Abstract:
This invention comprehends a button mounted in the rear portion of the spinning style fishing reel to operate a self-centering bail mechanism. The button includes a cantilever spring arm that cooperates with recesses formed in the button mounting passage. Biasing means are incorporated within the button to prevent it from inadvertently sliding back and forth.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to spinning style fishing reels, and more particularly, relates to a button mounted on the back of the fishing reel that is used to place into, and take out of, operation a mechanism that repetitively positions the bail of the fishing reel in the most desirable casting position. 
     2. Background of Prior Art 
     It is well known in the prior art that it is possible to incorporate an anti-reverse and self-centering bail mechanism into a spinning style fishing reel. This particular type of mechanism was first employed by the Langley Manufacturing Company about twenty years ago and was incorporated inside the rotor cup and external to the gear housing of the fishing reel. The Langley device had limited use and constantly caused a problem for fishermen in that in order to use the device a fisherman would have to get his hands in the way of the fishing line. It became obvious that if this desirable self-centering and anti-reverse feature could be incorporated so that it could be operated from the back portion of the fishing reel, it would be quite advantageous. Most spinning reels were made thereafter incorporating the anti-reverse mechanism that was operated from the rear of the fishing reel but they did not incorporate the self-centering bail feature. Normally the means for operating the anti-reverse feature was to have a small shaft that would toggle from the right to the left located at the back of the reel, but it was never a very positive mechanism. 
     The recent prior art of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 932,848, filed Aug. 11, 1978, and now abandoned, by J. W. Puryear and assigned to the assignee hereof, teaches a handy button means for making such an anti-reverse and self-centering bail mechanism operable. However, the fishing reels made using the Puryear mechanism relies on a spring loaded button and a detent under the button head to keep the button in either the front or back position. It has been found that in pressing down on the button to slide it forward or backward, the button head hangs up on the detent making it difficult to slide. 
     As found in the prior art, leaf-type springs are generally used as keepers and provide spring tension for the buttons. It has been found difficult and very time-consuming to install such leaf springs. Additionally, it has been found quite perplexing and disheartening to try to disassemble a fishing reel to clean it out only to have the button spring pop out from the reel housing and be lost somewhere due to the fact that it is small in size and blends well with almost every environment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a spinning style fishing reel that incorporates a self-contained, internally spring loaded button that is located at the back and within the gear housing of a fishing reel to energize the anti-reverse and self-centering bail mechanism. By locating the mechanism in the gear housing, the button means for bringing it into operation can be located at the back of the reel out of the way of the fishing line. 
     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a self-contained sliding button located within the fishing reel housing to operate the anti-reverse and self-centering mechanism. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a button that incorporates a self-contained spring loaded mechanism. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a simple sliding button arrangement which is always under spring tension. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a housing that is fashioned to accept and incorporate such a button. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide such a simple sliding button arrangement with an associated plate that can be used in many different applications besides a fishing reel environment. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide such a simple sliding button arrangement that can be used in a plate having a plurality of pre-selected positions. 
     Still yet another object of this invention is to provide such a sliding button that can be used in a plate having a plurality of positions that are arbitrarily selected and where such arrangement can be adapted in a structure such as an elongated sliding rheostat. 
