Movable hood for reel seat, reel seat, and fishing rod including same

A movable hood for a reel seat has a hood portion and a nut portion. A body of a reel seat passes through the hood portion. The hood portion is movable in a longitudinal direction of the body. The nut portion is connected to the hood portion to rotate around the body and is threadedly coupled to an outer peripheral surface of the body at an inner peripheral surface. The hood portion has a base end facing the nut portion and a leading end located opposite the base end. When viewing the hood portion from side, a length of an upper side of the hood portion from the base end to the leading end is longer than a length of a lower side of the hood portion from the base end to the leading end, and an upper contour of the hood portion has an upward convex curve line.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 35 U.S.C §371 national stage filing of International Application No. PCT/JP2014/073030, filed on Sep. 2, 2014, which claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2013-0108609, filed on Sep. 10, 2013 and Korean Patent Application No. 2014-0065032, filed on May 29, 2014, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a movable hood for clamping an attachment leg of a reel to a body of a reel seat. Further, the present disclosure relates to a reel seat and a fishing rod including such a movable hood.

BACKGROUND

A reel for a fishing rod such as a spinning reel, a bait casting reel, etc. is mounted to a fishing rod by means of a reel seat. By way of example of a reel seat, there exists a plate-shaped reel seat, which is attached on an outer surface of a fishing rod, or a cylinder-shaped reel seat, through which a fishing rod passes.

For example, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the cylinder-shaped reel seat has a fixed hood12and a movable hood13for clamping attachment legs31of a reel30to a body11of a reel seat10. The movable hood13has a shape of a ring that is movable along the body11of the reel seat. The reel30is mounted on the reel seat10by clamping one of the attachment legs31of the reel to the body11through the fixed hood12, and clamping the other of the attachment legs31of the reel to the body11through the movable hood13.

When a user holds a fishing rod20with the reel30mounted thereto, the user grips the reel seat10while positioning the attachment legs31of the reel between fingers, and the user's palm and fingers are contacted with an outer surface of the fixed hood12or the movable hood13and an outer surface of the body11. When the reel30is fixed to the body11, a gap (for example, a portion indicated by a symbol G inFIG. 1) exists between the body11and the movable hood13or a stepped portion (for example, a portion indicated by a symbol S inFIG. 2) exists due to an unevenness between the outer surface of the body11and the outer surface of the movable hood13. Thus, the user may feel such irritative and unpleasant feelings if the user touches a protrusion with the user's palm or fingers, and cannot hold the fishing rod20with a stable grip feeling. A reel seat which reduces irritative and unpleasant feelings and enhances a grip feeling is required in the art.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-268416

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Registration Publication No. 3053767

SUMMARY

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-268416 discloses a reel seat which reduces a stepped portion between a body of a reel seat and a movable hood. According to some embodiments of this disclosure, to reduce the stepped portion between the body and the movable hood, the movable hood has a comb-shaped portion, and the body has an engagement portion for engagement with the comb-shaped portion of the movable hood. However, the comb-shaped portion of the movable hood is weak and therefore tends to separate from the engagement portion of the body to create the stepped portion.

Further, Japanese Patent Registration Publication No. 3053767 discloses a reel seat wherein a concave portion is provided in a movable hood. However, the movable hood with the concave portion can be applied to only a reel seat wherein the movable hood is placed toward a tip of a fishing rod. If the movable hood with the concave portion is applied to a reel seat wherein the movable hood is placed toward a butt of a fishing rod, then the concave portion of the movable hood is positioned under a palm and therefore a grip feeling deteriorates.

When considering a motion of violently swing a fishing rod or a motion of shaking a fishing rod, a reel seat must have a good grip feeling such that the user can stably hold the reel seat instead of reducing an unpleasant feeling on the user's palm. However, the reel seat and the movable hood of the prior art do not provide an enhanced grip feeling and the reduction of an unpleasant feeling. Further, the dedicated movable hood is employed to a reel seat, thus restricting the user's choice on a reel seat. As such, the reel seat and the movable hood of the prior art cannot provide the user with broad choices.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are made to solve the aforementioned problems of the prior art. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a movable hood for a reel seat, which is applied irrespective of the types of a reel seat, and which enhances a grip feeling while reducing an unpleasant feeling on the user's hand.

