Lightweight, removable handle for fishing reel with integral stem and grip

In a handle for a fishing reel, a support shaft is fixedly secured at one end to a distal end of a handle arm by compressive clamping in such a manner that the support shaft projects from the handle arm. The tubular stem of a handle piece is rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of the support shaft, and is retained by a retaining member against disengagement therefrom. A grip portion integral with the tubular stem has a cavity extending between opposite ends of the grip portion. A pair of caps closing the opposite open ends are detachably fixed to the grip portion by a resilient member. The handle is light weight, and thus can be operated with a small amount of force.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a handle for a fishing reel in which a handle 
piece is mounted on a handle arm for winding a fishline on a spool. 
In a conventional handle disclosed, for example, in (1) Japanese Utility 
Model Unexamined Publication No. 58-117860 and (2) Japanese Utility Model 
Examined Publication No. 5-31904, a handle piece is retainingly supported 
rotatably on a support shaft fixedly mounted on a distal end of a handle 
arm. 
A mounting hole for receiving the support shaft therein is formed in a 
central portion of the handle piece, and a recess is formed in each of 
opposite ends of this piece, and a cap is fixedly attached relative to 
each end. With this construction, lubricating oil can be applied through 
the mounting hole to that portion of the handle piece rotatable relative 
to the support shaft. 
With the above construction, however, the overall weight of the reel is 
heavy, and that portion of a reel body having the handle is heavier than 
the other portion. Thus, the balance of rotation of the handle is not 
good, and consequently the fishing operability is poor. 
Furthermore, the above publication (1) has a problem in that dirt and other 
foreign matter can collect on the lubricating portion, and the above 
publication (2) has a problem in that maintenance can not be carried out 
easily. 
In short, the problems to be solved are that of poor fishing operability 
because of the increased weight of the handle, and the difficulty of 
carrying out maintenance. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
With the above drawbacks in view, it is an object of this invention to 
provide a handle for a fishing reel which can be operated with little 
force. 
The above object has been achieved by the following apparatus. 
According to the invention, there is provided a handle for a fishing reel 
wherein a handle piece is retainingly supported rotatably on a support 
shaft fixedly secured to one end of a handle arm of the handle mounted on 
a drive shaft of a reel body. The handle piece comprises a tubular stem 
mounted on the support shaft and rotatable about an axis, and a grip 
portion formed integrally at a distal end of the tubular stem. A cavity is 
formed in the grip portion, and extends longitudinally across the axis of 
the grip portion; and there is provided a cap closing an open end of the 
cavity. 
Preferably, the cap closing the open end of the grip portion is detachable 
therefrom. The handle piece may be rotatably retained on the support shaft 
by a retaining member so that by removing the retaining member the handle 
piece can be removed from the support shaft. The cap may be detachably 
fixed to and pressed against the open end of the grip portion by a 
resilient force of a resilient member. 
In the handle for a fishing reel according to the present invention, the 
grip portion is lightweight because of the provision of the longitudinal 
cavity extending between the opposite ends of the grip portion, and with 
this arrangement the weight imbalance and the balance of rotation of the 
handle are improved, and therefore the fishing operability when rotating 
the handle piece is enhanced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with 
reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a fishing reel having a 
first embodiment of a handle of the invention. More specifically, FIG. 1 
is a plan view of the fishing reel, with a handle piece shown in 
cross-section, FIG. 2 is an enlarged, horizontal cross-sectional view of 
the handle piece, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional, rear view of the 
fishing reel. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the handle 1 for the fishing reel, an end of 
a support shaft 3 is fixedly secured to a distal end of a handle arm 2 by 
caulking or compressive clamping in such a manner that the support shaft 3 
projects from the handle arm 2. A tubular stem 4a of the handle piece 4 is 
rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of the support shaft 3, and is 
retained by a retaining member 10 against disengagement therefrom. 
The handle piece 4 comprises the tubular stem 4a, a grip portion 4b which 
is formed integrally at one end of the tubular stem 4a, and has a 
communication hole or cavity 4c formed in the grip portion 4b and 
extending between opposite ends of the grip portion 4b along the length 
thereof, a pair of caps 5 closing the opposite open ends 4d and 4e of the 
cavity 4c, respectively, and a resilient member 11 detachably fixing the 
pair of caps 5 and 5 respectively to the open ends 4d and 4e by a 
resilient force. 
