US3165855A

US3165855A - Automatic casting rod with line gripping means

Info

Publication number: US3165855A
Application number: US103308A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl M Stephenson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-04-17
Filing date: 1961-04-17
Publication date: 1965-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-19

Description

AUTOMATIC CASTING Ron WITH LINE GRIFFIN@- MEANS Filed April 17. 1961 Jan- 19, 1965- J. R. sTEPHENsON 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 19, 1965 J. R. sTEPHENsoN AUTOMATIC CASTING Non WITH LINE GRIPPING MEANS Filed April 17, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. J/MS E STEPHENSIV H/S TTOENEYS Jan. 19, 1965 J. R. STEPHENSON AUTOMATIC CASTING Ron WITH LINE GRIFFIN@ MEANS Filed April 17. 1961 3,1e5,855 AUTMATIC CASTING RD WITH LM GRIPPENG MEANS James R; Stephenson, Kettering, Ohio; Cari M Stephenson, administrator of said .Eames Ra Stephenson, Y deceased Fiied Apr. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 193,3@55

` 14 Claims. (Ci. i3-19) This invention relatesto an automatic casting rodand moreA particularly to a fishing rod adapted to Aautomati cally carry out the ordinary manual operations performed by a fishermanrin casting out hisV line; however, the invention is not necessarily so limited.

The present application is a continuation-in-par-t of my copending application Serial No. 22,216, tiled April 14, 1960, for an Automatic Casting Rod.

In the ordinary casting operation a iisherman attaches a weight to a line which is supplied from a spinning or casting reel. Holding the line tight. with his nger or thumb, the fisherman then swings his rod overhead through a swiftly executed circular arc to give the Weight attached to the line an outward momentum. Near the end of the circular arc the fisherman releases the line, permitting themomentum of the weight to carry the line out away from the rod. Where a casting reel is used the fisherman manually takes up the momentum of the ree-l as the outward motion of the Weightfades. This prevents overspin of the reel. Where a spinning reel is used, the reel itself does no t rotate and therefore acquires no momentum and no manual braking of the device is required.

In the past numerous automatic mechanisms have been designed Afor carrying out the casting operation. In general, these mechanisms relay upon an abrupt swinging movement of the iishing rod which is produced by a spring or similar mechanism. A problem common to allv of these devices is the problem of securing the weight in such a manner that it Will acquire momentum during the initial swinging movement of the rod, but will be released just prior to the end of the arcuate swing of the rod. If the weight is not properly secured at the beginning of the swing, the fishing line merely dewinds'from the spinning or casting reel and the weight acquires no outward momentum. On the other hand, if the weight is not released pr-ior to the end of the swing, part of its momentum is lost as the swing terminates and an erratic casting operation results.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic casting device including means for anchoring the weight at the commencement of the casting movement and for releasing the weight prior to the end of the casting movement. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved trigger mechanism for controlling the operation of the casting rod.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved spring actuated mechanism for operating an automatic casting fishing rod.

Otherobjects and advantagesreside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating two positions of the automatic casting rod.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the operating mechanism of the casting rod.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view ofthe operating mechanism of the casting rod with parts shown in section.

FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of United States Patent C ri t ' Patented Jan. 19,196

a line clamping 4mechanism employed in the present 'invention, parts being shown in phantom detail. FIGURES is a greatly enlarged sectional View illustrating one mode of operation yof the line clamping means of FIGURE 6 is an enlarged exploded view illustrating structural details of the operating mechanism. Y

FIGURE V7 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrat ing two positions of a modified casting rod. f l

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the modiiied `casting rod with portions broken' away and vother portions shownrin exploded detail. v

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a modified line clampingmechanism in disassembled detail. v

lFIGURE 10 is an end elevation lview with parts shown in section illustrating the operation of theline clamping mechanism of FIGURE 9. Y

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, a fishing rod havingy -a handle 10 and a rod portion 12 is illustrated in FIGURE 1. The handle and the rod portion are pivotally joined by a mechanism' best Villustrated in FIG- URES 3 and 6.

