Attachment tube for top guide, top guide for fishing rod, and fishing rod

An attachment tube for a top guide has a central axis extending in a longitudinal direction, a first insertion opening provided at one end in the longitudinal direction, a rectangular second insertion opening provided at the opposite end in the longitudinal direction, and an inclined surface provided at the opposite end. A tip portion of a fishing rod is inserted to the first insertion opening. An insertion leg of a frame supporting a guide ring is inserted to the second insertion opening. A rectangle center of the second insertion opening is spaced upward apart from the central axis. The inclined surface adjoins the second insertion opening and is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the central axis.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 35 U.S.C § 371 national stage filing of International Application No. PCT/JP2015/062528, filed on Apr. 24, 2015, which claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2014-0066029, filed on May 30, 2014, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an attachment tube for a top guide and a top guide which are attached to a tip of a fishing rod. Further, the present disclosure relates to a fishing rod including an attachment tube for a top guide or a top guide.

BACKGROUND

A fishing line guide is attached to a fishing rod to guide a fishing line, which is unwound from a reel or wound around the reel again, along the fishing rod. The fishing line guide has a guide ring, through which a fishing line passes, and a frame which is attached to a fishing rod and supports the guide ring. The frame of the fishing line guide is generally made of a metallic material.

A plurality of fishing line guides are attached to a fishing rod along a longitudinal direction of the fishing rod. A fishing line guide, which is located at a tip of the fishing rod among such fishing line guides, is referred to as a top guide. Generally, a rod body of the fishing rod is manufactured by means of carbon fibers or glass fibers. To protect an end portion at the tip of the rod body of such a fishing rod, the top guide is attached to a tip portion of the fishing rod in such a way that the tip portion of the fishing rod is inserted to the top guide. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. (Hei)9-131148 (Patent Document 1) discloses an example of the aforementioned top guide.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. (Hei)9-131148

SUMMARY

To improve a flying distance of a fishing rig, an accuracy in casting a fishing rig, a fishing sensitivity, etc., a height of a center of a guide ring, an inner diameter of the guide ring, an inclination angle of the guide ring, etc. should be considered.

The top guide has an attachment tube to which the tip portion of the fishing rod is inserted, and a frame which is coupled to the attachment tube and supports the guide ring. A tip of the attachment tube of the top guide is provided with an insertion opening, and the frame is provided with an insertion leg which is inserted to the insertion opening. Further, the frame which needs to be strong is provided with the insertion leg and a support leg which makes contact with the attachment tube. As such, the top guide has the attachment tube and the frame which are made separately. According to usage examples of the top guide, various attachment tubes, which have various inner diameters for purposes of application to fishing rods having various diameters, are used, but the frame can come in one size and may be mounted to the aforementioned various attachment tubes.

FIGS. 24 and 25show a usage example of top guides of a prior art.FIG. 24shows that the aforementioned one-sized frame420A is mounted to attachment tubes410A,410B and410C having various outer diameters, andFIG. 25shows that another one-sized frame420B is mounted to attachment tubes410D,410E and410F having various outer diameters.

Referring toFIG. 24, if the aforementioned frame420A is mounted to the attachment tube410C having a large inner diameter for a large-diameter fishing rod, when compared with the case where the frame420A is mounted to the attachment tube410A, a guide ring430is inclined toward a butt of the fishing rod, and a height from a surface of the attachment tube410C to a center of the guide ring430(a distance between a straight line L1and a straight line L3inFIG. 24) becomes small. In contrast, if the aforementioned frame420A is mounted to the attachment tube410B having a small inner diameter for a small-diameter fishing rod, when compared with the case where the frame420A is mounted to the attachment tube410A, the guide ring430is inclined toward a tip of the fishing rod, and a height from a surface of the attachment tube410B to the center of the guide ring430(a distance between the straight line L1and the straight line L3inFIG. 24) becomes large.

