US2664194A - Container and spool for leader lines and the like - Google Patents

Description

if. L. SHARP Dec. 29, 1953 CONTAINER AND SPOOL FOR LEADER LINES AND THE LIKE Filed July 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MG. 1.?- EWING L. 55549;)

INVENTOR.

E. L. SHARP Dec. 29, 1953 CONTAINER AND SPOOL FOR LEADER LINES AND THE LIKE Filed July 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jim I,

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firrae/vey Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER AND SPOOL FOR LEADER LINES AND THE LIKE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to fish lines or leaders and has particular reference to means for winding and supporting such lines and leaders.

It is the general object of the invention to provide simple and inexpensive devices of the type referred to which are convenient to operate to wind and unwind fish lines on reels and which will securely maintain the lines in position thereon after completion of the winding operation. A further object is to provide a reel supporting container 7 which is fitted with a detachably mounted cut-off element. Another object is to provide a container which is so constructed that the reel within the container may be manually rotated therein as may be required for maintaining the line on the reel tightly wound thereon. A still further object is to provide a device so constructed that an assembly of reels may be wound one by one without cutting the line between each winding operation, whereupon each reel may be placed within a casing while the reels still remain tied together by the unbroken line.

These and further objects of the invention, together with the many advantageous features thereof, are hereinafter fully described and will be better understood when reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which preferred types of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the invention and with a portion of the casing thereof broken away in order better to illustrate the interior mechanism thereof;

Fig. 2 is a substantially corresponding edge view of the device taken in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows the reel of the device as it appears when removed from the container casing;

Fig. 4 is an edge View showing the various parts of the device as they appear before assembling and with parts thereof broken away for the sake of clearness;

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of parts of the device, the importance of which will be hereinafter fully explained;

Fig. 7 shows the manner in which reels are mounted on a mandrel for the winding operation;

Fig. 8 illustrates a somewhat modified form of a reel supporting container;

Fig. 9 shows the container as it appears when the reel has been removed therefrom;

Fig. 10 is an edge view of the container and the reel as they appear before the reel is inserted therein;

Fig. 11 illustrates a member which is attach- 2 able to the container case to serve as a cut-off element for the line supported on the reel of the device; and

Figs. 12 to 15 show further modifications, the importance whereof is hereinafter fully explained.

The container assembly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a casing consisting of two parts designated at 2 and 3 respectively, each part taking the form of a circular box-shaped member, one of which is fitted with a cylindrical extension 4 from the flange 3 thereof of a size tightly to seat within the inner surface 5 of the flange of the other member. The space within the two members, when assembled, is of a size rotatable to receive therein a reel 6 of the shape best indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The two members are at one point along the peripheral surfaces of the container made with identical U- shaped grooved guides 8, 9 projecting therefrom to form a rectangular seat to receive therein a plate I0 when the two members are pushed together, as best shown in Fig. 2, the plate within its seat serving to lock the members against relative rotation. A lip ll rises from a perforation of this plate to form a catch below which the end of the line B extending from the enclosed reel through a perforation I2 of the casing may be drawn, firmly to clamp the end of the line in position on the container. When the side edges of this lip are sharpened it is found that the projecting portion of the line may be manually drawn over this sharpened edge to sever the end of the line from the body portion thereof on the reel.

In one side of the grooved flange of each reel is provided a radially directed slit 7 into which the free end of the line or leader to be wound is drawn tightly to maintain it in position therein. The line may then be wound on the reel whereupon the reel is placed within the container. In doing this, the outer free end of the line is drawn through an opening l2, which is formed by recessing the abutting edges of the casing flanges, substantially as indicated in Fig. 2, as the casing members are pushed together with the plate It seated within the guides 8, 9. The portion of the line beyond the container casing may then be drawn under the lip II and out off along the edge thereof. When the container casing is made from transparent material, such as a plastic composition, it is possible at all times to keep a check on the amount of line remaining therein. This is a distinct advantage.

