Spool Tensioner

Abstract

A spool tensioner includes a main body member, a cap and an elastic band. The elastic band fits around a spool of line, and a line feeds through the main body member and through a centrally located hole on the top of the cap. The elastic band may be tightened and adjusted to maintain tension on a spool of line, such as fishing line. The line may be unwound from the spool while the spool tensioner is in place on the spool, and in operation, the spool spins within the elastic band while the spool tensioner remains generally stationary. In this way, the spool tensioner allows line to be unwound from the spool while maintaining tension thereon to prevent the line from inadvertently unraveling and tangling or snarling.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to tensioning devices for spools containing wound material, such as string, fishing line, wire and the like. More specifically, the present invention includes a device to maintain tension on a wound spool of material, in order to prevent the material from becoming unspooled, tangled or snarled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of materials and products, such as wire, fishing line, string and the like (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “line”), are wound onto spools for storage and transportation. One issue associated with spools of line is that the line tends to lose tension and become unwound from the spool. Inadvertent unwinding of line from a spool can cause a multitude of problems, as the line becomes snarled and tangled, sometimes to the point where it is impossible or unnecessarily time consuming to straighten out.

Thus, a need exists for a simple device that provides tension to a line wound around a spool, such as fishing line. Although many types of products, such as wire, yarn, twine, string, and the like are commonly wound onto spools, for the present purposes, reference will be made to fishing line for illustrative purposes only. For this reason, in spite of the description herein referring to fishing line, it should be understood that the present invention has application to all types of line that is wound onto a spool or the like.

Many attempts have been made to develop and perfect devices used to maintain tension on a line in order to prevent the line from unraveling from a spool. The following documents are illustrative of such efforts, and each of the following cited documents are incorporated herein by reference, in their entireties:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,059

A tensioning device for a fishing line is provided and consists of a base member secured to a stationary structure. The base member has two outwardly extending arms, one of which is adjustable toward and away from the other. A take off spool of bulk fishing line is rotatably supported between the arms of the base member. Resistance to the take off spool is applied during rotation to keep the fishing line under tension when transferred onto a fishing reel by one person.

International Publication No. WO 2012/009747

The invention relates to a line tensioning device for line on a reel, including a body means which can be removably anchored to an object, and a holding means, joined to the body means, the holding means being adapted to removably hold the reel of line. In use, the body means is anchored to the object and the holding means holds the reel of line. The line is held such that if line is pulled or reeled from the reel, rotation of the reel is resisted to at least some degree by the holding means whereby tension is generated in the line pulled or reeled from the reel. The invention also relates to a line tensioning device including a resistance means and a method of using a line tensioning device.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,881

The specification discloses a universal spool holding device to be attached to a fishing rod for use in winding a fishing line from the spool to the reel of the fishing rod. The device has a first pair of spaced resilient spool holding arms extending in a first direction from a base portion and a second pair of spaced resilient rod gripping arms extending from the base portion in an opposite direction. The inside portion of the free ends of the spool holding arms have inward extending curved shoulders facing each other with cone shaped members extending from the shoulders towards each other for insertion into the axial bore of a spool for supporting the spool for rotation. The spaced rod gripping arms define apertures of different sizes for attaching the device to a fishing rod.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,606,944

A fishing line spooler configured to engage a shaft of a fishing rod. The fishing line spooler includes a clamp selectively securable to the shaft of the fishing rod and a mounting shaft. The mounting shaft receives a fishing line supply spool along its length. The supply spool is configured to rotate around the mounting shaft. The mounting shaft is selectively mountable to the clamp in a first orientation or a second orientation. In the first orientation, the mounting shaft is secured to the clamp parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fishing rod and feeds a spinning reel. In the second orientation, the mounting shaft is secured to the clamp perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fishing rod and feeds a casting reel.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,484

A fishing line loading device for loading new fishing line onto a fishing reel, such as casting and spinning reels. The loading device can be demountably coupled to fishing rods of different thicknesses and can be used to load new fishing line from supply spools of various circumferences onto a fishing reel. The loading device includes a frame and securing structure, either or both of which can employ a structural rib pattern. The securing structure secures a supply spool to the frame and applies functional drag resistance to the supply spool. The device also includes coupling structure which couples the frame to a fishing rod.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,779

An apparatus which clasps easily to a fishing rod for the purpose of retaining a fishing line spool to aid in the transfer of fishing line from spool to fishing reel or from fishing reel to fishing line spool. Apparatus retains the fishing line spool to the spool holder base with the use of a conic retention nut thereby both the casting and spinning reel configuration may utilize the apparatus without altering reeling methods.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,918,457

Apparatus and methods are described for spooling line on and off of a reel using a turnbuckle mechanism that is adapted to securely fit between two opposing handles on the reel and includes a power driver attachment for quickly turning the tumbuckle mechanism.

