Double bearing reel

One object is to provide a double bearing reel capable of visually and accurately determining a releasable state of an opening/closing mechanism for releasing a frame by cover plates, the opening/closing mechanism being prevented from causing tangling of a fishing line. The double bearing reel has an opening/closing mechanism for enabling a cover plate on an opposite side to a handle to be opened/closed with respect to a frame. Said opening/closing mechanism includes an operation member for switching between a releasable state where the frame is releasable by the cover plate and a closed locked state where the frame is closed by the cover plate and an indication portion for indicating the releasable state. In tandem with a switching operation, the indication portion is exposed outside of a side plate in the releasable state and retracted inside of the side plate in the closed locked state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application Ser. No. 2016-213460 (filed on Oct. 31, 2016), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a double bearing reel in which a spool for winding a fishing line is rotatably supported between side plates of a reel body.

BACKGROUND

A typical double bearing reel includes left and right side plates including a frame and left and right cover plates (left and right cover members) removably attached to left and right sides of the frame, respectively. Between the left and right side plates, there is rotatably supported a spool for winding a fishing line. Upon a winding operation of a handle disposed on one of the side plates, the spool is driven to rotate to wind the fishing line. Between the frame and the cover plates, there are housed various functional components such as a drive force transmission mechanism for transmitting a rotational force of the handle to the spool and a brake force adjusting mechanism for adjusting a brake force imparted on the rotation of the spool. Since these functional components require maintenance or the like including mounting/removal of the spool (such as when replacing the spool or solving a trouble that a fishing line is pinched), an opening/closing mechanism is provided on the frame and the cover plates so as to enable the cover plates to be removed, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 2005-323586 (hereinafter “the '586 Publication”) and 2011-24527 (hereinafter “the '527 Publication”).

The opening/closing mechanism is configured such that the cover plates can be released from the frame by operating an operation member such as a screw or a lever disposed on the cover plates. For example, the aforementioned '586 Publication discloses that a lever-type operation member is disposed on a lower rear portion of the side plate on an inner side of the frame on an opposite side to the handle, and the '527 Publication discloses that a dial screw-type operation member is disposed on a lower front portion of the cover plate on an opposite side to the handle.

The operation member of the opening/closing mechanism disclosed in each of the aforementioned '586 Publication and '527 Publication is turned between a release position and a closing position so as to switch between a releasable state where the frame is releasable by the cover plates (the cover plates can be removed from the frame) and a closed locked state where the frame is closed by the cover plates (removal of the cover plates from the frame is disabled). In the above-described '586 Publication, whether at the release position or at the closing position, the lever-type operation member remains to be positioned so as to be exposed on the lower rear portion on the inner side of the frame. Because of this, it can hardly be determined by appearance whether the operation member is at the release position or the closing position, and the operation member is brought close to a fishing line winding surface of the spool, so that it is likely that the fishing line becomes tangled around the operation member.

Similarly, also in the aforementioned '527 Publication, whether at the release position or at the closing position, the dial screw-type operation member remains to be projected to an outer peripheral region of the side plate on the lower front portion of the cover plate. Because of this, it can hardly be determined by appearance whether the operation member is at the release position or the closing position, and thus there may occur a trouble that a casting operation is erroneously performed when the operation member is at the release position, causing the cover plate to fall off from the frame.

Furthermore, in a fishing method using a double bearing reel, various operations are performed. For example, the side plate on the opposite side to the handle is gripped for a winding operation of the handle, or the side plate on a handle side or the opposite side to the handle is gripped for casting a tackle. When the side plate is gripped with a palm, the palm might hit a projection, resulting in occurrence of uncomfortable grip feeling. In order to prevent this, the operation member of the opening/closing mechanism is required not to be projected from a side surface of the cover plate. Actual fishing, however, involves various operation modes performed by gripping a reel body, and therefore, in some cases, various parts of fingers might accidentally contact the operation member. That is, when the reel body is gripped, a portion from the lower front portion to a rear side of the outer peripheral region of the side plate is contacted by various parts such as a tip, belly, or root of a finger. Therefore, in a case where the operation member of the opening/closing mechanism is disposed on this portion, there is a possibility that a sense of discomfort and uncomfortable grip feeling occur, a pain is felt, or a malfunction occurs in a gripping part of a palm or fingers.

