Fishing apparatus

Claim 2

A fishing apparatus comprising, in combination: a frame; reel means rotatably attached to said frame; means for rotating said reel means; an extending member pivotally attached to said frame; line guide means coupled to said extending member; elastic restraining means attached to said frame and to said extending member for providing a restoring force in response to rotation of said extending member relative to said frame, whereby said extending member smooths transient tension variations which occur when a fishing line is reeled or secured through said line guide means onto said reel means; and elastic restraining guide means rotatably attached to said frame for increasing the effective length of said elastic restraining means by movably folding said elastic restraining means thereover.

Claim 3

An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said reel means comprises a reel having an axial reel shaft therethrough, and bearing washer means therebetween.

Claim 4

An apparatus as described in claim 2 having said means for rotating said reel means coupled to said reel shaft.

Claim 5

An apparatus as described in claim 3 having slip clutch means of said reel shaft between said means for rotating said reel means and said reel for allowing independent rotation of said reel when rotational torque thereon exceeds a predetermined limit.

Claim 6

An apparatus as described in claim 4 having means for adjusting said predetermined torque limit of said slip clutch means.

Claim 7

An apparatus as described in claim 5 having a rachet means on said reel shaft for controlling the rotation of said reel means in one direction thereabout.

Claim 8

An apparatus as described in claim 6 having means attached to said frame for movably coupling said frame to another structure.

Claim 9

An apparatus as described in claim 1 having means for releasably attaching said elastic restraining means to said frame, whereby said restoring force of said elastic restraining means and the quiescent rotational position of said extending member may be adjusted.

Claim 10

An apparatus as described in claim 8 having an end means attached to said extending member for coupling said elastic restraining means to said extending member.

Claim 11

An apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said line guide means pivotably couples to said end means.

Claim 12

An apparatus as described in claim 10 having said end means pivotally attached to said extending member.

Claim 13

The apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said means for rotating said reel means comprises hand driven crank means which may be adapted for right-handed operation, left-handed operation, or simultaneous right-handed and left-handed operation.

Claim 14

An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said line guide means comprises a pulley having, in combination: a first plate having one side containing an annular void therein and a recessed area located inside said annular void; a second plate similar to said first plate and having one side containing an annular void therein and a recessed area located inside said annular void; spacer means attached between opposing sides of said first and second plates for providing a predetermined separation therebetween; a plurality of bearings; and wheel means, having a pair of faces and a predetermined diameter, rotatably connected between said one sides of said first and second plates in said annular voids of said first and second plates, said wheel means having a recessed groove about the circumference thereof, and each of said pair of faces on said wheel means having a first annular void and a recessed area therein, said bearings being located between said recessed areas of said wheel means and said recessed areas of said respective first and second plates, whereby said wheel means rotate on said bearings and within said sides to form a pulley.

Claim 15

The apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein said first annular voids of said wheel means contain therein a moisture resistant lubricant for reducing friction between said wheel means and said first and said second plates.

Claim 16

The apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein said recessed areas of said wheel means are located at the center of said first annular voids on a section of said wheel means raised relative to said first annular voids, and wherein said recessed areas of said first and said second plates are located at the center of said annular voids on a section raised relative thereto.