Further, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a movable hood which allows the user to make broad choices on a reel seat.

Further, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a reel seat having a good grip feeling by means of the aforementioned movable hood, and a fishing rod including such a reel seat.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a movable hood which is used with a reel seat for mounting a reel to a fishing rod. In an exemplary embodiment, a movable hood for a reel seat includes: a hood portion through which a body of a reel seat passes, and which is movable in a longitudinal direction of the body and clamps an attachment leg of a reel to the body at a lower side; and a nut portion which is connected to the hood portion so as to rotate around the body and is threadedly coupled to an outer peripheral surface of the body at an inner peripheral surface. The hood portion has a base end facing the nut portion and a leading end located opposite the base end. When viewing the hood portion from side, a length of an upper side of the hood portion from the base end to the leading end is longer than a length of the lower side of the hood portion from the base end to the leading end. Further, when viewing the hood portion from the side, an upper contour of the hood portion includes an upward convex curve line.

In an embodiment, a top point of the convex curve line is located from the base end at a distance of 80% or less of the length of the upper side from the base end to the leading end.

In an embodiment, when viewing the hood portion from the side, a lower contour of the hood portion includes an upward concave curve line.

In an embodiment, when viewing the hood portion from the side, a contour of the leading end between the upper side and the lower side includes a curve line concave toward the base end.

In an embodiment, the hood portion includes first and second bores through which the body of the reel seat passes. The first bore extends from the base end toward the leading end. The second bore has a diameter greater than a diameter of the first bore and extends from the first bore toward the leading end. When viewing the hood portion from front, a step portion is formed between the first bore and the second bore.

In an embodiment, a depth from the leading end to the step portion is in a range of 30% to 70% of the length of the upper side from the base end to the leading end.

In an embodiment, the movable hood for a reel seat further includes an auxiliary hood, at least a portion of which is fitted in between the outer peripheral surface of the body of the reel seat and an inner peripheral surface of the hood portion. The auxiliary hood has an insertion portion which is fitted in between the body of the reel seat and the second bore. Further, in an embodiment, the auxiliary hood has an opening or recess at a lateral side.

In an embodiment, the length of the upper side from the base end to the leading end is 40 mm or less.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is related to a reel seat. In an exemplary embodiment, a reel seat includes: a body through which a portion of a fishing rod passes in a longitudinal direction, and which includes a seat portion, on which a pair of attachment legs of a reel are seated, at a lower side, and a male thread in an outer peripheral surface of one end portion; the movable hood according to above-described embodiments, which is located at one of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the body and clamps one of the pair of attachment legs to the seat portion of the body; and a fixed hood which is located at the body opposite the movable hood and clamps the other of the pair of the attachment legs to the seat portion of the body. The nut portion of the movable hood is threadedly coupled to the male thread at an inner peripheral surface of the nut portion.

A further aspect of the present disclosure is related to a fishing rod. The fishing rod includes the movable hood for a reel seat according to the above-described embodiments or the above-described reel seat.

According to the movable hood according to the embodiments, the length of the upper side of the hood portion is longer than the length of the lower side of the hood portion, which is opposite to the upper side and clamps the attachment leg of the reel, and the upper contour has the upward convex curve line. Thus, the movable hood with the enhanced grip feeling can be applied to all of the rear and front ends of the reel seat. Where the movable hood according to an embodiment is applied to the rear end of the reel seat, the gap is eliminated between the movable hood and the user's palm. Where the movable hood according to an embodiment is applied to the front end of the reel seat, the user can strongly contact the user's thumb finger with the upper side of the hood portion. Further, since the leading end contour and the lower contour of the hood portion are a concave curve line, the user's fingers can be guided to a suitable position when the user's fingers are in contact with the hood portion. As such, the reel seat according to the embodiments accomplishes a reel seat which reduces an unpleasant feeling and enhances a grip feeling. Further, due to the step portion formed inside the hood portion as well as the auxiliary hood fitted in between the body of the reel seat and the hood portion, a grip feeling of the reel seat can be maintained and the user's choices on a reel seat can be broadened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Descriptions are made as to embodiments of a movable hood for a reel seat according to the present disclosure and embodiments of a reel seat and a fishing rod including the same according to the present disclosure with reference toFIGS. 3 to 13. InFIGS. 3 to 13, like reference numerals denote like or corresponding elements or parts.

