Abstract:
An automatic gravity controlled fishing line brake which is automatically activated when the fishing line goes slack. The fishing line is fed through an opening in an arm of the brake assembly. When the line is taught, such as when it is being cast or when a fish strikes, the tension on the line is used to elevate the arm and disengage the brake. When the fishing line tension is relieved, such as when the line hits the water or when a fish changes direction, gravity automatically lowers the arm and engages the brake on the fishing reel line spool. The brake pads prevent the fishing line spool from rotating and thus prevent the unraveling of fishing line.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to reels for fishing rods. In particular, it relates to fishing rod reels with gravity controlled brake assemblies that are automatically activated when a fishing line becomes slack. 
     2. Background Art 
     An annoying problem which confronts many fishermen is the unraveling of the fishing line spool when a fishing line which is rapidly being unwound under force suddenly loses that force when the line goes slack. For example, when a fishermen is casting a line, or when a fish strikes the line, the line is subjected to force which causes the fishing reel to unwind rapidly. When this happens, the spool holding the supply of fishing line spins rapidly to release extra line. Reels are designed to allow the spool to rapidly release fishing line so as not to reduce the distance for casting or to interfere with hooking the fish. 
     When the fishing line strikes the water after being cast, or when a fish changes direction, the fishing line may suddenly go slack. Even though the force pulling on the line is removed, the spool will continue to spin. This unnecessary spinning of the reel causes the fishing line to unravel and create a “bird&#39;s nest” within the reel assembly. When this happens, the fisherman is inconvenienced by having to rewind the spool to eliminate the bird&#39;s nest. 
     In some prior art fishing reels, a manual brake assembly is provided. The disadvantage associated with manual brake assemblies is that they require a high-level of skill on the part of the fisherman. The fisherman&#39;s timing must be precise to avoid prematurely braking the line too early and interfering with the casting or hooking the fish, or alternatively, to avoid braking the line too late which results in the creation of a bird&#39;s nest. 
     Attempts to correct this problem have resulted in the development of tension and centrifugal brakes. Tension brakes reduce the ability of the spool holding the fishing line to unravel which results in a reduced bird&#39;s nest problem. However, maintaining tension on the fishing line reduces performance by limiting casting distance. It would be advantageous to have a fishing line brake that does not maintain tension on the fishing line at all times. 
     Centrifugal brakes attempt to overcome this problem by only engaging the brake when the centrifugal clutch is engaged. While centrifugal brakes help to eliminate this problem, they also have significant drawbacks due to their complexity and cost. In addition, they add increased weight due to the number of components needed to effectuate this type of brake assembly. 
     While addressing the basic desirability of braking fishing lines with proper timing, the prior art has failed to provide a fishing line brake which is inexpensive to manufacture, which has a minimum number of components, which has a low weight, and which minimizes cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves the foregoing problems by providing a low-cost, simple gravity brake which is automatically activated when the fishing line goes slack. The fishing line is fed through an opening in an arm of the brake assembly. When the line is taught, such as when it is being cast or when a fish strikes, the tension on the line is used to elevate the arm and disengage the brake. When the fishing line tension is relieved, such as when the line hits the water or when a fish changes direction, gravity automatically lowers the arm and engages the brake on the fishing reel line spool. The brake pads prevent the fishing line spool from rotating and thus prevent the unraveling of fishing line. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art fishing rod showing the fishing line under tension and extending from the fishing reel. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of a prior art fishing rod, as shown in FIG. 1, in which the fishing line extends from the fishing reel under tension. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a prior art fishing rod, as shown in FIG. 1, in which the fishing line extends from the fishing reel and is not under tension. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of a prior art fishing rod, as shown in FIG. 1, in which fishing line extends from the fishing reel and is not under tension. This figure also illustrates the formation of a bird&#39;s nest due to unraveling of the fishing line on the fishing reel spool. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the fishing line extends from the fishing reel spool through a gravity controlled fishing line brake under tension. 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5 in which the fishing line extends from the fishing reel spool through a gravity controlled fishing line brake under tension. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5 in which the fishing line extends from the fishing reel spool through a gravity controlled fishing line brake. The line in this figure is slack. 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5 in which the fishing line extends from the fishing reel spool through a gravity controlled fishing line brake. The line in this figure is slack, but no bird&#39;s nest is formed. 
     FIG. 9 is a side cutaway view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. This figure illustrates the fishing line which is under tension and extending from the fishing reel spool through the fishing line brake. The fishing line brake is disengaged by the fishing line tension in the brake pad is rotated away from the fishing reel spool. 
     FIG. 10 is a side cutaway view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 9 which illustrates the engagement of the brake against the fishing reel spool when the tension on the fishing line is removed. 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 9 which illustrates the fishing line when it is under tension. The fishing line extends from the fishing reel spool through the fishing line brake. This figure also illustrates the brake pads used by the fishing line brake. 
     FIG. 12 is a side cutaway view of an alternative preferred embodiment in which the brake pad is directly attached to the brake arm. In this figure, the fishing line is shown under tension and the brake arm is disengaged. 
