Abstract:
A bail assembly is provided for a spinning reel of the type having a spool mounted for reciprocal and rotational movement with respect to a body, a drag system, a rotor with a line pickup generally surrounding the spool, and a handle drive mechanism for reciprocating the spool and rotating the rotor thereabout to wind line onto the spool. The bail assembly has a bail wire formed of spring tempered stainless steel wire stock and is bent in an arc with first and second ends respectively attached to the rotor by generally diametrically opposed first and second end mounts. The arcuate bail wire exerts spring tension and the end mounts are cooperatively configured so that the bail wire is manipulable in spring toggle motion from an open position permitting line to play freely off the spool to a closed position directing line to the line pickup for collecting line on the spool. The arcuate bail wire also biases the bail assembly to remain in one of the open and closed positions until manipulated to the other position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to my U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/214,248 filed Apr. 20, 2009 which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention herein relates to a bail for a spinning reel wherein the bail wire provides spring tension biasing the bail wire to an open or closed position. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    Spinning reels are a popular type of fishing reel, and are especially well adapted for casting lures and bait. A spinning reel generally comprises a body and a leg for mounting the spinning wheel to a fishing rod. A spool is mounted for reciprocal and rotational movement with respect to the body, and a drag system for the spool for controls the release of line. A rotor with a line pickup generally surrounds the spool, and a handle drive mechanism reciprocates the spool and rotates the rotor thereabout to wind line from the line pickup onto the spool. The spool holding the line is oriented along the rod, so that line plays off the spool freely during casting without need to rotate the spool in order to release line. 
         [0004]    To retrieve line, or to release line by rotation of the spool against the drag system, line is positioned on a line pickup mounted to the rotor. In retrieving line, the rotor is rotated by the handle drive mechanism. 
         [0005]    Line can be positioned on the line pickup in one of two ways. First, the line pickup can be fixed on the rotor generally over the spool, and the fisherman then uses a finger to place the line on the line pickup. 
         [0006]    Line may also be positioned on the line pickup by a bail assembly. The bail assembly generally includes a bail wire that extends across the rotor and pivots between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the bail does not interfere with line playing off the spool during casting. In the closed position, the bail wire catches the line and directs it onto the line pickup. 
         [0007]    A requirement of a bail assembly is that there must be a force that keeps it firmly in the closed position or firmly in the open position. It must remain open during casting, so that line plays freely off the spool. It must remain closed during line retrieval or line play off against the drag system, so that the line is controlled as desired. In presently know bail assemblies, this force is provided by one or more coil springs acting on the bail wire through connecting members. The coil spring and its connecting members are generally positioned in a pocket or housing positioned on the rotor, which creates a relatively bulky structure. The springs are prone to failure, from rust, saltwater corrosion or simply breakage, and often have insufficient force to prevent the bail from closing as a result of casting motion. 
         [0008]    Therefore, an improvement in bail mechanisms would be a welcome advance in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is a principal object of the invention herein to provide an improved bail assembly for spinning reels. 
         [0010]    It is an additional object of the invention herein to provide a bail for a spinning reel with high reliability. 
         [0011]    It is also an object of the invention herein to provide a bail with simplicity of construction and light weight, in part achieved through a minimum of moving parts. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of the invention herein to provide a bail that smoothly guides line onto a line pickup of the spinning reel. 
         [0013]    In carrying out the invention herein, a bail assembly is provided for a spinning reel of the type having a body and leg, a spool mounted for reciprocal and rotational movement with respect to the body, a drag system for the spool, a rotor with a line pickup generally surrounding the spool, and a handle drive mechanism for reciprocating the spool and rotating the rotor thereabout to wind line from the line pickup onto the spool. The bail assembly for use with the spinning reel has an arcuate bail wire formed of spring tempered steel wire stock, the arcuate bail wire having first and second ends respectively pivotally attached to the rotor at generally diametrically opposed first and second end mounts. The bail wire is formed in an arc that creates spring tension, and the end mounts are configured such that the bail wire is manipulable in spring toggle motion utilizing the spring tension of the bail wire, from an open position permitting line to play off freely from the spool to a closed position directing line to the line pickup for collecting line on the spool. 
         [0014]    In certain aspects of the invention, the end mounts are positioned and configured such that the bail wire spring tension toggles the bail wire at the approximate mid-point of movement between the open and closed bail positions, wherein as the bail wire moves from the mid-point, the spring tension biases the bail wire to the closest one of the open and closed bail positions. Stops are provided to establish the opened and closed positions. 
