GB2303284A

GB2303284A - Fishing reel

Info

Publication number: GB2303284A
Application number: GB9610367A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yasuhiro Hitomi; Yuzo Kawabe; Seiichi Aratake
Original assignee: Shimano Inc
Current assignee: Shimano Inc
Priority date: 1995-07-20
Filing date: 1996-05-17
Publication date: 1997-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 2016-05-17
Also published as: GB2303284B; DE19634836B8; DE19634836B4; DE19634836A1; GB9610367D0

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION SPINNING REEL Detailed Description of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to spinning reels for fishing, and in particular spinning reels having a line roller which guides a fishing line onto a spool of a fishing reel.

2. Related Prior Art A typical spinning reel includes a bail disposed between two bail support members. These elements rotate around the spool and may be pivoted between a fishing line winding position and a fishing line releasing position. A line roller is disposed on the end of one of the bail support members and the fishing line is in contact with and guided by the outer surface of the line roller. When the user desires to reel the fishing line onto the spool, the bail is pivoted to the fishing line winding position and the handle is turned. The fishing line, guided by the bail, comes into contact with the outer surface of the line roller and is wound around the spool by the line roller.

However, the configuration of the outer surface of the line roller has a great effect on its ability to guide the fishing line onto the spool.

With a spinning reel the fishing line is paid out from the spool in a spiral, so twisting occurs in the fishing line at this time. When the fishing line is reeled back onto the spool, since the fishing line is wound onto the circumference of the spool, guided by the bail and the line roller from the axial direction of the spool, a reverse twist is generated in the fishing line. If the same degree of twisting occurs in the fishing line when it is paid out as when it is reeled in, no residual twisting remains in the line wound onto the spool.

However, while the fishing line is being guided by the line roller, the contact between the fishing line and the line roller creates extra twisting in the fishing line.

Specifically, there is a variation in the size and direction of the force applied to the fishing line by the contact resistance of the line roller, and so extra twisting is created by the unpredictable bending and moving forces applied to the fishing line. As a result, twisting remains in the fishing line wound onto the spool, and so it is difficult to pay out the fishing line smoothly, with the disadvantage that it is impossible to cast the hook accurately.

In Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application No. 646467, a technique for preventing the occurrence of this type of twisting is cited whereby a slot is formed in the center of the outer surface of the line roller, with the fishing line being guided onto the spool by means of this slot. However, even if this type of guide slot is provided to guide the fishing line onto the spool, if the dimensions, shape and structure of this guide slot are not suitable, the fishing line will not be guided onto the spool smoothly, and there is insufficient elimination of twisting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to make it difficult for twisting to occur in the fishing line, and to allow the fishing line to be smoothly guided onto the spool.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a spinning reel includes a reel body, a rotor, two bail support members, a bail, a spool, a line roller and a guide slot. The reel body is attachable to a fishing rod. The rotor includes a first and a second arm, and is rotatably supported on the reel body. The bail support members are a first and a second bail support member pivotally mounted on the ends of the first and second arms respectively. The bail is disposed between the two bail support members. The spool is disposed on the reel body, and the fishing line is wound around its circumference. The line roller is supported so as to rotate freely on the end of one of the bail support members, and guides the fishing line onto the spool.The guide slot is disposed on the outer surface of the line roller, and the width of the slot in which the fishing line is engaged is preferably 0.3 - 1.5 mm.

The slot width is measured from the part of the guide slot with the greatest width, and is normally measured from the edges of the opening of the guide slot. Where the edges of the opening are rounded, it is measured as if there were no rounding. Where the left and right side walls of the guide slot are of different heights, the slot width is measured from the top of the lowest wall across to the opposing wall.

If the slot width is too narrow, when a thick fishing line is used the fishing line will fall out of the slot, the resistance will likely be much greater, and the fishing line cannot be smoothly guided onto the spool. If the slot is too wide, the fishing line will move about across the width of the slot and is likely to cause vibration, so twisting is likely to occur in the fishing line. A slot width that will allow the guide slot to function for the variety of thicknesses of fishing line normally used on a spinning reel will be in the range of figures given above.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the slot width is between 3 - 20% of the diameter of the line roller as measured from the bottom of the guide slot.