SUMMARY

The present invention is intended to overcome the above-described problems and has as its object to provide a double bearing reel capable of visually and accurately determining a releasable state of an opening/closing mechanism where a frame is releasable by a cover plate, the opening/closing mechanism being prevented from causing a fishing line to become tangled. Furthermore, in addition thereto, it is also an object of the present invention to provide a double bearing reel including an opening/closing mechanism prevented from deteriorating grip feeling during actual fishing.

To achieve the above-described objects, the present invention is characterized in that a double bearing reel has: a reel body equipped with left and right side plates including a frame and cover plates openably/closably attached to the frame; a spool rotatably supported between the left and right side plates; a handle for driving the spool to rotate, the handle being provided on one of the left and right side plates; and an opening/closing mechanism for enabling one of the cover plates on an opposite side to the handle to be opened/closed with respect to the frame, the opening/closing mechanism being provided in the reel body. In the double bearing reel, the opening/closing mechanism is provided with: an operation member for switching between a releasable state where the frame is releasable by the cover plates and a closed locked state where the frame is closed by the cover plates; and an indication portion for indicating the releasable state. In tandem with a switching operation using the operation member between the releasable state and the closed locked state, the indication portion is exposed to an outer side of the other of the left and right side plates in the releasable state and retracted in an inner side of the other of the left and right side plates in the closed locked state.

As described above, the double bearing reel of the present invention is provided with the indication portion that indicates the releasable state of the opening/closing mechanism, where the frame is releasable by the cover plates. Upon switching using the operation member from the closed locked state to the releasable state, in tandem with the switching operation, the indication portion is exposed to an outer side of one of the side plates, and thus the releasable state of the opening/closing mechanism can be visually or haptically (because the indication portion contacts a hand holding the side plates mounted on the frame) determined with accuracy. Consequently, the frame is reliably released by the cover plates without causing an erroneous operation, and thus maintenance work or the like for various functional components housed in the frame can be easily and smoothly performed. Furthermore, upon switching using the operation member from the releasable state to the closed locked state, in tandem with the switching operation, the indication portion is retracted in an inner side of one of the side plates, and thus when the one of the side plates is gripped for operation during actual fishing, the indication portion is prevented from deteriorating grip feeling, and a fishing line is prevented from becoming tangled around the indication portion.

In the releasable state, it is only required that the frame be releasable by the cover plates, and any mounting mode may be adopted for mounting the cover places on the frame in the releasable state. For example, in the releasable state, the frame may be released in the following manner. That is, in a state where the cover plates remain to be unremovably mounted on the frame, one of the cover plates is moved relative to the frame by, for example, being turned with respect to the frame so that the frame is released. Or alternatively, the frame may be released by configuring the cover plates so that they are removable from the frame in the releasable state. Accordingly, in this connection, in the above-described configuration, it may also be possible that the releasable state enables removal of the cover plates from the frame, and the closed locked state disables removal of the cover plates from the frame.

Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, various exposure modes are also possible for exposing the indication portion from one of the side plates in the releasable state. For example, it may also be possible that in the releasable state, the indication portion is exposed to an outer side of one of the side plates through an opening formed in a corresponding one of the cover plates, and in the closed locked state, the indication portion is retracted in an inner side of the one of the side plates so as to be retracted from the opening (the indication portion becomes unseen through the opening). Or alternatively, it may also be possible that in the releasable state, the indication portion is visibly projected radially outward of an outer peripheral region of one of the side plates, and in the closed locked state, the indication portion is retracted in an inner side of the one of the side plates.

Furthermore, preferably, in the above-described configuration, an opening portion is formed in a side surface of one of the side plates on the opposite side to the handle, and the operation member of the opening/closing mechanism for the one of the side plates is disposed within the opening portion. According to such a configuration, even when the one of the cover plates is gripped for operation, no sense of discomfort is produced by the operation member. That is, as described above, the operation member is disposed within the opening portion so as not to be exposed or projected from a lower edge area or an upper edge area of the outer peripheral region of one of the cover plates. Therefore, the operation member is prevented from being contacted by a gripping part of a palm or fingers, and it is also prevented that uncomfortable grip feeling occurs, a pain is felt, or a malfunction occurs. Furthermore, the operation member lies within the opening portion, and thus a fishing line is prevented from becoming tangled around the operation member.

Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, it may also be possible that the indication portion is operable to switch between the releasable state and the closed locked state. In such a case, an auxiliary switching operation between the releasable state and the closed locked state can be performed by using the indication portion in place of the operation member, which is advantageous in a case where there is difficulty in operating the operation member due to how a reel is gripped. Furthermore, in this case, preferably, the indication portion has a finger retainer for a switching operation so that operability thereof is improved.

