Patent Abstract:
A method and apparatus for identifying fishing line specification comprises providing a fishing rod and reel assembly. The fishing rod and reel assembly comprises a fishing rod and a fishing reel. The method includes placing a fishing line having a particular specification on the fishing rod and reel assembly and attaching to one of said fishing rod and fishing reel a label having indicia thereon representative of the particular specification of the fishing line. The label is attached in a manner to enable a user of the fishing rod and reel assembly to view the indicia while the user is fishing with the fishing rod and reel assembly.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to identifying a particular specification of fishing line installed on a fishing rod and reel assembly and, more particularly, to identifying a particular specification of fishing line by using a label having indicia thereon that is representative of the particular specification. 
     A typical angler (fisherman/fisherwoman) has a plurality of fishing rod and reel assemblies to accommodate the various types of fish desired to be caught and the various conditions that can exist at the time of fishing. Each fishing rod and reel assembly is usually adapted for a specific purpose and has specifications suitable for that purpose. One way a fishing rod and reel assembly is adapted for a specific purpose is through the choice of fishing line installed on the fishing rod and reel assembly. Often, an angler has a plurality of different types of fishing lines that fit on a fishing reel to choose from or purchase. The angler chooses the type of line that best fits his/her fishing needs. The type of line chosen may be based on line test (tensile strength) or some other line specification. Because various factors—such as the material of construction, the diameter of the fishing line, and the number of filaments used in making the fishing line—determine the particular specifications of the fishing line, an angler cannot ascertain by looking at the fishing line the particular specifications for that fishing line. Therefore, an angler needs to either remember the particular specifications of the fishing line installed on each of the fishing rod and reel assemblies or maintain a record of the particular specifications of the fishing line installed on each of the fishing rod and reel assemblies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As the number of fishing rod and reel assemblies employed by an angler increases, it becomes increasingly difficult for the angler to remember or keep track of the particular specifications of the fishing line installed on each of the various fishing rod and reel assemblies. Additionally, any written record of the particular specifications of each of the fishing lines installed on the various fishing rod and reel assemblies may not be available at the time the angler is selecting a fishing rod and reel assembly to use. Furthermore, because anglers remove the existing fishing line and install a different fishing line on a fishing rod and reel assembly, any marking on the fishing rod and reel assembly to indicate the particular specifications of the fishing line should preferably be capable of being removed or changed. Therefore, to alleviate the need for the angler to remember or record the particular specifications of the fishing line installed on a fishing rod and reel assembly, a method of visually identifying the particular specifications of the fishing line installed on a fishing rod and, reel assembly is needed. Additionally, such method preferably should also be nonpermanent and capable of being removed from the fishing rod and reel assembly without damaging the fishing rod and reel assembly. 
     Among the several objects of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus that overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages; the provision of such method and apparatus which is of simple construction; and the provision of such method and apparatus which is easy to use. 
     In general, a method of the present invention comprises providing a fishing rod and reel assembly comprised of a fishing rod and a fishing reel. The method includes placing a fishing line having a particular specification on the fishing rod and reel assembly and attaching to one of the fishing rod and fishing reel a label having indicia thereon that is representative of the particular specification of the fishing line. The label is attached in a manner to enable a user of the fishing rod and reel assembly to view the indicia while the user is fishing with the fishing rod and reel assembly. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the method comprises providing a fishing rod and reel assembly comprised of a fishing rod and a fishing reel. The method includes providing a package that contains a fishing line having a particular specification and a label having indicia thereon that is representative of the particular specification, removing the fishing line from the package, and placing the fishing line on the fishing rod and reel assembly. The label is then attached to one of the fishing rod and fishing reel in a manner to enable a user of the fishing rod and reel assembly to view the indicia while the user is fishing with the fishing rod and reel assembly. 
     In general, the apparatus of the present invention is a kit for use with a fishing rod and reel assembly. The fishing rod and reel assembly comprises a fishing rod and fishing reel and the kit comprises a fishing line and a label. The fishing line has a particular specification and the label has indicia thereon that is representative of the particular fishing line specification. The label has first and second ends and a length therebetween. The label is moveable between a coiled position and an uncoiled position with the label being biased toward the coiled position so that the label assumes the coiled position when no external forces are acting on the label. The label is moveable to the uncoiled position by the application of an external pulling force on the label. The label is adapted to wrap around a portion of the fishing rod in a manner to enable a user of the fishing rod and reel assembly to view the indicia while the user is fishing with the fishing rod and reel assembly. 
     Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a fishing rod and reel assembly and a label of the present invention attached to the fishing rod; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane of line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the label of FIG. 1 in a relaxed state and not attached to the fishing rod; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane of line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a side-elevational view of the label of FIG. 3 in an uncoiled position due to the application of external pulling forces; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom of the uncoiled label of FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic of a kit of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and first more particularly to FIG. 1, a fishing rod and reel assembly is generally indicated at  20 . The fishing rod and reel assembly  20  is comprised of a fishing rod  22  and a fishing reel  24 . Fishing line  26  having a particular specification (e.g. line test) is installed on the fishing rod and reel assembly  20 . A label, generally indicated at  28 , is attached to the fishing rod  22 . The label  28  has indicia  30  representative of the particular specification of the fishing line  26 . The indicia  30  on the label  28  is preferably in plain view so that a user of the fishing rod and reel assembly  20  can view the indicia  30  when fishing with the fishing rod and reel assembly or when selecting a particular rod and reel assembly to use. Although the label  28  is preferably (as shown) attached to the fishing rod  22 , it is to be understood that the label may be attached to the fishing reel  24  without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The label  28  is shown as having indicia  30  representative of the line test or tensile strength of the fishing line  26 . However, it is to be understood that the fishing line  26  has several specifications and any of the specifications may be displayed on the label  28  by the indicia  30 . For example, the indicia  30  may be representative of the manufacturer of the fishing line  26 , the type of material from which the fishing line is made, the thickness of the fishing line  26 , and/or any other particular specification of the fishing line  26 . It should also be understood that while the label  28  is shown as having indicia  30  representative of a single specification of the fishing line  26 , the label may have indicia representative of more than a single specification of the fishing line without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the label  28  has first and second ends  32 ,  34  and a length  36  therebetween. Adjacent the first end  32  is a first end margin  38  and adjacent the second end  34  is a second end margin  40 . An intermediate portion  42  extends between the first and second end margins  38 ,  40 . 
     Preferably, the label  28  is a self-coiling label, i.e. a label that is biased to curl or roll up in a coiling manner without the application of any external forces. The self-coiling label  28  may be made from any material capable of being biased to curl or roll up in a coiling manner without the application of any external forces. Applicant has found that a polyester film works well for making self-coiling labels and applicant&#39;s label  28  is preferably made from a polyester film. A suitable type of self-coiling label is commercially available from Vulcan Spring &amp; Mfg. Co. of Telford, Pa., under the trade designation Vulcan Self-Coiling Scrolls. The indicia  30  may be applied to the label  28  via a conventional printing process or by any other manner known in the industry. The label  28  can also have a protective coating placed over the indicia  30  to protect the indicia from ultraviolet rays, alcohol, bug spray or any other hazards to which the label may be exposed. Applicant has found that a protective coat of varnish is useful in protecting the indicia  30 . 
     Typical fishing rod and reel assemblies  20  are balanced to provide the angler with a certain “feel” when fishing. The balancing of the fishing rod and reel assembly  20  can be accomplished by adding weights (not shown) to the fishing rod and reel assembly. Preferably, the label  28  is light weight so that the label does not alter the balance of the fishing rod and reel assembly  20  and does not alter the “feel” of the fishing rod and reel assembly. It is also preferable that the label  28  not inhibit fishing with the fishing rod and reel assembly  20 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show the self-coiling label  28  in a relaxed state, that is with no external forces acting on the label. When in the relaxed state, the label  28  is biased to self-coil to an inner diameter D 1 , as shown in FIG.  4 . The label  28  is moveable to an uncoiled position (FIGS. 5 and 6) by the application of an external force F. It is to be understood that movement of the label  28  from its relaxed position to its uncoiled position may be accomplished by a user pulling on the label with his/her hands. While the label  28  is shown in its relaxed state as forming three complete coils, it should be understood that the number of coils formed by the label when in its relaxed state is determined by the length  36  of the label and the diameter D 1  to which the label is biased to self-coil. The label  28  can be of any length and biased to self-coil to any diameter that is suitable for its intended purpose without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The fishing rod  22  is a typical fishing rod. The fishing rod  22  has a shaft  44 , a handle  46  surrounding a portion of the shaft, and a reel-receiving seat  48 . The shaft  44  extends from a handle end  50  to a tip (not shown). The fishing reel  24  attaches to the fishing rod  22  at the seat  48 . The shaft  44 , as shown in FIG. 2, has an outer diameter D 2 . As stated above, the label  28  is preferably attached to the fishing rod  22 . More preferably, the label  28  is attached to the shaft  44  of the fishing rod  22  between the seat  48  and the tip. 
