Abstract:
A fishing line package and dispenser is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser includes a housing, a fishing line spool provided in the housing, a fishing line wound on the fishing line spool, a display tab extending from the housing and an attachment tab carried by the display tab and adapted to detachably engage the housing. A method of transferring fishing line to a reel of a fishing rod is also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD 
   The present invention relates to fishing accessories. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fishing line package which can be displayed for marketing purposes and includes fishing line that can be dispensed or transferred from the fishing line package and onto a reel of a fishing rod. The present invention further relates to a method of transferring fishing line to a reel of a fishing rod. 
   BACKGROUND 
   A typical fishing rod and reel includes an elongated, flexible rod having a reel and a handle at one end. Fishing line is wound on a rotating line spindle provided in the reel and extended from the line spindle typically through guide loops provided at spaced intervals along the rod. A bait or lure and a hook and sinker are attached to the end of the fishing line and cast into a water body by grasping the handle while tossing the rod in a forward motion. 
   During fishing, a portion of the fishing line extending from a fishing rod frequently becomes tangled, and therefore, must be cut from the main portion of fishing line wound on the reel. Furthermore, after a cast the hook frequently becomes snagged or hung on stumps and the like, oftentimes rendering it necessary to break the fishing line. Therefore, over time the segment of fishing line wound on the reel becomes increasingly shorter such that it is eventually necessary to replace the fishing line on the reel. This is typically carried out by transferring the fishing line onto the reel from a spool on which replacement fishing line is wound. However, this can be a cumbersome exercise and frequently requires two persons. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention is generally directed to a fishing line package and dispenser. An illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser includes a housing, a fishing line spool provided in the housing, a fishing line wound on the fishing line spool, a display tab extending from the housing and an attachment tab carried by the display tab and adapted to detachably engage the housing. 
   The present invention is further directed to method of transferring fishing line to a reel of a fishing rod. An illustrative embodiment of the method includes providing a fishing line package and dispenser comprising a housing, a fishing line spool provided in the housing, fishing line wound on the fishing line spool, a display tab extending from the housing, and an attachment tab carried by the display tab and detachably attached to the housing; extending the fishing line from the housing; detaching the attachment tab from the housing; securing the attachment tab against the fishing rod; attaching the fishing line to the reel; and winding the fishing line onto the reel. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of a blank suitable for fabrication of an illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser, shown in an unfolded configuration; 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a blank suitable for fabrication of an illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser, shown in a partially folded configuration; 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser, with a housing element of the fishing line package and dispenser in a closed configuration and a display tab element of the fishing line package and dispenser folded in a display configuration; 
       FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser, with a housing element of the fishing line package and dispenser shown in an open, spool-receiving configuration and a fishing line spool partially inserted in the housing element of the fishing line package and dispenser; 
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser, more particularly illustrating folding of an attachment tab element with respect to a reinforcing display tab element preparatory to attachment of the fishing line package and dispenser to a fishing rod; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a fishing rod, with an illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser attached to the fishing rod and further illustrating transfer of a fishing line from the fishing line package and dispenser to a reel provided on the fishing rod; and 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser, with a housing element of the fishing line package and dispenser in a closed configuration and a display tab element of the fishing line package and dispenser folded in a display configuration. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring initially to  FIGS. 3-5  and  7  of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the fishing line package and dispenser is generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . Unless otherwise noted, the various components of the fishing line package and dispenser  10  may be a cardboard or paperboard material, for example. Alternatively or additionally, all or some components of the fishing line package and dispenser  10  may be plastic. The fishing line package and dispenser  10  includes a housing  11  typically having a front panel  12 ; a rear panel  13  spaced-apart from the front panel  12 ; a pair of side panels  14  and  15 , respectively, extending between the front panel  12  and the rear panel  13 ; and a bottom panel  17  which extends between the front panel  12 , the rear panel  13  and the side panels  14  and  15 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the housing  11  has a housing interior  11   a . A top panel  16  extends between the front panel  12 , the rear panel  13  and the side panels  14  and  15  and closes the housing interior  11   a  of the housing  11 , as illustrated in FIGS.  3  and  7 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments of the fishing line package and dispenser  10 , the top panel  16  is pivotally attached to the front panel  12  and can be selectively opened and closed on the housing  11 . A top panel tab  16   a  may extend from the top panel  16  for insertion between the top panel  16  and an attachment tab  27 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7  and will be hereinafter described, or alternatively, between the rear panel  13  and the top panel  16 , when the top panel  16  is closed on the housing  11 . 
