Abstract:
A fishing reel has a frame. A first cover assembly is affixed to a first side of the frame. A second cover assembly is affixed to a second side of the frame. At least one of the first cover assembly and the second cover assembly define at least one opening for receiving a panel member. The cover assemblies define supporting structure that is preferably made of a metal. The panel member defines non-supporting structure that is preferably made up of non-metallic structure such as plastic polymer and carbon fiber. The panel member may be transparent and is preferably replaceable to allow a user to customize the appearance of the reel.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to fishing reels. More particularly, the invention relates to fishing reels having a construction that facilitates weight reduction and a customizable appearance. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the high end fishing reel market, one way to achieve added value is through reduction in overall reel weight. Anglers, for example, want lighter reels for better rod balance, less fatigue, and more comfort. The current reel market is plateauing in its efforts to reduce reel weight. Reductions in reel weight are measured in tenths of an ounce, and significant reductions in weight can provide large competitive advantages. 
     Reel manufacturers are constantly working to remove every possible ounce out of their products. To date, methods used to achieve this weight reduction include overall reduction in size, lighter and stronger materials, and better designs leading to reduction in number of components. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The fishing reel of the invention includes a frame. In a preferred embodiment, a first cover assembly is affixed to a first side of the frame and a second cover assembly is affixed to a second side of the frame. Preferably, at least one of the first cover assembly and the second cover assembly define at least one opening for receiving a panel member sized to be received within the opening. By providing an opening or multiple openings in the cover assemblies, the supporting structure of the cover assembly is diminished, i.e., the cover assembly is “skeletalized”. Lightweight panel members may be inserted in the openings, thereby resulting in a lightweight cover assembly as compared to a cover assembly constructed entirely of supporting material. 
     In a second embodiment, a shroud is provided that is visible through the openings. The shroud provides a barrier to dust intrusion, provides gear system protection, etc. 
     The panel members are preferably non-supportive cosmetic covers. The cover assemblies are preferably designed in such a way that the only functional supports are manufactured using metals, such as aluminum, titanium, or magnesium. Preferably, at least ⅓ by weight of the metal material is removed. The resulting openings may receive panel members that are non-supportive. The non-supportive panel members or the shroud can consist of plastic polymer, carbon fiber, non-supportive metal, or other non-metal materials. Additionally, the non-supportive cosmetic panel members can be constructed of a clear material, thus allowing viewing of internal parts of the reel. 
     Another potential advantage of utilizing a skeletal cover assembly along with non-supportive cosmetic panel members or a shroud is the ability to make the appearance of a reel customizable by consumers. The panel members or shroud member may be replaceable, thereby allowing a consumer to select the color or other features of selected panel members to customize the appearance of the reel. The amount of the outer surface of the cover assembly of the reel that is comprised of panel members is preferably significant enough to allow for the reel to get an entirely new overall look, depending on the panel members or shroud member selected by the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a reel of the invention having a skeletalized outer member; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the reel of  FIG. 1  showing a palm side skeletalized outer member; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the reel of  FIG. 1  showing a gear side skeletalized outer member; 
         FIG. 4A  is an exploded view of a first portion of the brake shoe assembly of the reel of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4B  is an exploded view of a second portion of the brake shoe assembly of the reel of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an inside surface of the gear side skeletalized outer member of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an outside surface of the gear side skeletalized outer member of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the reel of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a reel showing a second embodiment of a palm side skeletalized outer member; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an inside surface of a second embodiment of a gear side skeletalized outer member and an inside surface of a shroud member; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an outside surface of a second embodiment of a gear side skeletalized outer member covering the shroud member of  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a spinning reel of the invention having a skeletalized outer member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7  is a reel designated generally  10 . Reel  10  includes frame  12  ( FIGS. 1 and 7 ) having palm side  14  and gear side  16 . An outer member, such as palm side cover assembly  18 , has outside surface  20  and inside surface  22 . Inside surface  22  of palm side cover assembly  18  is affixed to palm side  14  of frame  12 . Palm side cover assembly  18  defines dial orifice  24 . Palm side cover assembly  18  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  7 ) defines a skeletal member  26 , which is constructed of a strong material such as metals like aluminum, titanium, or other materials. A portion of skeletal member  26  is visible on outside surface  20 . For example, legs  28 A,  28 B, and  28 C communicate with dial orifice  24 . Interspersed between legs  28 A,  28 B and  28 C are panel members  30 . Panel members  30  are preferably constructed of lightweight materials, such as carbon fiber, plastics, or other materials. Panel members  30  may be transparent, translucent, or opaque, as desired. 