     FIG. 13 is a side cutaway view of the alternative preferred embodiment of FIG. 12 in which the brake pad is fully engaged with the fishing reel spool. In this figure, the fishing line is slack. 
     FIG. 14A is a perspective view of an alternative preferred embodiment of the brake arm in which the brake pad is directly attached to the brake arm. 
     FIG. 14B is a perspective view of another alternative preferred embodiment of the brake arm. In this embodiment, an adjustable counter balance weight is attached to the brake arm to control the amount of force applied by the brake arm to the fishing reel spool. 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another alternative preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the brake pad contacts the interior side of the fishing reel spool. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring  2 FIG. 1, this figure illustrates a typical prior art fishing rod  1 . The fishing rod  1  is comprised of the handle  2 , and a flexible rod section  4  attached to the handle to. A fishing line guide  10  is connected to the flexible rod section  4  via fishing line guide bracket  11 . Also shown is a fishing reel assembly that is mounted on the fishing rod  1 . The fishing reel assembly includes a fishing reel bracket  3 , opposing fishing reel side walls  5  (only one is shown in this figure), a fishing line winding assembly  6  and a fishing line winding crank  8 . The opposing fishing reel side walls  5  are secured by screws  7 . 
     This figure also shows a fishing line  9  extending from the fishing reel through the fishing line guide  10 . In this figure, the fishing line  9  is shown as a straight line  2  indicate that it is under tension. 
     In FIG. 2, a top view of the prior art fishing rod  1  of FIG. 2 is illustrated. This figure illustrates the opposing fishing reel side walls  5  being separated from one another by spacing rods  12 . Also shown in this figure is the fishing reel spool  13  which holds a supply of fishing line  9 . As was the case in the previous figure, the fishing line  9  is illustrated as a straight line to indicate that it is under tension. 
     The fishing line  9  will remain under tension while the fishing line is being cast, or while a fish is pulling on the line. Due to the tension, the fishing line  9  is not unraveled from the fishing reel spool  13 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the prior art fishing rod  1  after tension is removed from the fishing line  9 . When this happens, the fishing line goes slack and stops moving forward through the fishing line guides  10 . Unfortunately, the fishing reel spool  13  continues to spin and begins to unravel the fishing line  9  from the fishing reel spool  13 . 
     Tension is lost when the fishing line  9  hits the water and slows down as its sinks more slowly through the water than it flew through the air. Likewise, if a fish is hooked and swims away, the fishing line  9  will remain under tension. However, if the fish changes direction, tension may be lost and the fishing line  9  will go slack. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the problems caused by lack of tension on fishing line  9 . When the fishing line  9  goes slack, it ceases to move in a forward direction away from the fishing reel. However, if the spool  13  was spinning as a result of being cast, or as a result of a fish pulling the fishing line  9 , the spool  13  will continue to spin thereby unraveling in the fishing line  9 . As the fishing line  9  unravels, it will remain in the fishing reel and form what is commonly termed a “bird&#39;s nest”  14 . 
     The formation of a bird&#39;s nest is annoying to fishermen because it interrupts the fishing. When the bird&#39;s nest is formed, the fisherman must stop fishing to unravel the bird&#39;s nest and rewind the fishing line  9 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention in which a gravity controlled fishing line brake is installed in the fishing reel. The fishing line brake automatically locks the fishing reel spool  13  when the fishing line  9  goes slack. As a result, this invention provides a substantial improvement in convenience for fishermen because it eliminates the formation of bird&#39;s nests and eliminates the work associated with unraveling them which the fisherman would normally be burdened with. 
     This figure illustrates the fishing line  9  line under tension such as that which would be caused by casting the fishing line  9 . When the fishing line  9  is under tension, it pushes against the brake arm  15  and raises it up and away from the flexible rod  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG.  5 . This can be seen in this figure the brake arm  15  is attached to a gear  17 . When the brake arm  15  is raised under tension from fishing line  9 , the gear  17  rotates. Gear  17  is intermeshed with gear  16  which is in turn attached to brake pads  18 . As gear  16  rotates under control of gear  17 , the brake pads  18  are rotated up and away from fishing reel spool  13 . As a result, when the fishing line  9  is under tension, it forces the brake arm  15  up which in turn forces the brake pads  18  up and away from the fishing reel spool  13 . This allows the fishing reel spool  13  to spin freely. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the embodiment to FIG. 5, except that in this view the fishing line  9  is not under tension and is slack. When the fishing line  9  becomes slack, it no longer provides tension to overcome the force of gravity and the brake arm  15  will move downward automatically under the force of gravity toward flexible rod  4 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is intended that when casting, the fishing reel should be substantially above the flexible rod  4  when the fishing rod  1  is in a horizontal position. 
