SALMON MOOCHING REEL

TAMBOUR DE MOULINET POUR LA PECHE AU SAUMON

English Abstract

A mooching reel is provided. The mooching reel includes: a frame; a spool rotatably supported by the frame, the spool including a spool hub; a drag assembly disposed within the spool hub, the drag assembly including a plurality of interleavingly arranged drag plates and drag washers; a draw bar extending through the frame, the spool and the drag assembly, the draw bar including a first coupling portion; and a drag knob including a second coupling portion for mating with the first coupling portion of the draw bar.

French Abstract

Un tambour de moulinet pour la pêche est décrit. Ledit tambour de moulinet comprend un cadre, une bobine supportée de manière rotative par le cadre et comportant un moyeu, ainsi quun ensemble de résistance disposé dans le moyeu de la bobine et comportant une pluralité de plaques de frein et de rondelles de frein disposées de manière imbriquée. Le tambour comprend également une barre de traction sétendant à travers le cadre, la bobine et lensemble de résistance, ladite barre comportant une première partie de couplage, et un bouton de frein comportant une deuxième partie de couplage permettant laccouplement avec la première partie de couplage de la barre de traction.

Claims

Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A reel comprising:
a frame;
a spool rotatably supported by said frame, the spool comprising a spool hub;
a drag assembly disposed within the spool hub,
wherein the spool hub comprises:
a reduced diameter portion for receiving a bearing; and
an expanded diameter portion for receiving the drag assembly;
wherein the drag assembly comprises a plurality of interleavingly arranged
drag plates and drag washers received by the expanded diameter portion;
a draw bar extending through the frame, the spool and the drag assembly, the
draw bar comprising a first coupling portion; and
a drag knob comprising a second coupling portion for mating with the first
coupling portion of the draw bar.
2. A reel according to claim 1, wherein the spool hub further comprises an
annular abutment between the reduced diameter portion and the expanded
diameter portion, wherein a first end of the drag assembly abuts the
annular abutment.
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3. A reel according to claim 2, wherein the expanded diameter portion of
the
spool hub comprises at least one locking recess, and wherein at least one
drag plate comprises at least one locking tab for engaging the at least one
locking recess, whereby the drag assembly is rotatable with the spool.
4. A reel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drag plates at
either end of the drag assembly comprise a pair of locking tabs for
engaging corresponding locking recesses of the spool hub.
5. A reel according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprising at least
one
drag washer between the spool and the frame.
6. A reel according to claim 5, wherein the drag washers of the drag
assembly
and the at least one drag washer between the spool and the frame are
made of a compressible material.
7. A reel according to claim 6, wherein the compressible material is
selected
from the group consisting of carbon fiber, RULON .TM. plastic and DELRINTM
plastic.
8. A reel according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the drag plates
are
made of metal.
9. A reel according to claim 8, wherein the metal is selected from
stainless
steel, aluminum, brass and titanium.

10. A reel according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the plurality of
drag
washers and drag plates are shaped as annular discs.
11. A reel according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the first
coupling
portion comprises a male threaded portion and the second coupling portion
comprises a female threaded portion for receiving the male threaded portion,
whereby tightening of the drag knob increases drag and loosening of the drag
knob reduces drag.
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Description

CA 02867935 2014-10-22
SALMON MOOCHING REEL
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to fishing reels, in particular to salmon
mooching reels.
Background
[0002] Mooching is a popular salmon fishing technique used by sport anglers
along the west coast of North America. Mooching uses long rods with flexible
tips,
and involves allowing the line to be taken out with the drift of the current.
Mooching reels are direct drive reels with a large arbor, which allows an
angler to
rapidly pick up and take up the line before the salmon that has taken the bait
senses
the weight and terminal tackle.
[0003] Mooching reels are equipped with a drag system which provides an
adjustable level of resistance of rotation on the reel. The purpose of the
resistance
is to provide a constant level of tension on the line once the salmon is
hooked
without completely binding the reel which could break the line. Conventional
mooching reels utilize a cork drag system. Cork is inexpensive and produces a
smooth constant drag pressure but requires periodic lubrication and can be
rendered ineffective when wet. Mooching reels with improved drag systems are
desirable.
1