Step portions 4f and 4g are formed on the open ends 4d and 4e, 
respectively, and projecting portions 5a of the caps 5 are engaged with 
the step portions 4f and 4g, respectively. Retaining portions 5b retaining 
the resilient member 11 are formed on the inner sides of the caps 5, 
respectively. 
The length of the caps 5 may be larger than that shown in the drawings, and 
also longer caps and other modified caps may be prepared for exchanging 
purposes. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the fishing reel, opposite (left and right) 
side frames 6a and 6b of a reel body 6, a support wall 6c and a fixing 
plate 6d of a reel leg 12 are formed integrally with one another, and the 
left and right side frames 6a and 6b are disposed parallel to each other. 
Reel side plates 13 and 14 of the reel body 6 are attached respectively to 
the outer sides of the left and right side frames 6a and 6b. 
A spool 7 is rotatably supported between the opposite side frames 6a and 6b 
disposed inwardly of the reel side plates 13 and 14, respectively. An 
electric motor 15 is mounted within a fishline winding portion 7a of the 
spool 7, and the spool 7 is rotated by the electric motor 15 and the 
handle 1 mounted outside of the reel side plate 14. 
A base 16, incorporating a control circuit for the electric motor 15, is 
mounted on those portions of the left and right side frames 6a and 6b 
disposed above and forward of the spool 7. 
A feeder cord connection portion 17 is mounted on the reel side plate 13. 
A feeder cord connector 18 is connected to the feeder cord connection 
portion 17, and a battery (not shown) is connected to the feeder cord 
connector 18. 
A fixing member 8 is fixedly secured to one side or end of a motor body of 
the electric motor 15, and a shaft portion 8a of the fixing member 8 is 
passed through a central hole 6c in the left side frame 6a, and a nut 19 
is threaded on external threads 8b, thereby fixing the fixing member 8 to 
the side frame 6a. 
A rotary disk-shaped support portion 20 is fixedly secured by screws 21 to 
a flange 7b formed on one end of the spool 7, and this support portion 20 
is rotatably supported on the fixing member 8 through a ball bearing 22 of 
a bearing portion. 
A rotary disk-shaped inner side plate 9 is fixedly secured to the outer 
side of the side frame 6b covered by the reel side plate 14, and a rotary 
disk 25, fixedly secured by screws 24 to a flange 7c formed at the other 
end of the spool 7, is supported on the inner side plate 9 through a ball 
bearing 23. 
Thus, the rotary disk-shaped support portion 20 and the rotary disk 25, 
fixedly secured respectively to the opposite ends of the spool 7, are 
rotatably supported respectively by the fixing member 8 and the rotary 
disk-shaped inner side plate 9 through the respective ball bearings 22 and 
23, and the fixing member 8 and the inner side plate 9 are supported by 
the left side frame 6a and the right side frame 6b, respectively. 
A rotation shaft 26, projecting from one end of the electric motor 15 
fixedly secured to the fixing member 8, extends through a through hole 8c 
in the fixing member 8, and projects outwardly. 
An output gear 27 of a line length measurement mechanism is fixedly mounted 
on the outwardly-projecting portion of the rotation shaft 26, and a gear 
29 mounted on a shaft 28 is in mesh with the output gear 27, and a gear 31 
mounted on a shaft 30 is in mesh with the gear 29. 
A magnet 32 is fixedly mounted on one side of the gear 31. 
A Hall element 33 of a detector is fixedly provided outside of the side 
frame 6a so as to face the magnet 32. 
The Hall element 33 is connected through lead wires to the control circuit 
for the electric motor 15 provided in the base 16. 
The line length measurement mechanism may be of any suitable construction, 
such as for detecting the number of rotations of the spool, or for 
detecting the number of rotations of a roller pressed against the 
line-winding outer peripheral surface. 
A drive mechanism A comprising a planetary gear is mounted within the 
internal space or bore of the spool 7 at the other end thereof, and a 
pinion 34 is fixedly mounted on that portion of the rotation shaft 26 
projecting from the other end of the electric motor 15, and is in mesh 
with a gear of the drive mechanism A. 
An output of the drive mechanism A is transmitted to a rotary member 35 
fitted in a central portion of the rotary disk 25, and a metal bearing 36 
is fixedly mounted in one side of the rotary member 35 at a central 
portion thereof. The rotation shaft 26 is fitted in a central hole in the 
metal bearing 36, and a support shaft 37, fixedly mounted on the reel side 
plate 14, is fitted in a central hole in the rotary member 35. 
