Fishing apparatus

A fishing apparatus that allows an individual to catch fish, while at the same, not be encumbered with a traditional fishing rod and reel. The fishing apparatus includes a reel that has an indentation where a length of fishing line or monofilament is wound around. To one side of the reel is attached a centrally-mounted plastic grip, while an offset handle is attached to the other side of the reel. The fishing line, as it exits the reel, passes through a loop attached to a line guide which is mounted on the reel. A tensioner bolt, which is centrally mounted on the opposite side as that of the centrally-mounted grip, passes through the reel and provides tension against the fishing apparatus, thereby giving a more authentic feel to the fishing apparatus in comparison to a standard fishing rod and reel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns that of a new and improved fishing apparatus that allows an individual to catch fish, while at the same, not be encumbered with a traditional fishing rod and reel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 2,706,096, issued to Rufle, discloses a reel which is particularly suited for use in fishing.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,965, issued to Falcon, discloses a reel comprised of a round cylindrical housing having one integral end wall closure providing a hand grip means, and a spool rotatably journaled within the cylindrical housing chamber.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,011, issued to Gavaza, III, discloses a fishing line spool holder for facilitating the transfer of fishing line from a supply spool to a fishing reel.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,740, issued to Weeks et al., discloses a hand reel for fishing line.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,349, issued to Clerk, discloses a fishing reel is provided with a housing having a central opening therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns that of a new and improved fishing apparatus that allows an individual to catch fish, while at the same, not be encumbered with a traditional fishing rod and reel. The fishing apparatus includes a reel that has an indentation where a length of fishing line or monofilament is wound around. To one side of the reel is attached a centrally-mounted plastic grip, while an offset handle is attached to the other side of the reel. The fishing line, as it exits the reel, passes through a loop attached to a line guide which is mounted on the reel. A tensioner bolt, which is centrally mounted on the opposite side as that of the centrally-mounted grip, passes through the reel and provides tension against the fishing apparatus, thereby giving a more authentic feel to the fishing apparatus in comparison to a standard fishing rod and reel.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of a fishing apparatus that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the fishing apparatus that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the fishing apparatus in detail, it is to be understood that the fishing apparatus is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The fishing apparatus is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fishing apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fishing apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fishing apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fishing apparatus which is economically affordable and available for relevant market segment of the purchasing public.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1 through 5thereof, a new fishing apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral2will be described.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5, the fishing apparatus2comprises a reel4, with the reel4having two sides comprising a left side6and a right side8. In between the left side6and the right side8of the reel4, an indentation10is present. The indentation10is formed when the area in between the left side6and the right side8forms a “V shape,” thereby allowing a length of line52to be wound around the area in between the left side6and the right side8of the reel4. Line52can be a wide variety of lines, such as standard fishing line, a monofilament type of fishing line, or something similar.

Fishing apparatus2further comprises a plastic grip12that has two ends comprising a first end and a second end. The plastic grip12has a plurality of knurls13on it for easy grasping. The first end of the plastic grip12has a hole16in it, with the hole16having a plurality of internal threads14inside of it. The first end of the plastic grip12is the end of the plastic grip12that is placed against the left side6of the reel4.

The right side8of the reel4has a central depression30located on it, with the depression30being circular in shape. The depth of the depression30is about halfway the diameter of the reel4overall. A hole40is centrally located within the depression, with this hole40traveling all the way through to the left side6of the reel4.

In order to secure the plastic grip12to the left side6of the reel4, a tensioner bolt32is used. Tensioner bolt32comprises a rod34that has two ends comprising a first end and a second end, with the second end of the tensioner bolt32being connected to a cap36. The first end of the rod34of the tensioner bolt32has a plurality of external threads38that are capable of being threadably attached to the internal threads14within the hole16that is on the plastic grip12.

Prior to the tensioner bolt32being inserted through the hole40, a spring44and a washer42are placed on the tensioner bolt32. Then, the first end of the tensioner bolt32is inserted through the hole40and onward through the hole16until the external threads38on the tensioner bolt32can be threadably attached to the internal threads14located within the hole16on the plastic grip12. Once this occurs, the positioning of the tensioner bolt32in relation to the reel4can be adjusted, depending on how much tension in between the tensioner bolt32and the reel4is desired.

The fishing apparatus2further comprises a handle18that is attached to the right side8of the reel4. Because of the presence of the depression30, the handle18is attached in an offset manner—is not centrally located. The handle18further comprises a central shaft23, with the central shaft23comprising a rod22and a cap25. The rod22has two ends comprising a first end and a second end, with the first end of the rod22having a plurality of external threads24and the second end of the rod22having the cap25attached. The rod22itself is mounted within hole26, which has a plurality of internal threads28. The external threads24on the first end of the rod22are capable of being threadably attached to the plurality of internal threads28located within the hole26. The central shaft23is fixedly attached to the right side8of the reel4and does not rotate at all.

A cylindrical sleeve21is located over the rod22portion of the central shaft23. The cylindrical sleeve21has a length that goes from the right side8of the reel4to the cap25of the central shaft23. The cylindrical sleeve21freely rotates around the rod22of the central shaft23and allows an individual to easily rotate the reel4when the fishing apparatus2is in use.

To help control the length of line52that is located around the indentation10and utilized by an individual while fishing, a line guide46is present. Line guide46comprises a bent rod54that has two ends comprising a first end and a second end. The first end of the bent rod54has a mount49that is attached to the left side6of the reel4through use of two guide mounting screws50and51. The second end of the bent rod54has a loop48that is located directly over the length of line52that is located within the indentation and wound around the reel4. An end of the length of line52would be placed through the loop48, with the end of this line being attached to an actual fishing hook60. This end of the line52is the end of the line52that would be cast out in a body of water for the purposes of fishing and attempting to catch a fish.