Pull-turn lever drag preset knob

Abstract

A preset knob is provided that is not rotated during normal operation of a drag lever used in connection with a fishing reel having an adjustable drag setting. In order to rotate the preset knob to adjust the drag setting, the preset knob must first be pulled outward. Thus, when the reel is in use, the preset knob cannot be accidentally adjusted by an angler operating the drag lever.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 005,714, filed April 6, 2020, entitled “PULL TO TURN LEVER DRAG PRESET KNOB,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0002] The drag function on a fishing reel primarily allows the fish to pull the line off the reel when the line becomes too tight to support the strength and weight of the fish. By allowing the fish to pull the line off the reel while under tension, the drag function relieves pressure on the line, the rod, and the angler.

[0003] Secondly, drag systems tend to tire the fish out. Every time the fish pulls on the line against the drag, it uses up more of its energy. With each successive run against the drag, the fish becomes more and more tired, which increases the angler's chances of catching the fish.

[0004] While some conventional reels use what is called a star drag system, many conventional reels utilize a lever drag system. A lever drag system uses a sliding lever mounted on the reel to make drag adjustments. Internally, a traditional lever drag system works by applying a drag plate directly against the side of the line spool. Pressure against the spool creates friction, which in turn applies drag to the spool. As a result, when a fish pulls hard enough against the drag, the spool slides and slackens the line from the spool.

[0005] In a drag lever, when the drag lever is pushed forward, the drag plate is advanced against the side of the spool. The further forward the lever is pushed, the more pressure the drag plate exerts against the spool. By pulling the drag lever backwards, the tension is relieved. When the lever is pulled all the way back, the reel goes into a completely free spool state.

[0006] In lever drag systems, a rotatable preset knob is often used to calibrate the drag lever setting. More specifically, the knob can be preset such that several specific positions correspond to several specific drag settings. A user can have, for example, customized "free spool," "strike," and "full" settings. Unfortunately, this results in a problem known as "drag drift," in which the preset knob changes its position (and thus the drag lever setting) as the drag lever is manipulated over a period of time while fishing, resulting in an undesirable change in drag setting. Some reels include a "push to turn" mechanism, where the lever will not turn unless the knob is pressed, but such a design does not work well with "pull-style" lever drag reels as known and understood in the art.

[0007] Other systems include a ratchet feature where the preset knob is ratcheted to reduce the drag drift problem, but a ratchet feature is a delicate solution. If the tension is too high, it is difficult to turn the preset knob. If the tension is too loose, the drag drift problem still exists. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present invention solves problems presented by prior art lever drag reels related to drag drift. More specifically, the present invention improves upon the prior art by providing a preset knob that does not undergo rotation during normal operation of the drag lever. In the present invention, to adjust a preset knob, the preset knob must first be pulled outward (as opposed to being pushed inward, for example). Thus, when the reel is in use, the preset knob cannot be erroneously adjusted and therefore does not result in drag drift.

[0009] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a reel including a pull to turn preset knob constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the preset knob of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the preset knob in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the preset knob of FIGS. 1 to 3 in a locked position. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the preset knob of FIGS. 1 to 4 in an unlocked position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] 1, there is shown a fishing reel 1 that can be constructed substantially similarly to fishing reels known and understood in the art. However, unlike other fishing reels, fishing reel 1 includes a preset knob 5 that an angler must pull to turn and then adjust the drag setting of the reel.

[0012] 2, the preset knob 5 preferably includes a shaft member 10 including a plurality of threads 15 on a distal portion 20 thereof. The shaft 10 may be moved axially by rotation of a preset nut 25 that includes an internal thread 30. The internal threads 30 and the threads 15 of the shaft 10 may be sized and shaped to be compatible with one another in a known manner.

[0013] When the preset knob 5 is unlocked in the manner described below, the preset nut 25 acts on the shaft 10. More specifically, in the embodiment shown, when the preset nut 25 rotates in a clockwise direction, the shaft 10 moves closer to the knob 5. On the other hand, when the preset nut 25 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the shaft 10 can translate axially towards the reel 1. This axial movement of the shaft 10 can act to decrease or increase the drag in the reel 1 in a known manner by acting on the internal drag components of the reel as described in the prior art. In that figure, the internal drag components are not shown for simplicity.

[0014] The knob 5 is not rotatable when in the closed position to prevent the preset nut 25 from acting on the shaft 10 without a forward step being taken by the angler. More particularly, a locking member 35 is preferably provided which adjusts against a cam follower assembly 40 through which the shaft 10 can extend.

[0015] More details regarding the locking member 35 and the cam follower assembly 40 are shown in FIG. 3. A plurality of screw members 45 may be threaded into the locking member 35 through holes 50 in the locking member 35, holes 55 in the preset nut 25, and holes 57 in the knob 5 to secure the knob 5 to the nut 25 and the locking member 35. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, three screw members 45 are provided, but in alternative embodiments, more or fewer screw members 45 may be provided. A wave spring 60 is preferably provided between the preset nut 25 and the locking member 35 to help maintain the locking member 35 engaged with the cam follower assembly 40 by applying a spring force to the locking member 35 when the knob 5 is in its locked position. Other spring types are envisioned as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0016] Near the knob 5, the locking member 35 includes a number of protrusions 65 that protrude towards the knob 5. The protrusions 65 preferably align with a second set of holes 55 in the preset nut 25 as well as a second set of holes 57 in the knob 5. The protrusions 65 (of which the embodiment shown includes three) are received in holes 70 and 75 to further secure the locking member 35, the preset nut 25, and the knob 5 to one another.

