Reel unit and cover member for a spinning reel

A reel body of a spinning reel includes a first opening formed in a rear end portion of the reel body, and a mounting portion formed on the periphery of the first opening. A first cover member and a second cover member can be selectively mounted on the mounting portion of the reel body such that the contour of either of the cover members is continuous with the contour of the reel body. The first cover member is mounted so as to close the first opening. The rear second cover member has a mounting portion and a rear drag mounting portion that is formed unitarily with the mounting portion. The rear drag mechanism can be mounted within the rear drag accommodating portion. With this invention, it is possible to form a reel unit of a spinning reel with an inexpensive structure without increasing the size of the reel unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reel unit. More specifically, the present invention relates to a reel unit of a spinning reel and a cover member for the reel unit.

2. Background Information

A spinning reel generally includes a reel unit mounted on a fishing rod, a handle rotatively attached to a reel unit, a rotor rotatively mounted to the reel unit, and a spool mounted to the reel unit forward of the rotor so as to be able to shift back and forth. Fishing line is guided by the rotor and is wound around the outer periphery of the spool.

The reel unit is furnished with a T-shaped rod-attachment leg mounted on a fishing rod, and a reel body that is formed unitarily with the rod-attachment leg with a variety of mechanisms being accommodated in the interior of the reel body. The reel body includes a main unit and a lid member. The main unit has an accommodating space in the interior thereof that opens to the side. The lid member is detachably mounted on the main unit so as to cover the opening of the main unit.

A drag mechanism is provided in this type of a spinning reel in order to apply braking force to the rotation of the spool. A front drag mechanism that is disposed on the front of a spool shaft, and a rear drag mechanism that is disposed on the rear of the spool shaft, are known drag mechanisms for spinning reels. The front drag mechanism is mounted in the interior of the spool, and the rear drag mechanism is mounted on the rear of the reel unit.

With a spinning reel on which this kind of rear drag mechanism is mounted, the reel unit is unitarily formed in a cylindrical shape so as to project rearward, in order to match the contour of a cylindrical drag knob that serves to operate the rear drag mechanism (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-313079). By forming a cylindrical rear drag accommodating portion on the rear of the reel unit, a variety of mechanisms of the rear drag mechanism can be accommodated in the interior, and can match the shape of the drag knob.

In the aforementioned conventional spinning reel provided with the rear drag mechanism, the rear drag accommodating portion is formed in a cylindrical shape that projects outward on the rear of the reel unit. Thus, because the shape of the reel body as a whole will become complicated, a special die needs to be employed so that a main portion of the reel body and the cylindrical rear drag accommodating portion will be unitarily formed. This makes the task of forming the reel body time consuming, and may increase manufacturing costs.

In view of this, some have considered forming the main portion of the reel body, the cylindrical rear drag accommodating portion, and a cover portion separately. Here, after forming the main portion of the reel body and the cylindrical rear drag accommodating portion separately, an engagement portion is formed on the rear of the main portion, and then the cylindrical rear drag accommodating portion is engaged with and fixedly attached to the engagement portion. By forming the main portion of the reel body and the rear drag accommodating portion separately like this, the reel body can be easily formed without having to employ a special die.

In addition, with this type of spinning reel, some have considered forming on the rear portion of the reel unit a mounting portion that is partially recessed, and providing an attachable cover member that is smoothly continuous with the reel body, in order to further improve the design of the spinning reel. This type of cover member includes a circular opening in the rear portion thereof, and a separate cylindrical rear drag accommodating portion mounted on the rear end of the reel body from the opening of the cover member.

In this type of spinning reel on which a cover member is mounted, a plurality of engagement portions for engaging the cover member and the cylindrical rear drag accommodating portion are formed on the reel body. Thus, because the reel body of this spinning reel includes a plurality of engagement portions, the reel body may become enlarged.

In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved reel unit of a spinning reel that overcome the above mentioned problems of the prior art. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to form a reel unit of a spinning reel with an inexpensive structure without enlarging the reel unit.

A reel unit for a spinning reel according to the first aspect of the present invention is adapted to be mounted to a fishing rod, provided with a rear drag mechanism, and capable of reeling out fishing line in the forward direction. The reel unit includes a rod attachment leg portion, a reel body and a cover member. The rod attachment leg portion is mounted on the fishing rod. The reel body is continuously formed with the rod attachment leg portion, and includes a first opening that is formed on its rear end and a mounting portion formed on the periphery of the first opening. The cover member is mounted on the mounting portion such that a contour of the cover member is smoothly continuous with a contour of the reel body. The cover member includes a main body portion and a rear drag accommodating portion. The interior space of the rear drag accommodation portion communicates with the first opening. The rear drag mechanism is adapted to be mounted in the rear drag accommodation portion. The rear drag accommodating portion is unitarily formed with the main body portion.

