Abstract:
A fishing line feeder spool support comprises a pair of flexible arms which are adapted to grip a fishing rod ahead of a fishing reel mounted thereon. The feeder spool support comprises a threaded shaft which rotatably supports a spool of fishing line while the fishing line is installed onto the fishing reel through the operation of the reel crank. A flanged nut is threaded onto the shaft to hold the spool. The line tension can be adjusted by tightening the flanged nut against the spool, thereby adjusting the pulling force needed to remove line from the supply spool. A crankable supply spool can also be installed on the shaft to remove and store fishing line from the fishing reel for later replacement on the reel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/320,060, filed Mar. 27, 2003, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to fishing reels and more particularly to a removable spool support for supporting a spool of fishing line in the proper position during installation of the fishing line on a fishing reel. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Fishing line used in sportfishing is available in a wide range of materials, sizes, and performance properties. Selection of the appropriate fishing line will depend upon several factors such as the type of fishing (bait fishing, flyfishing, spin casting), the type of water (freshwater v. salt water, stream fishing v. lake fishing v. ice fishing), the size of the fish pursued, etc. A sportsman active in several different types of fishing may need to use a variety of fishing lines which are readily exchangeable. A selection of fishing lines can be provided in several ways. 
     Several different replaceable reel spools for each fishing reel, each holding a selected fishing line, can be used. When a particular line is to be used, the reel spool holding that line is exchanged for the reel spool currently on the reel. Alternatively, the fishing line on a particular reel spool can be removed and replaced With the desired line. 
     In the first instance, maintaining a supply of reel spools can be expensive. In the latter instance, changing line, particularly if it must be done frequently, can be time-consuming and inconvenient. In particular, fishing line must be carefully wound from the supply spool onto the reel spool in order to avoid twisting the line or excessively stretching the line, which can lead to line entanglement during use or premature line failure. Furthermore, all fishing line deteriorates with age and use, and must be periodically replaced with fresh line. 
     Typically, a sportsman needing to have new fishing line installed on a fishing reel must arrange for a sporting goods store having the proper equipment to install the line. This can be inconvenient, as well as costly. Furthermore, such an option is unworkable if the line must be replaced in the field. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     A device for installing a length of fishing line onto a fishing reel mounted onto a fishing rod having a longitudinal axis comprises a spool holder adapted to receive a spool containing the length of fishing line, wherein the spool is mounted for rotatable movement with respect to the spool holder, a quick-release clamp, wherein the quick-release clamp has a retainer mounted thereto for movement between a clamping position wherein the retainer is adapted to retain a portion of the fishing rod and a release position wherein the retainer is opened to allow removal of the clamp from the portion of the fishing rod, and a support arm connecting the spool holder to the quick-release clamp, whereby, when a user of the fishing rod desires to install the length of fishing line onto the fishing reel, the quick-release clamp, in its release position, is positioned over a length of the fishing rod generally distal from the fishing reel, and the quick-release clamp is moved to its clamping position so that the quick-release clamp is retained on the rod whereby a spool of additional fishing line can be rotatably mounted on the spool holder and the fishing line from the spool can be fed onto the fishing reel in a convenient manner. In one embodiment, a spring biases the quick-release clamp to the clamping position. In another embodiment, a spool retainer retains the spool on the spool holder. In yet another embodiment, the spool retainer is a flanged nut. The flanged nut can be tightened against the spool to restrain the spool against rotating. A spring can be inserted between the spool retainer and the spool. 
     In another embodiment, the support arm is inclined relative to the spool holder. In yet another embodiment the support arm comprises a lower linkage, an upper linkage, and a pivotal connection therebetween for pivotal movement of the upper linkage relative to the lower linkage. In another embodiment, the quick-release clamp, the spool holder, and the support arm lie in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the fishing rod. In another embodiment, the spool further comprises a crank for rotating the spool to retrieve line from the reel onto the spool. 