     A second outer member, such as gear side cover assembly  32  ( FIGS. 3 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ), has outside surface  34  and inside surface  36 . Inside surface  36  of gear side cover assembly  32  is affixed to gear side  16  of frame  12 . Gear side cover assembly  32  defines spool shaft orifice  33  and crank shaft orifice  35 . Gear side cover assembly  32  is defined by second skeletal member  38 , which is constructed of a strong material such as metals like aluminum, titanium, or other materials. A portion of second skeletal member  38  is visible on outside surface  34 . For example, legs  40 A,  40 B,  40 C, and  40 D communicate with spool shaft orifice  33  and crank shaft orifice  35 . Interspersed between legs  40 A,  40 B,  40 C, and  40 D are panel members  42 . Panel members  42  are preferably constructed of lightweight materials, such as carbon fiber, plastics, or other materials. Panel members  42  may be transparent, translucent, or opaque, as desired. A support member  39  ( FIGS. 5-7 ) may be provided to assist in restraining components adjacent to inside surface  36  of gear side cover assembly  32 . 
     Referring now primarily to  FIG. 7 , palm side spool shaft ball bearing  45  supports palm end  42  of spool shaft  38 . Palm side ball bearing  45  is received within central member  84  of brake spool cover  82 , discussed below. Spool assembly  46  is mounted on spool shaft  38 . 
     Referring now primarily to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , shown is a brake assembly. “Brake assembly” refers to the combination of brake shoe retainer  56 , brake shoe holder  64 , brake shoes  74 , and speed adjust shoes  76 . Brake shoe retainer  56  defines central protuberance  58 . A plurality of speed adjust shoe retainers  60  are defined by central protuberance  58  of brake shoe retainer  56 . Central protuberance  58  defines an orifice for receiving spool shaft  38 . The orifice additionally defines pin slot  59  for receiving pin  43 . 
     Brake shoe holder  64  is affixed to gear side  66  of brake shoe retainer  56  and surrounds spool shaft  38 . Brake shoe holder  64  has a central orifice  68  for receiving central protuberance  58  of brake shoe retainer  56 . Brake shoe holder  64  additionally defines a smooth gear side surface  70  (best seen in  FIG. 4 ). Brake shoe holder  64  and brake shoe retainer  56  define a plurality of brake shoe receptacles  72  therebetween. 
     Brake spool cover  82  ( FIG. 4B ) is affixed to inside surface  22  of palm side cover assembly  18 . Brake spool cover  82  has a central member  84 . Central member  84  is raised above a lower surface of brake spool cover  82  by a plurality of legs  85 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4B , brake ring support  88  has a central orifice  90  that receives central member  84  of brake spool cover  82 . Brake ring support  88  defines a cam follower  92  and a brake receiving area  94 . Cam follower  92  passes between the legs of brake spool cover  82  to make contact with cam surface  104  of brake central dial assembly  102  for moving brake spool cover  82  in an axial direction, depending upon the rotation of brake control dial assembly  102 , discussed below. 
     Continuing with reference to  FIG. 4B , brake ring  96  is located within brake receiving area  94  of brake ring support  88 . Brake ring  96  has a sloped brake shoe engaging surface  98 . Brake ring slider spring retainer  100  is affixed to a gear side of brake spool cover  82 . 
