Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – Fishing rod reel
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-09
2001-07-03
Matecki, Katherine A. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
Fishing rod reel
C242S316000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254022
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a reel body of a double bearing reel. More specifically, the present invention relates to a reel body of a round-shape double bearing reel that is mountable on a fishing rod and is configured to receive a fishing line wound around spool therein about a first axis perpendicular to the fishing rod.
2. Background Information
In general, a double bearing reel includes a reel body, a spool, a handle, and a rotation transmitting means. The reel body is attached to a fishing rod. The spool is rotatably supported in the reel body. The handle is disposed at one side of the reel body to rotate the spool. The rotation transmitting means transmits the rotation of the handle to the spool such that a fishing line may be draw in and wound around the spool. The reel body includes a pair of right and left side plates, a reel frame, and a pair of right and left side covers. The reel frame includes a pair of connecting members for connecting the right side plate with the left side plate. Each of the pair of right and left side covers covers corresponding sides of the reel frame. The connecting members are integrally formed with edge portions of the side plates and a fishing rod installation portion is provided with one of the connection member to attach the reel to the fishing rod.
Configurations of such a double bearing reel are known where a reel has a round shaped and is made of metal and where the reel body has a circular shape viewed from a side thereof. The round shaped reel has side covers and reel frame that are generally made by, for instance, a die-cast method or a forging method. Each of the pair of the side plates and the side covers have a circular shape viewed from the side and the outer surface of the reel body including, the connecting members, are subjected to cutting work typically by a lathe during the manufacturing process. As a result, the reel has a highly decorative and classy appearance.
A fishing rod installation portion is provided with this type of metallic reel body for mounting on the fishing rod. The fishing rod installation portion is fixed to the connecting members by caulking or bolting. Installation of the fishing rod installation portion occurs after manufacturing and cutting using a lathe of the various parts of the reel body because the installation portion does not have an outline that conforms to the circular or round shape of the reel body. In other words, the fishing rod installation portion cannot typically subjected to cutting work using a lathe together with the reel body.
As mentioned above, a conventional fishing rod installation portion for a round shaped reel having a metallic reel body is joined to the connecting member by caulking or using screws defining a joint portion. When the reel is attached to the fishing rod, a large force is applied to the joint portion when a fish is caught. Thus, sufficient strength is required at the joint portion to withstand the forces imparted by the fish. In order to obtain sufficient strength, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the portions defining the joint portion and, hence, it is difficult to reduce the weight of the reel or reduce the height dimensions of the upper portion of the reel body relative to the fishing rod (hereinafter referred to as a “low profile.”) Also, since an additional member (the reel installation portion) attached to the reel body is used at the joint portion, it is difficult to obtain a classy, appealing appearance at the joint portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a reel body with a round shape that has a high-class appearance and has a low profile relative to the fishing rod.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a reel body of a double bearing reel is attachable to a fishing rod. The reel body supports a spool that is rotatable about a rotational axis for winding a fishing line, the rotational axis being generally perpendicular to a longitudinal length of the fishing rod. The reel body includes a pair of side plates, the side plates having a generally circular shape having a radius R1 formed by cutting work about a first centering axis that is offset from the rotational axis. A plurality of connecting members rigidly connect the side plates. The connecting members are spaced apart from one another such that the spool is positionable between the side plates. A fishing rod installation portion extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the rotational axis and is formed integrally with a portion of one of the plurality of connecting members. An outer surface of one of the plurality of connecting members has a radial outer surface having at least a portion thereof formed with an arcuate shape formed by cutting work. The arcuate shape of the portion of the radial outer surface has a radius R2 with a center located on a second centering axis that is parallel to the first centering axis. The second centering axis is located closer to the fishing rod installation portion than the first centering axis and the rod installation portion is confined within a cylindrically shaped space defined by the radius R2 about the second centering axis.
Preferably, a difference in length between the radius R1 and radius R2 is smaller than the distance between the first centering axis and the second centering axis.
Preferably, the reel body also includes a pair of side covers for covering a respective outside of the pair of side plates.
Preferably, the side covers each have a circular shape having a radius of R1.
Preferably, the rod installation portion and the one of the plurality of connecting members are spaced apart from a lower radial outer edge of the side plates such that the fishing rod extends within a cylindrical space defined between the side plates in response to attachment of the fishing rod to the rod installation portion.
According to the present invention, the fishing rod installation portion is integrally formed with one of the plurality of the connecting members. Also, the surface of the middle portion of the connecting member is subjected to cutting work so as to have an arcuate shape with a center on the second centering axis located closer to the fishing rod installation portion than the first centering axis and the surfaces of the side plates of the reel frame are circular shaped and formed by cutting work about the first centering axis. Since the surface of the middle portion is subjected to a cutting work so as to have an arcuate shape about the second centering axis, it is possible to place the fishing rod installation portion within the circle defined by the radius R2 having a center on the second centering axis. For this reason, the fishing rod installation portion may be integrally formed with the connecting member and still permit subjecting the outer surface of the connecting member to cutting work by a lathe. Because the fishing rod installation portion may be integrally formed with the connecting member, it becomes possible, while maintaining the strength, to reduce the thickness and weight of the joint portion as compared with a case in which a separate member is used creating a joint portion. As a result, a low profile is achieved in the reel of the present invention. Moreover, it becomes easy to obtain a high-class appearance since the fishing rod installation portion is integrally formed and the outer surface of the connecting member may be subjected to cutting work.
In the present invention, the difference in length between the radii R1 and R2 is less than the distance between the first and second centering axis. Therefore, there is an intersection between circles with radii R1 and R2 drawn about the first and second centering axis, respectively. It is therefore possible to reduce a difference in level between the surfaces on the connecting member having arcuate surfaces, portions of the arcuate surface cut about the first centering axis with radius R1 and another portion of the surface having an arcu
Matecki Katherine A.
Shimano Inc.
Shinjyu Intellectual Property Firm
LandOfFree
Reel body of double bearing reel does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Reel body of double bearing reel, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Reel body of double bearing reel will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2459981