Abstract:
Apparatus for anchor line reeling to raise or lower an anchor using a cranked reel employing a clutch bearing and a drag, which drag is controllably released by reverse rotation of the crank. An additional reel drag is used to prevent reel overturning when the anchor is lowered and hits bottom.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/321,961 filed Jan. 27, 2009 now abandoned, which claimed priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/062,617 filed Jan. 28, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention relates to reeling systems and more specifically to a cranked anchor line reel employing a clutch bearing and a drag, which drag is controllably released by reverse rotation of the crank. 
     Hand cranked reeling systems employing a clutch bearing and a drag, which drag is controllably released by reverse rotation of the crank are known. For example, the CAPTAIN&#39;S PAK ONE-HAND-CRANK MANUAL SIDERIGGER brand reel from Big Jon Sports, Inc. of Interlochen Michigan allows the retrieval of a cannonball for downrigger fishing by clockwise rotation of its hand crank. The clockwise rotation of its hand crank automatically tightens the drag so that the rotational motion of the hand crank is transferred to the reel through the drag. The cannonball is attached to wire rope which is wound-up on the reel. If the hand crank is released, counter-clockwise rotation of the reel is prevented by the clutch bearing. If the hand crank is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, the drag is progressively released allowing controlled decent of the cannonball. When the cannonball reaches the desired depth, the hand crank is rotated in the clockwise direction to increase the drag and stop the decent of the cannonball. Surprisingly, anchors have not been raised or lowered using a cranked anchor line reel employing a clutch bearing and a drag, which drag is controllably released by reverse rotation of the crank. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is a new use for a cranked reel employing a clutch bearing and a drag, which drag is controllably released by reverse rotation of the crank. The new use is to raise or lower an anchor using a cranked anchor line reel employing a clutch bearing and a drag, which drag is controllably released by reverse rotation of the crank. More specifically, the instant invention is a new use for apparatus comprising a reel, a shaft, a crank, a clutch bearing, and a drag washer, the reel mounted on a first portion of the shaft, a second portion of the shaft mounted in the clutch bearing so that the shaft will rotate only in one rotational direction, the crank threadably attached to a threaded third portion of the shaft so that when the crank is rotated in the rotational direction permitted by the clutch bearing, the crank threads onto the threaded portion of the shaft thereby compressing a drag washer mounted on the shaft directly or indirectly in contact with the reel and the shaft so that the reel rotates in the rotational direction permitted by the clutch bearing and so that when the crank is rotated in the rotational direction opposite the direction permitted by the clutch bearing, the crank unthreads from the threaded portion of the shaft thereby decompressing the drag washer mounted on the shaft directly or indirectly in contact with the reel and the shaft so that the reel can rotate in the rotational direction opposite that permitted by the clutch bearing, the new use being the raising or lowering of a boat anchor by attaching the boat anchor to one end of an anchor line and winding the other end of the anchor line on the reel. 
     In a highly preferred embodiment, the instant invention is an apparatus for anchor line reeling comprising a reel, a shaft, a crank, a clutch bearing, and a drag washer, the reel mounted on a first portion of the shaft, a second portion of the shaft mounted in the clutch bearing so that the shaft will rotate only in one rotational direction, the crank threadably attached to a threaded third portion of the shaft so that when the crank is rotated in the rotational direction permitted by the clutch bearing, the crank threads onto the threaded portion of the shaft thereby compressing a drag washer mounted on the shaft directly or indirectly in contact with the reel and the shaft so that the reel rotates in the rotational direction permitted by the clutch bearing and so that when the crank is rotated in the rotational direction opposite the direction permitted by the clutch bearing, the crank unthreads from the threaded portion of the shaft thereby decompressing the drag washer mounted on the shaft directly or indirectly in contact with the reel and the shaft so that the reel can rotate in the rotational direction opposite that permitted by the clutch bearing, the apparatus further comprising a friction disk, a pressure plate, a spring and a spring housing, the friction disk being in contact with the shaft and the pressure plate, the pressure plate being slideably engaged with the reel, the spring housing attached to the reel, the spring positioned in the spring housing so that the spring presses directly or indirectly on the pressure plate against the friction disk so that when the crank is rotated in the rotational direction opposite the direction permitted by the clutch bearing the reel can rotate in the rotational direction opposite that permitted by the clutch bearing with a rotational friction provided in part as a consequence of the friction disk being pressed by the spring against the shaft by the pressure plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a preferred apparatus for use in the instant invention having a hand cranked reel upon which an anchor line can be wound; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged crosssectional side view of a portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a highly preferred apparatus of the instant invention intended for anchor line reeling for a kayak; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an end view of the reel shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view of the pressure plate of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIGS. 9   a - e  show cross-sectional side views of alternative spring housings. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The instant invention is a new use for apparatus comprising a reel, a shaft, a crank, a clutch bearing, and a drag washer, the reel mounted on a first portion of the shaft, a second portion of the shaft mounted in the clutch bearing so that the shaft will rotate only in one rotational direction, the crank threadably attached to a threaded third portion of the shaft so that when the crank is rotated in the rotational direction permitted by the clutch bearing, the crank threads onto the threaded portion of the shaft thereby compressing a drag washer mounted on the shaft directly or indirectly in contact with the reel and the shaft so that the reel rotates in the rotational direction permitted by the clutch bearing and so that when the crank is rotated in the rotational direction opposite the direction permitted by the clutch bearing, the crank unthreads from the threaded portion of the shaft thereby decompressing the drag washer mounted on the shaft directly or indirectly in contact with the reel and the shaft so that the reel can rotate in the rotational direction opposite that permitted by the clutch bearing, the new use being the raising or lowering of a boat anchor by attaching the boat anchor to one end of an anchor line and winding the other end of the anchor line on the reel. 