With this reel unit, the cover member includes the rear drag accommodating portion in which the rear drag mechanism is to be arranged. Here, the reel body can be easily formed without employing a special die because the rear drag accommodating portion and the reel body are formed separately. In addition, because the rear drag mechanism is arranged in the rear drag accommodating portion, the rear drag mechanism will no longer need to be mounted on the rear portion of the reel body as in the prior art, and thus an engagement portion for engaging the rear drag mechanism with the real body will also no longer need to be provided. Thus, the overall size of the reel unit will not increase and the reel unit can be formed with an inexpensive structure.

The reel unit according to the second aspect of the present invention is the reel unit disclosed in the first aspect of the present invention, in which the cover member further includes a second opening formed on the rear end portion of the rear drag accommodating portion. With this configuration, the rear drag mechanism can be mounted from the second opening at least partially.

The reel unit according to the third aspect of the present invention is the reel unit disclosed in the first or the second aspect of the present invention, in which the cover member is elastically engaged with the reel body by press-fitting. With this configuration, the cover member will be easily mounted.

The reel unit according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the reel unit disclosed in the first or the second aspect of the present invention, in which the cover member is fixedly coupled to the reel body with a screw. With this configuration, the cover member will be easily and reliably attached and removed.

The reel unit according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the reel unit disclosed in any of the first through fourth aspects of the present invention, in which the rear drag accommodating portion is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to project rearward from the main body portion. With this configuration, because the rear drag accommodating portion is formed in cylindrical shape so as to project rearward, the rear drag mechanism will be easily mounted and the configuration of the cover member will be simplified.

The reel unit according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the reel unit of the fifth aspect of the present invention, in which the rear drag accommodating portion includes a male-threaded portion formed on its outer periphery, the male-threaded portion being adapted to engage with a female-threaded portion formed on an inner periphery of the rear drag mechanism. With this configuration, by screwing the female-threaded portion of the rear drag mechanism onto the male-threaded portion of the rear drag accommodating portion of the cover member, the rear drag mechanism will be easily and reliably attached and removed.

A spinning reel according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is mounted on a fishing rod, is provided with a handle, a reel unit as set forth in any of the first through sixth aspect of the present invention and rotatively supporting the handle, a rotor rotatively supported on a front of the reel unit, and a spool disposed on a front of the rotor so as to be movable forward and backward.

In this reel unit, the cover member is mounted on the mounting portion, and has a rear drag accommodating portion. When the spinning reel is provided with a rear drag mechanism, the rear drag mechanism is mounted on the rear drag accommodating portion of the cover member. Here, because the cover member includes the rear drag accommodating portion in which the rear drag mechanism is arranged, the overall size of the reel unit will not increase and the reel unit can be formed with an inexpensive structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially toFIG. 1, a spinning reel is illustrated in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

The spinning reel in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted is a reel having a reel unit2which can be used in a front drag type spinning as shown inFIG. 1and a rear drag type spinning reel as shown inFIG. 2. A later-described first cover member40(seeFIG. 1) and a second cover member50(seeFIG. 2) are respectively and selectively mounted on the reel unit2.

As shown inFIG. 1, the front drag type spinning reel includes a reel unit2that rotatively supports a handle1, a rotor3and a spool4. The rotor3is rotatively supported on the front of the reel unit2. The spool4has fishing line wound around the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is disposed on the front of the rotor3so that it can be moved forward and backward.

The reel unit2includes a reel body2a, and a rod attachment leg2bthat extends diagonally upward and forward from the reel body2a. The reel body2aincludes an interior space (not shown) that accommodates a variety of mechanisms therein.

As shown inFIG. 1, the rotor3includes a cylindrical portion30, and first and second rotor arms31and32which are disposed opposite one another at the sides of the cylindrical portion30.

The spool4is disposed between the first rotor arm31and the second rotor arm32of the rotor3, and is mounted on a front end portion of the spool shaft15with a front drag mechanism60interposed between the spool shaft15and the spool4.

As shown inFIG. 1, the front drag mechanism60is mounted between the spool4and the spool shaft15a, and is a mechanism for applying drag force to the spool4. The front drag mechanism60includes a knob61for manually adjusting the drag force, and a friction portion62made up of a plurality of disks that are pressed toward the spool4by the knob61.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIGS. 3(b) to5(b), the reel body2aincludes a first opening2cformed on the rear end portion thereof, and a mounting portion2dformed in a tapered shape on the periphery of the first opening2ctoward the first opening2c. The first cover member40is smoothly continuous with the mounting portion2dof the reel body2a, and is mounted on the mounting portion2d.

