Spinning reel with automatic changeover of operation mode

Claim 2

A fishing reel of the open-face spinning type mountable on a fishing pole, comprising: a. a line spool mounted within said reel with its axis substantially parallel to said pole; b. a contoured pay-out lip adjacent the outermost perimeter of said line spool, whereby said line may be permitted to pay-out axially from said spool with reduced friction; c. a substantially circular ring of resilient material having an inside diameter less than the outside diameter of said pay-out lip, and support means therefor mounted to position said ring substantially coaxially with said line spool, the axis of said ring being defined as a line normal to the plane of and through the center of said ring; d. means responsive to the control of the fisherman''s hand for bringing said ring into substantially uniform engagement with said pay-out lip, thereby to arrest said axial pay-out of line from said spool, said control responsive means comprising a lever having a fulcrum and being arranged to move said resilient ring support means in a forward direction to effect said engagement of said resilient ring and said pay-out lip of said line spool; e. said resilient ring support means comprising a sleeve housing slidable forward against a compression spring, whereby said ring of resilient material recedes from said engagement when said lever is released; and f. an axially fixed but rotatable housing shell on which are mounted a bail and line guide, thereby to form a rotatable housing assembly, and means are associated with said housing assembly for rotating said bail about its mounting axis to an open position in which said bail and line guide are not in contact with said line, said opening of said bail occurring in response to forward motion of said sleeve housing, thereby initiating the casting mode.

Claim 3

The invention set forth in claim 1 further defined in that there are included a crank and means for rotating said sleeve housing and said rotatable housing assembly together and for causing axial reciprocation of said line spool in response to turning of said crank to re-wind the line, and means responsive to said forward motion of said sleeve housing for disengaging said reciprocation means and simultaneously positioning said line spool substantially at the outer-most limit of its reciprocation, whereby said line spool is automatically pre-positioned for said casting mode.

Claim 4

The invention set forth in claim 2 in which are included cam means responsive to rOtation of said housing assembly to cause return of said bail to the closed position in response to turning of said crank to initiate the line retrieval mode, said cam means being continuously positioned axially by said reciprocation means and said cam means being located so as to respond to said rotation of said housing assembly at a position other than said casting mode position of said spool.

Claim 5

In a spinning reel having frame means, a rotatable winding assembly mounted on said frame means, a bail and line guide mounted upon said rotatable winding assembly, a crank, drive means operatively coupling said winding assembly to said crank, line spool mounting means, a line spool mounted upon said spool mounting means and secured axially thereon to move in an axial direction with said spool mounting means; and associated first and second mechanical linkages, with said first mechanical linkage causing said winding assembly and bail and line guide to rotate and with said second mechanical linkage including an element for functionally disengaging said line spool mounting means from said drive means, with said second mechanical linkage normally causing the line spool mounting means to reciprocate for re-wind of the line upon said line spool, said bail and line guide having two stable dispositions defining a closed line retrieval and an open line dispensing mode respectively, the combination comprising: a. first positioning linkage means for producing pre-positioning of said line spool and spool mounting means outwardly to a casting mode disposition, said first positioning linkage means functionally disengaging said second mechanical linkage from said drive means; b. cam means responsive to rotation of said winding assembly for closing said bail to said line retrieval mode to initiate line retrieval, said cam means being operative at an axial position of said line spool other than said outward pre-position; and c. means for functionally re-engaging said second mechanical linkage in response to turning of said crank, thereby producing an intentional delay in actuation of said cam means after the initiation of cranking.

Claim 6

In a spinning reel having frame means, a rotatable winding assembly mounted on said frame means, a bail and line guide mounted upon said rotatable winding assembly, a crank, drive means operatively coupling said winding assembly to said crank, line spool mounting means, a line spool mounted upon said spool mounting means and secured axially thereon to move in an axial direction with said spool mounting means; and associated first and second mechanical linkages, with said first mechanical linkage causing said winding assembly and bail and line guide to rotate and with said second mechanical linkage including an element for functionally disengaging said line spool mounting means from said drive means, with said second mechanical linkage normally causing the line spool mounting means to reciprocate for re-wind of the line upon said line spool, said bail and line guide having two stable dispositions defining a closed line retrieval and an open line dispensing mode respectively, the combination comprising: a. first positioning linkage means for producing pre-positioning of said line spool and spool mounting means outwardly to a casting mode disposition, said first positioning linkage means functionally disengaging said second mechanical linkage from said drive means; b. cam means responsive to rotation of said winding assembly for closing said bail to said line retrieval mode to initiate line retrieval, said cam means being operative at an axial position of said line spool other than said outward pre-position; and c. means for functionally re-engaging said second mechanical linkage in response to turning of said crank, thereby producing an intentional delay in actuation of said cam means after the initiation of cranking.

