Live liner drag device
View Patent ↗A drag device for use with a fishing reel is provided that allows an angler to switch between a main drag mode and a secondary drag mode. The main drag mode is traditionally used to provide drag when trying to reel in a fish, while the secondary drag mode is traditionally used to provide finely-tuned drag when fishing with live bait. The drag device preferably includes a lever member that, when engaged, causes the fishing reel to switch between the main drag mode and secondary drag mode, as well as adjust the drag force of the secondary drag.
1. A drag device for a fishing reel including a mainshaft for alternating between a main drag assembly and an adjustable secondary drag assembly, the drag device comprising:
a lever member associated with the fishing reel, said lever member being movable between a first position and a second position;
at least two washers coupled to said lever member, at least one of said washers being rotationally coupled to the mainshaft of the fishing reel;
wherein when said lever member is moved out of its first position, the main drag assembly is disengaged, and as said lever member is moved towards its second position the secondary drag assembly is engaged; and
wherein as said lever member is progressively moved towards its second position, a progressively increasing force is applied to the at least two washers to selectively increase the force associated with the secondary drag assembly.
2. The drag device of claim 1 further including a gear assembly attached to one end portion of said lever member; an actuator in mechanical communication with said gear assembly, said actuator being coupled to said at least two washers for applying a force to said at least two washers when said lever member is moved from its first position to its second position.
3. The drag device of claim 2 further including a leaf spring in mechanical communication with said actuator, said leaf spring progressively compressing said at least two washers when said lever member is moved from its first position to its second position thereby causing an adjustable force to be generated by the secondary drag assembly.
4. The drag device of claim 3 wherein said actuator includes a nose portion at a distal end of said actuator, said leaf spring being in mechanical communication with the nose portion of said actuator.
5. The drag device of claim 2 wherein said gear assembly includes a first gear member attached to a distal portion of said lever member, a second gear member in mechanical communication with said first gear member, said second gear member including a lower levered portion, and a central gear member in mechanical communication with the second gear member.
6. The drag device of claim 5 wherein said second gear member includes an upper geared portion, said central gear member being in mechanical communication with the upper geared portion of said second member.
7. The drag device of claim 1 including at least two adjustment washers located at a distal end of the fishing reel for adjusting the force between the at least two washers.
8. The drag device of claim 1 including an adjustment screw mechanism located at a distal end of the fishing reel for adjusting the force between said at least two washers.
9. An adjustable secondary drag device for use on a fishing reel for varying the force generated by the secondary drag device, the fishing reel including a mainshaft, the secondary drag device comprising:
a lever member coupled to a gear mechanism, said lever member being movable between a first position and a second position;
an actuator coupled to said gear mechanism; and
at least two washers coupled to said actuator, at least one of said washers being keyed to the mainshaft of the fishing reel;
wherein when said lever member is moved out of its first position and is progressively moved towards its second position, a progressively increasing force is applied to the at least two washers to selectively increase the force generated by the secondary drag device.
10. The secondary drag device of claim 9 including at least two adjustment washers located at a distal end of the fishing reel for adjusting the force between the at least two washers.
11. The secondary drag device of claim 10 including an adjustment screw mechanism located at the distal end of the fishing reel for adjusting the force between the at least two washers.
12. The secondary drag device of claim 9 wherein the fishing reel includes at main drag assembly, the main drag assembly being disengaged when said lever member is moved out of its first position.
13. The secondary drag device of claim 9 including a leaf spring coupled to said actuator, said leaf spring progressively compressing said at least two washers when said lever member is moved from its first position to its second position.
14. The secondary drag device of claim 13 wherein the actuator includes a nose portion at a distal end of said actuator, said nose portion being in mechanical communication with said leaf spring.
15. The secondary drag device of claim 9 wherein said gear mechanism includes a first gear member attached to a distal end of said lever member, a second gear member in mechanical communication with said first gear member, the second gear member including a lower levered portion, and a central gear member in mechanical communication with said second gear member, said actuator being in mechanical communication with the lowered levered portion of said second gear member.