     In a highly preferred embodiment, the instant invention is an apparatus for anchor line reeling comprising a reel, a shaft, a crank, a clutch bearing, and a drag washer, the reel mounted on a first portion of the shaft, a second portion of the shaft mounted in the clutch bearing so that the shaft will rotate only in one rotational direction, the crank threadably attached to a threaded third portion of the shaft so that when the crank is rotated in the rotational direction permitted by the clutch bearing, the crank threads onto the threaded portion of the shaft thereby compressing a drag washer mounted on the shaft directly or indirectly in contact with the reel and the shaft so that the reel rotates in the rotational direction permitted by the clutch bearing and so that when the crank is rotated in the rotational direction opposite the direction permitted by the clutch bearing, the crank unthreads from the threaded portion of the shaft thereby decompressing the drag washer mounted on the shaft directly or indirectly in contact with the reel and the shaft so that the reel can rotate in the rotational direction opposite that permitted by the clutch bearing, the apparatus further comprising a friction disk, a pressure plate, a spring and a spring housing, the friction disk being in contact with the shaft and the pressure plate, the pressure plate being slideably engaged with the reel, the spring housing attached to the reel, the spring positioned in the spring plunger housing so that the spring presses directly or indirectly on the pressure plate against the friction disk so that when the when the crank is rotated in the rotational direction opposite the direction permitted by the clutch bearing the reel can rotate in the rotational direction opposite that permitted by the clutch bearing with a rotational friction provided in part as a consequence of the friction disk being pressed by the spring against the shaft by the pressure plate. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , therein is shown a side view of a preferred apparatus  10  for use in the instant invention having a hand cranked reel  11  upon which an anchor line can be wound.  FIG. 2  is a front view of the apparatus  10  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a back view of the apparatus  10  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is an enlarged crosssectional side view of a portion of the apparatus  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , apparatus  10  comprises reel  11 , shaft  12 , hand crank  23 , clutch bearing  27 , and drag washers  13  and  14 . Clutch bearings are also known as one way bearings or one way clutch bearings. The reel  11  is mounted on a central portion of the shaft  12 . Another central portion of the shaft  12  is mounted in the clutch bearing  27  so that the shaft will rotate only in one rotational direction. The hand crank  23  is threadably attached to a threaded third portion of the shaft  12  so that when the hand crank  23  is rotated in the rotational direction permitted by the clutch bearing  27 , the hand crank  23  threads onto the threaded portion of the shaft  12  thereby compressing the drag washers  13  and  14  mounted on the shaft directly or indirectly in contact with the reel  11  and the shaft  12  so that the reel  11  rotates in the rotational direction permitted by the clutch bearing  27  and so that when the hand crank  23  is rotated in the rotational direction opposite the direction permitted by the clutch bearing  27 , the hand crank  23  unthreads from the threaded portion of the shaft  12  thereby decompressing the drag washers  13  and  14  mounted on the shaft directly or indirectly in contact with the reel  11  and the shaft  12  so that the reel  11  can rotate in the rotational direction opposite that permitted by the clutch bearing  27  thereby facilitating the raising or lowering of a boat anchor by attaching the boat anchor to one end of an anchor line and winding the other end of the anchor line on the reel  11 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 4 , other details of the apparatus  10  will be described. Steel washers  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  20  and  21  are mounted on shaft  12  as shown. A Belleville washer  19  is mounted on shaft  12  as shown. When the crank  23  is rotated in the direction permitted by the clutch bearing  27 , the crank  23  presses against the thrust bearing assembly  21 ,  22 ,  20 , compressing Belleville washer  19 , pulling the other end of shaft  12  to compress drag washer  13 , drag washer  14 , washer  18  and thrust bearing assembly  16 ,  18  and  17 . Thrust bearing  27  is mounted in stanchion  30 . An outer sleeve  26  is attached to stanchion  30  by cap screws  27 . An inner sleeve  28  is attached to stanchion  30  by cap screws  29 . Retaining bolt  25  prevents inadvertent separation of the crank  23  from the shaft  12 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , one end of the stanchion  30  is attached to base side  43  by pivot bolt  35 . The base side  34  is attached to base bottom  33 . The base bottom  33  is configured to be attached to a boat hull. Stanchion  30  can be pivoted to a stowed position by loosening stanchion locking bolt  36  and pivoting the locking bolt  36  in the curved slot  38  in base side  34 . Stanchion locking bolt washer  37  is positioned as shown. A crank handle  31  is mounted to one end of crank  23  by crank handle retaining screw  32 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 1 , most preferably, the reel  11  is made of cast aluminum, has an outer diameter of about twelve inches, an drum diameter of about seven and one half inches and a width of about three and one half inches. Such a reel can hold over 300 feet of one quarter inch diameter anchor rope. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , therein is shown a perspective view of a preferred apparatus  40  of the instant invention intended for anchor line reeling for a kayak. The apparatus  40  is comprises a housing  41 , a reel  42 , a handle  43 , a handle knob  44  and a handle cap  45 . Referring now to  FIG. 6 , therein is shown a cross-sectional side view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 5  including the housing  41 , the reel  42 , the handle  43 , the handle knob  44  and the handle cap  45 . Apparatus  40  also comprises clutch bearing  47  mounted in housing  41  and drag washers  46  and  48 . The reel  42  is mounted on a central portion of a shaft  49 . Another central portion of the shaft  49  is mounted in the clutch bearing  47  so that the shaft will rotate only in one rotational direction. The hand crank  43  is threadably attached to a threaded third portion of the shaft  49  so that when the hand crank  43  is rotated in the rotational direction permitted by the clutch bearing  47 , the hand crank  43  threads onto the threaded portion of the shaft  49  thereby compressing drag washers  46  and  48  mounted on the shaft directly or indirectly in contact with the reel  42  and the shaft  49  so that the reel  42  rotates in the rotational direction permitted by the clutch bearing  47  and so that when the hand crank  43  is rotated in the rotational direction opposite the direction permitted by the clutch bearing  47 , the hand crank  43  unthreads from the threaded portion of the shaft  49  thereby decompressing the drag washers  46  and  48  mounted on the shaft directly or indirectly in contact with the reel  42  and the shaft  49  so that the reel  42  can rotate in the rotational direction opposite that permitted by the clutch bearing  47  thereby facilitating the raising or lowering of an anchor by attaching the anchor to one end of an anchor line and winding the other end of the anchor line on the reel  42 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 6 , other details of the apparatus  40  will be described. Knob  44  is attached to handle  43  by bolt  44   a . Snap ring prevents unintended complete unwinding of handle  43  from shaft  49 . Handle cap  45  covers the bore  72  in the handle  43 . Steel washers  50 ,  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54  are mounted on shaft  49  as shown. A Belleville washer  55  is mounted on shaft  49  as shown. When the crank  43  is rotated in the direction permitted by the clutch bearing  47 , the crank  43  presses against thrust bearings  56  and  57 , pulling the other end of shaft  49  to compress drag washers  46  and  48 . The apparatus  40  further comprises a friction disk  58 , a pressure plate  59 , a plunger  60  mounted in a hollow screw  62  positioned in a spring housing  63  attached to reel  42  by bolts  64  and  65 . Spring  61  indirectly presses against pressure plate  59  by way of plunger  60 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , therein is shown an end view of the reel  42  of the apparatus  40 . Pressure plate  59  is shown positioned in recess  66  in the reel  42 . Recess  66  is configured with extensions  67  and  68 . Referring now to  FIG. 8 , therein is shown the pressure plate  59 . Pressure plate  59  comprises protrusions  69  and  70  dimensioned to correspond to the extensions  67  and  68  of the recess  66  shown in  FIG. 7  thereby the pressure plate  59  can slide in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shaft  49  in the recess  66  and be pressed against the friction disk  58  shown in  FIG. 6 . Extensions  69  and  70  on pressure plate  59  enable the pressure plate  59  to rotate with the reel  42 . The friction disk  58  is in contact with the shaft  49  and the pressure plate  59 . The pressure plate  59  is slideably engaged in a recess  66  in the reel  42  and pressed against the friction disk  58  by the spring  60 . Spring  61  is positioned in hollow screw  62 . The pressure of the plunger against the pressure plate  59  is adjusted by adjusting the screw  62  so that when the when the crank  43  is rotated in the rotational direction opposite the direction permitted by the clutch bearing  47  the reel  42  can rotate in the rotational direction opposite that permitted by the clutch bearing  47  with a rotational friction provided in part as a consequence of the friction disk  58  being pressed by the plunger  60  against the shaft  49  by the pressure plate  59 . In use, the hollow screw  62  is adjusted to provide sufficient pressure by the plunger  60  against the pressure plate  59  so that when an anchor is lowered and hits bottom, the reel  42  does not overturn and snarl an anchor line wound on the reel  42 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9   a , therein is shown an alternative embodiment for the spring housing  63 , hollow screw  62  and spring  61 , which alternative embodiment does not incorporate the plunger  60  shown in  FIG. 6 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9   a , spring  61  presses