[0017] An outer periphery 80 of the locking member 35 preferably includes a plurality of teeth 85 projecting outwardly from the outer periphery 80. An inner periphery 90 of the cam follower assembly 40 also preferably includes a plurality of teeth 95 projecting inwardly from the cam follower assembly 40. In operation, when the knob 5 is in its closed position, the teeth 85 and 95 are aligned and adjusted with one another to fit together such that the knob 5 is not rotatable. In alternative embodiments, the locking member 35 and the cam follower assembly 40 can be adjusted with respect to one another using alternative mechanisms.

[0018] 4, knob 5 is shown in its closed position. In this position, knob 5 is not rotatable because locking member 35 is adjusted (by teeth 85 and 95, not shown in FIG. 4) relative to cam follower assembly 40 such that knob 5, preset nut 25, and locking member 35 cannot rotate, and therefore shaft 10 is not rotatable as well.

[0019] 5, the knob 5 is pulled outwardly to disengage the teeth 85 and 95 (not shown) from one another, thus allowing the knob 5, the preset nut 25, and the locking member 35 to rotate relative to the cam follower assembly 40. As the shaft 10 engages the preset nut 25 by the threads 15, 30, respectively, as the knob 5 rotates, the threads 15, 30 can act to either pull the shaft 10 outward or pull the shaft 10 inward. As provided above, preferably, when the knob 5 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the shaft 10 can translate inwardly towards the reel 1, while when the preset nut 25 rotates in a clockwise direction, the shaft 10 can translate axially outwardly towards the knob 5. In operation, the movement of the shaft 10 can cause an internal drag mechanism within the reel 1 to perform a specific function and thus change the drag setting in a manner that is known and understood.

[0020] From the above, it will be seen that the various embodiments of the present invention are well adapted to attain all the objects and advantages set forth above, together with still other advantages which are obvious and inherent to the present structure. It will be understood that some features and subcombinations of the present embodiments are useful and can be used without reference to other features and subcombinations. It will also be understood that all disclosures set forth herein or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as merely illustrative and not restrictive, since many possible embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The various configurations described above and shown in the drawings are presented merely as examples and are not intended to limit the concepts, principles, and scope of the present invention.

[0021] However, many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after consideration of this specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are deemed to be covered by the present invention which is only limited by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. 1. A fishing reel having an adjustable drag, comprising: a preset knob attached to an outer portion of the fishing reel; a shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end being mechanically coupled to the preset knob and the second end being mechanically coupled to a drag assembly; having When the preset knob is in a first position, the preset knob is not rotatable; When the preset knob is in a second position, the preset knob is rotatable; When the preset knob is pulled outwardly from the shaft, the preset knob moves from the first position to the second position.

2. 2. The fishing reel of claim 1, wherein in the first position, the preset knob is closer to the shaft than in the second position.

3. 2. The fishing reel of claim 1, wherein said fishing reel includes a preset nut, said preset nut engaging said shaft such that said shaft can be more or less fixed within said preset nut.

4. 2. The fishing reel of claim 1, further comprising a locking member that engages said preset knob.

5. 5. The fishing reel of claim 4 including a cam follower assembly selectively engaging said locking member.

6. 6. The fishing reel of claim 5, wherein said locking member includes a plurality of teeth members.

7. 7. The fishing reel of claim 6, wherein said cam follower assembly includes a plurality of tooth members.

8. 8. The fishing reel of claim 7, wherein said plurality of tooth members of said cam follower assembly and said plurality of tooth members of said locking member engage one another when said preset knob is in said first position.

9. 2. The fishing reel of claim 1 including a spring biasing said preset knob to said first position.

10. 1. A fishing reel having an adjustable drag, comprising: a preset knob attached to an outer portion of the fishing reel; a shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end mechanically coupled to the preset knob and the second end mechanically coupled to a drag assembly; a lock member that engages with the preset knob; a cam follower assembly selectively engageable with the locking member; having When the preset knob is pulled outwardly from the shaft, the locking member and the cam follower assembly disengage from one another.

11. 11. The fishing reel of claim 10, wherein the fishing reel includes a preset nut, the preset nut engaging the shaft such that the shaft can be more or less fixed within the preset nut.

12. 11. The fishing reel of claim 10, wherein in a first position, said cam follower assembly is engaged with said locking member, and in a second position, said cam follower assembly is disengaged from said locking member.

13. 13. The fishing reel of claim 12, wherein when the preset knob is in the first position, the preset knob is not rotatable, and when the preset knob is in the second position, the preset knob is rotatable.

14. The fishing reel of claim 10 , wherein the locking member includes a plurality of tooth members.

15. 15. The fishing reel of claim 14, wherein said cam follower assembly includes a plurality of tooth members.

16. 16. The fishing reel of claim 15, wherein said preset knob is not rotatable when said tooth members of said cam follower assembly and said tooth members of said locking member are engaged with one another.

17. 16. The fishing reel of claim 15, wherein said preset knob is rotatable when said tooth member of said cam follower assembly and said tooth member of said locking member are disengaged from one another.

18. 11. The fishing reel of claim 10, including a spring biasing the preset knob toward the shaft.

19. 11. The fishing reel of claim 10, wherein the preset knob is rotatable when the preset knob is pulled outwardly from the shaft.

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