Turning attention to FIGURE 3, it `will'be observed that the handle 10 terminates toward the left end of the gure in a block portion 14. In FIGURE 6, it will be seen that a plurality of screws 17 secure plates 15 `and 16 to opposite sides of the block portion 14. Positioned between the

plates

15 and 16 is a sprocket wheel v1S journalled on an axle 21D. This axle is tubular andis secured by screws 19 passing through the plates 1S and 16 and threaded internally of the axle 20. The sprocket wheel 1S has oppositely disposed circular bosses 18a which ll the space between the

paltes

15 and 16.

The rod portion 12 terminates in a cylindrical cap por-4 tion 21 to'which is fixed Va substantially sol-id shaft 22; As best illustrated in FIGURE 6, the shaft 22 :terminates at its Vinner end with a large projection 23 and smaller spaced projections 24a and 24h. These projections cov operate to provide a channel for receiving the periphery of the sprocket wheel 1S. The latter is fixedly secured to the projections by pins 25. Through this` means AtheV rodportion 12 is fixedto the sprocket wheel 18. Since theV sprocket wheel 18 is rotatable relative to the handle 10, the rod portion 12 is pivotable relativeto thehandle 1t). i

The pivotal movement of the rodp -ortion 12 in a counter-clockwise direction as illustrated; in FIGURE-3 is limited by a pin 26 passing through the sprocket wheel 18 which engages complementary seats 27 formed in the block portion'14. The pin 26 cooperates with the seats 27 to locate the rod portion 12 in arest position for ordinary fishing operations.

As illustrated in lFIGURE 3, the sprocket Wheel:18 is biased vto the rest position by an elongate spring 28 which acts upon a link chain 30 adapted to nest in the teeth Voi? the Vsprocket wheel 1,8. The terminal link 31 ofV the chain 3) is permanently secured to the sprocket wheel'18 `by means of the pin 34. i

As illustratedV in FIGURES 3..and 6, the chain 30 passes through a central bore 29` in theb lock portion 14 into a sleeve 32 in theinterior of the handle 10.r The chain 30 is connected tothe spring 2S by means of an elongate rod 36 anchored at one end to the chain 30. At its opposite end the rod 36 passes through a washer 42 where it encireles aV transverse pinV 38.. The pin 38 has a length slightly less than the diameter. of the 'sleeve 32 and thereby secures the rod 36 against movement through the washer 42. `The spring28 is 'compressed .between the washer 42 andthe blockportion 14. 1 i- A chain and sprocket construction of the type disclosed herein offers the advantage that a substantially pure rota- D tional torque is applied to the sprocket. Thus, substantially all the force of the spring 2S is applied to the sprocket at the point of separation between the chain and the sprocket; a point vertically below the rotational axis of the sprocket, as viewed in FIGURE 3. With such construction radial loads on the axle 20 are` minimized.

According'to the foregoing construction, it is evident that upon clockwise movement of the rod portion 12 relative to the handle' 10, the spring 28 is compressed. Latch means are employed to lock the rod portion 12 at any desired pointinl its pivotal movementrelative to the handle 10. This latch means comprises a triggermember 44 which, as best seen in FIGURE 6, is formed of parts 44a, 44b, and 44c laminated together and secured by rivets 45. This trigger member is pivoted on an axle 46 journalled between the'

plates

15 and 16 and carries a trans- .verse rod portion or detent 48 adapted to latch in any of the notches in the sprocket4 wheel 18.

The central laminated part 44C of the trigger member projects upwardly into a longitudinal channel (not shown) in the block portion 14 where it is acted upon by a spring 47 seated in a bore 49 formed in the block portion 14.

The spring 47 applies a sufficient bias tothe trigger member 44 to anchor the sprocket Wheel against counterclockwise movement as viewed in FIGURE 3) in any selected position. On the other hand, the trigger member is so arranged angularly with respect to the periphery of the sprocket Wheel that the detent 4S carried thereby is automatically cammed out from between the teeth of the sprocket wheel on clockwise movement thereof. Thus, the rod 12 may be cocked to any desired position without interference from the latch mechanism. Once cocked, the latch mechanism will automatically lock the rod in place. Upon subsequent retraction of the trigger member, the spring 28 will operate to force the rod to its rest position.

