GB2116811A - Reel assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A reel assembly (2) includes a reel (4) rotatably mounted between side flanges (6) which are secured together by connecting rods (8). The reel (4) is rotated by a winding handle (10) located at one side of the reel (4), and the reel is fully or partially locked by a brake operable by a brake lever (12) located on the opposite side of the reel (4) to the winding handle (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A reel assembly TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a reel assembly for a fishing rod. The invention is particularly concerned with a reel assembly designed for big game ocean fishing in which fish of a thousand pounds are frequently encountered.

In this type of fishing after the fish has felt the hook in its mouth it is customary for it to run away from the strain of the fishing line.

Although this is helpful to the angler because it tires the fish, this manoeuvre has to be.

controlled otherwise the line will be completely run off the reel and the fish will escape. In order to prevent this it is necessary to put the maximum possible strain on the fish, and this is carried out by means of a brake applied to the reel drum on which the line is wound. For this braking action to be successful it is necessary for the brake to be both sensitive and extremely positive.

A fishing rod reel includes a winding handle to enable the line to be wound back onto the drum. In big game ocean fishing the customary way of bringing a fish into the boat is by what is known as "pumping" in the line. This pumping action consists of lowering the tip of the rod, locking the reel drum to prevent the line escaping, and hauling the fishing rod upwardly to the perpendicular position by the angle leaning backwards. Having located the rod in an upright position, the reel winding handle is turned so as to wind in the line, and the rod is lowered simultaneously so as to remove or at least reduce the tension on the line. The pumping action is repeated until the fish is sufficiently near to the boat to be hauled in.At any time during this pumping procedure, the fish may decide to run again, and it is essential to unlock the reel drum so as to release the line before it breaks.

The locking and unlocking of the line is carried out by a brake having a brake lever mounted on the reel assembly BACKGROUND ART Previously known reel assemblies have the brake lever on the same side of the reel as the line winding handle. In consequence each time the line is locked or unlocked it is necessary for the angler to remove his hand from the winding handle and to transfer it to the brake lever. It will be appreciated that this manoeuvre can give rise to difficulty and valuable loss of time, particularly in the conditions sometimes encountered in big game ocean fishing.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION It is an aim of the invention to alleviate the aforementioned difficulty, and according to the present invention.there is provided a reel assembly including a line winding handle and a brake lever located on opposite sides of the reel.

It is envisaged that for a right-handed angler the winding handle will be on the righthand side of the reel, and the brake lever on the left-hand side so that it may be operated by the left-hand.

In big game ocean fishing it is customary for the butt of the rod to rest in a gimbal, and for the reel to be connected by straps to a body harness. This type of mounting enables the angler to use his strong back muscles in order to pump the line in as previously hereindescribed.

THE DRAWING An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing which is a perspective view of a fishing rod reel assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring to the drawing, one reel assembly (2) of the invention includes a reel (4) rotatably mounted between side flanges (6) which are secured together by connecting rods (8).

The reel (4) is rotated by a winding handle (10) located at one side of the reel (4), and the reel is fully or partially locked by a brake operable by a brake lever (12) located on the opposite side of the reel to the winding handle (10). This brake lever (12) has a knurled hand grip (14) to reduce slip.

This location of the winding handle (10) and the brake lever (12) on opposite sides of the reel (4) enables the angler to use both hands simultaneously in controlling the winding in and out of the fishing line, and also the tension exerted on the line. It will be appreciated that this arrangement of the winding handle (10) and the brake lever (12) does away with the time interval lost with the previous arrangements in transferring the same hand between the winding handle and the brake lever. It will be appeciated that this seemingly short time interval can be crucial when attempting to play or land a struggling big game fish in rough seas.

1. A reel assembly including a line winding handle and a brake lever located on opposite sides of the reel.

2. A reel assembly substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A reel assembly TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a reel assembly for a fishing rod. The invention is particularly concerned with a reel assembly designed for big game ocean fishing in which fish of a thousand pounds are frequently encountered. In this type of fishing after the fish has felt the hook in its mouth it is customary for it to run away from the strain of the fishing line. Although this is helpful to the angler because it tires the fish, this manoeuvre has to be. controlled otherwise the line will be completely run off the reel and the fish will escape. In order to prevent this it is necessary to put the maximum possible strain on the fish, and this is carried out by means of a brake applied to the reel drum on which the line is wound. For this braking action to be successful it is necessary for the brake to be both sensitive and extremely positive. A fishing rod reel includes a winding handle to enable the line to be wound back onto the drum. In big game ocean fishing the customary way of bringing a fish into the boat is by what is known as "pumping" in the line. This pumping action consists of lowering the tip of the rod, locking the reel drum to prevent the line escaping, and hauling the fishing rod upwardly to the perpendicular position by the angle leaning backwards. Having located the rod in an upright position, the reel winding handle is turned so as to wind in the line, and the rod is lowered simultaneously so as to remove or at least reduce the tension on the line. The pumping action is repeated until the fish is sufficiently near to the boat to be hauled in.At any time during this pumping procedure, the fish may decide to run again, and it is essential to unlock the reel drum so as to release the line before it breaks. The locking and unlocking of the line is carried out by a brake having a brake lever mounted on the reel assembly BACKGROUND ART Previously known reel assemblies have the brake lever on the same side of the reel as the line winding handle. In consequence each time the line is locked or unlocked it is necessary for the angler to remove his hand from the winding handle and to transfer it to the brake lever. It will be appreciated that this manoeuvre can give rise to difficulty and valuable loss of time, particularly in the conditions sometimes encountered in big game ocean fishing. STATEMENT OF INVENTION It is an aim of the invention to alleviate the aforementioned difficulty, and according to the present invention.there is provided a reel assembly including a line winding handle and a brake lever located on opposite sides of the reel. It is envisaged that for a right-handed angler the winding handle will be on the righthand side of the reel, and the brake lever on the left-hand side so that it may be operated by the left-hand. In big game ocean fishing it is customary for the butt of the rod to rest in a gimbal, and for the reel to be connected by straps to a body harness. This type of mounting enables the angler to use his strong back muscles in order to pump the line in as previously hereindescribed. THE DRAWING An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing which is a perspective view of a fishing rod reel assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring to the drawing, one reel assembly (2) of the invention includes a reel (4) rotatably mounted between side flanges (6) which are secured together by connecting rods (8). The reel (4) is rotated by a winding handle (10) located at one side of the reel (4), and the reel is fully or partially locked by a brake operable by a brake lever (12) located on the opposite side of the reel to the winding handle (10). This brake lever (12) has a knurled hand grip (14) to reduce slip. This location of the winding handle (10) and the brake lever (12) on opposite sides of the reel (4) enables the angler to use both hands simultaneously in controlling the winding in and out of the fishing line, and also the tension exerted on the line. It will be appreciated that this arrangement of the winding handle (10) and the brake lever (12) does away with the time interval lost with the previous arrangements in transferring the same hand between the winding handle and the brake lever. It will be appeciated that this seemingly short time interval can be crucial when attempting to play or land a struggling big game fish in rough seas. CLAIMS

1. A reel assembly including a line winding handle and a brake lever located on opposite sides of the reel.

2. A reel assembly substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.