     The above and other and further objects and features will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a spinning style fishing reel containing the invention described herein; 
     FIG. 2 is an end view elevation of one embodiment of the invention herein; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view elevation of one embodiment of the invention herein; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of a plate configuration adapted to receive the invention hereof; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2 depicting a portion of one embodiment of the invention hereof; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of another embodiment of the invention depicting an undercut portion; 
     FIG. 7 is a side cutaway sectional view of a spinning style fishing reel with a portion of the button of this invention in contact with part of the self-centering bail mechanism of the reel whereby the mechanism is in an operational mode; 
     FIG. 8 is a side cutaway sectional view of the spinning reel depicted in FIG. 7 wherein the self-centering mechanism is disengaged and in a non-operational mode; 
     FIG. 9 is an end view elevation of another embodiment of the invention herein; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 9 depicting a portion of one embodiment of the invention hereof; 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of a plate configuration adapted to receive the invention depicted in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is an end view elevation of yet another embodiment of the invention herein; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken along line 13--13 of FIG. 12 depicting a portion of one embodiment of the invention hereof; and, 
     FIG. 14 is a top view of a plate configuration adapted to receive the invention depicted in FIG. 12. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF BASIC STRUCTURE AND OPERATION OF FISHING REEL 
     In FIG. 1 an open face style fishing reel 1 is shown in an exploded perspective view. The reel 1 having a housing 10 which includes an integral gear case 28, a stem 12 which connects the housing 10 to a mounting foot 11 which is used to attach the reel to a spinning style fishing rod. The reel includes a crank assembly 40 rotatable about a crank handle shaft 41 with a rotatable winding handle 44 for use by a fisherman with his left hand for line retrieval while the rod (not shown) is being held by his right hand. The handle 44 may be disposed on the other side of the gear case 28 to accommodate the personal desires of the user. 
     An axially mounted rotor housing 230 is provided and adapted to rotate about the axis of the central spool shaft 300 as the crank 40 is turned for line retrieval with the line 5 being captured by the bail 270 passing over the line roller 272. The bail 270 and the line roller 272 rotate with rotor 230 and the fishing line 5 is thereby wound on the spool 290. The screws 281 function as pivot points and are accordingly the centers of rotation of the bail 270 via the bail arms 260 and 280. 
     An oscillator mechanism 30 causes the spool 290 to reciprocate axially back and forth as the rotor 230 winds a line 5 about the spool 290; but as in spinning reels generally, the spool 290 does not rotate about the axis of the central shaft 300 except as controllably permitted by the adjustable drag mechanism 50. Such limited rotation of the spool may occur during line retrieval when a fish is on the other end of the line 5 fighting for its life while still in the water; and, thus the force of the drag friction is overcome by tension in the line. This is a feature that prevents the internal mechanism from being destroyed when a large fish is on the end of the line 5. When the bail 270 is swung to an open position for casting, the line 5 may freely payout from the spool 290. 
     In the overall arrangement of the reel, a side cover plate 14 is secured to the housing 10 to cover the gear housing 28 which includes a drag pocket 13 and is accomplished by means of screws 17. The drive gear assembly 150 includes a drive gear 153 that is mounted on the drive gear shaft 154 and is received at one end in the side lip 136 of cam 130. Bearing collar 131 is coaxial with the lip 136 and mounted on the opposite side of the cam surface 133. 
     The gear assembly 150 and the oscillator cam 130 each have an internal hole and are coaxially mounted on the crank handle 41 with the drive shaft 154 externally mounted in the side plate bearing 15 and the bearing collar 131 mounted in bearing 16 that is part of the side of the housing 10 and coaxial with bearing 15 (but not shown in FIG. 1). Oscillator slide yoke 140 surrounds cam surface 133 of the cam assembly 130 and is slidably mounted near the bearing 16 in the gear case 28. Retainer screw 42 secures the crank handle shaft 41 to the reel 1. As can be readily appreciated, the crank assembly 40 can be removed from the reel 1 and reversed so that the reel 1 can be held by a fisherman in his left hand and cranked by his right hand. 
     Pinion assembly 60 is mounted in the front hole 29 of the front face 25 and surrounded by bearing 70 which is kept in place by retainer 72. Mounted inside the gear case 28 on the pinion assembly 60 is the self-centering ratchet 67. In front of retainer 72, a spacer ring 74 and a trip lever 76 are mounted on the pinion 60. The rotor 230 is mounted on the pinion assembly 60 in front of retainer 76 and is secured thereto by means of washer 61 and nut 62. Center spool shaft 300 is rotatably mounted in and supported by the pinion assembly hole 64 with the back end 301 thereof extending past the partition 20 into the drag assembly 50. The spool 290 is mounted on the shaft 300 and secured thereto by means of spool cap 292. The shaft 300 is secured to the oscillator yoke slide 140 and reciprocates back and forth relative to the rotor when the crank handle shaft 41 rotates. 