     Preferably, the diameter D 1  is smaller than the outer diameter D 2  of the portion of the fishing rod shaft  44  to which the label  28  is to be attached. Because the label inner diameter D 1  is smaller than the shaft diameter D 2 , the label first end  32  and the label first end margin  38  exert a generally radially inward spring force on the shaft  44 . The generally radially inward spring force causes the label  28  to be snuggly attached to the shaft  44  and helps minimize or even eliminates movement of the label along the shaft  44 . 
     Preferably, the length  36  of the label  28  is larger than a perimeter P of the fishing rod shaft  44  so that at least a portion of the label first end margin  38  is overlapped by the label. Even more preferably, the length  36  of the label  28  is sufficient to enable the label to wrap around the shaft  44  two or more times. When the length  36  is larger than the shaft perimeter P, the label  28  may wrap all the way around the shaft  44  and overlap onto itself, as shown in FIG.  2 . The overlapping of the label  28  causes the label to exert a generally radially inward force upon itself and helps to prevent the label from detaching from the shaft  44 . 
     Preferably, the indicia  30 , as shown in FIG. 6, repeats along the length  36  of the label  28 . The repetition of the indicia  30  allows the indicia to be visible to a user of the fishing rod and reel assembly  20  regardless of the length  36  of the label  28  or the amount of overlapping of the label onto itself. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a kit, generally indicated as  52  in FIG. 7, comprises the label  28  of FIG. 3 and a spool of fishing line  54 . The kit  52  is for use with a fishing rod and reel assembly  20 . The spool of fishing line  54  contains fishing line  26  having a particular specification. The label  28  has indicia  30  that is representative of the particular specification of the fishing line  26 . As shown in FIG. 1, the label  28  is adapted to wrap around a portion of the fishing rod shaft  44  in a manner to enable a user of the fishing rod and reel assembly  20  to view the indicia  30  when fishing with the fishing rod and reel assembly. 
     In use, the kit  52  is opened and the spool of fishing line  54  is removed from the kit. At least a portion of the fishing line  26  on the spool  54  is then placed on the fishing rod and reel assembly  20 . The label  28  is removed from the kit  52  and is attached to the fishing rod  22  in a manner to enable a user of the fishing rod and reel assembly  20  to view the indicia  30  when fishing with the fishing rod and reel assembly. The label  28  is preferably maintained attached to the fishing rod  22  while the user is fishing with the fishing rod and reel assembly  20 . 
     The label  28  is attached to the fishing rod  22  by first uncoiling the label by applying an external force F to the label. Next, either the first end  32  or second end  34  of the uncoiled label  28  is placed on the fishing rod  22  at a location on the fishing rod where it is desired to display the indicia  30 . Then, the label  28  is allowed to self-coil around the fishing rod  22  by wrapping the label around the fishing rod. The label  28  is now attached to the fishing rod and reel assembly  20 . 
     The label  28  can be repeatedly attached to and removed from any fishing rod and reel assembly  20  without damaging either the label or the fishing rod and reel assembly. The label  28  does not require the use of any adhesives or mechanical means to attach the label to the fishing rod and reel assembly  20 . The label  28  also does not rely upon static cling to cause the label to adhere either to itself or to the fishing rod and reel assembly  20 . Because the label  28  is attached to the fishing rod and reel assembly  20  by the self-coiling action of the label, the label need not be permanently attached, adhered, or bonded to the fishing rod and reel assembly and can be removed from the fishing rod and reel assembly without damaging either the label or the fishing rod and reel assembly. Therefore, the label  28  can be removed from the fishing rod and reel assembly  20  and attached to a different fishing rod and reel assembly (not shown but as discussed above, the fishing rod and reel assembly  20  is a typical fishing rod and reel assembly and all references to a fishing rod and reel assembly should be understood to mean a typical fishing rod and reel assembly) without damaging the fishing rod and reel assembly or the label. 
     To remove the label  28  from the fishing rod and reel assembly  20 , an external force F is applied to either the first or second end  32 ,  34  (which ever is exposed) of the label. The label  28  is then uncoiled by unwinding the label from the fishing rod and reel assembly  20 . When the label  28  has been sufficiently unwound and uncoiled, the label can be removed from the fishing rod and reel assembly  20 . The label  28  may then be used on the same or a different fishing rod and reel assembly  20  by attaching the label in the manner discussed above. 
     In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. 
     As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0