As shown inFIG. 3(a) toFIG. 5(a), the mounting portion2dis formed as a stepped portion whose surface is lower then that of the reel body2a, and the first cover member40is mounted on the stepped portion. When the first cover member40is mounted on the stepped portion, the outer contour of the first cover member40will become flush and continuous with that of the reel body2a. As shown inFIG. 3(b) andFIG. 4(b), a hole portion2ethat serves to fixedly couple the first cover member40with a screw member41(seeFIG. 1)is formed in the upper part of the mounting portion2d. As shown inFIG. 3(b) toFIG. 5(b), a hole portion2fthat serves to fixedly couple the first cover member40with a screw member42(seeFIG. 1)is formed in the lower part of the mounting portion2d.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 3(a) toFIG. 5(a), the first cover member40is mounted so as to close the first opening2c, and the tip of a rear end portion of the first cover member40has a slightly rounded shape. The contour of the first cover40is formed in a tapered shape in accordance with that of the reel body2a, and when the first cover member40is mounted on the mounting portion2d, there is a smooth continuity from the reel body2atoward the first cover member40. In addition, as shown inFIG. 3(a) toFIG. 5(a), through holes40a,40binto which screw members41,42are mounted are formed on the upper and the lower portions of a main body portion40cof the first cover member40.

In order to assemble this front drag type spinning reel, a variety of mechanisms such as the front drag mechanism60and the like are assembled first. Then, the first cover member40is fixedly coupled to the reel body2aby mounting the first cover member40on the mounting portion2dand installing the screw members41,42in the hole portions2e,2fthrough the through holes40a,40b. Here, the first opening2ccan be closed while maintaining the contour of the rear end portion of the first cover member40in a tapered shape.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 2, a rear drag type spinning reel includes a reel unit2that rotatively supports a handle101, a rotor103and a spool104. The rotor103is rotatively supported on the front of the reel unit2. The spool104has fishing line wound around the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is disposed on the front of the rotor103so that it can be moved forward and backward.

The reel unit2includes a reel body2a, and a rod attachment leg2bthat extends diagonally upward and forward from the reel body2a. The reel body2aincludes an interior space (not shown) for accommodating a variety of mechanisms therein.

The rotor103includes a cylindrical portion130, and first and second rotor arms131,132that face each other and are provided on the sides of the cylindrical portion130.

The spool104is disposed between the first rotor arm131and the second rotor arm132of the rotor103.

As shown inFIG. 2andFIGS. 3(b) to5(b), the reel body2aincludes a first opening2cformed on the rear end portion thereof and a mounting portion2dformed on the periphery of the first opening2cso as to taper toward the first opening2c. The second cover member50is smoothly continuous with the reel body2aand is mounted on the mounting portion2d. A rear drag mechanism70is mounted on a rear end portion of the second cover member50.

As shown inFIG. 2, the rear drag mechanism70is connected non-rotatively and movably in the axial direction to the rear end portion of the spool shaft115, and serves to brake the rotation of the spool104in the line reel-out direction via the spool shaft115. The rear drag mechanism70includes a female-threaded portion70aformed on the inner periphery thereof, and a tubular knob portion71for manually adjusting the drag force. The rear drag mechanism70primarily includes a cylindrical bush72that is non-rotatively and slidably mounted on the spool115, and a friction portion73that is pressed by the flange portion of the bush72and made up of a plurality of friction plates. Here, when the knob portion71is rotated, the friction portion73is pressed by the bush72to thereby allow the drag force to be adjusted.

As shown inFIG. 3(b) toFIG. 5(b), the mounting portion2dis formed as a stepped portion whose surface is lower than that of the reel body2a, and the second cover member50is mounted on the stepped portion. When the second cover member50is mounted on the stepped portion, the outside contour of the second cover member50will become flush and smoothly continuous with that of the reel body2a. As shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, a hole portion2ethat serves to fixedly couple the second cover member50with a screw member51(seeFIG. 2)is formed in the upper part of the mounting portion2d. As shown inFIG. 3(b) toFIG. 5(b), a hole portion2fthat serves to fix the second cover member50with a screw member52(seeFIG. 2)is formed in the lower part of the mounting portion2d.

As shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3(c) toFIG. 5(c), the second cover member50includes a main body portion50f,a second opening50athat communicates with the first opening2cand is formed on the rear end portion of the main portion50f,and a rear drag accommodating portion50din the interior of which the rear drag mechanism70is mounted from the second opening50a.

As shown inFIG. 4, the shape of the second opening50aas viewed from the rear is circular, and is approximately the same shape as the shape of the knob portion71of the rear drag mechanism70. In addition, as shown inFIG. 3(c) toFIG. 5(c), through holes50b,50cinto which screw members51,52are mounted are formed in the upper and the lower portions of the main portion50fof the second cover member50. As shown in FIG.2andFIG. 3(c) toFIG. 5(c), the rear drag accommodating portion50dis unitarily formed with the main body portion50fin a cylindrical shape so as to project rearward. A male-threaded portion50ethat engages with the female-threaded portion70aof the rear drag mechanism70is formed on the outer periphery of the rear drag accommodating portion50d.

In order to assemble this rear drag type spinning reel, the second cover member50is mounted on the mounting portion2dwith the spool shaft115projecting outward from the first opening2c, and the screw members51,52are installed in the hole portions2e,2fvia the through holes50b,50cto thereby fixedly couple the second cover member50to the reel body2a. Then, with the spool shaft115projecting out from the second opening50aof the second cover member50, the rear drag mechanism70is mounted in the rear drag accommodating portion50dof the second cover member50so as to close the second opening50a. Here, the contour of the rear end portion of the second cover member50is cylindrical in shape and thus can match the contour of the knob71of the rear drag mechanism70.

With this type of spinning reel, as shown inFIG. 1, the first cover member40is mounted on the mounting portion2dwith a taper shaped contour when the front drag mechanism60is provided. On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 2, when the rear drag mechanism70is provided, the second cover member50is mounted on the mounting portion2dand the rear drag mechanism70is mounted on the rear drag accommodating portion50dof the second cover member50. Here, because the rear drag mechanism70is mounted in the rear drag accommodating portion50dof the second cover member50that is formed separately from the reel unit2, it will no longer be necessary to mount the rear drag mechanism70on the rear end portion of the reel unit2as in the prior art. Thus, because it will no longer be necessary to provide an engagement portion on the rear portion of the reel unit2that serves to engage with the rear drag mechanism70, the size of the reel unit2will not increase, and the reel unit2can be formed with an inexpensive structure.

Other Embodiments

(a) In the above-described embodiment, the first cover member40and the second cover member50are fastened to the reel body2awith the screw members41,42and the screw members51,52, but the way in which the first cover member40and the second cover member50are fastened to the reel body2ais not limited thereto. For example, as seen inFIG. 6, the first cover member40and the second cover member50can be elastically engaged with the reel body2aby press-fitting.

(b) In the above-described embodiment, the contour of the first cover member40is formed in a tapered shape along the reel body2a, but the contour of the first cover member40is not limited to such shape. In addition, the mounting portion2dcan be formed into any shape so long as it is formed in a tapered shape toward the rear end thereof. The first cover member40and the second cover member50can also be shaped into any shape that matches the shape of the mounting portion2d.

(c) In the above-described embodiment, the male-threaded portion50ethat engages with the female-threaded portion70aof the rear drag mechanism70is formed on the outer periphery of the rear drag accommodating portion50d. However, the method of mounting the rear drag mechanism70is not limited thereto. The rear drag mechanism70may be attached to the rear drag accommodating portion by any other conventional method of attachment.

(d) In the above-described embodiment, the first cover member40is mounted when the front drag mechanism60is provided, and the second cover member50is mounted when the rear drag mechanism70is provided. But it is also possible to mount the second cover member50without making the reel unit2interchangeable between the front-drag type and the rear-drag type. In other words, it is possible to mount the second cover member50regardless of whether the front drag mechanism60is mounted.

(e) In the above-described embodiment, the first cover member40and the second cover member50cover the entire reel body2a. However, when the reel body2aincludes a main unit having a side opening for mounting various mechanisms in the interior thereof and a lid member for closing the opening of the main unit, the first cover member40and the second cover member50can be configured to cover only the main unit. In addition, it is possible to provide an auxiliary cover member that is continuous with the contour of the first cover member40and the second cover member50on the lid member side.

According to the present invention, in a reel unit of a spinning reel, the rear drag mechanism is mounted on the rear drag accommodating portion of the cover member so that the over all size of the reel unit will not increase and the reel unit can be formed with an inexpensive structure.

As used herein, the following directional terms “forward, rearward, above, downward, vertical, horizontal, below and transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a device equipped with the present invention. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a device equipped with the present invention.

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-168745. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-168745 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.