This forced pivotal movement of the rod portion 12 from its cocked position to its rest position simulates an ordinary casting movement. As emphasized hereinbefore, however, such movement will be effective to cast a weight and associated line only when the weight is carried by the rod portion during the initial portion of the movement. Means forsecuring the weight are described in the following.

. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 22 associated with the rod portion 12 is a loop member 50. A complementary loop member 52 is pivotally secured adjacent the loop member 50. For this purpose the loop member 52 has a downwardly extending shaft'53 journalledvin a suitable transverse aperture in the shaft 22. Internally of the shaft 22, shaft 53 carries a pinion 54, best seen in FIG- URE 4. This pinion is engaged by an actuating rack 56 mounted in an axially extending bore 55 in the shaft 22 and slidable outwardly thereof between the projections 24a and 24h.

The rack 56 is biased outwardly by means of a spring 58 seated in the bore 55. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the rack 56 is located to one side of the sprocket wheel 18 and is biased against the periphery of an arcuate cam '62 xedly secured to the plate 16 by a screw 60.

With the rod portion 12 in its rest position, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, it will be observed that the actuator rack 56 engages the. outer periphery of the cam 62 and in such position the rack 56 holds the loop member 52 at substantial right angles to the loop member 50. When the rod portion 12 is pivoted in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the rack 56 drops off the cam 62 and advances inwardly under force of the spring 5S until the loop member 52 pivots into parallel clamping relation to the fixed loop member 50. As will be described in greater detail subsequently, the loop members 50*V and 52 in thisposition function to securea fishing line passing therebetween. Upon counterclockwise movement of the rod portion 12 from a cocked position to its rest position, there is initially lost rotary motion as the rack 56 slides alongvthe periphery of the boss 18a toward the cam 62, then the rack 56 engages the cam and is forced to move outwardly to the outer periphery thereof, thereby releasing the line clamped between the

loop members

50 and 52. To facilitate this movement, the rack 56 has a beveled portion 64 adapted to follow an end wall 63 of the cam 62. This structure is best illustrated in FIG- URE 4.

It will be noted that by proper positioning of the cam 62, the angle of the rod portion 12 relative to the handle 10 at which the

loop members

50 and 52 separate to release the line passing therethrough may be set to any desired value.

For the purpose of illustration, a spinnng reel 70 is shown mounted on the handle 10. This spinning reel supplies the fishing line 72 which may be of any conventional type. As shown, the line 72 is threaded through guiding eyelets 73, located at spaced intervals along the rod 12, which confine the line 72 to `a path extending along the rod 12. In practice, the fisherman usually attaches a leader 74 to the fishing line. The leader is ordinarily much stronger than the line itself and has the primary function of reducing the opportunity of a fish to abrade or otherwise weaken the line.

In the present invention, the leader 74 may be used advantageously to perform another function. If the length of the leader is somewhat longer than the overall length of the rod portion 12, the knot 76 which is ordinarily formed when the leader is joined to the fishing line may be so located that it lies adjacent but slightly inside of the

loop members

50 and 52 when the line is reeled in for casting operation. Under such circumstances, the knot will function to positively lock the` line between the

loop members

50 and 52 when these members are positioned to clamp the line. 'Ihis locking condition is illustrated in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the line 72 and leader 74 passing through the loop member 52 such that when the

loop members

50 and 52 are in parallel engaging position the line is necessarily clamped therebetween. In this regard it will be noted that the central apertures in the

loop members

50 and 52 are of equal diameter such that the loop members have aligned inner margins when disposed side by side. This minimizes the possibility that the knot will work in between the loop members and force them apart. FIGURE 5 illustrates the line passing through the loop 52. As a result, line movement is virtually unobstructed after the loop 52 has pivoted tothe position illustrated in FIGURE 3.

