Abstract: A line guide with a freely rotating inner race supported on ball bearings for use with spincast and spinning fishing reels. The line guide is attached forward of line spool either on the reel or the fishing rod to reduce friction and line twist.

Abstract: A fishing reel having a frame, a rotor mounted to the frame for rotation about a first axis, a line storage spool, structure for rotating the rotor, a bail assembly on the rotor having first and second bail arms mounted to the rotor for pivoting movement between (a) a first position wherein the bail assembly is in a retrieve position so that the bail directs line onto the line storage spool as the rotor is rotated and (b) a second position wherein the bail assembly is in a cast position, a trip link mounted to the rotor for movement relative to the rotor between third and fourth positions, cooperating structure on the bail assembly and trip link for moving the trip link from its third position into its fourth position as an incident of the bail assembly moving from its first position into its second position, and a trip link actuator on the reel frame and defining a shoulder that intercepts the trip link with the trip link in its fourth position and the rotor rotating in a first rotational direction about its

Abstract: A fishing reel having a frame, a rotor mounted to the frame for rotation about an axis, a line storage spool, structure for rotating the rotor, structure on the rotor for directing line onto the line storage spool as an incident of the rotor being rotated about its axis and including a bail assembly having first and second bail arms mounted to the rotor for pivotable movement between (a) a first position wherein the bail assembly is in a retrieve position and (b) a second position wherein the bail assembly is in a cast position, a bail actuator connected to at least one of the frame and rotor for movement between (a) a first position wherein the bail assembly is in a retrieve position and (b) a second position wherein the bail assembly is in a cast position, a bail actuator connected to at least one of the frame and rotor for movement between rest and operating positions, cooperating structure between the bail actuator and bail assembly for movement of the bail assembly from its retrieve position into its cas

Abstract: A fishing reel having a frame, a rotor rotatable relative to the frame about a first axis, a line storage spool, a structure for rotating the rotor to thereby direct line onto the line storage spool and including a bail assembly having first and second bail arms pivotably mounted to the rotor for movement between (a) first position wherein the bail assembly is in a retrieve position and (b) a second position wherein the bail assembly is in a cast position, a bail actuator, and structure responsive to operation of the bail actuator for exerting a force on both of the bail arms to pivot the bail arms from their first position towards their second position.

Abstract: A fishing reel having a frame with a front and rear, a rotor having a body with an annular wall bounding an internal space and a first wall within the internal space and having axially oppositely facing surfaces, with the rotor being mounted to the frame for rotation about a first axis, a line storage spool, a bail assembly mounted to the rotor for pivoting movement between a first retrieve position and a second cast position, a bail actuator, and a structure responsive to operation of the bail actuator for exerting a force on the bail assembly to pivot the bail assembly from its retrieve position into its cast position. The force exerting structure has a plate assembly with an annular actuation plate having an axis substantially aligned with the rotor axis and first and second posts connected to and projecting axially from the annular plate.

Abstract: A casting type fishing reel is disclosed and includes a spool having a transverse spool shaft and a frame about the area of the spool. The frame includes a plurality of spacer posts joining a pair of side frame plates and interengaged to maintain the frame plates in conjoint alignment and to provide easy separation and assembly of the frame plates. A clutch mechanism is provided for selective actuation to move a spool pinion gear out of engagement with the spool shaft, and automatically re-engages the pinion gear in response to rotation of the reel handle. A magnetic drag mechanism is provided and recessed within a side cover of the reel. The reel handle, the main gear train of the reel and an anti-reverse ratchet-pawl mechanism all are mounted as a unitary assembly on a side cover for the reel whereby the cover can be removed from the reel for access to the gear train and other interior reel components without removing the handle.

Abstract: A spincast reel, having a line spool which is aligned along the axis of a fishing rod. A rotating cap on the front of the spool, having retractable fingers, serves to wind up the line on the spool during retrieval. The line passes from the spool through a moveable line control arm, which is connected to a digit actuated lever for movement from an aligned position ahead of the spool, continuously through to a position at right angles to the axis of the spool. The line passes through a line guide in the line control arm; the line guide is lined with a freely spinning surface, supported on ball bearings.

Abstract: A unitized thrust bearing for reducing axial frictional forces resulting from axial loads on first and second abutting parts rotated relative to one another in a fishing reel. The thrust bearing has an annular outer race having a forward wall with a rearwardly facing surface and a forwardly facing surface and a bore for axially receiving the first abutting part. The outer race further includes a peripheral sidewall. The outer race is configured to be axially received in a seat in one of the first and second abutting parts. The thrust bearing further includes an annular inner race having a center shaft receiving bore, a rearwardly facing surface defining a support surface for the other of the one of the first and second abutting parts having the seat and a forwardly facing surface defining an axial ball contacting surface. The inner and outer races are axially received one within the other.

Abstract: A thrust washer structure for dissipating axial frictional forces caused by a forward thrust of a pinion gear in a fishing reel having a deck plate with an axial bore through the deck plate and a bushing having a rearwardly facing surface and an axial cylindrical bore therein disposed within the bore deck plate. The reel further includes a center shaft having a pinion gear thereon disposed within the axial cylindrical bore of the bushing, the pinion gear extending rearwardly from the bushing. The thrust washer structure includes at least one thrust washer having two radial surfaces. One radial surface is in contact with a bushing. The coefficient of friction of the radial surface in contact with a bushing is such that when the thrust washer is subjected to a forward thrust and the center shaft is rotated, slippage does not occur between the bushing and the radial surface in contact therewith.