US Pub No. 2009/0308969

A fishing line spool support, line guide mechanism, and kit incorporating the same enables users thereof to transfer line from a spool assembly to a reel assembly. The spool support comprises a spool-bearing portion and opposed rails extending in parallel relation to one another away from the spool-bearing portion. A line guide mechanism rides along the rails and comprises spool interfacing structures borne by a carriage member of the mechanism for interfacing with the opposed rims of a spool as borne by the spool support. Together the carriage member and interface units provide line-guiding stop structure for preventing or minimizing line migration during line transfer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a spool tension device that includes, in a first embodiment, an elastic band attached to a main body member. The main body member preferably includes a generally square shaped housing, having four walls (including two longitudinal walls and two transverse walls) and defining a hollow cavity therebetween. A pair of fingers extend outwardly from a bottom portion of the two opposed transverse walls, and a slot is defined between each transverse side wall and its corresponding finger. A length of elastic band may be adjustably attached to the main body member by running one end of the elastic band through the first slot on one side of the main body member, and running the other end of the elastic band through the second slot. The slot may also include a series of teeth disposed therealong, on either side of each slot (or, alternatively, along both slot edges) for engaging the elastic band.

A separate cap has a complementary mating shape with respect to the generally square shaped housing, so that it may snap-fit over the generally square shaped housing. After the elastic band has been attached to the main body member through the slots on either side of the square shaped housing, the cap may be placed over the square shaped housing, so that it snaps into place. The cap may have openings on two sides to receive a mating protrusion from the two longitudinal walls of the square shaped housing. In this way, the cap is snap-fit onto the housing. The cap includes four walls and an upper surface. The two side walls of the cap define the opening for receiving the mating protrusion of the main body member, and the two transverse sides of the cap may include teeth at a bottom portion thereof, for further engaging the elastic band.

The upper surface of the cap defines a small, centrally located opening for receiving line from a spool. After the elastic band and the cap have been attached to the main body member, the spool tensioner may be attached to a spool of line. In order to attach the spool tensioner to the spool of line, the end of the line is fed through the open bottom of the generally square shaped housing, and through the hole in the upper surface. Then, the elastic band portion of the spool tensioner is placed over the line on the spool. A user may tighten the band around the spool, as desired, by grasping either end (or both ends) of the elastic band and pulling on the free end of the elastic band to tighten the band around the spool. Once the spool tensioner is in place and the band properly adjusted, the line can be fed through the opening in the upper surface of the cap, so that the spool unravels and spins while the elastic band prevents the spool from unraveling. In this way, the spool spins within the elastic band, while the band and the spool tensioner remain generally stationary during an unwinding operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a spool tension device, including a main body member having a hollow, square-shaped housing and a pair of fingers extending from a lower portion of two transverse sides thereof, and further including protrusions on two opposed longitudinal sides, and further showing a cap that is snap-fit over the square-shaped housing, wherein the cap includes an opening on both longitudinal sides for receiving the protrusions on the square-shaped housing for the snap-fit of the cap thereon, and wherein the cap further includes a centrally located hole on a top side thereof, and teeth positioned on a lower edge of the two opposed transverse sides;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a spool tension device, including a main body member having a hollow, square-shaped housing and a pair of fingers extending from a lower portion of two transverse sides, a slot defined between the square-shaped housing and each finger, wherein one edge of each slot includes teeth extending from the finger toward the square-shaped housing, and the square shaped housing also including protrusions on two opposed longitudinal sides, and further showing a cap that is adapted to be snap-fit over the square-shaped housing, wherein the cap includes an opening on both longitudinal sides for receiving the protrusions on the square-shaped housing for the snap-fit of the cap thereon, and wherein the cap further includes a centrally located hole on a top side thereof, and teeth positioned on a lower edge of the two opposed transverse sides;

FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a spool tension device, including a main body member having a hollow, square-shaped housing and a pair of fingers extending from a lower portion of two transverse sides, a slot defined between the square-shaped housing and each finger, wherein one edge of each slot includes teeth extending from the finger toward the square-shaped housing, and the square shaped housing also including protrusions on two opposed longitudinal sides, and further showing a cap that is adapted to be snap-fit over the square-shaped housing, wherein the cap includes an opening on both longitudinal sides for receiving the protrusions on the square-shaped housing for the snap-fit of the cap thereon, and wherein the cap further includes a centrally located hole on a top side thereof, and teeth positioned on a lower edge of the two opposed transverse sides, and also illustrating an elastic band, wherein each end of the band is adapted to slide into the slots on either side of the square-shaped housing of the main body member;

FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a spool tension device, including a main body member having a hollow, square-shaped housing and a pair of fingers extending from a lower portion of two transverse sides, a slot defined between the square-shaped housing and each finger, wherein one edge of each slot includes teeth extending from the finger toward the square-shaped housing, and the square shaped housing also including protrusions on two opposed longitudinal sides, and further showing a cap that is adapted to be snap-fit over the square-shaped housing, wherein the cap includes an opening on both longitudinal sides for receiving the protrusions on the square-shaped housing for the snap-fit of the cap thereon, and wherein the cap further includes a centrally located hole on a top side thereof, and teeth positioned on a lower edge of the two opposed transverse sides, and also illustrating an elastic band, wherein each end of the band is shown extending through the slots on either side of the square-shaped housing of the main body member;

FIG. 3C is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a spool tension device, including a main body member having a hollow, square-shaped housing and a pair of fingers extending from a lower portion of two transverse sides, a slot defined between the square-shaped housing and each finger, wherein one edge of each slot includes teeth extending from the finger toward the square-shaped housing, and the square shaped housing also including protrusions on two opposed longitudinal sides, and further showing a cap that is adapted to be snap-fit over the square-shaped housing, wherein the cap includes an opening on both longitudinal sides for receiving the protrusions on the square-shaped housing for the snap-fit of the cap thereon, and wherein the cap further includes a centrally located hole on a top side thereof, and teeth positioned on a lower edge of the two opposed transverse sides, and also illustrating an elastic band, wherein each end of the band is shown extending through the slots on either side of the square-shaped housing of the main body member and the cap is snap-fit onto the square-shaped housing; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a spool tensioner in place around a spool of line, wherein the adjustable elastic band is wrapped around the spool, and the end of the line extends through the hollow square-shaped housing of the main body member and through the centrally located hole on the top side of the cap.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a spool tensioner, wherein each finger extending from the main body member includes a pair of slots running transversely thereacross so that one slot is adjacent the main body member, and the second slot is positioned in parallel relation to the first slot toward a distal end of the finger, and further showing the cap having a guide member positioned on each transverse side thereof, wherein the guide member is attached to an upper portion of each transverse side of the cap and extends downwardly toward the first slot, which allows the adjustable elastic band to pass downwardly through the first slot, and then upwardly through the second slot for ease of adjustment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded view of the spool tensioner illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the spool tensioner illustrated in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the spool tensioner along the lines A-A shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment of the present invention, a spool tensioner apparatus 10 preferably includes a main body member 12, a cap 14, and an adjustable elastic band 16, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4. The main body member 12 preferably includes a generally square shaped housing 18, having four walls (including two longitudinal walls 20 and two transverse walls 22) and defining a hollow cavity therebetween. A pair of fingers 24 extend outwardly from a bottom portion of the two opposed transverse walls 22, and a slot is defined between each transverse wall 22 and its corresponding finger 24. A mating cap member 14 is generally cube shaped with an open bottom portion, and corresponds to the shape of the generally square-shaped housing 18, so that the cap 14 snap-fits over the generally square-shaped housing 18. Each slot may include a series of teeth 26 along at least one edge defining the slot, where the teeth 26 may be used to engage the elastic band 16. In one embodiment, the longitudinal walls 20 of the main body member 12 include a mating protrusion 28, and the cap 14 defines openings on each transverse wall 22, so that the mating protrusions 28 of the main body member 12 snap into the openings in the transverse walls 22 of the cap 14, as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

A length of elastic band 16 may be adjustably attached to the main body member 12 by running one end of the elastic band 16 through the first slot on one side of the main body member 12, and running the other end of the elastic band 16 through the second slot, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. After the elastic band 16 has been attached to the main body member 12 through the slots on either side of the square-shaped housing 18, the cap 14 may be placed over the square-shaped housing 18, so that it snaps into place, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C.

