GB2192322A

GB2192322A - Improved reel for fishing rod

Info

Publication number: GB2192322A
Application number: GB08715235A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Blagburn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-07-08
Filing date: 1987-06-29
Publication date: 1988-01-13
Also published as: GB8715235D0; GB8616560D0

Abstract

A reel for a fishing rod comprises a housing (2) for fixing to the rod, a spool (8) rotatably mounted in the housing (2), braking means (20, 28, 30) within the housing (2) adapted to react between the housing (2) and the spool (8), and control means (36,38,40) oparable to move the braking means (20, 28, 30) between a first operative position providing audible braking of the spool (8) and a second operative position providing silent braking of the spool (8). The braking means (20, 28, 30) has an intermediate inoperative position between said first and second operative positions permitting free-wheeling of the spool (8) within the housing (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved reel for fishing rod This invention relates to reels forfishing rods, and has particular, though not exclusive, application to reels for fly fishing rods.

Fly reels commonly incorporate a permanently acting braking mechanism therein for controlling rotation of the reel, particularly from over-running when a fish is pulling on the line.

Conventional braking mechanisms are usually one of two different types- either an audible clickcheck arrangement in which a fixed tongue or pawl co-operates with a toothed wheel rotating with the reel to effect the desired braking, or a silent arrangement such as a friction disc brake or the like embodied within the reel.

The audible mechanism has the advantage of alerting the angler when a fish pulls on the line, although certain anglers prefer the silent mechanism, believing that the vibrations produced by the audible mechanism could disturb potential catches.

It would be desirable to be able to provide a reel incorporating a braking mechanism capable of either audible or silent operation.

According to the present invention there is provided a reel for a fishing rod, the reel comprising a fixed housing, a spool rotatably mounted in the housing, braking means within the housing reacting between the housing and the spool, and control means operable to move the braking means between a first operative position providing audible braking of the spool and a second operative position providing silent braking of the spool.

Conveniently the braking means has an inoperative position permitting free-wheeling of the spool within the housing.

Preferably the braking means comprises a carrier member povitaliy mounted in the housing and carrying a tongue portion adapted to co-operate with a toothed wheel rotatable with the spool, the carrier member further carrying a friction brake block adapted to co-operate with a brake sleeve rotatable with the spool, the arrangement being such that, on actuation of the control means to move the braking means into its first operative position, the tongue portion engages the toothed wheel to effect audible braking of the spool, the brake block being out of engagement with the brake sleeve, and, on actuation of the control means to move the braking means into its second operative position, the brake block frictionally engages the brake sleeve to effect silent braking of the spool, the tongue portion being out of engagement with the toothed wheel.

Conveniently the spool includes a central spindle, the pivotal carrier member including a pair of opposed arm portions one to each side of the spindle, the tongue portion being mounted at or adjacent the free end of one arm portion of the carrier member and the brake block being mounted at or adjacent the free end of the other arm portion of the carrier member with the tongue portion and brake block located substantially diagonally opposite to one another relative to the spindle.

Preferably the toothed wheel and the brake sleeve are mounted on the spindle to be concentric therewith and are axially spaced along said spindle, the tongue portion and brake block being radially aligned with the toothed wheel and brake sleeve respectively.

Conveniently the tongue portion and brake block are releasably mounted on the associated arm portions and are interchangeable between said arm portions to permit audible or silent braking on clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation of the spool relative to the housing.

In a preferred embodiment, the reel further comprises resilient means reacting between the housing and the carrier member to urge the tongue portion towards the toothed wheel and the brake block towards the brake sleeve.

Conveniently the control means comprises a rotatable knob mounted on the housing and carrying an eccentric cam received within a slot in the carrier member whereby rotation of the control knob effects pivoting movement of the carrier member relative to the housing.

