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US 6,283,394 B1Granted
Gravity operated fishing reel brake
OwnerHirsh E. Ryeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic gravity controlled fishing line brake which is automatically activated when the fishing line goes slack. The fishing line is fed through an opening in an arm of the brake assembly. When the line is taught, such as when it is being cast or when a fish strikes, the tension on the line is used to elevate the arm and disengage the brake. When the fishing line tension is relieved, such as when the line hits the water or when a fish changes direction, gravity automatically lowers the arm and engages the brake on the fishing reel line spool. The brake pads prevent the fishing line spool from rotating and thus prevent the unraveling of fishing line.
Claims11
A fishing reel with an automatic gravity controlled fishing line brake, comprising:
- a fishing reel spool support assembly;
- a rotatable fishing reel spool movably attached to the fishing reel spool support assembly;
- a brake arm movably attached to the fishing reel spool support assembly;
- at least one brake pad attached to the brake arm, the at least one brake pad aligned such that, when the brake arm is moved to an unlocked position under tension by a fishing line, the at least one brake pad is moved away from contact with the rotatable fishing reel spool, and the at least one brake pad further aligned such that when the fishing line becomes slack, the brake arm is not under tension by fishing line, and the brake arm moves to a locked position such that the at least one brake pad is brought into contact with the rotatable fishing reel spool;
- a primary gear attached to a proximal end of the brake arm, the primary gear attached such that when the brake arm is moved due to fishing line tension or fishing line slack, the primary gear rotates with the brake arm;
- a secondary gear, enmeshed with the primary gear and secured to the fishing reel spool support assembly such that when the primary gear rotates, it causes the secondary gear to rotate;
- and
- the secondary gear further attached to the brake pad such that rotation of the secondary gear rotates the brake pad into contact with the fishing reel spool when the fishing line is slack and rotates the brake pad out of contact with the fishing reel spool when the fishing line is under tension;
- whereby the fishing reel spool is prevented from rotating when in the locked position and is free to rotate when in the unlocked position.
6 more elements
A fishing reel with an automatic gravity controlled fishing line brake, comprising:
- a fishing reel spool support assembly having outside edges;
- a rotatable fishing reel spool movably attached to the fishing reel spool support assembly;
- a brake arm movably attached to the fishing reel spool support assembly, the brake arm having a proximal end and a distal end;
- the proximal end of the brake arm assembly having brake pad extensions extending past the outside edges of the rotatable fishing reel spool and having at least one brake pad attached to the brake arm extensions;
- the at least one brake pad aligned such that, when the brake arm is moved to an unlocked position under tension by a fishing line, the at least one brake pad is moved away from contact with the rotatable fishing reel spool, and the at least one brake pad further aligned such that when the fishing line becomes slack, the brake arm is not under tension by fishing line, and the brake arm moves to a locked position such that the at least one brake pad is brought into contact with the rotatable fishing reel spool;
- a primary gear attached to the proximal end of the brake arm, the primary gear attached such that when the brake arm is moved due to fishing line tension or fishing line slack, the primary gear rotates with the brake arm;
- a secondary gear, enmeshed with the primary gear and secured to the fishing reel spool support assembly such that when the primary gear rotates, it causes the secondary gear to rotate;
- and
- the secondary gear further attached to the brake pad such that rotation of the secondary gear rotates the brake pad into contact with the fishing reel spool when the fishing line is slack and rotates the brake pad out of contact with the fishing reel spool when the fishing line is under tension;
- whereby the fishing reel spool is prevented from rotating when in the locked position and is free to rotate when in the unlocked position.
7 more elements
A method of automatically braking a fishing reel with a gravity controlled fishing line brake, including the steps of:
- using a fishing reel spool support assembly to support a rotatable fishing reel spool movably;
- movably attaching a brake arm to the fishing reel spool support assembly;
- attaching at least one brake pad to the brake arm, the at least one brake pad aligned such that, when the brake arm is moved to an unlocked position under tension by a fishing line, the at least one brake pad is moved away from contact with the rotatable fishing reel spool, and the at least one brake pad further aligned such that when the fishing line becomes slack, the brake arm is not under tension by the fishing line, and the brake arm moves to a locked position such that the at least one brake pad is brought into contact with the rotatable fishing reel spool;
- attaching a primary gear to a proximal end of the brake arm, the primary gear attached such that when the brake arm is moved due to fishing line tension or fishing line slack, the primary gear rotates with the brake arm;
- enmeshing a secondary gear with the primary gear and securing it to the fishing reel spool support assembly such that when the primary gear rotates, it causes the secondary gear to rotate;
- and
- attaching the secondary gear further to the brake pad such that rotation of the secondary gear rotates the brake pad into contact with the fishing reel spool when the fishing line is slack and rotates the brake pad out of contact with the fishing reel spool when the fishing line is under tension;
- whereby the fishing reel spool is prevented from rotating when in the locked position and is free to rotate when in the unlocked position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.