Spool Tensioner

Abstract

A spool tensioner includes a main body member, a cap and an elastic band. The elastic band fits around a spool of line, and a line feeds through the main body member and through a centrally located hole on the top of the cap. The elastic band may be tightened and adjusted to maintain tension on a spool of line, such as fishing line. The line may be unwound from the spool while the spool tensioner is in place on the spool, and in operation, the spool spins within the elastic band while the spool tensioner remains generally stationary. In this way, the spool tensioner allows line to be unwound from the spool while maintaining tension thereon to prevent the line from inadvertently unraveling and tangling or snarling.

1 . A spool tensioner comprising
 a main body member including a generally square shaped housing having two opposed longitudinal walls and two opposed transverse walls, said generally square housing being open at a top portion and a bottom portion thereof, a pair of fingers, wherein one finger extends outwardly from a bottom portion of each of said transverse walls;   wherein a slot is defined between each said transverse wall and said corresponding finger;   an elastic band, wherein a first end of said elastic band is fed through one of said slots, and a second end of said elastic band is fed through a second slot; and   a cap including two opposed transverse walls and two opposed longitudinal walls, and further including an upper surface defining an opening therein for receiving line from a spool, wherein said cap matingly snap-fits over said generally square shaped housing.   
     
     
         2 . The spool tensioner set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said slots include teeth disposed on one edge thereof for engagement with said elastic band. 
     
     
         3 . The spool tensioner set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal walls of said generally square housing include a protuberance that mates with openings in each longitudinal wall of said cap. 
     
     
         4 . The spool tensioner set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said opposing transverse walls of said cap include a set of teeth along a bottom edge thereof for engaging with said elastic band. 
     
     
         5 . The spool tensioner set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each of said fingers includes a first slot and a second slot extending transversely thereacross in parallel relation to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The spool tensioner set forth in  claim 1 , further including a guide member attached to an upper portion of each of said opposed transverse walls of said cap extending downwardly toward said first slot creating a gap between said guide member and said corresponding transverse wall of said cap, which allows said elastic band to pass downwardly through said first slot and then upwardly through said second slot for ease of adjustment.