GB2453650A

GB2453650A - Fishing reel brake

Info

Publication number: GB2453650A
Application number: GB0818317A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Masayuki Nogami
Original assignee: Daiwa Seiko Co Ltd
Current assignee: Globeride Inc
Priority date: 2007-10-10
Filing date: 2008-10-07
Publication date: 2009-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-07
Also published as: JP2009089665A; GB0818317D0; GB2453650B

Abstract

A fishing reel comprises a main body 1, spool, brake, system 20 and an adjustment knob 50 supported on a side plate 2a of the main body. The adjustment knob has an operation part 52, operated to rotate by hand and an annular part 57 supported on the side plate. In a first aspect, the annular part is supported on the side plate 2a via an elastic member 60, slidable on the side plate, and is larger in diameter than the operation part. Preferably, the adjustment knob includes a shaft 53, lying radially inwards of the annular part, a coupling portion 51 coupled to the brake system and a locking portion 55. The adjustment knob may include an annular flange 65 which is larger in diameter than the annular part. According to a second aspect, a shaft is supported rotatably on the side plate and the annular part is supported radially outwards of the shaft.

Description

FISHING REEL

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fishing reel which includes a brake system for imparting a braking force to a spool which is supported rotatably on a reel main body.

[0002] Conventionally, in fishing reels, when reeling out a fishing line (with terminal tackle) to a predetermined point through a casting operation after a spool has been switched toa free statebycontrollingaclutchmechanism, in the event that the unwinding or paying-out speed of the fishing line becomes faster than the rotating speed of the spool (overspeed), since a backlash phenomenon is produced to thereby cause a drawback such entanglement or biting of the fishing line, it is general practice to equip the fishing reel with a backlash preventing device (hereinafter, also referred to as a brake system) for automatically preventing such a spool overspeeding phenomenon.

[0003] Usually, the backlash preventing device is configured to impart a braking force to the rotating spool, and as is disclosed, for example, in JP-UM-A-58-l4l382 or JP-UM-A-60-41167, a braking force that is to be applied to a spool is designed to be adjusted by operating to rotate an adjustment knob provided on an outside of a side plate of a reel main body. Specifically, the adjustment knob has a dial-like operation part or an operation part made up of a central projecting portion which is exposed to the outside, and a small-diameter shaft part which is formed integrally with the operation part is supported rotatably on the side plate of the reel main body.

[00041 In the adjustment knob described above, a gearwheel is fixedly attached to an axially internal end portion of the small-diameter shaft part in such a manner as to be mesh connected to the braking system for increasing or decreasing the braking force for adjustment.

[0005] In this way, since the adjustment knob is configured in such a manner as to be supported on the side plate via the small-diameter part and the gearwheel which is fixed to the end portion thereof while prevented from being withdrawn therefrom, the adjustment knob is easily caused to get loose relative to the side plate in a radial direction anda thrust direction, and as aresultof this, the supporting condition of the adjustment knob gets unstable, and the control of braking force for adjustment with a sensation of precision cannot be implemented to a nicety, leading to a problem that the adjustment knob has inferior adjustability with respect to fine adjustments.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention has been made in view of the problem described above, and an object thereof is to provide a fishing reel in which a braking force applied to a spool can be adjusted by an adjustment knob which is free from looseness and is supported in a stable condition.

[0007] With a view to attaining the object, according to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a fishing reel having a brake system for imparting a braking force to a spool which is supported rotatably on a reel main body and an adjustment knob which is supported rotatably on a side plate of the reel main body for increasing or decreasing the braking force of the brake system for adjustment, wherein the adjustment knob has an operation part which is operated to rotate by the finger or fingers and an annular part which is supported via an elastic member which can be brought into slide contact with the side plate and which is larger in diameter than the operation part.

[0008] According to the configuration described above, since the adjustment knob is supported on the side plate of the reel main body by the annular part which is larger in diameter than the part that is operated to rotate by the finger or fingers, even though the operation part is operated to rotate, there is caused no looseness in the adjustment knob, and hence, the supporting condition is stabilized. In addition, since the elastic member which can be brought into slide contact with the side plate is interposed between the large-diameter annular part and the side plate, when the operation part is operated to rotate, the control of braking force for adjustment with a sensation of precision can be implemented to a nicety, the adjustability with respect-to fine adjustments being thereby enhanced.

