Abstract:
A fishing line guide system for use on a fishing rod comprising at least two fishing line guides or concentrically aligned guide rings to reduce the helix formed in the fishing line during casting including a primary or proximal guide ring and a secondary or distal guide ring disposed in planes substantially parallel to each other and spaced within a predetermined range or distance relative to each other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    A fishing line guide system for use on a fishing rod and spinning reel comprising at least two concentrically aligned line guides to reduce the helix formed in the fishing line during casting. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Numerous efforts have been made to improve guides on various fishing rods. None of these designs appears to reduce the helix formed in the fishing line during casting. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 234,812 shows a line guide for a fishing rod compring a single piece of metal including two tangs or prongs and eyes bent at an angle to the tangs or prongs connected at their meeting edges. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 387,545 relates to a line guide for fishing rods constructed from a single piece of sheet metal wherein the central portion is punched to form eyes and having shanks projecting therefrom. The eye portions are bent at an angle to the shanks combined with bushings through the eyes closed down upon both sides to form a rounded interior surface for the eyes. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,856,551 discloses a tip for fishing rods comprising a ferrule, arms projecting outwardly from the ferrule, tines projecting outwardly from each arm and eyes between the tines disposed at an angle to the axis of the tip. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,732,644 teaches a fishing pole with means for selectively mounting a fishing reel at various locations spaced circumferentially and longitudinally along the pole. The pole may be provided with a line guide having eyelets of different sizes and designs circumferentially arranged along the intermediate length of the pole to correspond with the location of the associated reel. A stationary or swivel tip line guide may be incorporated. The fishing rod enables a angler to employ a single pole with different types of fishing reels for meeting the needs attendant different types of fishing and different types of terrain encountered during a fishing trip. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,906 shows a fishing line guide comprising a guide body including holding bores and line guide rings having guide bores and mounted to the holding bores wherein the axis of each holding bore is slanted longitudinally with respect to the axis of a fishing rod. The inner surface of each guide bore is formed in a quarter circle in section so that each line guide ring is mounted to the holding bore in the relation that the arcuate inner surface of the guide bore is inclined outwardly of the holding bore. 
         [0010]    Additional examples of the prior art are found in the following foreign patents. JP 2001-190,188; JP 2003-047,371; JP 2004-129,525; JP 2004-208,575 and EP 0,827,688. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention relates to a fishing line guide system for use with a fishing rod/spinning reel combination comprising a fishing rod having a plurality of distal fishing line guides attached in spaced relationship relative to each other and to the fishing line guide system along the length thereof and a spinning reel to guide the fishing line during casting and retrieving the fishing line. 
         [0012]    The fishing line guide comprises a primary or proximal circular guide ring and a secondary or distal circular guide ring disposed in concentric alignment relative to each other and affixed to the fishing pole by a guide ring mount or frame. 
         [0013]    The planes in which the primary or proximal circular guide ring and the secondary or distal circular guide ring are disposed are substantially parallel to each other. 
         [0014]    The primary or proximal guide ring and the secondary or distal guide ring are spaced within a predetermined range or distance relative to each other to reduce helixes formed in the fishing line during casting. 
         [0015]    The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a fishing rod with standard or conventional fishing line guides in combination with a spinning reel. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a fishing rod with the fishing line guides of the present invention in combination with a spinning reel. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the fishing line guides of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the fishing line guides of the present invention shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the fishing line guides of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a side view of another alternate embodiment of the fishing line guides of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a side view of yet another alternate embodiment of the fishing line guides for the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a side view of still another alternate embodiment of the fishing line guide of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a side view of yet still another alternate embodiment of the fishing line guide of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a side view of still yet another alternate embodiment of the fishing line guide of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0027]    Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  depicts a fishing rod and spinning reel combination comprising a fishing rod  10  having a plurality of conventional fishing line guides each generally indicated as  12  attached or affixed in spaced relationship relative to each other along the length thereof and a spinning reel  14  mounted on the proximal end portion of the fishing rod  10  to payout fishing line  16  when casting a lure or bait and to retrieve the fishing line  16  after casting the lure or bait. As shown, a plurality of helixes generally indicated as  18 A,  18 B and  18 C of decreasing size progressing from the proximal end to the distal end of the fishing rod  10  are formed in the fishing line  16  during a cast. 