     In another embodiment, an assembly for installing fishing line onto a fishing reel comprises a fishing rod having a longitudinal axis, a fishing reel mounted to the fishing rod at a first end thereof, at least one eyelet adapted to route the fishing line along the length of the rod, and a line feeding device comprising a spool holder adapted to receive a spool containing the length of fishing line, wherein the spool is mounted for rotatable movement with respect to the spool holder, a quick-release clamp, wherein the quick-release clamp has a retainer mounted thereto for movement between a clamping position wherein the retainer is adapted to retain a portion of the fishing rod and a release position wherein the retainer is opened to allow removal of the clamp from the portion of the fishing rod, and a support arm connecting the spool holder to the quick-release clamp, whereby, when a user of the fishing rod desires to install the length of fishing line onto the fishing reel, the quick-release clamp, in its release position, is positioned over a length of the fishing rod generally distal from the fishing reel, and the quick-release clamp is moved to its clamping position so that the quick-release clamp is retained on the rod whereby a spool of additional fishing line can be rotatably mounted on the spool holder and the fishing line from the spool can be fed onto the fishing reel in a convenient manner. 
     In another embodiment, a method of installing fishing line from a spool of replacement fishing line onto a fishing reel mounted to a fishing rod comprises the steps of detachably mounting the spool of replacement fishing line to the fishing rod for rotatable movement of the spool with respect thereto in a generally spaced relationship with respect to the fishing reel, threading the fishing line from the spool of replacement fishing line to the fishing reel, attaching the fishing line to the fishing reel, and winding the fishing line onto the fishing reel. In another embodiment, the method can comprise the step of restraining rotation of the spool of replacement fishing line to vary the tension of the fishing line being wound onto the fishing reel. In yet another embodiment, the method can comprise the step of rotating the spool to unwind fishing line from the fishing reel onto the spool. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fishing rod and fishing reel having an attached fishing line feeder spool support according to the invention for installing fishing line on the fishing reel. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of the fishing line feeder spool support of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2A is a partial perspective view of a portion of the fishing line feeder spool support of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the fishing line feeder spool support of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4A is a front elevational view of the fishing line feeder spool support of FIG. 2 with a line storage spool for removing and storing fishing line from the fishing reel. 
     FIG. 4B is a side elevational view of the line storage spool of FIG.  4 A. 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a third embodiment of the fishing line feeder spool support of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a fourth embodiment of the fishing line feeder spool support of FIG. 1 comprising a pivotable support arm and shown in an unfolded position. 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the fishing line feeder spool support of FIG. 7 shown in a folded position. 
     FIG. 8 is a close-up perspective view of the pivotable support arm of FIGS. 6 and 7. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the figures, and to FIG. 1 in particular, a well-known fishing rod  10  is shown mounting a fishing reel  12 , shown in FIG. 1 as a conventional spinning reel, in a well-known manner. The fishing reel  12  comprises a reel spool  20  and a bail  22  operated by a crank  24  for playing out and retrieving fishing line  18 . The fishing line  18  is threaded through a first line guide  14  followed by a plurality of line guides  16  mounted in a conventional manner along the rod  10 . It will be understood that, although the fishing reel  12  is shown for exemplary purposes as a spinning reel, the invention is not so limited and can be used with any fishing reel, such as a fly reel or a baitcasting reel. 
     A fishing line feeder spool support  30  is shown in FIG. 1 attached to the rod  10  as hereinafter described between the first line guide  14  and an adjacent line guide in the plurality of line guides  16 , and holding a spool  60  containing a supply of fishing line to be installed on the reel spool  20 . FIG. 1 shows the fishing line feeder spool support  30  suspended from the rod  10  to hang from the rod  10  for operable juxtaposition with the reel  12 . However, the fishing line feeder spool support  30  can alternatively be attached to the rod  10  to extend upwardly for operable juxtaposition with a fishing reel that is mounted to an upper side of the rod, such as a bait-casting reel. 
     FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the fishing line feeder spool support  30  as a generally L-shaped member comprising a quick-release clamp  32  and a spool holder  34 . The quick-release clamp  32  comprises a first arm  36  and a second arm  38  joined at a bight section  40 , and defines a longitudinal axis  28 . In the preferred embodiment, the first arm  36  comprises a generally elongated strap-like member comprising a straight section  42  transitioning to a crossing section  44  inclined therefrom to cross the longitudinal axis  28 , and terminating in an arcuate retainer  46 . The retainer  46  has a radius of curvature adapted for cooperative register of the retainer  46  with the shaft of the fishing rod  10 . 
