INSIDE COVER LOCK MECHANISM

Abstract

A fishing reel has a frame and a lock ring that engages locking structures on the frame. A cover assembly defines cover locking structures for locking engagement with outside lock ring locking structures on the lock ring. A brake spool cover is secured to an inside surface of the cover assembly. A brake ring support is adjacent to the inner side of the brake spool cover. The brake ring support is axially positionable with respect to the brake spool cover and defines a plurality of guide holes that receive prongs defined by a slide spring retainer.

Claims

1. A fishing reel comprising: a frame having a first side, said first side defining a plurality of frame locking structures; a lock ring having an inside surface and an outside surface, said inside surface defining a plurality of inside lock ring locking structures for locking communication with said frame locking structures, said outside surface defining outside lock ring locking structures; a cover assembly defining an inside surface, said inside surface defining cover locking structures for locking engagement with said outside lock ring locking structures; wherein said inside surface of said lock ring is affixed to said first side of said frame; wherein said inside surface of said cover assembly is affixed to said outside surface of said lock ring.

2. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein: said lock ring is comprised of a non-corrosive material.

3. The fishing reel according to claim 2 wherein: said non-corrosive material is a thermopolymer.

4. The fishing reel according to claim 3 wherein: said thermopolymer is polyphenylene sulfide.

5. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein: one of said frame locking structures and said inside lock ring locking structures has a height, a length, and a receiving side, wherein said receiving side defines a locking member receiving indentation for receiving a horizontal locking member.

6. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein: one of said frame locking structures and said inside lock ring locking structures is locking members; and said locking members having an height, a width and an engaging side, said engaging side defining a horizontal member sized to be received in a locking member receiving indentation of the other of said frame locking structures and said inside lock ring locking structure when said lock ring is rotated in a first direction.

7. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein: said inside surface of said lock ring defines tab receiving channels that run from said outside surface to said inside surface of said lock ring, said inside surface further defining a tab receiving area in communication with said tab receiving channels.

8. The fishing reel of claim 1 wherein: said lock ring includes a locking lever to facilitate ease of rotation of said lock ring.

9. The fishing reel according to claim 1 further comprising: a first lock ring retaining tab and a second lock ring retaining tab affixed to said first side of said frame for securing said lock ring to said frame.

10. The fishing reel according to claim 1 wherein: a brake spool cover is affixed to said inside surface of said cover assembly, said brake spool cover comprised of an outer ring, said outer ring defining a plurality of outwardly extending tabs.

11. The fishing reel according to claim 10 wherein: said lock ring defines tab receiving channels; said cover assembly and attached brake spool cover are attached to said frame by locating said outwardly extending tabs in said tab receiving channels of said lock ring; wherein rotation of said lock ring in a first direction moves said outwardly extending tabs of said brake spool cover into said tab receiving channels of said lock ring for preventing axial movement of said outwardly extending tabs until said outwardly extending tabs are positioned in said tab receiving channels by rotating said lock ring in a second direction.

12. The fishing reel according to claim 10 wherein: said brake spool cover is comprised of a center member and legs that span between said outer ring and said center member.

13. The fishing reel according to claim 12 further comprising: a brake ring support having a plurality of control dial interfacing members that extend from said brake ring support between said legs of said brake spool cover; a brake ring received in said brake ring support.

14. The fishing reel according to claim 13 wherein: said cover assembly further defines a control dial orifice.

15. The fishing reel according to claim 14 further comprising: a control dial received in said control dial orifice of said cover assembly, said control dial defining a camming surface that engages said control dial interfacing members of said brake ring support for axially displacing said brake ring support and said attached brake ring.

16. The fishing reel according to claim 15 wherein: said brake ring support defines a plurality of guide holes; and further comprising: a slide spring retainer defining a plurality of prongs that extend towards said cover assembly, said prongs received in said guide holes of said brake ring support.

17. The fishing reel according to claim 16 further comprising: slide springs on said prongs of said slide spring retainer for biasing said brake ring support towards said cover assembly against said camming surface of said control dial.