The directional term “frontward,” “front” or the like as used herein means a direction directed toward a tip of a fishing rod (e.g. a direction indicated by an arrow T inFIG. 3), while the directional term “rearward,” “rear” or the like means a direction directed toward a butt of the fishing rod (e.g. a direction indicated by an arrow B inFIG. 3). Further, as used herein, the directional term “downward,” “lower” or the like is based on a direction in which a reel is mounted on a reel seat, while the directional term “upward,” “upper” or the like means a direction opposite to the downward or lower direction.

Further, the term “contour” as used herein refers to a line that is seen at the outermost edge of the element or part constituting a movable hood in the front view or side view of the movable hood. For example, an “upper contour” refers to a line that is located at the uppermost edge of the element or part when viewing the movable hood from the side, and a “lower contour” refers to a line that is located at the lowermost edge of the element or part when viewing the movable hood from the side.

A reel seat100U according to an embodiment shown inFIG. 3is used for mounting a spinning reel300(hereinafter, briefly referred to as a “reel”) to a fishing rod200. A reel which can be mounted on reel seats according to embodiments is not limited to the spinning reel shown inFIG. 3.

The reel300includes a spool around which a fishing line is wound, a handle for rotating the spool, etc. The reel300has an attachment leg310for attachment to the reel seat100U. The attachment leg310has an approximately T-like shape. The attachment leg310includes a front attachment leg311and a rear attachment leg312, which linearly extend, at a leading end of the attachment leg310. The front attachment leg311is shaped such that its cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward its front end, and the rear attachment leg312is shaped such that its cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward its rear end. Thus, the front attachment leg311has, at its front end portion, an inclined surface313which is inclined toward the front end, and the rear attachment leg312has, at its rear end portion, an inclined surface314which is inclined toward the rear end. The front end portion of the front attachment leg311and the rear end portion of the rear attachment leg312are inserted to front and rear insertion cavities of the reel seat respectively, which will be described below.

The reel seat100U includes a body110, a fixed hood120and a movable hood130. The movable hood130is located at one of both ends of the body110in a longitudinal direction of the body and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the body110. The fixed hood120is located at the body110opposite the movable hood130. The movable hood130clamps one of a pair of attachment legs310of the reel300to the body110, while the fixed hood120clamps the other of the pair of attachment legs310of the reel300to the body110.

The reel seat100U shown inFIG. 3is a reel seat of a so-called up lock type, wherein the movable hood130is located at the rear end of the body110(toward the butt of a fishing rod). In the reel seat of an up lock type, the front attachment leg311of the reel300is clamped by the fixed hood120and the rear attachment leg312of the reel300is clamped by the movable hood130.

The body110, the fixed hood120and the movable hood130of the reel seat100U may be made of a resin material or a metallic material. In this embodiment, the entire movable hood130of the reel seat100U is made of a resin material, or at least a portion of the movable hood130, which clamps the attachment legs310of the reel, is made of a resin material.

The body110of the reel seat100U has an approximately cylindrical shape through which a bore111(seeFIG. 12) extends in a longitudinal direction. A blank210of the fishing rod200is fitted to the bore111of the body110and extends through the body110. Further, by way of example, the body110of the reel seat100U may be fixed to the fishing rod200by gluing.

The body110has a seat portion112(seeFIG. 12) for seating the attachment legs310of the reel300thereon. In this embodiment, said seat portion112is formed at a lower side of the body110, and the attachment legs310of the seat portion112are seated on the seat portion112.

The body110has, at its one end portion, a male thread113formed along an outer peripheral surface of the body. In the example shown inFIG. 3, the male thread113is formed at the rear end of the body110. The male thread113is threadedly coupled to a female thread formed in a nut portion132of the movable hood130, which will be described below.

Further, the body110has, in its outer peripheral surface, a guide groove114(seeFIG. 12) for guiding a movement of the movable hood130in the longitudinal direction of the body110. The guide groove114extends on an upper side of the body110along the longitudinal direction of the body110by a predetermined length. In some embodiments, the guide groove114of the body110extends along the longitudinal direction of the body110on a portion other than the upper side of the body110.

In this embodiment, a grip portion140is complementarily coupled to the rear end of the body110. The grip portion140has a cylindrical shape which is coaxial with a bore111of the body110. A blank210of the fishing rod200is coupled to a central bore of the grip portion by press fitting.