Referring toFIG. 25, as the one-sized frame420B is mounted to the attachment tubes410D,410E and410F having various outer diameters, the guide ring430is inclined toward the tip or butt of the fishing rod, and heights from the surfaces of the attachment tubes410D,410E and410F to the center of the guide ring430(distances between the straight line L1and the straight line L3inFIG. 25) also change. In particular, in the top guides having the frame420B shown inFIG. 25, the contact position of a tip of a support leg422to the attachment tube deviates from the central axis of the attachment tube in each top guide. Thus, as for the top guide having the frame shown inFIG. 25, it is difficult to use attachment tubes having a common length, and in some cases, an attachment tube longer than necessary must be used. By way of example shown inFIG. 25, it is preferable that lengths between the tip of an insertion leg421B and one end of the attachment tube (a length denoted by a symbol CL inFIG. 25) are constantly maintained. Thus, the length of the attachment tube may be shortened in the attachment tube410E having a small inner diameter, but, in comparison with the attachment tube410E having a small inner diameter, the length of the attachment tube must be lengthened in the attachment tube410D having a normal inner diameter and the attachment tube410F having a large inner diameter. The lengthened length of the attachment tube as described above leads to increase in the weight of the top guide. Further, the insertion leg421B and the support leg422of the frame420B must be longer than necessary. This is very disadvantageous in the weight reduction of the top guide.

That is, in the usage example shown inFIG. 24where the frames420A having the same size are mounted to various attachment tubes410A,410B and410C having different outer diameters, or in the usage example shown inFIG. 25where the frames420B having the same size are mounted to various attachment tubes410D,410E and410F having different outer diameters, the inclination angles of the guide rings430on the attachment tubes, the heights from the surfaces of the attachment tubes410A to410F to the center of the guide ring430, etc. are not constantly maintained due to the attachment tubes410A to410F having different outer diameters. Further, unintended inclination occurs at the guide ring430, thus increasing the likelihood of the occurrence of entanglement of a fishing line. Further, a range permitting the passage of the fishing line is narrowed due to the inclination of the guide ring430, thus increasing the likelihood that the fishing line does not pass through the guide ring430with ease. The reason why the same-sized frames410A,420B are not maintained at the same position when the same-sized frames410A,410B are mounted to the various attachment tubes having different outer diameters as described above is that the dimensions of various attachment tubes410A to410F are different for applicable fishing rods notwithstanding the fixed lengths of the insertion leg421A,421band the support leg422.

As a measure for solving the positional instability of the frame when the same frame is used for various attachment tubes, it can be considered to design a large number of frames which are exclusively used for the respective attachment tubes having different inner diameters. However, such a measure gives burden to the makers of fishing line guides since various frames suitable for the respective attachment tubes must be developed, and gives disadvantage to the makers since a manufacture cost of a fishing line guide increases.

Embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure solve the aforementioned problems of the prior art. Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an attachment tube for a top guide and a top guide for a fishing rod, which are capable of constantly maintaining the position of the frame irrespective of various diameters of the fishing rod.

Further, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fishing rod including the aforementioned attachment tube for a top guide or the aforementioned top guide.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides an attachment tube for a top guide. An attachment tube for a top guide according to an exemplary embodiment includes a central axis extending in a longitudinal direction, a first insertion opening provided at one end in the longitudinal direction, a quadrilateral second insertion opening provided at an opposite end located opposite the one end in the longitudinal direction, and an inclined surface provided at the opposite end. A tip portion of a fishing rod is inserted to the first insertion opening. An insertion leg of a frame which retains a guide ring is inserted to the second insertion opening. A quadrilateral center of the second insertion opening is spaced upward apart from the central axis. The inclined surface adjoins the second insertion opening and is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the central axis.

In an embodiment, when the attachment tube is viewed from the side, an edge in a direction in which the center of the second insertion opening is spaced apart from the central axis is straight.

In an embodiment, the acute angle of the inclined surface is 25 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less. In an embodiment, a length between the one end and an apex point of an edge of the inclined surface which is located opposite an edge adjoining the second insertion opening is 60% or more and 95% or less of a length between the one end and the opposite end.

In an embodiment, the second insertion opening is rectangular. In an embodiment, when the attachment tube is viewed from the front, a distance between both short sides of the second insertion opening is greater or less than an inner diameter of the attachment tube.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a top guide for a fishing rod. A top guide for a fishing rod according to an exemplary embodiment includes: a frame including a ring retaining portion retaining a guide ring through which a fishing line passes, and an insertion leg extending from the ring retaining portion; and the above-described attachment tube for a top guide.

In an embodiment, when the top guide is viewed from the side, the insertion leg of the frame extends from the ring retaining portion at the same angle as the acute angle of the inclined surface of the attachment tube.

In an embodiment, the frame further includes at least one support leg, which extends from the ring retaining portion and makes contact with an outer surface of the attachment tube. In one embodiment, the support leg makes contact with the outer surface of the attachment tube in a direction in which the center of the second insertion opening is spaced upward apart from the central axis of the attachment tube.

A further aspect of the present disclosure provides a fishing rod including the above-described attachment tube for a top guide or the above-described top guide.

According to the attachment tube for a top guide, the rectangle center of the second insertion opening to which the insertion leg of the frame is inserted is spaced apart from the central axis of the attachment tube toward the outer surface. Thus, in the attachment tubes having various outer diameters, the distances between the center of the second insertion opening and the outer surface of the attachment tube are the same and the heights from the attachment tube to the center of the guide ring are the same. Thus, the same frames can be maintained at the same position in various attachment tubes having various outer diameters. Further, since the same frames are provided at the same position in the attachment tubes having various outer diameters, a frame having a short insertion leg and a short support leg can be designed and a top guide reduced in weight can be achieved. Further, according to the top guide, the attachment tube includes the inclined surface which is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the central axis, and the insertion leg of the frame is inclined at the approximately same angle as the acute angle of the inclined surface. Thus, when the top guide is viewed from the side, the inclined surface and the insertion leg are interconnected smoothly, effectively preventing the entanglement of a fishing line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Descriptions are made as to embodiments of an attachment tube for a top guide, a top guide and a fishing rod according to the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote like or corresponding elements or parts. The directional term “upward,” “upper” or the like as used herein is based on a direction in which a ring retaining portion retaining a guide ring is positioned with respect to an attachment tube, while the directional term “downward,” “lower” or the like as used herein means a direction opposite to the upward or upper direction.

A fishing rod according to one embodiment is described with reference toFIG. 1. InFIG. 1, an arrow T indicates a tip of a fishing rod, while an arrow B indicates a butt of a fishing rod.

A fishing rod10according to one embodiment has a thin and elongated rod body11which has a cylindrical shape. The rod body11has a tapering shape such that it becomes gradually thinner toward the tip. The rod body11of the fishing rod consists of a single rod or a plurality of partial rods. If the rod body11consists of a plurality of partial rods, the partial rods are connected in a put in type, a put over type, a telescopic type or the like. The fishing rod10has a reel seat12for attachment of a reel (not shown) in the vicinity of its butt. Further, the fishing rod10includes a top guide20A1according to one embodiment, which is attached to a tip portion of the rod body11and guides a fishing line at the tip of the fishing rod10. Hereinafter, said tip portion of the rod body11is referred to as the tip portion of the fishing rod. If the rod body11consists of a single rod, the tip portion of the fishing rod includes the tip portion of said single rod. If the rod body11consists of a plurality of partial rods, the tip portion of the fishing rod includes the tip portion of the partial rod which is located at the tip.

FIGS. 2 to 22show various embodiments of a top guide which is attached to the fishing rod. The top guides20A1to20B3according to the embodiments shown inFIGS. 2 to 22are attached to the tip portion13of the fishing rod. The top guides20A1to20B3according to the embodiments include an attachment tube100A1to100C, and a frame200A,200B. The attachment tube100A1to100C is for attachment to the tip portion13of the fishing rod10. The frame200A,200B retains a guide ring300through which a fishing line passes, and is coupled to the attachment tube100A1to100B3. The attachment tube100A1to100C and the frame200A,200B of the top guide20A1to20B3are made of a metallic material. The attachment tube100A1to100C includes a tubular body to which the tip portion13of the fishing rod is inserted. The top guide20A1to20B3is attached to the rod body11by inserting the tip portion13of the fishing rod10to the tubular body of the attachment tube100A1to100C and bonding, for example, the tubular body and the tip portion13of the fishing rod10together.

FIGS. 5 to 12Bshow various examples of the attachment tube constituting the top guide according to an embodiment. An example of the attachment tube of the top guide is described with reference toFIGS. 2 to 6.

The attachment tube100A1comprises a tubular body110A1. The tip portion13of the fishing rod10is inserted to the tubular body110A1. The tubular body110A1has a cylindrical shape wherein a bore is formed longitudinally such that the tubular body110A1receives the tip portion13of the fishing rod therein. Thus, the attachment tube100A1includes a central axis CA which extends in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body110A1while passing a center of a circular cross section of the tubular body110A1, one end111in the longitudinal direction, and an opposite end112located opposite the one end111in the longitudinal direction. When the attachment tube100A1is attached to the tip portion13of the fishing rod10, the one end111of the attachment tube100A1faces the butt of the fishing rod10.

A first insertion opening120which is circular is provided at the one end111of the attachment tube100A1. The tip portion13of the fishing rod10is inserted to the inside of the tubular body110A1through the first insertion opening120. The coupling between the attachment tube100A1and the fishing rod10is made by interposing, for example, an adhesive between an inner circumferential surface of the tubular body110A1and an outer circumferential surface of the tip portion13of the fishing rod, and inserting the tip portion13from the one end111of the attachment tube100A1toward the opposite end112.

The attachment tube100A1includes a second insertion opening130A, which is a quadrilateral, at the opposite end112. The frame200A of the top guide20A1is attached to the attachment tube100A1by inserting a portion of the frame200A (an insertion leg of the frame200A) to the inside of the tubular body110A1through the second insertion opening130A. When the attachment tube100A1is viewed from the front, the second insertion opening130A may have a quadrilateral shape such as a square or a rectangle. In one embodiment, the second insertion opening130A has a quadrilateral shape with rounded corners. In another embodiment, the rounded extent of the corner in the quadrilateral shape of the second insertion opening130A may differ from that shown inFIG. 6. The quadrilateral shape of the second insertion opening may include a quadrilateral shape with two right-angled sides.

In this embodiment, the second insertion opening130A has a rectangular shape. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 6, when the attachment tube100A1is viewed from the opposite end112(when the attachment tube100A1is viewed from the front), the second insertion opening130A has a rectangular shape. The second insertion opening130A is formed in the opposite end112such that a plane forming the rectangular shape of the second insertion opening is positioned perpendicularly to the central axis CA. Further, the second insertion opening130A is formed in the opposite end112such that the short sides of the rectangular shape are positioned perpendicularly to the central axis CA. The second insertion opening130A has a rectangle center CQ, an upper long side131ULS, a lower long side131LLS, a left short side131LSS, and a right short side131RSS. Since the second insertion opening130A is positioned perpendicularly to the central axis CA in the opposite end112, the opposite end112has side portions defining the respective sides of the second insertion opening130A. That is, the opposite end112has an upper long side portion112ULS, a lower long side portion112LLS, a left short side portion112LSS, and a right short side portion112RSS. The inner edges of the upper long side portion112ULS, the lower long side portion112LLS, the left short side portion112LSS and the right short side portion112RSS define the long and short sides of the second insertion opening130A respectively. When the attachment tube100A1is viewed from the front, widths of the long side portions112ULS,112LLS and the short side portions112LSS,112RSS are approximately equal to a thickness of the tubular body110A1or slightly narrower than the thickness of the tubular body110A1.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the rectangle center CQ of the second insertion opening130A is spaced apart from the central axis CA. Specifically, the rectangle center CQ of the second insertion opening130A is spaced upward apart from the central axis CA. That is, a straight line L2, which passes the rectangle center CQ of the second insertion opening130A and is parallel with the central axis CA, is located between the central axis CA and a straight line L1parallel with the central axis CA. The straight line L1is located on an outer surface of the attachment tube100A1(an outer surface of the tubular body110A1) in a direction in which the rectangle center CQ of the second insertion opening130A is spaced apart from the central axis CA. When the attachment tube100A1is viewed from the side, the straight line L1passes an upper edge. Further, the outer edge of the upper long side portion112ULS of the opposite end112may be located under the straight line L1or on the straight line L1. In this embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the inner edge of the upper long side portion112ULS of the opposite end112is the upper long side131ULS of the second insertion opening130A (the long side distant from the central axis CA among two long sides of the second insertion opening130A), and the outer edge of the upper long side portion112ULS of the opposite end112is located on the straight line L1. Thus, when the attachment tube100A1is viewed from the side, an upper edge113U of the attachment tube100A1in the direction in which the center CQ of the second insertion opening130A is spaced apart from the central axis CA forms an approximately straight line.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the lower long side131LLS of the second insertion opening130A (the long side close to the central axis CA among two long sides of the second insertion opening130A) is located above the central axis CA. As shown inFIG. 4, when the attachment tube100A1is viewed from the top, the width of the tubular body110A1becomes gradually wider toward the opposite end112. Thus, as shown inFIG. 6, the left short side131LSS and the right short side131RSS of the second insertion opening130A are located outside the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the attachment tube100A1. That is, when the attachment tube100A1is viewed from the front, a width W1of the second insertion opening130A, which is defined as a distance between the left short side131LSS and the right short side131RSS, is greater than inner and outer diameters of the tubular body110A1(inner and outer diameters of the attachment tube100A1).

The attachment tube100A1includes, at the opposite end112, an inclined surface140which adjoins the second insertion opening130A. The inclined surface140is an outer surface of an inclined surface portion141which is formed by a portion of the attachment tube100A1which is adjacent to the opposite end112and inclined to the central axis CA. When the attachment tube100A1is viewed from the side, the inclined surface140is inclined at an acute angle A1with respect to the central axis CA of the attachment tube100A1. In one embodiment, the acute angle A1of the inclined surface140is 25 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less. The inclined surface140has a shape which is made by excluding the rectangular shape of the second insertion opening130A from an imaginary sectional shape of the tubular body which is viewed when a section is taken at the acute angle A1from the tubular body110A1with respect to the central axis CA. Thus, the inclined surface140has a straight edge142and a curved edge143which is located opposite the straight edge142. The straight edge142of the inclined surface140adjoins the outer edge of the lower long side portion112LLS of the opposite end112. The lower long side portion112LLS has the lower long side131LLS of the second insertion opening130A (the long side close to the central axis CA among two long sides of the second insertion opening) as its inner edge. The curved edge143of the inclined surface140adjoins the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical surface of the attachment tube100A1. The curved edge143of the inclined surface140has an apex point AP which is located on the lower edge113L when the attachment tube100A1is viewed from the side.

A length which is indicated by a symbol PL inFIG. 5shows a maximum insertion depth of the tip portion13of the fishing rod which is inserted to the attachment tube100A1. In one embodiment, to ensure an appropriate attachment strength between the tip portion13of the fishing rod and the attachment tube100A1, the length PL is 60% or more and 95% or less of an overall length OL of the attachment tube100A1(a distance from the one end111to the opposite end112).

FIGS. 7A to 12Bshow various examples of the attachment tube. The attachment tube100A2shown inFIGS. 7A and 7Bhas the second insertion opening130A, which is the same as the second insertion opening130A of the attachment tube100A1, however includes a tubular body110A2which has an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of the tubular body110A1of the attachment tube100A1. The attachment tube100A3shown inFIGS. 8A and 8Bhas the second insertion opening130A, which is the same as the second insertion opening130A of the attachment tube100A1, however includes a tubular body110A3which has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the tubular body110A1of the attachment tube100A1. As shown inFIG. 8B, an opposite end portion of the attachment tube100A3becomes gradually narrower toward the opposite end112.

The attachment tube100B1shown inFIGS. 9A and 9Bhas the tubular body110B1, which has the same outer diameter as the tubular body of the attachment tube100A1, however includes a second insertion opening130B which has a width W2less than the width W1of the second insertion opening130A of the attachment tube100A1. The attachment tube100B2shown inFIGS. 10A and 10Bhas the second insertion opening130B, which is the same as the second insertion opening130B of the attachment tube100B1, however includes a tubular body110B2which has an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of the tubular body110B1of the attachment tube100B1. The tubular body110B3of the attachment tube100B3shown inFIGS. 11A and 11Bhas an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the tubular body of the attachment tube100B1. However, the attachment tube100B3has the second insertion opening130B, which is the same as the second insertion opening130B of the attachment tube100B1. As shown inFIG. 11B, an opposite end portion of the attachment tube100B3becomes gradually narrower toward the opposite end112.

In the attachment tubes shown inFIGS. 7A to 11B, the rectangle center CQ of the second insertion opening is spaced upward apart from the central axis CA of the attachment tube. In the attachment tubes100A2,100B2shown inFIGS. 7A, 7B, 10A and 10B, the lower long side131LLS of the second insertion opening is located below the central axis CA. Further, in the attachment tubes100A3,100B3shown inFIGS. 8A, 8B, 11A and 11B, the lower long side131LLS of the second insertion opening is located above the central axis CA. Further, in the attachment tubes100A3,100B3shown inFIGS. 8A, 8B, 11A and 11B, a distance between both short sides131LSS,131RSS of the second insertion opening130A,130B is less than the inner diameter of the tubular body110A3,110B3(the inner diameter of the attachment tube). Thus, when the attachment tubes100A3,100B3shown inFIGS. 8A, 8B, 11A and 11Bare viewed from the front, the left short side131LSS and the right short side131RSS of the second insertion opening is located inside the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the attachment tube100A3,100B3.

