Abstract: A fishing reel wherein is incorporated a spool free mechanism comprising: a crank handle nonrotatably secured to a crankshaft which rotates a drive gear. A mating pinion gear includes an inner shoulder and an outer shoulder which are supported by bearings, and a feature for drivingly engaging the spool shaft. The inner and outer shoulders are slidable within the supporting bearings such that, in a first position, the pinion gear is drivingly engaged with the spool shaft for rewinding the line and, in a second position, the pinion gear is disengaged from the spool shaft, allowing the spool to freely rotate during casting. In the second position, there is no contact between the spool shaft and the pinion gear, hence, the pinion gear does not cause unnecessary friction during a casting operation.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for a fishing reel comprising: a side cover; a brake dial rotatably positioned in the side cover such that the brake dial is externally accessible and operable from outside of the side cover, the brake dial having a plurality of predetermined positions; at least one interacting boss provided on either the brake dial or the side cover; and a resilient boss operably provided on the other of the brake dial or the side cover for interaction with the interacting boss such that, as the dial is rotated in a given direction to a point where the resilient boss contacts an interacting boss, further rotation in that direction is inhibited until the user exerts sufficient force on the dial to deform the resilient boss thereby allowing the resilient boss to traverse the interacting boss.

Abstract: A clutch assembly for a fishing reel. In one embodiment, the inventive clutch assembly comprises: a clutch shell having a cylindrical exterior wall; a clutch contained in the clutch shell; a reel cover having a cylindrical cavity provided therein for receiving the clutch shell; at least one tab provided on the clutch shell; and a corresponding number of recesses provided in the reel cover for receiving the tabs to substantially prevent the clutch shell from rotating within the cavity. In another embodiment, the inventive clutch assembly comprises: a clutch shell having a cylindrical exterior wall; a clutch contained in the clutch shell; a reel cover having a cylindrical cavity formed therein for receiving the clutch shell; at least one tab provided in the cavity; and a corresponding number of recesses provided in the clutch shell for receiving the tabs to substantially prevent the clutch shell from rotating in the cavity.

Abstract: A fishing reel having a frame and an operating mechanism for the fishing reel on the frame. The operating mechanism has a line carrying spool mounted to the frame for rotation relative to the frame around a first axis to retrieve line onto the fishing reel. The operating mechanism further has a magnetic brake assembly that cooperates with the spool. The operating mechanism further has an actuator assembly for selectively moving at least a part of the magnetic brake assembly in a path towards the spool to a first position and away from the spool to a second position. The actuator assembly has first and second cam surfaces and an actuator that is movable relative to the frame between third and fourth positions to thereby cause the first and second cam surfaces to be moved guidingly against and relative to each other as an incident of which the brake assembly is caused to move towards and away from the spool.

Abstract: A fishing reel has a frame with first and second laterally spaced parts with a line storage space therebetween, and an operating mechanism on the frame. The operating mechanism includes a rotatable line carrying spool, a rotatable crank element, and a drive connection between the crank element and spool. The drive connection includes a first element that is selectively repositionable between a) an engaged position wherein the operating mechanism is in a retrieve state in which the drive connection transmits a rotative force from the crank element through the drive connection to the spool and b) a disengaged position wherein the drive connection is disengaged and the operating mechanism is in a cast state in which the spool is freely rotatable to allow line to pay off of the spool.

Abstract: A crank assembly for a fishing reel. The crank assembly has a first element that is capable of being driven in rotation to effect operation of a fishing reel, a crank handle for imparting a rotational drive force to the first element, a securing element that is repositionable relative to the crank handle and first element between a first position and a second position, and a retainer element that is capable of being press fit into and maintained in an operative position relative to the crank handle and first element wherein the retainer element prevents the securing element from moving from the second position into the first position. The crank handle is mountable to and separable from the first element with the securing element in the first position. The securing element maintains the crank handle mounted to the first element with the securing element in the second position.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for a fishing reel and a braking element assembly preferred for use in the inventive apparatus. The inventive braking apparatus comprises: a contacting structure; a plurality of braking elements for contacting the contacting structure to generate a braking force; a dial and cam slider assembly for selectively placing the contacting structure in a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the braking elements; and an indexing structure for identifying the predetermined positions. The inventive braking element assembly preferably comprises: (a) a housing having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal end and (b) a plurality of braking elements retained in the housing for radial braking movement relative to the longitudinal axis. A first and second one of the braking elements are each retained in the housing at a first longitudinal position spaced a first longitudinal distance from the first end.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for a fishing reel comprising: a carrying structure for carrying a braking surface; at least one turnable cam including at least one ramp segment having an outer end and a base end; at least one interacting member, projecting from the carrying structure, for interacting with the cam; a first retaining feature at the base end; and a second retaining feature following the outer end. The cam can be turned to selectively move the interacting member to the first and second retaining features. When the interacting member is retained by the first retaining feature, the braking surface will be located at a first position. When the interacting member is retained by the second retaining feature, the braking surface will be located at a second position different from the first position.

Abstract: An improved fishing reel of the type having a reel frame, a line-carrying spool rotatably mounted relative to the frame, a crankshaft rotatably mounted relative to the frame, a driving gear rotatably mounted relative to the crankshaft and selectively responsive to rotation of the crankshaft to drive the spool, and a drag mechanism for frictionally engaging the driving gear and causing the driving gear to slippingly follow rotation of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A fishing reel is provided having a frame with first and second laterally spaced parts between which a line storage space is defined, a spool upon which a supply of line can be wrapped, first structure cooperating between the spool and frame to allow the spool to be moved laterally through one of the first and second frame parts selectively between a) an operative position wherein the spool is supported for rotation about a first laterally extending axis and b) a separated position, a side cover assembly, and second structure cooperating between the side cover assembly and frame for mounting the side cover assembly to the frame for movement relative to the frame between a) a first position and b) a second position. The side cover assembly in a first position maintains the spool in an operative position and the second position allows the spool to be moved from the operative position to the separated position.

Abstract: A fishing reel having a frame with first and second laterally spaced parts with a line storage space therebetween, and an operating mechanism on the frame. The operating mechanism includes a rotatable line carrying spool, a rotatable crank element, and a drive connection between the crank element and spool. The drive connection includes a first element that is selectively repositionable between a) an engaged position wherein the operating mechanism is in a retrieve state in which the drive connection transmits a rotative force from the crank element through the drive connection to the spool and b) a disengaged position wherein the drive connection is disengaged and the operating mechanism is in a cast state in which the spool is freely rotatable to allow line to pay off of the spool.

Abstract: A fishing reel is provided having a frame, a rotor mounted to the frame for rotation about a first axis, a line storage spool, a structure for rotating the spool, a bail assembly on the rotor having first and second bail arms mounted to the rotor for pivoting movement between a first position wherein the bail assembly is in (a) 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 direc

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.