If the above ratio is not kept within the stated range, it will be easy for the fishing line to move about within the guide slot, thus easily allowing twisting to occur, or allow it to come out of the guide slot during reeling.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the walls of the guide slot are sloping walls which incline toward the ends of the line roller. Fishing line guided from the bail to the line roller is smoothly introduced to the bottom of the guide slot along these sloping walls. Even if the fishing line should come out of the guide slot, it will be returned to the center of the guide slot by the sloping walls. If the fishing line is always retained in the bottom of the guide slot, it is possible to prevent movement of the fishing line and the occurrence of twisting.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the line roller further includes a tapering guide surface adjacent to the guide slot. This guide surface tapers down from the outermost surface of the line roller towards the guide slot. In addition, the guide surface may include a straight taper which varies linearly, or a drum or barrel-shaped surface in which the taper varies curvilinearly. The fishing line is guided from the bail to the line roller and is then fed into the guide slot by moving smoothly along the tapered part of the guide surface.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the guide surface is disposed on the side of the line roller adjacent to the bail, and a sloping wall is disposed adjacent to the guide slot on the bail support member side. A fishing line guided from the bail to the line roller is fed to the guide slot along the guide surface smoothly. Even if the fishing line in the guide slot attempts to move away from the guide surface, it will be returned to the center of the guide slot by means of the sloping wall, so that the fishing line is always in a desirable position.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the angle the sloping wall makes to the axis of rotation of the line roller is greater than the angle the guide surface makes to the axis of rotation of the line roller. The larger the angle of the sloping wall, the steeper the inclination of its surface. The functions of the guide surface and the sloping wall will be improved if the inclination of the guide surface is relatively gentle, and the inclination of the sloping wall is relatively steep.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the lateral position of the guide slot on the line roller is closer to the bail support member than the bail.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the line roller is supported by bearings so as to rotate freely with respect to said bail support member.

The bearings have a low rotational resistance, so as the fishing line makes contact with and passes through the line roller, the line roller will rotate smoothly. The occurrence of twisting due to variation in the resistance of the fishing line is thereby prevented.

Because the slot width of the guide slot is determined as described above, it is possible to improve the possibility that the fishing line is guided smoothly onto the spool and without twisting, even with the variety of thicknesses of fishing line normally used in a spinning reel.

Other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same or similar parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a spinning reel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top view of the spinning reel depicted in Fig. 1, showing a fishline being wound onto the spool of the fishing reel; Fig. 3 is a part cross section, part elevation of a line guide of the spinning reel depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, with the line guide shown on a slightly enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of the line roller depicted in Fig. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The spinning reel shown in Figs. 1 - 4 includes a reel body 2 having a handle 1, a rotor 3 rotatably supported on the reel body 2 and a spool 4 supported on the rotor 3 and on which a fishing line L is wound. On the upper part of the reel body 2, attachments 2a are formed for attaching the spinning reel to the fishing rod. Moreover, on the inside of the reel body 2 is provided a rotor drive mechanism for rotating the rotor 3, and a level wind mechanism or the like for winding the fishing line L uniformly onto the spool 4, which moves back and forth along the axis of rotation of the spool 4.

The rotor 3 includes a first arm 5 and a second arm 6 which extend along the axis of rotation and are disposed opposite one another. A first bail support member 7 is pivotally mounted to the outer surface of the end of the first arm 5 and a second bail support member 9 is pivotally mounted to the outer surface of the end of the second arm 6. A line guide 8 for guiding the fishing line L onto the spool 4 is disposed on the end of the first bail support member 7. A bail 10 is disposed between the line guide 8 and the second bail support member 9.

The line guide 8, whose structure is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, includes a line roller 15 which has an generally tubular shape, and a roller support mechanism 16 partially housed within the line roller 15. A roller support mechanism 16 supports the line roller 15 so as to allow it to rotate freely with respect to the first bail support member 7.