ADVANTAGES

According to the present invention, there is obtained a double bearing reel capable of visually or haptically determining, with accuracy, a releasable state of an opening/closing mechanism for releasing a frame by cover plates, thus capable of avoiding occurrence of an unnecessary trouble, the opening/closing mechanism being prevented from causing a fishing line to become tangled. Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is also obtained a double bearing reel including an opening/closing mechanism prevented from deteriorating grip feeling during actual fishing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIG. 1toFIGS. 6A and 6B, the following describes one embodiment of a double bearing reel according to the present invention.

In a double bearing reel according to this embodiment, a reel body1is provided with a left side plate1A, a right side plate1B, and a spool3rotatably supported between the side plates1A and1B. In this embodiment, a handle5is provided on a right side plate1B side. When the handle5is rotated for a winding operation, the spool3is driven to rotate via a drive force transmission mechanism (not shown) disposed inside the right side plate1B (a right handle type). It may also be possible that the handle5is provided on a left side plate1A side.

The left and right side plates1A and1B of the reel body1are formed of a frame7(7A,7B) and cover plates8(8A,8B) attached to the frame7. Specifically, the frame7includes a left frame7A and a right frame7B, which are formed integrally with each other. The left frame7A has a left cover plate8A (a left cover member) attached thereto, and the right frame7B has a right cover plate8B (a right cover member) attached thereto. That is, the left side plate (a side plate on an opposite side to the handle)1A is composed of the left frame7A and the left cover plate8A attached thereto, and the right side plate (a side plate on a handle side)1B is composed of the right frame7B and the right cover plate8B attached thereto.

The frame7is provided with a plurality of connection portions that connect the left frame7A to the right frame7B, such as, for example, a front connection portion7C, a rear connection portion7D, an upper connection portion (which may serve also as a thumb rest)7E, and a lower connection portion7F. Of these connection portions, the lower connection portion7F provided below the spool has a reel leg9mounted integrally thereto (it may also be possible that the reel leg9is formed integrally with the frame7). The reel leg9is mounted to a reel seat70of a fishing rod100(seeFIGS. 7 and 8).

Shapes of the left and right side plates1A and1B are not limited. In this embodiment, the left and right side plates1A and1B have a non-circular shape (a substantially oval shape) with its outer periphery extending in a front-rear direction as viewed from a side (seeFIG. 2). In this case, a surface (a side surface) of the left side plate1A (the left cover plate8A) on the opposite side to the handle is a curved surface convex outward (in an axial direction of a spool shaft) such that the left side plate1A can be easily wrapped in and gripped with a palm. In a vertically middle portion of the left side plate1A, a ridge R is formed to define a peaked portion of the curved surface along the front-rear direction. In this case, the left side plate1A is set to have a front-rear length L of 65 mm to 75 mm and a height (a maximum height) H of 35 mm to 45 mm such that it can be gripped easily, though these values vary depending on a size of a palm of a user. That is, as shown inFIG. 7, a belly of a forefinger is put on a region (a lower side surface8A1) below the ridge R that constitutes the peaked portion of the curved surface, and a belly of a thumb is put on an upper edge portion1E (a surface region) of the left side plate. The left side plate1A as a whole, therefore, has such a shape that it can be easily gripped with a palm of a left hand.

Preferably, outer peripheral surfaces (the upper edge portion1E, a lower edge portion1F) of the left side plate1A configured as above are each formed as a flat surface. A flat surface refers to a surface including no portions partially projected from the surface (refers to a flat-shaped surface having no exposed projections such as an after-mentioned operation member of an opening/closing mechanism, the surface including a curved surface). Since the side plate has flat outer peripheral surfaces as described above, the side plate gripped with a palm is prevented from catching fingers thereon, thus avoiding producing uncomfortable grip feeling. In this embodiment, when the reel body1is gripped with a left hand, a portion of a palm adjacent to roots of fingers contacts a rear-side region of the left cover plate8A, and a belly of a forefinger contacts the region below the ridge R (the lower side surface8A1), as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 7. At the same time, a belly of a thumb contacts the upper edge portion1E of the left side plate1A, and a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger contact the lower edge portion1F of the left side plate1A.

The reel body1includes an opening/closing mechanism20that enables the left cover plate8A to be opened/closed with respect to the left frame7A. For example, in this embodiment, the opening/closing mechanism20includes an operation member27A disposed in such a position that it can be operated with a finger. The operation member27A is operated to establish a releasable state so that the left cover plate8A can be removed from the left frame7A to expose the interior. The opening/closing mechanism20is disposed between the left frame7A and the left cover plate8A. It is only required, however, that the opening/closing mechanism20enable the frame to be released by the cover plate, and any mounting mode may be adopted to mount the cover plate8A on the frame7A when in the releasable state. For example, in the releasable state, the frame7A may be released in the following manner. That is, in a state where the cover plate8A remains to be unremovably mounted on the frame7A, the cover plate8A is moved relative to the frame7A by, for example, being turned with respect to the frame7A so that the frame7A is released. The opening/closing mechanism20of this embodiment will be described below with reference toFIG. 2andFIG. 3.

The left cover plate8A has an opening portion21formed in a side surface thereof, and the operation member27A of the opening/closing mechanism20is disposed within the opening portion21so as to be displaceable. The opening portion21is formed through the left cover plate8A. In this embodiment, the opening portion21has an elongated shape and extends along the front-rear direction in a region above half the height H of the left cover plate8A. In this embodiment, the left cover plate8A has the ridge R in the side surface thereof, as mentioned above. The opening portion21is formed above the ridge R (in a region of an upper side surface8A2).

Furthermore, the opening/closing mechanism20has a unit structure and is mounted on an inner surface of the left cover plate8A. The opening/closing mechanism20is provided with a set plate25and a turning member27. The set plate25is attached and fixed on the inner surface of the left cover plate8A with a screw member23. The turning member27has a ring shape and is mounted on a zone-ring surface25aof the set plate25on a left cover plate8A side via a washer26. Furthermore, a circular outer peripheral portion25cformed on the set plate25attached integrally to an inner side of the left cover plate8A is fitted to a spool fitting inner peripheral portion7bof the left frame7A. The circular outer peripheral portion25cand the spool fitting inner peripheral portion7bare fittably attached to each other in a state where an outer peripheral shape of the non-circular left frame7A is aligned with an outer peripheral shape of the left cover plate8A.

The turning member27includes engagement pieces27athat can be engaged with and disengaged from the left frame7A. Specifically, a plurality of radially projecting projections27aas the engagement pieces are formed at predetermined intervals on an outer peripheral surface of the turning member27(in this embodiment, four projections27aare formed at angular intervals of 90° along a circumferential direction). These projections27aare formed so as to be insertable into four recessed grooves7aformed in the left frame7A. That is, when the turning member27turns in one direction (a direction R1inFIG. 3), the projections27aare inserted into the associated recessed grooves7aso as to fix the turning member27(accordingly, the left cover plate8A on which the turning member27is fixed) on the left frame7A. When the turning member27turns in the other direction (a direction R2inFIG. 3), the projections27aare disengaged from the associated recessed grooves7aso as to unfix the turning member27(accordingly, the left cover plate8A on which the turning member27is fixed) from the left frame7A.

On the left cover plate8A side of the turning member27, there is formed the operation member27A that has a lever-like shape and is projected toward the opening portion21. The operation member27A can be pressed with a finger (or pinched with fingers) to turn the turning member27. In a state where the set plate25is fastened integrally on the left cover plate8A with the screw member23, the operation member27A is positioned within the opening portion21formed in the left cover plate8A.

In the above-described configuration, the turning member27is integrated with the set plate25into a unit. The screw member23is screwed into a central portion of the set plate25from inside so as to fix the set plate25integrally on the inner surface of the left cover plate8A and enables the turning member27to be turned. That is, when the operation member27A formed on the turning member27is turned (moved in the front-rear direction), the turning member27can be displaced circumferentially with respect to the set plate25and the left cover plate8A in a state of being fixed together.

Preferably, a positioning means for setting a turning position is provided on the turning member27. The positioning means can be composed of, for example, two recesses27cand27dand an engagement pin32. The two recesses27cand27dare formed along the circumferential direction on the left cover plate8A side of the turning member27, and the engagement pin32is disposed in a sack hole (not shown) formed in the inner surface of the left cover plate8A via a pressing spring31. Specifically, the recesses27cand27dare positioned so as to correspond to positions where the projections27aformed on the outer peripheral surface are inserted into or disengaged from the recessed grooves7ain the left frame7A as the turning member27is turned by operating the operation member27A. The engagement pin32is biased elastically into the recesses27cand27dat these positions and engaged therewith. That is, the positioning means can set with click-stops the positions where the projections27aof the turning member27are inserted into or disengaged from the associated recessed grooves7a.