[0009] In addition, with a view to attaining the object, according to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a fishing reel having a brake system for imparting a braking force to a spool which is supported rotatably on a reel main body and an adjustment knob which is supported rotatably on a side plate of the reel main body for increasing or decreasing the braking force of the brake system for adjustment, wherein the adjustment knob has an operation part which is operated to rotate by the finger or fingers, a shaft part which is supported rotatably on the side plate, and an annular part which is supported rotatably on the side plate in a position lying radially outwards of the shaft part and is larger in diameter than the operation part.

[0010] According to the configuration described above, since the adjustment knob is supported on the side plate of the reel main body by the annular part which is larger in diameter than the part that is operated to rotate by the finger or fingers, even though the operation part is operated to rotate, there is caused no looseness in the adjustment knob, and hence, the supporting condition is stabilized.

[0011] According to the aspects of the invention, the fishing reel can be obtained in which a braking force applied to the spool can be adjusted by the adjustment knob which is free from looseness and is supported in

a stable condition.

[0040]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a fishing reel according to the invention, which is a plan view showing an interior configuration.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the fishing reel shown in Fig. 1, which is a partially cutaway view showing an adjustment knob.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of an area where the adjustment knob shown in Fig. 1 is provided.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the invention, which is an enlarged view of an adjustment knob.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the invention, which is an enlarged viewof an adjustment knob.

[0012J

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a fishing reel according to the inventionwillbedescribedbyreference to the drawings.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a fishing reel according to the invention, which is a plan view showing an interior configuration, Fig. 2 is a side view of the fishing reel shown in Fig. 1, which is a partially cutaway view of an adjustment knob, Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of an area where the adjustment knob shown in Fig. 1 is provided, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the main part shown in Fig. 3.

[0014] A fishing reel (a double-bearing reel) according to this embodiment has a reel main body 1 which includes left and right side plates 2a, 2b and left and right frames 3a, 3b which are covered by both the side plates 2a, 2b, respectively. A spool shaft 5 is supported rotatably via bearings 7 between the left and right frames 3a, 3b, and spool 5a on which a fishing line is wound is fixed integrally to the spool shaft 5.

[0015] A pinion gear 8 is attached to an end portion of the spool shaft 5 which projects from the right frame 3b in such a manner as to shift along an axial direction of the spool shaft 5. This pinion gear 8 is shifted by a known switching means, not shown, between an engaged position (a power transinissive state) where the pinion gear 8 is brought into engagement with the spool shaft for rotation together with the spool shaft 5 and a non-engaged position (a power cut-off state) where the engagement of the pinion gear 8 with the spool shaft 5 is released. In addition, a drive gearwheel 10 which is supported on a handle shaft 9 is brought into mesh engagement with the pinion gear 8, whereby when a handle 9a attached to an end portion of the handle shaft 9 is operated to rotate, the spool shaft 5 is driven to rotate via the drive gearwheel 10 and the pinion gear 8, and in association with this, the spooi 5a is caused to rotate.

[0016] In addition, a known drag mechanism 12 is set between the handle shaft 9 and the drive gearwheel 10, so that a desired braking force, is allowed to be imparted to the spool 5a when the fishing line is unwound by a fish which has taken the bait or fly.

[0017] In addition, in this embodiment, a brake system 20 for preventing the overspeed of the spool 5a when a fishing line paying out operation (mainly, a casting operation) is carried out is provided closer to the left side plate. This brake system 20 is configured in such a manner as to impart a braking force to the spool 5a by means of a magnet and has a shift element 21 which is fitted on the spool shaft 5 in such a manner as to be able to shift along the axial direction thereof but as not to rotate thereon and centrifugal collars 23 which are held on an outer circumferential surface of the shift element 21 at predetermined intervals in such a manner as to shift in a radial direction. These centrifugal collars 23 are made to be shifted radially outwards by virtue of centrifugal force when the spool shaft 5 (and the shift element 21) rotates together with the spool 5a.

[00181 In addition, an annular conductive element 25 is supported on the shift element 21 which lies on a left side plate side of the centrifugal collars 23. This conductive element 25 is made to shift in the axial direction relative to the spool shaft 5 as the shift element 21 shifts. In addition, a tapered surface 5b is formed on a rear surface side of a fishing line winding surface of the spooi 5a in such a manner as to be expanded diametrically step by step towards the left frame 3a side.

This tapered surface 5b is made to be brought into surface contact (engagement) with inclined surfaces 23a formed on outer surfaces of the centrifugal colors 23 when the centrifugal collars 23 shift radially outwards so as to guide the shifting centrifugal collars 23. Namely, the centrifugal collars 23 which are supported on the shift element 21 are made to shift radially while being guided along the tapered surface 5 through an engaging action betweenthe inclinedsurfaces 23aandthe taperedsurface 5b by virtue of centrifugal force generated in association with rotation of the spool shaft 5 (the spool 5a), whereby the shift element 21 on which the annular conductive element 25 is supported is made to shift in the axial direction towards the left frame 3a side.

[0019] A spring member 27 is fitted on the spool shaft 5 in such a manner as to be interposed between a retainer 26 fixed to one end portion of the spool shaft 5 and the shift element 21 so that the shift element 21 is normally biased in a direction towards the spool 5a side (the conductive element 25 is normally biased towards the spool 5a side or in a direction in which the conductive element 25 moves away from a magnetic field of a magnet, which will be described later) [0020] Furthermore, the brake system 20 is provided closer to the left side plate 2a which makes up the reel main body and includes a magnet 30 which generates a magnetic force which acts between the conductive element 25 adapted to shift in the axial direction and itself. This magnet 30 is made to impart a magnetic force to the conductive element 25 which shifts backwards and forwards in the axial direction in association with rotation of the spool 5a, so as to impart a braking force to the conductive element 25. In this embodiment, the magnet includes an internal magnet 31 which is made into an annular shape and is provided on an inner surface side of the conductive element 25 in such a manner as to confront with a predetermined interval provided therebetween and an external magnet 32 which is made into an annular shape and is provided on an outer surface side of the conductive element 25 with a predetermined interval provided therebetween. By this configuration, the conductive element 25 is allowed to move into and out of a magnetic field generated in a gap defined between the internal magnet 31 and the external magnet 32, exerting a magnetic braking force on the spool 5a.

[0021] The internal magnet 31 which is made into the annular shape is fixed to the left frame 3a by a holder 33, and the external magnet 32 which is made into the annular shape is held by a holder 34 in such a manner as to rotate in a circumferential direction relative to the internal magnet 31. As a result, by the external magnet 32 rotating in the circumferential direction, magnetic poles change between the internal magnet 31 and the external magnet 32, whereby the magnetic braking force can be adjusted which is being exerted on the conductive element 25 which moves backwards and forwards between both the magnets.

[0022] The holder 34 is connected to an adjustment knob which is supported rotatably on the left side plate 2a, and the holder 34 is configured in such a manner as to be caused to rotate by operating the adjustment knob to rotate, so as to change the position of the external magnet 32 relative to the internal magnet 31 (the braking force of the brake system 20 is increased or decreased for adjustment) . Specifically, external teeth 34a are formed on the holder 34, and by bringing a coupling portion (a gearwheel) 51 which rotates together with the adjustment knob 50 into mesh engagement with the external teeth 34a, the holder 34 is made to rotate by the rotation of the adjustment knob 50.

[00231 The adjustment knob 50 includes a cylindrical operation part 52 which is exposed from the left side plate 2a so as to project axially outwards to enable it to be operated to rotate by the finger or fingers and a shaft part 53 which projects towards the left frame side in a substantially central area of the operation part 52.

[00241 The shaft part 53 is supported rotatably on the left side plate 2a while being prevented from being withdrawn therefrom. In this embodiment, a recessed portion 2c is formed on the left side plate 2a, so that the shaft part 53 is set in this recessed portion. In addition to this, a locking part 55 is provided at an end portion of the shaft part 53, and the shaft part 53 is supported while being prevented from withdrawal by a bottom wall of the recessed portion 2c. Specifically, a through hole 55a is formed in advance in the shaft part 53 in such a manner as to extend in the axial direction, and a retaining machine screw 55b is screwed into the through hole 55a, whereby the shaft part 53 (the adjustment knob 50) is supported on the left side plate 2a while being prevented from withdrawal from the same side plate.