In this embodiment, the fixed hood120is integrated with the body110. The fixed hood120has a cover portion122which is formed to cover the seat portion112. The cover portion122is shaped such that a downward height gradually increases toward the rear end. Thus, a front insertion cavity121, to which one of the attachment legs310of the reel300is inserted, is defined between the seat portion112of the body110and the fixed hood120. A cross-sectional shape of the front insertion cavity121is an approximately circular arc and its vertical width gradually decreases toward the front of the body110. Therefore, an inside surface of the cover portion122of the fixed hood120is in contact with the inclined surface313of the front end portion of the front attachment leg311. In some embodiment, the fixed hood120may be manufactured as an individual part and may be attached to the body110.

The movable hood130used for the reel seat100U is described with reference toFIGS. 4 to 7.

The movable hood130is formed in a shape of a ring. The body110of the reel seat100U is fitted to the movable hood130and passes through the movable hood130. The movable hood130includes a hood portion131, which is linearly movable along the longitudinal direction of the body110but does not move in a circumferential direction of the body110, and a nut portion132, which is connected to the hood portion131so as to rotate around the body110and pushes or pulls the hood portion131along the longitudinal direction of the body110. Due to a force with which the nut portion132pushes the hood portion131in the longitudinal direction of the body110, the hood portion131presses the rear attachment leg312of the reel300to the body110at a lower side of the hood portion and clamps the rear attachment leg312to the body110.

The hood portion131and the nut portion132are formed in an approximate ring shape and have a bore133coaxial with a central axis CA of the body110therein. The body110of the reel seat100U passes through the bore133. The nut portion132is threadedly coupled to the male thread113of the body110at the female thread134formed in an inner peripheral surface of the nut portion, and is moved frontward or rearward along the body110through screw motion. The hood portion131is pushed toward the fixed hood120or pulled away from the fixed hood120by the frontward or rearward movement of the nut portion132.

The nut portion132has, in an inner peripheral surface of the end facing the hood portion131, an engagement groove135for connection to the hood portion131. The engagement groove135is formed in a circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the nut portion132. Further, the hood portion131has, at a base end BE facing the nut portion132, a hook-shaped engagement protrusion136which is engaged with the engagement groove135of the nut portion132. The engagement protrusion136extends at the base end BE of the hood portion131intermittently or continuously in the circumferential direction of the hood portion. The engagement protrusion136of the hood portion131is engaged with the engagement groove135of the nut portion132, connecting the nut portion132to the hood portion131such that the nut portion132is rotatable around the central axis CA of the body110. In some embodiments, the hood portion131may have the engagement groove135, and the nut portion132may have the engagement protrusion136.

Since the female thread134of the nut portion132is threadedly coupled to the male thread113of the body110, if the nut portion132is rotated around the body110in one direction or a direction opposite to said one direction, then the nut portion132does a screw motion by the interaction between the male thread113and the female thread134and thus can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the body110while being rotated. By way of example, if the nut portion132is rotated in one direction so as to be moved toward the front end of the body110(toward the fixed hood120), then, through the male thread113of the body110and the female thread134of the nut portion132which are threadedly coupled to each other, the nut portion132is moved toward the front end of the body110while being rotated around the body110. Then, a front end surface of the nut portion132is contacted with the base end BE of the hood portion131and the nut portion132pushes the hood portion131toward the front end of the body110. Due to the pushing force of the nut portion132, the hood portion131presses the rear attachment leg312of the reel300against the seat portion112of the body110at a lower inner surface of the hood portion, and the hood portion131clamps the rear attachment leg312to the body110. Further, if the nut portion132is rotated in a direction opposite to said one direction so as to be moved toward the rear end of the body110, then the nut portion132is moved toward the rear end of the body110while being rotated around the body110. Then, the engagement groove135of the nut portion132catches the engagement protrusion136and the nut portion132pulls the hood portion131toward the rear end of the body110.

As to the above-described frontward or rearward movement of the hood portion131, the hood portion131is linearly moved toward the front end or the rear end of the body110along the longitudinal direction of the body110without being rotated around the central axis CA of the body110. Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, to guide the linear movement of the hood portion131, the movable hood130includes a guide projection137which projects from the upper inner surface of the hood portion131and is fitted to the guide groove114of the body110. In some embodiments, the guide groove114may be provided at a portion of the body110other than the upper side of the body, and the guide projection137may project from the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion131corresponding to such a portion.

