Patent Publication Number: US-2018042208-A1

Title: Fishing Reel Cover

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to U. S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/374,555, filed Aug. 12, 2016 by the same inventor and entitled “REELdry Fishing Reel Protective Shroud.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to protective covers for equipment used out-of-doors and more particularly to flexible covers adapted to enclosing complex mechanisms such as fishing reels from the effects of weather or weather-borne substances. 
     2. Description of the Invention and Background of the Prior Art 
     Fishing reels are precision mechanisms used in out-of-doors environments where they are subject to weather conditions, particularly during rainy or stormy weather or during conditions upon the sea, lake, or river where over spray can find its way into the mechanism and fishing line of the reel. A cover is useful especially when traveling along the water to protect the reel from overspray and other forms of contamination. 
     Conventional covers for fishing reels tend to be bulky and often difficult to secure or remove quickly. Other covers are not waterproof or do not provide sufficient ventilation to permit wet reels and fishing line to air dry. An airtight cover traps humidity, and lead to deterioration of the fishing line or corrosion of metal parts of the reel mechanism. 
     What is needed is a cover for a fishing reel that solves these problems and provides a covering device that is easier to use, durable, and low cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment a cover or shroud for a fishing reel installed on a fishing rod is disclosed comprising a bag formed from a rectangular piece of waterproof fabric having opposite first and second longer sides and opposite first and second shorter sides, wherein the first longer side is hemmed with a drawstring cord disposed within the hem and extending from each end of the hem by a predetermined length to form first and second tie ends. The second longer side opposite the first longer side may also be hemmed. The first and second shorter sides are sewn together, and the bag thus formed is turned inside out to dispose an edge of the sewn first and second shorter sides inside the bag. 
     In another aspect, the first and second tie ends are formed into a knot; and a draw string lock is disposed over the first and second tie ends between the knot and the cover. 
     In another aspect, the cover is constructed of a waterproof fabric such as nylon, synthetic sheet, fabric woven of waterproof fibers, canvas, muslin, rubberized cloth and the like. 
     In another aspect, one convenient size of the cover is provided that is approximately 12 inches long and 9 inches wide. 
     In other aspects, eyelets for the drawstring cord may be positioned at each end of the upper edge hem; and two-piece, press-fit fasteners may be attached to opposite corners on opposite sides of the lower edge of the cover to more closely secure the cover around a reel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a finished perspective view of one embodiment of a fishing reel cover according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a rectangular panel of material from which the embodiment of  FIG. 1  according to the present invention may be constructed, and shown after several preliminary steps in its construction have been completed; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , after remaining construction steps have been completed; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an approximate form of the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3  after a drawstring disposed within hem of one end has been pulled to close one end of the cover; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates several fishing reel covers in use as installed over the fishing reels of several rod and reel combinations supported on the stern of a boat; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cord lock for use in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-5  to secure the drawstring cord of the fishing reel cover; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a cover according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a first member of an optional two-piece press-fit fastener; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a cover according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a second member of an optional two-piece press-fit fastener. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In an advance in the state of the art a waterproof cover or shroud for a fishing reel is described. The cover is formed of lightweight, flexible materials that are waterproof, easily sewn, and can be made by several simple manufacturing steps. An example of the fishing reel cover and its use is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The claimed invention is distinguished by its open ended design, thus creating a breathable environment that will not trap humidity so the reel casing can dry out as if stored indoors. In addition it is flexible, lightweight, and adaptable to any size reel by increasing or decreasing the blank size of the fabric or plastic panel. 
     Moreover the fishing reel cover as described is easy to install and secure. The reel does not have to be removed from its rod to protect it from the effects of the weather. Its simple structure and the drawstring and sliding string lock system enables quick and secure installation and removal. The flexible cover provides a roomy yet compact shroud to fully protect the reel from the elements when the reel is not in use. Its compact design permits closely-racked fishing rods with reels installed, to be well protected by the present invention. Further, the design is easily scaled up or down to fit various sizes and types of fishing reels. Thus, weather-borne elements, rain, hail, snow, dust, or other debris are prevented from reaching the fishing reel. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a finished perspective view of one embodiment of a fishing reel cover  10  according to the present invention. The invention has three components: a fabric bag  12  open at two opposite ends, an upper end  20  and a lower end  24 . A drawstring  14  (or drawstring cord  14 ) is sewn into an upper hem  22  formed around an upper end  20  of the fabric bag  12 , and a drawstring lock  18  is disposed on the free first  28  and second  38  ends of the drawstring  14  to secure the upper open end  20  around a fishing rod  52  just above the reel (not shown but is attached to the fishing rod  52  and enclosed within the cover  10  as depicted in  FIG. 5 . The cover  10  is then disposed as a shroud over the fishing reel to protect it from the weather, moisture, and debris. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a rectangular panel of material from which the embodiment of  FIG. 1  according to the present invention may be constructed. The material for the cover  10  may be selected from thin, durable, waterproof materials such as nylon, synthetic plastic sheet, fabric woven of waterproof fibers, rubberized cloth, canvas, muslin, and like materials. The cover  10  is shown after several preliminary steps in its construction have been completed. To begin construction, a piece of waterproof fabric  30  approximately 19″ long and 13″ wide is hemmed  34 ,  38  along its first  32  and second  36  longer, opposite edges using a suitable water-resistant thread (not shown) or a heat-welding process if the cover  10  is to be made of a plastic sheet material. The first longer edge forms the upper end  20  of the cover  10 . The second longer edge forms the lower end  24  of the cover  10 . Thus, a hem  34  is formed along the upper edge (the first longer edge  32 ), and a hem  38  is formed along the lower edge (the second longer edge  36 ). A length of drawstring cord  14 , cut to approximately 4 to 6 inches longer than the length of the fabric  30 , is enclosed within the hem  34  with an equal length of the drawstring cord  14  extending from each end of the upper hem  34 . The hems  34 ,  38  should be at least ⅛ inch wide but may be wider—for example up to ¼ or ⅜ inch wide—depending on the thickness of the drawstring cord  14  selected for the cover  10 . 