By the above-described configuration, when the operation member27A of the turning member27is moved frontward in the direction R2so as to position at the recess27dthe engagement pin32having been engaged with the recess27c, the projections27aof the turning member27are disengaged from the associated recessed grooves7a, and the left cover plate8A with the set plate25incorporated thereinto becomes removable from the left frame7A (the releasable state where the left frame7A is releasable by the left cover plate8A; seeFIG. 5). Furthermore, in a state where the left cover plate8A is positioned at a predetermined position on the left frame7A, and the operation member27A of the turning member27is moved rearward in the direction R1such that the engagement pin32is inserted into the recess27cfor positioning, the projections27aof the turning member27are engaged with the associated recessed grooves7a, and thus the left cover plate8A is mounted on the left frame7A (the closed locked state where the left frame7A is closed by the left cover plate8A; seeFIG. 2). That is, removal of the left cover plate8A from the left frame7A is disabled.

Preferably, when the operation member27A of the turning member27is moved rearward for positioning, the operation member27A is in such a positional relationship as to be adjacent to a rear end edge21aof the opening portion21. A palm and fingers of a hand holding the cover plate8A are less likely to contact a region near the rear end edge21a. Therefore, the operation member27A in the closed locked state is positioned in this region so that a possibility of accidental unlocking of the closed locked state can be reduced. That is, compared with a configuration in which the operation member27A is moved frontward to establish the closed locked state, the possibility of accidental unlocking of the closed locked state while the reel is operated (held) is reduced.

Furthermore, preferably, the operation member27A configured as above is formed to have a stepped shape to facilitate a moving operation. More specifically, the operation member27A includes a step27B (seeFIG. 4) projecting more on its front side than on its rear side. In this case, the step27B easily catches a finger pressing it from a rear side and facilitates an operation of unlocking the closed locked state. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, the operation member27A is positioned within the opening portion21. The opening portion21of this embodiment is formed in a dead space (in a region of the upper side surface8A2) scarcely contacted by fingers or the like of a hand actually holding the left cover plate8A during actual fishing (seeFIG. 8). Therefore, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 4, a distal end (a surface of a peaked portion)27B of the operation member27A positioned within the opening portion21can also be either flush with or slightly beyond the surface of the left cover plate8A (a surface of the upper side surface8A2). Even when the operation member27A is slightly projected beyond the surface, there is a less possibility of an erroneous operation because the operation member27A is positioned in a dead space. In an actual operation, the operation member27A slightly projected beyond the surface is easily pressed with a finger (or pinched with fingers), and thus operability in removing the left cover plate8A can be improved.

In this case, preferably, the distal end (the surface of the peaked portion)27B of the operation member27A is set to be projected beyond the surface of the left cover plate8A by 1.0 mm or less to reduce a possibility of occurrence of a sense of discomfort or an erroneous operation when a palm wraps the entirety of the left cover plate8A.

In this embodiment, a brake mechanism for applying a brake force to rotation of the spool3is provided on the set plate25. A configuration of the brake mechanism is not particularly limited. For example, the brake mechanism can be formed based on magnetic braking for applying a brake force to rotation of the spool shaft of the spool3, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-10579. Such a brake mechanism based on the magnetic braking is well known, and details thereof, therefore, will be herein omitted. Similarly to the configuration disclosed in the above-described publication, the brake mechanism is provided with an adjuster45, a leaf spring46, a magnet holder47, and so on. The adjuster45is rotatably supported on a front extending portion25bof the set plate25via a fastening screw41and a washer42so as to be disposed within the opening portion21. The leaf spring46produces a click sound when the adjuster45is rotated. The magnet holder47is driven to rotate via an interlocking gear (not shown) when the adjuster45is rotated.

The set plate25has a first annular magnet (not shown) mounted thereon, and the magnet holder47has a second annular magnet47amounted thereon. The second annular magnet47ais opposed to the first annular magnet with a predetermined annular gap provided therebetween. Furthermore, an annular electric conductor (not shown) that rotates integrally with the spool3is fixed on the spool shaft. This annular electric conductor is disposed in the annular gap between the first annular magnet and the second annular magnet47a. When the adjuster45is rotated, relative positions of the first annular magnet and the second annular magnet47aare varied, thereby steplessly varying an intensity of a magnetic field in the annular gap and adjusting a brake force applied to the electric conductor (the spool) positioned in the annular gap. The magnet holder47incorporated into the set plate25is fixed on the set plate25with a retaining ring50so as not to come off.