The roller support mechanism 16 includes a fixed spindle 20 and bearings 21 disposed on the circumference of a fixed spindle 20. The bearings 21 are supported so that the line roller 15 is freely rotatable with respect to the fixed spindle 20. The fixed spindle 20 is fixed by means of a fixing bolt 22 at the end of the first bail support member 7. Specifically, a female screw 20a is formed on the fixed spindle 20, and the fixing bolt 22 passes through a hole 7a formed at the end of the first bail support member 7 and engages with this female screw 20a.

Projections (not shown in the diagram) are formed at the end of the fixed spindle 20, and these projections prevent the rotation of the fixed spindle 20 by engaging with a slot formed in the first bail support member 7. As a result it is possible to prevent any loosening of the engagement between the fixed spindle 20 and the fixing bolt 22.

A bearing support member 23 is disposed in a depression 7b formed in a side surface of the first bail support member 7. One end of the bearing support member 23 is in contact with a portion of the bearing 21. A fixed spindle cover 24 is disposed on and supported by the head of the fixed spindle 20 and a spacer 25 is located in its inner circumference. The spacer 25 is in contact with the bearing 21 and, together with the bearing support member 23, prevents the bearing 21 from moving in the axial direction. One end of the bail 10 is fixed to the cover 24.

A bush 26 is disposed between the inside of the line roller 15 and the outer edge of the bearings 21. A flange 26a is formed on the end of the bush 26 closest to the first bail support member 7 and is disposed between the bearing support member 23 and the line roller 15. As a result it is possible to avoid direct friction between the bearing support member 23 and the side of the line roller 15. In addition, an inner projection 26b is formed on the other end of the bush 26, the end of which is in contact with the cover 24. A bearing seal 27 is disposed between the bush 26 and the bearing support member 23. In this way the influx of water, dirt and the like into those parts where the bearings 21 are fitted can be prevented both by the inside projection 26b of the bush 26 and the bearing seal 27.

The line roller 15 is formed in an generally tubular shape as described above, and includes a guide slot 30 in which the fishing line L is inserted. The guide slot 30 is disposed on the outer surface of the line roller 15 and closer to the bail support member than to the bail 10. As shown in detail in Fig. 4, one side of the guide slot 30 is a relatively high sloping wall 31. The outside of the sloping wall 31 is a flat outer surface, the outside end of which is adjacent to the depression 7b on the first bail support member 7. The bottom of the guide slot 30 is a flat surface. The surface that opposes the lower portion of the sloping wall 31 is almost perpendicular to the flat surface of the guide slot 30. The side of the line roller 15 nearest to the bail 10 also includes the guide surface 32. The guide surface 32 tapers down from the outermost surface of the line roller 15 towards the guide slot 30.

The angle made by the guide surface 32 with respect to the axis of rotation C of the line roller 15 is less than the angle which the sloping wall 31 makes with respect to axis of rotation C. The outside of the guide surface 32 is a flat outer surface, a portion of which is inside the cover 24. The edges of all the wall parts 30, 31, 32 and the like are rounded.

The guide slot 30 has a preferable slot width W of 0.3 to 1.5 mm. Moreover, the ratio W/D of the diameter D of the line roller 15 measured from the bottom of the guide slot 30 relative to the slot width W is preferably between 3 - 20%. The slot width W is determined by the width in a horizontal direction from the interface of the guide slot 30 and the guide surface 32 to an intermediate position on the sloping wall 31.

When the rotor 3 is turned by the handle, the fishing line L is wound onto the spool 4, guided by the bail 10 and the line roller 15. At this time, the fishing line L is guided onto the spool 4 by means of the guide slot 30 on the line roller 15. Since the line roller 15 gently rotates through the action of the bearings 21 with the passage of the fishing line L, there is no significant resistance on the fishing line L and it is able to pass smoothly. As shown in Fig. 2, even when the quantity of the fishing line wound onto the spool 4 changes and/or its outside diameter changes, it is always led onto the spool 4 from a fixed point.As a result, the amount of twisting occurring in the fishing line L is stabilized and there is a reduction in the residual amount of twisting remaining in the fishing line L due to the difference between the twist created when the fishing line L is paid out and when it is wound in.

