Abstract:
The lever-operated fishing reel is geared to rotate the line spool through several revolutions for each arcuate operation of a reciprocating rewind lever, to provide for single handed operation. The mechanical advantage provided through the gear train from the line spool back to the lever is obviated through a unidirectional rotational device, preferably a sprag, with another such device operating to prevent unwinding of the line from the spool as the lever is recycled. The gear train between the lever and spool may be disengaged to allow for casting, and the gear case may be oriented as desired relative to the spool housing to position the rewind lever as desired by the angler. The orientation of the mechanism may be reversed by opening the gear case, inverting the unidirectional rotational devices, and moving the rod attachment cleat from one side of the reel to the other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/142,452, filed Apr. 2, 2015. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to fishing tackle and equipment, and particularly to a lever-operated fishing reel enabling an angler to reel in the fishing line by means of a reciprocating lever extending from the reel mechanism. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The conventional fishing reel uses a rotating crank handle extending from one side or end of the reel, to reel in the fishing line. Many such reels provide a gear train between the crank handle and the reel spool in order to produce multiple revolutions of the spool for each rotation of the crank, thus speeding up the rewind process. However, the basic problem remains that the angler must rotate the crank handle through multiple revolutions in order to rewind any significant length of fishing line. While this process is tedious for most anglers, it can still be carried out, even though it is a time-consuming operation that requires two hands, one to hold the rod and the other to operate the reel crank. 
         [0006]    In some cases the rewind operation cannot be readily accomplished by anglers with certain physical handicaps, e.g., arthritis or perhaps a missing limb or digit and/or other physical infirmities. As a result, a number of fishing reels have been developed in the past with rewind mechanisms operated by a reciprocating lever. While such lever-operated fishing reels eliminate the need to rotate a crank to rewind the fishing line and thus allow single handed operation, they introduce other problems that limit their utility. Many, if not most, such reels have relatively weak mechanisms that can be damaged by relatively light tension on the fishing line. In addition, most such reels have limited versatility and cannot be readily modified for use as a casting or fly reel or to change the orientation or “handedness” of the reel. 
         [0007]    Thus, a lever-operated fishing reel solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The lever-operated fishing reel includes a gear train that is operated by a reciprocating lever to reel in the fishing line. The gear train provides a significant increase in the rotational speed of the line spool upon actuation of the lever, with movement of the lever through an arc of e.g. thirty degrees, more or less, producing several revolutions of the line spool. All gears are completely circular, i.e., they are not gear segments or quadrants, in order to provide continuous rotation as the lever is operated. The gear train is locked by a unidirectional rotational device, e.g., a sprag or roller clutch, etc., to lock the gear train as the lever returns to its starting position in order to allow for winding and to prevent the line from unreeling during the lever return. 
         [0009]    The resulting mechanical advantage of the gearing from the spool to the lever results in significant multiplication of force from the spool to the lever. These forces are obviated by another unidirectional rotational device (sprag, etc.) that locks the gear train when substantial force is applied to the line, thus preventing those forces from being multiplied back through the gear train. The gears used in the mechanism are preferably formed from high strength steel in order to provide greater protection against damage. 
         [0010]    The lever-operated fishing reel provides additional versatility for use as a casting reel, by selectively disengaging the gear train for casting. This is accomplished by the installation of an intermediate gear(s) on a bellcrank mechanism that can be selectively pivoted by a lever extending from the reel case or housing to engage or disengage the gear train. 
         [0011]    The mechanism is easily reversed to reverse the orientation of the reel and lever. This is accomplished by opening the reel case or housing to access the two unidirectional rotational devices (sprags, etc.), inverting the two sprags (ratchets, etc.) to reverse their freely rotating and locking directions, and moving the rod attachment cleat from one side of the reel housing or case to the other. Moreover, the gear case can be rotated relative to the spool housing to adjust the orientation of the line rewind lever and gear train release lever as desired. 
