Abstract:
A fishing reel, having a spool and a drag mechanism having a drag washer therein, is provided with a drag cover means to cover said drag mechanism; and locking means engaging said drag cover means and said drag washer to lock said drag washer in position within said reel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to fishing reels, and more particularly to drag mechanisms contained within said reels.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     In the prior art, it is known to have drag mechanisms associated with the spools of fishing reels. These drag mechanisms are contained within the housing of the reel.  
         [0005]     Although the housing is usually finished with an outer cover, it is desirable to have an internal cover for the drag mechanism. Further, it is necessary to provide some means to permit said inside cover from backing off during the operation of the fishing reel.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     My invention provides a locking means for locking an internal cover to the drag plate within a fishing reel. I have invented an improvement in a fishing reel having a spool and a drag mechanism having a drag washer therein, comprising: a drag cover means to cover said drag mechanism; and locking means engaging said drag cover means and said drag washer to lock said drag washer in position within said reel. The drag cover means comprises a drag cover in threaded engagement with the spool. The drag washer has at least one notch and the drag cover means has a spring-biased pin means therein for engagement with said notch. A retraction means is provided for engaging said spring-biased pin means to provide a means for retracting said pin means from said notch, comprising a clip; and said drag cover has two surfaces, one for engaging said clip when said pin means engages said notch and one for engaging said clip when said pin means is retracted from said notch. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a portion of a fishing reel partially in section, including a portion of a locking drag cover in accordance with my invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a drag washer which forms a portion of the reel shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the portion of the apparatus constituting my locking drag cover shown in juxtaposition with  FIG. 2  to illustrate the interaction between the parts thereof;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a section of a cover in accordance with my invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the cover shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a section of an assembled cover with the parts shown in an alternate position; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a top view of an assembled cover as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     Referring to the Figures,  FIG. 3  shows a cover  10  which is used to shield a drag mechanism from the elements. This cover is placed within the housing  11 ,  FIG. 1 , of a fishing reel. The cover  10  is threadedly engaged with the spool  12 , as shown at  14 ,  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]     In order to lock the cover in position with respect to the drag washer  16 , I have provided notches  17  in the drag washer to mate with the head  18  of the pin  20 . The pin is retained in the drag cover  10  by means of a retaining ring  22  engaged within a circumferential slot  24  in one end of the pin  20 . The pin is disposed in sliding engagement in hole  26 , so that it is axially movable therein. The pin is biased away from the retaining ring  22  by means of a spring  28  which rests against a shoulder  30  in the drag cover  10  and exerts the pressure outwardly against the underside of the head  18  of the pin  20 . The pin is so dimensioned that in its fully extended position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , it extends beyond the surface of the drag cover  10 . In the position shown in  FIG. 1 , it extends into the notch  17  in the drag washer  16  to lock it in position. The locking drag cover is shown in this position in greater detail in the sectional view,  FIG. 4 , and top view,  FIG. 5 .  
         [0016]     In order to obtain this position, it is necessary to back the pin  20  off and hold it in a backed-off condition while the drag cover  10  is threaded into the spool  12 . This is accomplished by means of the spring clip  32 . The spring clip  32  has a hole in it so that the pin  20  can pass therethrough. The hole is such that there is sufficient clearance so that the spring clip  32  can be rotated about the pin. To obtain the position shown in  FIG. 6  from the position shown in  FIG. 4 , an implement such as the blade of a screwdriver can be inserted between the spring clip  32  and the adjoining outer surface of the drag cover  10 . To facilitate this insertion, the spring clip  32  can be bent outwardly a slight amount, as shown at A,  FIG. 4 . Twisting the blade of the screwdriver so that it raises the spring clip and thus the pin, by virtue of the lock washer  22  against the force of the spring  28 , will permit the spring clip  32  to move to a position so that when rotated, as shown in  FIG. 6 , it will be beyond the outermost surface of the drag cover  10 . In this rotated position, the screwdriver can be removed so that the spring  28  will exert a force against the head of the pin  20  and draw the pin tightly against the drag cover. In this position, the pin  20  is within the envelope of the drag cover, that is, it does not extend beyond the other surface (as it would in the condition shown in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0017]     In the position shown in  FIG. 6 , the drag plate  10  can be freely threaded into the spool  12  without interference from the head  18  of the pin  20 . Once it is fully threaded into engagement with the spool, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the spring clip  32  can again be rotated so that the force of the spring  28  will snap it down toward the drag washer  16 . If necessary, a slight rotational adjustment of the drag cover can be made so that the head  18  of the pin  20  engages one of the notches  17  in the drag washer. At that point, the drag washer and cover are locked against further rotation.  
         [0018]     If the user wishes to disassemble the drag cover  10  from the spool  12 , the user would first lift the pin by means of inserting an implement between the spring clip  32  and the cover  10  and rotate it to the position shown in  FIG. 7 , so that the pin is disengaged from the drag washer. The cover can then be unscrewed, as shown by the indicia in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0019]     It should be noted that the notches in the drag washer could be replaced by a number of means, such as a series of holes in the spool flange itself, or a separate stamping or molded part screwed to the spool. Any of these might be functionally equivalent to the invention described above.