GB2280152A

GB2280152A - Variable length fishing reel crank arm

Info

Publication number: GB2280152A
Application number: GB9413904A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rupert Kuntze
Original assignee: Deutsche Angelgerate Manufaktur DAM Hellmuth Kuntze GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Deutsche Angelgerate Manufaktur DAM Hellmuth Kuntze GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1993-07-21
Filing date: 1994-07-11
Publication date: 1995-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-11
Also published as: GB9413904D0; FR2707837A1; IT1273715B; GB2280152B; ITMI941532A1; DE4324414A1; ITMI941532A0

Description

2280152 FISHING REEL WITH A CRANK ARM The invention is based on a fishing

reel with a crank arm which comprises a toggle handle to be gripped by the hand, or other handle, and which is connected to the shaft of the drive wheel of the fishing reel by rotation entrainment means, where the crank arm consists of two crank arm sections which are pivotably linked together (intr6ductory part of claim 1). Such a device is known from DE-OS 2452698. In this latter device, one of the crank arm sections is provided with lateral notches and the other crank arm section is provided with a catch which, depending on the positions of the crank arm sections relative to one another, engages in one of the notches. For this, after release of a screw fastening of the two crank arm sections to the drive shaft, the two crank arm sections must be displaced longitudinally relative to one another, by means of a longitudinal groove in one of the crank arm sections, before the catch is taken out of the relevant notch. After a subsequent displacement the catch must be introduced into the associated notch and the crank arm sections must be screw fastened to the drive shaft again. This arrangement is disadvantageous in several respects. Its design is relatively complex and it is expensive to manufacture. The described manipulation during the adjustment of the effective length of the crank arm is complicated. In practice it cannot be performed whilst angling since, during the phase of releasing the crank arm sections from the drive shaft, if there is a sudden bite by a fish the fishing reel cannot then be braked. Lastly, the number of notches and consequently the number of possibilities of adjusting the effective length of the crank arm is limited. In the embodiment example of DE-OS 24 52 698 there are only three settings for this.

A fishing reel in accordance with the introductory part of claim 1 is also known from US-PS 3011362. In this case a draw spring is provided which is mounted with its ends on the two respective crank arm sections in such a way that the arrangement can adopt only two operating settings, where with the one 2 operating setting a larger lever action is provided for tle person operating the crank than is obtained with the other operating setting. An arrangement acting in a substantially similar way is also known from US-PS 4479619. This document shows a fishing reel drive with which, by swivelling a lever arm against the action of a dead- centre position overcoming spring, two different effective lengths of the lever arm can be set to act on the drive of the fishing reel. This, too, has the disadvantage of a structure which is time-consuming, and therefore correspondingly expensive, to manufacture. It is also unsatisfactory functionally, since only two different effective lever arm lengths can be set for this device.

In the above, by,effective lever arm length" is meant the distance between the handle on the crank arm, on the one hand, and the position at which the crank arm acts on the engagement shaft, on the other hand, i.e. the lever a:m length which multiplied by the force applied by the angler on the handle produces the torque acting on the drive shaft.

The task or problem to be solved by the invention is therefore to arrange that, with a fishing reel in accordance with the introductory part of claim 1, that even with changing loads caused by the pulling f ish, the force to be applied by the operating person to haul in the fish always remains approximately constant. Furthermore, backwards pulling forces caused by the fish should be at least partially compensated.

In order to solve this task or problem, according to the invention it is first arranged that in the extent of the said crank arm sections or at their articulation joint a spring arrangement is provided such that its elastic force is directed against the direction of pivoting, on cranking to wind in the fishing line, of the crank arm section comprising the toggle or other handle, so that with increasing resistance of the drive wheel of the fishing reel to rotation the effectively active lever arm formed by the two crank arm sections increases continuously against. the action of the spring arrangement. Thereby, with very simple means, it is arranged that the resistance occurring, and to be overcome by the operator, on the handle of the appropriate section of the crank arm during hauling in a fish, changes little or only slightly so far as the user is concerned. At the same time it is provided that, as a result of the spring arrangement, any backwards pulling forces caused by the fish which occur are partially, at least, resiliently taken up. The spring arrangement can have different forms, e.g. torsion springs, pressure springs, draw springs, a resilient crank arm section, etc.

For weaker people there is the advantage that even in the case of a fish pulling with a very strong force, it is still possible, because of the self-adjusting lengthening of the ef f ective lever arm, to haul in the reel and the fish without the person concerned having to exert too large a force on the toggle (handle) of the appropriate crank arm section. The only effect is that the total path to be described by the crank arm and its handle on hauling in the f ishing reel is longer than if the effective lever arm were smaller. With the invention not only is a decreased loading provided on the arm which has to hold the toggle or handle, but also, at least partially, on the arm or hand which holds the angling rod and which consequently must apply a certain amount of force opposing the cranking force.