A position of the adjuster45of the brake mechanism configured as above is not particularly limited. In view of a positional relationship with the opening/closing mechanism20, preferably, as in this embodiment, the adjuster45is positioned on a front side of the opening portion21, and the operation member27A of the opening/closing mechanism20is positioned on a rear side of the opening portion21. That is, preferably, the adjuster45of the brake mechanism, which may be operated during actual fishing, is disposed on the front side of the opening portion21so as to be easily contacted and rotated with a forefinger of a left hand holding the side plate, while the operation member27A of the opening/closing mechanism20, which may not be operated during actual fishing, is disposed on the rear side so as not to be easily reached by fingers.

Furthermore, the opening/closing mechanism20of this embodiment is provided further with an indication portion60for indicating the aforementioned releasable state of the opening/closing mechanism20. In this embodiment, the indication portion60is provided as a projection formed on the outer peripheral surface of the turning member27so as to be projected radially outward. In this case, in the releasable state where the operation member27A of the turning member27is moved frontward in the direction R2, and thus the projections27aof the turning member27are disengaged from the associated recessed grooves7a, as shown in FIG.5andFIG. 6B, the indication portion60is exposed to an outer side of the left side plate1A through an opening62(seeFIG. 3) formed in an outer peripheral edge portion of the left cover plate8A and a cut64(seeFIG. 3) formed in an outer peripheral edge portion of the left frame7A. That is, the indication portion60is visibly projected radially outward of an outer peripheral region of the left side plate1A, thus visually indicating to a reel user (a fisherman) that the releasable state is established. On the other hand, in the closed locked state where the operation member27A of the turning member27is moved rearward in the direction R1, and thus the projections27aof the turning member27are engaged with the associated recessed grooves7a, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 6A, the indication portion60is retracted radially inward of the outer peripheral region of the left side plate1A. That is, a position, a shape, a size, a projecting amount of the indication portion60are appropriately set such that the indication portion60is retracted within an inner space between the left cover plate8A and the left frame7A. Preferably, a projecting amount of the indication portion60is set to be 1.5 mm or less. When used as an operation portion, however, the indication portion60is set to be projected to some degree (0.5 mm to 1.5 mm) from the outer peripheral region of the left side plate1A so that excellent operability in pressing in the indication portion60is obtained.

That is, in this embodiment, in tandem with a switching operation using the operation member27A between the releasable state and the closed locked state, below the opening portion21, the indication portion60is projected/retracted with respect to an outer peripheral edge of the left side plate1A. However, a projection/burial mode of the indication portion60is not limited thereto. For example, it may also be possible that in the releasable state, the indication portion60is exposed to an outer side of the left side plate1A through an opening (not shown) formed in the left cover plate8A, and in the closed locked state, the indication portion60is retracted in an inner side of the left side plate1A so as to be retracted from the opening (the indication portion60becomes unseen through the opening).

Furthermore, the indication portion60of this embodiment is formed integrally with the turning member27having the operation member27A, and thus the indication portion60itself can also switch between the releasable state and the closed locked state. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to improve operability of the indication portion60, the indication portion60has a finger retainer60afor a switching operation. Specifically, in this embodiment, the indication portion60is formed in a substantially triangular shape, and a rear end surface thereof facing an opposite direction to the direction R1(may have the same shape as that of the step27B of the operation member27A) is used as the finger retainer60a.

In this embodiment, since the handle5is provided on the right side plate1B side, the left cover plate8A on the opposite side to the handle is formed so as to be openable/closable by the opening/closing mechanism20with respect to the left frame7A. In a case, however, where the handle5is provided on the left side plate1A side, needless to say, the right cover plate8B on the handle side is formed so as to be openable/closable by the opening/closing mechanism20with respect to the right frame7B.

As discussed above, the double bearing reel of this embodiment is provided with the indication portion60that indicates the releasable state of the opening/closing mechanism20, where the left frame7A is releasable by the left cover plate8A. Upon switching using the operation member27A from the closed locked state to the releasable state, in tandem with the switching operation, the indication portion60is exposed to the outer side of the left side plate1A, and thus the releasable state of the opening/closing mechanism20can be visually or haptically determined with accuracy. Consequently, the left frame7A is reliably released by the left cover plate7A without causing an erroneous operation, and thus maintenance work or the like for various functional components housed in the frame7can be easily and smoothly performed.

In a state where the left cover plate8A is mounted on the left frame7A, the indication portion60is projected from the outer peripheral region of the left side plate1A, and thus it can be visually understood with ease that the releasable state is established. Thus, even when an inadvertent attempt is made to shift to a casting operation (to switch to a spool free-rotation state by switching off a clutch mechanism), a hand holding the left side plate1A in that state is contacted by the indication portion60, and thus it can be haptically determined that the left cover plate8A is in the releasable state. This can avoid occurrence of a trouble such as the left cover plate8A falling off from the left frame7A.

Furthermore, upon switching using the operation member27A from the releasable state to the closed locked state, in tandem with the switching operation, the indication portion60is retracted in the inner side of the left side plate1A, and thus when the left side plate1A is gripped for operation during actual fishing, the indication portion60is prevented from deteriorating grip feeling, and a fishing line is prevented from becoming tangled around the indication portion60.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the indication portion60is operable to switch between the releasable state and the closed locked state. That is, an auxiliary switching operation between the releasable state and the closed locked state can be performed by using the indication portion60in place of the operation member27A, which is advantageous in a case where there is difficulty in operating the operation member27A due to how a reel is gripped. Furthermore, the indication portion60has the finger retainer60afor a switching operation, and thus excellent operability of the indication portion60is obtained.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the opening portion21is formed in the side surface of the left cover plate8A on the opposite side to the handle, and the operation member27A of the opening/closing mechanism20is disposed within the opening portion21. Therefore, even when the left cover plate8A is gripped for operation, no sense of discomfort is produced by the operation member27A. That is, as described above, the operation member27A is disposed within the opening portion21so as not to be exposed or projected from a lower edge area or an upper edge area of the outer peripheral region of the left cover plate8A. Thus, the operation member27A is prevented from being contacted by a gripping part of a palm or fingers, and it is also prevented that uncomfortable grip feeling occurs, a pain is felt, or a malfunction occurs. Furthermore, the operation member27A lies within the opening portion21, and thus a fishing line is prevented from becoming tangled around the operation member27A.

More specifically, when the left cover plate is held with a left hand as shown inFIG. 7, or when the right cover plate is held with a right hand as shown inFIG. 8, finger tips of the hand contact the upper edge portion1E and the lower edge portion1F constituting the flat surface region (the outer peripheral surface) of the side plate. In these portions, the operation member is not exposed, and flatness of the flat surface region prevents occurrence of a sense of discomfort, and further, it is prevented that a malfunction occurs due to contact of fingers.

Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above descriptions and are susceptible to various modifications within the purport of the present invention. For example, shapes of the cover plates included in the side plates are not particularly limited and may be circular, for example. Furthermore, a position and a shape of the opening portion formed in the cover plate are also not particularly limited. In this case, it may also be possible that the opening portion is formed in a region to be covered with a palm of a hand holding the side plate. In such a configuration, preferably, the operation member of the opening/closing mechanism is formed so as not to be projected from the side surface of the cover plate. Furthermore, while in the above descriptions, the opening portion is formed to extend through the cover plate, it may also be possible that a part of the opening portion has a bottom, and in that state, the opening portion extends through the cover plate, or the entirety of the opening portion has a bottom.

It may also be possible that the operation member of the opening/closing mechanism is operated against a biasing force, for example, instead of being a lever to be turned in the front-rear direction. Such a configuration facilitates unlocking, preferably, the peaked portion of the operation member disposed within the opening portion is positioned on an inner side with respect to a surface of the cover plate.

It may also be possible that only the operation member of the opening/closing mechanism is disposed within the opening portion formed in the cover plate. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the operation member may be either slid straightly in the front-rear direction or slid in a top-bottom direction. Further, the operation member positioned within the opening may be disposed in a position away from edge portions defining the opening portion, for example, in a middle region of the opening portion. Still further, it may also be possible that the operation member is a push button that can be operated within the opening portion.

Further, a shape, a projection/burial position, and so on of the indication portion of the opening/closing mechanism may also vary from those in the foregoing embodiment. The bottom line is, it is only required that the releasable state can be visually and reliably indicated by the indication portion in such a manner as not to interfere with operability of a reel.