A lower half of the hood portion131protrudes downward more and more toward the front end, forming a cover portion138covering the rear attachment leg312. Thus, a rear insertion cavity139, to which the rear attachment leg312of the reel300is inserted, is defined between the cover portion138and the seat portion112of the body110. The hood portion131presses the inclined surface314of the rear attachment leg312against the seat portion112at an inside surface of the cover portion138.

The hood portion131has the base end BE which faces the nut portion132, and a leading end TE which is located opposite the base end BE. When viewing the hood portion131from the side, a length L1of the upper side of the hood portion131from the base end BE to a leading end TE1is longer than a length L2of the lower side of the hood portion131from the base end BE to a leading end TE2. That is, an upper half of the hood portion131further protrudes toward a leading end thereof than a lower half of the hood portion. Therefore, the hood portion131has the upper side longer than the lower side which clamps the rear attachment leg312of the reel. By way of example, the length L1of the upper side of the hood portion131is long enough to allow two fingers to lie on the upper side, and is 40 mm or less. If the length L1of the upper side of the hood portion131exceeds 40 mm, then it is difficult to reduce the weight of the movable hood130and the strength of the hood portion131becomes weak due to the length excessively greater than the thickness. Further, when viewing the hood portion131from the side, an upper contour CL1of the hood portion131includes an upward convex curve line. That is, when viewing the hood portion from the side, an upper outer surface of the hood portion131has a surface which is round and convex upward. The hood portion131, the upper side of which is roundly convex, can contact a concavity which is formed in the user's palm when the user grips the reel seat100U, thus eliminating a gap between the movable hood130and the user's palm. Further, in a reel seat100D of a so-called down lock type wherein the movable hood130is located at the front end of the body110(toward the tip of the fishing rod) (seeFIG. 8), the convex curve surface of the upper side of the hood portion131functions as a raised portion which the user's thumb presses. Therefore, the user can grip the reel seat while applying a strong force to the convex curve surface of the upper side of the hood portion131.

When viewing the hood portion131from the side, a top point TP of the convex curve line, which the upper contour CL1of the hood portion131has, is spaced away from the base end BE at a distance of 80% or less of the length L1of the upper side of the hood portion131. That is, when assuming a length from the base end BE to the top point TP as L3, (L3/L1)≦0.8. Where the top point TP is not located from the base end BE at a distance of 80% or less (i.e., where the top point TP is located from the base end BE at a distance exceeding 80% of the length L1of the upper side), in the convex curve line which the upper contour CL1of the upper side of the hood portion131has, a front side of the convex curve line located frontward from the top point TP becomes gentler than a rear side of the convex curve line located rearward from the top point TP. In such a case, when the user grips the fishing rod, the location of the convex portion of the hood portion131does not correspond to the concavity formed in the user's palm. If so, a holding feeling deteriorates. In addition, the convex curve line from the top point TP to the leading end TE1has a steep slope and therefore makes a stepped shape toward the body110. Then, the user can feel irritative and unpleasant feelings, and cannot hold the fishing rod with a stable grip feeling.

When viewing the hood portion131from the side, a contour CL3between the leading end TE1of the upper side of the hood portion131and the leading end TE2of the lower side of the hood portion131includes a concave curve line which is concave toward the base end BE. Said concave curve line presented by the contour CL3may gently curve from the leading end TE1of the upper side of the hood portion131toward the leading end TE2of the lower side, or may steeply curve and then gently curve from the leading end TE1of the upper side of the hood portion131toward the leading end TE2of the lower side.

When viewing the hood portion131from the side, a contour CL2of the lower side of the hood portion131(i.e., a lower contour of the cover portion138) includes an upward concave curve line. Thus, the user can grip the lower side of the hood portion131(the outer surface of the cover portion138) by the user's fingers without an unpleasant feeling.

Further, a thickness of a leading edge portion E, which presents the contour CL3between the upper and lower sides of the hood portion131, gradually decreases away from the base end BE. Thus, such a thickness of the hood portion131can prevent a step portion from being created between the hood portion131and the body110.