   As further illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a fishing line spool  31 , on which is wound a supply of fishing line  32 , is provided in the housing interior  11   a  of the housing  11 . A line slit  20  is provided in the side panel  15  of the housing  11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a line resistance strip  24  (shown in phantom) may be provided in the housing interior  11   a , adjacent to or against the interior surface of the side panel  15 . The line resistance strip  24  may be plastic, rubber or foam rubber, in non-exclusive particular. A line slit  25  is provided in the line resistance strip  24  and generally registers with the line slit  20  provided in the side panel  15  of the housing  11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4  and will be hereinafter described, in typical application of the fishing line package and dispenser  10 , the fishing line  32  is partially unwound from the fishing line spool  31  and extended from the housing interior  11   a  through the line slit  25  of the line resistance strip  24  and the line slit  20  of the side panel  15 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , an opening  21  (shown in phantom) may be provided in the rear panel  13  of the housing  11  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. In a display configuration of the fishing line package and dispenser  10 , the opening  21  may be closed by an opening panel  22  which is attached to the edge of the opening  21  along multiple perforations. 
   A display tab  26  extends from the rear panel  13  of the housing  11 , beyond the top panel  16 . A rod slot  23  extends through the display tab  26 . The rod slot  23  facilitates hanging of the housing  11  on a display hanging rod (not illustrated) in a retail outlet such as a sporting goods store or the like, for example, during marketing display of the fishing line package  10 , as will be hereinafter further described. Various marketing and product identification indicia or labeling (not illustrated), such as trademarks and the like, may be provided on the exterior surfaces of the housing  11  and display tab  26 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a reinforcing display tab  26   a  typically extends from the display tab  26 . A rod slot  23   a  extends through the reinforcing display tab  26   a . An attachment tab  27  extends from the reinforcing display tab  26   a . The attachment tab  27  may be connected to the reinforcing display tab  26   a  by a connecting portion  28 . In some embodiments, the reinforcing display tab  26   a  is omitted from between the display tab  26  and the attachment tab  27 , in which case the attachment tab  27  extends from the display tab  26 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , in a display configuration of the fishing line package and dispenser  10 , the reinforcing display tab  26   a  can be folded forwardly with respect to the display tab  26  and the attachment tab  27  detachably attached to the interior surface of the rear panel  13  in the housing interior  11   a  of the housing  11 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The attachment tab  27  can be detachably attached to the interior surface of the rear panel  13  using any suitable technique known by those skilled in the art. For example, at least one attachment strip  30  may be provided for attaching the attachment tab  27  to the interior surface of the rear panel  13 . The at least one attachment strip  30  may be an adhesive such as glue or a hook-and-loop fastener, in non-exclusive particular. When the attachment tab  27  is attached to the interior surface of the rear panel  13 , the rod slot  23   a  of the reinforcing display tab  26   a  generally registers with the rod slot  23  of the display tab  26 . Alternatively, the reinforcing display tab  26   a  can be folded rearwardly with respect to the display tab  26  and the attachment tab  27  detachably attached to the rear surface of the rear panel  13 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in a line-dispensing configuration of the fishing line package and dispenser  10 , the attachment tab  27  can be detached typically from the interior surface of the rear panel  13  and attached to the front surface of at least one of the display tab  26  and the reinforcing display tab  26   a . This facilitates attachment of the fishing line package and dispenser  10  to a fishing rod  34 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6  and will be hereinafter described. The attachment tab  27  can be detachably attached to the front surface of at least one of the display tab  26  and the reinforcing display tab  26   a  using any suitable technique known by those skilled in the art. For example, at least one attachment strip  29  may be provided for attaching the attachment tab  27  to the display tab  26  and/or the reinforcing display tab  26   a . The at least one attachment strip  29  may be an adhesive or a hook-and-loop fastener, in non-exclusive particular. In embodiments in which the reinforcing display tab  26   a  is omitted, the attachment tab  27  can be attached to the front or rear surface of the display tab  26  in the display configuration of the fishing line package and dispenser  10  and to the front surface of the display tab  26  in the line-dispensing configuration of the fishing line package and dispenser  10 . 
   Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, an illustrative method of fabricating the fishing line package and dispenser  10  by folding a blank  10   a  is illustrated. It is to be understood that fabrication of the fishing line package and dispenser  10  by folding the blank  10   a  represents just one possible method of fabrication and that the fishing line package and dispenser  10  may be fabricated using any of a variety of suitable alternative techniques. The blank  10   a  includes a front panel  12  and a bottom panel  17  connected to the front panel  12  along a bottom panel fold line  40 . A rear panel  13  is connected to the bottom panel  17  along a rear panel fold line  41 , a display tab  26  is connected to the rear panel  13  along a display tab fold line  42 , a reinforcing display tab  26   a  is connected to the display tab  26  along a reinforcing tab fold line  43 , and an attachment tab  27  is connected to the reinforcing display tab  26   a  along at least one connecting portion fold line  44 . In some embodiments, a pair of connecting portion fold lines  44  connects the attachment tab  27  to the reinforcing display tab  26   a  and a connecting portion  28  extends between the connecting portion fold lines  44 . 
   A side tab  18  and a side tab  19  are connected to the bottom panel  17  along a side tab fold line  45  and a side tab fold line  46 , respectively. A side panel  14  and a side panel  15  are attached to opposite edges of the front panel  12  along side panel fold lines  47  and  48 , respectively. A side panel tab  14   a  is attached to the side panel  14  along a tab fold line  49 , and a side panel tab  15   a  is attached to the side panel  15  along a tab fold line  50 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a fold tab  37  (not illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) may be attached to the top panel  16  along a fold tab fold line  54 . The fold tab  37  is typically separate from the adjacent side panel  14 . A reinforcing tab  36  is attached to the side panel  15  along a reinforcing tab fold line  53  and is typically separate from the adjacent top panel  16 . A continuous line slit  20  extends through a portion of the side panel  15  and a portion of the reinforcing tab  36 . A top panel  16  is attached to the front panel  12  along a top panel fold line  51 . A top panel tab  16   a  is attached to the top panel  16  along a panel tab fold line  52 . 
   The fishing line package and dispenser  10  is fabricated by folding the blank  10   a  along the various fold lines and attaching the various components of the blank  10   a  to each other. Accordingly, the front panel  12  is folded with respect to the bottom panel  17  along the bottom panel fold line  40 ; the rear panel  13  is folded with respect to the bottom panel  17  along the rear panel fold line  41 ; and the side panels  14  and  15  are folded with respect to the front panel  12  along the side panel fold lines  47  and  48 , respectively. The side tabs  18  and  19  are folded with respect to the side tab fold lines  45  and  46 , respectively, and glued or otherwise attached to the inside surfaces of the side panels  14  and,  15 , respectively. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the reinforcing tab  36  is folded along the reinforcing tab fold line  53 , against the inside surface of the side panel  15  such that the line slit  20  in the reinforcing tab  36  is generally aligned with the line slit  20  in the side panel  15 . The reinforcing tab  36  may be glued or otherwise attached to the side panel  15 . A line resistance strip  24  may be glued or otherwise attached to the inside surfaces of the side panel  15  and the reinforcing tab  36 , with a line slit  25  in the line resistance strip  24  generally aligned with the line slits  20  in the side panel  15  and reinforcing tab  36 , respectively. 
   The side panel tab  14   a  is folded with respect to the side panel  14  along the tab fold line  49  and the side panel tab  15   a  is folded with respect to the side panel  15  along the tab fold line  50 . The side panel tabs  14   a  and  15   a  are each glued or otherwise attached to the inside surface of the rear panel  13  to complete fabrication of the housing  11 . In the closed configuration of the housing  11 , illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the top panel tab  16   a  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) can be inserted between the top panel  16  and the attachment tab  27  (after attachment of the attachment tab  27  to the interior surface of the rear panel  13  in the display configuration) or between the top panel  16  and the rear panel  13  (in embodiments in which the attachment tab  27  is attached to the rear surface of the rear panel  13  in the display configuration) to close the housing interior  11   a  of the housing  11 . 
   Referring next to  FIGS. 3-7  of the drawings, in typical application, the fishing line package and dispenser  10  is initially packaged in the display configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 7  for purposes of marketing the fishing line package and dispenser  10 . The fishing line package and dispenser  10  is then obtained by a user and attached to a fishing rod  34 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , to transfer the wound fishing line  32  from the fishing line spool  31  ( FIG. 4 ) in the housing  11  of the fishing line package and dispenser  10  and onto a reel  35  provided on the fishing rod  34 . The fishing rod  34  may be conventional and typically includes an open-bail or closed-bail reel  35  and a handle  38  provided at one end of the fishing rod  34 . A line spindle (not illustrated) is rotatably mounted in the reel  35  and engaged for rotation in a selected forward or reverse direction by a reel handle  35   a . Multiple fishing line guide loops  33  may be provided on the fishing rod  34  in spaced-apart relationship to each other. 
   In the display configuration of the fishing line package and dispenser  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the fishing line spool  31  ( FIG. 4 ), on which is wound the fishing line  32 , is contained in the housing interior  11   a  of the housing  11 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , during fabrication and packaging, the reinforcing display tab  26   a  is folded forwardly with respect to the display tab  26 . The attachment tab  27  is typically inserted in the housing interior  11   a  of the housing  11  and detachably attached to the interior surface of the rear panel  13 , such as by using the attachment strip or strips  30 , for example. Accordingly, the rod slot  23   a  ( FIG. 1 ) of the reinforcing display tab  26   a  is generally aligned with the rod slot  23  of the display tab  26 . The top panel  16  of the housing  11  is closed typically by insertion of the top panel tab  16   a  between the attachment tab  27  and the top panel  16 . Alternatively, the attachment tab  27  may be detachably attached to the rear surface of the rear panel  13 , in which case the top panel tab  16   a  is inserted between the top panel  16  and the rear panel  13  of the housing  11 . The housing  11  may be wrapped in cellophane (not illustrated) prior to marketing, typically in conventional fashion. The fishing line package and dispenser  10  can be displayed in a retail establishment or the like by, for example, inserting a hanging rod (not illustrated), which is attached to a peg board (not illustrated) or the like, through the rod slots  23 ,  23   a  and hanging the fishing line package and dispenser  10  on the hanging rod. 
   After purchase of the fishing line package and dispenser  10 , the housing  11  is opened typically by removing the top panel tab  16   a  typically from between the attachment tab  27  and the top panel  16  of the housing  11  and extending the top panel  16  from the front panel  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , to open the housing interior  11   a . The fishing line spool  31  is then partially removed from the housing interior  11   a  and the end segment of the fishing line  32  is unwound from the fishing line spool  31 . The end segment of the fishing line  32  unwound from the fishing line spool  31  is inserted through the line slit  20  provided in the side panel  15  and through the line slit  25  ( FIG. 2 ) provided in the line resistance strip  24  on the interior surface of the side panel  15 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
   The fishing line package and dispenser  10  is attached to the fishing rod  34  by detaching the attachment tab  27  typically from the interior surface of the rear panel  13  and initially extending the attachment tab  27  in coplanar relationship to the reinforcing display tab  26   a , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The attachment tab  27  is then bended forwardly with respect to the reinforcing display tab  26   a  and the fishing rod  34  is placed between the reinforcing display tab  26   a  and the attachment tab  27 , after which the attachment tab  27  is attached to the front surface of at least one of the display tab  26  and the reinforcing display tab  26   a , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , such as via the at least one attachment strip  29 . The end segment of the fishing line  32  is then further pulled from the housing  11  through the line slit  20  and attached to the line spindle (not illustrated) of the reel  35 . Next, the fishing line  32  is pulled from the fishing line spool  21  in the housing  11  and wound on the line spindle of the reel  35  by rotating the reel handle  35   a  of the reel  35  in the reverse direction. As the fishing line  32  is pulled from the line slit  20 , the line resistance strip  24  applies resistance to the fishing line  32  through the line slit  25  ( FIG. 2 ) of the line resistance strip  24 , thereby maintaining tension in the fishing line  32  between the housing  11  and the reel  35  as the fishing line  32  is wound on the line spindle of the reel  35 . The opening panel  22  ( FIG. 3 ) can be detached from the rear panel  13  of the housing  11  to open the opening  21  in the rear panel  13 . If needed, the fishing line spool  31  can be manually rotated through the opening  21  during transfer of the fishing line  32  to the reel  35  in the event that rotation of the fishing line spool  31  in the housing interior  11   a  is inadvertently hindered, for example. 
   After the desired quantity of the fishing line  32  is transferred from the fishing line spool  31  to the reel  35 , the portion of the fishing line  32  which is wound on the reel  35  is cut away from the housing  11 . The cut end of the fishing line  32  is then extended through the fishing line guide loops  33  and then rigged and baited typically in conventional fashion for use of the fishing rod  34 . The fishing line package and dispenser  10  is detached from the fishing rod  34  and then typically stored for later transfer of additional fishing line  32  from the fishing line package and dispenser  10  onto a reel  35  of the same or a different fishing rod  34 , as needed. 
   While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.