Abstract:
A fishing reel is described that may be used to alert a user of a fish strike. The device provides for both audible alerts and visual alerts, wherein the visual alerts are particularly well suited for alerting a user in a dark shelter or fish house.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP 
     Not Applicable 
     JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention pertains generally to fishing reels and, more particularly, the invention pertains to an ice fishing reel that provides audible and visual alerts to the user when the reel spool rotates. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Over the years various features of fishing reels have been devised specific to a particular type of fishing. For example, salt water, fresh water, pan fish, bait casting, spin casting, musky, and ice fishing reels all have features unique to the particular type of intended fishing. The extreme conditions that may be encountered when ice fishing demand a robust reel operable even when ice freezes on the line. Further, various techniques unique to ice fishing make it desirable to have an alert system incorporated into the reel. The alert system preferably has the capability to alert more than one sense of the user. For example, the user may fish for an extended period of time and may not have complete attention directed to the fishing reel at all times. Previously, spring loaded flags of various sorts have been devised to activate when the reel spool rotates. From time to time a user may prefer a visual and audible alert. Further, when fishing during darkness a flag alert may be difficult to apprehend. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments according to aspects of the invention provide an ice fishing reel suitable for alerting a fisherman when a fish strikes. In accordance with aspects of the invention, an embodiment of the invention includes a spool adapted for receiving a fishing line, an axle about which the spool rotates, and an array of LED lights radially spaced on a substrate that is attached to the axle in a stationary orientation. The spool includes translucent sides or flanges that radiate light from the LED lights. The spool further includes a line receiving portion that may, for example without limitation, include a cylindrical hub or spaced apart dowels attached to the inner surface of the sides. The dowels or fishing line support members are oriented about the sides to form a line receiving cylinder portion with spaces in between the dowels. The cylinder portion formed by the hub or support members has a radius sufficient to contain the array of LED lights within a hollow portion defined by the hub or support members. A bell, die, marble, rattle, or other noise maker may also be contained within the hollow portion of the cylinder. When the spool is rotated or otherwise moved, the noise maker hits against the inside of the cylinder multiple times, emitting an audible noise or alarm. The spool may also include a spool crank attached to or coupled to the spool whereby the crank may be used by the user to rotate the spool. 
     The array of LED lights are radially spaced on a substrate and are electrically coupled together. A primary electrical lead interconnects all the LED lights together and is routed to a power supply. A hollow axle provides an electrical conduit for the primary electrical lead. As the spool rotates about the axle, the LED lights illuminate the translucent side flanges in a way that the entire side may appear to glow. In this manner, the spinning spool and LED lights provide a significant light source within a dark fish house. The LED lights may be selected to emit different wavelengths of light or a single wavelength as desired. For example, LEDs having blue, green and red wavelengths of color may be mixed together to form a white appearing light. Other known methods to produce white light from the LED array may be utilized, including, for example, the use of near-UV or a UV LED plus RGB phosphor (the UV LED excites the RGB phosphor which then emits white light). Additionally, the side flanges may be constructed from a UV reactive plastic to further enhance the lighting effect of the LED array. 
     The ice fishing reel according to an embodiment of the invention is coupled to a handle. An end of the axle is fixed to the handle in a way so that the handle, axle, and LED array remain stationary while the spool rotates about the axle. A rotation sensor and on/off switch may be incorporated into the electric circuit so that when the spool rotates the electric circuit is closed and the LED array is powered. Further, an additional on/off switch may be used to control the power to the LED array. The power supply may be coupled to the electric circuit and incorporated into the handle or, alternatively, the electric lead may include a plug of known suitable construction to allow a user to electrically connect the reel to an external power source. 
     In use, the user wraps a desired amount of fishing line around the spool cylinder and then rigs the line as desired. An extension from the handle allows the user to position and secure the reel over a hole in the ice while fishing. When a force is applied to the line (presumably from a fish bite), the line will unravel off the spool as the spool rotates about the reel axle. When the spool rotates a switch activates the LED array and both the noise maker and lights alert the user of reel action. The light from the LED illuminates the fish hole and a dark fish house or other shelter. 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a portion of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to further explain the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred; however, it should be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the various figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals throughout the figures identify substantially similar components. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an ice fishing reel and handle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial exploded perspective view of a fishing reel and handle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the fishing reel and handle of the type shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the fishing reel and handle of the type shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an electrical schematic of the ice fishing reel in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of an ice fishing reel and handle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description provides detail of various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each of these embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not intended to be a limitation of the invention. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. By way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, may be used in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention also cover such modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     A fishing reel  10  particularly well suited for ice fishing generally includes a spool  14 , axle  22 , and LED arrays  20 . In an embodiment of the invention the spool  14  rotates about axle  22  while the LED arrays  20  remain stationary. As the spool rotates about the axle, the LED lights illuminate translucent sides of the spool in a way that the entire sides may appear to glow. In this manner, the spinning spool  14  and LED array  20  provides a significant light source for the user. In addition, the reel may include a noise making member  24  that rattles around inside the spool  14  and makes noise when the spool  14  rotates. 