Claim 7

The invention set forth in claim 4 being particularly characterized in that said winding assembly includes a housing and has latch means mounted thereon, and said bail has a notched cam means mounted thereon, and spring means are coupled to and extend between said bail and said winding assembly housing respectively, the arrangement being such that the closing of said bail by action of said cam means includes disengagement of said latch means, with said spring means producing snap-action closing of said bail.

Claim 8

The invention set forth in claim 5 in which said closing of said bail by action of said cam means includes disengagement of said latch associated with said bail from said notch cam means, and wherein said spring means produces snap-action closing of said bail.

Claim 9

In a spinning reel having frame means, a rotatable winding assembly including a line bail mounted thereon, the bail having associated bail actuating linkages to establish a stable open line casting mode and a stable closed line retrieval mode, a crank, drive means operatively coupling said winding assembly to said crank, line spool mounting means, a line spool axially retained upon said line spool mounting means, and said drive means including associated first mechanical drive linkages for causing said winding assembly to rotate and second mechanical drive linkages for causing the line spool mounting means to reciprocate for re-wind of the line, with said second mechanical drive linkages including an element for functionally disengaging said line spool mounting means from said drive means, the combination comprising: a. means for moving said line spool outwardly while on said spool mounting means for positioning said line spool in a casting mode while simultaneously disengaging an element of said second mechanical drive linkage; b. cam means secured to said frame Means and having associated linkage means, said cam means and associated linkage means being functionally responsive to the disposition of said line spool and to the rotation of said winding assembly following outward positioning of said line spool for controllably moving said bail actuating linkages, to close said bail and to establish a line retrieval mode, said cam means and associated mechanical linkage means being further functionally disengaged from said bail actuating linkages while said bail is in the closed line retrieval mode; and c. means for re-engaging said disengageable elements of said second drive linkage with said reciprocation means in response to turning of said crank, thereby producing an intentional delay in actuation of said cam means after the initiation of cranking.

Claim 10

In a spinning reel having frame means, a rotatable winding assembly including a line bail mounted thereon, the bail having associated bail actuating linkages to establish a stable open line casting mode and a stable closed line retrieval mode, a crank, drive means operatively coupling said winding assembly to said crank, line spool mounting means, a line spool axially retained upon said line spool mounting means, and said drive means including associated first mechanical drive linkages for causing said winding assembly to rotate and second mechanical drive linkages for causing the line spool mounting means to reciprocate for re-wind of the line, with said second mechanical drive linkages including an element for functionally disengaging said line spool mounting means from said drive means, the combination comprising: a. means for moving said line spool outwardly while on said spool mounting means for positioning said line spool in a casting mode while simultaneously disengaging an element of said second mechanical drive linkage; b. cam means secured to said frame Means and having associated linkage means, said cam means and associated linkage means being functionally responsive to the disposition of said line spool and to the rotation of said winding assembly following outward positioning of said line spool for controllably moving said bail actuating linkages, to close said bail and to establish a line retrieval mode, said cam means and associated mechanical linkage means being further functionally disengaged from said bail actuating linkages while said bail is in the closed line retrieval mode; and c. means for re-engaging said disengageable elements of said second drive linkage with said reciprocation means in response to turning of said crank, thereby producing an intentional delay in actuation of said cam means after the initiation of cranking.

Claim 11

The spinning reel structure as defined in claim 7 being particularly characterized in that resilient biasing means are coupled to said rotatable winding assembly for normally urging said winding assembly toward the forward surface of said frame means, said frame means having a forward abutting surface in contact with said line spool when said line spool is in normal disposition, said rotatable winding assembly having mounting means for shifting axial movement thereof outwardly from contact with said frame means while simultaneously moving said line spool outwardly to said casting mode.

Claim 12

The spinning reel structure as defined in claim 7 being particularly characterized in that said bail is provided with locking means for releasably retaining said bail in open line casting mode, and tripping means for releasing said locking means for closing said bail by action of said cam means and including disengagement of said bail retaining means upon initial rotation of said winding assembly following outward positioning of said line spool.

Claim 13

In a spinning reel having frame means, a rotatable winding assembly mounted upon said frame means and including a winding hub assembly operatively coupled to said frame means, a bail mounted upon said winding hub and being rockable between a stable open line casting mode and a stable closed line retrieval mode, toggle means resiliently releasable restraining said bail in one of said modes, a line spool mounting means having mechanical linkages coupled thereto for driving said line spool mounting means in a reciprocatory path, a line spool mounted upon said spool mounting means and axially secured thereon to move in an axial direction with said spool mounting means along said reciprocatory path, a crank and associated mechanical linkages for causing said winding assembly to rotate and the line spool mounting means to reciprocate for re-winding the line; a. said frame means including a rearwardly disposed base housing assembly, with said winding assembly being forwardly disposed thereon, spindle means coupled to said frame means and extending within said base housing assembly and within said winding assembly and having means for receiving said line spool mounting means adjacent the forward tip thereof, abutment surface means at the forward end of said base housing assembly, for receiving the rearward end of said winding hub assembly, push rod means having a normal retracted disposition and being secured to said base housing assembly and being adapted to engage said winding hub and to move said winding hub forwardly along said spindle means upon forward movement of said push rod means; b. means coupled to said winding hub for moving said line spool mounting means outwardly with said spindle means with forward motion of said winding hub; c. cam means coupled to said base housing assembly and being disposed generally along the abutment surface; and d. linkage means coupled to said bail including arm means responsive to said cam means and being spring biased and rockable between first and second stable dispositions with said first and second stable dispositions responding to open and closed modes respectively of said bail, said lInkage means having cam follower means disposed adjacent the base end of said housing assembly and adapted to contact said cam means upon rotation of said winding hub assembly in the normal disposition thereof for rocking said cam arm means to said second stable disposition.

Claim 14

In a spinning reel having frame means, a rotatable winding assembly mounted upon said frame means and including a winding hub assembly operatively coupled to said frame means, a bail mounted upon said winding hub and being rockable between a stable open line casting mode and a stable closed line retrieval mode, toggle means resiliently releasable restraining said bail in one of said modes, a line spool mounting means having mechanical linkages coupled thereto for driving said line spool mounting means in a reciprocatory path, a line spool mounted upon said spool mounting means and axially secured thereon to move in an axial direction with said spool mounting means along said reciprocatory path, a crank and associated mechanical linkages for causing said winding assembly to rotate and the line spool mounting means to reciprocate for re-winding the line; a. said frame means including a rearwardly disposed base housing assembly, with said winding assembly being forwardly disposed thereon, spindle means coupled to said frame means and extending within said base housing assembly and within said winding assembly and having means for receiving said line spool mounting means adjacent the forward tip thereof, abutment surface means at the forward end of said base housing assembly, for receiving the rearward end of said winding hub assembly, push rod means having a normal retracted disposition and being secured to said base housing assembly and being adapted to engage said winding hub and to move said winding hub forwardly along said spindle means upon forward movement of said push rod means; b. means coupled to said winding hub for moving said line spool mounting means outwardly with said spindle means with forward motion of said winding hub; c. cam means coupled to said base housing assembly and being disposed generally along the abutment surface; and d. linkage means coupled to said bail including arm means responsive to said cam means and being spring biased and rockable between first and second stable dispositions with said first and second stable dispositions responding to open and closed modes respectively of said bail, said lInkage means having cam follower means disposed adjacent the base end of said housing assembly and adapted to contact said cam means upon rotation of said winding hub assembly in the normal disposition thereof for rocking said cam arm means to said second stable disposition.

Claim 15

The spinning reel apparatus as defined in claim 10 being particularly characterized in that said push rod means is operatively coupled to control lever means disposed externally of said frame means.

Claim 16

The spinning reel apparatus as defined in claim 10 being particularly characterized in that linkage means are provided for releasably retaining said line spool mounting means in outwardly advanced disposition along said spindle means.

Claim 17

The spinning reel apparatus as defined in Claim 10 being particularly characterized in that said cam means coupled to said winding hub assembly have an abutment surface thereon to prevent winding motion along one direction, thereby permitting uni-directional winding motion between said winding hub assembly and said frame means.