While the formation of a positive lock through the medium of a knot in the fishing line has been discussed in connection with the present invention, it is to be understood that a positive lock such as obtained with a knot 1c an be obtained with other types of bulges formed in the FIGURES 7 through l0 illustrate a modified casting rod comprising a handle and a rod 102. The mechanism for pivotally joining the rod to the handle is best illustrated in FIGURE 8. There it will be noted that the handle 100 includes an elongate tubular housing 104 closed at one end as illustrated at 105.V Near the center of the handle, the casing 104 is encircled by a pair of spaced

ferrules

106 and 108. The former is fixedly secured to the handle by a screw 110, and the latter is slidably adjustable on the casing by means of a ring nut 112 threadedly engaging the casing. These ferrules and 108 cooperate to clamp the base 114 of a suitable casting reel or spinning device, not shown. On either side of the

ferrules

106 and 108 the casing 104 is covered with

sleeve members

116 and 118 for ornamentation.

A pair of spaced generally circular plates 120 and 122 are welded to the open'end of the casing 104. For adequate bearing support, the plates 120 and 122 have

portions

124 and 126 projecting into the open ends of the casing. These plates are each provided with a central aperture. An internally threaded socket element pro- 3 Jects through the aperture in the plate 120, and a screw element 128 threadedly engaging the socket element 136 projects through the aperture in the plate 122. A bear ing 132 is mounted on the socket element 130 between the plates 120 and 122, and these plates are drawn tightly against the ends of the bearing by means of the screw 128. The length of the bearing 132 thereby determines the separation between the plates 120 and 122.

A sprocket member 134 having notches 136 therein is mounted for rotation upon the bearing 132 between the plates 120 and 122. The fishing rod 102, provided with a metallic end piece 150, is secured tothe sprocket member through the medium of an adapter 152 fastened to the sprocket member with suitable fasteners 154. The arrangement is such that the rod 102 may be pivoted relative to the handle 108 through rotation of the sprocket member 134 on its bearing 132.

A chain 138, having its terminal link secured to the sprocket member 134 'at 140, extends from the sprocket member into the casing 104. Internally of the casing at 139, the chain engages a rod 142 which terminates in a threaded portion receiving a nut 145 securing a washer 144 on the rod. An elongate spring 146 encircles the rod 142 and the chain 138, one end of the spring engaging the washer 144 and the opposite end of the spring engaging the

portions

124 and 126 of .the plates 120 and 122. The tendency of the spring 146 to expand places a clockwise torque on the sprocket member 134, as viewed in FIGURE 8.

The rotational position of the sprocket wheel 134 is governed by :atrigger member illustrated generally at 160. This trigger member, which is preferably although not necessarily formed in one piece with heavy gauge sheet metal, includes an upwardly directed folded portion 164 which supports a detent member 166 between the opposite sides thereof. As will be described hereinafter, the detent 166 is adapted to engage various notches 136 in the sprocket member 134. The trigger member is pivoted on a screw element 162 engaging the plates 128 and 122 so as to enable movement of the detent 166 into and out of engagement with the notches of the sprocket wheel.

The trigger member also includes an integral lever portion 172 extending substantially at right angles to the portion 164 rearwardly along the handle. This lever is used to manually pivot the trigger member. Extending oppositely from the lever 172 is an arm portion 168 adapted to engage a stop 170 mounted on the sprocket wheel 134. Due tothe torque applied to the sprocket member 134 by the spring 146, the stop 178 acts on the arm 168 so as to urge the trigger member in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 8. Thus, the stop 178, acting on the arm portion 168, urges the detent 166 away from the periphery of the sprocket wheel and also presses the lever 172 against the handle 100. Preferably, the sleeve 118 mounted on the handle casing 104 is provided with a suitable recess 174 which receives the lever 172, thereby enabling the lever 172 to move to a position ush with the surface of the handle. A spring 176, situated within a suitable housing 178 supported between the plates 120 and 122, biases the trigger member 160 in a clockwise direction in 'opposition to the bias applied by the stop member 170 associated with the sprocket wheel 134.

The operation of lthe trigger member is as follows. When the fishing rod is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 8 the sprocket member 134, acting through the medium of the chain 138, compresses the spring 146. As the stop 170 on the sprocket wheel 134 moves away from the arm 168, vthe spring 176 becomes effective to bias the trigger member 160 in a clockwise direction so as to urge the detent 166 carried by the trigger member against the periphery of the sprocket wheel. With continued counterclockwise movement of the sprocket member 134, the detent 166 cams away from successive notches in the sprocket wheel due to the shape of these notches. However, as soon 'as counterclockwise rotation of the sprocket wheel ceases, the detent `166 drops into the closest notch 136 and holds the sprocket member in its cocked position. When the detent'166 is in this position, the lever 172 is pivoted upwardly away from the handle, as shown in FIGURE 7. 1f the lever 172 is then manually depressed against the handle 100, the detent 166 is disengaged fromthe sprocket wheel and the spring 146 becomes effective to pivot the Vrod 102 to its rest position which is substantially vparallel to the handle 100. When the rod 102 reaches its rest position, the stop 170 on the sprocket member engages the arm 168 associated with the trigger member, thereby stopping further clockwise rotation of the sprocketmember 134 Vand forcing the lever 172 to its position flush the decorative sleeve 118 on the handle 100. -r

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the mechanism' described enables pivotal movement of the rod 102 to a cocked position. Upon actuation of the lever 172 the spring 146'acts to drive theV rod 102 violently to a rest position parallel with the handle 100. As discussed in connection with the rst embodiment, this pivotal movement of the fishing rod can be employed .to effect a casting operation. However, as was the case in the first embodiment, it is necessary for satisfactory Vcasting to provide some means for clamping the shing line during' the casting stroke until the rod is very nearly in its rest position. Since monofilament lines are conventionally used in casting equipment, the ditculties in gripping the line are particularly acute. Thus, monolame'nt lines are susceptible to injury from pressure. VIt is therefore preferable to grip the line with a gentle pressure applied over a large area in a controlled fashion.

As p-art of the mechanism for clamping the-line, an arcuate cant 180 is secured to the sprocket wheel 134 by suitable fastening members 182. The outer curved `sur'- face of this cam is disposed substantially concentric to the axis of rotation of the sprocket member. It would be possible, of course, to use this cam to operate a line engaging means of the type disclosed in the first embodiment. However, in the present embodiment, this cam is used to operate a different type of line engaging means.

This line engaging means includes a generally cubical housing 184 provided with oppositely disposed lugs 198 and 282. The housing 184 rests against the outer -face of the plate 122, the Ilug 198 being provided with an aperture 200 through which the screw 128 passes and the lug 202 being secured to theV outer margin of the plate 122 with ascrew 204.

As illustrated in FIGURE 9, the housing 184 `isrpartitioned by a iixed wall portion 186. This wall 186 Vand the opposite sides of the housing 184 are apertured so as to receive an elongate flexible, preferably elastomeric, tube 188 passing through the housing. The aperture in the wall 186 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the tube 188 such that this wall holds the tube in postion. The apertures 187 and 189 in the housing 184 are larger than the diameter of the tube 188 so as to permit free movement of the ends of the tube.

A cam follower element 190 fits in the base of the housing. This cam follower element is provided with a pair of lugs 192 which straddle the wall portion 186. On the opposite side of the cam follower element is a lug 194 which projects through a rectangular window 196 in the plate 122 to engage the cam 180 on the sprocket member 134.

The construction is such that when the rod 102,'` is in its rest position, the lug 194 on the cam followeris disengaged from the cam 180 and the lugs 192 on the cam follower project into the housing 184 adjacent the tubing 188. When the rod 102 is pivoted to a cocked position,

an inclined surface 206 on the cam 180 engages the lug 194 on the cam follower and moves the cam follower upwardly in the housing 184, as viewed in FIGURES 8 and both compression and distortion.

use of relatively inexpensive plastic parts. Vhousing 184 and cam follower 199 are of plastic construc- 7 V9. As the cam follower moves upwardly in the housing, the lugs 192 engage and distort or kink the tubing 188. FIGURE 10 illustrates the distorted condition of the tubing `188 when the rod 102 is in the cocked position ,such that the lug 194 on the cam follower engages the outer curved surface of the cam 18). In this figure, a fishing line 210 is included to show howthe line is gripped Vby the tube 188.