The attachment tube100C shown inFIGS. 12A and 12Bincludes a second insertion opening130C which has a width different from the width of the second insertion opening130A of the attachment tube100A1. Further, the attachment tube100C includes another inclined surface150which adjoins the upper long side131ULS of the second insertion opening130C and is inclined with respect to the central axis CA in a direction opposite to the inclined surface140. The rectangle center CQ of the second insertion opening130C of the attachment tube100C is spaced upward apart from the central axis CA, and the lower long side131LLS of the second insertion opening130C is located above the central axis CA.

An example of the frame of the top guide is described with reference toFIGS. 2 to 5, 13 and 14.

The frame200A of the top guide retains a guide ring300. The frame200A is coupled to the attachment tube100A1to100C and supports the guide ring300. In this embodiment, the guide ring300is circular and has a circular opening, through which a fishing line passes, therein. The guide ring300makes contact with the fishing line at an inner circumferential surface thereof. The guide ring300is made of a hard material such as ceramic.

The frame200A includes a ring retaining portion210which retains the guide ring300, an insertion leg220A which extends from the ring retaining portion210and is fitted to the second insertion opening130A,130B,130C of the attachment tube100A1to100C, and a support leg230which extends from the ring retaining portion210and makes contact with the outer surface of the attachment tube100A1to100C.

The ring retaining portion210has a ring shape which is formed with a circular opening such that the ring retaining portion210retains the guide ring300throughout the outer circumferential surface of the guide ring. The guide ring300is fitted to the inner circumferential surface of the ring retaining portion210at the outer circumferential surface of the guide ring.

The insertion leg220A extends approximately straight from a lower end of the ring retaining portion210and is inclined from the ring retaining portion210at an acute angle with respect to a plane RP of the guide ring300. Said acute angle of the insertion leg220A may be the same as the acute angle A1of the inclined surface140of the attachment tube100A1to100C. The insertion leg220A has, at its distal end, an insertion portion221A which is fitted to the second insertion opening130A,130B,130C of the attachment tube100A1to100C. In this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 14, the insertion portion221A is defined by a pair of shoulder portions222which are formed at lateral edges of the insertion leg220A. The insertion portion221A has an insertion length IL1, which corresponds to a distance from the shoulder portion222to the distal end of the insertion leg220A, and an insertion width IW1, which corresponds to a distance between both shoulder portions222. In one embodiment, the insertion width IW1of the insertion portion221A is the same as the width W1of the second insertion opening130A. Further, a width of each shoulder portion222may be equal to the thickness of the short side portion112LSS,112RSS of the opposite end112or may be less than the thickness of the short side portion112LSS,112RSS.

The support leg230extends from the lateral side of the ring retaining portion210toward the butt of the fishing rod10. In this embodiment, the support leg230comprises a left support leg230L and a right support leg230R which are symmetrical with respect to the central axis CA of the attachment tube. When the top guide20A1is viewed from the side, the left support leg230L and the right support leg230R are curved downwardly convexly. The left support leg230L and the right support leg230R are integrated together at their distal ends to form a distal end portion231of the support leg230. The distal end portion231of the support leg230makes contact with the outer surface of the attachment tube100A1to100C in the direction in which the rectangle center CQ of the second insertion opening is spaced apart from the central axis CA of the attachment tube.

FIG. 15shows the frame according to another example. An insertion leg220B of the frame200B shown inFIG. 15includes, at its distal end, an insertion portion221B which has an approximately parabolic shape when the frame200B is viewed from the top. The insertion portion221B of the insertion leg220B is fitted to the second insertion opening130A,130B,130C. The insertion portion221B has an insertion length IL2and an insertion width IW2. In one embodiment, the insertion width IW2of the insertion portion221B is equal to the width W2of the second insertion opening130B.

FIGS. 16 to 18show various examples of the frame. When the top guide is viewed from the side, the left support leg230L and the right support leg230R, which constitute the support leg230of the frame200C shown inFIG. 16, are curved upwardly convexly. The frame200D shown inFIG. 17includes an opening223in an insertion leg220D. The frame200E shown inFIG. 18does not include the above-described support leg230.

