Abstract:
The present disclosure concerns a fastening arrangement for securing a fishing reel to a fishing rod. The fastening arrangement includes a bulge to enhance controllability of the fishing rod, and a constriction receiving one of the angler&#39;s fingers to enable precision manipulation of the fishing rod.

Description:
This is a divisional of Ser. No. 08/363,578 filed Dec. 23, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,111. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     a) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention concerns fastening means for attaching a fishing reel to a fishing rod. Specifically, the present invention is directed to fastening means for light-weight fishing rods in which minute, precise movements are required, such as while fishing for small fish. 
     b) Description of Related Art 
     While waiting for a fish to bite the bait, an angler may grasp the fishing rod by a conventional fishing rod grip located either between the reel and the tip end of the fishing rod, or between the reel and the butt end of the fishing rod. Alternatively, it is not uncommon for the angler to grasp the reel in the proximity of where the fishing reel is attached to the fishing rod. 
     Japanese Utility Model Application (OPI, i.e. “unexamined published application”) No. 3-102850 discloses a reel fastener including a protuberance (2) formed on an upper surface. The protuberance prevents a gap from being formed between the palm of the angler&#39;s hand and the upper surface when the fishing rod is grasped. 
     Japanese Utility Model Application (OPI) No. 2-67765 similarly discloses a cylindrical cover for a fishing rod with a protuberance (8) extending away from the fishing reel. 
     The enlarged size of the reel fasteners in the prior art improve the angler&#39;s grasp of the fishing reel, whereby control of the fishing rod becomes limited to broad movements of the angler&#39;s wrist, arm, shoulder, etc. Unfortunately, it makes precise manipulation of the fishing rod, such as by the angler&#39;s fingers more difficult. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problem and provide fastening means linking securing means on a fishing rod with mounting means on a fishing reel. The fastening means also include a bulge extending radially outward away from a longitudinal axis of the fishing rod, as well as a constriction located between the bulge and a tip end of the fishing rod. 
     The bulge increases the stability while grasping the fastening means whereas the constriction is adapted to receive the angler&#39;s finger for precisely controlling minute movements of the fishing rod. Essentially, the fishing rod may be precisely manipulated by simple movements of the angler&#39;s finger rather than attempting to attenuate the broad movements of the angler&#39;s wrist, arm, shoulder, etc. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fishing rod according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the fishing rod according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the fishing rod according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the fishing rod according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a variation on the fishing rod according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in the Figures, the present invention includes a fishing rod  10 , a butt grip  12 , and reel fastening means  14 . The fishing rod  10  includes a tip end  101  and a butt end  102 , with a longitudinal axis  103  extending therebetween. 
     The reel fastening means  14  attaches a fishing reel (not shown) to a reel contact surface  25  of the fishing rod  10 . The reel contact surface  25  is provided between the tip end  101  and the butt end  102 , and may also be used to grasp and precisely manipulate the fishing rod. 
     The reel fastening means  14  includes a primary body  16  fitted on the fishing rod  10  and secured thereto, such as by an adhesive, a rear portion  18  between the primary body  16  and the butt end  102 , and a secondary body  20  provided between the primary body  16  and the tip end  101 . A part of the primary body  16  closest to the tip end  101  has a male screw  16 A with which a female screw  20 A of the secondary body  20  is engaged. The rear portion  18  may be secured to the fishing rod  10  by an adhesive. The part  16 B of the primary body  16 , which is closest to the butt end  102 , partially covers the part of the rear portion  18  which is closest to the tip end  101  and opposite the reel contact surface  25 . 
     The reel fastening means  14  has a first securing means or first (fixed) hood  28 B formed as a recess in the primary body  16  and open toward the butt end  102 . A second securing means or second (movable) hood  28 A is formed as a recess in the secondary body  20  and opens toward the tip end  101 . When the reel is to be fastened to the fishing rod contact surface  25  by the fastening means  14 , the secondary body  20  is moved away from the rear portion  18 . First  24 B and second  24 A projections from a fishing reel mounting means  24  are received in the first and second securing means  28 B and  28 A, respectively, and the secondary body  20  is oppositely moved toward the rear portion  18 . Tightening the secondary body  20  securely clamps the mounting means  24  against the fishing rod contact surface  25  by virtue of the cooperation between the securing means  28 A, 28 B and the projections  24 A, 24 B. 
     The primary body  16  has a bulge  17  (FIGS. 1-5) which extends radially outward away from the longitudinal axis  103  to enhance stability while grasping the fastening means  14 . The bulge  17  continuously decreases in height (h′) from a first point  17 A at the center of the bulge to a second point  17 B. The primary body  16  also has a constriction  22  between the bulge and the tip end  101 . The bulge  17  continuously decreases in height (h′) from a first point  17 A at the center of the bulge to a second point  17 B. The primary body further has an expansion portion  19  leading to the second hood  28 A. The transverse width with respect to the longitudinal axis  103  of the primary body  16  is minimal at the constriction  22 . The transverse width of the constriction may be made generally equivalent to the outside diameter of the fishing rod  10 , thereby providing a comfortable rest for the middle and/or index finger(s). 
     When the primary body  16  of the reel fastening means  14  is grasped in the angler&#39;s hand, the index and middle fingers are proximate to the front projection  24 A, and the third and little fingers are proximate to the rear projection  24 B. The middle finger is generally received in the constriction  22 . Consequently, the fishing rod can be precisely manipulated through the use of the finger received in the constriction  22 , while the bulge ensures a stable grasp may also be comfortably maintained. 
     In the general axial proximity of the constriction  22 , the primary body  16  is radially spaced away from the fishing rod  10  so that the fishing rod  10  is exposed in an opening  26 . This enables the angler&#39;s hand to touch the fishing rod  10  thereby enhancing sensitivity to a fish biting the bait, as well as reducing the weight of the fastening means  14 . 
     To ensure the entire palm of the angler&#39;s hand is used to comfortably grasp the fishing rod  10 , the rear part  16 B of the contours of the primary body  16  may extend over and radially cover some of the rear portion  18 . Since the contours of the primary body  16 , rather than the rear portion  18 , are comfortably grasped by the entire palm, the angler gets a consistent feeling when grasping the fishing rod. 
     FIG. 5 shows the variation in which the corresponding rear part  36 B of the primary body  36  does not extend over and radially cover some of the rear portion  38 . Instead the primary body  36  and rear portion  38  abut one another at a plane perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis  103 . 
     Although the fastening means  14  has been described with reference to the attached Figures, the present device is not limited thereby. For example, the fastening means  14  need not have a generally tubular shape, the fishing rod contact surface  25  may be flatly shaped, the fastening means  14  may have additional bumps on the opposite side with respect to the longitudinal axis  103 , and/or the constriction  22  may have a different cross-section or size.