In the distorted condition, portions of the tube 188 on opposite sides of the wall 185 are forced upwardly against the top of the housing causing the inner wall of the tube to compress slightly the line 210 in the distorted condition. The center and outer ends of the tube are bent angularly when the tube is distorted, insuring that the inner Wall of the tube will press against the line 214i along substantially the entire length of the line within the housing 1&4.

lt is important to note that the line is both compressed and distorted or curved out of its straight line condition in the present embodiment.. It is found that mere compression in the absence of distortion requires a much greater compressive force than is required when there is In the latter case, the force delivered to the tube through the medium of the lugs 192 need not be as large and the possibility of damage to the fishing line is minimized. Further, this enables When the tion, the cam follower lug 194 may be provided with a metal tip, not shown, to reduce frictional wear caused by repeated sliding contact between this lug and the cam 180.

In operation of the casting device, the fishing line 2113 which emerges from a suitable casting reel or spinning "device is passed through the flexible tube 183 and then through the various eyelets on the fishing rod to the outer end of the fishing rod. Beyond the end of the fishing rod, a suitable weight, not shown, may be secured to the line. When the rod 102 is pivoted to a cocked position, the flexible tube 188 is distorted, as shown. When the lever 172 is depressed enabling the spring 146 to return the rod to its rest position, the fishing line 210 remains clamped in the flexible tube 188 until the lug 194, associated with the cam follower. 190, drops down the surface 206 on the cam 180. The natural resiliency of the exible tubing 188 then causes the tubing to straighten itself, providing a free path for movement of the line therethrough. When this free path exists, the momentum associated with the weight secured to the line carries the weight away from the rod as in the ordinary manual casting operation.

From the foregoing discussion, it is apparent that the present `casting mechanism simulates very closely the manual operations carried out by a fisherman who casts with conventional equipment including a spinning reel. When a casting reel is used rather than a spinning reel, it is necessary for the fisherman to brake the momentum of ythe casting reel in the usual manner; however, the present casting mechanism is otherwise Vfully automatic.

It isto be observed that the particular construction of the present device enables the use of a comparatively long compression spring for accomplishing the casting operation. A long spring of this type offers the advantage that the casting movement is smooth and steady. Where a short spring must be used, the amplification of motion between the spring and the rod must be increased with the result that the movement of theA fishing rod becomes abrupt and there is no steady casting movement.

cocked position. Accordingly, the chain will ordinarily contact only about of the sprocket. Beyond that portion of the periphery, the notches need not be uniformly spaced and no notches are required in the vicinity of the adapter 152. As illustrated in FIGURE 8, the notches in the periphery of the sprocket member 134 above the adapter 152, as viewed in FIGURE 8, may be more widely spaced, these notches serving only to locate various cocked positions for the rod 162. It is preferable to increase the spacing between notches and to make the teeth formed by the notches larger in this area of the sprocket wheel since the force exerted by the spring 146 is largest at this point. This gives the maximum tooth strength where it is needed most.

Although the preferred embodiment .of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims. Y

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. in a casting device including a fishing rod having a handle pivotallyV secured thereto, means to supply a fishing line, means to confine said line to a path extending along said rod, said rod being pivotable relative to said handle between a cocked position and a rest position, and means biasing said rod to the rest position for the purpose of casting the fishing line passing from the handle along the rod, clamping means for gripping the line in the cocked position, said clamping means including a pair of clamping members mounted for relative movement on one of said handle and rod elements, said line passing between said clamping members, cam means carried by one of said rod and handle elements and cam follower means carried by the other of said rod and handle elements coacting on pivotal movement of said rod relative to said handle to move said clamping members into and out of compressive engagement with the line such that the line is clamped in the cocked position and free of the clamping members in the rest position.

2. The casting device according to claim 1 wherein said cam follower means has lost motion on said cam means operating to delay release of said line as the rod moves away from the cocked position.