A drive pinion 38 is mounted on the outer periphery of the support shaft 
37, and a clutch portion, formed between the drive pinion 38 and the 
rotary member 35, is engaged and disengaged by operating a clutch lever 
39. 
A drive gear 40 is in mesh with the drive pinion 38, and the drive gear 40 
is made rotatable by a drive shaft 41 through a drag braking member B. The 
handle arm 2 of the handle 1 is mounted on that portion of the drive shaft 
41 projecting from the reel side plate 14. 
As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display portion 42 for displaying data 
such as the length of the fishline measured by the line length measurement 
mechanism, as well as a group of operating buttons, are provided on the 
base 16. 
The liquid crystal display portion 42 has a time display function (stop 
watch function) a for indicating time, elasped time from the start of the 
fishing and time sinking of a sinker and others, a line length display 
function b, and a speed display function c for indicating the sinking 
speed and the wind-up speed. 
A function selecting button 43, a reset button 44 and a start/stop button 
45 are provided adjacent to the lower side of the liquid crystal display 
portion 42. 
Two motor operation control switches 46 and 47 are provided on the base 16, 
and are disposed adjacent to the left and right side frames 6a and 6b, 
respectively. Switches 46 and 47 for specifying a shelf or water layer, 
setting the alarm and effecting a clear operation are also provided. 
One of the two motor operation control switches 46 and 47 is the continuous 
rotation switch, and the other is the discontinuous rotation switch. 
When using the fishing reel, the handle piece 4 of the handle 1 is gripped 
by the hand, and is turned, and the two motor operation control switches 
46 and 47 are operated so as to wind the fishline 50 on the spool 7. 
The grip portion 4b for turning the handle piece 4 is lightweight because 
of the provision of the longitudinal cavity or communication hole 4c 
extending between the opposite ends of the grip portion 4b, and with this 
arrangement a weight imbalance and the balance of rotation of the handle 
are improved, and therefore the fishing operability is enhanced. 
The grip portion 4b is hollow, and the caps 5 are respectively detachably 
fixed to and pressed against the opposite ends of this grip portion by the 
resilient force of the resilient member 11, thus closing these opposite 
ends, respectively. Therefore, dirt and other foreign matters are 
prevented from intruding from the exterior into the grip portion, and 
hence will not deposit on the support shaft 3 and the retaining member 10. 
And besides, a lubricating operation can be carried out easily, and a 
smooth rotation of the handle piece 4 can be maintained. 
Since the caps 5 can be exchanged with other caps different in length from 
the caps 5, the size of the handle piece 4 can be suitably changed in 
accordance with the size of the hand. 
The caps 5 and 5 can be detached respectively from the opposite open ends 
4d and 4e of the grip portion 4b of the handle piece 4, and then the 
retaining member 10 can be removed, so that the handle piece 4 can be 
removed from the support shaft 3. Therefore, adequate maintenance can be 
performed after fishing. 
The liquid crystal display portion 42 has the time display function (stop 
watch function) a for indicating time, the elasped time of elapse from the 
start of the fishing and time sinking of a sinker and others, the line 
length display function b, and the speed display function c for indicating 
the sinking speed and the wind-up speed. With this arrangement, the 
following advantages can be realized. 
The elapsed time elapse from the start of the fishing can be found by the 
time display function a. 
By measuring the time of movement of a boat, wasteful casting can be 
avoided. 
By measuring the time for of a fishhook to get to shelf, the time for the 
fishhook to get to the shelf in the next cast can be found. 
The time of fighting can be measured. 
A timer for ground bait can be provided. 
The sinking speed can be found by the speed display function c, and the 
weight of sinking speed can be adjusted by increasing and decreasing the 
sinker, and the spool can be adjusted to such a degree as not to cause 
backlash. 
The wind-up speed can be adjusted more accurately. 
With the above construction of the handle 1 of the fishing reel, the grip 
portion 4b of the handle piece 4 is lightweight because of the provision 
of the longitudinal cavity or communication hole 4c extending between the 
opposite ends of the grip portion 4b, and with this arrangement the weight 
imbalance and the balance of rotation of the handle are improved, and 
therefore the fishing operability is enhanced. 
The grip portion 4b is hollow, and the caps 5 are respectively detachably 
fixed to and pressed against the opposite ends of this grip portion by the 
resilient force of the resilient member 11, thus closing these opposite 
ends, respectively. Therefore, dirt and other foreign matter is prevented 
from intruding from the exterior into the grip portion, and hence will not 
deposit on the support shaft 3 and the retaining member 10. And besides, 
the lubricating operation and other operations can be carried out easily, 
and the smooth rotation of the handle piece 4 can be maintained. 
