Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – Fishing rod reel
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-12
2003-12-02
Marcelo, Emmanuel (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
Fishing rod reel
C074S055000, C074S569000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06655620
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to oscillating mechanisms; in particular to spinning-reel oscillating mechanisms that in cooperation with rotation of the handle axially reciprocate the spool in a spinning reel.
2. Description of Related Art
Spinning reels, which, turning on the longitudinal axis of the fishing rod wind on fishing line, are provided with oscillating mechanisms that reciprocate the line-winding spool back and forth. Among oscillating mechanisms of this sort, low-gear-ratio type oscillating mechanisms have been known conventionally.
Low-gear-ratio type oscillating mechanisms are furnished with a gear piece that rotates about an axis parallel to the handle shaft, and a slider element that is reciprocated in the spool axial direction by rotation of the gear piece. The gear piece meshes with a drive gear provided on the handle-rotating shaft. Engagement projections are formed on the rim of the gear piece on one lateral face. Engagement grooves that engage with the engagement projections are formed on the slider lateral face opposing the gear piece. The engagement grooves ordinarily extend rectilinearly in a direction orthogonal to the spool shaft. The slider element is fixed to the hind end of the spool shaft, on fore end of which the spool is fitted.
In oscillating mechanisms thus structured, when the gear piece rotates in cooperation with rotation of the handle, the rotational motion of the gear piece is converted into rectilinear motion of the slider element by sliding engagement of the engagement projections with the engagement grooves, and the spool reciprocates axially.
In the foregoing conventional oscillating mechanisms, since rotational motion is changed into rectilinear motion, the shifting speed in the spool axial direction changes under a trigonometric function. The shifting speed therefore becomes slower immediate either end of, and faster immediate the middle of, the slider element's stroke. Consequently, more fishing line winds on at either end of the spool than in the middle, which is liable to disfigure the lay of the line windings. Disfiguration in the winding lay is likely to lead to annoyances such as the fishing line reeling out in a bunch from the front end of the spool.
To address this issue, in Laid-Open Pat. Gazette No. H8-191650 disclosure is made of having: an approximately elliptical cam groove, formed in the reel body; and, fitted in between the gear piece and the slider element, a rotary body on which are formed on one face a first projection that engages into the cam groove, with on the other face a second projection, equivalent to an engagement projection for sliding engagement with engagement grooves in the slider element.
In the thus configured oscillating mechanism, when the handle shaft rotates, the gear piece linked to it rotates. When the gear piece rotates, the rotary body orbits, turning also on the rotational axis of the gear piece. Again, because the second projection is engaged with the slider element, rotation of the rotary body moves the slider element back and forth. Reciprocation of the slider element moves the spool shaft axially back and forth. Further, since the first projection is engaged in the cam groove, the rotary body's gyration is governed, nearly evening out the speed of the slider element reciprocation, which improves the lay of the line-windings.
The rotary body in between the gear piece and the slider element must be provided in the foregoing conventional, rotary-body-equipped oscillating mechanism, which therefore increases the constituent parts and complicates the oscillating mechanism configuration. Moreover, it has twofold sliding components—for sliding between the first projection and the cam groove, and for sliding between the second projection and the engagement groove—which therefore degrades the transmission efficiency due to friction in the sliding components. This means that the efficiency with which cranking power is transmitted in converting handle rotation into reciprocation of the slider element could be higher.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is by a simple configuration in spinning reels having a low gear ratio oscillating mechanism to improve the lay in the line windings, and to realize the improvement at high handle-cranking to spool-oscillating power transmission efficiency.
A spinning-reel oscillating mechanism in terms of the first aspect of the invention is a mechanism that oscillates the spinning reel spool axially in cooperation with handle rotation, and is furnished with a rotary member, a first cam, a second cam, a slider member, first cam engager, and a second cam engager. The rotary member is a component that rotates around an axis approximately parallel to the handle rotational axis, in cooperation with rotation of the handle. The first cam provided on the rotary member. The second cam is provided on the rotary member, where its diametric position differs at least partially from that of said first cam. The slider member is a component attached, immovably at least in the spool axial direction, rear-endwise to a spool shaft on the fore end of which is the spool, and fitted in the reel body free to shift in the spool axial direction. The first cam engager is provided in the slider member, extending in a direction that intersects the spool axis, and engages said first cam. The second cam engager is provided in the slider member, extending in the same direction as the first cam engager, and engages the first cam; and the slider is oscillated in the spool axial direction by engagement on at least the one part of either the first cam and the first cam engager, or of the second cam and the second cam engager.
In this oscillating mechanism, when the handle is rotated, the rotary member rotates in cooperation therewith. When the rotary member rotates, engagement of either the first cam with the first cam engager, or the second cam with the second cam engager reciprocates the slider member in the spool axial direction. Thus, engagement of the first cam with the first cam engager, and engagement of the second cam with the second cam engager takes place selectively. Therefore, switching over between a high-speed cam and a low-speed cam at either end and in the middle of the slider member's stroke, for example, realizes in a simple manner a state near uniform-velocity rectilinear motion. Herein, since the slider member is reciprocatingly shifted by dual-type cam switchover between first and second cams whose diametric positions differ at least partially, and first and second cam engagers, the slider component reciprocates in a state near uniform-velocity rectilinear motion, which improves the line-winding lay. Moreover, extra parts need not be provided between the rotary member and the slider member, simplifying the configuration and making the sliding components fewer, which maintains high drive-power transmission efficiency.
A spinning-reel oscillating mechanism in terms of the second aspect of the invention is a mechanism set forth by the first aspect, wherein the first cam projects diametrically outward more than the second cam. In this case, because the first cam is located diametrically further outward than the second cam, the amount with respect to rotation of the gear piece the slider member shifts under engagement of the first cam and the first cam engager is larger than the amount it shifts under engagement of the second cam and the second cam engager. That is, a high-speed cam is constituted by the first cam and first cam engager, and a low-speed cam is constituted by the second cam and second cam engager. Thus arranging for high/low-speed cams, as such, the first cam and first cam engager are configured so as to enable high-speed travel at either end of the stroke—where travel is at comparatively low-speed with respect to rotation of the rotary member—and the second cam and second cam engager are configured so as to enable low-speed travel in the mid portion of the stroke—where the travel is
Marcelo Emmanuel
Shimano Inc.
Shinjyu Global IP Counselors, LLP
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