Handle of a fishing reel

A handle of a fishing reel in which a knob can be very easily replaced with another one, which is always free from deterioration, damages, and the like, and in which a knob that is most suitable can be selectively used. A handle knob is locked and supported via a support shaft on a rotating member for winding a fishing line around a spool, the knob is insertable into and detachable from an outer periphery of a cylinder member which is locked and supported on the support shaft in a rotatable manner, and the knob is locked to the cylinder member by an engaging member in a detachable manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a handle of a fishing reel having an 
improved structure for inserting and detaching a knob. 
Conventionally, a handle arm which is rotatably attached to the reel body 
for winding a fishing line around a spool of a fishing reel is provided 
with a knob of a desired shape which is grasped by a user's hand to 
perform a winding operation. In order to improve the adaptability and 
holdability in the winding operation, the knob is made of a cork material, 
a soft resin material, or the like. Such a handle arm is known in, for 
example, Japanese utility model publication (Kokai) No. SHO63-15776. 
However, the holdability cannot be satisfactorily maintained for a long 
term, because of deterioration due to a lapse of use, sticking of seawater 
or water contents, the slime of fish, or the like, damages caused by 
contacts with foreign members, or other reasons. Furthermore, since the 
knob is not easily detached, different knobs which are most suitable to 
situations including the type of fish, the fishing conditions, and the 
personal taste of the fisherman cannot be selectively used. 
Another structure in which a knob rotatably supported on a support shaft of 
a handle arm can be detached from the support shaft by removing a cap of 
the knob and a lock ring engaged with the support shaft in the knob is 
disclosed in, for example, Japanese patent publication (Kokai) No. 
HEI8-89140. However, removing and opening the cap in a narrow space is 
cumbersome, and the structure is complicated. Further, this knob suffers 
from the same disadvantages mentioned in the paragraph above. 
In view of the above-discussed disadvantages, it is an object of the 
invention to provide a handle of a fishing reel in which a knob can be 
very easily replaced with another one, which is always free from 
deterioration, damages, and the like, and in which the most suitable knob 
can be selectively used. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In order to solve these problems, in a handle of a fishing reel in which a 
handle knob is locked and supported via a support shaft on a rotating 
member for winding a fishing line around a spool, the knob is insertable 
into and detachable from an outer periphery of a cylinder member which is 
locked and supported on the support shaft in a rotatable manner, and the 
knob is locked to the cylinder member by an engaging member in a 
detachable manner. 
According to the invention, when a knob is to be replaced with another knob 
because of deterioration due to a lapse of use, sticking of seawater or 
water contents, the slime of fish, or the like, damages caused by contacts 
with foreign members, or other reasons, the knob can be easily detached by 
loosening an engaging member such as a screw. Therefore, the most suitable 
knob for type of fish, the fishing conditions, and the personal taste of 
the knob can be selected and easily attached. Consequently, the 
replacement can be conducted very easily, and the holdability of the knob 
can be satisfactorily maintained for a long term. 
The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese 
patent application No. Hei. 9-200851 (filed on Jul. 10, 1997) which is 
expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Hereinafter, the invention will be described by way of illustrated 
embodiments. 
In the single bearing type fishing reel, as shown in FIG. 1, one end of a 
support shaft 2 is fixed to the center of the reel body 1 by means of 
press fitting or the like, so as to be projected therefrom. 
A shaft cylinder 3a which is formed integrally with the center of a 
rotating member 3 consisting of a spool is rotatably fitted onto the 
support shaft 2 and pivotally supported by bearings 10 and 11. 
An annular recess 1b on which a fishing line can be wound is formed in an 
outer peripheral portion 1a of the reel body 1 which is on the side 
opposite to the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool. 
A plate-like line stopper 12 is fixed to a side face of the reel body 1. 
A leg 1c is formed integrally with the upper portion of the reel body 1 and 
a fishing rod 13 is to be attached to the leg. 
A gear 3b is formed on the outer periphery of one side of the shaft 
cylinder 3a of the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool. A swing plate 
4 of the drag brake mechanism which uses the gear 3b as an inner ring is 
fitted onto the support shaft 2 and locked thereto by an E-ring 14. 
A spool barrel 3c is formed on the outer periphery of the rotating member 3 
consisting of a spool. A fishing line 15 is wound on the spool barrel. 