3. A casting device including a fishing rod element and a handle element pivotally secured thereto, said rod element being pivotable relative to said handle element between a cocked position and a rest position, means biasing the rod element to the rest position, fishing line supply means mounted on said handle element to supply line extending along said rod element, and means for gripping the line in the cocked position of said rod element and releasing the line on approach of the rod element to the rest position, said gripping means comprising a pair of clamping members mounted one fixedly and one movably on one of said rod and handle elements, said line passing between the clamping members, a cam element secured to the other of said rod and handle elements, an actuator responsive to said cam element for positioning said movable clamping member, and means biasing said actuator against said cam element, said cam element and said actuator cooperating to move said movable clamping member into and out of engagement with said fixed clamping member to clamp and release. said line as the rod element pivots relative to the handleelement.

4. The casting device according to claim 3 wherein said cam element is spaced from said actuator when said rod element is in the cocked position such that said clamping members remain in line clamping engagement during a fixed increment of pivotal movement of said rod element toward the rest position.

5. In a casting device including a fishing rod having handle and rod elements on pivotal movement thereof to kink said tube such that the line passing therethrough is clamped in the cocked position and freed in the rest position.

6. A casting device comprising a handle, means t supply a fishing line mounted on said handle, rotary means including a fishing rod portion supported by the handle for rotation relative thereto, said line extending from saidV supply means along said rod portion, said rod portion extending substantially radially relative to the axis of relative rotation, yielding means biasing said rotary means in a predetermined direction of rotation, means coacting between said handle and said rotary means to provide a stop for limiting the rotation of said rotary means in the direction of bias, said rotary means being rotatable away from said stop against the bias of said yielding means to a cocked position, a latch mechanism coacting between said handle and said rotary means to releasably retain said rotary means in a cocked position, and line clamping means operating in response to rotation of said rotary means to clamp said line when said rotary means is Vin the cocked positionand to release said line as the rotary means moves toward said stop, said line clamping means including a flexible tube supported by one of said handle and rotary means, said line passing through said tube, and means to kink and simultaneously compress said tube to thereby clamp said line, said last named means including a cam and cam follower coacting between said handle and said rotary means, said cam follower operating in response to rotation of said rotary means to kink said tube and compress said line as said rotary means moves to a cocked position and to release the kink in said tube so as to free said line as the rotary means moves toward said stop.

7. In a casting device including av rod and a handle pivotally secured thereto, said rod being pivotable relative to said handle between a cocked position and a rest position, means yieldingly urging said rod to pivot to said rest position, line supply means mounted on said device to supply a line, means confining said line to apath, a portion of which extends along said rod, gripping means mounted on said device adjacent said path for gripping said line, said line in said path passing through said gripping means, and means responsive solely to pivotal movement of the rod relative to the handle for actuating said gripping means to grip said line as therod pivots from the rest position toward a cocked position and for releasing said line as the rod moves from the cocked position to said rest position.

8. A casting device comprising a handle, means to supply a fishing line mounted on said handle, rotary means including a fishing rod portion supported by the handle for rotation relative thereto, means to conne said line to a path extending from said supply meansalong said rod i operating solely in response to rotation of said rotary means for actuating said line clamping means to clamp said line in said path when said rotary means is in the cocked position and release said lineas the rotary means moves toward said stop.

9. A casting device according to claim 8 wherein said line clamping means includes a pair of clamping members mounted for relative movement on one of said handle and rotary means, said line passing between said clamping members, and wherein said means to actuate said line clamping means includes cam means coacting between said handle and rotary means on pivotal movement thereof to move said clamping members into and out of compressive Vengagement such that the line is clamped in the cocked position and is freed from the clamping members as the rotary means, moves toward the rest position.