The frame200A to200D is attached to the attachment tube100A1to100C by inserting the insertion portion221A,221B of the insertion leg220A,220B,220D of the frame to the second insertion opening130A,130B,130C and bringing the distal end portion231of the support leg230into contact with the outer surface of the attachment tube. To firmly fix the frame to the attachment tube, the distal end portion231of the support leg230is bonded to the outer surface of the attachment tube by means of, for example, brazing or soldering.

Descriptions are made with reference toFIGS. 19 to 22as to an example where the frames are maintained at the same position with respect to various attachment tubes in the top guides including the above-described attachment tubes and frames.

FIG. 19is a top view of the top guide20A1which includes the frame200A among the above-described frames and the attachment tube100A1among the above-described attachment tubes.FIG. 20shows in parallel that the frame200A is attached to the respective attachment tubes100A1,100A2,100A3. As shown inFIG. 20, the attachment tubes100A1,100A2,100A3have outer diameters different from one another. However, a distance D1between the straight line L1, which passes the upper edge113U of the attachment tube100A1,100A2,100A3and is parallel with the central axis CA, and the straight line L2, which passes the rectangle center CQ of the second insertion opening130A and is parallel with the central axis CA, is the same in each top guide20A1,20A2,20A3.

The insertion width IW1of the frame200A is equal to the width W1of the second insertion opening130A, and the insertion portion221A is inserted to the second insertion opening130A at the same insertion length IL1in each attachment tube100A1,100A2,100A3. Further, a distance D2between the straight line L1parallel with the central axis CA and a straight line L3, which passes a center of the guide ring300and is parallel with the central axis CA, is also the same in each top guide20A1,20A2,20A3. Further, an angle A2, which is formed between the plane RP of the guide ring300and the central axis CA of the attachment tube100A1,100A2,100A3, is the same in each top guide20A1,20A2,20A3. Further, a distance D3between a tip end of the insertion portion221A and a rear end of the distal end portion231of the support leg230is also the same in each top guide20A1,20A2,20A3. As described above, in the top guides20A1,20A2,20A3according to the embodiments, the frame200A is maintained at the same position with respect to the attachment tubes100A1,100A2,100A3which have outer diameters different from one another.

FIG. 21is a top view of the top guide20B1which includes the frame200B among the above-described frames and the attachment tube100B1among the above-described attachment tubes.FIG. 22shows in parallel that the frame200B is attached to the respective attachment tubes100B1,100B2,100B3. As shown inFIG. 22, the outer diameters of the respective attachment tubes100B1,100B2,100B3are different. However, the distance D1between the straight line L1, which passes the upper edge113U of the attachment tube100B1,100B2,100B3, and the straight line L2, which passes the center of the second insertion opening130B, is the same in each top guide20B1,20B2,20B3. The insertion width IW2of the insertion portion221B of the frame200B is the same as the width W2of the second insertion opening130B, and the insertion portion221B is inserted at the same insertion length IL2in each attachment tube100B1,100B2,100B3. Further, in each top guide20B1,20B2,20B3, the distance D2from the straight line L1to the straight line L3is also the same and the angle A2of the plane RP of the guide ring300is also the same. Further, the distance D3between a tip end of the insertion portion221B and the rear end of the distal end portion231of the support leg230is also the same in each top guide20B1,20B2,20B3. As described above, in the top guides20B1,20B2,20B3according to the embodiments, the frame200B is maintained at the same position with respect to the attachment tubes100B1,100B2,100B3which have outer diameters different from one another.

In the top guides20A1to20B3according to the embodiments, the insertion portion221A of the frame200A is inserted to the attachment tubes100A1to100A3at the same insertion width IW1and at the same insertion length IL1, and the insertion portion221B of the frame200B is inserted to the attachment tubes100B1to100B3at the same insertion width IW2and at the same insertion length IL2. Further, the rectangle center of the second insertion opening130A,130B,130C is located above the central axis CA of the attachment tube100A1to100C, and the outer edge of the upper long side portion112ULS of the opposite end112, which defines the upper long side of the second insertion opening130A, is located on the straight line L1which is located at the outer surface of the attachment tube (the upper edge113U of the attachment tube when the attachment tube is viewed from the side). Thus, the frame200A,200B is maintained at the same position with respect to each attachment tube100A1to100C. Further, as the frame200A,200B is maintained at the same position with respect to each attachment tube, the distance D3between the tip end of the insertion portion221A,221B and the rear end of the distal end portion231of the support leg230is also the same in each top guide. Accordingly, as shown inFIGS. 13 to 15, the insertion portion221A,221B of the frame200A,200B can be designed to have a relatively short length, and the support leg230of the frame200A,200B can be also designed to be short accordingly. Consequently, the top guides20A1to20B3according to the embodiments can be reduced in weight.