     With reference to the Figures, the ice fishing reel  10  will be described in detail.  FIG. 1  illustrates the reel  10  including spool  14 , axle  22 , and LED arrays  20 . The axle  22  attached to handle  16  and a portion of a handle mount or extension  96  is illustrated. Spool  14  includes a crank or handle  18 , first side or flange  40 , second side or flange  42 , and line receiving cylinder  44 . The line receiving cylinder portion  44 , in the embodiment illustrated, includes line support members  46  sandwiched between the two sides  40  and  42  of the spool  14  and fastened with fasteners  48  to the interior surface of each side. The plurality of line support members are preferably concentric and radially spaced apart to form a hub or cylinder portion  44  about which a fishing line may be wrapped. 
     The support members  46  may be constructed from wood, plastic or other material to form dowels that are not adversely affected by freezing water. Further, the spaced apart dowels allow water to more freely drip off the spool  14  rather than trapping the water between an enclosed hub and the fishing line. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the spool may be constructed in other manners and materials to provide a unitary or multiple piece spool having with sides and a hollow central hub. The side flanges  40  and  42  may be constructed from a UV reactive plastic to further enhance the lighting effect of the LED array  20 . Further, the translucent plastic may be a fluorescent acrylic chosen from a multitude of colors, including without limitation, green, orange, blue, yellow or red. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , handle cover  52  is shown removed from the handle  16 . The handle  16  may include a cavity to house a power supply  34 , a portion of on/off switch  26 , rotation switch  30 , and electrical leads  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86 . An end of axle  22  is threaded  60  and secured to the handle with threaded nuts  76  turned onto the axle  22 . Of course, the axle may be constructed and attached to the handle, with other suitable known attachments. Also attached to the handle is auxiliary light  94  which the user may use to, for example, light a fishing hole or provide light to the fishing line when attaching a rig to the line. 
       FIG. 3  further illustrates the alignment of the various components of the reel  10 . Spool  14  includes sides  40 ,  42  and line receiving cylinder  44  (comprised of line support members  46 ) that enclose or encase LED arrays  20  and noise maker  24 . The axle  22  is securely attached to the handle with nuts  76 . Additional nuts  76  are coupled to the axle  76  and confine the sides  40 ,  42  along the axle while allowing the spool sides to spin freely about the axle  22 . In contrast, nuts  72  are threaded on axle  22  on either side of substrate  70  to secure the LED array  20  in a fixed relation about axle  22 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the substrate  70  of the array  20  may be secured to the axle by other known components without departing from the scope of the invention. Permanent magnet  32  is affixed to spool side  40  and acts upon magnetic responsive switch or rotation sensor  30  to close switch  30  when the spool  14  rotates. 
     The LED array  20  includes a plurality of radially spaced low voltage LED lights that may be selected to emit different wavelengths of light or a single wavelength of light as desired. The LEDs are electrically coupled together from a single primary electrical lead  80  and may emit common wavelengths of light or multiple selected wavelengths of light. For example, LEDs having blue, green and red wavelengths of color may be aligned radially around the substrate  70  to form an array of white appearing light. Other known methods to produce white light from the LED array may be utilized, including, for example, the use of near-UV or a UV LED plus RGB phosphor (the UV LED excites the RGB phosphor which then emits white light). 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 4-7  the electrical circuit will be further described. Primary electrical lead  80  electrically interconnects LED arrays  20  and auxiliary LED  94  to power supply  34 . Lead  82  connects the arrays  20  and LED  94  to magnetic operable switch  30 . Switch  30  and on/off switch  26  are connected via lead  84  and on/off switch  26  is connected to power supply  34  via lead  86 . Leads  80  and  82  route into axle bore  64  and through a hollow center  62  of the axle  22 . The leads  80 ,  82  exit the hollow interior of axle  22  into the cavity of the handle  16 . 
     Inside the handle, the power supply  34  is electrically coupled to the on/off switch  26 , rotation switch  30 , and auxiliary light  94 . Alternatively, the power supply may be provided from an external source electrically connected to the electric circuit via a plug  90  of known suitable construction (see  FIG. 8 ). Without limitation, the power source may come from a remote battery, auxiliary power of a flasher sonar system, or an ac/dc converter. 
     These and various other aspects and features of the invention are described with the intent to be illustrative, and not restrictive. This invention has been described herein with detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. It is to be understood, however, that the invention can be carried out by specifically different constructions, and that various modifications, both as to the construction and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, in the appended claims, the transitional terms comprising and including are used in the open ended sense in that elements in addition to those enumerated may also be present. Other examples will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing this document.