18. The fishing reel according to claim 16 wherein: guide holes of said brake ring support are defined by said central dial interfacing members of said brake ring support.

19. A fishing reel comprising: a frame having a first side, said first side defining a plurality of frame locking structures; a cover assembly having an inside surface and an outside surface, said inside surface adjacent said first side of said frame; a brake spool cover secured to said inside surface of said cover assembly, said brake spool cover having an inner side; said brake ring support adjacent said inner side of said brake spool cover, said brake ring support axially positionable with regard to said brake spool cover, said brake ring support defining a plurality of guide holes; and a slide spring retainer defining prongs that extend towards said cover assembly, said prongs received in said guide holes of said brake ring support.

20. The fishing reel according to claim 19 wherein: said cover assembly defines a control dial orifice; said brake ring support defining control dial interfacing members; and further comprising a control dial received in said control dial orifice of said cover assembly, said control dial defining a camming surface that engages said control dial interfacing members of said brake ring support for axially displacing said brake ring support and an attached brake ring.

21. The fishing reel according to claim 20 further comprising: slide springs on said prongs of said slide spring retainer for biasing said brake ring support towards said cover assembly against said camming surface of said control dial.

22. The fishing reel according to claim 20 wherein: said guide holes of said brake ring support are defined by said control dial interfacing members of said brake ring support.

23. The fishing reel according to claim 19 further comprising: a lock ring having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a width between said inner surface and said outer surface, said inner surface defining a plurality of inside lock ring locking structures for locking communication with said frame locking structures, said outer surface defining outer lock ring locking structures.

24. The fishing reel according to claim 23 wherein: said outside surface of said cover assembly defines cover locking structures for locking engagement with said outer lock ring locking structures of said lock ring.

25. The fishing reel according to claim 23 wherein: said inner surface of said lock ring is affixed to said first side of said frame; said inside surface of said cover assembly is affixed to said outer surface of said lock ring.

26. The fishing reel according to claim 23 wherein: said lock ring is comprised of a non-corrosive material.

27. The fishing reel according to claim 23 wherein: one of said frame locking structures and said inside lock ring locking structures has a height, a length, and a receiving side, wherein said receiving side defines a locking member receiving indentation for receiving a horizontal locking member.

28. The fishing reel according to claim 23 wherein: one of said frame locking structures and said inside lock ring locking structures is locking members having an height, a width and an engaging side, said engaging side defining a horizontal member sized to be received in a locking member receiving indentation of the other of said frame locking structures and said inside lock ring locking structures when said lock ring is rotated in a first direction.

29. The fishing reel according to claim 23 wherein: said inner surface of said lock ring defines tab receiving channels that run from said outer surface to said inner surface of said lock ring, said inner surface further defining a tab receiving area in communication with said tab receiving channels.

30. The fishing reel of claim 23 wherein: said lock ring includes a locking lever to facilitate ease of rotation of said lock ring.

31. The fishing reel according to claim 23 further comprising: a first lock ring retaining tab and a second lock ring retaining tab affixed to said first side of said frame for securing said lock ring to said frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a reel of the invention.

[0030] FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the reel of FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the reel of FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the brake spool cover, lock ring, and frame of the reel of FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the frame with an affixed lock ring of the reel of FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the frame of the reel of FIG. 1 when the lock ring is in an on position.

[0035] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the frame of the reel of FIG. 1 when the lock ring is in an off position.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the frame and lock ring shown securing the brake spool cover to the frame in a locked position.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the frame and lock ring shown wherein the lock ring is in an unlocked position.

[0038] FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the lock ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] The fishing reel of the invention is designated generally 10. Fishing reel 10 includes spool assembly 12 and frame 14. Frame 14 has palm side 16 and gear side 18. Palm side 16 defines spool orifice 20 for locating spool assembly 12 between palm side 16 and gear side 18 of frame 14.