     Pinion gear 63 mounted at the back of the pinion assembly 60 mates with the drive gear 153 and is rotatable thereby. The pinion assembly 60 in turn causes the rotor 230 to rotate about the spool 290. Because the oscillator cam assembly 30 and the gear drive assembly 150 are both operated by the crank assembly 40 at the same time, the spool 290 reciprocates back and forth relative to the rotational motion of the line roller 272 about the spool and by this cooperative movement the line 5 is wound around the spool 290. 
     The axis 2 of the rotor 230, shaft 300, pinion assembly 60, and drag assembly 50 is approximately perpendicular to the axis 3 of the crank handle assembly 40, oscillator mechanism 30 and the drive gear assembly 150. The axis 2 is located above the axis 3 being nearer to the foot 11. 
     The bail 270 is normally stored in the &#34;closed&#34; or &#34;retrieve&#34; position whereby the line roller 272 functions to wind the line 5 about the spool 290 by turning the handle 44 relative to the reel 1. When the bail 270 is to be open or placed in the &#34;casting&#34; or &#34;open&#34; position, the bail 270 is pivoted about the L-shaped bail ears 231 and 232 and locked in place by the trip lever 220 that is received by the cam 261 and trip ramp 264 surfaces located on the underside of the bail arm 260 (not shown in FIG. 1); the underside of bail arm 260 faces into the cavity of the ear 231. 
     In the casting position, the line 5 is free to payout from the spool 290. During casting, this payout of the line is quite rapid, thus, the fisherman using this open faced style fishing reel is obligated to use his finger to snub the line to arrest the payout since neither the rewind or line retrieval mode (the winding of the line about the spool 90 by the line roller 272) or the drag mechanism 50 is operational. In order to change the bail from the &#34;open&#34; casting position to the &#34;closed&#34; rewind or retrieve position, the rotor 230 is rotated causing the trip lever 220 to disengage from the trip ramp 264 permitting the bail return springs 283 and 284 to pivot the bail 270 back to the retrieve position. 
     A feature of this fishing reel is a self-centering bail mechanism that permits the rotation of the rotor 230 to the same position for opening the bail 270 at the optimum casting position. A self-centering lever arm 350 is mounted within the gear case by means of screw 351 and washer 352 with the back end 354 of the arm 350 in operable engagement with the self-centering button 80. The lever arm spring 353 mounted on the drive gear shaft 154 urges the pawl end 355 toward the ratchet 67. But, with the button 80 in the back position, the pawl 355 is pivoted out of engagement with the ratchet 67. When the button 80 is in the forward position closer to the stem 12 and farther from the drag assembly 50, then the bottom of the button 80 permits the pawl end 355 of the arm 350 to come into contact with the ratchet 67 so that the rotor 230 can be rotated &#34;backwards&#34; (counter to the direction of rotation for winding the line around the spool) to a pre-selected position for opening the bail at the casting position. The same mechanism acts as an anti-reverse device for the reel so that the rotor can only be rotated &#34;backward&#34; less than one revolution. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a simple button 80 having an integrally formed cantilever arm means 90 and an oppositely positioned wedge means 91 fits into a rectangular opening 81 in the back of the housing 10 or in any device with a rectangular opening such as 81. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the button 80 has a head 86 and a lower portion 87 which is attached to or integral with the head 86 at a top 88. The lower portion 87 has a base 89 that can have a lower cam surface 112 fashioned in any manner desired. The lower portion 87 has a first longitudinal wall 106 and a second longitudinal wall 107. On the wall 106 is the wedge means 91 having an upper wedge face 109 and a lower wedge face 110 that meet in an outwardly projecting edge 117 which is substantially parallel to the top 88. On the opposite second wall 107 is the cantilever arm means 90 having a cross-sectional configuration of a J-shaped arm designated 98 and having an upper projecting leg 99 and a lower foot 100 securing the arm 98 to the lower portion 87; the arm 98 arranged as a cantilever spring means extending from the base 89. The leg 100 has an internal area 115 adjacent to and facing the second wall 107 and separated by longitudinal space 108 and an external area 116 has a lower tapered rail surface 96 and an upper tapered rail surface 95 meeting in a rail 94 which is substantially parallel to the top 88 and projects outwardly from the second wall 107, leg 99 and the external area 116. Projecting upward is a small plane portion 101 that is positioned closer to the second wall 107 than is the rail 94. A nib 92 is mounted on the plane portion 101 and the upper tapered rail surface 95 and projecting outwardly from the second wall 107. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 the lower portion 87 is U-shaped having first and second side sections 113 and 114 secured to the head at the top 88 and forming a central opening 105. When the lower portion 87 is U-shaped, then two wedge means 91 are formed on the first wall 106 as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5. Alternatively, the lower portion 87 may be solid and thus having only one wedge means 91. The button 80 can be made from metal, wood, plastic, etc. as desired. Injection molding of the plastic button enables it to be easily formed of a tough and resilient material providing for a good resilient and elastic movement of the arm means 90 relative to the second wall 107. 
     A top view of the rectangular opening 81 in which the button 80 is to be mounted is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 can represent the opening 81 in the reel housing 10 or any opening in any plate in which the button 80 is to be mounted. However, in order for the button 80 to function properly the opening should be a rectangular opening in a plate or housing having an upper surface 81a and a lower surface 81b as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. The rectangular opening 81 has a first long side 84 and a second long side 85 with the first side 84 having two spaced apart recesses 82 and 83 that extend between the surfaces 81a and 81b. The catch means recesses 82 and 83 are shaped to accommodate the coupler means nip 92 therein. The lower surface 81b of the side 85 defines a seat 93. The space between upper wedge face 109 and the top 88 and the upper tapered rail surface 95 and the top 88 is slightly less than the thickness of the plate defined by the space between the surfaces 81a and 81b. The width of the rectangular opening 81 between the sides 84 and 85 is a dimension &#34;A&#34; and the width or dimension between the side 85 and the extremities of the recesses 82 or 83 is &#34;B&#34; which is obviously greater than &#34;A.&#34; 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the distance between the edge 117 and the externally most projected part of the nib 92 is the dimension &#34;C.&#34; The distance between the edge 117 and the rail 94 is &#34;D&#34; with &#34;C&#34; being at least equal to &#34;B&#34; but preferably larger than &#34;B;&#34; &#34;D&#34; being larger than &#34;A,&#34; &#34;B&#34; or &#34;C.&#34; 
     The button 80 is pressed into the opening 81 such that the nib 92 can be positioned in the recesses 82 and 83. In pushing the button 80 into the opening 81 the arm means 90 is forced inwardly toward the second wall 107 with the external surface 116 being depressed by rubbing against the side 84 and the lower wedge face 110 rubbing against the side 85. When the button 80 has been pushed sufficiently so that the upper wedge face 109 clears the seat 93 and the upper tapered rail surface 95 clears the lower surface 81b and the nib 92 can be received in the recesses 82 and 83, then the button is in place. 
     When the button 80 is slid to a first position the nib 92 seats in the recess 82 with the spring arm means 90 insuring that the button will remain in position. By pushing on the serrated surface 103 the button 80 can easily be slid to a second position where the nib 92 is received and held in the recess 83. Because the underside of the head is smooth and the top surface 81a of the plate surrounding the opening is also smooth, the button can be easily slid back and forth from the first position to the second position without hanging up. The integrally spring loaded arm means 90 creates an outward pressure against the sides 84 and 85. 
     The button 80 can be removed from the plate if the arm means 90 is forced inwardly toward the second wall 107 until the distance &#34;D&#34; is about &#34;A&#34; wherein the base 89 can be pushed toward the plate thereby removing the button 80 from the opening 81. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper wedge face 109 and the undercut as shown at 111 to provide a more positive seat for the button 80. With the undercut 111 it has been found that the button 80 can be held more securely in the opening against the sides 84 and 85, but it has also been found it is more difficult to remove the button 80 from the opening 81. 