         [0015]    In another aspect of the invention, the first end of the bail wire is attached to a first end mount at a fixed position on the rotor and the second end of the bail wire is attached to a bail arm, the bail arm being pivotally mounted to the rotor for pivoting movement about a bail arm pivot axis, the fixed position of the first end mount being offset from the bail arm pivot axis. The first end mount is offset below the bail arm pivot axis, such that the bail wire exerts increased spring tension on the mid-point of the transition between the open and closed bail wire positions, thereby causing the toggle motion. 
         [0016]    In an additional aspect of the inventions, both end mounts accommodate and control positions of the bail wire that cause toggle motion as the bail wire is moved between its open and closed positions. 
         [0017]    Other aspects of the invention include low friction end mounts for the ends of the arcuate bail wire. A fixed low friction end mount is a hard polymer ball secured to the end of the bail wire and received and retained in a socket in the rotor. For an end mount including an arm, the arm is mounted to the rotor on low friction bearings, such as ball bearings. 
         [0018]    In another aspect of the invention, one of the end mounts includes a bail arm and the line pickup of the rotor is mounted on the bail arm. An end of the bail wire is attached to the bail arm by a guide that directs line from the bail wire to the line pickup. The guide may have a generally conical shape. 
         [0019]    The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention herein will in part appear in the following detailed description of the invention and the claims, taken together with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a spinning reel according to the invention herein, having a bail assembly thereon; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a rotor for the spinning reel of  FIG. 1  with another bail assembly according to the invention herein, in its closed position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a side view, taken from the line pickup side, of the rotor and bail assembly of  FIG. 2 , in the closed position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a side view, taken from the counterweight side, of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 2  in the closed position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 2  in the closed position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 2  in the closed position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 2  in the closed position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a side view, taken from the bail arm side, of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 2  in the open position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a side view, taken from the counterweight side, of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 2  in the open position; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 2 , in the open position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is a rear view of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 2 , in the open position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary sectional view showing one end of the bail wire mounting to the rotor; 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  is a fragmentary sectional view showing one end of the bail wire mounting to the rotor; 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
           [0034]      FIG. 15  is another perspective view of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
           [0035]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 1  in the open position; 
           [0036]      FIG. 17  is another perspective view of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 1  in the open position; 
           [0037]      FIG. 18  is a side elevation diagrammatic view, from the counterweight side, of the rotor and bail assembly of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
           [0038]      FIG. 19  is a side elevation diagrammatic view, from the counterweight side, of the rotor and bail assembly of  FIG. 1  with the bail assembly in transition from the closed position toward the open position; 
           [0039]      FIG. 20  is a side elevation diagrammatic view, from the counterweight side, of the rotor and bail assembly of  FIG. 1  in transition from the closed position toward the open position; 
           [0040]      FIG. 21  is a side elevation diagrammatic view, from the counterweight side, of the rotor and bail assembly of  FIG. 1  in the open position; 
           [0041]      FIG. 22  is a side elevation view of another rotor and bail arm assembly, taken from the opposite side of the bail arm, in the closed position; 
           [0042]      FIG. 23  is a side elevation view of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 22 , transitioning from the closed position toward the open position; 
           [0043]      FIG. 24  is a side elevation view of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 22 , transitioning from the closed position toward the open position; and 
           [0044]      FIG. 25  is a side elevation view of the rotor and bail arm assembly of  FIG. 22 , in the open position. 
       
    
    
       [0045]    The same reference numerals refer to the same elements throughout the various Figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0046]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a spinning reel  10  having a bail assembly  12  according to the invention herein is illustrated. The spinning reel  10  generally comprises a body  14  having a mounting leg  16  extending therefrom, a spool  18  mounted for reciprocal and rotational movement with respect to the body  14  and a drag system  19  for the spool. A rotor  20  generally surrounds the spool  18 , and a handle drive mechanism  22  including a handle  24  and internal gearing, not shown but well known in the art, reciprocates the spool and rotates the rotor  20  thereabout to wind line onto the spool. The bail assembly  12  is mounted to the rotor  20 . 
         [0047]    Several bail assemblies are described herein, and a second bail assembly  30  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2-13 . The bail assembly  30  is characterized by a bail wire  32 , which is formed of spring tempered stainless steel wire stock. The bail wire  32  is bent into an arc, which develops spring tension and provides the energy to assist in toggling the bail wire from the closed position shown in  FIGS. 2-7  to the open position in  FIGS. 8-11  and for retaining the bail wire  32  in the appropriate position once it is moved to one of the open and closed positions. 
