Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – Fishing rod reel
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-24
2002-05-07
Marcelo, Emmanuel M. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
Fishing rod reel
C242S311000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06382540
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to rotors, and more particularly relates to spinning reel rotors for guiding and winding fishing line onto the spool rotatively fitted to the body of the reel.
2. Description of Related Art
Spinning reels in general have a reel main unit for attachment to a fishing rod, a fishing-line-guiding rotor rotatively fitted to the reel main unit, and a spool onto which fishing line, guided by the rotor, is wound. The rotor includes a rotor body to which a bail arm is pivotally fitted. The rotor body has a cylindrical section rotatively fitted to the body of the reel, and a pair of rotor arms. The rotor arms include a pair of connecting sections that extend outward diametrically from the rear end of the cylindrical section, and a pair of arms bent from the pair of connecting sections and each extending forward spaced apart from the cylindrical section. Part of the cylindrical section is a large-diameter ring-shaped portion diametrically larger than the rest, and in opposing circumferential surface positions on the large-diameter portion the pair of connecting sections extends diametrically outward. The bail arm guides fishing line onto the spool.
With this type of spinning reel, rotating the handle rotates the rotor and fishing line is wound onto the spool with the bail arm guiding the fishing line onto the spool.
In the foregoing conventional spinning reel, the bends at the border of the rotor connecting sections and the arms, and the outer circumferential surface of the large-diameter portion are likely to scrape other things. For example, leaving the spinning reel on something hard such as a wharf, embankment, rocky place, or beach, sometimes damages the border sections and large-diameter portion that scrape on hard material. In particular, damage to a rotor made of metal such as magnesium alloy that is liable to corrode tends to make the oxide-film, coating-film, or like corrosion-resistant layer formed on its surface peel off, through which portions corrosion is likely.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to make damage unlikely to those portions of the rotor liable to scrape on other things.
A spinning reel rotor as determined by a first aspect of the invention is a device which guides and winds fishing line onto the spool, and is provided with a rotor body, a bail arm, and a first cover member. The rotor body has a cylindrical section rotatively fitted to the reel main unit, and a pair of rotor arms including a pair of connecting sections extending diametrically outward from opposing circumferential surface positions rear-endwise on the cylindrical section and a pair of arms bent from the pair of connecting sections and each extending forward spaced apart from the cylindrical section. A bail arm is pivotally fitted tip-endwise to the pair of rotor arms, and is for guiding fishing line onto the spool. The first cover member is fitted so as to cover the cylindrical section rear-endwise and at least part of external exposed surfaces of the pair of connecting sections, and to allow detachment from and reattachment to the rotor body.
With this rotor, the first cover member is fitted so as to cover the large-diameter portion and at least part of external exposed surfaces of the pair of connecting sections. The first cover member is detachable from/attachable to the rotor body. Covering the cylindrical section rear-endwise and at least those portions of the pair of connecting sections likely to scrape on things, makes it less likely that the rotor will be damaged. Furthermore, because the first cover member is detachable/attachable, should the first cover member be damaged or broken it is easily replaced.
A spinning reel rotor as determined by a second aspect is the rotor set forth in the first aspect, further wherein the cylindrical section on the circumferential surface rear-endwise has a large-diameter portion diametrically larger than the rest, and the first cover member is fitted so as to cover the large-diameter portion and at least part of external exposed surfaces of the pair of connecting sections, and to allow detachment from and reattachment to the rotor body. In this case, rotor strength is improved because the thicker large-diameter portion is provided on the thin cylindrical section where it connects with the rotor arms
The spinning reel rotor as determined by a third aspect is the rotor set forth in the first or second aspect of the invention, yet further wherein the rotor has a pair of second cover members fitted so as to cover external exposed surfaces of the pair of arms, and individually to allow detachment from and reattachment to either arm. In this case, the external exposed surfaces of the arms also are covered by the second cover members, and thus the rotor less likely to be damaged.
The spinning reel rotor as determined by a fourth aspect is the rotor set forth in the third aspect, wherein the first cover member and the pair of second covers are unitarily formed. In this case, the cover unit is easily attached since the first, and the pair of second, cover members are formed unitarily.
The spinning reel rotor as determined by a fifth aspect is the rotor set forth in the third aspect, wherein the first cover member and the pair of second cover members are fitted separately to the rotor body. In this case, though attachment may be a bother, fitting cover members separately to the rotor body enables replacement when damaged of only the damaged cover member.
The spinning reel rotor as determined by a sixth aspect of the invention is the rotor set forth in the third aspect, wherein a third cover member covering the first cover member is provided. The first cover member and a portion of the pair of second cover members are unitarily formed, and the third cover member and the remaining portion of the pair of second cover members are unitarily formed. In this case, since the first cover member is covered by the third cover member, the components for attaching the first cover to the rotor body are hidden, improving the design.
The spinning reel rotor as determined by a seventh aspect is the rotor set forth in any of the first to sixth aspects of the invention, wherein the rotor body is made of an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy. In this case, even though rotor is manufactured of these metals that corrode comparatively easily when damaged, it is protected by the cover unit, which makes it unlikely to be damaged, and makes corrosion due to damage unlikely to occur.
The spinning reel rotor as determined by an eight aspect of the invention is the rotor set forth in any of the first to seventh aspects of the invention, wherein the first cover member is made of a synthetic resin polymer. In this case, manufacturing the first cover member of synthetic resin polymer makes use of the synthetic polymer's elasticity to keep the first cover member from being damaged, and enables the entire rotor to be covered without gaps.
The spinning reel rotor as determined by a ninth aspect is the rotor set forth in any of the third to eighth aspects of the invention, wherein the second cover members are made of a synthetic resin polymer. Again in this case, manufacturing the second cover members of synthetic resin polymer makes use of the synthetic polymer's elasticity to keep the second cover member from being damaged, and enables the arms to be covered without gaps.
The spinning reel rotor as determined by a tenth aspect of the invention is the rotor set forth in any of the first to seventh or ninth aspects, wherein the first cover member is made of a stainless steel alloy. In this case, manufacturing the first cover member of comparatively hard stainless steel alloy that does not corrode easily keeps the first cover from being damaged; moreover the luster lends it a classic feel.
The spinning reel rotor as determined by an eleventh aspect of the invention is the rotor set forth in any of the third to eighth or tenth aspects, wherein the second cover members are made of a st
Furomoto Yoshiyuki
Iwabuchi Masakazu
Myojo Seiji
Sato Jun
Takikura Koji
Marcelo Emmanuel M.
Shimano Inc.
Shinjyu Global IP Counselors, LLP
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