     The crossing section  44  has a somewhat narrower cross-section than the straight section  42  (FIG.  2 A). The arcuate retainer  46  has an inner surface  48  which is adapted to frictionally communicate with the shaft of the fishing rod  10 , and can be provided with a material, such as rubber, that will not mar the shaft of the fishing rod  10  and will enhance the frictional force between the retainer  46  and the shaft of the fishing rod  10 . 
     The second arm  38  comprises a generally elongated strap-like member generally identical to the first arm  36  and comprising a straight section  42  transitioning to a crossing section  44  inclined therefrom to cross the longitudinal axis  28  in opposed juxtaposition to the first arm  36 . The second arm  38  terminates in an arcuate retainer  46  having a radius of curvature adapted for cooperative register of the retainer  46  with the shaft of the fishing rod in opposed juxtaposition to the arcuate retainer  46  of the first arm  36 . The crossing section  44  of the second arm  38  also has a somewhat narrower cross-section than the straight section  42 . The arcuate retainer  46  of the second arm  38  has an inner surface  48  which is adapted to frictionally communicate with the shaft of the fishing rod  10 , and can be provided with a material, such as rubber, that will not mar the shaft of the fishing rod  10  and will enhance the frictional force between the retainer  46  and the shaft of the fishing rod  10 . The first arm  36  and the second arm  38  are operably joined at the bight section  40  so that the arcuate retainers  46  are in cooperative juxtaposition as shown in FIG. 2 to form an attachment portion for attaching the fishing line feeder spool support  30  to the shaft of the fishing rod  10 . The crossing sections  44  of the first arm  36  and the second arm  38  are adapted so that the crossing sections  44  will clear each other at the point of crossing due to the reduced cross-section of the crossing sections  44 , as shown in FIG.  2 A. 
     Extending away from the retainers  46  generally collinearly with the longitudinal axis  28  of the quick-release clamp  32  is an elongated support arm  50  which is rigidly attached to the bight section  40  generally parallel to the straight sections  42 . An elongated, rod-like spool shaft  52  is rigidly attached to the support arm  50  orthogonal thereto comprising a threaded section  54  adapted for threadable communication with an inner flanged nut  56  and an outer flanged nut  58 . The spool shaft  52  is adapted to receive the spool  60  of fishing line which rotates about the spool shaft  52  as line is removed from the spool  60 . The flanged nuts  56 ,  58  can be turned on the threaded section  54  to hold the spool  60  in a selected position on the spool shaft  52 . The flanged nuts  56 ,  58  can also be selectively tightened against the spool  60  to control its rotation and maintain a selected tension on the fishing line during installation of the fishing line on the reel  12 . As shown in FIG. 5, a spool spring  86 , preferably comprising a conventional helical spring, can be inserted over the spool shaft  52  to bear against one of the inner flanged nuts  56 ,  58  and the spool  60  containing the fishing line. The flanged  56 ,  58  can be selectively tightened against the spool  60  to compress the spring  86  and thereby control the rotation of the spool  60  and the tension on the fishing line during installation. 
     Preferably, the first arm  36 , the second arm  38 , and the bight section  40  are fabricated from a single piece of material and stamped or bent to the desired configuration. Alternatively, the arms  36 ,  38  can be fabricated of separate pieces, each comprising half of the bight section  40 , and joined together at or below the bight section  40  along the support arm  50 , such as by spot welding or suitable fasteners, to form the quick-release clamp  32 . Preferably, the quick-release clamp  32  is fabricated of a stiff, resilient material, such as spring steel or a high strength plastic, which can be repeatedly deflected laterally and will return to its original configuration, so that inward pressure on the straight sections  42  will result in separation of the retainers  46 , and release of the pressure will result in the return of the arms  36 ,  38  to their at-rest configuration to impart a clamping force to the section of rod  10  inserted therebetween. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the feeder spool support  30  in which the crossing sections  44  have a somewhat arcuate shape transitioning smoothly into the retainers  46 . Additionally, the inner flanged nut  56  is replaced with a spool stop  64 . The spool stop  64  is a generally circular platelike flange rigidly attached to the spool shaft  52  and against which the spool bears. The outer flanged nut  56  can be threadably tightened on the threaded section  62  against the spool  60  to maintain a selected tension on the fishing line during installation of the fishing line on the reel  12 . 
