Click mechanism for drag adjustment on a fishing reel

In a fishing reel having a frame, a line-carrying spool carried by a first shaft and mounted for rotation relative to the frame about a first axis, a crankshaft mounted for rotation relative to the frame about a second axis, a crank handle fixed on the crankshaft for rotating the crankshaft, a driving gear rotatably mounted relative to said crankshaft, means for applying a drag force to said driving gear, a driven gear on said first shaft, said driving gear meshing with said driven gear for transmitting rotational movement of the crankshaft into rotational movement of the spool shaft, and a drag-adjusting knob having an axially inwardly facing side, said drag adjustment knob being threaded on said crankshaft, characterized by:

• signaling means for audibly and by feel signaling the turning of said drag-adjusting knob relative to said crankshaft, said signaling means comprising
• (a) a click spring carried on the inwardly facing side of said drag-adjusting knob,
• (b) means keyed to said crankshaft for rotation with said crankshaft, said means keyed to said crankshaft having serrations lying in overlapping relationship with a portion of said click spring, whereby turning said drag-adjusting knob relative to the crankshaft will produce an audible click and clicking sensation in the drag-adjusting knob each time the click spring snaps past one of the serrations on the means keyed to the crankshaft.

In a fishing reel having a frame, a line-carrying spool carried by a first shaft and mounted for rotation relative to the frame about a first axis, a crankshaft mounted for rotation relative to the frame about a second axis, a crank handle for rotating the crankshaft, a driving gear rotatably mounted relative to said crankshaft, means for applying a drag force to said driving gear, a driven gear on said first shaft, said driving gear meshing with said driven gear for transmitting rotational movement of the crankshaft into rotational movement of the spool shaft, and a drag-adjusting knob threaded on said crankshaft, characterized by:

• means for signaling the turning of said drag-adjusting knob relative to said crankshaft, said means comprising
• (a) a click spring carried on one of said drag-adjusting knob and said crankshaft, said click spring having a portion freely projecting radially,
• (b) a disc-shaped member carried by the other of said crankshaft and drag-adjusting knob for rotation therewith, said disc-shaped member having serrations extending into overlapping relationship with said freely projecting portion of said click spring, and
• (c) said drag-adjusting knob, when turned relative to said crankshaft will produce a clicking sound and clicking sensation in the drag-adjustment knob as the click spring snaps from one serration to the next on the disc-shaped member to signal the change in the adjustment of the drag between the crank handle and the spool.