If there is a variation in the diameter of the fishing line L or in the tension applied to the fishing line L, there may be occasions where the fishing line L passing over the line roller 15 comes into partial contact with the guide surface 32. However, since the fishing line L will be urged over to the guide slot 30 by the taper of the guide surface 32, the majority of the fishing line L that passes over the line roller 15 will pass through the guide slot 30.

There are other embodiments possible with this invention. For example, the shape and position of the spool, arms, bail support members and the like is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiments. In addition, the shape of the guide slot 30 is not limited to the angular slot shown in the figures, e.g., the bottom of the slot may not be a flat surface but instead a semicircular or some other curved surface. The side walls of the guide slot 30 may be sloping, vertical, or curved. The left and right side walls of the guide slot 30 may moreover be of different sizes and shapes.

The preferred value for the slot width W of the guide slot 30 will vary depending on the thickness of the fishing line L used. Normally it is preferable that the slot width W be of a slightly greater dimension than the thickness of the fishing line L. Where the same line roller 15 is used for fishing lines of different thickness, the slot width W chosen should be wider than the thickest fishing line.

In addition to having a linear inclination, the sloping wall 31 may have a concave or convex shape. The angle of inclination of the sloping wall 31 and its height may be altered as appropriate in order to accurately guide the fishing line.

In addition to a being a tapering surface with a linear taper, the guide surface 32 may have a rounded drum or barrel shaped surface. The guide surface 32 may be disposed on only one side of the guide slot 30, or may be disposed on both sides. The angle of inclination and the width of the guide surface 32 may be selected by taking into consideration its guiding function for the fishing line L and the balance with guide slot 30.

The guide slot 30 may be in the center in the axial direction of the line roller 15, or may be located closer either to the bail 10 side or the bail support member 7 side.

The line roller 15 may be composed of the same material used in a line roller for normal spinning reels, such as metal, synthetic resin, ceramic or the like. Manufacturing process technology for normal spinning reel line rollers may be applied to the method of manufacture for the line roller 15 and the method of processing for the guide slot 30 and the like, and molding, forging, cutting, grinding or other methods of processing may be employed.

The structure which supports the line roller 15 in a freely rotatable fashion may include slip bearings in addition to the bearings 21.

Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its spirit nor its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the embodiments according to the present invention is provided for the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A spinning reel comprising: a reel body capable of being fitted to a fishing rod; a rotor having a first and a second arm, rotatably supported by said reel body and rotating in accordance with a winding operation of a handle; a spool supported by said reel body, which makes a traverse movement in accordance with the winding operation of said handle, and on the circumference of which is wound a fishing line; a first and a second bail support member pivotally mounted on the ends of said first and second arms respectively; a bail disposed between said bail support members; and a roller support mechanism which supports a line roller on one of said bail support members; wherein said line roller guides said fishing line onto said spool and is supported so as to rotate freely on one of said bail support members, and includes a guide slot with a width of 0.3 to 1.5 mm disposed on the circumference of said line roller in which said fishing line is engaged.

2. The spinning reel of Claim 1, in which the width of said guide slot is 3-20% of the size of the diameter of said line roller when measured from the bottom of said guide slot.

3. The spinning reel of either preceding claim, in which the side walls of said guide slot are inclined toward the ends of said line roller.

4. The spinning reel of any preceding claim, in which said line roller is further provided with a guide surface adjacent to said guide slot, and in which said guide surface tapers down from the outermost portion of the line roller to said guide slot.

5. The spinning reel of Claim 4, in which said guide surface is disposed on the side of said line roller nearest said bail, and the wall of said guide slot closest to said bail support member is inclined.

6. The spinning reel of Claim 5, in which the angle made by said wall with respect to the axis of rotation of said line roller is greater than the angle made by said guide surface with respect to the axis of rotation of said line roller.

7. The spinning reel of any preceding claim, in which said guide slot is disposed at a point on said line roller that is closer to said bail support member than to the bail.

8. The spinning reel of any preceding claim, in which said line roller is supported by bearings so as to rotate freely with respect to said bail support member.

9. A spinning reel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.