     It can be fully appreciated that the opening 81 can have a plurality of recesses similar to 82 and 83. Thus, the button in such an opening can slide back and forth from a plurality of positions, limited only by the number of positions provided on the plate into which the button 80 has been positioned. 
     It is fully comprehended by this invention and as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cam surface 112 is in operable engagement with the back end 354 of the lower arm 350. When the button 80 is in the forward position, as shown in FIG. 7, the pawl end 355 is lowered and able to engage the ratchet 67 (not shown). Conversely, when the button 80 is in the back position as shown in FIG. 8 the pawl end 355 is raised and cannot contact the ratchet 67 (not shown). Thus, by simply sliding the button 80 back and forth, the self-centering bail mechanism of reel 1 can become operational or disengaged, as desired. 
     In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a button 80a with a head 86a and a lower portion 87a is shown. The lower portion 87a has wedge means 91a on a first longitudinal wall 106a and resilient arm means 90a on the second longitudinal wall 107a. The arm means 90a has a flat plane 101a near the top directed toward the head 86a with the plane 101a having a catch or recess 92a which is the reverse construction of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2. Rather than two recesses, as shown in FIG. 4, the passageway has coupler means or nibs 82a and 83a on longitudinal side 84a which is spaced from longitudinal side 85a. The catch and coupler can comprise a nib and a recess or a recess and a nib and be used interchangeably as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 9. The button 80a has a side step 170 under the head 86a parallel to the wall 106a with the step 170 mating with the passageway side 85a. The distance between the back of the recess 92a and the side step 170 is &#34;E&#34; and the distance from the coupler means or nibs 82a or 83a to the opposite side 85a is approximately &#34;E.&#34; The overall width of the passageway is &#34;F&#34; and the width of the button 80a between the plane 101a and the side step 170 is &#34;F 1  &#34; which is approximately equal to or slightly larger than &#34;F.&#34; 
     When the button 80a is positioned in the passageway in the same fashion as button 80 is positioned in passageway 81, the button 80a can be slid to a first position where the recess 92a seats over the nib 82a with the spring arm means 90a insuring that the button will remain in position. By pushing the surface 103a, the button 80a can easily be slid to a second position where the nib 83a is received and held by the recess 92a. Because the underside of the head is smooth and the top surface surrounding the passageway is also smooth, the button 80a can be easily slid back and forth from the first position to the second position without hanging up. The integral spring loaded arm 90a creates an outward pressure against the sides 84a and 85a. The button 80a can be removed from the passageway in a manner similar to the method employed to remove the button 80 from the passageway 81. 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a button 80b has a head 86b and a lower portion 87b with resilient arm means 90a on the second longitudinal wall 107b and wedge means 91b on the first longitudinal wall 106b. The arm means 90b has an upwardly projecting plane 101b that is spaced a distance &#34;H&#34; from the side step 170a that is parallel to the wall 106a. 
     An elongated passageway 81d in a plate shown in FIG. 14 has two elongated sides 84b and 85b. The button 80b is positioned in the passageway 81d in a manner similar to the way in which button 80 is positioned in passageway 81. The width of the passageway 81d is &#34;G&#34; which is less than the distance &#34;H&#34; and therefore when the button 80b is positioned in a passageway 81d, the side step 170b and the plane 101b are seated always pushing outwardly against the sides 84b and 85b because of the spring arm means 90b. By pushing on the top surface 103b, the button 80b can be slid from one position to another in the passageway 81d with the frictional engagement between the step 170b and the plane 101b and the sides 84b and 85b always holding the button 80b in place. Because the underside of the head is smooth similar to buttons 80 and 80a and the top surface surrounding the passageway is also smooth, the button 80b easily slides back and forth without hangup. The frictional arrangement provides an unlimited plurality of positions for the button 80b in the passageway 81d with such a configuration adapted to be utilized in a sliding rheostat. The button 80b can be removed from the passageway in a manner similar to the method employed to remove the button 80 from the passageway 81. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the specific forms of the invention illustrated and described therein are intended to be representative only, as certain changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein disclosed. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims in ascertaining the full scope of the invention.