Abstract:
A tool for removing the fishing line wound around the spool of a fishing reel including a reel de-lining tool including a first flexible arm, a second flexible arm, the first flexible arm and the second flexible arm accepting the line to be wound, a flange to mount the first flexible arm and the second flexible arm and a shank to rotate the flange.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to power winding tools, and more particularly to fishing line winding tools for removing and replacing the fishing line wound around a fishing reel. 
         [0002]    People love to fish. Whether they do it for recreation, competition, relaxation, food or family fun, fishing has been a popular activity for years. The number of fishermen continues to grow as new generations of fisherman get hooked on the sport. As a result of this continued and growing interest, a large and worldwide industry has developed in the manufacture and marketing of improved tackle and equipment. There are various types of fishing line available for the fishermen when it time to replace the fishing line on the fishing reel. Most of these fishing lines are not biodegradable, and consequently there is a need to keep these fishing lines out of the environment. It is desirable when removing the fishing line from the fishing reel to rewind the fishing line into a coil so that it can be easily disposed of. If the fishing line is not coiled, then there is a great likelihood that the fishing line will be simply discarded into the environment, resulting in a hazard for others to become tangled in the discarded fishing line. These discarded fishing lines can foul other fishermen&#39;s fishing lines, boat propellers and just about every item that comes in contact with the discarded fishing line. As the number of fisherman on the water increases, the negative impact of these discarded fishing lines on the environment becomes more and more significant. 
         [0003]    To remove the old fishing line from a fishing reel and to add new fishing line manually is both tiresome and time-consuming. 
         [0004]    Various mechanisms have been designed and marketed in the past for simplifying the task of re-loading fishing reels. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,155 discloses a manual winding tool built into a tackle box, U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,354 shows another manual loading device, mounted on the fishing rod itself when in use. These previous attempts share the disadvantages of being fairly expensive due to their multitude of parts and of not being adaptable for power operation since, in some devices, the old line must be manually removed and then the new line manually wound by rotating a crank handle. If power operated, the devices are heavy and complex and must be operated from a fixed position and do not lend themselves to individual use and to purchase by the general public. 
         [0005]    It therefore would be useful to have a reel unloading tool which is constructed of very few parts yet is power driven to simplify the re-winding task for the fisherman. It would further be useful to have such a reel unloading device made without moving parts or a small number of moving parts, and which may be coupled to an existing motor such as a commonly available power drill or formed with a dedicated motor. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides an inexpensive and compact fishing line reel de-lining tool designed to fit a conventional power drill or a dedicated motor. The reel de-lining tool of the present invention may include a shank fitting the chuck of a power drill or alternatively be mounted to a dedicated motor. The present invention eliminates the need for a winding spool by including flexible prongs or flexible arms mounted on a flange. 
         [0007]    The present invention provides a compact, inexpensive, durable tool which may be easily stored or carried in a tackle box along with the dedicated motor or may be coupled with a common power hand drill, to be used to rapidly change the fishing line wound on the spool of a fishing reel. For carrying in a tackle box, the hand drill is of course preferably of the cordless battery operated type readily available on the market. 