Preferably the control knob has a central position associated with the inoperative position of the braking means, and first and second displaced positions associated with the first and second operative positions of the braking means.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. lisa perspective view, partly cut-away, of a fly reel according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view from above of the braking means of the fly reel of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated fly reel comprises an open-topped, generally cup-shaped housing indicated generally at 2 and including a base 4 and an apertured sidewall 6.

Rotatably mounted in the housing 2 is a spool indicated generally at 8 and including a central spindle 10 and upper and lower plate portions 12, 14 integral with the spindle 10, said plate portions 12, 14 defining between them an annular, line-receiving chamber.

The base 4 of the housing 2 and the lower plate portion 14 of the spool, together with the sidewall 6 of the housing 2, define a chamber in the lower regions of the reel in which is housed braking means for the spool as will be described in more detail below, the spindle 10 of the spool 8 extending into said chamber for reasons which will become apparent.

More particularly, that part of the spindle 10 within the chamber in the lower regions of the reel carries a friction brake sleeve 16 concentric with the spindle 10, and, axially outwardly of, but adjacent to, the brake sleeve 16, a toothed wheel 18 also concentric with the spindle 10, both the brake sleeve 16 and the toothed wheel 18 being rotatable with the spindle 10.

Acarrier member indicated generally at 20 is pivotally mounted at 22 to the inside of the base 4 of the housing 2, the carrier member 20 being of generaly U-shape and including a pair of parallel, opposed arm portions 24,26 symmetrically disposed one to each side of the spindle 10.

Releasably mounted to the upper surface of, adjacent the free end of, the arm portion 24 of the carrier member 20 by means of a bolt 26 is a brake block 28 the concave operative surface of which is axially aligned with the brake sleeve 16 on the spindle 10 and is concentric therewith.

A catch member 30 including a projecting tongue portion 32 is releasably secured by means of a bolt 34 to the lower surface of the arm portion 26 of the carrier member 20 adjacent the free end thereof, the tongue portion 32 being axially aligned with the toothed wheel 18 and located diagonally opposite the brake block 28 as clearly seen in Fig. 2.

Pivoting movement of the carrier member 20 and associated components about the pivot 22 is effected by means of a rotatable control knob 36 mounted externally of the housing 2 and provided with an eccentric cam 18 thereon located within the housing 2 and received within a slot 40 formed in the carrier member 20.

Fig. 2 shows the control knob 36 in its central of three different positions and locating the carrier member in an inoperative position with the brake block 28 disengaged from the brake sleeve 16 and with the tongue portion 32 of the catch member 30 out of engagement with the toothed wheel 18. Thus it will be appreciated that the spindle 10 is not subjected to any braking forces and the spool 8 is therefore able to free-wheel in the housing 2 - such a condition is useful in that it enables the reel to be used, for example, for trotting a float down a stream without any restrictions.

On rotation of the control knob 36 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, the carrier member 20 is pivoted in an anti-clockwise direction about the pivot 22 to bring the tongue portion 32 of the catch member 30 into engagement with the toothed wheel 18. An adjustable spring 42 reacting between the sidewall 6 of the housing 2 and the catch member 30 urges the catch member 30 towards its operative position with the tongue portion 32 thereof engaging the wheel 16.

Thus rotation of the spindle 10, and therefore the spool 8, is checked by the engagement of the tongue portion 32 with the teeth of the wheel 16, said tongue portion 32 riding over said teeth against the bias of the spring 42. Such an arrangement serves to brake rotation of the spool 8 and provides an audible indication of said rotation of the spool as a result of the tongue portion 32 clicking over the individual teeth of the wheel 18.

The third position of the braking mechanism is achieved by rotating the control knob 36 in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 whereby the carrier member 20 is pivoted in a clockwise direction about the pivot 22 and the operative surface of the brake block 28 is brought into frictional engagement with the brake sleeve 16. An adjustable spring 44 reacting between the housing 2 and the brake block 28 urges the brake block towards its operative position engaging the sleeve 16.

Thus the spool 8 is again braked but this time silently by way of the frictional contact between the brake block 28 and the brake sleeve 16 on the spindle 10.

