Centrepin Reel Casting Accessory

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a centrepin reel casting accessory, in particular an accessory for a centrepin reel that improves casting and retrieval of fishing line.

Background of the Invention

Anglers require different kinds of equipment depending on the type of fishing they do and also on their personal preference. The most popular type of reel in the UK is a fixed spool reel, which enables an angler to cast long distances while preventing tangling of the fishing line. Fixed spool reels have a spool that remains stationery, while a bail arm gathers the line and winds it around the spool.

An alternative type of reel that is popular with anglers is a centrepin reel. It is difficult to cast long distances using a centrepin reel and a higher level of skill is involved in using the centrepin. Some further disadvantages associated with using a centrepin reel is that line cannot be reeled in very quickly, line tends to tangle around the reel and the reel is quite awkward to hold due to its positioning below the rod.

Despite its disadvantages, many anglers still prefer to use a centrepin reel because it gives a user a better "feel" of the line and the fish.

Casting ability is the greatest disadvantage of the centrepin reel. Some techniques have been developed to improve casting such as the "Loop Cast". This technique involves plucking out line from between the rod rings and stretching it back away from the body using the left hand before casting.

A variation of the centrepin reel is the swivel-type reel. This is essentially a centrepin reel that can be rotated through ninety degrees for casting and then rotated back. It allows line to run off the reel freely when casting. Examples of swivel type reels are illustrated in US744454 (Allen) and US2083689 (Clifford).

Another type of reel that has been designed to enable better casting is described in US3379391 (Fincannon). This document describes a reel with a C-shaped bail, which is attached to the reel through an opening in a lip on the reel. There is an eyelet in the bail that the line is directed through. In a casting position the bail is rotated to the side so that line is extracted axially of the spool. The line is freely extracted without rotation of the spool. A further feature of this reel is that the bail is automatically returned to a rewind position when the spool is rotated.

US3685762 (Winfree) discloses a device with a two position guide, which in the casting position directs the line outwardly from the periphery of the reel so that the line is released without rotating the reel.

Swivel type reels are expensive and many anglers prefer to continue to use their old centrepin reels. Further, many of the reels with casting settings can be complicated to use or manipulate.

It would be desirable to provide an improved accessory for a centrepin reel.

Summary of the Invention

One aspect of the invention provides a centrepin reel casting accessory as specified in Claim 1.

Preferred aspects of the invention are specified in the claims dependent on Claim 1 and the description which follows.

The invention provides an improved centrepin reel casting accessory comprising attachment means, positioning means and an arm having a line guide, wherein the attachment means allows the casting accessory to be removably attached to a fishing rod and the positioning means allows positioning of the arm such that in a first position the arm extends in a direction substantially

perpendicular to the rod and in a second position the arm extends in a direction substantially parallel to the rod.

Advantageously, the first position is a casting position.

Preferably, in use the line guide is positioned below the rod.

In a preferred embodiment, in use in the first position the arm extends such that the line guide is positioned at a location substantially perpendicular to a centre point of the reel.

Preferably, when in the first position the line guide directs line over a shoulder of the reel.

Advantageously, the positioning means comprises a locking mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment the locking mechanism comprises pins receivable in slots.

In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means is a clip.

Preferably when in use in the first position the distance between the line guide and the centre point of the reel is greater than 95mm.

In a preferred embodiment when in use in the first position the distance between the line guide and the centre point of the reel is approximately 125mm.

Advantageously, in the second position the arm extends in a direction substantially parallel to the rod towards or away from a user of the rod.

Advantageously, in use in the second position with the arm extending away from a user, the line guide functions as an additional rod line guide.

Preferably the accessory is positionable on a rod such that the arm extends to the left or right side of the rod.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention by way of example:

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of one embodiment of a centrepin reel casting accessory.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of one embodiment of the positioning mechanism of the centrepin reel casting accessory of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of one embodiment of a centrepin reel casting accessory.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the centrepin reel casting accessory of Figure 3.

Figure 5a shows a schematic representation of the embodiment of the centrepin reel casting accessory of Figure 1.

Figure 5b shows a schematic representation of the embodiment of the centrepin reel casting accessory of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

With reference to Figure 1 , the centrepin reel casting accessory 1 comprises a clip 2, an arm 3 and a line guide 4. The clip 2 fits over the reel fitting on the rod 11 and holds the accessory 1 firmly in place.