The caps 5 can be suitably changed in length in accordance with the size of 
the hand. 
The retaining member 10 can be removed, so that the handle piece 4 can be 
removed from the support shaft 3. Therefore, adequate maintenance can be 
performed after fishing. 
FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of a handle of the invention and more 
specifically is an enlarged, horizontal cross-sectional view of a handle 
piece. 
In the second embodiment of the handle 1 for a fishing reel, a support 
shaft 3 is fixedly secured at one end to a distal end of a handle arm 2 by 
caulking or compressive clamping in such a manner that the support shaft 3 
projects from the handle arm 2. A tubular stem 4a of the handle piece 4 is 
rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of the support shaft 3, and is 
retained by a retaining member 10' against disengagement therefrom. 
The retaining member 10' is bent into an L-shape so that it can be easily 
engaged and disengaged. 
The handle piece 4 comprises the tubular stem 4a, a grip portion 4b which 
is formed integrally at one end of the tubular stem 4a, and has a 
communication hole or cavity 4c formed in the grip portion 4b and 
extending between opposite ends of the grip portion 4b along the length 
thereof, a pair of caps 5 and 5' closing the opposite open ends 4d and 4e 
of the cavity 4c, respectively, and a resilient member 11 detachably 
fixing the pair of caps 5 and 5' respectively to the open ends 4d and 4e 
by a resilient force. 
Threaded portions 4h and 4i are formed on the open ends 4d and 4e, 
respectively, and are threaded respectively on threaded portions 5c formed 
respectively on outer peripheries of projected portions 5a of the caps 5 
and 5'. A retaining portion 5b retaining one end of the resilient member 
11 is formed on the inner side of the cap 5. 
A through hole 5d is formed in the inner side of the cap 5', and a stepped 
holes, defined by two holed 5e and 5f, is formed in the outer side of the 
cap 5'. 
A retaining washer 51 is received in the hole 5e, and retains the other end 
of the resilient member 11. 
A decorative plate 52 is received in the hole 5f, and is bonded to the step 
between the two holes 5f and 5e. 
The rest of the structure is generally the same as described in the 
preceding embodiment. 
The threaded portions 4h, 4i and the threaded portions 5c are threaded in 
the same direction, and the twisting of the resilient member 11 is 
prevented by the retaining washer 51. 
The threaded portions 4h and 4i may be threaded right and left, 
respectively, and the construction of the caps 5 and 5' other than the 
threads may be identical. The cap 5' is greater in mass than the cap 5, 
and therefore is normally held at a lower position. 
FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of a handle of the invention, and more 
specifically is an enlarged, horizontal cross-sectional view of a handle 
piece. 
In the third embodiment of the handle 1 for a fishing reel, a support shaft 
3 is fixedly secured at one end to one end of a handle arm 2 by 
compressive clamping in such a manner that the support shaft 3 projects 
from the handle arm 2. A tubular stem 4a of the handle piece 4 is 
rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of the support shaft 3, and is 
retained by a retaining member 10 against disengagement therefrom. 
The handle piece 4 comprises the tubular stem 4a, a grip portion 4b which 
is formed integrally at one end of the tubular stem 4a, and has a 
communication hole or cavity 4c formed in the grip portion 4b and 
extending between opposite ends of the grip portion 4b along the length 
thereof, a pair of caps 5 and 51 " closing the opposite open ends 4d and 
4e of the cavity 4c, respectively, and a resilient member 11 detachably 
fixing the pair of caps 5 and 511 respectively to the open ends 4d and 4e 
by a resilient force. 
Step portions 4f and 4g are formed on the open ends 4d and 4e, 
respectively, and projecting portions 5a of the caps 5 and 5" are engaged 
with the step portions 4f and 4g , respectively. Retaining portions 5b 
retaining the resilient member 11 are formed on the inner sides of the 
caps 5 and 5", respectively. 
The cap 5" is formed into a larger-diameter portion 5g larger than the 
outer diameter of the grip portion 4b. 
The cap 5" is larger in mass than the cap 5, and therefore is normally held 
at a lower position, so that the handle piece 4 can be gripped more 
easily. 
The cap 5" may have any other suitable configuration, and for example, the 
cap 5" may have a greater length, or the larger-diameter portion 5g may be 
larger than that shown in FIG. 5. 
The rest of the structure is generally the same as described in the above 
embodiments. 