     FIG. 3 also illustrates an alternate assembly for developing the clamping force of the retainers  46 . A spring  78  is inserted between the first arm  36  and the second arm  38  to provide a clamping force additional to the force resulting from the resiliency of the arms  36 ,  38 . The spring  78  is retained in a preselected position between the arms  36 ,  38  through a suitable retainer, such as a pair of inwardly-extending retainer posts  79  rigidly attached to the arms  36 ,  38  over which the ends of the spring  78  can be inserted. It will be understood that the spool stop  64  and the spring  78  can be incorporated into any of the other embodiments shown and described herein. 
     FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the feeder spool support  30  in which the support arm  50  is replaced with a first support arm  80  rigidly attached to the spool shaft  52  orthogonally thereto, an inclined arm  82  rigidly attached to the support arm  50  and inclined away from the spool shaft  52 , and a second support arm  84  rigidly attached to the inclined arm  82  parallel to the first support arm  80  so that the quick-release clamp  32  is centered over the spool holder  34 , thereby balancing the spool holder  34  beneath the fishing rod  10  in line with the fishing reel  12 . 
     FIG. 4A shows an embodiment of the feeder spool support  30  provided with a line storage spool  66  comprising a center hub  68 , a circular plate-like inner flange  70  and a circular plate-like outer flange  72  coaxially attached to the hub  68  in parallel spaced-apart juxtaposition, an aperture  74  extending through the flanges  70 ,  72  and the hub  68 , and a crank handle  76  rotatably attached to the outer flange  72  adjacent the circumference thereof. The storage spool  66  is adapted to be rotatably received over the support arm  50  and to be turned via the crank handle  76  for removing and storing fishing line from the fishing reel  12 . 
     FIGS. 6-8 show a fourth embodiment of the feeder spool support  30  in which the support arm  50  is hinged. The support arm  50  comprises a lower linkage  90  and an upper linkage  92  pivotably joined by a suitable connection, such as a pinned connection  94 . As shown in FIG. 8, the upper linkage  92  terminates in a pair of parallel, spaced-apart arms  100  adapted for pivotable insertion of the lower linkage  90  therebetween. The arms  100  are provided with suitable pin apertures adapted for coaxial alignment with a mating aperture in the lower linkage  90  for insertion of a pin therethrough in a well-known manner to form the pivotal connection  94 . 
     Each arm  100  is provided with an inwardly-extending boss  98  in opposed juxtaposition and adapted for operable register with mating detents  96  in the lower linkage  90 . The bosses  98  and detents  96  provide an interference fit which will retain the lower linkage  90  in collinear relation to the upper linkage  92 , as shown in FIG.  6 . The upper linkage  92  can be selectively pivoted relative to the lower linkage  90  as shown in FIG. 7 to fold the quick-release clamp  32  adjacent the spool holder  34  in a compact configuration for storage and transportation. The bosses  98  and the detents  96  can be easily engaged and disengaged for folding and unfolding the quick-release clamp  32  relative to the spool holder  34 . 
     The fishing line feeder spool support  30  is an easily installed device for holding a supply spool of fishing line  18  at a proper orientation for readily loading the line  18  onto a fishing reel  12 . The tension on the fishing line  18  as it is loaded onto the reel  12  can be easily adjusted to provide the proper installation of the line  18 . The fishing line feeder spool support  30  can be used at home, along a stream, or in a boat for quickly and easily changing fishing line  18  when fishing conditions change. The fishing line feeder spool support  30  eliminates the necessity of relying upon a sporting goods store for installation of fishing line on a fishing reel, or maintaining multiple reel spools of fishing line in order to quickly change fishing line while in the field. 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the scope of the invention.