Summary
[0004] In one aspect, a mooching reel is provided. The mooching reel
comprises a frame; a spool rotatably supported by said frame; the spool
comprising a spool hub; a drag assembly disposed within the spool hub; the
spool
hub comprising a reduced diameter portion for receiving a bearing, and an
expanded diameter portion for receiving the drag assembly; the drag assembly
comprising a plurality of interleavingly arranged drag plates and drag washers
received by the expanded diameter portion; a draw bar extending through the
frame, the spool and the drag assembly, the draw bar comprising a first
coupling
portion; and a drag knob comprising a second coupling portion for mating with
the first coupling portion of the drawbar.
[0005] The spool hub may comprise an annular abutment between the
reduced
diameter portion and the expanded diameter portion, wherein a first end of the
drag
assembly abuts the annular abutment.
[0006] The expanded diameter portion of the spool hub may comprise at
least
one locking recess, and wherein at least one drag plate comprises at least one
locking tab for engaging the at least one locking recess, whereby the drag
assembly
is rotatable with the spool.
[0007] The drag plates at either end of the drag assembly may comprise a
pair of locking tabs for engaging corresponding locking recesses of the spool
hub.
[0008] The mooching reel may further comprise at least one drag washer
between the spool and the frame.
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[0009] The drag washers of the drag assembly and the at least one drag
washer between the spool and the frame may be made of a compressible material,
such as carbon fiber, RULONTM plastic or DELRINTM plastic.
[0010] The drag plates may be made of metal, such as stainless steel,
aluminum, brass and titanium.
[0011] The plurality of drag washers and drag plates may be shaped as
annular discs.
[0012] The first coupling portion may comprise a male threaded portion and
the second coupling portion may comprise a female threaded portion for
receiving
the male threaded portion, whereby tightening of the drag knob increases drag
and
loosening of the drag knob reduces drag.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0013] In drawings which show non-limiting embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 is an exploded cross-section view of a mooching reel
according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is an assembled cross-section view of the mooching reel of
shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a top view of the spool hub of the mooching reel shown in
Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a top view of the drag assembly of the mooching reel
shown in Figure 1 in a disassembled state.
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Description
[0014] Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth
in
order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the
invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well
known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid
unnecessarily
obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be
regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.
[0015] The invention relates to a mooching reel. In accordance with one
aspect of the invention, a mooching reel includes a drag assembly comprising a
stack of drag washers interleaved between drag plates.
[0016] Figures 1 and 2 show a mooching reel 10 according to one
embodiment of the invention. Reel 10 includes a frame 20, a spool 22, a draw
bar
24 and a drag knob 26.
[0017] Frame 20 is shaped to receive spool 22. Frame 20 has a back plate 21
and radially extending sidewalls 27. Frame 20 also has a foot 28 fixed to
sidewall
27 and shaped for mounting on the grip of the rod (not shown). Between frame
20
and spool 22 are clutch plate 30, clicker plate 32 and washer 64. Clutch plate
30
bears against frame contact surface 68. The toothed circumference of clutch
plate
30 is engaged by spring-mounted clutch pawl 34 mounted on frame 20 to provide
a
one-way clutch mechanism. Clicker plate 32 is disposed between clutch plate 30
and washer 64. The toothed circumference of clicker plate 32 is engaged by
spring-mounted clicker pawl 36 mounted on spool 22 to provide a two-way
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=
clicking mechanism. Washer 64 is disposed between clicker plate 32 and spool
contact surface 66. Washer 64 is made of carbon fiber or woven graphite, but
in
other embodiments may be made of other materials resilient, compressible
materials such as RIJLONTM or DELRINTM plastics.
[0018] Spool 22 has a tubular portion 23 having radially extending
sidewalls
25. Tubular portion 23 and sidewalls 25 together form a channel around which
line
(not shown) is spooled. Spool 22 has one or more handles 38 fixed thereon for
manually rotating spool 22. Spool 22 also includes a centrally disposed spool
hub
40, as shown best in Figures 1 and 3. Spool hub 40 includes a pair of locking
recesses 41. The function of locking recesses 41 will be explained below.
Spool
bearings 42 are received within a reduced diameter portion 44 of spool hub 40.
Spool bearings allow rotation between spool 22 and frame 20. Drag assembly 46
is
received within an expanded diameter portion 48 of spool hub 40. Annular
abutment 45 defines the boundary between reduced diameter portion 44 and
expanded diameter portion 48.
[0019] Drag assembly 46 comprises a plurality of drag washers 50 and drag
plates 52, 52', as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. Drag washers 50 are placed
against
or sandwiched between drag plates 52, 52'. In the embodiment shown, each drag
washer 50 has a drag plate 52, 52' on either side of it. In the embodiment
shown
drag assembly 46 comprises four drag plates 52, 52' and three drag washers 50.
In
other embodiments, different numbers and combinations of drag plates and drag
washers may be provided. Drag plates 52, 52' apply even pressure to drag
washers
50. Drag plates 52, 52' are preferably made of stainless steel, but may be
made of
other hard materials including other metals such as aluminum, brass and
titanium.
Drag washers 50 are preferably made of carbon fiber or woven graphite, but in

CA 02867935 2014-10-22
other embodiments may be made of other materials resilient, compressible
materials such as RUL0NTM or DELRINTM plastics. Use of different materials for
the drag washers will offer varying drag potentials and settings. Carbon fiber
or
woven graphite is a preferred material because it is self-lubricating and
therefore
does not require maintenance. In the embodiment shown, drag washers 50 and
drag
plates 52, 52' are annular discs. In other embodiments the drag washers and
drag
plates may be any other shape that allows a draw bar to extend therethrough,
with a
correspondingly shaped expanded diameter portion for receiving them.
[0020] One end of drag assembly 46 abuts annular abutment 45. The other
end of drag assembly 46 is engaged by retaining ring 54 which retains drag
assembly 46 in expanded diameter portion 48 of spool hub 40. The end drag
plates
52' disposed at both ends of drag assembly 46 each comprise a pair of locking
tabs
53 which register with locking recesses 41 of spool hub 40, enabling drag
assembly 46 to rotate with spool 22. In other embodiments the end drag plates
may comprise one or more than two locking tabs with the spool hub having a
corresponding number of locking recesses. In some embodiments each of the drag
plates (i.e., not only the end drag plates) may have one or more locking tabs.
[0021] Draw bar 24 has a generally cylindrical body terminating in a
threaded male coupling portion 60. Drag knob 26 has a threaded female
receiving
portion 58 for receiving threaded male coupling portion 60.
[0022] Figure 2 shows mooching reel 10 fully assembled. As can be seen in
Figures 1 and 2, frame 20 and spool 22 are joined by inserting draw bar 24
through
hole 62 in back plate 21 of frame 20, and extending draw bar 24 through clutch
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plate 30, clicker plate 32, washer 64, bearings 42, drag assembly 46 and
retaining
ring 54.
[0023] Threaded male coupling portion 60 of draw bar 24 receives threaded
female receiving portion 58 of drag knob 26 to adjust the drag on the rotation
of
spool 22 relative to frame 20. In particular, when spool 22 rotates, friction
is
generated between spool contact surface 66 and frame contact surface 68
(through
washer 64, clutch plate 30 and clicker plate 32) and the rate of rotation of
spool 22
is correspondingly slowed. The friction acts as a drag against spool contact
surface
66 and slows rotating spool 22's rate of rotation. Pressure exerted by drag
knob 26
against drag assembly 46 is transferred as pressure against annular abutment
45,
which in turn is transferred as pressure by spool contact surface 66 against
frame
contact surface 68. This pressure by can be adjusted by means of draw bar 24
and
drag knob 26. In order to increase drag, drag knob 26 is tightened. In order
to
decrease drag, drag knob 26 is loosened. In this way the drag can be optimized
to
the preference of the angler.
[0024] Where a component is referred to above, unless otherwise indicated,
reference to that component (including a reference to a "means") should be
interpreted as including as equivalents of that component any component which
performs the function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally
equivalent), including components which are not structurally equivalent to the
disclosed structure which performs the function in the illustrated exemplary
embodiments of the invention.
[0025] This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or
adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this
application is
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intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within
known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and
which
fall within the limits of the appended claims. Accordingly, the scope of the
claims
should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the
description, but
should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as
a
whole.
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Representative Drawing