     FIG. 8 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG.  7 . In this figure, the fishing line  9  is shown as being slack after it has left the fishing reel. However, because the brake arm  15  has been pulled under the force of gravity toward flexible rod  4 , the rotation of gears  16 ,  17  has forced brake pads  18  into contact with fishing reel spool  13 . Once fishing reel spool  13  is braked by brake pads  18 , the fishing reel spool  13  is prevented from spinning and the formation of a bird&#39;s nest  14  is prevented. 
     FIG. 9 shows a cutaway side view of the embodiment of FIG.  6 . In this view of the fishing line  9  is shown as being under tension. When under tension, the fishing line  9  raises the brake arm  15  in direction  19 . This rotates gears  17  and  16  such that brake pad  18  is elevated above the surface of fishing reel spool  13 . This allows fishing reel spool  13  to rotate freely. 
     FIG. 10 is a cutaway side view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, except that tension has been removed from fishing line  9 . When tension is removed, gravity forces brake arm  15  in direction  20  which is toward flexible rod  4 . As brake arm  15  moves toward flexible rod  4 , gears  16  and  17  are rotated such that brake pad  18  is forced into contact with fishing reel spool  13 . As noted above, this prevents any further spinning of fishing reel spool  13  and prevents the creation of a bird&#39;s nest. 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of an alternative preferred embodiment in which gears  16  and  17  are eliminated and brake pad  18  is directly attached to brake arm  15 . This provides a simplified construction. When tension is applied to fishing line  9 , the brake pads  18  are raised above fishing reel spool  13  in the same manner as discussed above. Likewise, when tension is removed, brake arm  15  falls toward flexible rod  4  and causes brake pads  18  to come in contact with, and stop the rotation of, fishing reel spool  13 . 
     FIG. 12 is a cutaway side view of the embodiment of FIG.  11 . In this figure, tension on fishing line  9  causes brake arm  15  to move upward in direction  19 . When this happens, brake arm  15  rotates brake pad  18  away from fishing reel spool  13  such that the fishing reel spool  13  can freely rotate. 
     FIG. 13 is a cutaway side view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 which illustrates the fishing line  9  in the slack configuration. If fishing line  9  goes slack, brake arm  15  is automatically forced by gravity in direction  20 . As brake arm  15  rotates toward flexible rod  4 , brake pad  18  is brought into contact with fishing reel spool  13  which causes fishing reel spool  13  to stop spinning. 
     FIG. 14A is another alternative preferred embodiment of brake arm  15  which illustrates the single brake pad  18  attached to the pivoting arm of brake arm  15 . This can be seen from this figure, it is advantageous for the brake pad to be asymmetrically mounted on the pivoting arm of brake arm  15 . In this configuration, the rotation of brake arm  15  can be used to alter the distance between brake pad  18  and fishing reel spool  13 . 
     FIG. 14B is another alternative preferred embodiment in which an adjustable weight  21  is attached to brake arm  15  to allow a fisherman to adjust how much tension is required to engage or release brake pads  18  from fishing reel spool  13 . In this figure, adjustable weight  21  is shown threaded onto support rod  22  via threads  23 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that any suitable weight adjustment means can be used, such as a sliding pressure fit weight, etc. 
     FIG. 15 is another alternative preferred embodiment in which the brake arm  15  has extensions that extend past the outside edges of the fishing reel spool  13  and allow the brake pads  18  to make contact with the fishing reel spool  13  on the opposite side of fishing reel spool  13 . This configuration allows the brake pads  18  to eliminate any contact between fishing line  9  and brake pads  18 . In addition, it also allows brake pad  18  to be concealed for cosmetic purposes which results in a more aesthetically pleasing brake arm  15 . 
     Brake arm  15  can be fabricated from any suitable material. Likewise, brake pads  18  would be preferably fabricated from a material which would provide sufficient friction to stop fishing reel spool  13  from spinning. In addition, the materials selected should be suitable for use in environments where water is present. The weight distribution of brake arm  15  must be such that the brake arm  15  will fall downward toward flexible rod  4  when the fishing reel is above flexible rod  4  under the force of gravity. 
     Those skilled in the art will also recognize that brake arm  15  does not have to be in any particular shape. For example, it does not need to have an aperture through which the fishing line passes and may in fact be structured with an opening to allow the fishing line  9  to be inserted from the side etc. In addition, it may even be formed as an arc, curve, etc. with the bottom of the brake arm not restricting movement of the fishing line  9 . 
     The fishing reel has been illustrated as a conventional fishing reel with enclosing side walls  5 . However, the features and advantages of the invention can be implemented in any fishing reel with a rotatable fishing reel spool  13  which carries a supply of fishing line  9 . For example, while the enclosing side walls  5  act as a fishing reel spool support assembly, they can be eliminated and replaced with a simple bracket capable of acting as a fishing reel spool support assembly to provide support for the fishing reel spool  13  and the brake arm  15 . 
     While the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit, scope, and teaching of the invention. For example, the material used to construct the layers may be anything suitable for use in fishing environments, the size and shape of the brake arm can vary. The material used to fabricate the brake pad or the size of the brake pad can vary, etc. Accordingly, the invention herein disclosed is to be limited only as specified in the following claims.