The upper side 30 of the cap 14 defines a small, centrally located opening for receiving line 32 from a spool 34. After the elastic band 16 and the cap 14 have been attached to the main body member 12, the spool tensioner 10 may be attached to a spool 34 of line 32. In order to attach the spool tensioner 10 to the spool 34 of line 32, the end of the line 32 is fed through the open bottom of the generally square-shaped housing 18, and through the hole in the upper side 30 of the cap 14. Then, the elastic band 16 portion of the spool tensioner 10 is placed over the line 32 on the spool 34, as shown in FIG. 4. A user may tighten the elastic band 16 around the spool 34, as desired, by grasping either end (or both ends) of the elastic band 16 and pulling on the free end(s) of the elastic band 16 to tighten the elastic band 16 around the spool 34. Once the spool tensioner 10 is in place and the elastic band 16 properly adjusted, the line 32 can be fed through the opening in the upper side 30 of the cap 14, so that the line 32 feeds through the hole in the cap 14, and the spool 34 spins within the stationary elastic band 16 while the elastic band 16 prevents the line 32 from inadvertently unraveling. In this way, the spool 34 spins within the elastic band 16, while the elastic band 16 and the spool tensioner 10 remain generally stationary during an unwinding operation.

In a preferred embodiment, the main body member 12 fits within the sides of a spool 34 of line 32, so that the elastic band 16 and the fingers 24 preferably remain in contact with the line 32 wound around the spool 34, as shown in FIG. 4. The fingers 24 are used to maintain alignment of the main body member 12 over the line 32 within the spool 34. It is contemplated that spools 34 of line 32 may be produced and sold with the spool tensioner device 10 already in place, so that the only requirement for a user is to simply pull the line 32 away from the spool 24, causing the spool 34 to spin within the elastic band 16 while the line 32 is fed off of the spool 34 while maintaining tension on the line 32, thus preventing unwanted unraveling of the line 32. This arrangement prevents the line 32 from inadvertently unwinding from the spool 34, and maintains tension on the line 32 during an unwinding operation.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the spool tensioner 10 similar to the embodiments described above, but wherein each finger 24 extending from the main body member 12 includes a pair of slots 40 running transversely thereacross so that one slot 40 is adjacent the main body member 12, and the second slot 40 is positioned in parallel relation to the first slot 40 toward a distal end of the finger 24, and further showing the cap 14 having a guide member 42 positioned on each transverse wall thereof, wherein the guide member 42 is attached to an upper portion of each transverse wall of the cap 14 and extends downwardly toward the first slot 40, creating a gap between the guide member 42 and the corresponding transverse wall of the cap 14, which allows the adjustable elastic band 16 to pass downwardly through the first slot 40, and then upwardly through the second slot 40 for ease of adjustment. Preferably, this embodiment does not employ teeth, so that the elastic band 16 may be adjusted and tightened more smoothly, and the slots 40 provide that the ends of the elastic band 16 are directed slightly upwardly as they extend through the second slot 40 for ease of grasping those ends for purposes of adjustment.

In another embodiment, an elastic band 16 is attached to a bead, wherein the bead includes and defines a hole running through a central portion thereof. In this simplified embodiment, the elastic band is simply applied around the spool, and the end of the line on the spool is fed through the hole in the bead. In this way, tension is maintained on the line wound about the spool, and as in previously described embodiments, the line may be fed through the bead from the spool while the spool spins within the elastic band, which remains relatively stationary.

It should be understood that the present invention may have application not only to fishing line, such as monofilament line, woven line, or the like, but also may be applied to other types of spooled and wound material, such as wire, string, yarn, extruded materials, or the like.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Claims

1. A spool tensioner comprising

a main body member including a generally square shaped housing having two opposed longitudinal walls and two opposed transverse walls, said generally square housing being open at a top portion and a bottom portion thereof, a pair of fingers, wherein one finger extends outwardly from a bottom portion of each of said transverse walls;

wherein a slot is defined between each said transverse wall and said corresponding finger;

an elastic band, wherein a first end of said elastic band is fed through one of said slots, and a second end of said elastic band is fed through a second slot; and

a cap including two opposed transverse walls and two opposed longitudinal walls, and further including an upper surface defining an opening therein for receiving line from a spool, wherein said cap matingly snap-fits over said generally square shaped housing.

2. The spool tensioner set forth in claim 1, wherein said slots include teeth disposed on one edge thereof for engagement with said elastic band.

3. The spool tensioner set forth in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal walls of said generally square housing include a protuberance that mates with openings in each longitudinal wall of said cap.

4. The spool tensioner set forth in claim 1, wherein said opposing transverse walls of said cap include a set of teeth along a bottom edge thereof for engaging with said elastic band.

5. The spool tensioner set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said fingers includes a first slot and a second slot extending transversely thereacross in parallel relation to one another.

6. The spool tensioner set forth in claim 1, further including a guide member attached to an upper portion of each of said opposed transverse walls of said cap extending downwardly toward said first slot creating a gap between said guide member and said corresponding transverse wall of said cap, which allows said elastic band to pass downwardly through said first slot and then upwardly through said second slot for ease of adjustment.