Abstract:
A fly reel having a spool with multiple line holding portions, permitting a single rod an reel assembly to be simultaneously fitted with different types of fly line, and eliminating the need to remove and reinstall reels when changing types of fly line.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This invention relates to fishing reels, and in particular to fly fishing reels. Fly fishing reels are a well known and specialized form of fishing reel. Fly fishing differs from other styles of fishing in the manner in which the lure, or fly, is cast. In spinning or casting reels, a relatively lightweight line is wound onto a free wheeling spool, and a relatively heavy lure or bait is attached to the end of the line. The lure or bait is delivered by “whipping” the end of the rod toward the target and releasing a brake on the spool at the appropriate time. The whipping action of the rod propels the lure or bait toward the target, carrying the line with it. 
         [0002]    Fly fishing reels and lines operate in a different manner. In fly fishing the lure is very light, and does not have enough mass to be effectively thrown by the whipping action of the rod. Instead, a relatively heavy fly line is wound onto reel, and played out incrementally by a repeated whipping of the rod tip toward the target. The rod is moved in a rhythm that keeps the end of the line and the fly in the air until enough of the fly line is extended to reach the target. The rod is then stopped and the fly line and fly settle onto the water. 
         [0003]    Fly fishing lines can be of two basic types, floating and sinking. A commonly used hybrid line includes a sinking end portion attached to a floating length to cause the bulk of the line to remain on the surface while permitting the end portion to deliver the fly to a target beneath the surface of the water. A fly reel is loaded with either floating or sinking line depending on the particular conditions. If during an outing the conditions change, or the particular type of line is not working, the fisherman removes the reel and replaces it with one that is loaded with the opposite type of line. While this works, it is inconvenient at best. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention relates to a fly reel that eliminates the need to change reels when switching from one type of fishing line to another. The reel is fitted with two spools that each can be loaded with different types of fly line, permitting the fisherman to switch between the line-types more quickly and easily without having to remove and replace one reel with another. The invention will now be described in greater detail by reference to the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a reel according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view along line B-B in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a reel according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a side cross-sectional view along line B-B in  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    Referring now to the FIG.&#39;s  1 - 5 , one preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in an exploded view. In this embodiment the invention includes a reel housing  1  which includes a threaded stud  5  and a mounting flange  1   a . A spool  2  is mounted on stud  5  and rotates on a pair of inner and outer bushings  6 . In one preferred embodiment bushings  6  are self-lubricated, or made of a low friction material such as a Teflon®. Doing so eliminates the need to lubricate the spool, increasing its usability in the field. 
         [0016]    Spool  2  includes an inner flange  2   a,  a middle flange  2   b,  and an outer flange  2   c . Inner flange  2   a  and middle flange  2   b  define a first line spool portion  2   d.  Middle flange  2   b  and outer flange  2   c  define a second line spool portion  2   e.  A braking surface  2   f  is provided on the peripheral surface of outer flange  2   c.    
         [0017]    A handle knob  3  is mounted on spool  2  by pin  4 . A first washer  8  and a spring washer  9  are mounted on stud  5 , and the whole rotating assembly is retained on stud  5  by a retaining nut  7 . 
         [0018]    In operation the reel is mounted on a rod at flange mounting flange  1   a  in typical fashion. A first fly line is wound onto first line spool portion  2   d,  and a second fly line is wound onto second line spool portion  2   e.  One of the lines is threaded through the line guides of the fishing rod for use in a normal fashion, while the other is retained on the spool by a resilient line retainer  10 . If the conditions arise that require the use of the different line on the other spool, the first line is rewound onto the first line spool portion  2   d.  The retainer  10  is moved from the line on the second line spool portion to the line on the first line spool portion, and the other fly line is extended and threaded through the line guides for use. 
         [0019]    It is often the case when fly fishing that the momentum of the fly line as it is thrown can result in an over spinning of the spool and cause tangling of the line. This is referred to as backlash. In this embodiment of the invention retaining nut  7  and spring washer  9  cooperate to preload a frictional force on spool to limit the over spinning of the spool. Nut  7  is adjustable to provide a continuously variable range of adjustment as required for different line weights and rods. In addition to the preloading provided by the retaining nut and spring washer, the spool in includes an angles shoulder portion  2   f  that serves as a “braking surface.” As the line is thrown, the user&#39;s heel of the user&#39;s hand is gently pushed against shoulder  2   f  to slow the spinning spool, and in that way to accurately place the lure at the desired position. The angle and position of the braking shoulder  2   f  is such that the user can conveniently brake or slow the spinning spool with the heel of his hand while holding the rod in the normal fashion. 
         [0020]    In one preferred embodiment the reel housing and spool assembly are manufactured in a lightweight, non-corroding metal such as aluminum or titanium, permitting the reel to be used in salt water environments without danger of corroding. However, the invention is not limited to any particular material of construction, and could be made of other metallic or polymeric materials. In another aspect of this embodiment of the invention, the reel housing and spool flanges are drilled with numerous holes to further lighten the assembly and increase the sensitivity of the fly rod and reel, although the invention is not so limited. 
         [0021]    In another preferred embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 6-10 , the reel operated in a similar manner. This embodiment differs in the design of the shaft and retainers used to mount the spool onto the shaft. Referring to  FIG. 6  shaft  9  in mounted on reel housing  7  by means of washer  13  and shaft retaining nut  11 . Spool  8  is mounted on shaft  9  by means of respective inner and outer bushings  3   a  and  3   b.  D-hole washer  5 , spring washer  6 , tension control washer  12  and spool retaining nut  4 . The tension on tension control washer  12  is adjusted by means of turning spool retaining nut  4  to tighten or loosen tension control washer  12  on shaft  9 . Tension is transmitted from tension control washer  12  to spool  8  through tension spring  6 . Spool retaining nut  4  can be adjusted to provide any level of spool rotation resistance desired. This embodiment also differs from the first preferred embodiment in that a pair of spool turning knobs  1   a  and  1   b  are provided, as opposed to a single knob. 
         [0022]    Having described the invention by reference of several preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the illustrated embodiments could be varied in detail and arrangement without departing from the scope of the claims.