Geared fishing reel

Abstract

A geared fishing reel is disclosed herein having a supporting frame with opposite end plates rotatably mounting a central shaft carrying a fishing line storage spool. A turning assembly including a crank handle is operably carried on the frame for rotating the spool via the central shaft. The turning assembly includes a movable drive latch carried on a crank plate for selective engagement with a lug projecting laterally from a drive gear meshed with a pinion gear carried on the end of the central shaft in order to achieve non-slip, positive direct drive of the spool by the crank handle. A latch disconnect mechanism is operably carried between the crank plate and the frame for automatically disengaging the drive latch from driving the gear lug via a release blade pivotally mounted on the frame and which further includes a timing mechanism turning with the crank plate and handle cooperating with a pawl disposed on the frame. A spool drag adjuster assembly including a lever control supplies spool drag for tensioning the fishing line during fishing line pull when the spool rotates clockwise when positive drive rotation has been disconnected so that the fishing line tension is applied only by the drag adjuster assembly including a pad carried on the frame bearing against a brake shoe on the side of the spool via a friction disc.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.