Fly fishing reel with spherical drag system

Abstract

The fly fishing reel of this invention comprises a housing that includes a mounting shoe for attaching the reel to a fishing rod, a hub attached axially to the center of the housing, a spool containing a centrally mounted spindle supported within the hub, and an adjustable, highly effective and efficient drag system coupled between the spool and housing. The drag system is a unidirectional variable friction brake that includes a first and second inner bearing races and first and second outer bearing races. The inner bearing races each have convex hemispherical friction surfaces. The outer bearing races each have concave hemispherical friction surfaces. The outer races are rotationally fixed by interlocking geometry with the hub. The inner races encase a unidirectional roller clutch which receives the spindle attached to the spool. The hemispherical friction surfaces are longitudinally concentric with the rotational axis of the spindle. To increase the friction between the inner and outer races, an adjustable compression member is rotated to axially translate the first outer race toward the inner race. In this manner the hemispherical friction surfaces are forced to bear against one another. This friction results in variable drag on the rotation of the spool.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.