         [0012]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a lever-operated fishing reel according to the present invention, illustrating its various components and their relationships to one another. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view in section of the assembled lever-operated fishing reel according to the present invention, illustrating further details of its construction. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic side elevation view in section showing the engagement of the intermediate gears of the gear train of the lever-operated fishing reel according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic side elevation view in section showing the disengagement of the intermediate gears of the gear train of the lever-operated fishing reel according to the present invention, for casting operations. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E  illustrate a series of different orientations of the lever mechanism and its rotational center relative to the spool housing of the lever-operated fishing reel according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  is a schematic side elevation view in section showing a first orientation of the intermediate gear engagement and disengagement mechanism of the lever-operated fishing reel according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5B  is a schematic side elevation view in section showing a second orientation of the intermediate gear engagement and disengagement mechanism of the lever-operated fishing reel according to the present invention, the second orientation being essentially opposite the first orientation illustrated in  FIG. 5A . 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The lever-operated fishing reel permits one handed operation by the angler using the reel when reeling in the line. This is accomplished by an arcuately reciprocating lever that extends generally radially from the reel case, to allow the angler to hold the rod and reel with the hand and manipulate the lever with one or more of the fingers of the same hand. Various other advantages are also provided by the present lever-operated fishing reel. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  of the drawings is an exploded perspective view illustrating the various components of the lever-operated fishing reel, or reel,  10 , with  FIG. 2  providing a side elevation view in section of the assembled components of the reel  10 . The reel  10  includes a substantially circular gear case  12  having a circumferential side wall  14  and a rear wall  16 , with most of the components installing within the gear case  12  when the reel  10  is assembled. A spool housing  18  is disposed concentrically within or upon the gear case  12  when the reel  10  is assembled, with the spool housing  18  having mutually opposed semicircumferential first and second side wall segments  20   a  and  20   b  extending from the rim of its rear wall  22 . The separate wall segments  20   a  ,  20   b  define open circumferential gaps therebetween that provide clearance for the operation of the lever, as described further below. A fishing line spool  24  is installed concentrically upon a central axle  26  extending from the rear wall  22  of the spool housing  18 . The spool  24  may include a radially offset crank handle  28  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) for conventional reel operation if so desired, but the handle  28  is not required due to the operation of the reel  10  by means of its lever, as explained further below. 
         [0023]    A gear train is disposed within the gear case  12 . A relatively large diameter first or input gear  30  is mounted on a rotary shaft  32  that in turn extends from the inside of the rear wall  16  of the gear case  12 . This first or input gear  30  engages a relatively smaller diameter second or first intermediate gear  34 , which shares a shaft  36  and is rotationally fixed to a relatively larger third or second intermediate gear  38 . The second intermediate gear  38  in turn meshes with a relatively smaller diameter third intermediate gear  40  that is rotationally affixed to a shaft  42 . One end of the shaft  42  passes through an arcuate slot  44  in the rear wall  22  of the spool housing  18 , with a relatively larger diameter fourth intermediate gear  46  being rotationally affixed to the shaft  42  and thus to the third intermediate gear  40 . The fourth intermediate gear  46  is on the opposite side of the rear wall  22  of the spool housing  18  from the third intermediate gear  40 , i.e., the fourth intermediate gear  46  is located between the rear wall  22  of the spool housing  18  and the spool  24 . This fourth intermediate gear  46  in turn meshes with a relatively smaller diameter final or output gear  48  that is rotationally affixed to a hollow clutch or drag shaft  50  that rotates upon the axle  26  extending from the rear wall  22  of the spool housing  18 . Thus, it will be seen that larger diameter gears with their greater number of teeth progressively drive the smaller diameter gears with their lesser number of teeth, thus progressively multiplying and increasing the rotational speed of each of the smaller gears such that the rotational speed of the line spool  24  is increased many times over the rotational speed of the first or input gear  30 . The various gears are preferably formed of high strength steel for maximum durability. 
         [0024]    A first unidirectional rotation device  52  is removably installed upon the end of the first or input gear shaft  32 . The unidirectional rotation device  52  has an inner race or housing that is rotationally affixed to the shaft  32 , and an outer race or housing that can rotate in only one direction relative to the inner race or housing. A lever  54  has a clamp end  56  that is removably clamped (e.g., pinch bolt) about the outer race or housing of the device  52 . The first unidirectional rotation device  52  is preferably a sprag to provide smoother operation, but may alternatively comprise some other type or principle of unidirectional rotation device, such as a ratchet. The distal or handle end of the lever  54  extends radially from the gear case  12 , through a passage  58  through the circumferential wall  14  of the gear case  12 . Arcuate movement of the lever  54  in a first direction results in the unidirectional rotation device  52  rotationally locking, thereby transmitting rotational force to the first or input gear  30  and thus to the rest of the gears in the gear train, to the final or output gear  48  and its shaft  50 . Moving the lever  54  in the opposite direction unlocks the unidirectional rotation device  52 , allowing the lever  54  to return to its starting position while the gear train remains stationary. 
         [0025]    The above-described operation makes no provision to prevent any torsional force on the spool  24  from reversing the gear rotation described above, which would negate the operation of the lever  54 . Accordingly, a second unidirectional rotation device  60  is removably installed upon the third intermediate gear shaft  42 . The inner race or housing of this second device  60  is rotationally affixed to the shaft  42 , while the outer race or housing is rotationally affixed within a socket  62  extending from a rotationally fixed hollow shaft  64 . The hollow shaft  64  permits the third intermediate gear shaft  42  to rotate therein. The second unidirectional rotation device  60  is also most preferably a sprag, but other types or principles of unidirectional rotation devices may be used, as in the case of the first device  52  described further above. However, the second rotational device  60  is oriented to permit relative rotation in the opposite direction of that permitted by the first rotational device  52 , and to lock rotation in the opposite direction of that locked by the first rotational device  52 . Thus, when the gear train is rotated by the first rotational device  52 , the second rotational device  60  allows free rotation therethrough to allow gear rotation to be transmitted completely through the gear train. However, when the lever  54  is reciprocated in the opposite direction, i.e., it releases rotationally from the gear train by means of the free-wheeling rotational direction of the first sprag or unidirectional rotation device  52 , the second unidirectional rotation device or sprag  60  locks rotationally to prevent rotation of the gear train in the undesired opposite direction. 
         [0026]    It will be seen that the above-described mechanism will not permit free rotation of the spool  24  in both directions, due to the constant engagement of all gears and the opposite locking of the two sprags  52  and  60  (or other unidirectional rotation devices). Accordingly, provision is made to disengage a portion of the gear train to permit the spool  24  to rotate in both directions.  FIGS. 3A and 3B  provide schematic illustrations of the engagement ( FIG. 3A ) and disengagement ( FIG. 3B ) of the third intermediate gear  40  with the remainder of the gear train. The shaft  64  for the second unidirectional rotation device  60  is mounted on a bellcrank  66  that is pivotally affixed to the rear wall  16  of the gear case  12  by a pivot pin, screw, or bolt  68 . The bellcrank  66  has a first arm  70  extending from the pivot  68 , with the shaft  64  that carries the socket  62  for the second unidirectional rotation device  60  and the shaft  42  for the third intermediate gear  40  extending from the first arm  70  and rotationally affixed thereto. (A stationary pin extending from the rear wall  16  of the gear case or housing  12  engages a slot in the first arm  70  of the bellcrank  66  to limit the arcuate movement of the bellcrank, as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B .) A second arm  72  having a slot  74  formed therein extends from the pivot  68 , with the pivot  68  being disposed generally between the two arms  70  and  72 . 
         [0027]    A gear selector shaft  76  extends through a passage in the rear wall  16  of the gear case  12 . The gear selector shaft  76  has a radially offset or eccentric pin  78  extending therefrom, with the pin  78  riding in the slot  74  of the second arm  72  of the bellcrank  66 . A crank handle  80  is affixed to the end of the gear selector shaft  76  that extends outside the gear case  12 . Actuation of the crank handle  80  swings the offset pin  78  in an arc, with the pin  78  driving the second arm  74  (and thus the first arm  70  as well) of the bellcrank  66  through a corresponding arc by means of the pin  78  engagement with the slot  74 . As the third intermediate gear  40  is carried on the first arm  70  of the bellcrank  66  by means of its shaft  42  and the socket shaft  64  extending from the first arm  70 , it will be seen that arcuate manipulation of the crank handle  80  will selectively swing the third intermediate gear  40  into or out of engagement with the larger second intermediate gear  38 . Thus, when the two gears  40  and  38  are not engaged, the spool  24  is free to rotate in either direction without imposing undue torsional loads on the remainder of the gear train. 