The tip end 2a of the support shaft 2 projects from the center side face 3d 
of the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool. Referring to FIG. 2, an 
engaging portion 3e consisting of a through hole is formed in each of the 
side faces 3d on the sides of the support shaft 2 in FIG. 2. A cap 16 is 
attached to the side faces 3d. 
A thrust bearing 17 is mounted in the recess of the cap 16. The tip end 2a 
of the support shaft 2 abuts against the bearing. 
An engaging member 5 and a spring 18 are inserted into the recess of the 
cap 16 so that the engaging member 5 is upward urged by the spring 18. 
The engaging member 5 has a rectangular sliding portion 5a. As shown in 
FIG. 2, a large circular hole 5b and a small circular hole 5c are opened 
in the sliding portion 5a so as to partly overlap with each other. A bent 
portion 5d is formed on the upper portion of the sliding portion 5a, and a 
bent projection 5e is formed on the lower side of the sliding portion 5a. 
The spring 18 is engaged with the bent projection 5e, and a peripheral 
groove 2b of the support shaft 2 is inserted into the large circular hole 
5b and engaged with the small circular hole 5c, whereby the rotating 
member 3 consisting of a spool is caused to detachably engage with the 
support shaft 2. 
When the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool is detached from the 
support shaft 2, the upper shoulders of the sliding portion 5a of the 
engaging member 5 abut against step portions in the recess of the cap 16, 
thereby preventing the engaging member from slipping off. 
A flange 6a which is in one side of a support shaft 6 of a handle knob 
abuts against a flange 3f of the side face of the rotating member 3 
consisting of a spool. One end 6b is embedded. 
As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, a cylinder member 7 is rotatably fitted onto 
the outer periphery of a shaft portion 6c of the support shaft 6, via 
bearings 19 and 20. A screw 21 is screwed with a tapped hole 6d formed in 
the other side of the shaft portion 6c of the support shaft 6, thereby 
preventing the cylinder member 7 from slipping off. 
The cylinder member 7 comprises: a cylinder portion 7a; a flange 7b on the 
outer periphery which is in one side of the cylinder portion 7a; a 
small-diameter hole 7c in the cylinder portion 7a; a large-diameter hole 
7d in the one side of the cylinder portion 7a; a large-diameter hole 7e in 
the other side of the cylinder portion 7a; and a tapped hole 7f in the 
other side of the cylinder portion 7a. 
A knob 22 made of a cork material or a soft synthetic resin material is 
fitted onto the outer periphery of the cylinder portion 7a of the cylinder 
member 7, and prevented from slipping off, by an engaging member 23 such 
as a screw which is screwed with the tapped hole 7f. 
In the swing plate 4 of the drag brake mechanism, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 
and 4, a long limiting arm 4a and two arms 4b and 4c are formed, shafts 24 
and 25 are fixed to the arms 4b and 4c, respectively, and transmission 
gears 26 and 27 are rotatably fitted onto the shafts 24 and 25, 
respectively. 
The transmission gears 26 and 27 always mesh with the gear 3b of the 
rotating member 3 consisting of a spool, and are meshably opposed to a 
drag brake gear 28 having the drag brake mechanism disposed in the reel 
body 1. 
A spring 31 is stretched between a pin 29 or 30 implanted into the reel 
body 1 and the long limiting arm 4a of the swing plate 4. The swing plate 
4 abuts against a pin-like engagement stopper 32 engaged with a hole 1d or 
1e of the reel body 1 to be urged, thereby limiting the swinging operation 
of the swing plate. 
In the reel body 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, a cylinder portion 1f, a 
cylinder portion 1g formed by a step, a locking hole 1h and a through hole 
1i in the cylinder portion 1g, and a projection cylinder portion 1j 
outside the through hole 1i are formed. 
A bearing 33 is fitted onto the outer periphery of the cylinder portion 1g. 
The drag brake gear 28 is fitted onto the outer periphery of the bearing 33 
so as to be opposed to the end face of the cylinder portion 1f via a 
friction plate 34. 
A friction plate 35 and a plate spring 36 are fitted onto the outer 
periphery of the bearing 33. 
As shown in FIG. 8, a locking cylinder portion 8a of a brake member 8 is 
fitted into the locking hole 1h. 
