Fishing reel and a method of braking the spool thereof with line tension sensor

A fishing reel for retaining a fishing line comprising:

• a. a reel-frame having first and second axes;
• b. a spool mounted in said reel-frame for rotation about said first axis and receiving the fishing line thereon;
• c. a brake member coupled to said spool;
• d. a brake mechanism acting upon said brake member for slowing rotation of said spool;
• and
• e. a line tension sensor mounted in said reel frame for determining the tension of the fishing line and coupled to said brake mechanism for engaging said mechanism with said brake member after slack initially occurs in the fishing line, said line tension sensor including a member having first and second ends and first and second side edges with said first and second ends being pivotally mounted on said second axis between said first and second side edges, and wherein one of said line tension sensor and said brake mechanism includes a gear for coupling with other of said line tension sensor and said brake mechanism,
• said line tension sensor comprising two mutually spaced parallel bars extending along said first and second side edges in parallel to said second axis, and two end pieces interconnecting said bars at said first and second ends;
• and wherein said fishing reel further comprising means pivotally connecting said line tension sensor to said reel-frame at said end pieces midway between said first and second edges for rotational movement about said second axis.

A fishing reel for retaining a fishing line comprising:

• a. a reel-frame having first and second axes;
• b. a spool mounted in said reel-frame for rotation about said first axis and receiving the fishing line thereon;
• c. a brake member coupled to said spool;
• d. a brake mechanism acting upon said brake member for slowing rotation of said spool;
• and
• e. a line tension sensor mounted in said reel frame for determining the tension of the fishing line and coupled to said brake mechanism for engaging said mechanism with said brake member after slack initially occurs in the fishing line, said line tension sensor including a member having first and second ends and first and second side edges with said first and second ends being pivotally mounted on said second axis between said first and second side edges,
• said line tension sensor comprises two mutually spaced parallel bars extending along said first and second side edges in parallel to said second axis, and two end pieces interconnecting said bars at said first and second ends;
• and wherein said fishing reel further comprises means pivotally connecting said line tension sensor to said reel-frame at said end pieces midway between said first and second edges for rotational movement about said second axis, and
• said line tension sensor being coupled to said brake mechanism for transmission of movement of said line tension sensor to said brake mechanism through a gear coupled to one of said line tension sensor and said brake mechanism.

A fishing reel for retaining a fishing line comprising:

• a. a reel-frame having a first axis and a second axis;
• b. a spool mounted to said reel-frame for rotation about said first axis and receiving the fishing line thereon;
• c. a line guide connected to said reel-frame for aligning said fishing line as it is paid out from and retrieved onto said spool;
• and
• d. a line tension sensor mounted in said reel frame and positioned relative to said line guide such that a portion of fishing line being paid out passes through said line tension sensor before passing through said line guide and said line tension sensor including a member having first and second side edges with said first side edge of said line tension sensor being pivotally mounted on said second axis and being located proximate said line guide.

A fishing reel for retaining a fishing line comprising:

• a. a reel-frame having a first axis;
• b. a spool mounted to said reel-frame for rotation about said first axis and receiving the fishing line thereon;
• c. a line guide connected to said reel-frame for aligning said fishing line as it is paid out from and retrieved onto said spool;
• and
• d. a line tension sensor mounted in said reel frame and positioned relative to said line guide such that a portion of fishing line being paid out passes through said line tension sensor before passing through said line guide
• said line tension sensor includes a member having first and second ends and first and second side edges with one of said first and second side edges being pivotally mounted on said second axis, and
• said first side edge of said line tension sensor being pivotally mounted on said second axis and being located proximate said line guide.

A fishing reel retaining a fishing line comprising:

• a. a reel-fame having a fist axis and a second axis;
• b. a spool mounted in said reel-frame for rotation about said first axis and receiving the fishing line thereon;
• c. a line guide connected to said reel-frame for aligning said fishing line as it is paid out from and retrieved onto said spool;
• d. a brake mechanism for said spool;
• and
• e. a line tension sensor pivotally connected to said reel-frame for sensing slack in the fishing line and positioned relative to said line guide such that a portion of fishing line being paid out passes through said line tension sensor before passing through said line guide, and said sensor pivoting into a predetermined initial position for activating said brake mechanism when slack in the fishing line is sensed and said line tension sensor including a member having first and second side edges with said first side edge of said line tension sensor being pivotally mounted on said second axis and being located proximate said line guide.

A fishing reel for retaining a fishing line comprising:

• a. a reel-frame having a first axis;
• b. a spool mounted in said reel-frame for rotation about said first axis and receiving the fishing line thereon;
• c. a line guide connected to said reel-frame for aligning said fishing line as it is paid out from and retrieved onto said spool;
• d. a brake mechanism for said spool;
• and
• e. a line tension sensor pivotally connected to said reel-frame for sensing slack in the fishing line and positioned relative to said line guide such that a portion of fishing line being paid out passes through said line tension sensor before passing through said line guide, and said sensor pivoting into a predetermined initial position for activating said brake mechanism when slack in the fishing line is sensed,
• said line tension sensor includes a member having first and second ends and first and second side edges with one of sad first and second side edges being pivotally mounted on said second axis, and
• said first side edge of said line tension sensor being pivotally mounted on said second axis and being located proximate said line guide.

A method of braking a spool retaining a fishing line as slack occurs in the fishing line running from the spool when the fishing line is paid out therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. sensing slack in the fishing line;
• b. pre-braking said spool after slack in the fishing line is initially sensed;
• and
• c. abruptly braking said spool when increasing slack in the fishing line beyond the initial slack is sensed.