         [0048]    The rotor  20  has opposed extending walls  34  and  36  which generally surround the spool  18  in the reel  10 . The bail assembly  30  is mounted to the rotor  20  on the walls  34 ,  36 . The bail wire  32  is arcuate, and has a first end  40  and a second end  42 . The first end  40  is mounted to the rotor wall  34  at end mount  41 , which in the embodiment shown includes a counterweight arm  44 , which is in turn mounted to the rotor wall  34  by a screw  45 . The first end  40  of the bail wire  32  has a stub axle  46  which extends into the counterweight arm  44 , wherein the pivot point of the first end  40  of the bail wire  12  is offset from the screw  44 . It is important that the bail assembly  12  pivot freely, and therefore the stub axle  46  is received in a polymer bearing  48 , shown in  FIG. 12 , and received in a mating socket in the counterweight arm  44 . 
         [0049]    The second end  42  of the bail wire  32  is mounted to rotor wall  36  by bail arm  50 . The bail arm  50  is rotatably mounted to the rotor wall  36  about axis  52 , seen in  FIG. 5 , being secured by a screw  54 . The screw  54  is diametrically opposed from the screw  45  mounting the counterweight arm  44 , and the axis  52  passes through both screws  45  and  54 . Thus it can be seen that the mounting point of the first end  40  of the bail wire  32  is offset from the axis of rotation of the bail arm  50 . The second end  42  of the bail wire  32  is mounted to the outer end of the bail arm  50  by a conical guide member  60 . The second end  42  of the bail wire  32  extends into the conical guide member  60 , and the guide member  60  is secured to the bail arm  50 . A line pickup  58  is also mounted at the end of the bail arm  50 , and the conical guide member  60  guides line captured by the bail wire  32  onto the line pickup  58  when the bail assembly  12  is closed. The line pickup  58  is preferably a line roller with bearings, for low friction. 
         [0050]    Before the bail wire  32  is attached to the bail arm and counterweight, the first and second ends  40 ,  42  are closer together. In other words, in untensioned condition, the bail wire  32  would define an arc of a smaller radius than when it is installed, and the bail wire  32  is therefore tensioned when installed to provide a force between the ends  40  and  42 . If the ends  40 ,  42  are further spread apart during operation of the bail assembly  12 , the tension and force increase. As the bail wire  32  is transitioned from the closed position shown in  FIGS. 2-5  to the open position shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , the bail arm  50  rotates about its rotational axis  52 . The configuration of the end mounts  41 ,  43  of the bail wire  32 , including the bail arm  50 , cause the first and second ends  40 ,  42  of the bail wire  32  to separate during the transition with the greatest point of separation occurring at or near the mid-point of the transition from open to closed position. This creates a toggle function, such that when the bail is incrementally directed toward either of the open or closed positions, the spring force drives the bail wire to that position and maintains it there. 
         [0051]    It is important that the end mounts  41 ,  43  of the bail wire  32  rotate with minimal friction. With reference to  FIG. 12 , end mount  41  is shown. The first end  40  of bail wire  32  has a stub axle  46  received in a polymer ball  64 . The polymer ball  64  is received in socket  66  in the counterweight arm  44 , where it rotates with minimal friction. A clip  68  secures the stub axle, polymer ball and bail wire  32 . 
         [0052]    The bail wire  32  is offset at the position established by the polymer ball pivot point such that the toggle point favors the closed direction. This will make it more difficult to close the bail and easier to open the bail. It is preferred that the bail is more difficult to close because the force from the casting out can prematurely close the bail. This bail design helps prevent this problem by the two directional offset position of the bail wire  32  at the polymer ball pivot point. 
         [0053]    With reference to  FIG. 13 , the bail arm  50  of end mount  43  is mounted to the rotor wall  36  by bearings  70  on bearing post  72 . An O-seal  74  is also provided. Ball bearings, roller bearings or other low friction mounting may be used. 
         [0054]    The open and closed positions of the bail assembly  12  are established by a pin  62  extending from rotor wall  36  adjacent the axis of rotation  52  of the bail arm  50 , and the bail arm  50  has an arcuate slot in which the pin  62  travels. The pin  62  engages against one end of the slot to establish the open position of the bail assembly  12 , and against the other end of the slot to establish the closed position of the bail. 
         [0055]    In actual operation of the spinning reel  10  and bail assembly  12 , the fisherman will grasp the bail wire  32  and move it from its present position, which may be open or closed, to its other position. As the bail wire  32  crosses the center point, i.e., the point at which the compressive force of the spring is greatest, the bail wire  32  exhibits its toggle function and will continue its transition to the desired position without further input from the user. 