         [0029]    Each fishing line guide  12  comprise a guide ring  20  affixed to the fishing pole by a corresponding guide ring mount  22 . As the diameter of each guide ring  20  decreases from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion of the fishing rod  10 , the size of each succeeding helix  18 A/ 18 B/ 18 C decreases until the fishing line  16  is virtually straight leaving the fishing rod  10 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  depicts the fishing line guide system of the present invention generally indicated as  24  for use with a fishing rod and spinning reel combination comprising a fishing rod  26  having a plurality of distal fishing line guides each indicated as  28  attached in spaced relationship relative to each other and to the fishing line guide system  24  and a spinning reel  30  to guide the fishing line  32  during casting and retrieving the fishing line  32 . 
         [0031]    As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the fishing line guide  24  comprises a primary or proximal circular guide ring  34  and a secondary or distal circular guide ring  36  disposed in concentric alignment relative to each other and affixed to the fishing pole  26  by a guide ring mount or frame generally indicated as  38 . 
         [0032]    The center line CL of the spinning reel  30  is inclined toward the center line RCL of the fishing rod  10  such that the fishing line  32  passes essentially through the center of the primary of proximal circular guide ring  34  and the center of the secondary or distal circular guide ring  36 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the distance D 1  between the front lip  40  of the spinning reel  30  and the primary or proximal circular guide  34  is at least about 7 inches to about 24 inches but preferably 20 inches or ten (10) times the diameter of front lip  40 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the planes in which the primary or proximal circular guide ring  34  and the secondary or distal circular guide ring  36  indicated as  42  and  44  respectively are disposed are substantially parallel to each other. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the distance D 2  between the geometric center of the primary or proximal circular guide ring  34  and the upper surface of the fishing rod  26  is from about 1.0 inch to about 1.7 inches or from about one-half (½) to about one-third (⅓) the distance from the center line SCL of the spinning reel  30 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the distance D 3  between the primary or proximal circular guide ring  34  and the second or distal circular guide ring  36  is from about ¼ inch to about 2 inches. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the inside diameter D 4  of the primary or proximal circular guide ring  34  is from about ¾ inch to about 1¼ inches; while, the inside diameter D 5  of the secondary or distal circular guide ring  36  from about 6/100 inch to about ½ inch. The distance D 3  between the secondary or distal circular guide ring  36  and the primary or proximal circular guide ring  34  is from about 0.2 times to about 2.0 times the inside diameter D 4  of the primary or proximal circular guide ring  34 . The ratio of the inside diameter D 5  of the secondary or distal circular guide ring  36  to the inside diameter D 4  of the primary or proximal circular guide ring  34  is from about 0.05 to about 0.7. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the primary or proximal fishing line guide  34  is affixed or attached to the fishing pole  26  by a guide frame base  46  and a primary or proximal guide frame extension  48 ; while, the secondary or distal fishing line guide  36  is affixed or attached to the fishing rod  26  by the guide frame base  46  and a secondary or distal guide frame extension  50 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  discloses an alternate embodiment of the fishing line guide system  24  with similar components similarly numbered or designated as those depicted in  FIGS. 2 through 4 . Similarly, the dimensions, relative positioning and sizes or ratios of the components are substantially the same as those described and as depicted in  FIGS. 2 through 4 . Specifically, the fishing line guide system  24  comprises a primary or proximal circular guide ring  34  and a secondary or distal circular guide ring  36  disposed in concentric alignment relative to each other and affixed to the fishing pole  26  by a corresponding guide ring mount or frame generally indicated as  38 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the primary or proximal guide frame  38  comprises a primary or proximal guide frame base  52  and a primary or proximal guide frame extension  54 ; while, the secondary or distal guide frame  38  comprises a secondary or distal guide frame base  56  and a secondary or distal guide frame extension  58 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the fishing line guide system  24  with similar components similarly numbered or designated as those depicted in  FIGS. 2 through 4 . Similarly, the dimensions, relative positions and sizes or ratios are substantially the same as