Abstract: This invention comprehends a closed face spinning style fishing reel wherein a spinner head is mounted on a center shaft and is movable between a line retrieval position, a line snubbing or line braking position, and a line casting position. The line snubbing or line braking position of the spinner head is provided by moving the spinner head forward to trap or snub the line between a line braking ring on the spinner head and the inside surface of the front cover of the reel. The line braking ring is mounted on the spinner head for movement in a plane parallel to the front surface of the spinner head to orient the line braking ring in concentric mating relationship with respect to the surface of the spinner head thereby assuring positive line snubbing or line braking when desired.

Abstract: A closed face spinning reel is suspended below a fishing rod. The reel has a finger brake lever that causes the spinner head to move from the winding position to the precasting and casting position by lifting up on the finger lever. The finger lever arm is made in two parts, one metal and the other molded plastic, which parts are assembled by inserting the metal part in the plastic part while the plastic part is warm from the mold so that the plastic shrinks around the metal. A resilient element in the plastic part cooperates with a mating surface on the body of the reel to hold the lever against a stop preventing rattling when the lever is not held and returning the lever to a uniform released position.

Abstract: This invention comprehends a spinning style fishing reel having a housing with a drag assembly that is actuated by a clutchwheel mounted on a shaft for rotating a gear carried by the shaft. The gear meshes with and rotates a second gear which has an axially facing cam surface engaging with a matching cam surface carried by a member that does not rotate relative to the housing. Turning the thumbwheel rotates the cam surfaces relative to each other to increase or decrease the drag force applied uniformly on the spool.

Abstract: An actuator (150) for an anti-reverse device which is extended through a sleeve in a reel housing and snap-fit thereto. An elongate body (412) with a head (432) and a bifurcated end defines first (415) and second (416) portions which are assembled in the reel from the exterior of the housing. The first portion engages the anti-reverse device. The second portion is fabricated from a resilient material and includes a lip (420) depending from adjacent its inward edge. The second portion is urged toward the first portion as the body is captured within the opening in the reel housing. With the actuator fully seated the lip engages the inside wall (450) and in conjunction with the head (432) captures the wall so as to retain the actuator. A protrusion 428 on the radial outer face of the second portion engages the wall of the opening to resiliently load the respective first and second portions in the opening and engages in one of two detents to position the actuator in one of two setting positions.

Abstract: This invention comprehends a button mounted in the rear portion of the spinning style fishing reel to operate a self-centering bail mechanism. The button includes a cantilever spring arm that cooperates with recesses formed in the button mounting passage. Biasing means are incorporated within the button to prevent it from inadvertently sliding back and forth.

Abstract: This invention comprehends a small drag assembly that is conveniently mounted in the rear part of the housing of the spinning style fishing reel. The drag assembly includes a knob mounted at the rear of the housing. A pocket is provided in the housing to accommodate the small and simple drag system.

Abstract: In the packaging of a fishing reel for shipment or storage the protrusion of the crank handle takes up unnecessary space. Separation of the handle from the reel for packaging often results in marring of the reel or handle as they rattle against each other. This invention sets forth a foldable crank handle. The crank handle has a base with a flat face. Extending into the base from the face and outward through its side is a slot. A pair of tabs are formed at the interface of the slot, face and base side. The crank handle is mounted to the reel by pivotally connecting an end of the axially movable crank rod, rotation of which retrieves the fishing line, into the slot. When the crank rod is secured in the position for fishing line retrieval the face of the base abuts a fitting, rotatably located in the bearing means, which has a recess or receptacle. In this position the crank handle may be operated to rotate the crank rod to retrieve fishing line.

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: This invention comprehends a spin casting style fishing reel that has an anti-reverse mechanism that prevents the crank assembly from being rotated in the reverse direction when desired. The anti-reverse mechanism is silent in operation and can be selectively placed into or taken out of operation. In miniature sized reels, the switch to engage or disengage the anti-reverse mechanism can be handably mounted on the side of the fishing reel.

Abstract: A closed face spinning reel has a housing with an opening affording access to the reel mechanism. The opening is closed by a removable cap. The cap is seated on a radial flange in the opening and has flexible legs on its inner surface which engage cap locking surfaces on the inner face of the flange.

