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US 6,102,317 AGranted
Waterproof reel
AssigneeMitchell Sports
InventorsJean Bernard, Alain Plestan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fishing reel comprises a rigid housing, made from the assembly of several parts, and covered with a waterproof flexible casing, except for the openings for access for mechanical parts and the foot. A cover pinches the casing around the front opening for access for the main reel shaft. The foot pinches the casing around a fastening tenon for the foot. Some plugs ensure waterproofing by pinching the casing around the openings for access for the crank shaft. Therefore, the housing provides effective waterproofing by protecting the gear mechanism in the cavity of the housing.
Claims42
A fishing reel comprising:
- a housing with a rigid side, the side defining a cavity in which an inside gear mechanism is lodged, the housing with an upper section, a first lateral section, a second lateral section, and a front section, the upper section having an upper connecting area, the first and second lateral sections having a first and second lateral openings, respectively, wherein the first and second lateral openings leave access for a shaft of a crank handle that controls the inside gear mechanism, the first lateral opening being positioned opposite the second lateral opening, and the housing with a front opening;
- a fastening foot configured to attach the reel to a fishing rod, the foot having a base attached to the upper connecting area of the upper section;
- a line pick up drum used for line pick up, the drum with a hollow longitudinal shaft engaged in rotation therewith and supported in the front opening of the housing while being moved in rotation by the inside gear mechanism, the front section configured to allow access to the hollow longitudinal shaft and the drum;
- a spool supported at the end of a spool support shaft, the spool support shaft extending through the hollow longitudinal shaft, wherein the support shaft and the spool are axially reciprocated by the inside gear mechanism;
- a waterproof flexible casing configured to surround the housing, wherein the housing is inserted into the casing, and the casing covers the housing entirely except for the upper section, the front opening, and the first and second lateral openings;
- means for waterproofing the upper section around where the upper connecting area attaches to the base of the foot, the means for waterproofing the upper section configured to waterproof a space inside the casing from an outside environment;
- first means for waterproofing the first lateral section to seal the first lateral opening;
- second means for waterproofing the second lateral section to leave access for the shaft of the crank handle and to seal between the outside environment and the space inside the casing;
- and
- means for waterproofing the front section while providing access for the hollow longitudinal shaft.
7 more elements
A fishing reel comprising:
- a housing including a rigid side defining a cavity, an upper section configured to attach to a fishing rod, a front section having a front opening, and a first lateral section having a first lateral opening;
- a gear mechanism at least partially disposed within the cavity;
- a crank handle having a shaft extending through the first lateral opening and operably coupled to the gear mechanism;
- a line pick up drum operably coupled to the gear mechanism and rotatably supported by the housing;
- a spool support shaft extending through the front opening and operably coupled to the gear mechanism to reciprocate along an axis;
- a spool supported by the spool support shaft;
- a flexible casing extending adjacent the housing;
- and
- at least one component pinching the casing against the housing to form a seal.
6 more elements
A fishing reel comprising:
- a housing including a rigid side defining a cavity, an upper section configured to attach to a fishing rod, a front section having a front opening, and a first lateral section having a first lateral opening;
- a gear mechanism at least partially disposed within the cavity;
- a crank handle having a shaft extending through the first lateral opening and operably coupled to the gear mechanism;
- a line pick up drum operably coupled to the gear mechanism and rotatably supported by the housing in the front opening of the housing;
- a spool support shaft extending through the front opening and operably coupled to the gear mechanism to reciprocate along an axis;
- a spool supported by the spool support shaft;
- and
- a seal between the spool support shaft and the front section.
5 more elements
A fishing reel comprising:
- a housing including a rigid side defining a cavity, a front section having a front opening, and a lateral section having a lateral opening;
- a gear mechanism at least partially disposed within the cavity;
- a crank handle having a shaft extending through the lateral opening and operably coupled to the gear mechanism;
- a line pick up d m operably coupled to the gear mechanism and rotatably supported by the housing in the front opening of the housing;
- a spool support shaft extending through the front opening and operably coupled to the gear mechanism to reciprocate along an axis;
- a spool supported by the spool support shaft;
- a hub extending a out the spool support shaft, the hub including an inner cavity about the spool support shaft;
- a brake mechanism within the inner cavity of the hub;
- a brake activating button coupled to the spool support shaft and operably coupled to the brake mechanism;
- and
- a sealing disk extending about the spool support shaft at least partially between the brake activating button and the brake mechanism, the disk having an outer perimeter sealed against the hub.
8 more elements
A fishing reel comprising:
- a housing including a rigid side defining a cavity, an upper section configured to attach to a fishing rod, a front section having a front opening, and a first lateral section having a first lateral opening;
- a gear mechanism at least partially disposed within the cavity;
- a crank handle having a shaft extending through the first lateral opening and operably coupled to the gear mechanism;
- a line pick up drum operably coupled to the gear mechanism and rotatably supported by the housing;
- a spool support shaft extending through the front opening and operably coupled to the gear mechanism to reciprocate along an axis;
- a spool supported by the spool support shaft;
- a bail arm couples to the line pick up drum;
- a roller rotatably mounted on the bail arm;
- and
- a seal coupled to a first one of the roller and the bail arm, the seal having a lip configured to seal against a second one of the bail arm and the roller.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.