Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – Fishing rod reel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-10
2001-01-23
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
Fishing rod reel
C242S282000, C242S321000, C074S545000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176446
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water-proof structure, more specifically the present invention relates to a spinning reel having a water-proof structure that prevents liquid from entering a reel main body of the spinning reel.
B. Description of the Background Art
A spinning reel generally includes a reel main body having a complex combination of mechanisms disposed therein. A rotor is disposed at a front portion of the reel main body and is rotatably supported by the reel main body. A spool is supported on the reel main body, with portions of the rotor extending radially outwardly from the spool such that a fishline may be wound by movement of the rotor around a fishline receiving portion of the spool. The spool is disposed on a front portion of the rotor and supported by the reel main body such that the spool may undergo oscillations back and forth along an axis of rotation of the rotor. A handle is rotatably supported on a side of the reel main body. Within the reel main body are the following: a rotation transmission mechanism for rotating the rotor about the spool, an oscillating mechanism for causing the spool to oscillate along the rotor's axis of rotation, and a control device that prevents reverse rotation of the rotor.
The rotation transmission mechanism includes a master gear shaft, a master gear fixed to the master gear shaft, and a pinion gear. The master gear shaft is supported in the reel main body and extends laterally between opposite sides of the reel main body (left and right sides of the reel main body). The master gear is disposed within the reel main body. The pinion gear has gear teeth engaged with corresponding gear teeth formed on the master gear. The rotor is fixedly coupled to an end of the pinion gear for rotation therewith.
The oscillating mechanism includes, for instance, an intermediate gear, a threaded shaft, a slider, and a sliding guide. The intermediate gear is coupled with the pinion gear for rotation in response to rotation of the pinion gear. The threaded shaft is disposed parallel to a spool shaft, with the intermediate gear coupled to one end thereof. The slider is engaged with the threaded shaft via the sliding guide such that the slider moves in response to rotation of the threaded shaft. The spool shaft is axially coupled to the slider such that the spool shaft oscillates back and forth with the slider.
Grease is applied to each of the above mentioned moving members to reduce friction, whereby members move more efficiently.
The reverse rotation prevention mechanism is located toward a front portion of the reel main body. One end of the spool shaft and an end of the pinion gear extend out of the front of the reel main body through a bore in the reel main body such that the spool and the rotor may be supported thereon, respectively. Ends of the master gear shaft extend out of bores in the opposite sides of the reel main body such that the handle may be attached to the master gear shaft from either of the two opposite ends of the master gear shaft.
As described above, many moveable members such as the spool shaft, the master gear shaft, and the pinion gear extend out from the reel main body through bores. The bores are formed such that there are gaps between the bores and the moveable members that pass through the bores to allow smooth movement of the moveable members. There are also gaps between the reel main body and stationary members such as the reverse rotation prevention mechanism.
It is possible for liquid such as water to enter the reel main body through the gaps between the bores and the moveable members, and between the stationary members and the reel main body. When the reel main body is being cleaned, it is also possible for water and/or detergent to enter the reel main body. The grease applied to the conventional moveable members has been relatively highly viscous and durable and usually continues to provide lubrication even when liquid enters inside the reel main body from the gaps.
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
Since highly viscous and durable grease is applied to rotation transmission mechanisms and oscillating mechanisms of conventional spinning reels, it is difficult to improve the efficiency in rotating the handle because of the resistance of the grease. Specifically, it is difficult to reduce the amount of energy necessary to rotate the handle in part because of the viscosity of the grease. Also, once seawater that entered inside the reel main body dries, deposits such as crystals of salts remain. When the deposits are trapped between gears or between rollers of a bearing, smoothness of rotation is affected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to improve the efficiency in rotary action of a handle of a spinning reel while maintaining smoothness of rotation.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a water-proof spinning reel prevents liquid from entering an interior space thereof. The interior space is defined with a reel main body of the spinning reel. The water-proof spinning reel includes a moveable member that extends outward from within the reel main body. A stationary member is fixed to the reel main body. A seal member is disposed about the movable member contacting the moveable member and at least one of the reel main body and the stationary member.
Preferably, the seal member is made of an elastic material.
Preferably, the moveable member is a master gear shaft of the spinning reel. A pair of bearings support opposite ends of the master gear shaft within the reel main body. A pair of the seal members are supported on the reel main body, the seal members being disposed adjacent to respective ones of the pair of bearings on opposite sides of the reel main body such that the seal members each contact respective portions of the master gear shaft, the reel main body, and respective ones of the bearings.
Preferably, each of the bearings is a rotary bearing having an outer race coupled to the reel main body, an inner race supporting the master gear shaft, and a roller supported between the outer race and the inner race for rolling therebetween.
Preferably, the seal member has an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than an outer diameter of the outer race.
Preferably, the master gear shaft is formed with a pair of seal contacting portions that contact respective ones of the seal members, the seal contacting portions having an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the inner race.
Preferably, the master gear shaft is formed with a hollow interior having a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion, the first threaded portion being a right handed thread and the second threaded portion having a left handed thread. The spinning reel includes a handle assembly that includes a shaft having a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion. The first threaded portion of the master gear shaft is a right handed thread and the second threaded portion of the master gear shaft has a left handed thread. The first threaded portion of the master gear shaft is engageable with the first threaded portion of the handle assembly, and the second threaded portion of the master gear shaft is engageable with the second threaded portion of the handle assembly.
Preferably, one of the seal members is disposed between the outer race of the bearing and the reel main body. The other of the seal members is disposed between the other of the outer race and a lid member that is fixed to the reel main body.
Preferably, the moveable member is a shaft pivotally supported by the reel main body for controlling a one-way clutch of the spinning reel. The seal member encircles a portion of the shaft and contacts the shaft and the reel main body.
Alternatively, the moveable member is a rotor and the stationary member is a reverse rotation prevention mechanism fixedly supported on the reel main body. The seal member is supported between the rotor and the reel main body so as to contact both the rotor and the reel main bo
Marcelo Emmanuel M.
Shimano Inc.
Shinjyu Intellectual Property Firm
Walsh Donald P.
LandOfFree
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