Patent ID: 12193424

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning toFIG.1, a fishing reel1that may be constructed substantially similar to fishing reels known and understood in the art is illustrated. Unlike other fishing reels, however, the fishing reel1includes a preset knob5that an angler must pull in order to turn and subsequently adjust the reel's drag settings.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the preset knob5preferably includes a shaft member10that includes a plurality of threads15at a distal portion20thereof. The shaft10may move axially via rotation of a preset nut25that includes internal threads30. The internal threads30and the threads15of the shaft10may be sized and shaped to be compatible with one another in a known manner.

When the preset knob5is unlocked in the manner described below, the preset nut25acts on the shaft10. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, when the preset nut25is rotated in a clockwise direction, the shaft10moves closer to the knob5. On the other hand, when the preset nut25is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the shaft10may axially translate toward the reel1. This axial movement of the shaft10may act to decrease or increase drag in the reel1in a known manner by acting on internal drag components of the reel like those described in the prior art. In the illustrations hereof, the internal drag components are not illustrated for the sake of simplicity.

In order to prevent the preset nut25from acting on the shaft10without an affirmative step taken by the angler, the knob5is not rotatable when it is in the closed position. More particularly, a lock member35is preferably provided that is keyed to a cam follower assembly40through which the shaft10may extend.

More details regarding the lock member35and the cam follower assembly40are illustrated inFIG.3. A plurality screw members45may be threaded into the lock member35via holes50in the lock member35, holes55in the preset nut25, and holes57in the knob5in order to secure the knob5to the nut25and the lock member35. In embodiment illustrated inFIG.3, three screw members45are provided, but in alternative embodiments, more or fewer screw members45may be provided. A wave spring60is preferably provided between the preset nut25and the lock member35in order to help to keep the lock member35engaged with the cam follower assembly40when the knob5is in its locked position by applying a spring force thereto. Other spring types are also foreseeable, as recognized by those skilled in the art.

Near the knob5, the lock member35includes a plurality of projections65that project toward the knob5. The projections65preferably align with a second set of holes70provided in the preset nut25as well as a second set of holes75provided in the knob5. The projections65(of which the illustrated embodiment includes three) may be received within the holes70and75to further secure the lock member35, preset nut25, and knob5to one another.

An outer perimeter80of the lock member35preferably includes a plurality of teeth85that project outwardly from the outer perimeter80. An internal circumference90of the cam follower assembly40also preferably includes a plurality of teeth95that project inwardly therefrom. In operation, when the knob5is in its closed position, the teeth85and95align and are keyed to one another and fit with one another such that the knob5is not rotatable. In alternative embodiments, the lock member35and the cam follower assembly40may be keyed to one another using an alternative mechanism.

Turning now toFIG.4, the knob5is illustrated in its closed position. In this position, the knob5is not rotatable because the lock member35has been keyed to the cam follower assembly40(via the teeth85and95, which are not illustrated inFIG.4) such that the knob5, preset nut25and the lock member35may not rotate, and thus the shaft10is similarly not rotatable.

Turning toFIG.5, the knob5has been pulled outwardly so as to disengage the teeth85and95(not illustrated) from one another, thus making the knob5, preset nut25, and lock member35rotatable relative to the cam follower assembly40. Because the shaft10is engaged with the preset nut25via the threads15,30, respectively, when the knob5is rotated, the threads15,30may act to pull the shaft10outwardly, or push the shaft10inwardly. As provided above, preferably, when the knob5is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the shaft10may translate inwardly toward the reel1, while if the preset nut25is rotated in a clockwise direction, the shaft10may translate axially outwardly toward the knob5. In operation, movement of the shaft10may cause internal drag mechanisms within the reel1to carry out particular functions and thus change the drag settings in a known and understood manner.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various embodiments of the present invention are well adapted to attain all the objectives and advantages hereinabove set forth together with still other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the present structures. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations of the present embodiments are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Since many possible embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is also to be understood that all disclosures herein set forth or illustrated in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. The various constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts, principles, and scope of the present invention.

Many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.