Fishing reel with improved line management and control system and clicker mechanism

Abstract

A fishing reel designed to minimize line snag and simplify clicker operation. A frame mounted spool includes a forward flange defining a circumferential groove for receiving a smooth surfaced ring that is loosely mounted therein for minimizing line interaction. A spinner head assembly has pin arms that are pivotally secured to a rearward face. The pin arms present a substantially smooth rear surface for minimizing line snags. Pin springs are mounted on the opposite face of spinner head member and communicate with the pin arms via pin arm posts that extend through openings. An enclosure is affixed to the forward face of the spinner head for permitting the pin springs to have freedom of movement, but for enclosing pin springs and posts to prevent interaction with fishing line. A dual clicker passes through the frame for engaging the spool and the drag adjusting wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fishing reel comprising:
 a body including a frame having front side and a rear side, said frame defining an axial orifice that communicates said front side and said rear side of said frame, said frame defining a clicker orifice that passes from said front side to said rear side of said frame; 
 a main shaft slidably received in said axial orifice of said body; 
 a spool rotatably mounted on said frame, said spool having a rearward flange, a forward flange and a line receiving area between said rearward flange and said forward flange; 
 a drag adjusting wheel mounted in said body, said drag adjusting wheel accessible from an exterior of said body for selective rotation; 
 a dual clicker passing through said clicker orifice in said frame, said dual clicker engaging said spool and said drag adjusting wheel for providing tactile and audible feedback regarding movement of either of said spool and said drag adjusting wheel; and 
 
       wherein:
 said dual clicker comprises a member and a cap mounted on said member; 
 said dual clicker comprises a spring for biasing said member and said cap apart; 
 one of said member and said cap defines a rearward end of said dual clicker for engaging a forward face of said drag adjusting wheel; 
 one of said member and said cap defines a forward end of said dual clicker for engaging a rearward face of said spool. 
 
     
     
       2. The fishing reel according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said forward face of said drag adjusting wheel defines an irregular surface; 
 said rearward face of said spool defines an irregular surface; and 
 said rearward end of said dual clicker engages said irregular surface of said forward end of said dual clicker engages said irregular surface of said spool. 
 
     
     
       3. The fishing reel according to  claim 2  wherein:
 said irregular surface of said forward face of said drag adjusting wheel comprises a plurality of detents. 
 
     
     
       4. The fishing reel according to  claim 2  wherein:
 said irregular surface of said rearward face of said spool comprises a plurality of detents. 
 
     
     
       5. A fishing reel comprising:
 a body including a frame having front side and a rear side, said frame defining an axial orifice that communicates said front side and said rear side of said frame; 
 a main shaft slidably received in said axial orifice; 
 a spool rotatably mounted on said frame; 
 a spinner head assembly secured to said main shaft forward of said frame and said spool, said spinner head assembly having a plate having a forward face and a rearward face; 
 a first pin arm pivotally secured to said rearward face of said plate, said first pin arm presenting a substantially smooth rear surface for minimizing line snags; 
 said spool defines a forward flange, a rearward flange and a line receiving area between said forward flange and said rearward flange; 
 said forward flange of said spool defining a circumferential groove; and 
 a ring is received in said circumferential groove of said forward flange of said spool, said ring is free floating in said circumferential groove. 
 
     
     
       6. The fishing reel according to  claim 5  wherein:
 said ring has a T-shaped cross section. 
 
     
     
       7. The fishing reel according to  claim 5  wherein:
 said forward flange of said spool defining a circumferential groove; 
 said ring is received in said circumferential groove of said forward flange of said spool, said ring having has a smooth exterior. 
 
     
     
       8. The fishing reel according to  claim 7  wherein:
 said ring has a T-shaped cross section. 
 
     
     
       9. A fishing reel comprising:
 a body including a frame having front side and a rear side, said frame defining an axial orifice that communicates said front side and said rear side of said frame; 
 a main shaft slidably received in said axial orifice; 
 a spool rotatably mounted on said frame; 
 a spinner head assembly secured to said main shaft forward of said frame and said spool, said spinner head assembly having a plate having a forward face and a rearward face; 
 a first pin arm pivotally secured to said rearward face of said plate, said first pin arm presenting a substantially smooth rear surface for minimizing line snags; 
 said first pin arm has a pin for selectively extending through a pin opening in a circumferential wall of said spinner head assembly; 
 a first pin spring mounted on said forward face of said plate of said spinner head assembly for biasing said first pin arm to a retracted position. 
 
     
     
       10. The fishing reel according to  claim 9  wherein:
 said first pin arm defines a post that extends through a spring post opening in said plate of said spinner head assembly for engaging said first pin spring. 
 
     
     
       11. The fishing reel according to  claim 10  further comprising:
 an enclosure member affixed to said forward face of said plate of said spinner head assembly, said enclosure member for permitting said first pin spring to have freedom of movement, but for enclosing said first pin spring and said post to prevent interaction with fishing line. 
 
     
     
       12. A fishing reel comprising:
 a body including a frame having front side and a rear side, said frame defining an axial orifice that communicates said front side and said rear side of said frame;   a main shaft slidably received in said axial orifice; a spool rotatably mounted on said frame;   a spinner head assembly secured to said main shaft forward of said frame and said spool, said spinner head assembly having a plate having a forward face and a rearward face;   a first pin arm pivotally secured to said rearward face of said plate, said first pin arm presenting a substantially smooth rear surface for minimizing line snags; and wherein   said spool defines a forward flange;   said forward flange of said spool defining a circumferential groove;   a ring is received in said circumferential groove of said forward flange of said spool, said ring having a smooth exterior.   
     
     
       13. The fishing reel according to claim 12 wherein:
 said ring has a T-shaped cross section.   
     
     
       14. A fishing reel comprising:
 a body including a frame having front side and a rear side, said frame defining an axial orifice that communicates said front side and said rear side of said frame;   a main shaft slidably received in said axial orifice; a spool rotatably mounted on said frame;   a spinner head assembly secured to said main shaft forward of said frame and said spool;   said spool defines a forward flange, a rearward flange and a line receiving area between said forward flange and said rearward flange;   said forward flange of said spool defining a circumferential groove; and   a ring is received in said circumferential groove of said forward flange of said spool, said ring is free floating in said circumferential groove.   
     
     
       15. The fishing reel according to claim 14 wherein:
 said ring has a T-shaped cross section.   
     
     
       16. The fishing reel according to claim 14 wherein:
 said ring has a smooth exterior.   
     
     
       17. A fishing reel comprising:
 a body including a frame having front side and a rear side, said frame defining an axial orifice that communicates said front side and said rear side of said frame;   a main shaft slidably received in said axial orifice; a spool rotatably mounted on said frame;   a spinner head assembly secured to said main shaft forward of said frame and said spool;   said spool defines a forward flange, a rearward flange and a line receiving area between said forward flange and said rearward flange;   said forward flange of said spool defining a circumferential groove; and   a ring is received in said circumferential groove of said forward flange of said spool, said ring has a smooth exterior.   
     
     
       18. The fishing reel according to claim 17 wherein:
 said ring has a T-shaped cross section.   
     
     
       19. The fishing reel according to claim 17 wherein:
 said ring is free floating in said circumferential groove.