[0040] A plurality of locking member receiving structures 22 (FIG. 4) surround spool orifice 20. Each locking member receiving structure 22 has a height 24, a length 26, and a receiving side 28. Receiving side 28 defines locking member receiving indentation 30 having a length less than length 26 of locking member receiving structure 22.

[0041] Palm side cover assembly 40 is for locating on palm side 16 of frame 14. Palm side cover assembly 40 defines inside surface 42 and control dial orifice 44.

[0042] Brake spool cover 50 is affixed to inside surface 42 of palm side cover assembly 40. Brake spool cover 50 has outer ring 52, center member 54, and legs 56 that span between outer ring 52 and center member 54. Outer ring 52 defines a plurality of outwardly extending tabs 58.

[0043] Brake ring support 60 has a plurality of control dial interfacing members 62 that extend from brake ring support 60 between legs 56 of brake spool cover 50.

[0044] Brake ring 70 is received in brake ring support 60.

[0045] Control dial 80 is received in control dial orifice 44 of palm side cover assembly 40. Control dial 80 defines camming surface 82 that engages control dial interfacing member 62 of brake ring support 60 for axially displacing brake ring support 60 and attached brake ring 70. Control dial interfacing members 62 define guide holes 63.

[0046] Brake ring slide spring retainer 90 defines a plurality of prongs 92 that extend toward palm side cover assembly 40. Prongs 92 are received in guide holes 63 of control brake ring support 60.

[0047] Slide springs 94 are located on prongs 92 of brake ring slide spring retainer 90 and engage control dial interfacing members 62 for biasing brake ring support 60 towards palm side cover assembly 40 and control dial interfacing member 62 of brake ring support 60 against camming surfaces 82 of control dial 80. The assembly of prongs 92 received in guide holes 63 and the location of slide springs 94 on prongs 92 facilitate proper alignment of the brake ring slide spring retainer 90 and assists in the elimination of spring seizing that could result from tilting of brake ring slide spring retainer 90.

[0048] Lock ring 110 has palm side 112, gear side 114, and height 116 defined by a distance between palm side 112 and gear side 114. Lock ring 110 has inside surface 118 and outside surface 120. Outside surface 120 defines a plurality of frame locking members 122.

[0049] Frame locking members 122 have a height 124, a length 126, and an engaging side 128. Engaging side 128 defines cutout 130 that defines horizontal locking member 132. Horizontal locking member 132 is sized to be received in locking member receiving indentation 30 of locking member receiving structure 32 on palm side 16 of frame 12 when lock ring 110 is rotated in a first, e.g., counterclockwise, direction.

[0050] Inside surface 118 of lock ring 110 defines a plurality of tab receiving channels 134 that run from palm side 112 to gear side 114 of lock ring 110. Inside surface 118 proximate to gear side 114 of lock ring 110 further defines tab receiving area 136 having a height that is less than height 116 of lock ring 110. Tab receiving area 136 is in communication with tab receiving channel 134. Locking lever 138 is provided to facilitate ease of rotation of lock ring 110 by a user.

[0051] First lock ring retaining tab 140 and second lock ring retaining tab 142 are affixed to palm side 16 of frame 14 for securing lock ring 110 to frame 14.

[0052] Palm side cover assembly 40 and attached brake spool cover 50 are secured to frame 14 by locating tabs 58 of brake spool cover 50 in tab receiving channels 134 of lock ring 110 and rotating lock ring 110 in a first, e.g., counterclockwise, direction for moving tab 58 of brake spool cover 50 into tab receiving area 136. By locating tab 58 in tab receiving area 136, axial movement of tab 58 and attached palm side cover assembly 40 until tab 58 is again positioned in tab receiving channel 134 by rotating lock ring 110 in a second, e.g., clockwise, direction, preferably by manipulating locking lever 138.

[0053] Although exemplary embodiments of locking structures and locking structure interfaces are described herein, it should be understood that the particular locking structures described on frame 14, lock ring 110 and palm side cover assembly 40 could be reversed so long as locking interaction between adjacent components are retained.

[0054] Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims.