The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 21, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 15, 1996
Thomas A Pulliam, Broken Arrow, OK (US);
Zebco Division of Brunswick Corp., Tulsa, OK (US);
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. The housing including a back cover and the actuator positioned for guided sliding translatory movement in a channel formed on the back cover. The second structure including a trip plate slidably mounted in a groove formed on an inside surface of the back cover and operably connected to the actuator through at least one guide slot formed in the back cover. The trip plate including an actuating member extending generally therefrom having an angled shaft engaging surface for operably engaging the shaft. The guided sliding translatory movement of the actuator between its first and second positions causes axial displacement of the shaft, along the angled shaft engaging surface, between (a) a first state wherein the fishing reel is in the retrieve mode and (b) a second state wherein the fishing reel is in the cast mode, wherein the guided sliding translatory movement of the actuator is in a direction generally transverse to the axial displacement of the shaft.