[0025j In addition, the coupling portion (the gearwheel) 51 adapted to mesh with the external teeth 34a formed on the holder 34 is formed integrally at an end portion side of the shaft part 53. In this case, as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, although the coupling portion 51 is formed integrally on the shaft part 53 and is positioned within the recessed portion 2c, a configuration may be adopted in which a separate gearwheel is attached to the shaft part 53.

[0026] Furthermore, the adjustment knob 50 has an annular part 57 having a larger diameter than an outside diameter D of the operation part 52 which is formed integrally therewith axially inwards of the operation part 52, and this annular part 57 is supported in an annular opening 2d formed on the left side plate 2a. In this case, although the annular opening 2d may directly be formed on the left side plate 2a, the annular opening 2d may be formed on a cover element 2e which is fixed to the left side plate 2a as a separate element as is shown in the figures. In addition, as to the cover element 2e which is formed as the separate element in this way, it is preferable to form an annular opening by applying cutting work to a metallic material such as, for example, aluminum alloy, copper alloy, stainless steel and the like.

[0027] In this embodiment, a circumferential groove 57a is formed integrally on an outer circumferential surface of the annular part 57, and a ring-shaped elastic member is interposed in this circumferential groove 57a in such a manner as to be brought into slide contact with an inner circumferential surface of the opening 2dwhich is formed on the cover element 2e. The elastic member is formed of a synthetic rubber material such as styrene-butadiene-rubber (SBR) acrylonitrile-butadiene-rubber, butadiene-rubber, isoprene-rubber, chioroprene-rubber, silicone-rubber, urethane-rubber and the like, and has a function to enable the adjustment knob 50 to be supported without looseness by being brought into side contact with the annular part 57 for support. In addition, the annular part 57 may be such that a diameter Dl of a smallest portion of a portion which is supported on the left side plate 2a (in the configuration shown in the figures, a portion defined by a bottom of the circumferential groove 57a may only have to be larger than an outside diameter D of the operation part 52 (Dl>D) [00281 In addition, as is shown in Fig. 2, irregularities 57b are formed continuously along a circumferential direction. Raised portions 62a of a substantially annular click spring 62 which is fixed to the side plate 2a are brought into engagement with the irregularities 57b, whereby when the adjustment knob 50 is operated to rotate, a resisting force to rotation of the adjustment knob 50 is imparted so that the operator to feel a clicking sensation (or a clicking sound may be generated). In addition, a configuration may be adopted in which such a clicking mechanism for causing the operator to feel a sensation of clicking motion when operating to rotate the adjustment knob 50 is not installed.

[0029] In addition, in this embodiment, an annular flange portion 65 is formed on the adjustment knob 50 which is larger in diameter than the large-diameter annular part 57 and is exposed from the left side plate 2a. This annular flange portion 65 is installed within an annular recessed portion 2f which is formed on the cover element 2e and is made to extend radially outwards at a proximal end portion of the operation part 52. Character information 65a (for example, graduations indicating rotary positions of the operation part) is given to a surface portion of the annular flange portion 65 in such a manner as to confront an index portion 2e' formed on the cover element 2e. In addition, the formation of the annular flange portion 65 like this enables the protection of the slide contact portion by the elastic member 60.

[0030] According to the fishing reel that has been described heretofore, since the adjustment knob 50 is supported on the left side plate 2a of the reel main body by the annular part 57 which is larger in diameter than the operation part 52 which is operated to rotate by the finger or fingers, there occurs no situation in which the operation part 52 gets loosened when it is operated to rotate, and hence, the operation part 52 is supported in the stable condition. In particular, the adjustment knob 50 is supported on the left side plate 2a of the reel main body by the small-diameter shaft part 53 even in the position lying radially inwards of the large-diameter annular part 57, and since the coupling portion 51 which connects to the brake system 20 and the locking portion 55 which is retained on the left side plate 2a while being prevented from withdrawal therefrom are provided at the end portion of the shaft part 53, the stabler rotating operation and more ensured withdrawal prevention can be realized.