The arm 3 is attached to the clip 2 at a block 5.

The block 5 forms part of a positioning mechanism as shown in more detail in Figure 2. The clip 2 includes a bracket 6, with retaining slots 9. The block 5 is biased towards the bracket 6 by a spring 7 and a nut 10 holds the spring in place.

The block 5 has two downwardly depending pins 8 that fit into the slots 9 to lock the block 5 in position on the bracket 6. The block may be pivoted on the bracket 6 by a user lifting the block 5 against the spring 7 and turning the block through ninety degrees until the pins 8 are above another set of slots 9'. Further slots could be added to the accessory 1 to position the arm at different angles to the rod 11.

The arm 3 is therefore pivotable between a position in which it is substantially parallel with the rod 11 and a casting position in which it extends at around ninety degrees to the rod 11.

Figures 1 , 3 and 4 show the arm 3 in a casting position. In use, line 13 from the spool 16 of the reel 12 is fed through rod line guides 15 on the fishing rod 11.

Using the accessory 1, a user draws some line from the spool of the reel 12 and places it in the line guide 4 in the casting position. This changes the angle at which the line 13 leaves the spool of the reel 12 during casting and enables a user to cast greater distances. It directs the line 13 over the shoulder 12' of the reel 12 and the reel remains stationery as line 13 is unwound from it during casting under the weight of the line, bait/lure and/or weights.

After casting, the line 13 may be left in the line guide 4 or may be removed from the line guide 4.

A user may turn the arm 3 with the line 13 in it, such that it extends substantially parallel with the rod 11 as shown in Figure 5a. In this position the line guide 4 functions like one of the rod's existing line guides 15 and may assist in keeping the line 13 straight and taut when reeling it in. This is particularly useful for trolling rivers and flowing streams.

The arm 3 may alternatively be positioned substantially parallel to the rod 11 such that it extends back towards the user as shown in Figure 5b. This position ensures that the arm 3 does not get in the way when a user is fishing and the accessory is not required to guide line.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the arm 3. The arm 3 is preferably a rounded metal rod with a long straight section 14, which is bent and at the distal end forms a loop which functions as a line guide 4.

Preferably, the straight section 14 of the arm 3 is greater than 95mm. In a preferred embodiment, the straight section 14 of the arm is around 120mm. This ensures that a user can use the reel normally without the arm 3 or line guide 4 obstructing use of the reel handle 17 etc.

Line 13 can be easily added and removed from the line guide 4 by slipping it over the end section 18 and into the loop formed by the line guide 4. The line guide 4 holds the line 13 to a side of the rod 11 in a position as shown in Figure 1 , below the rod and approximately level with the centre point of the reel 19.

A preferred embodiment of the line guide 4 is shown in Figure 1. The line guide 4 forms a small loop, which restricts movement of the line 13 in a vertical plane.

The accessory 1 may be used with any rod and centre pin type reel and may be positioned such that the arm 3 is pivotable to the right side or the left side of the rod, depending on user preference.

The clip 2 allows a user to fit the accessory 1 to any rod and to quickly and easily remove it from the rod, even directly after casting if desired. In one embodiment a user may use jubilee clips 20 or coasters to further secure the clip 2 to the rod 11, as shown in Figures 5a and 5b.

In use a user fits the clip 2 to a rod and pulls upwardly on the block 5 against the spring 7 to lift the pins 8 out of the slots. The user then rotates the block 5 until the arm is in the desired position. The block 7 is then released and the pins 8 are lowered under pressure from the spring 7 into slots at the desired position. In the examples shown in Figures 1 to 4, the pins 8 are secured in slots 9 in the casting position.

When a user has his line and rod ready to cast, he pulls some line 13 from the spool of the reel into the line guide 4. The user may then cast.

After casting, the user can lift the block 5 against the spring 7 and rotate it such that the pins 8 are lifted out of the slots 9 and released into slots 9'. The arm can be rotated clockwise or anticlockwise, depending on user preference. If the arm 3 is rotated away from a user as illustrated in Figure 5a, the user may wish to leave the line 13 in the line guide 4 as the arm is rotated and after it is locked in position by slots 9'. If the user wants to rotate the arm 3 towards him as illustrated in Figure 5b, he may remove the line 13 from the line guide 4 before rotating the arm to the position in which the pins 8 lock in slots 9'.