It will therefore be appreciated that a user has a chance of three conditions for the described reel - a free wheeling condition, an audible click-check condition and a silent braking condition, it merely being necessary to effect appropriate rotation of the control knob 36 to achieve the desired condition of the reel.

Conveniently the control knob 36 is positively maintained in any chosen operative position, for example by means of a spring-loaded ball bearing reacting between the housing 2 and the knob 36 itself and resiliently urged into associated indentations on the underside of the control knob 36.

The brake block 28 and catch member 30 are interchangeably mounted on the carrier member 20 whereby the brake block 28 can be removed from the upper surface of the arm portion 24 and relocated on the upper surface of the arm portion 26 and axially aligned with the brake sleeve 16, while the catch member 30 can be removed from the lower surface of the arm portion 26 and relocated on the lower surface of the arm portion 24 axially aligned with the toothed wheel 18. Thus the reel can readily be converted from right-hand wind to lefthand wind whilst retaining the same choice of operating conditions.

The provision of the springs 42,44, as well as ensuring positive co-operation between the brake block 28 and the brake sleeve 16 and between the catch member 30 and the toothed wheel 18, serves to take up any wear of the brake block 28 and tongue portion 32 of the catch member 30 that may occur.

The described arrangement thus gives the angler the heretofore unavailable choice of either audible or silent braking with the additional facility of a freewheel condition all embodied within the same reel.

Although described with reference to a reel for a fly fishing rod, the invention has application to reels for other types of rods, for example coarse fishing rods, spinning rods and the like.

Claims

1. A reel for a fishing rod, the reel comprising a fixed housing, a spool rotatably mounted in the housing, braking means within the housing reacting between the housing and the spool, and control means operable to move the braking means between a first operative position providing audible braking of the spool and a second operative position providing silent braking of the spool.

2. A reel as claimed in claim 1 in which the braking means has an inoperative position permitting freewheeling of the spool within the housing.

3. A reel as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the braking means comprises a carrier member pivotally mounted in the housing and carrying a tongue portion adapted to co-operate with a toothed wheel rotatable with the spool, the carrier member further carrying a friction brake block adapted to cooperate with a brake sleeve rotatable with the spool, the arrangement being such that, on actuation of the control means to move the braking means into its first operative position, the tongue portion engages the toothed wheel to effect audible braking of the spool, the brake block being out of engagement with the brake sleeve, and, on actuation of the control means to move the braking means into its second operative position, the brake blockfrictionally engages the brake sleeve to effect silent braking of the spool, the tongue portion being out of engagement with the toothed wheel.

4. A reel as claimed in claim 3 in which the spool includes a central spindle, the pivotal carrier member including a pair of opposed arm portions one to each side of the spindle, the tongue portion being mounted at or adjacent the free end of one arm portion of the carrier member and the brake block being mounted at or adjacent the free end of the other arm portion of the carrier member with the tongue portion and brake block being located substantially diagonally opposite to one another relative to the spindle.

5. A reel as claimed in claim 4 in which the toothed wheel and the brake sleeve are mounted on the spindle to be concentric therewith and are axially spaced along said spindle, the tongue portion and brake block being radially aligned with the toothed wheel and brake sleeve respectively.

6. A reel as claimed in claim 5 in which the tongue portion and the brake block are releasably mounted on the associated arm portions and are interchangeable between said arm portions.

7. A reel as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 and further comprising resilient means reacting between the housing and the carrier member to urge the tongue portion towards the toothed wheel and the brake block towards the brake sleeve.

8. A reel as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7 in which the control means comprises a rotatable knob mounted on the housing and carrying an eccentric cam received within a slot in the carrier member whereby rotation of the control knob effects pivoting movement of the carrier member relative to the housing.

9. A reel as claimed in claim 8 together with claim 2 in which the control knob has a central position associated with the inoperative position of the braking means, and first and second displaced positions associated with the first and second operative positions of the braking means.

10. A reel substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.