Zebco Corporation

David C Wuellner

John W Puryear

David E Valentine

A unitized thrust bearing for reducing axial frictional forces resulting from axial loads on first and second abutting parts rotated relative to one another in a fishing reel. The thrust bearing has an annular outer race having a forward wall with a rearwardly facing surface and a forwardly facing surface and a bore for axially receiving the first abutting part. The outer race further includes a peripheral sidewall. The outer race is configured to be axially received in a seat in one of the first and second abutting parts. The thrust bearing further includes an annular inner race having a center shaft receiving bore, a rearwardly facing surface defining a support surface for the other of the one of the first and second abutting parts having the seat and a forwardly facing surface defining an axial ball contacting surface. The inner and outer races are axially received one within the other. The thrust bearing further includes a plurality of bearing balls disposed in a chamber defined by the rearwardly facing surface of the forward wall of the outer race, the side wall of the outer race and axial ball contacting surface of the inner race.

Unitized thrust bearing

A drag adjustment mechanism in a fishing reel having a housing, a deck plate and a line-carrying spool at least partially within the housing. The drag adjustment mechanism includes a structure for imparting drag forces of varying magnitude upon the line-carrying spool to resist rotation of the line carrying spool. A drag screw is rotatably axially movable to selectively determine the degree of resistance on rotation of the line-carrying spool applied by the drag imparted structure. An axially enlarged portion of the drag screw arrests axial movement of the drag screw by abutting the deck plate. An internally threaded drag adjustment knob threadably receives the drag screw to move the drag screw axially through rotation of the drag knob. The drag adjustment knob has a recess therein coaxial with an axis about which the drag screw is mounted. A spring activated retaining cup extends between the recess in the drag adjustment knob and a recess in the inside surface of the fishing reel housing.

Growing community of inventors

Tulsa, OK, United States of America

David C Wuellner