In the top guides20A1to20B3according to the embodiments, the inclined surface140of the attachment tube100A1to100B3is inclined at the acute angle A1(e.g. 25 degrees to 45 degrees) with respect to the central axis CA. Further, the insertion leg220A,220B of the frame200A,200B linearly extends from the ring retaining portion210and is inclined at the same angle as the acute angle A1of the inclined surface140with respect to the plane RP of the guide ring. In one embodiment, the insertion leg220A,220B of the frame200A,200B extends from the ring retaining portion210at the same angle as the acute angle A1of the inclined surface140of the attachment tube. Thus, when the top guide20A1to20B3is viewed from the side, a lower edge of the insertion leg220A,220B and the inclined surface140form a straight line. Thus, as shown inFIGS. 20 and 22, in the top guides20A1to20B3according to the embodiments, an angle which the inclined surface140and a lower surface of the insertion leg220A,220B make with respect to the central axis CA becomes large, and a step difference between the inclined surface140and the lower surface of the insertion leg220A,220B becomes small. Accordingly, a fishing line is not caught or entangled at the intersection between the insertion leg220A,220B of the frame and the inclined surface140of the attachment tube.

The above-described embodiments include the attachment tube100A1to100C having the second insertion opening130A,130B which is laterally long when the attachment tube130A1to100C is viewed from the front. In another embodiment, as shown inFIG. 23A, a second insertion opening130D, which is rectangular and vertically long when an attachment tube100D is viewed from the front, may be provided at the opposite end of the attachment tube100D. In a further another embodiment, as shown inFIG. 23B, a square, second insertion opening130E may be provided at the opposite end112of the attachment tube100E. In such embodiments, the rectangle center of the second insertion opening130D or the square center of the second insertion opening130E is spaced upward apart from the central axis CA of the attachment tube, and when the attachment tube is viewed from the side, the edge of the attachment tube in the direction in which the center of the second insertion opening is spaced is a straight line.

The present disclosure described heretofore should not be limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains, that various substitutions, modifications and alternations may be made without departing from the technical idea of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

10fishing rod,11rod body,12reel seat,13tip portion of fishing rod,20A1,20A2,20A3,20B1,20B2,20B3top guide,100A1,100A2,100A3,100B1,100B2,100B3,100C,100D,100E attachment tube,110A1,110A2,110A3,110B1,110B2,110B3tubular body,111one end of attachment tube,112opposite end of attachment tube,112ULS,112LLS long side portion of opposite end,112LSS,112RSS short side portion of opposite end,113U upper edge when attachment tube is viewed from side,113L lower edge when attachment tube is viewed from side,120first insertion opening,130A,130B,130C,130D,130E second insertion opening,131ULS,131LLS long side of second insertion opening,131LSS,131RSS short side of second insertion opening,140inclined surface,141inclined surface portion,142straight edge of inclined surface,143curved edge of inclined surface,150inclined surface,200A,200B,200C,200D,200E frame,210ring retaining portion,220A,220B,220D insertion leg,221A,221B insertion portion,222shoulder portion,223opening,230support leg,230L left support leg,230R right support leg,231distal end portion,300guide ring, CA central axis of attachment tube, CQ quadrilateral center of second insertion opening, L1straight line located on outer surface of attachment tube and parallel with central axis, L2straight line passing quadrilateral center of second insertion opening and parallel with central axis, L3straight line passing center of guide ring and parallel with central axis, OL overall length of attachment tube, PL length between apex point of edge of inclined surface and one end, W1, W2width of second insertion opening, D1distance between L1and L2, D2distance between L1and L3, D3distance between tip end of insertion portion and rear end of distal end portion, IW1, IW2insertion width of insertion portion, IL1IL2insertion length of insertion portion, A1angle of inclined surface with respect to central axis, A2angle of plane of guide ring with respect to central axis, AP apex point of curved edge of inclined surface, RP plane of guide ring.