Johnson Outdoors Inc.

Pure Fishing, Inc.

Todd A Rathe

Thomas R Swetish

Stephen J Jacobs

John W Chapman

Christopher F Kreuser

A bait cast fishing reel includes a frame, a spool rotatably coupled to the frame, at least one magnet having a magnetic field coupled to a first one of the frame and spool, at least one electroconductive coil coupled to a second one of the frame and the spool within the magnetic field, an electrical energy storage device electrically coupled to the at least one electroconductive member to store electrical energy generated during rotation of the at least one magnet and the at least one electroconductive member relative to one another during rotation of the spool, a sensor configured to generate spool rotation signals representing rotation of the spool over time, a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to generate a control signal based upon the spool rotation signal, and a braking mechanism coupled to the controller and to the electrical energy storage device. The braking mechanism utilizes electrical energy from the electrical energy storage device to control braking of the spool in response to the control signal from the controller. In one exemplary embodiment, the braking mechanism utilizes electrical energy from the electrical energy storage device to create a magnetic field opposing rotation of the spool. In another exemplary embodiment, the braking mechanism comprises a first surface coupled to the spool, a second surface coupled to the frame and an actuator configured to move the first and second surfaces into frictional engagement with one another. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the controller includes a memory storage device configured to store a spool rotation signal during a first cast, wherein the controller conducts a comparison of the spool rotation signals generated during a second cast with the stored spool rotation signals from the first cast and generates the braking signal based upon the comparison.

Bait cast control fishing reel

A motor for use with an alternating current electrical outlet includes a retaining member, a rotor and a nutational actuator for nutating the rotor. The retaining member has at least one circumferential surface extending about an axis. The rotor is located adjacent to the retaining member and includes a magnet. The rotary actuator includes at least one magnetic member proximate the rotor, an electrically conductive coil about the at least one magnetic member and a plug having first and second prongs electrically connected to first and second ends of the coil. When the prongs are inserted into the electrical outlet, the alternating current flowing through the coil causes the rotor to nutate about the axis defined by the retaining member. In one exemplary embodiment, the rotor has a center of mass such that the rotor gyrates about the center of mass in response to alternating electrical currents flowing through the coil. In one exemplary embodiment, the retaining member is formed from a non-magnetic material and is integrally formed as part of a single unitary structure with a body supporting the magnetic member. According to one method, the motor is formed by providing a magnetic member having an axial end; wrapping an electrically conductive coil about the magnetic member, wherein the magnetic member has first and second opposite ends adapted for being connected to a source of an alternating electrical current; molding a mass of non-magnetic material about the magnetic member and the electrically conductive coil to form a body; forming a retaining member having an axis within the body proximate the axial end of the magnetic member; and positioning a rotor along the axis of the retaining member.

Growing community of inventors

Mequon, WI, United States of America

Todd A Rathe