Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – Fishing rod reel
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-17
2001-11-06
Matecki, Katherine A. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
Fishing rod reel
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311913
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fishing line guiding mechanism. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fishing line guiding mechanism for a spinning reel, the fishing line guiding mechanism being provided at an end of a rotor arm of a rotor of the spinning reel, the fishing line guiding mechanism for guiding a fishing line to a spool disposed along a rotational axis of the rotor.
2. Background Information
In general, a spinning reel includes a reel main body, a rotor, and a spool. The rotor is rotatably supported on the reel main body. The spool is typically disposed on the reel main body in front of the rotor and is supported by the reel main body so as to reciprocate along an axis of rotation of the rotor. The rotor includes a cylindrical portion and a pair of rotor arms. The cylindrical portion is rotatably supported by the reel main body. Each of the pair of rotor arms extends from the rear portion of the cylindrical portion in a forward direction and a fishing line guiding mechanism for guiding a fishing line to the spool is provided at the ends of the pair of the rotor arms. The fishing line guiding mechanism is provided at the end of the pair of the rotor arms so as to be interchangeable from a fishing line guiding state, in which the fishing line is guided to the spool as the rotor rotates, to a fishing line releasing state, in which the fishing line may be easily cast off from the spool.
The fishing line guiding mechanism includes a pair of bail supporting members, a line roller, a fixed shaft cover, and a bail. Each of the pair of bail supporting members is movably supported on a respective end of the pair of the rotor arms. The line roller is rotatably supported on one end of one of the pair of the bail supporting members. The fixed shaft cover is fixed one of the pair of the bail supporting members adjacent to the line roller. The bail is a wire rod and one end of the bail is connected to the fixed shaft cover.
When using a spinning reel having this type of fishing line guiding mechanism, the fishing line guiding mechanism is moved to the line releasing state by a user for casting the line. Further, the guiding mechanism switches to the line guiding state when winding the line to the spool. When the line guiding mechanism switches to the line guiding state, the line is longer able to leave the spool and rather is guided around the spool via the line roller from the bail as the rotor rotates.
In the above-mentioned conventional fishing line guiding mechanism, the fishing line may fall away from the line roller when the line becomes loose and has insufficient tension as sometimes occurs in a retrieving or reeling operation. Once the fishing line falls away from the line roller, there is a possibility that it may cause backlashing or tangles around the rotor or the skirt portion of the spool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to prevent a fall of the fishing line from the line roller in a fishing line guiding mechanism for spinning reels.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a fishing line guiding mechanism for a spinning reel is pivotally supported at an end of a rotor arm of a spinning reel for guiding a fishing line to a spool disposed radially inward therefrom. The fishing line guiding mechanism includes a bail supporting member supported on an end of the rotor arm for pivotal movement with respect thereto. A line roller is rotatably supported on an end of the bail supporting member and a fixed shaft cover is fixed to the bail supporting member via the line roller. One end of a thick wire bail is fixed to the fixed shaft cover. A brushing member having a string-like (filamentous) elastic tip is supported on the bail supporting member such that the tip contacts the fishing line and the line roller.
In the above described fishing line guiding mechanism, the fishing line guided to the line roller is guided to the spool while making contact with the brushing member. Therefore, the fishing line is not likely to fall from the line roller because of a small amount of tension applied to the fishing line by the elasticity of the brushing member. Further, even if the fishing line becomes slack (has no other tension applied to it) the fishing line is still retained in place by the brushing member.
Preferably, the brushing member tip includes a plurality of elastic filaments for contact with the fishing line and the line roller.
Accordingly, the plurality of elastic filaments brush on the fishing line and the line roller to better retain the fishing line in place.
Preferably, the line roller is formed with an annular fishing line guiding groove and the brushing member is positioned such that at least a portion of the tip ends contact the fishing line guiding groove for retaining the fishing line in the fishing line guiding groove. Accordingly, the fishing line is retained within the fishing line guiding groove by the brushing member.
Alternatively, the brushing member includes a single string-like elastic member bent into a U-shaped loop, and the bend in the U-shaped loop contacts the fishing line and the line roller.
Accordingly, the loop brushes on both the fishing line and the line roller to better retain the fishing line in position on the line roller. Further, with the loop made of a single string-like elastic member, water is less likely to be retained and the loop is less likely to freeze.
Preferably, the line roller is formed with an annular fishing line guiding groove and the brushing member is positioned such that a portion of the U-shaped loop traverses the fishing line guiding groove for retaining the fishing line in the fishing line guiding groove.
In the above described guiding mechanism, the brushing member firmly contacts the fishing line and the fishing line guiding groove retaining the fishing line in the fishing line guiding groove.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2728534 (1955-12-01), Wallace
patent: 3834644 (1974-09-01), Stackawicz
patent: 5513813 (1996-05-01), Bernard et al.
patent: 5730377 (1998-03-01), Shinohara
patent: 5911377 (1999-06-01), Jung
patent: 6149088 (2000-11-01), Bernard et al.
Morimoto Shinichi
Yasui Toshihiko
Matecki Katherine A.
Shimano Inc.
Shinjyu Global IP Counselors, LLP
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