Abstract: A servo controlled trolling motor steering system provides improved speed and steering control. The system includes apparatus for mounting the motor on a boat for rotation about an axis to effect steering of the boat. A foot pedal includes a base and a foot pad pivotally mounted to the base, the foot pad being pivotal by a user to command a desired steering direction. A membrane potentiometer senses rotational position of the motor to develop an electrical signal representative of the rotational position, the signal comprising a steering feedback signal. A second membrane potentiometer senses pivotal position of the foot pad relative to the base to develop an electrical signal representative of the pivotal position, the signal comprising a steering command signal.

Abstract: A foot pedal to boat deck fastening system comprises a bracket mountable to a boat deck and a two-piece fastener. Each fastener piece has releasable, self-fastening connector elements on one face which fasten the two pieces when the pieces are pressed together and which release the two pieces when the two pieces are pulled apart, and a self-adhesive on an opposite surface for securing one piece to the bracket and the other piece to the foot pedal so that the foot pedal can be fastened to the boat deck by fastening the two pieces together.

Abstract: A fishing reel of the spincast type has a suitable internal mechanism carried within an improved housing including a front cover, a rear cover and a stem and mounting foot thereon for mounting to a fishing rod. The front cover has two parts, the first part (11a) being cylindrical with a front and rear edge and the second part (11b) 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 (58) therebetween. The inner of the flanges has spaced apart cutouts (60) therein. The front edge portion of the inner of the flanges has at least one notch (64) in alignment with one of the cutouts contained therein.

Abstract: A reciprocating/oscillating structure for a reel of the type having a housing, a line carrying spool, a rotor mounted for rotation relative to the housing for directing line onto the spool, a rotatable crank handle for operating the rotor, and structure for reciprocating/oscillating the spool along a line with respect to the housing as the crank handle and rotor are operated to thereby direct line onto the spool. The center shaft is movable cyclically--in one of the fore and aft directions through a first part of the cycle and in the other of the fore and aft directions through a second part of the cycle. The reciprocating/oscillating structure causes the center shaft to move at a first velocity through the first cycle part and at a second velocity through the second cycle part for a given rotational velocity of the crank handle, with the first and second velocities being different.

Abstract: A fishing reel having a reel body, a rear cover defining a receptacle for the reel body, a front cover, structure for releasably connecting the front and rear covers for maintaining the reel body captively within the rear cover receptacle, and structure for releasably connecting the reel body to one of the front and rear covers.

Abstract: A servo controlled trolling motor steering system provides improved speed and steering control. The system includes apparatus for mounting the motor on a boat for rotation about an axis to effect steering of the boat. A foot pedal includes a base and a foot pad pivotally mounted to the base, the foot pad being pivotal by a user to command a desired steering direction. A membrane potentiometer senses rotational position of the motor to develop an electrical signal representative of the rotational position, the signal comprising a steering feedback signal. A second membrane potentiometer senses pivotal position of the foot pad relative to the base to develop an electrical signal representative of the pivotal position, the signal comprising a steering command signal.

Abstract: An improved fishing reel of the type having a fixed frame/housing, a line carrying spool, a rotor for directing line onto the spool as the rotor is operated, structure for mounting the spool for reciprocating movement as the rotor is operated to cause even distribution of line on the spool during line retrieval, a reciprocating shaft for effecting reciprocating movement of the spool, a slider block movable with the reciprocating shaft, a rotatable crank handle for operating the rotor, and structure for converting rotary motion of the crank handle into reciprocating movement of the slider block and in turn the shaft and spool.

Abstract: An improved fishing reel of the type having a first shaft with a rotational axis and a free end, a gear with a bore therethrough and mountable on the first shaft by direction of the first shaft free end through the gear bore and sliding of the gear axially in a first direction relative to the first shaft, at least one drag washer having a bore through which the first shaft extends and movable axially along the first shaft, a drag actuator rotatable in a first direction for advancing at least part of the drag actuator in the first direction to increase drag by moving the gear and one drag washer axially towards each other and rotatable oppositely to the first direction to decrease drag by allowing the gear and one drag washer to move away from each other.

Abstract: A servo controlled trolling motor steering system provides improved speed and steering control. The system includes apparatus for mounting the motor on a boat for rotation about an axis to effect steering of the boat. A foot pedal includes a base and a foot pad pivotally mounted to the base, the foot pad being pivotal by a user to command a desired steering direction. A membrane potentiometer senses rotational position of the motor to develop an electrical signal representative of the rotational position, the signal comprising a steering feedback signal. A second membrane potentiometer senses pivotal position of the foot pad relative to the base to develop an electrical signal representative of the pivotal position, the signal comprising a steering command signal.

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 servo controlled trolling motor steering system provides improved speed and steering control. The system includes apparatus for mounting the motor on a boat for rotation about an axis to effect steering of the boat. A foot pedal includes a base and a foot pad pivotally mounted to the base, the foot pad being pivotal by a user to command a desired steering direction. A membrane potentiometer senses rotational position of the motor to develop an electrical signal representative of the rotational position, the signal comprising a steering feedback signal. A second membrane potentiometer senses pivotal position of the foot pad relative to the base to develop an electrical signal representative of the pivotal position, the signal comprising a steering command signal.

Abstract: A servo controlled trolling motor steering system provides improved speed and steering control. The system includes apparatus for mounting the motor on a boat for rotation about an axis to effect steering of the boat. A foot pedal includes a base and a foot pad pivotally mounted to the base, the foot pad being pivotal by a user to command a desired steering direction. A membrane potentiometer senses rotational position of the motor to develop an electrical signal representative of the rotational position, the signal comprising a steering feedback signal. A second membrane potentiometer senses pivotal position of the foot pad relative to the base to develop an electrical signal representative of the pivotal position, the signal comprising a steering command signal.