Abstract: A casting type fishing reel is disclosed and includes a spool having a transverse spool shaft and a frame about the area of the spool. The frame includes a plurality of spacer posts joining a pair of side frame plates and interengaged to maintain the frame plates in conjoint alignment and to provide easy separation and assembly of the frame plates. A clutch mechanism is provided for selective actuation to move a spool pinion gear out of engagement with the spool shaft, and automatically re-engages the pinion gear in response to rotation of the reel handle. A magnetic drag mechanism is provided and recessed within a side cover of the reel. The reel handle, the main gear train of the reel and an anti-reverse ratchet-pawl mechanism all are mounted as a unitary assembly on a side cover for the reel whereby the cover can be removed from the reel for access to the gear train and other interior reel components without removing the handle.

Abstract: A fishing reel consisting of a housing defining a line snubbing surface with structure at least partially within the housing for a) retrieving and storing a supply of fishing line and b) paying line out of the supply. A movable spinner head bears the line against a part of the line snubbing surface on the housing to thereby prevent payout of line from the fishing reel as a rod with the reel thereon is cocked for a cast. The part of the line snubbing surface has integrally formed texturing. The texturing accounts for a relatively high friction surface against which fishing line can be snubbed by the spinner head so that the line can be positively trapped against the surface to facilitate the performance of a cast without potentially damaging pressure being applied to the line.

Abstract: A casting type fishing reel is disclosed and includes a spool having a transverse spool shaft and a frame about the area of the spool. The frame includes a plurality of spacer posts joining a pair of side frame plates and interengaged to maintain the frame plates in conjoint alignment and to provide easy separation and assembly of the frame plates. A clutch mechanism is provided for selective actuation to move a spool pinion gear out of engagement with the spool shaft, and automatically re-engages the pinion gear in response to rotation of the reel handle. A magnetic drag mechanism is provided and recessed within a side cover of the reel. The reel handle, the main gear train of the reel and an anti-reverse ratchet-pawl mechanism all are mounted as a unitary assembly on a side cover for the reel whereby the cover can be removed from the reel for access to the gear train and other interior reel components without removing the handle.

Abstract: A casting type fishing reel is disclosed and includes a spool having a transverse spool shaft and a frame about the area of the spool. The frame includes a plurality of spacer posts joining a pair of side frame plates and interengaged to maintain the frame plates in conjoint alignment and to provide easy separation and assembly of the frame plates. A clutch mechanism is provided for selective actuation to move a spool pinion gear out of engagement with the spool shaft, and automatically re-engages the pinion gear in response to rotation of the reel handle. A magnetic drag mechanism is provided and recessed within a side cover of the reel. The reel handle, the main gear train of the reel and an anti-reverse ratchet-pawl mechanism all are mounted as a unitary assembly on a side cover for the reel whereby the cover can be removed from the reel for access to the gear train and other interior reel components without removing the handle.

Abstract: A fishing reel having a housing with side frames spaced apart by a plurality of spacers and connecting rods. A spool shaft is rotatably supported in the side frames and has a spool thereon having an axis common with the axis of the shaft and lying transverse to the planes of the side frames. A drive is provided for rotating the spool about the axis of the shaft, with a clutch apparatus for releasing the drive from the spool. An anti-backlash assembly is included for resisting the rotation of the spool when the spool is disconnected from the drive. The anti-backlash assembly has an actuator with a pair of cams facing in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft. The cams on the actuator engage a pair of cams on a bracket and mounting plate lying in planes transverse to the axis of the shaft. A plurality of magnets are carried by the mounting plate which create lines of magnet force with the spool for resisting rotation of the spool.

Abstract: An improved damping structure for a bait casting reel with magnetic spool damping structure. Fibers or the like are provided on a member associated with the spool and moving in a magnetic field and disrupt air flow in the magnetic field as the reel is operated. The resultant damping force on the spool is a combination of forces due to the rotation of the member in the magnetic field and the disruption of the air flow by reason of the placement of the fibers in the magnetic field.

Abstract: Anti-reverse mechanism having an actuator (60) associated with the crankshaft (40) of a reel by means of a C-shaped part (90) of the actuator frictionally engaging the crankshaft and parts (92,94,96) of the actuator extending into interengagement with an anti-reverse pawl (54). The anti-reverse pawl is pivotally mounted at a location to coact with the actuator positioned at the rear of a face gear (42) mounted on an end of the crankshaft and extends beyond said face gear into a position for engagement with a pinion gear (19) on a center shaft (18) of the reel to prevent rotation of the center shaft.

Abstract: This invention comprehends a spin casting style fishing reel that has a main crank shaft that is mounted in two bearings located at the ends of the shaft. The bearings are mounted from outside the reel body thus permitting the crank shaft to be assembled at the back of the reel. The back cover plate acts to lock the bearings into place in the reel.

Abstract: This invention comprehends a spin casting style fishing reel that can sit on top a fishing rod or be suspended thereunder. The reel has a line spool with a flange that is positioned inside the spinner head. In order to prevent untensioned fishing line from getting caught underneath the spinner head, a rim on the edge of the flange has a plurality of flocked fibers thereon. The invention also comprehends a method of coating the flange rim with fibers.

Abstract: In a spinning-style fishing reel, a front cover for the reel includes a conical portion having a line guide and an inner bearing or contact surface. The inner contact surface in turn includes a series of raised portions or ribs separated by recessed channels, with the ribs and channels extending between inner and outer peripheral boundaries and encircling a collar surface adjacent the line guide. As a fishing line is cast from the reel, the fishing line contacts substantially only the raised portions or ribs which are disposed transversely to the outgoing fishing line. The line contact with only the facing edges of the ribs prevents grabbing and adhering of the line with the inside front cover permitting better and longer casts. Water and debris which may be carried by the fishing line may be scraped off the line by the ribs and collect in the recessed channels away from the line, likewise reducing drag on the outgoing fishing line and improving casting efficiency.