         [0028]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , an adjustable line drag (friction) mechanism is disposed within the spool housing  18  and the hub of the spool  24 , between the spool  24  and the final or output gear  48 , to allow the angler to adjust the freedom of rotation of the spool  24  as desired. The adjustable line drag mechanism comprises a plurality of first friction washers  82   a  and second friction washers  82   b  , in an alternating array along the clutch or drag shaft  50 . The first friction washers  82   a  are formed of steel and have internal flats within their open centers, which flats engage the corresponding flats  84  formed along the sides of the clutch or drag shaft  50 . The second friction washers  82   b  are formed of a fiber material and are adjustably compressed between the first friction washers  82   a  , with greater compression resulting in greater friction. The final friction washer  82   c  is formed of steel and has opposed protruding ears or lugs  86  that engage corresponding recesses in the hub of the reel spool  24 . The degree of compression of the washers  82   a  through  82   c  is controlled by a drag adjustment nut  88  that is threaded onto the end of the clutch or drag shaft  50 . Tightening or loosening this adjustment nut  88  increases or decreases the compression of the various clutch or friction discs or washers  82   a  through  82   c  , thus increasing or decreasing the drag or friction between the reel spool  24  and the clutch or drag shaft  50 , and thus the gear train. The clutch or drag shaft  50  is retained within the hub of the reel spool  24  by a retaining nut  90  that captures the drag adjustment nut  88  between the nut  90  and the reel spool  24 . 
         [0029]    The lever-operated fishing reel  10  allows the user or angler to adjust the position of the lever  54  relative to the gear case or housing  12  and the remainder of the mechanism to suit his or her personal preferences, as noted further above.  FIGS. 4A through 4E  provide schematic views showing various orientations of the lever  54  relative to the gear case or housing  12 . These views are from the orientation of the back of the gear case or housing  12 , with the back wall  16  of the housing removed to show the first or input gear  30 , its shaft  32 , and the lever  54 . The rod attachment cleat  92  extends from one of the two semicircumferential wall segments  20   a  or  20   b  of the spool housing  18 , with the spool housing  18  being behind the gear case or housing  12  in the views shown in  FIGS. 4A through 4E . 
         [0030]    It will be seen that the circumferential flange of the gear case or housing  12  includes a series of eight arcuate slots  94   a  through  94 h therein. (While eight slots are shown and described, it should be noted that more or fewer such slots may be provided as desired.) These slots  94   a  through  94 h serve as the mounting holes or passages for the screws that secure the spool housing  18  to the gear case or housing  12 , and permit the spool housing  18  to be rotated relative to the gear case or housing  12  and secured in any desired rotational relationship. Moreover, the multiple slots  94   a  through  94 h permit each individual attachment screw to be moved to the next adjacent slot, if there is insufficient arcuate adjustment provided by any given slot(s). Thus, the rotational relationship between the gear case or housing  12  and the spool housing  18  may be rotationally adjusted to practically any rotational relationship desired. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a first orientation of the gear case  12  relative to the spool housing  18 , with the first slot  94   a  oriented at the top of the assembly and the first or input gear  30  and its first unidirectional orientation device  52  (sprag, etc.) oriented at the top of the gear housing or case  12 . The lever  54  has been secured to the sprag  52  (or other device) so as to extend to the right from the case  12 , as shown in the orientation of  FIG. 4A . However, in  FIG. 4B  an alternative positional adjustment is shown. In  FIG. 4B  the gear case or housing  12  has been rotated clockwise approximately eighty degrees relative to the orientation shown in  FIG. 4A . It will be noted that the relative rotation between  FIGS. 4A and 4B  is not a complete quarter of a rotation, i.e., ninety degrees, as the balance of the slot  94   a  is above its attachment screw. In  FIG. 4C , the gear case  12  has been rotated slightly farther to orient the housing  12  ninety degrees from the orientation shown in  FIG. 4A . In each case the clamp end  56  of the lever  54  has been adjusted on the unidirectional orientation device  52  so that the lever  54  extends from the case  12  in the desired orientation. (The gear case or housing  12  may have multiple elongated lever passages through the side wall of the case, rather than the relatively small single passage  58  shown in  FIG. 1 .) 
         [0032]      FIGS. 4D and 4E  show further rotations of the gear case or housing  12  relative to the spool housing. In  FIG. 4D , the gear case  12  is shown rotated about  120  degrees clockwise from its initial position in  FIG. 4A . The orientation of the lever  54  has been adjusted accordingly. Finally in  FIG. 4E , the gear case or housing  12  is shown rotated about 300 degrees clockwise (or alternatively, 60 degrees counterclockwise) from its original position shown in  FIG. 4A . As in other orientations, the lever  54  has also been adjusted accordingly. This versatility permits the user of the lever-operated fishing reel  10  to adjust or orient various components of the reel assembly to suit himself or herself as desired, in order to position the lever  54  for optimum operation. 
         [0033]    The lever-operated fishing reel  10  further permits the lever  54  to be positioned to either side of the case  12 , as desired. This permits the lever  54  to be positioned to the left or right side of the case  12  according to the desires of the angler, or alternatively for the case  12  (and remaining mechanism) to be positioned either above or below the fishing rod with the lever  54  to either side as desired.  FIGS. 5A and 5B  provide schematic illustrations showing the inversion of the case  12  and mechanism between the two Figs. In  FIG. 5A , the mechanism is shown in orientation for left hand lever operation, i.e., the spool  24  (shown in other Figs.) would be located on the back side of the case  12  illustrated. In  FIG. 5B , the case  12  is shown inverted relative to the orientation of  FIG. 5A , i.e., the spool  24  and its housing  18  (normally in front of the case  12  and its internal mechanisms, in this orientation) are removed to show the internal orientation of the components. 
         [0034]    The lever-operated fishing reel  10  is quickly and easily reconfigured to either of the arrangements illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . It will be noted that the gear case or housing  12  is inverted in  FIG. 5B , in comparison to  FIG. 5A . The orientation illustrated in  FIG. 5A  corresponds approximately to the orientation shown in  FIG. 2  of the drawings, while the orientation shown in  FIG. 5A  corresponds approximately to the orientation illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Four of the eight slots  94   a  through  94 h shown in  FIGS. 4A through 4E  are shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , i.e., slots  94   a  ,  94   c  ,  94   e  , and  94   g  , to assist in visualizing the orientation of the gear case or housing  12  in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
         [0035]    A series of steps is involved to reconfigure the mechanism shown in  FIG. 5A  to that shown in  FIG. 5B . First, the spool  24  and spool housing  18  are removed from the gear casing or housing  12 . It will be seen that the third intermediate gear  40  and its shaft  42  are retained in the shaft  64  by a tangential pin that engages a circumferential groove in the shaft  64 , allowing the shaft  64  and its gear  40  to be removed. This provides access to the second sprag  60  (or other unidirectional rotation device), whereupon the device  60  is removed from its socket  62  and turned over from its first orientation (which precluded free rotation in a first rotational direction while freely rotating in a second rotational direction) to its second orientation, reversing the lockup and free rotational directions. 
         [0036]    At this point, essentially the same procedure is applied to the first unidirectional rotation device  52 , e.g., sprag, etc. The lever  54  is removed from the device  52 , and the sprag  52  (or other unidirectional rotation device) is turned over from its first orientation (which permitted free rotation in a first rotational direction while precluding rotation in a second rotational direction) to its second orientation, reversing the free rotational and lockup directions. The lever  54  is then replaced on the unidirectional rotation device  52  and rotated to adjust its orientation from the case  12  as desired, and then tightened on the device  52 . Finally, the rod attachment cleat  92  is removed from its attachment to the first wall segment  20   a  of the spool housing  18 , and reinstalled on the second wall segment  20   b  . Each of the wall segments  20   a  ,  20   b  serves as a cleat attachment and includes screw holes or passages, respectively  96   a  and  96   b  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), permitting the cleat  92  to be attached to either of the wall segments  20   a  or  20   b  as desired. The result is a completely reversible lever-operated fishing reel  10  that may be attached to the pole with the lever  54  extending either forward or rearward from the gear case  12  as desired, to facilitate lever operation using one hand or at least requiring minimal manipulation by means of both hands. 
         [0037]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.