which the spool may move from an eccentric to a concentric position based on visual markings. This arrangement may be utilised for knob13shown in relation toFIGS. 1–12also.

The invention provides a fishing reel of simple construction that allows a user to set a desired amount of “jigging” and to set the force required to move the spool from an eccentric to a concentric position.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example it is to be appreciated that improvements and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.