Year: 1896

page_text: We, WILLIAM HARDY and JOHN JAMES HARDY, of Alnwick, in the County of
Northumberland, trading as Hardy Brothers, Fishing Rod Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to reels or spools such as are used for angling and the
like, and consists, first, in improved means for controlling the revolving drum or
spool whereby the paying out of the line is more readily controllable, secondly,
in improved means for mounting the revolving drum or spool, and, thirdly, in
an improved mode of constructing and arranging the line-guard.
Reels or spools at present in use for casting' or throwing a baited line, and
in which the drum or spool revolves and pays out the line on throwing the latter
owing to the weight of the bait, are usually controlled by the pressure of the
fingers applied directly on the periphery of the revolving drum or upon a friction
stop adapted to work against the said periphery, the stop being maintained out
of contact with the drum by means of a spring; the object being to retard the
action of the drum towards the end of the cast.' Great difficulty results from
this mode of working, because expert manipulation is required to prevent the
line from over-running and becoming entangled.
In the improved recl, the revolving drum or spool is normally subject to a
braking or retarding influence, which may be removed at will for the purpose of
making a 'cast.' The retarding influence having been removed, the revolution of
the drum or spool is permitted, but may be instantly retarded on allowing the
brake to resume its normal position; thereby automatically governing the drum
or spool in such a manner as to obviate all possibility of entanglement or over-
running of the line.
According to our invention, the revolving drum or spool is governed or con-
trolled by means of a presser or brake comprising one or more levers or canis
carried in the back-plate, and suitably arranged to exert a continual yielding
pressure on the drum with the aid of a spring or equivalent means. The contact
surface of the lever or cam and of the spool or bobbin may be provided with
teeth or be finished smooth. One of the levers projects through the fixed plate of
the reel in a position readily accessible to the finger of the operator. The pressure
on the drum or spool is continual or positive, but it may be removed by deflecting
the protruding portion of the cam-operating lever; the drum being thereby
allowed to rotate freely. On removing the finger from the cam-operating lever
the pressure on the drum is automatically and instantaneously restored; the
spring serving to maintain the cam or lever in contact with the drum; with
the result that its rotation is impeded and controlled.
The mode of procedure in using the improved reel is as follows:-When a
cast' is about to be made, the finger is pressed on the protruding end of the

page_text: lever, thereby removing the pressure cam or lever from the drum and so releasing
it. The drum now rotates freely on receiving the momentum due to the weight
of the bait on the line being thrown. Before the bait reaches its destination,
the pressure of the finger is released. The lever or cam thereupon automatically
resumes its original position, and, with the aid of the spring, presses on
the revolving drum. This pressure on the drum serves the purpose of steadying the
latter, of regulating the speed and paying out of the line and of decreasing the
rate of speed of the spool proportionately to that of the bait as it travels more
slowly.
On the bait reaching the water, the spool ceases to rotate and thus
prevents any over-running or entangling of the line.
The controlling device or brake may be applied to the outer periphery of the
revolving drum, to the central boss thereof or to the side of the spool; the spring
and lever or levers or cam being arranged accordingly.
By the improved construction, a continual pressure on the revolving drum is
maintained, same being capable of removal and reinstatement at will; thereby
facilitating the operation of checking the line in playing' the fish, and steadying
the line in 'spinning.
According to a modified arrangement, the controlling device may be actuated
by means of a lever or screw so arranged as to remove the pressure wholly or
in part, or to increase it as may be desired; this arrangement being particularly
applicable for use with reels other than those usod for spinning or trolling, as,
for instance, those employed for fly-fishing.
According to one mode of mounting spinning-reels, the back-plate carries a
coned spindle whereof the outer end is furnished with a loose cone.
The interior
of the hub of the revolving drum may be formed as a hollow double truncated
cone. The drum is placed on the fixed coned spindle and the loose cone applied
to the outer end thereof. A set screw or nut is then screwed into the outer end
of the spindle; the head thereof working against the outer face of the loose cone.
By tightening or loosening this screw or nut, more or less pressure may be applied
and the revolution of the drum be rendered free or restricted.