As shown in the drawings, the two members of the container casing are perforated to provide large axially aligned openings 2 3 into which the fingers of the operator may be inserted to rotate the reel within the container and thereby to take up the slack which is likely to occur when a portion of the line is quickly withdrawn through the opening [2 of the container. The reel 5 is in Fig. 1 shown centrally perforated to provide an opening of a size suitably for mounting the reel on a mandrel for the purpose of winding the line in position thereon, in the manner which will now be described. 7

As above explained, the fish line or leader is first wound on the reel whereupon the reel is placed within the container casing and the user will withdraw the portion which is required to form the leader of the line. In modern manufacturing practice it is found more economical and advantageous to mount a number of reels on a mandrel and to continue winding the line thereon until all the reels are filled, without cutting the line until the operation is completed. Each reel will, according to this method, contain a certain predetermined number of feet of line and the assembly of reels is delivered to the distributor without breaking the line; each reel being enclosed in its own container. If then the purchaser requires the number of feet of line contained in one reel, it is merely required to cut the line between this container and the next following container for delivery to the purchaser; but should the purchaser require two or more times the number of feet of line the corresponding number of containers are withdrawn from the assembly and the line only cut at this point.

The method employed in winding the reels and mounting the assembled reels in their casings will now be described, reference being invited to Fig. 7 of the drawings. A mandrel I5 is mounted in the chuck A of a conventional wire or line winding machine. The reels of the assembly are, in order to facilitate this description, shown spaced apart on the mandrel but it is to be understood. that, in actual practice, they are suitably held close together, as by means of a spring l3 which is held in position by a nut l4 mounted on the end of the mandrel. It is to be understood also that the mandrel will be completely filled with reels. It is also necessary to remember that the reels must be held against rotation on the mandrel. The pressure of the spring may be sufficient for this purpose, but I have found it advantageous to provide means for positively looking the reels in position. Illustrative of such means, the mandrel is shown hexagonal in crosssection and the opening in the reel is correspondingly shaped, as indicated at I! in Fig. 3.

To begin the winding operation, the end of the line to be wound is drawn into the slit 1 of the innermost reel and the mandrel rotated to wind the line on this reel. It was above stated that one side of the grooved flange of the reel is slitted but, while this ordinarily is sufficient, the winding operation may be greatly facilitated by extending the slit through the other side of the flange. When the reels are placed on the mandrel with the slits thereof in continued axial alignment, it is found that the line from the completely wound innermost reel can be drawn through the adjoining slits of this and the next following reel, which thereupon is wound in like manner. This operation is continued until the entire reel assembly is wound and the reels may then be removed from the mandrel to make room for another assembly. When handled with some care by an experienced person the reels of the assembly may now be placed within the containers without danger of the lines becoming dislodged from the slits of the reels. In order to perform this operation, it is merely required to grip two adjacent reels at one end of the assembly and to pull down on the outer reel until the line between the two reels slips out of the slit in the end reel. The latter may then be rotated to unwind the line until the slit again is reached and the line drawn thereinto. It is now possible to swing the end reel away from the adjoining reel so as to provide room for convenient insertion of the outer reel in its casing.

\ When a plurality of slits are provided, such as indicated at 1*, l in Fig. 3, only a very small portion of the line needs to be unwound from the reel. This operation is repeated until all the reels have been encased, whereupon the container assembly may be packed for shipment.

Such additional operation of partly unwinding each reel may be dispensed with by placing collars between the reels on the mandrel of Fig. 7 to maintain the reels spaced apart on the mandrel the short distance required to make it possible to insert the reels within the casings. Such collars are indicated in dotted outline at l8 in the drawing. While the addition of such collars necessarily will increase the length of the mandrel, the advantage of this combination is so considerable that increasing the length of mandrel to be used would be of no consequence.

The container above described, while entirely satisfactory, may in some cases be found rather expensive to make and a simpler structure may be required. Such container is in Figs. 8 to 11 shown to consist of a single box-shaped casing 2 I, having the flange 22 laterally extending there from of a diameter to receive therein and rotably to support the reel. The edge of the flange is shown inwardly curved to form a ridge 23 which, when the reel is placed within the flange, maintains it rotatably in position within the casing. The flange is, in order to permit of sufficient expansion to make it possible to force the reel over the ridge 23, shown made with a plurality of axially directed slots 24. When the container casing is made from suitable, somewhat resilient material. there is no difficulty in forcing the reel into position and it will be held firmly in place without becoming dislodged. As above described, the reels are placed on a mandrel for the purpose of winding the line in position thereon and the container is applied to each reel after the assembly is completely wound in like manner.