Without increasing the human force acting upon the toggle or handle of the crank arm, the torque acting on the shaft of the drive wheel increases automatically, in accordance with the loading applied by the pull of the f ish, without any special manipulation by the operator being necessary for this. The above mentioned automatic alteration of the effective lever arm of the crank arm takes care of this. The torque acting on the shaft of the drive wheel overcomes the instantaneous pulling force of the fish and makes it possible to haul the latter in. The force to be exerted by the operator remains substantially constant, both with a smaller and with a stronger pulling force of the fish which has bitten.

Other features and advantages, and in particular possible embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims and in the following description and accompanying drawings of embodiments of the invention. The drawings show:

Fig. 1: a first embodiment of the invention in longitudinal cross-section, Figs. 2 to 4: a view as seen along the arrow A in Fig. 1 showing different angular positions of the crank arm sections relative to one another, Fig. 5: a second embodiment of the invention in side view, Fig. 6: a third embodiment in side view, and Fig. 7: a fourth embodiment of the invention in side vieww The principle of the invention is first of all explained in detail in relation to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Two crank arm sections 1, 2 are provided which are pivotably connected together at the position with the overall reference number 3. Preferably one crank arm section 1 is'shorter and is connected by rotation entrainment means to the drive axle or shaft 4 of the drive wheel 5 of the fishing reel which is shown here only partially with its housing 6. The longer crank arm section 2 carries by means of a peg 7 a toggle handle 8 rotatable with it.

The articulation 3 is in this embodiment formed by a helical spring 9 which surrounds a shaft 10 of an adjusting screw 11 at the end 13 of the longer crank arm section 2 and in addition encircles a projection 12 at the end 14 of the shorter crank arm section 1. Moreover spring 9 is held with its, in Fig. 1, upper end 91 in a bored hole 15 or the like in the end 13 and with its bent away lower end 91, in a bored hole 16 or the like in the end 14. The coiling of the spring is such that with a pivoting of the longer crank arm section 2 in the counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrow 17 it is more strongly tensioned, i.e. its opposing force increases. At the same time the effectively active lever arm h between the point at which the hand acts, in other words the toggle 8 or the peg 7, on the one hand, and the shaft 4, on the other hand, is hereby increased. The said lever arm h is in the initial position (resting position) shown in Fig. 2 at its shortest, and in the present numerical example h = 72 mm. When the longer crank arm section is pivoted from the position shown in Fig. 1 through a certain angle in the direction of the arrow 17 (intermediary position shown in Fig. 3), the effective lever arm h now becomes longer in comparison with the position shown in Fig. 2; in the present numerical example h is then 85 mm. Finally, in accordance with Fig. 4, as a result of further pivoting of the longer crank arm section 2 in the direction of the arrow 17 the maximum possible length of the effective lever arm h is reached; in the present numerical example h = 137 mm. This lengthening of the effectively active lever arm, on moving the aforementioned crank arm section from the position shown in Fig. I to the position shown in Fig. 4, is associated with a corresponding increase in the counter force of the spring. Altogether, therefore - depending on the opposing pull of the fish - a larger torque is obtained on the shaft 4 of the drive wheel 5, whereas the force applied by the operator an the toggle 8 remains approximately the same.

The extreme end positions of the two crank arm sections 1 and 2, i.e. in the present embodiment example the initial position shown in Fig. 1 and the f inal position shown in Fig. 4, - 6 can be determined and limited by stops (not shown in the drawings) e.g. in the articulation region.

The embodiments shown in Figs. 5 to 7 operate according to the same principle explained above. Consequently the same reference numbers are used. Insofar as differences exist, these are explained in the following.

In Fig. 5 the longer crank arm section 2 is constituted by one or more leaf springs. The articulation with the shorter crank arm section 1 is produced by the ability to bend, here indicated by 18, of the crank arm section 2 relative to its point of attachment 24 to the end 14 of the crank arm section 1. Fig. 5 shows a position similar to Fig. 3. With the movement of the said crank arm section in the direction of the arrow 17, an increase in the effectively active lever arm h is similarly obtained as well as the resulting action explained above, including a hereby automatically increasing counter spring action.

Although in the embodiment examples the preferred embodiment of the invention is that in which the crank arm section 2 carrying the toggle handle 8 at its end 19 is described as longer and the crank arm section 1 coupled at its end 20 to the peg 4 is described as shorter, the invention is not limited to this. If desired or necessary, the two said crank arm sections 1, 2 could be equally long or the section 1 could even be longer than the section 2.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the articulation 3 of the crank arm sections 1, 2 is located at a distance f rom the respective ends 19, 13 and 20, 14. The articulation can be a spigot, rivet or the like. The ends 13, 14 are connected together by means of a draw spring 21. If the crank arm section 2 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow 17, this results both in an increase in the effective lever arm h and also in the pulling force of the spring 21.