l0. A casting device according to claim 9 wherein onev including a shing rod portion supported by the handle` for rotation relative thereto, means to confine said line to a path extending from said supply means along said` rod portion, said rod portion extending substantially radially relative to the axis of relative rotation, yielding means biasing said rotary means in a predetermined direction or rotation, means coacting between said handle and said rotary means to provide a stop for limiting the rotation of said rotary means in the direction of bias, said rotary means being rotatable away from said stop against the bias of said yielding means to a cocked position, a latch mechanism coacting between said handle and said rotary means to releasably retain said rotary means in a cocked position, and line clamping means operating solely in response `to rotation of said rotary means to clamp said Vline when said rotary means is in the cocked position to thereby clamp said line, said last named means including a cam and cam4 follower coacting between said handle and rotary means, said cam follower operating in response to rotation of said rotary means to kink said tube and` compress said kline as the rotary means moves to a cocked position and to release the kink in said tube so as to free said line as Vthe rotary means moves toward said stop.`

portion, said rod portion extending substantially radially means to releasablyr retain said rotary means in a cockedv position, line clamping means mounted on said device adjacent said path for clamping said line, said linein said Y path passing through said clamping means, and means l2. ln a casting device including a iishing rod and a handle pivotally secured thereto, said rod being'pivotable relative to said ,handle between a cocked position and a rest position, fishing line supply means mounted on said device to supply a line, means coniining said line to a path extending along said rod, gripping means mounted on said device adjacent said path to grip said line, said line in said path passing through said. gripping means, and means responsive solely topivotal movement of the rod relative to the handle for actuating 'said gripping means to grip the line in said path as the rod pivots from the rest position toward a cocked position and'to release said line as Vthe rod-'moves from the cocked position to the 1 1 movement of the line through the Clamping members when the latter are in position to grip the line.

13. The improvement accord-ing to claim 12 wherein said clamping members each include a loop portion, said clamping members having relative movement for positioning said loop portions side by side, said line and said bulge passing freely through one of said loop portions, said loop portions when disposed in side by side relation having aligned inner margins which cooperate to coniine said bulge and thereby secure said line.

14. A casting device including a fishing rod and a handle pivotally secured thereto, said rod being pivotable relative to said handle between a cocked position and a rest position, iishing line `supply means mounted on said handle to supply a line, means torconne said line to a path extending along said rod, a leader knotted to the end of said line, gripping means mounted on said device adjacent said path to grip said line in said path, and means responsive solely to pivotal movement of the rod relative to the handle for actuating said gripping means to grip the line as the rod pivots from the rest position toward a cocked position and to release the line as the rod moves from the cocked position toward the rest position, said gripping means including relatively movable clamping members positioned on said device along the path of La said line between said supply means and the outer end of said rod for clamping upon the line, said line in said -path passing through said gripping means, the improve- References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 496,958 Scheid May 9, 1893 1,140,608 Phillips May 25, 1915 1,934,702 Fante Nov. 14, 1933 2,662,329 Henry Dec. 15, 1953 2,765,568 Kozar Oct. 9, 1956 2,791,858 Kernodle May 14, 1957 2,810,982 Bucciarelli Oct. 29, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 827,107 Great Britain Feb. 3, 1960

Claims

1. IN A CASTING DEVICE INCLUDING A FISHING ROD HAVING A HANDLE PIVOTALLY SECURED THERETO, MEANS TO SUPPLY A FISHING LINE, MEANS TO CONFINE SAID LINE TO A PATH EXTENDING ALONG SAID ROD, SAID ROD BEING PIVOTABLE RELATIVE TO SAID HANDLE BETWEEN A COCKED POSITION AND A REST POSITION, AND MEANS BIASING SAID ROD TO THE REST POSITION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CASTING THE FISHING LINE PASSING FROM THE HANDLE ALONG THE ROD, CLAMPING MEANS FOR GRIPPING THE LINE IN THE COCKED POSITION, SAID CLAMPING MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF CLAMPING MEMBERS MOUNTED FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT ON ONE OF SAID HANDLE AND ROD ELEMENTS, SAID LINE PASSING BETWEEN SAID CLAMPING MEMBERS, CAM MEANS CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID ROD AND HANDLE ELEMENTS AND CAM FOLLOWER MEANS CARRIED BY THE OTHER OF SAID ROD AND HANDLE ELEMENTS COACTING ON PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ROD RELATIVE TO SAID HANDLE TO MOVE SAID CLAMPING MEMBERS INTO AND OUT OF COMPRESSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LINE SUCH THAT THE LINE IS CLAMPED IN THE COCKED POSITION AND FREE OF THE CLAMPING MEMBERS IN THE REST POSITION.