Abstract: An artificial grass product with pile fibers having a modulus of elasticity of from 25,000 p.s.i. to 100,000 p.s.i. and a moment of inertia of from 1.06.times.10.sup.-10 in..sup.4 to 8.33.times.10.sup.-9 in.sup.4. For fibers of rectangular cross-section the fiber dimensions range from 0.004 in. to 0.010 in. in thickness and 0.020 in. to 0.100 in. in width.

Abstract: A spin casting style fishing reel is disclosed having generally a reel body, a front cover, and a back support housing with a stem extending therefrom and capable of being connected to a fishing rod. The reel body has a deck plate and a portion projecting rearwardly from the deck plate and having an offset ledge. The deck plate has at least three spaced apart bosses, each boss having an aperture aligned with an aperture in the deck plate. Bosses are also provided in the back support housing, which bosses align with the bosses of the reel body, the reel body being mounted to the back support housing by securing appropriate fastening means such as screws through the apertures in the bosses. When so mounted, both sets of bosses engage to support the back support housing and the reel body in such a manner that the rim of the back support housing is spaced from the offset ledge and rear edge of the reel body.

Abstract: The invention comprehends a unique spring used in a free-floating drag mechanism on a conventional spinning reel and a skirted style spinning reel. The spring comprises first a long leaf and then a short leaf spring which give linear responses for both portions. The spring is deeply mounted within the fishing reel and therefore is not subject to the corrosive atmosphere that standard drag mechanisms with standard springs are exposed to.

Abstract: This invention comprehends an improved means for providing a reciprocating motion for the spool of the spinning style fishing reel. In the normal rewind mode of operation, the spool oscillates back and forth relative to the line winding means. In this reel, the oscillating motion is produced by a cam-yoke arrangement mounted within the housing and unique in the fishing reel art.

Abstract: A composite laminate capable of exposure to high temperature differentials without damage, comprising a first layer, a second layer and an intermediate web interface layer of a low modulus metallic low density structure having a high melting point. The first layer is secured to the low modulus structure directly or through an intermediate composite layer, and the second layer is bonded or secured to the intermediate low modulus layer. The thermal strains caused by a temperature differential between the first and second layers are taken up without harmful effect by the intermediate low modulus web layer.

Abstract: A spin casting fishing reel (10) has a cylindrical body (20) with a transverse deck plate (21) and circumferential forward (22) and rearward (23) body portions with integral axially aligned hollow bosses (39 and 40) at opposite sides of the rearward reel body portion. There is a crank bearing sleeve (160 and 161) slidably mounted in each of the hollow bosses (39 and 40), and a gear crank assembly (310) is journalled in the crank bearing sleeves (160 and 161). A back housing (11) for the reel has a cylindrical cover (12) mating with the periphery of the rearward circumferential body portion (23) and is detachably secured to the body. Transversely extending interengaging parts (45, 46 and 164) on each of the hollow bosses (39 and 40) and on each crank bearing sleeve (160 and 161) fix the rotational orientation of the bearing sleeves in the bosses, and abutting surfaces (46, 47 and 165) limit inward movement of the sleeves in the bosses.

Abstract: A fishing reel is disclosed which is of the spin cast type having a suitable internal mechanism including a spinner head assembly, a spool assembly, a reel body, and an anti-reverse assembly. The reel has an improved housing including a front cover and a rear cover with a stem and mounting foot thereon for mounting to a fishing rod. The front cover has two parts, the first part being cylindrical with a front and rear edge and the second part having a conical forward portion and a cylindrical rearward portion. The front edge portion of the first part has two cylindrical flanges forming an annular groove therebetween. The inner of the flanges has spaced apart cutouts therein. The rearward end of the second part is receivable within the annular groove of the first part and further has tabs around its interior which project into the cutouts when so received, thereby preventing the first and second parts from being pulled apart.

Abstract: A spin casting style fishing reel is provided with an anti-reverse mechanism which prevents the crank assembly from being rotated in a reverse direction wherein fishing line is payed out, when a selection switch for the mechanism is set in a first position. The selection switch can be selectively moved between the first position and a second position for activation and deactivation of the anti-reverse mechanism. A lever portion of the anti-reverse mechanism has an integral activation arm which follows the movement of the selection switch between the first and second positions, activating and deactivating the anti-reverse mechanism, and a bias receiving arm to which a spring is mounted to hold the activation arm in engagement with the selection switch.