The swing plate 4, the transmission gears 26 and 27, the drag brake gear 
28, the friction plate 34, the friction plate 35, the plate spring 36, and 
the brake member 8 constitute the drag brake mechanism. 
As described above, the drag brake gear 28 is fitted onto the outer 
periphery of the bearing 33. Even when a force is applied in a radial 
direction during the drag brake operation, therefore, it is possible to 
attain a smooth drag brake of high durability. 
The brake member 8 consists of the locking cylinder portion 8a, a 
flange-like plate portion 8b, a thick portion 8c which is on the side of 
the outer periphery of the flange-like plate portion 8b, a V-like groove 
8d in the outer periphery of the thick portion 8c, and a tapped portion 8e 
in the inner periphery of the locking cylinder portion 8a. 
The plate spring 36 abuts against the side face of the thick portion 8c. 
An O-ring 37 is fitted into the V-like groove 8d. The O-ring 37 abuts 
against the inner peripheral face of a recess of the drag brake gear 28. 
A screw shaft 9a and a shaft portion 9b of a brake adjust knob 9 are 
inserted into the through hole 1i and the locking hole 1h, from the 
outside of the projection cylinder portion 1j of the reel body 1. 
The brake adjust knob 9 consists of the screw shaft 9a, the shaft portion 
9b, a knob portion 9c, a recess 9d which is inside the knob portion 9c, 
and a peripheral groove 9e in the tip end of the screw shaft 9a. 
The screw shaft 9a is screwed with the tapped portion 8e of the brake 
member 8. 
A friction plate 38 is fitted onto the outer periphery of the tip end of 
the screw shaft 9a, and an E-ring 39 is fitted into the peripheral groove 
9e, thereby preventing the brake member 8 from slipping off. 
The recess 9d of the brake adjust knob 9 abuts against the projection 
cylinder portion 1j of the reel body 1. 
When the reel is to be operated by the left-hand handle, the pin-like 
engagement stopper 32 is engaged with the hole 1d which is in the right 
side in FIG. 3, and the spring 31 is stretched between the pin 29 and the 
long limiting arm 4a of the swing plate 4. 
When the reel is to be operated by the right-hand handle, the pin-like 
engagement stopper 32 is engaged with the hole 1e which is in the left 
side in FIG. 4, and the spring 31 is stretched between the pin 30 and the 
long limiting arm 4a of the swing plate 4. 
The structure in which the pin-like engagement stopper 32 is engaged with 
the hole 1d or 1e may be realized by forming the hole as a tapped hole so 
as to attain screwing, or alternatively by fixing a magnet to the bottom 
of the hole so as to attain magnetic attraction. 
When the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool is to be attached to the 
support shaft 2, the bent portion 5d in the upper portion of the engaging 
member 5 is pressed down against the spring 18, and the shaft cylinder 3a 
of the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool, and the bearings 10 and 11 
are fitted onto the support shaft 2 so that the tip end 2a of the support 
shaft 2 is inserted into the large circular hole 5b. 
When the pressing on the bent portion 5d of the engaging member 5 is 
canceled, the sliding portion 5a and the small circular hole 5c are raised 
by the spring 18 and the peripheral groove 2b of the support shaft 2 is 
inserted into and engaged with the small circular hole 5c, whereby the 
rotating member 3 consisting of a spool is caused to detachably engage 
with the support shaft 2. 
When the knob 22 is to be replaced with another knob, the engaging member 
23 such as a screw is loosened and the knob 22 is detached from the 
cylinder portion 7a of the cylinder member 7. Another knob is then fitted 
onto the outer periphery of the cylinder portion 7a and is prevented from 
slipping of, by the engaging member 23 such as a screw. 
When the single bearing type fishing reel is to be operated by the 
left-hand handle, the pin-like engagement stopper 32 is engaged with the 
hole 1d which is in the right side in FIG. 3, and the spring 31 is 
stretched between the pin 29 and the limiting arm 4a. 
As a result, the state is attained where the fishing line 15 is wound in a 
counterclockwise direction around the spool barrel 3c of the rotating 
member 3 consisting of a spool. 
When the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool is rotated under this 
state in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3, a force is applied to the 
swing plate 4 so as to rotate the plate in a counterclockwise direction. 