According to an alternative method of mounting, the fixed coned spindle and
the back-plate may have a hole drilled through the centre and the loose cone
be furnished with a shank, whereof the outer end is screw-threaded and when
passed through the hole in the fixed coned spindle projects beyond the back-
plate; a nut being applied for adjusting the cones, whereby the motion of the
drum is restricted. If desired a spring may be employed for rendering the
tightening effect of the nut more clastic so that the drawing the cones together
would not effect a dead stop of the drum.
The bobbin or reel is, furnished with a line-guard preferably formed integral
with the back or fixed plate, projects nearly to meet the front plate of the revolv-
ing drum or bobbin, and subtends a fourth part of the circumference or
thereabouts. The outer edge of the guard frame is housed within a chase formed
in the inner face of the front plate of the revolving drum or bobbin the object
of this arrangement being to secure neatness of appearance and to protect the
guard from injury. It also provides against the chance of the finger being placed
upon the guard instead of upon the edge of the revolving bobbin in spinning
reels as at present constructed, when it is desired suddenly to check the paying
out of the line.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: ! 1
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fishing Reels.
11! 1
We, WILLIAM HARDY and JOHN JAMES HARDY, of Alnwick, in the County of
Northumberland, trading as Hardy Brothers, Fishing Rod Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to reels or spools such as are used for angling and the
like, and consists, first, in improved means for controlling the revolving drum or
spool whereby the paying out of the line is more readily controllable, secondly,
in improved means for mounting the revolving drum or spool, and thirdly, in
an improved mode of constructing and arranging the line-guard.
Reels or spools at present in use for casting or throwing a baited line, and
in which the drum or spool revolves and pays out the line on throwing the latter
owing to the weight of the bait, are usually controlled by the pressure of the
fingers applied directly on the periphery of the revolving drum or upon a friction
stop adapted to work against the said periphery, the stop being maintained out
of contact with the drum by means of a spring; the object being to retard the
action of the drum towards the end of the cast.' Great difficulty results from
this mode of working, because expert manipulation is required to prevent the
line from over-running and becoming entangled.
In the improved reel, the revolving drum or spool is normally subject to a
braking or retarding influence, which may be removed at will for the purpose of
making a cast. The retarding influence having been removed, the revolution of
the drum or spool is permitted, but may be instantly retarded on allowing the
brake to resume its normal position; thereby automatically governing the drum
or spool in such a manner as to obviate all possibility of entanglement or over-
running of the line..
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a fishing reel con-
structed according to our invention part of the revolving drum or spool being
broken away to expose the braking' mechanism. Fig. 2 is a corresponding
transverse section. Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of the back-plate illustrating a
modification in the braking mechanism. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a
fishing reel illustrating our improved method of mounting the revolving drum.
Fig. 5 is a similar view of a modified construction; Fig. 5 being an end view
of the bobbin spindle employed in this arrangement.
Referring to Fig. 1, the revolving drum or spool a is governed or controlled by
means of a presser or brake comprising a cam-lever b carried on a pivot in the
back-plate c, and suitably arranged to exert a continual yielding pressure on the
central boss a¹ of the drum, with the aid of a spring d or equivalent means.
The contact surface of the cam-lever band of the boss of the spool or bobbin a
may be provided with teeth or be finished smooth. In the example illustrated
these surfaces are shown smooth. Projecting through the periphery of the back,
plate c of the reel, in a position readily accessible to the finger of the operator,
is a lever c. The pressure of the cam-lever b on the boss a¹ of the drum or
spool is continual or positive, but it may be removed by deflecting the protruding
portion of the cam-operating lever e, the drum being thereby allowed to rotate
freely. On removing the finger from the cam-operating lever, the pressure on
the drum is automatically and instantaneously restored, the spring d serving to
maintain the cam-lever in contact with the drum, with the result that its rotation
is impeded and controlled.
The mode of procedure in using the improved reel is as follows:-When a

page_text: cast' is about to be made, the finger is pressed on the protruding end of the
lever e, thereby removing the pressure of the cam-lever from the drum and so
releasing it. The drum now rotates freely on receiving the momentum due to
the weight of the bait on the line being thrown. Before the bait reaches its
destination, the pressure of the finger is released. The cam-lever thereupon
automatically resumes its original or normal position, and, with the aid of the
spring d, presses on the revolving drum. This pressure on the drum serves the
purpose of steadying the latter, of regulating the speed and paying out of the line,
and of decreasing the rate of speed of the spool proportionately to that of the
bait as it travels more slowly. On the bait reaching the water, the spool ceases
to rotate and thus prevents any over-running or entangling of the line.
The controlling device or brake may be applied to the outer periphery of the
revolving drum, or to the side of the spool; the spring, the pressure-cam and
operating lever being arranged accordingly.
By reason of the continual pressure on the revolving drum afforded by the
improved construction, the said pressure being capable of removal and reinstate-
ment at will, the operations of checking the line in 'playing' the fish, and
steadying the line in 'spinning' are facilitated.
According to a modified arrangement, illustrated in Fig. 3, the controlling
device may be actuated by means of a screw f arranged in such a manner that
the pressure may be either wholly or partly removed or increased as may be
desired; this arrangement being particularly applicable for use with reels other
than those used for spinning or trolling, as, for instance, those employed for
fly-fishing.
According to one mode of mounting spinning-reels, illustrated in Fig. 4, the
back-plate e carries a coned spindle g; one cone g' being integral with, or fixed
on, said spindle, while the other g² is loose thereon, and a helical spring g being
placed between the cones. The interior of the hub of the revolving drum a may
be formed as a hollow double truncated cone. The drum is placed on the fixed
coned spindle and the loose cone 2 applied to the outer end thereof. A set
screw or nut is then screwed into the outer end of the spindle; the head thereof
working against the outer face of the loose cone g, or against a washer g. By
tightening or loosening the screw or nut g, more or less pressure may be applied
and the revolution of the drum be rendered free or restricted.
According to an alternative method of mounting, illustrated in Fig. 5, the
fixed coned spindle g* and the back-plate c may have a hole drilled through the
centre and the loose cone g2 be furnished with a shank g, whereof the outer
end is screw-threaded and when passed through the hole in the fixed coned spindle
projects beyond the back-plate; a nut g6 being applied for adjusting the cones,
whereby the motion of the drum is restricted. A helical spring is interposed
between the two cones for assisting their separation when loosening the nut.
If desired a spring h may be employed for rendering the tightening effect of the
nut g more elastic so that the drawing the cones together would not effect a
dead stop of the drum. The end of the shank g whereon the loose cone g³ is
applied is squared for its reception. The cones may be arranged so that pressure
is exerted by both on tightening up the nut. The bobbin a may carry the usual
circular rack a with which engages an arm c secured to the back-plate c.
The bobbin or reel a is furnished with a line-guard i preferably formed integral
with the back or fixed plate c. It projects nearly to meet the front plate 2 of
the revolving drum or hobbin, and subtends a fourth part or a third part of the
circumference or thereabouts. The outer edge of the guard frame is housed
within a chase a³ formed in the inner face of the front plate of the revolving
drum or bobbin; the object of this arrangement being to secure neatness of
appearance and to protect the guard from injury. It also provides against the
chance of the finger being placed upon the guard instead of upon the edge of the
revolving bobbin in spinning reels as at present constructed, when it is desired
suddenly to check the paying out of the line.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim:-
1. A fishing reel, constructed substantially as herein described, and wherein
the spool or hobbin is normally subject to a braking' action capable of being
removed or regulated at will.
2. In a fishing reel, the improved means for controlling the revolving drum or
spool, arranged or operating substantially as herein described; same comprising
a cam-lever normally in frictional contact with the bobbin, and a finger-lever for
use in operating the cam-lever and diminishing or removing the frictional
resistance
3. In a fishing reel, the employment of means, such as a screw f acting against
the finger-lever, for adjusting the pressure of the cam-lever on the revolving
drum or spool, substantially as herein described.
4. In a fishing reel, the combination with the revolving drum or spool a of
the pivoted cam-lever b, pressure spring and finger-lever e, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
5. The improved means for mounting spinning reels and enabling the move-
ment of the drum or spool to be controlled, same comprising a spindle whereon are
mounted cones, maintained apart by means of a spring and capable of adjustment
towards or away from each other, substantially as herein described.
6. In a fishing reel, the improved means for mounting the drum or spool and
controlling its movement, arranged or operating substantially as described with
reference to Fig. 4 or to Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.
7. In a fishing reel, the improved construction of line-guard, arranged sub-
stantially as herein described.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.