     The drawstring cord  14  is preferably a thin, heavy duty cord formed of water proof materials such as nylon thread. The threads used to make the drawstring cord  14  may be twisted or braided. The drawstring lock  18  (or cord lock  18 ) may preferably be a “spring stopper cord lock,” available from several manufacturers. In one example shown in  FIG. 6 , the cord lock  18  may include a body  60  and a plunger (or stopper)  62  retained in the body  60 . The plunger  62  may be pressed inward of the body  60  against an internal spring  64 . Pressing the plunger  62  inward aligns holes  66 ,  68  respectively through both the body  60  and the plunger  62  to allow insertion of a drawstring cord  14  (or pair of drawstring cords  14 ). Releasing the plunger  62  misaligns the holes  66 ,  68  to “lock” the spring stopper cord lock in position on the ends of the drawstring cord  14 . 
     In alternative embodiments the bag  12  may be constructed to be much longer to enclose to lower end of a fishing rod and rolled up when installed on a rod and reel assembly. The lower end of the cover  10  may also include a drawstring cord fashioned in the same manner as the drawstring cord  14  described for the upper end of the cover  10 . To provide ventilation when a longer cover  10  is used, the cover  10  may include openings (not shown) in the lower sides. In another alternative embodiment, a first  70  and a second  72  eyelet may be included in each end of the hem  34  constructed along the first upper edge  32  of the fabric  30 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The eyelets  70 ,  72  may be provided to reduce wear on the hem  34  when the drawstring cord  14  is drawn through them when installing or removing the cover  10 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , after remaining construction steps have been completed. After preparation as shown in  FIG. 2 , the hemmed fabric blank or panel  30  is folded to bring its first  40  and second  42  shorter sides together and sewn along their respective edges. The hemmed fabric panel  30  thus formed as shown in  FIG. 3  is then turned inside out to form the finished cover  10  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a pictorial view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3  after the drawstring  14  disposed within hem  22  of the first upper end  20  has been drawn from each end of the hem  22  to close the upper end  20  of the cover  10 . The drawstring lock  18 , with its plunger  62  depressed, is then slid along the drawstring toward the open ends of the hem  22 . Then the plunger is released to secure the drawstring cord  14  around the upper end  20  of the cover  10 , thereby closing the upper end  20  of the cover  10 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates several fishing reel covers in use as installed over the fishing reels of several rod and reel combinations supported on the stern  54  of a boat. The reels of several fishing rods  52 , inserted into receptacles  56 ,  58  in the stern  54  of the boat, are covered with the covers  50  constructed according to the present invention and installed as described with  FIG. 4 . The drawstring cord  14 , pulled through the hem  22  after the cover  10  is installed over the respective reel, is then secured with the drawstring lock  18 . Accordingly, rain, dirt and other elements are prevented from affecting the enclosed fishing reels. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate an alternate embodiment that provides a way to tighten the lower end  24  of the cover  10  around a handle of the fishing rod, using first and second parts of a two piece fastener such as a hook and loop fastener or a snap fastener having male and female parts. In  FIG. 7  one member  84  of a hook and loop (or snap) fastener is attached to the left end of the hem  26  of the front side  80  of the cover  10 . The hook and loop member may be approximately 1″×1″. In  FIG. 8 , a second, opposite member  86  of a hook and loop (or snap) fastener is attached to the back side of the cover  10  near the opposite end of the hem  26 . If the user needs to enclose the reel more fully at the lower end thereof, the cover corners may be brought together and overlapped so that the hook and loop (or snap) fasteners  84 ,  86  may be contacted to connect the corners together. The drawings depict the use of hook and loop fasteners to illustrate the concept. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that other two-piece fasteners suitable for the purpose described may also be used. 
     It should be noted that unlike conventional reel covers the tight closure mechanism at the upper end  20  of the cover  10  not only fully protects the reel but is easily removed when necessary. The cover  10  as described herein can be installed or removed in seconds. Moreover, the open ended bottom design of the cover  10  provides adequate ventilation and provides its protection by not trapping condensation inside the cover to accumulate on the reel. The design of the cover  10  is light in weight and easily packed and stored until use. It can also fit into any shirt, coat or pants pocket between uses. Its compact, flexible design also permits several fishing rods to be positioned close together in a holding rack without the protective covering creating additional girth to the reel. 
     While the invention has been shown in only one of its forms, it is not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The cover described and illustrated herein may include one or more graphic designs such as a logo, tradename, or other distinctive mark or illustration (not shown because of the variability of possible graphics and to preserve the clarity of the drawings) imprinted on its outer surface.