     Infinitely adjustable brake control dial assembly  102  defines cam surface  104  on gear side  106 . Cam surface  104  is received within a space defined in part by a palm side surface of central member  84  and in part by legs  85  to make contact with cam follower  92  of brake ring support  88 , which passes therethrough. A plurality of brake frame assembly springs  108  are in contact with brake ring slider spring retainer  100  and bias cam follower  92  of brake ring support  88  into contact with cam surface  104  of brake control dial assembly  102 . 
     By turning infinitely adjustable brake control dial  102 , a location of brake ring support  88  can be set to any position depending on the orientation of cam surfaces  104 . Brake ring support  88  is biased against cam surfaces  104  by springs  108 . The result is that the position of brake ring  96  may be infinitely adjustable with regard to brake shoe retainer  56 . 
     The brake shoe assembly, including brake shoe retainer  56  and brake shoe holder  64 , is free to slide in an axial or thrust direction along spool shaft  38 . The axial movement results in pin  43  moving within pin slot  59 . The brake shoe retainer  56  is biased towards gear side  16  by speed adjust spring  80 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-10 , shown is an alternate embodiment of the palm side cover assembly, i.e, palm side cover assembly  118  ( FIG. 8 ) and an alternate embodiment of a gear side cover assembly, i.e., gear side cover assembly  132  ( FIGS. 9 ,  10 ). 
     Palm side cover assembly  118  has outside surface  120  and an inside surface. The inside surface is affixed to a palm side, e.g, palm side  14  of frame  12 . Palm side cover assembly  118  defines a skeletal member  126 , which is constructed of a strong material such as metals like aluminum, titanium, or other materials. A portion of skeletal member  126  is visible on outside surface  120 . For example, legs  128 A,  128 B, and  128 C converge in a central area  124 . Interspersed between legs  128 A,  128 B and  128 C are panel members  130 . Panel members  130  are preferably constructed of lightweight materials, such as carbon fiber, plastics, or other materials. Panel members  130  may be transparent, translucent, or opaque, as desired. Additionally, panel members  130  may define vents or openings to further reduce weight and/or to allow a portion of the inside of the reel to be visible from an exterior of the reel, e.g., opening  131  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     A second outer member, such as gear side cover assembly  132  has outside surface  134  ( FIG. 9 ) and an inside surface  136  ( FIG. 8 ). The inside surface  136  of gear side cover assembly  132  is affixed to a gear side, e.g., gear side  16  of frame  12 . Gear side cover assembly  132  defines spool shaft orifice  133  and crank shaft orifice  135 . Gear side cover assembly  132  is defined by second skeletal member  138 , which is constructed of a strong material such as metals like aluminum, titanium, or other materials. A portion of second skeletal member  138  is visible on outside surface  134 . For example, legs  140 A,  140 B,  140 C, and  140 D communicate with spool shaft orifice  133  and crank shaft orifice  135 . Legs  140 A,  140 B,  140 C, and  140 D define voids therebetween. A shroud member  139  may be provided to restrain components adjacent to inside surface of gear side cover assembly  132 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , shroud member  139  is visible through the voids between legs  140 A,  140 B,  140 C, and  140 D. Shroud member  139  is preferably constructed of lightweight materials, such as carbon fiber, plastics, or other materials. Shroud members  139  may be transparent, translucent, or opaque, as desired 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , shown is a reel  200 , which is a spinning reel. Spinning reel  200  includes a body  202  defining a forwardly oriented face  204 . A spool  206  is affixed to body  202  and mounted on axle  208 . Axle  208  extends forwardly from face  204 . A rotor assembly  210  is rotatably affixed to body  202 . Body  202  defines a plurality of openings, i.e., body  202  is “skeletalized”. Into each of the openings a mating panel member  212  is located. Panel members  212  are of the same type and serve the same purpose as panel members  30 , discussed above. 
     Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims.