Two-bearing reel with click mechanism

A two-bearing reel includes a handle shaft, a drag control member relatively rotatable to the handle shaft, and a click mechanism disposed between a member provided in the handle shaft and a member provided in the drag control member and supporting the drag control member. The click mechanism maintains the drag control member in place every time it is pivoted by a predetermined amount. The click mechanism includes a concavo-convex surface peripherally continuously defined in either one of the member provided in the handle shaft and the member provided in the drag control member, and a ball member engageable with the concavo-convex surface and an elastic member urging the ball member toward a radial direction with the ball member being rollable provided in the other of the member provided in the handle shaft and the member provided in the drag control member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a two-bearing reel, and more particularly 
to a two-bearing reel comprising a handle shaft, a drag control member 
relatively pivotable with the handle shaft, and a click mechanism disposed 
between a member mounted on the handle shaft and a member mounted on the 
drag control member for maintaining the drag control member in place every 
time pivoted by a predetermined amount. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
An example of the conventional two-bearing reel of the above-noted type is 
disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application "Kokai" No. 63-68774, 
which shows a tubular portion provided in the drag control member defining 
a concavo-convex surface in an inner periphery thereof, and a spring 
member provided in the handle shaft to be engageable with the 
concavo-convex surface thereby to form the click mechanism. 
With such a conventional reel, as the drag control member is pivoted, the 
spring member is engaged with and disengaged from the concavo-convex 
surface repeatedly to generate click sounds successively and to maintain 
the drag control member in a position where the spring member engages a 
concave portion. 
However, the drag control member is relatively frequently controlled during 
fishing, which increases the frequency of engagement and disengagement 
between the spring member and the concavo-convex surface as used. In 
addition, a large friction force is exerted between a convex portion and 
the spring member at the time of engagement or disengagement therebetween, 
as a result of which an operation of the drag control member tends to be 
toilsome. Also, the respective members are abraded to deteriorate the 
function of the members, which requires an improvement. 
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a two-bearing reel 
comprising a click mechanism easily operable without deteriorating the 
function of the drag control member even if frequently pivoted. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In order to achieve the above-noted object, the present invention is 
characterized by a two-bearing reel comprising a click mechanism including 
a concavo-convex surface peripherally and continuously defined in either 
one of a member provided in a handle shaft and a member attached a drag 
control member, a ball member provided in the other of the members to be 
engageable with the concavo-convex surface, and an elastic member urging 
the ball member toward a radial direction with the ball member being 
rollable. 
A function and an effect of the present invention are as follows. 
As can be seen from FIGS. 1 though 3, when the drag control member 5 is 
pivoted, the ball member 19 is rotatable when climbing over a convex 
portion of the concavo-convex surface, as a result of which a friction 
force exerted between the ball member and the convex portion is relieved 
by rotation of the ball member 19. 
More particularly, the click mechanism A of the present invention is less 
deformable even in the concavo-convex surface if used for a long term. In 
addition, a resistance caused in operating the mechanism can be reduced. 
Thus, such a two-bearing reel can be realized as includes the click 
mechanism in which even if the drag control member is frequently pivoted 
for a long term, a maintaining force and a function of click sounds are 
not extremely deteriorated, and furthermore, an easy operation is 
possible. 
Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following 
description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present invention will be described in detail referring to the 
accompanying drawings. 
As shown in FIG. 1, a two-bearing reel relating to the present invention 
comprises a reel body A including right and left side cases 1 
interconnected through rods 2. A spool 7 is disposed between the right and 
left side cases 1, and a handle shaft 3 extends from the right side case 1 
of the reel body A. The handle shaft 3 carries a drag mechanism 4, a drag 
control member 5 and a handle 6 for taking up a fishing line, attached 
thereto, respectively. 
A spool drive structure in the handle 6 will be described next. A spool 
shaft 8 is pivotably supported at one end thereof within the right side 
case 1. An input sleeve 9 is freely fitted on the end portion of the spool 
shaft 8. A fit-type clutch 10 is disposed between one end of the input 
sleeve 9 and the spool shaft 8. 
The drag mechanism 4 will be set forth next. The handle shaft 3 is hollow 
and has a support shaft 11 inserted therein. The support shaft 11 is 
supported by the right side case 1 whereby the handle shaft 3 is 
indirectly supported by the right side case 1. The drag mechanism 4 
includes a drive gear 12 freely fitted on the handle shaft 3, pressure 
plates 13 and friction plates 14 disposed at opposite sides of the drive 
gear 12, respectively, and a pressure spring 15. A pressing member 16 
acting upon the drag mechanism 4 is attached to an outer end portion of 
the handle shaft 3 relative to the drag mechanism 4 to be rotatable in 
unison with the handle shaft 3 and slidable in an axial direction of the 
handle shaft. A nut member 17 is screwed to a further outer end portion of 
the handle shaft 3 relative to the pressing member 16. The drag control 
member 5 is fitted on the nut member 17 for torque transmission. 
A click mechanism B is disposed between the handle 6 and the drag control 
member 5. 
The click mechanism B comprises a member 18 rotatable in unison with the 
handle shaft 3, a ball member 19 engageable with and disengageable from a 
concavo-convex surface 18S continuously defined in an inner periphery of a 
tubular portion 18a of the member 18, an elastic member 20 urging the ball 
member 19 toward a radical direction with the ball member being rollable, 
and the drag control member 5 defining an annular groove 5a for supporting 
the ball member 19 and the elastic member 20, respectively. With the click 
mechanism B, when the drag control member 5 is pivoted, the ball member 19 
rotates and repeatedly engages and disengages from the concavo-convex 
surface 18S thereby to generate click sounds. The drag control member 5 is 
maintained in place with the ball member 19 engaging a concave portion. 
The elastic member 20 is made of a plate spring and defines a groove 20a in 
a contact portion with the ball member 19 for stabilizing a relative 
position therebetween. A compression spring 21 is disposed between the nut 
member 17 and the drag control member 5. 
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter. 
Apart from the foregoing embodiment, the present invention may be practiced 
in a manner as shown in FIG. 4. 
In this embodiment, the click mechanism B comprises a concavo-convex 
surface 5'S defined in an inner periphery of a drag control member 5', the 
ball member 19 engageable with and disengageable from the concavo-convex 
surface 5'S, the elastic member 20 urging the ball member 19 toward the 
radial direction with the ball member 19 being rollable, and a member 18' 
rotatable in unison with the handle shaft 3. In a similar manner to the 
foregoing embodiment, when the drag control member 5' is pivoted, the ball 
member 19 rotates and repeatedly engages and disengages from the 
concavo-convex surface 5'S thereby to generate click sounds. The drag 
control member 5' is maintained in place with the ball member 19 engaging 
the concave portion. However, the member 18' rotatable in unison with the 
handle shaft 3 may be integrally formed with the handle 6. 
Furthermore, the present invention may be practiced as shown in FIG. 5. In 
this embodiment, the drag control member 5 is directly screwed to the 
handle shaft 3 and has a member 5b defining a concavo-convex surface 5S in 
an outer periphery thereof. The ball member 19 engageable with and 
disengageable from the concavo-convex surface 5S is supported by a member 
26 provided in the handle shaft 3. Further, the ball member 19 may be 
urged by a coil spring 20. In the above-discussed alternative embodiments, 
the members having the same functions as the first embodiment are provided 
with the same reference numbers.