[0031] In addition, in the configuration descri-bed above, since the circumferential groove 57a is formed on the large-diameter annular part 57 and the elastic member is interposed in the circumferential groove 57a so formed in such a manner as to be brought into slide contact with the left side plate 2a, when operating the operation part 52 to rotate, the control of braking force can be implemented with the sensation of precision to a nicety and the adjustability with respect to fine adjustments can be enhanced. Furthermore, even though external impact is applied to the fishing reel, the malfunction thereof is made difficult to occur.

[0032] In addition, as has been described above, the opening 2d with which the large-diameter annular part 57 is brought into slide contact is formed on the cover element 2e which is fixed to the left side plate 2a as the separate element, and the slide contact accuracy can be enhanced by applying cutting work to the cover element, so as to enhance the operating feeling to a nicety.

[0033] Next, another embodiment of the invention will be described.

[0034] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the invention, which is an enlarged view of an adjustment knob. As is shown in this embodiment, an opening 2d in which a large-diameter annular part 57 of the adjustment knob 50 is mounted may be formed integrally on a left side plate 2a. In addition, as a method (a configuration of a locking portion 55) for supporting the adjustment knob 50 on the left side plate in such a manner as to prevent the knob from being withdrawn from the left side plate, a configuration may be adopted in which a circumferential groove 53d is formed in advance at an end portion of a shaft part 53, so that a retaining ring 55d is mounted in the circumferential groove 53d so formed.

[0035] According to the configurationdescribed above, not only can the number of components involved be reduced but also the mounting of the adjustment knob 50 can easily be implemented.

[00361 Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the invention, which is an enlarged view of an adjustment knob. In this embodiment, an adjustment knob 50 has an operation part 52A and a large-diameter annular part 57A which are configured as separate elements, wherein the operation part 52A is attached to the large-diameter annular part 57A by screwing a retaining machine screw 89 from the outside. As with the first embodiment that has been described before, an annular flange portion 65A is formed integrally on the operation part 52A in such a manner as to cover the large-diameter annular part 57A and the elastic member 60.

[0037] According to the configuration like this, replacement work of elastic members 60 or the like can be implemented without removing a left side plate but only by removing the retaining machine screw 80, an enhancement in serviceability can be realized.

[0038] Thus, while the embodiments of the invention have been described heretofore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but can be modified variously. The invention is characterized by the adjustment knob portion of the brake system 20 which imparts a braking force to the spool 5a, and the other configurations, for example, the specific configuration of the brake system 20 can be modified as required. In addition, the brake system 20 and the adjustment knob may be such as to be installed on the right side plate 2b side, and the installation area of the adjustment knob can also be modified as required.

[0039] In addition, the shape of the operation part 52 of the adjustment knob 50 and the method for supporting the adjustment knob 50 on the side plate in such a manner as to prevent the knob from being withdrawn from the side plate can also be modified as required.

Claims

1. A fishing reel comprising: a reel main body; a spool rotatably supported on the reel main body; a brake system for imparting a braking force to the spool; and an adjustment knob rotatably supported on a side plate of the reel main body for increasing or decreasing the braking force of the brake system, wherein the adjustment knob includes an operation part which is operated to rotate by a finger of a user and an annular part which is supported by the side plate through an elastic member slidable on the side plate and which is larger in diameter than the operation part.

2. The fishing reel according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment knob includes a shaft part which is supported on the side plate in a position lying radially inwards of the large-diameter annular part, and a coupling portion coupled to the brake system and a locking portion which is retained on the side plate are provided at an end portion of the shaft part.

3. The fishing reel according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment knob includes an annular flange part which is larger in diameter than the large-diameter annular part and is exposed from the side plate.

4. A fishing reel comprising: a reel main body; a spool rotatably supported on the reel main body; a brake system for imparting a braking force to the spool; and an adjustment knob rotatably supported on a side plate of the reel main body for increasing or decreasing the braking force of the brake system, wherein the adjustment knob includes an operation part which is operated to rotate by the finger or fingers, a shaft part which is supported rotatably on the side plate, and an annular part which is supported rotatably on the side plate in a position lying radially outwards of the shaft part and is larger in diameter than the operation part.