WO2004073397A1

WO2004073397A1 - Fishing reel

Info

Publication number: WO2004073397A1
Application number: PCT/SE2004/000080
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erik Fahlgren
Original assignee: Plastex I Skellefteå Ab
Priority date: 2003-02-18
Filing date: 2004-01-23
Publication date: 2004-09-02
Also published as: SE0300432L; SE0300432D0; SE524814C2

Abstract

The invention concerns a fishing reel for mounting on a fishing rod (7) in particular for fishing with a baited hook, which comprises a base part (1) carrying a means of collection (8) of the line comprising a spool (34) for receiving and storing a line (9), an elastic device (32) through the action of which the line having been drawn off the reel by hand can be automatically returned to the spool. To allow the line to be moved in and out of the reel in the lengthwise direction of the fishing rod in a more controlled manner when fishing, the spool (34) is rotationally fixed to the base part (1) and the means of collection (8) comprises a line carrier rotor (27) pivot mounted on the base part (1) in interaction which the elastic device (30) automatically returns the line (9) drawn out from the spool (34) back to the spool.

Description

Fishing Reel

The present invention concerns a fishing reel, especially for fishing with a baited hook, comprising a spool for receiving and storing a line and means of automatic return of an unwound line back to the spool. Fishing reels of this type are known and described, for example, in FR 2619488 and

FR 2 626 140. The said known fishing reels are relatively difficult to use, which is partially because the line is fed in and out of the reel radially and therefore also radially relative to the axis of the fishing rod. As the line normally moves in the lengthwise direction of the rod running through loops, this radial handling of the line on the reel makes it difficult for the user when fishing. Not least, this makes it difficult to work with a line that can be kept continuously taut and thereby controlled in a better way when fishing. It should also be understood that the said radial handling of the line makes it more difficult to use modern types of fishing rod that comprise a number of tubular, telescopic sections, whereby it is desirable for the line to be held taut while the telescope sections are moved. One object of the present invention is to achieve a fishing reel of the type described above that allows the line to move in and out of the reel in the lengthwise direction of the fishing rod, and thereby being handled in a more controlled manner when fishing than when using fishing reels of a type that are already known.

This object can be achieved by the fishing reel according to the present invention exhibiting the distinctive features and characteristics specified in claim 1.

The following describes the invention in more detail with the aid of the embodiment shown on the attached drawings, on which drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a fishing reel according to the present invention mounted on the handle of a partially illustrated fishing rod, Fig.2 shows the top end of a fishing rod,

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the fishing reel shown in figure 1, Fig.4 shows in a larger scale a longitudinal section through a line carriage rotor in the fishing reel, and

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section along V-V in figure 3. The fishing reel shown in figure 1 comprises a base part 1 made as a tubular and relative continuous housing 2 of two shell-shaped halves of injection moulded plastic joined longitudinally. The base part 1 has an intermediate part 3 that in a lengthwise direction viewed forwards diverges into a front and relatively large circular part 4 and backwards into a rear circular part 5. The term front end in the following refers to the end of the fishing reel that is turned towards the top end designated 6 of the fishing rod 7 shown in figure and 2. As best illustrated in figure 3, the front circular part 4 defines a relatively large inner space in which a means of collection generally designated 8 is arranged to receive and return the fishing line designated 9.

The base part 1 has means of fastening 10, 10' in conjunction with its front part 4 and rear part 5 respectively, with which the fishing reel is joined to the fishing rod 7 handle 11. The said means of fastening 10, 10' are designed so that the continuous centre axis X1 of the base part 1 is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis X2 of the rod 7 and situated at a radial distance from the handle 11 , so chosen that the user can grip the handle between the two means of fastening 10,10'. Besides a good balance of the rod 7, this possibility offers a very secure and stable fastening of the fishing reel on the rod, despite the fishing reel's relatively extensive base part 1 , the use of which will be described in more detail below.

The two means of fastening 10,10' located a distance from each other each comprise a support 12,12' protruding from the base part 1. As best illustrated in figure 5, the supports 12, 12' at their free ends have a stop face 13,13' corresponding to the shape of the outer periphery of the handle 11. As best illustrated in figure 5, the said respective stop faces 13, 13' in the embodiment described herein have been given the shape of circular arc to correspond with the outer periphery of most fishing rods available on the market.

Again referring to figure 5, each means of fastening 10,10' comprises a cap 14, 14', which under the influence of a means of adjustment 15,15' is applied in the direction of the stop face 13,13' with the handle 11, constrained between them. To be able to offer good conformability, each cap 14, 14' is made of a flexible or pliable material and in the embodiment shown here is designed as a belt element extending between a first and a second end of the stop face 13, 13'. Each such belt shaped element has overlapping ends and along its length has a number of transverse ridges (not shown in figure) for adjusting the element to different diameters through interaction with the means of adjustment 15,15', which in this case constitutes a screw device. Through the adaptability of the means of fastening 10, 10', the present fishing reel can be mounted on handles 11 of essentially differing diameters and shapes in which, in principle, it is possible to fasten the fishing reel to a fishing rod 7 in the form of a continuous pole, a narrow tree trunk or a branch.

In a similar way and by using means of fastening 10, 10' of the type described above with adjustable flexible elements, it is also possible that loops 16 as shown in figure 2 for guiding the fishing line 1 along the fishing rod 7 in a simple and reliable way can be fastened to the said fishing rod. In particular, this would be desirable if the fishing rod 7 was of own manufacture.

Referring to figure 3, the base part 1 contains a tubular part 17, which, seen in the direction of the centre axis X1 of the base part, extends between the part of the means of collection 8 that is situated in the front circular part 4 and further out through an opening 18 arranged in the rear circular part 5. The tubular part 17 has at its rear end an openable cover 19, which also exhibits a limited opening 20.

The means of collection 8 comprises a holder 21 , which, located in one of the two base part halves, is arranged in a stable state in the front flange section 4 of the base part 1. More precisely, the front circular part 4 is designed with a seat of such a shape that the holder 21 is kept in fixed position relative to the base part 1 in the space defined between the two assembled shell-shaped halves. The holder 21 has a circular cavity 22, the extent of which in a forward axial direction is limited by an end wall 24 and whose extent backwards is defined by a tubular spigot 25. As illustrated in figure 3, the said tubular spigot 25 is inserted in the front end of the tubular part 17, so that an essentially continuous space 26 is defined. The means of collection 8 comprises further a line carrier rotor 27 acting as a guide for the line (7) that is carried pivot-mounted by the holder 21 for pivoting around a shaft X3, which, on the mounted fishing reel, is parallel to the longitudinal axis X2 of the fishing rod 7 and therefore also with the centre axis X1 of the base part 1. As best illustrated in figure 4, the line carrier rotor 27 rotational axis X3 comprises a metal wire 28, which has a bent section 29 at one end with which the wire is rotationally fixed to the line carrier rotor and which at its other end, extending through an opening 30 arranged in the end wall 24 of the holder 21 , is finished off in a hooked end section 31 situated inside the continuous space 26. Between the said hooked end section 29 and a part of the cover 19 shaped like a catch 31 in conjunction with the opening 20 and fastened to them, extends an elastic element 32 in the form over a rubber band in the continuous space 26. Through the tension of the elastic element 32, the line carrier rotor 27 is held axially to the holder at 33 and therefore also guided in a radial direction by the metal wire 28.

It should be understood that the length of the line that the means of collection 8 can manage to collect it is determined essentially by the length of the elastic element 32 and consequently, it is always desirable for the fishing reel to have a collection space 26 for such an element that is as long as possible. The cover 19 is pivot mounted to the rear end of the tubular section 17 and can, through application against the axle end of the tubular section 17, in a self-locking manner be locked in particular positions around the shaft X1. By turning the cover 19, the elastic element 32 can thereby be given the required tension.

The means of collection 8 also includes a coil 34 supported non-rotational on the fastening 21 and in the direction of axis X3 located behind the line carrier rotor 27. As a means of guiding the line 9, the line carrier rotor 27 on its outer periphery has a line carrier opening 35 turned towards the top end 6 of the rod 7 and defined by a ring through which the line runs. During the rotation of the line carrier rotor 27, the line 9 passing through the line carrier opening 35 is wound around the spool 34 to be collected in a circular groove 36 in the spool. To effectively guide the line 9 down onto the spool 34 during the rotation of the line carrier rotor 27, the latter has an outer flange 37 which, surrounding the outer periphery of the spool 34, extends backwards and over the spool to the axial centre of the groove 36. As illustrated in figures 1 , 3 and 4, the line carrier rotor 27 is an essentially radially extending protective cover that when mounted forms a front protective cover for the collection space that is defined by the front circular section 4. The guiding of the collected line 9 down on to the spool 34 is also helped by the circular line guide opening 38 turned towards the top end 6 of the rod 7 that is defined between the flange 37 of the line carrier rotor 27 and the edge 39 of the front circular part 4. The outer flange 37 of the line carrier rotor 27 has a transitional part 40, which with a relatively large radius of curvature changes from the essentially flat or only slightly curved outside 41 of the line carrier rotor in to the circular line guide opening 38, while the edge 39 of the front circular part 4 is essentially rounded. The said smooth transitions reduce the friction in the line 9 while it is being returned to the spool 34. Furthermore, a very effective prevention is hereby obtained against the incoming line 9 cutting into the edges of the circular line guide opening 38. The fishing reel further comprises a braking device 42, which can be adjusted from a position where it brakes the line carrier rotor 27 to an inactive position and a locking device 43, which from an inactive position can be set to a position where it locks the line carrier rotor 27.

The braking device 42 comprises a lever 44, which is pivot mounted on a pin 45 and can be rotated relative to the holder 21. The lever 44 has one end 46 that can be moved when the lever 44 is rotating away from a normally active position, in which the said end is in active braking interaction with an outer peripheral part of a flange section 47 extending from the line carrier rotor 24. The said end 46 of the lever 44 has a friction pad more similar part that offers soft and efficient braking of the line carrier rotor 27. To enable the lever 44 to be moved by hand from the outside of the base part 1 , a second end 48 of the lever passes out through an opening 49 in the front circular part 4. By the action of a spring, the braking device 42 is balanced in such a way that when in normal position it acts on and brakes the line carrier rotor 27.

The locking device 43 comprises an operating button 50, which, in interaction with a pin 51 and an oblong groove 52, can slide in a direction parallel to the rotational axis X3 of the line carrier rotor 24. The operating button 50 has one end 53 extending through an opening 54 in the front circular part 4 that is accessible for operating from outside the base part 1. On activation, the operating button slides axially forwards so that a second end 55 of the button engages and locks the line carrier rotor 27 through interaction between a protrusion and a groove not shown in any detail in the figure. More precisely, the said grooves are arranged in the form of a number of recesses along the periphery of the line carrier rotor 27 in which the said other end 55 of the button 50 passes. The present fishing reel works in the following way: With the locking device 43 in its inactive position, a sufficient amount of line is drawn off the fishing reel in the longitudinal direction of the rod 7. The line carrier rotor 27 then rotates in one direction around axis X3. Under the rotation of the line carrier rotor 27, the drawn out line 9 is kept continuously taut thanks to the active braking device 42 while the elastic element 32 is wound in one direction and thereby tensioned.

When finished fishing, the braking device 42 is deactivated so that the braking effect it has on the line carrier rotor 27 ceases. Since the elastic element 32 that is tensioned and wound when the line is fed out strives to retake its normal, non-tensioned, original state, the line carrier rotor 27 will be driven in the opposite direction as soon as the said brake effect ceases. Running through the line carrier rotor 27 line guide opening 35, the line 9 is returned automatically to the spool 34.

In the event the line 9 must be locked in a certain position when fishing, for example if the hook gets stuck on the bottom and must be pulled loose, the line carrier rotor 27 can be locked in any position. This is achieved simply by sliding the locking device 43 operating button 50 in an axial direction forwards so it engages with the line carrier rotor 27.

The present invention is not limited to the above description or as illustrated in the drawings but can be changed and modified in a number of different ways within the framework of the idea of invention specified in the following claims.

Claims

1. Fishing reel intended for mounting on a fishing rod (7) in particular for fishing with a baited hook, which comprises a base part (1) carrying a means of collection (8) of the line comprising a spool (34) for receiving and storing a line (9), an elastic device (32) through the action of which the line having been drawn off the reel by hand can be automatically returned to the spool, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the spool (34) is mounted rotationally fixed on the base part (1), that the means of collection (8) comprises a line carrier rotor (27) pivot mounted on the base part (1 ), which under rotation winds the line (9) on to the spool, a braking device (42) that is adjustable between a position applying a braking force on the line carrier rotor (27) and an inactive position, that the elastic device (30) interacts with the line carrier rotor in such a way that the line drawn off the fishing reel is automatically returned to the spool when the braking device is switched to is inactive position.

2. Fishing reel according to claim 1 , whereby the line carrier rotor (27) and the spool (34) are situated after each other, one before the other, with coaxially coinciding centre axes

(X3).

3. Fishing reel according to claim 2, whereby the line carrier rotor (27) is situated in front of the spool (34) seen in the direction of return to the spool of the drawn out line (9).

4. Fishing reel according to any one of the claims 1 - 3, whereby the line carrier rotor (27) comprises a line carrier opening (35) through which the line (9) is wound around the spool (34) while being gathered in a circular groove (36) arranged in the spool.

5. Fishing reel according to claim 4, whereby the line carrier opening (35) is situated in the outer periphery of the line carrier rotor (27).

6. Fishing reel according to any one of the claims 3 - 5, whereby the line carrier rotor (27) exhibits an outer flange (37) which, surrounding the outer periphery of the spool (34), extends backwards to a position above the axial centre of the groove (36).

7. Fishing reel according to any one of the previous claims 1 - 6, comprising a locking device (43), which from an inactive position can be adjusted to a position engaging and locking the line carrier rotor (27).

8. Fishing reel according to any one of the previous claims 1 - 7, whereby the base part (1) comprises a housing (2) in which the spool (34) and the line carrier rotor (27) are arranged and that the drawing out and return of the line (9) to the spool is achieved via an opening (38) arranged in the housing.

9. Fishing reel according to claim 8, whereby in the housing (2) is defined an oblong space (26) in which the elastic device (32) is arranged.