However, the limiting arm 4a bumps against the engagement stopper 32 which 
is engaged in the right side, and hence the rotation of the swing plate 4 
is limited. 
At this time, since the rotation of the swing plate 4 is limited, the 
transmission gears 26 and 27 do not mesh with the drag brake gear 28. 
Therefore, the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool is not subjected to 
a braking operation and can be easily rotated under only a load due to the 
fishing line 15. 
When the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool is then to be rotated in a 
clockwise direction in order to unreel the fishing line 15, the rotation 
of the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool causes a rotation force in 
a clockwise direction to be applied to the swing plate 4. Then, the swing 
plate 4 is swung in a clockwise direction, and the transmission gear 26 
meshes with the drag brake gear 28, so that the clockwise rotation of the 
rotating member 3 consisting of a spool is braked by the drag brake 
mechanism. 
When the single bearing type fishing reel is to be operated by the 
right-hand handle, the pin-like engagement stopper 32 is engaged with the 
hole 1e which is in the left side in FIG. 4, and the spring 31 is 
stretched between the pin 30 and the limiting arm 4a. 
As a result, the state is attained where the fishing line 15 is wound in a 
clockwise direction around the spool barrel 3c of the rotating member 3 
consisting of a spool. 
When the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool is rotated under this 
state in a clockwise direction in FIG. 4, a force is applied to the swing 
plate 4 so as to rotate the plate in a clockwise direction. However, the 
limiting arm 4a bumps against the left engagement stopper 32, and hence 
the rotation of the swing plate 4 is limited. 
At this time, since the rotation of the swing plate 4 is limited, the 
transmission gears 26 and 27 do not mesh with the drag brake gear 28. 
Therefore, the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool is not subjected to 
a braking operation and can be easily rotated under only a load due to the 
fishing line 15. 
When the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool is then to be rotated in a 
counterclockwise direction in order to unreel the fishing line 15, the 
rotation of the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool causes a rotation 
force in a counterclockwise direction to be applied to the swing plate 4. 
Then, the swing plate 4 is swung in a counterclockwise direction, and the 
transmission gear 27 meshes with the drag brake gear 28, so that the 
counterclockwise rotation of the rotating member 3 consisting of a spool 
is braked by the drag brake mechanism. 
According to the above-mentioned configuration of the fishing reel, when 
the knob 22 is to be replaced with another knob because of deterioration 
due to a lapse of use, sticking of seawater or water contents, the slime 
of fish, or the like, damages caused by contacts with foreign members, or 
other reasons, the knob can be easily detached by loosening the engaging 
member 23 such as a screw. Therefore, the most suitable knob can be 
selected and easily attached. Consequently, the replacement can be 
conducted very easily, and the holdability of the knob can be 
satisfactorily maintained for a long term. 
FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment. In this embodiment, a handle of the 
fishing reel is configured as a handle arm of a double bearing type 
fishing reel. 
In the second embodiment, a flange 6a which is in one side of a support 
shaft 6 of a handle knob abuts against a through hole 3f which is formed 
at each end of a rotating member 3' consisting of a handle arm, and one 
end 6b of the support shaft is fixed thereto by means of press fitting. 
A tapped hole 3g is formed at the center in the longitudinal direction of 
the rotating member 3' consisting of a handle arm, a tapped portion 40a in 
one end of a handle shaft 40 is screwed with the hole, and a nut 41 is 
screwed with the tapped portion 40a so that the handle shaft is locked. 
The nut 41 is locked by a cover 42 attached to the rotating member 3' 
consisting of a handle arm. The other components are configured in a 
substantially same manner as those of the first embodiment. 
In the above description, the handles are used for a single bearing type 
fishing reel and a double bearing type fishing reel. However, the 
invention may also be applied to a handle of a fishing spinning reel. 
The invention is executed in the mode described above, and attains the 
following effects. 
When a knob is to be replaced with another knob because of deterioration 
due to a lapse of use, sticking of seawater or water contents, the slime 
of fish, or the like, damages caused by contacts with foreign members, or 
other reasons, the knob can be easily detached by loosening an engaging 
member such as a screw. Therefore, the most suitable knob can be selected 
and easily attached. Consequently, the replacement can be conducted very 
easily, and the holdability of the knob can be satisfactorily maintained 
for a long term.