         [0008]    The present invention allows the fishing line to be removed and replaced effortlessly and quickly. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a reel de-liner tool according to the invention shown mounted in the chuck of a conventional power drill for drawing fishing line from a fishing reel; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the reel de-liner tool according to the present invention with a dedicated motor; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the reel de-liner tool without a motor; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternate perspective view of the reel de-liner tool without a motor; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a first end view of the reel de-liner tool without the motor; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a second end view of the reel de-liner tool without the motor. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The reel de-lining tool of the present invention is designed to draw the old line from a fishing reel so as to permit disposal of that line, as shown schematically at  FIG. 1 . The reel de-lining tool of the present invention expedites the removal of the old-line from the fishing reel, Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an example of reel de-lining tool  100  according to the present invention includes flexible arms  102  which include radially outward inclined portions  104 . The radial outer surface of the flexible arms  102  take up the fishing line  109  from the fishing reel  110 . The flexible arms  102  are attached to a flange  106  or end wall at the proximate end of the flexible arms  102 . The flange  106  forms a barrier for the fishing line  109  as the fishing line  109  is being collected. The flexible arms  102  include the radially outward inclined portion  104  which are angled radially outward to form an additional barrier for the fishing line  109  at the distal end of the flexible arms  102 . The radially outward inclined portion  104  may include a slot  112  to accept and hold an end of the fishing line  109  to secure the fishing line  109  to the reel de-lining tool  100 . Extending from the flange  106  and opposed to the flexible arms  102  is a projecting shrank  108  which is formed exterior of the end wall or flange  106  and which is designed to fit within the jaws of the chuck  114  of a conventional power drill  116  as shown at  FIG. 1 . The shank  108  may be circular in section but may have a hexagonal cross-section so as to be held securely within the chuck  114  of the power drill  116 . In order to fit most conventional hand-held power drills, the shank  108  is preferably ¼″ in diameter and at least ½″ long. Other sizes, however, may be desirable, for example to fit smaller or larger portable or bench drills. The projecting shank  108  may extend through and beyond the flange  106 . 
         [0017]    The flexible arms  102  provide for a convenient way of removing the coiled fishing line  109 . To remove the coiled fishing line  109 , the flexible arms  102  are compressed inwardly, allowing the coiled fishing line  109  to pass over the radially outward inclined portion  104 . There is no need to fasten or remove any apparatus from the reel de-lining tool  100  in order to remove the coiled fishing line  109 . Consequently, the fishing line  109  can be coiled and removed quickly and easily. The flexible arm  102  can be constructed so as to snap in to the flange  106  to allow easier manufacture and to allow a more compact design. The flexible arm  102  can be permanently attached to the flange  106 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates the reel de-lining tool  100  with a dedicated motor  118  which may be battery-powered so that the reel de-lining tool  100  can be used in remote locations and can fit conveniently into a fishing tackle box. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates the cross-sectional view of the reel de-lining tool  100  of the present invention. The reel de-lining tool  100  includes the flexible arms  102 , the radially outward inclined portion  104 , the flange  106 , and the projecting shank  108 . Additionally,  FIG. 4  illustrates the slots  112  for accepting the fishing line  109 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the reel de-lining tool  100  of the present invention. The reel de-lining tool  100  includes the flexible arms  102 , the radially outward inclined portion  104 , the flange  106 , the projecting shank  108  and the fishing line  109 . Additionally,  FIG. 3  illustrates the slots  112  for accepting the fishing line  109 .  FIG. 4  illustrates four flexible arms  102 ; however, additional or fewer flexible arms  102  are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates an end view of the reel de-lining tool  100  of the present invention. 
         [0022]      FIG. 6  illustrates the other end view of the reel de-lining tool  100  of the present invention. 
         [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of the reel de-lining tool  100  of the present invention. The reel de-lining tool  100  includes the flexible arms  102 , the radially outward inclined portion  104 , the flange  106 , and the projecting shank  108 . Additionally,  FIG. 7  illustrates the slots  112  for accepting the fishing line  109 .  FIG. 7  illustrates four flexible arms  102 ; however, additional or fewer flexible arms  102  are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0024]    The reel de-lining tool  100  may be constructed, for example, of molded metal alloy, plastic components or other suitable material as one embodiment. A second embodiment may include the end wall or flange  106 , the flexible arms  102 , and the shank  108  all being integrally molded in a single piece. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the de-liner tool  100  is, in use, mounted in the chuck  114  of power drill  116 . The free end of a fishing line  109  which is to be removed from a fishing reel  110  is fastened to the slot  112 . The power drill  116  is then turned on, drawing the line  109  from the spool of the fishing reel  110 . When all of the line  109  has been removed from the fishing reel  110 , it is easily disposed of by compressing the flexible arms  102  inwardly and sliding the line  109  off the flexible arms  102 . This is accomplished especially easily by the flexible nature of the flexible arms  102 . 
         [0026]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.