depicted in  FIGS. 2 through 4 . Specifically, the fishing line guide system  24  comprises a primary or proximal circular guide ring  34 ; a secondary or distal circular guide ring  36  and an intermediate circular guide ring  60  disposed in concentric alignment relative to each other and affixed to the fishing pole  26  by a guide ring mount or frame generally indicated as  38 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the primary or proximal fishing line guide  34  is affixed or attached to the fishing pole  26  by a guide frame base  46  and a primary or proximal guide frame extension  48 , the intermediate circular guide ring  60  is attached or affixed to the guide frame base  46  by an intermediate guide frame extension  62  and the secondary or distal fishing line guide  36  is affixed or attached to the intermediate guide frame extension  62  by a secondary or distal guide frame extension  50 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  shows still another embodiment of the fishing line guide system  24  with similar components similarly numbered or designated. Similarly, the dimensions, relative positions and sizes or ratios are substantially the same as depicted in  FIGS. 2 through 4  except as noted. Specifically, the fishing line guide system  24  comprises a primary or proximal circular guide ring or orifice  34  and a secondary or distal circular guide ring or orifice  36  at opposite ends of a hollow frustum conical shell  64  affixed to the fishing pole  26  by a guide ring mount or frame generally indicated as  38 . The diameter of the primary or proximal circular guide ring or orifice  34  is about four (4) times the diameter of the secondary or distal circular guide ring or orifice  36 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 8  shows still another embodiment of the fishing line guide system  24  with similar components similarly numbered or designated. Similarly, the dimensions, relative positions and sizes or ratios are substantially, the same as depicted in  FIGS. 2 through 4  except as noted. Specifically, the fishing line guide system  24  comprises a primary or proximal circular guide protrusion or bead or ring  66 , an intermediate circular guide protrusion or bead or ring  68  and a secondary of distal circular guide protrusion or bead or ring  70  formed or disposed on the inner surface of a hollow frustum conical shell  64  at the proximal end potion adjacent the primary or proximal circular guide orifice  34 , the intermediate portion of the hollow frustum conical shell  64  and the distal end portion adjacent the secondary or distal circular guide orifice  36  respectively. The hollow frustum conical shell  64  is affixed to the fishing pole  26  by a guide ring mount or frame generally indicated as  38 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 9  shows yet still another alternate embodiment of the fishing line guide system  24  with similar components similarly numbered or designated. Similarly, the dimensions, relative positions and sizes or ratios are substantially the same as depicted in  FIGS. 2 through 4  except as noted. Similarly, the dimensions, relative positions and sizes or ratios are substantially the same as depicted in  FIGS. 2 through 4  except as noted. Specifically, the fishing line guide system  24  comprises a primary or proximal circular guide ring or orifice  34  and a secondary or distal circular guide ring or orifice  36  at opposite ends of the hollow frustum conical shell  64  affixed to the fishing pole  26  by a guide ring mount or frame generally indicated as  38 . The diameter of the primary or proximal circular guide ring or orifice  34  is about four (4) times the diameter of the secondary or distal circular guide ring or orifice  36 . A substantially cylindrical entry lip  72  is disposed adjacent the primary or proximal circular guide ring or orifice  34 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 10  depicts still yet another alternate embodiment of the fishing line guide system  24  with similar components similarly numbered or designated. Similarly, the dimensions, relative positions and sizes or ratios are substantially the same as depicted in  FIGS. 2 through 4  except as noted. Specifically, the fishing line guide system  24  comprises a hollow bowl shaped shell  74  including a primary or proximal circular guide ring or orifice  34  and a secondary or distal circular guide ring  36  formed in a distal wall or base  76  formed at opposite ends of the hollow bowl shaped shell  74 . A primary or proximal circular guide protrusion or bead  78  and a secondary or distal circular guide protrusion or bead  80  may be formed or disposed on the inner surface of a hollow bowl shaped shell  72  adjacent the primary or proximal circular guide ring or orifice  34  and the secondary or distal fishing line guide  36  respectively. The hollow bowl shaped shell  72  is affixed to the fishing pole  26  by a guide ring mount or frame generally indicated as  38 . 
         [0042]    It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0043]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 
         [0044]    Now that the invention has been described,