FIG. 6 is a fourth embodiment of a handle of the invention, and more 
specifically is an enlarged, horizontal cross-sectional view of a handle 
piece. 
In the fourth embodiment of the handle 1 for a fishing reel, a support 
shaft 3 is fixedly secured at one end to one end of a handle arm 2 by 
compressive clamping in such a manner that the support shaft 3 projects 
from the handle arm 2. A tubular stem 4a of the handle piece 4 is 
rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of the support shaft 3, and is 
retained by a retaining member 10 against disengagement therefrom. 
The handle piece 4 comprises the tubular stem 4a, a grip portion 4b which 
is formed integrally at one end of the tubular stem 4a, and has a cavity 
4c formed in the grip portion 4b and extending longitudinally of the grip 
portion 4b, and a cap 5' closing an open end 4e of the cavity 4c. A 
threaded portion 4i is formed on the open end 4e, and is threaded on a 
threaded portion 5c formed on the outer periphery of a projected portion 
5a of the cap 5'. 
The rest of the structure is generally the same as described in the above 
embodiments. 
FIG. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of a handle of the invention. 
In the fifth embodiment, a tubular stem 4a of a handle piece 4 is formed 
with a small inner diameter portion and a pair of larger inner diameter 
portions opposite each other with respect to the small inner diameter 
portion so that the tubular stem 4a is rotatably fitted on the support 
shaft 3 through a pair of bearings 80 installed in respective larger inner 
diameter portions. A grip portion 4b of the handle piece 4 is formed with 
a threaded hole 4h located opposite the tubular stem 4a across a cavity 4c 
and substantially concentric with respect to the tubular stem 4a. A cap 70 
is threadingly engaged with the threaded hole 4h so that it is detachably 
mounted onto the handle piece 4. 
In assembly, after the tubular stem 4a has been rotatably fitted on the 
support shaft 3 through the bearings 80, a screw 60 is threadingly engaged 
with an axial end of the support shaft 3 with a washer 90 interposed 
therebetween, so that the tubular stem 4a, and thus the handle piece 4, is 
rotatably retained on the support shaft 3 with the aid of the right-hand 
large inner diameter portion and the bearing therein. After the screw 60 
has been tightened to the support shaft 3 in the above-noted manner, the 
cap 70 is threadingly engaged with the threaded hole 4h to close the 
cavity 4c. When the cap 70 is threadingly engaged with the threaded hole 
4h, the outer surface of the cap 70 is made flush with the outer surface 
of the grip portion 4b. In addition, the other caps 5 are elastically 
fitted onto the grip portion 4 of the handle piece 4. In disassembly, the 
cap 70 is first removed from the grip portion 4b, and then the screw 60 is 
removed from the support shaft 3 and, as a consequence, the handle piece 4 
can be removed from the support shaft 3. 
The rest of the structure is generally the same as described in the above 
embodiments. 
In the above embodiments, the opposite (left and right) side frames 6a and 
6b of the reel body 6, the support wall 6c and the fixing plate 6d of the 
reel leg 12 are formed integrally with one another, and the left and right 
side frames 6a and 6b are disposed parallel to each other. However, these 
parts may be constituted by respective separate members, even in which 
case the left and right side frames 6a and 6b are held parallel to each 
other. 
In the construction of the present invention, the grip portion of the 
handle piece is lightweight because of the provision of the longitudinal 
cavity or communication hole extending between the opposite ends of the 
grip portion, and with this arrangement the weight imbalance and the 
balance of rotation of the handle are improved. 
In the construction of the invention, the grip portion is hollow, and the 
caps are detachably fixed to and pressed against this grip portion by the 
resilient force of the resilient member, thus closing the cavity in the 
grip portion. Therefore, dirt and other foreign matter is prevented from 
intruding from the exterior into the grip portion, and hence will not be 
deposited on the support shaft and the retaining member. And besides, the 
lubricating operation and other operations can be carried out easily. 
The caps can be suitably changed in length in accordance with the size of 
the hand. 
In the handle of the invention, the retaining member can be removed, so 
that the handle piece can be removed from the support shaft. Therefore, 
adequate maintenance can be performed after fishing. 
In the handle of the invention, the cap can be easily attached to and 
detached from the open end of the grip portion, and the lubricating 
operation and other operations can be carried out easily. 
Therefore, the present invention, provides a handle for a the fishing reel 
which realizes the practical advantages of maintenance of smooth rotation 
of the handle piece, and enhanced fishing operability.