The bore133of the hood portion131, through which the body110of the reel seat100U passes, has a first bore133A and a second bore133B. The first bore133A extends from the base end BE toward the leading end TE. Further, the second bore133B has a diameter D2greater than a diameter D1of the first bore133A and extends from the first bore133A toward the leading end TE. Thus, when viewing the hood portion131from the front, a circular arc-shaped step portion133C (seeFIG. 5) is formed between the first bore133A and the second bore133B. A depth L4from the leading end TE1of the upper side of the hood portion131to the step portion133C is in the range of 30% to 70% of the length L1of the upper side of the hood portion131. Where the depth L4of the step portion133C is less than 30% of the length L1of the upper side of the hood portion131, a force of the hood portion131retaining an auxiliary hood150A,150B (seeFIGS. 11 to 13) is weakened and the auxiliary hood150A,150B tends to escape due to friction on the user's palm when the user swings the fishing rod. Further, where the depth L4of the step portion133C exceeds 70% of the length L1of the upper side of the hood portion131, the hood portion131becomes thin in the vicinity of the base end BE and thus a portion of the hood portion which is to be coupled to the nut portion132is not strong and can be broken.

Since the inside of the hood portion131is formed with two bores and the step portion133C is formed between the two bores, the hood portion131can easily receive the auxiliary hood which will be described below. Further, since the hood portion131has the second bore133B having a greater diameter via the step portion133C, the movable hood130according to the embodiment can be mounted to a reel seat which has a step portion at a portion of a body to which a movable hold is installed, while covering such a step portion.

In the above-described hood portion131, an overall length of the hood portion may be defined as the length L1of the upper side of the hood portion131. Further, an overall height of the hood portion131may be defined as a length between the top point TP of the upper side of the hood portion131and a lowermost portion of the cover portion138. In order for the hood portion131to be strong enough to clamp the attachment leg of the reel300without increasing its weight and to have the above-described contours CL1, CL2and CL3, the overall length of the hood portion131may be determined in the range of 2/3 to 5/2 of the diameter D1of the first bore133A and the overall height of the hood portion131may be determined to be up to 2.5 times of the diameter D1of the first bore133A.

FIG. 8shows that the movable hood130according to the embodiment is coupled to the reel seat of a down lock type. In the reel seat100D of a down lock type, the movable hood130is located at the front end of the reel seat100D. The front attachment leg311of the reel300is clamped by the movable hood130, while the rear attachment leg312of the reel300is clamped by the fixed hood120. The reel seat100D of a down lock type has a configuration similar to that of the reel seat100U of an up lock type except that the position of the movable hood130and the position of the male thread113are reverse to those of the reel seat100U of an up lock type.

The grip feeling which the reel seat100U,100D including the movable hood130according to the embodiment provides is described with reference toFIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9shows an example of using the reel seat100U of an up lock type, andFIG. 10shows an example of using the reel seat100D of a down lock type. When the user grips the reel seat100U,100D, the user often grips the reel seat100U,100D with the attachment leg310inserted in between a middle finger H3and a ring finger H4. In this embodiment, the user lightly holds the reel seat100U,100D with the middle finger H3and holds the reel seat100U,100D with the ring finger H4and a pinkie finger H5. Further, a thumb finger H1presses the upper surface of the body110(seeFIG. 9) or presses the upper surface of the hood portion131of the movable hood130(seeFIG. 10). A palm H6is located on the hood portion131(seeFIG. 9) or is contacted with the upper surface of the body110(seeFIG. 10).

In the usage example of the reel seat100U of an up lock type shown inFIG. 9, the palm H6is contacted with the upper surface of the hood portion131of the movable hood130and the pinkie finger H5is contacted with the lower surface of the hood portion131. Further, the ring finger H4is located at the leading end TE of the hood portion131. The upward convex curve surface of the upper side of the hood portion131is contacted with the palm H6, thus eliminating the gap between the hood portion131and the palm H6. Accordingly, the user can firmly grip the reel seat100U. Further, the ring finger H4is positioned between the attachment leg310of the reel and the leading end TE of the hood portion131along the contour CL3of the leading end TE of the hood portion131which is concave toward the nut portion132. Thus, the ring finger H4is fixed, and the reel seat100U cannot move in the user's hand when the user strongly swings the fishing rod200. Further, since the pinkie finger H5is caught by the upward concave contour CL2of the lower side of the hood portion131, the user can grip the reel seat100U with a stable and enhanced grip feeling.

