Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Pulliam

Thomas A. Pulliam has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5918827
    Abstract: A structure for retaining the line spool and elements of a line spool drag mechanism, if employed, upon the hub of a spin cast type fishing reel, wherein the hub has a plurality of axial grooves and radial slots in the surface and the retainer comprises a flange adjacent the line spool, a first cylindrical member extending axially of the flange for disposition over the hub between the hub and the line spool. The first cylindrical member having a plurality of lugs extending radially inwardly thereof into engagement with the axial grooves and radial slots in the hub, whereby the retainer is locked on the hub with the flange adjacent to the outer face of the line spool. A second cylindrical member coaxial with the first extends from the other side of the flange and comprises a cam surface for actuating the line retrieving mechanism and a bearing surface for supporting the line retrieving mechanism in the line retrieving position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Zebco Division of Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Pulliam
  • Patent number: 5782419
    Abstract: A fishing reel is disclosed having a frame including a housing, and an operating mechanism on the frame that is placeable selectively in a retrieve mode and a cast mode, wherein the operating mechanism includes a line carrying spool, a first structure for retrieving line onto the spool with the fishing reel in the retrieve mode, an actuator operably connected to the frame for guided sliding translatory movement between a first position and a second position, and a second structure cooperating between the first structure and actuator for changing the fishing reel from the retrieve mode to the cast mode as an incident of the actuator moving from its first position into its second position. The first structure including a shaft with an axis, the shaft being operably connected to the spool and repositionable by the second structure as an incident of the actuator moving from its first position into its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Zebco Division of Brunswick Corp.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Pulliam
  • Patent number: 5470027
    Abstract: An antireverse mechanism in a fishing reel of the type having a housing with a rear wall. The reel also includes a line carrying spool, a crank shaft that is rotatable about a first axis and a structure for directing line onto the spool as an incident of the crank shaft rotating about the first axis in a first direction. The antireverse mechanism is selectably placeable in a) an "on" position for preventing rotation of the crank shaft about the first axis opposite to the first direction and b) an "off" position for allowing the crank shaft to rotate about the first axis opposite the first direction. An actuator switch for placing the antireverse mechanism selectively in its "on" and "off" positions is provided. A mounting structure mounts the actuator switch to the rear housing wall for movement between first and second positions corresponding to the "on" and "off" positions of the antireverse mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Zebco Corporation
    Inventors: Lorens G. Hlava, Thomas A. Pulliam
  • Patent number: 5137227
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Zebco Corporation
    Inventors: David Allis, Thomas A. Pulliam