It is in this case. in the foregoing, found necessary in order to provide a complete selfcontained combination to add an element on each container casin for clamping the end of the line in position thereon and so as to provide a cut-off element similar to the one shown in Fig. 6. Such clamping member is illustrated in Fig. 11. It consists of a strip of resilient metal which is bent to conform to the peripheral outline of the container casing and the edges of which are down wardly curved, as indicated at 3| and 32, to ride over the edges of the casing. The material of the member is shown inwardly extending from the rounded edge 32 to form a lip 33 which takes a position within the inner surface of the flange 22, thereby to maintain the member firmly in position thereon. The cut-off element 3 5 of this member may remain as above described in connection with the clamping member 19. The member 2| is similarly perforated to provide an enlarged opening through which the fingers of the person holding the container may be inserted to apply rotation to the reel within the container. it is to be understood that the casing, at the point where the member 39 is to be seated, should be recessed to form a seat for the member. When so recessed, it will be found that the surface of the clamping member may extend in con tinued alignment with the outer and inner surfaces of the casing.

In cases where reels are not encased, but single reels are furnished the user, it becomes necessary to provide cut-off attachments for such reels. Illustrative thereof, I have in Figs. 12 and 13 shown a reel 43 fitted with a detachable resilient clip 4%, the outer surface of which is shown circumferentially extended to form a lip 42, the front edge of which is serrated or otherwise sharpened to provide a surface on which the free end of the material on the reel may be cut oif. In order to eliminate all danger of injuring the fingers handling the reel it is advisable to bend this lip inwardly a distance so as to bring the cutting edge thereof well within the periphery of the reel. Side walls 43, 44 extending inwardly from the outer surface of the reel terminate in lips 45, 35 which engage the underside of the flange 41 of the reel to maintain the clip firmly in position thereon.

Some reels are made with curled outer edges, substantially as indicated at 50, 5| in Fig. 14. In such cases it may be found more convenient to employ a clip 53, the side walls 54, 55 of which are folded inwardly to provide lips 56, 51 which extend nearly to outer plate of the clip. When the latter is made from resilient material, it is found that this type of clip may be pushed over the edges of the reel and that the lips 56, 51 will slip under the curled edges 50, 5| securely to lock the clip in position.

I claim:

1. An annular casing of a size rotatably to support a leader reel therein, the casing being diametrically divided into two identically shaped parts, one part having a cylindrical flange extending therefrom for insertion into the other part tightly to fit the parts of the casing together, and a leader clamping element shaped to fit the outer periphery of the casing, the two parts of the casing having guides rising from the peripheral surfaces thereof for mutual axial alignment, the clamping element being insertable within said guides when the parts of the casing are pushed together to lock the parts against relative rotation.

2. An annular casing of a size rotatably to support a leader reel therein, the casing being diametrically divided into two identically shaped parts, one part having a cylindrical flange extending therefrom for insertion into the other part tightly to fit the parts of the casing together, and a leader clamping element shaped to fitthe outer periphery of the casing, the two parts of the casing having identical U-shaped guides rising from the peripheral surfaces thereof for mutual axial alignment and a passage therethrough for the leader therein, the clamping element being insertable within said guides when the parts of the casing are pushed together to lock the two parts against relative rotation.

3. An annular cylindrical two part casing of a size removably to support a leader reel for manual rotation therein, the two parts having identical U-shaped grooves in their outer cylindrical walls for mutual registration when the two parts are assembled, and a leader clamping element in said grooves to lock the two parts of the casing against relative rotation, said element having a lip extruded from and slightly rising from the surface of the element in parallel relation thereto, the lip having sharpened side edges.

EWING L. SHARP.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 595,059 Graham Dec. 7, 1897 1,037,465 Frissell Sept. 3, 1912 2,201,305 Springer May 21, 1940 2,284,807 Donahoo et a1 June 2, 1942 2,340,184 Gray Jan. 25, 1944 2,401,286 Wright May 28, 1946 2,528,958 Johnson Nov. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 324,234 Great Britain Jan. 23, 1930

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