directly on the pressure plate  59  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9   b , therein is shown an alternative embodiment for the spring housing  63  and spring  61 , which alternative embodiment does not incorporate the plunger  60  shown in  FIG. 6  and which embodiment employs a set screw  73  behind spring  61  in place of the hollow screw  62 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9   b , spring  61  presses directly on the pressure plate  59  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9   c , therein is shown an alternative embodiment for the spring housing  63  and spring  61 , which alternative embodiment houses spring  61  in a cavity bored in the spring housing  63 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9   c , spring  61  presses directly on the pressure plate  59  shown in  FIG. 6 . Since the pressure of the spring against the pressure plate is not adjustable in this embodiment, this embodiment is not preferred for many applications. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9   d , therein is shown an alternative embodiment for the spring housing  63  and spring  61 , wherein spring  61  has a cone shape and the face of the spring housing  63  is flat. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9   d , spring  61  presses directly on the pressure plate  59  shown in  FIG. 6 . Since the pressure of the spring against the pressure plate is not adjustable in this embodiment, this embodiment is not preferred for many applications. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9   e , therein is shown an alternative embodiment wherein a screw  74  presses directly on the pressure plate  59  shown in  FIG. 6 . The spring function of this embodiment is provided by the deflection of the parts as the screw  74  presses on the pressure plate. This alternative embodiment is disclosed to show a broader scope of the invention but this embodiment is not preferred for most applications because the slope of the spring constant provided by the deflection of the parts is much steeper than when a “real” spring is used, such as the spring  61  shown in  FIGS. 9   a - d.    
     The drag washers and the frictional disk are preferably fiber washers. When a screw is used behind a spring in the spring housing of the instant invention, it is preferable that it be resistant to turning by the use of a thread locking compound such as NYLOK brand thread locking compound. Preferably most of the apparatus of the instant invention is made of steel, stainless steel or aluminum. It should be understood that the combination of a ratchet and a journal bearing is equivalent to a clutch bearing in the instant invention. It should be understood that the term “clutch bearing” in the claims of this application is intended to encompass the combination of a ratchet and a journal bearing. It should be understood that a cone drag as used in better quality fly fishing reels is equivalent to the “drag washer” drag in the instant invention. It should be understood that the term “drag washer” in the claim of this application is intended to encompass the use of such a cone drag. The crank of the instant invention can be a hand crank or a motor driven crank. A preferred motor driven crank comprises a gear motor employing a reversible direct current electric motor. Any suitable anchor line can be used in this invention, including rope made of natural or synthetic fibers and rope or chain made of a metal or a metal alloy. Most preferably, the anchor line is made of a synthetic fiber such as NYLON brand polyester fiber from DuPont. 
     In use (assuming the anchor is suspended above the water over the side of a boat via its anchor line wound on the reel) the crank is rotated counterclockwise to let out the anchor to the bottom of, for example, a lake or a river. When the desired amount of anchor line has been let out the crank is rotated clockwise to lock the rotation of the reel. If the boat is in a lake, an extra amount of line can be let out to permit the boat to drift downwind over a desired fishing location and then the crank can be rotated to stop rotation of the reel and maintain the position of the boat over the desired fishing location. If the boat is in a river, an extra amount of line can be let out to permit the boat to drift downriver over a desired fishing location and then the crank can be rotated to stop rotation of the reel and maintain the position of the boat over the desired fishing location. The position of the boat can then easily be further adjusted nearer or farther from the anchor by taking in or letting out the anchor line using the disclosed invention. In the embodiment employing a pressure plate and drag disk, overturning of the reel and snarling of the anchor line when the anchor is lowered and hits bottom can be eliminated by adjusting the pressure of the spring against the pressure plate. It should be clearly understood that the embodiment employing a pressure plate and drag disk is applicable to any anchor reel of the instant invention and not just for the kayak reel shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Conclusion 
     While the instant invention has been described above according to its preferred embodiments, it can be modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the instant invention using the general principles disclosed herein. Further, the instant application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.