- 7 A similar embodiment is shown in Fig. 7, only in this case the crank arm sections 1, 2 are each so bent that they do not crossover as they do in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, but instead their partial sections 11, 111 and 21, 211 are both located on the same side. In this case a pressure spring 22 is provided between the ends 13, 14 which is compressed by the pivoting of the crank arm section 2 in the direction of the arrow 17.

It is common to all embodiments that starting from the corresponding resting position, subjected to the force of the appropriate spring, the effective lever arm h is made larger by corresponding pivoting of the crank arm section 2 in the direction of the arrow 17 about the articulation 3. The relevant maximum angle of opening, e.g. 1800, can be limited by a stop, not only in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3, but also in the other embodiments. The same applies to the limitation of the starting position. This is not shown in the Figures.

The crank arm sections can be so dimensioned that in their resting position (see Fig. 1) they have a static mass balance relative to the shaft 4. This is the case in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

If it is desired that the effect obtained according to the invention should not occur during certain manipulations, a slidable bolt or other locking device can be provided which locks the two crank arm sections 1, 2 together or fixes the position of at least one of the lever arms (not shown in the drawings).

In addition, it is within the scope of the invention to control the driving force or counter force of the spring or to adjust it, e.g. with the help of an adjusting screw or a positioning element (not shown).

The above described forms of the invention can be provided with every embodiment of the invention. Moreover a feature or 8 - detail provided for any one embodiment could be realized in the other embodiment examples.

Claims

1. A f ishing reel with a crank arm which comprises a toggle handle to be gripped by the hand, or other handle, and which is connected to the shaft of the drive wheel of the fishing reel by rotation entrainment means, where the crank arm consists of two crank arm sections which are pivotably linked together, characterized in that in the extent of these crank arm sections (1, 2) or at their articulation joint (3) a spring arrangement (9, 18, 21, 22) is provided such that its elastic force is directed against the direction of pivoting (17), on cranking to wind in the f ishing line, of the crank arm section (2) comprising the toggle or other handle (8), so that with increasing resistance of the drive wheel (5) of the fishing reel (6) to rotation the effectively active lever arm (h) formed by the two crank arm sections (1, 2) increases continuously against the action of the spring arrangement.

2. A fishing reel according to claim 1, characterized in that a spring (9) connects one end (13, 14) of each of the two crank arm sections (1, 2), where the free end (19) of one crank arm section (2) carries the handle (8) and the end (20) of the other lever arm section (1) is f ixed to the drive shaf t (4) of the drive wheel (5) by rotation entrainment means.

3. A fishing reel according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the crank arm sections (2) is itself made so that it is resilient and is fixed (24) at one of its ends to the free end of the other crank arm section (1) and the other end (19) of the itself resilient crank arm section carries the handle (8).

4. A fishing reel according to claim 1, characterized in that two crank arm sections (1, 2; 11, 111 and 21, 211) are pivotably linked together, the articulation joint (3) being located at a distance from the ends (13, 14 and 19, 20) of the crank arm sections and in that a draw spring or pressure spring (21, 22) is provided between two of the equivalent sides of the parts of - 10 the crank arm sections directed towards the articulation joint (3) and the other two ends of the crank arm sections are respectively fixed to the drive shaft (4) of the drive wheel (5) by rotation entrainment means or carry the handle (toggle).

5. A fishing reel according to claim 4, characterized in that the draw or pressure springs.(21, 22) are located at the respective ends (13, 14) of the crank arm sections (1, 2; 111, 211).

6. A fishing reel according to claim 1, characterized in that the two crank arm sections (1, 2) are pivotably (3) connected together at one end of each and in that a draw or pressure spring (21, 22) is provided between the articulation joint (3) and the other ends (19, 20) of the two crank arm sections (1, 2).

7. A f ishing reel according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the crank arm sections have a static mass balance relative to the drive shaf t (4) of the rotation wheel (5) -

8. A f ishing reel according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by stops to limit and f ix the pivoting position of one crank arm section (2) relative to the other crank arm section (1) -

9. A fishing reel according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the crank arm sections (1, 2) have different leng;ths and the longer crank arm section (2) comprises the handle, for example in the form of a toggle handle (8), and the shorter crank arm section (1) is fixed to the shaft (4) of the drive wheel (5) of the fishing reel (6) by rotation entrainment means.

10. A fishing reel according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the counter force of the spring arrangement (9, 18, 21, 22) is alterable and controllable and can be fixed at the respective new setting.

11. A fishing reel according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a sliding bolt or other arresting device is provided which locks the two crank arm sections (1, 2) together.

12. A fishing reel substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, 5, 6 or 7 of the accompanying drawings.