         [0056]    With reference to  FIGS. 14-22 , bail assembly  80  according to the invention herein is illustrated. It is also the bail assembly shown on reel  10  in  FIG. 1 . In bail assembly  80 , a bail wire  82  has first end  84  and second end  86 , which are respectively secured to first and second end mounts  88  and  90 . The first end mount  88  is a rotatable lever arm  92 , with an axis of rotation  94  extending through its mounting screw  96 . The axis of rotation  94  also extends through end mount  90 . The first end  84  of the bail wire  82  is rotatably mounted to the lever arm  92 , offset from the axis of rotation of the lever arm  92 . 
         [0057]    The second end mount  90  is a bail arm  100 , having its first end rotatably mounted to rotor wall  36  on the same axis of rotation  92  of the lever arm  92 . The second end  86  of the bail wire  82  is secured to the distal end of the bail arm  100 , such that the bail wire  82  feeds line onto the line pickup  58  at the end of the bail arm. 
         [0058]    The bail wire  82  is also spring tempered stainless steel stock bent to an arcuate shape and has a larger diameter when free of the end mounts  88 ,  90  than when it is secured to the end mounts. Therefore, the mounted bail wire  82  is under tension that tends to pull on the lever arm  92 . 
         [0059]    The lever arm  92  has an arcuate slot therein which cooperates with a pin  102  extending from the rotor wall  34  to establish open and closed positions of end mount  88  of the bail assembly  80 . In the closed position shown in  FIGS. 14 ,  15  and  18 , the bail wire pulls on the lever  92 , maintaining it against the pin  102  in the closed bail condition. As shown in  FIG. 19 , as the bail assembly  80  is moved from the closed position toward the opened position, the configuration of the end mounts  88 ,  90  increases the spring tension in the bail wire  82 , and as the bail wire  82  reaches the center point, the lever arm  92  begins to rotate. The rotation is shown continuing in  FIG. 20 , after the bail wire  82  has passed over center, and is complete in  FIG. 21 , where the bail assembly  80  is shown in its open position. When the bail is returned to its closed position, the sequence of motion illustrated in  FIGS. 18-21  is reversed. Therefore, the toggle function of the bail assembly  80  is expressed in the toggle action of the lever arm  92 . This is another example of an end mount configuration that utilizes spring tension of the bail wire to toggle the bail assembly between its open and closed positions. 
         [0060]      FIGS. 22-25  illustrate another bail assembly  110 , which may be used with the spinning reel  10  of  FIG. 1 . The bail assembly  110  is mounted to a rotor  20   a  having rotor walls  34   a  and  36  at end mounts  112  and  114 . End mount  114  includes a bail arm  100  and line pickup  58  as described above with respect to bail assembly  80  is wall  36  and receives end  118  of bail wire  120 . The second end  116  of the bail wire  120  is received in a slot  122  in the rotor wall  34   a , which functions as the end mount  112 . The slot  122  is elongated, and has stop indents  126  and  128  at its opposite ends. 
         [0061]    The second end  118  of the bail wire  120  that is received in the slot  122  is fitted with a small roller bearing or the like, to reduce friction in the slot  122  as the end  118  of the bail wire  120  moves in the slot  122  between indents  126 ,  128 . 
         [0062]      FIGS. 22-25  illustrate the progression of the bail assembly  110  when moved from its closed position in  FIG. 22  to its open position shown in  FIG. 25 . In the closed position shown in  FIG. 22 , the end  116  of the bail wire  110  is in detent  126  of the slot  120 . The bail assembly  110  is manipulated to its open position by lifting the bail wire  120 . As shown in  FIG. 23 , as the bail wire  110  is initially pushed and lifted toward the open position, end  116  of the bail wire  120  moves from detent  128  toward detent  126 . As the bail wire  120  goes over center, which is the position generally shown in  FIG. 24 , the bail assembly  110  toggles to the open position shown in  FIG. 25  with the end  116  of the bail wire  120  at the second detent  128  of the slot  122 . Again, moving the bail assembly  110  from the open to the closed position is achieved by reverse manipulation. The slot  122  provides an end mount  112  for the tensioned bail wire  120  in a configuration that achieves toggle action of the bail assembly  110  from its closed to open position and from its open to its closed. 
         [0063]    Accordingly, bail assemblies for spinning reels have been described which admirably achieve the objects of the invention herein. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the foregoing embodiments are illustrative only, and that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.