In the usage example of the reel seat100D of a down lock type shown inFIG. 10, the thumb finger H1is in contact with the contour CL1of the hood portion131, which is an upward convex curve line, and an index finger H2is in contact with the contour CL2of the lower side of the hood portion131, which is an upward concave curve line. Further, the middle finger H3is positioned along the contour CL3of the hood portion131which is concave toward the nut portion132. Since the thumb finger H1is in contact with the convex curve surface of the upper side of the hood portion131, the user can strengthen the pressing force of the thumb finger H1, and therefore the user can strongly swing down the fishing rod200. Further, since the index finger H2is caught by the upward concave contour CL2of the lower side of the hood portion131, the user can grip the reel seat100D with a stable and enhanced grip feeling and can strongly swing up the fishing rod200. Further, since the middle finger H3is positioned along the contour CL3of the leading end TE of the hood portion131which is concave toward the nut portion132, the middle finger H3is fixed, and the reel seat100U cannot move in the user's hand when the user strongly swings the fishing rod200. As described above, the movable hood130according to the embodiment is applied to both the reel seat100U of an up lock type and the reel seat100D of a down lock type and enhances a grip feeling and a holding feeling while reducing an unpleasant feeling applied to the user's hand.

FIGS. 11 to 13show an auxiliary hood which is fitted to the movable hood.

To assist the user's various hand shapes, various positions of fingers, etc. and to more enhance a grip feeling, the movable hood130according to the embodiment includes an auxiliary hood150A,150B which is interposed between the body110of the reel seat and the hood portion131. Through the auxiliary hood150A,150B, the user's fingers can be guided to the body110of the reel seat when the user grips the reel seat100U,100D.

Referring toFIGS. 11 to 13, the auxiliary hood150A,150B has a ring shape so as to surround the circumference of the body110. In such a case, an inner diameter of the auxiliary hood150A,150B has a proper size to receive the body110and the front attachment leg311or the rear attachment leg312of the reel therein. The auxiliary hood150A,150B may have a C-shaped cross-sectional shape so as to partially cover the body110. The auxiliary hood150A,150B is made of a material from which the user can feel a friction feeling and a cushion feeling. By way of example, the auxiliary hood150A,150B may be made of a rubber material which has a superior elasticity such that the auxiliary hood can be closely contacted with the body110. Further, the surface of the auxiliary hood150A,150B may be embossed so as to provide a special grip feeling.

A portion of the auxiliary hood150A,150B is fitted in between the outer peripheral surface of the body110of the reel seat100U,100D and the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion131of the movable hood130. That is, the auxiliary hood150A,150B has an insertion portion151which is fitted in between the second bore133B of the hood portion131and the outer peripheral surface of the body110of the reel seat. The insertion portion151of the auxiliary hood150A,150B are also formed in a ring shape. The insertion portion151is in contact with the step portion133C of the hood portion131at its leading end when the auxiliary hood150A or150B is fitted to the hood portion131. When the auxiliary hood150A,150B is inserted to the hood portion131, the step portion133C of the hood portion131functions as a stopper against the insertion portion151. Thus, the auxiliary hood150A,150B can be fixed between the hood portion131and the body110at a predetermined position. Further, as shown inFIG. 11, the auxiliary hood150A may have an opening or recess152at its lateral side. For example, an end of the user's middle finger H3can be positioned at the opening or recess152, thus enhancing a grip force.

The auxiliary hood150A,150B is interposed between the hood portion131of the movable hood130and the body110of the reel seat100U,100D. Thus, if the auxiliary hood150A,150B is applied to a reel seat wherein the aforementioned stepped portion or gap exists between a body and a movable hood, then such stepped portion or gap can be filled. Further, since the user's fingers can be guided along a contour of the auxiliary hood150A,150B, the user can suitably change a grip style in accordance with the user's hand size or gripping force and can grip the reel seat100U,100D with a good grip feeling. As such, by coupling the auxiliary hood150A,150B to the movable hood130, the user can make broad choices on reel seats to which the movable hood130is employed. Further, makers can accomplish their own movable hoods and reel seats through the auxiliary hood150A,150B.

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.

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