Rotor braking device for spinning reel

A rotor braking device includes a moving member, a brake, and a protrusion. The moving member is disposed on the rotor so as to be capable of assuming a first position corresponding to a line-winding position and a second position corresponding to a line-releasing position in cooperation with a bail arm. The brake includes a friction portion rotatable relative to the reel body and frictionally engages the reel body, and a plurality of engagement portions that engage the moving member when the moving member moves to the second position, and brakes the rotation of the rotor when the moving member engages the engagement portions. The protrusion is on either the reel body or the friction portion, and in contact with the other of the friction portion or the reel body, and causes the friction portion to partially frictionally engage the reel body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-181920, filed on Sep. 22, 2017. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-181920 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rotor braking device for a spinning reel, particularly to a rotor braking device for a spinning reel that, in accordance with the pivoting of a bail arm, brakes a rotation of the rotor mounted on a reel body.

Background Art

In a spinning reel, a bail arm for guiding fishing line to a spool is pivotably mounted on a rotor. The bail arm is configured to be able to pivotably and moveably assume two positions: a line-winding position for winding the fishing line onto the spool, and a line-releasing (casting) position for releasing the fishing line wound on the spool.

If the rotor is able to freely rotate when the bail arm is in the line-releasing position, casting can be difficult, since the bail arm may return to the line-winding position. Thus, conventional devices are known in which a rotor braking device prevents and brakes a rotation of the rotor when the bail arm is in the line-releasing position.

For example, the rotor braking device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4804314 comprises a moving member that moves in forward and backwards directions in cooperation with the pivoting of the bail arm, and an annular braking member that frictionally engages the reel body so as to be relatively rotatable. The moving member brakes the rotation of the rotor by engaging the braking member when the bail arm is in the line-releasing position.

However, in the rotor braking device of Japanese Patent No. 4804314, the entire inner perimeter portion of the braking member that is mounted in a mounting groove contacts and frictionally engages the reel body, so that is the risk that the braking force becomes too large. In addition, if the outer diameter of the mounting groove and the inner diameter of the braking member change due to a manufacturing error or the like, the braking force could change significantly, which would make it difficult to produce a stable braking force.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is to stabilize the braking force in a rotor braking device for a spinning reel.

A rotor braking device for a spinning reel according to one aspect of the present invention that, in accordance with the pivoting of a bail arm, brakes a rotor that is rotatably mounted on a reel body. The rotor braking device comprises a moving member, a braking member, and at least one protrusion. The moving member is disposed on the rotor so as to be capable of assuming a first position corresponding to a line-winding position and a second position corresponding to a line-releasing position, in conjunction with movement of the bail arm. The braking member comprises a friction portion that is rotatable relative to the reel body and frictionally engages with the reel body, and a plurality of engagement portions that engage the moving member when the moving member moves to the second position, and brakes the rotation of the rotor when the moving member engages the engagement portions. At least one protrusion is disposed on either the reel body or the friction portion of the braking member, and is in contact with the other component. That is, the at least one protrusion is in contact with the other of the friction portion of the braking member or the reel body, and causes the friction portion to partially frictionally engage with the reel body.

In this rotor braking device of a spinning reel, since the friction portion partially frictionally engages the reel body, compared to a case in which the entire friction portion frictionally engages the reel body, it is possible to prevent the braking force from becoming too large and to produce a stable braking force. In addition, because it is possible to adjust the area in which the reel body and the friction portion frictionally engage each other with the protrusion, it is a simple matter to adjust and control the braking force.

Preferably, the other component, that is, the reel body or the friction portion of the braking member, frictionally engages the protrusion and a portion other than the protrusion. In this embodiment as well, it is possible to prevent the braking force from becoming too large and to produce a stable braking force in the same manner as described above.

In one embodiment, a plurality of protrusions is provided and the reel body or the friction portion of the braking member includes the plurality of protrusions. The other component, that is, the friction portion of the braking member or the reel body, frictionally engages only with the plurality of protrusions, when the moving member engages the engagement portion. In this embodiment, because the other component, that is, the friction portion of the braking member or the reel body frictionally engages only with the plurality of protrusions, it is possible to produce a more stable braking force.

Preferably, the braking member has an annular shape, a friction portion is formed on the inner perimeter side, and an engagement portion is formed on the outer perimeter side, and the reel body has a cylindrical portion onto which the braking member is mounted.

Preferably, the protrusions are integrally formed on the reel body and protrude from the cylindrical portion of the reel body toward the friction portion. In this embodiment, since the protrusions are integrally formed with the reel body, it is possible to reduce the number of parts.

Preferably, the protrusions are integrally formed with the friction portion of the braking member and protrude from the friction portion toward the cylindrical portion of the reel body. In this embodiment, since the protrusions are integrally formed with the braking member, it is possible to reduce the number of parts.

A spinning reel according to one aspect of the present invention comprises one of the rotor braking devices of a spinning reel described above.

According to the present invention, it is possible to stabilize the braking force in a rotor braking device of a spinning reel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a spinning reel100employing a first embodiment of the present invention. The spinning reel100comprises a reel body1, a spool2, a rotor3, a bail arm4, a bail reversing mechanism5, and a rotor braking device6.

As shown inFIG. 1, the reel body1comprises a reel body portion1awith interior space, a flange portion1bthat is formed in front of the reel body portion1a, and a cylindrical portion1cthat has a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the flange portion1b. The interior space of the reel body portion1ahouses, for example, a rotor drive mechanism7for driving the rotor3, an oscillating mechanism8for uniformly winding a fishing line around the spool2, etc. A mounting groove1dhaving a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion1cis formed on the cylindrical portion1c. A handle9is rotatably mounted on the reel body1.

The spool2is a member around the outer perimeter of which a fishing line is wound. The spool2moves in reciprocating fashion in forward and backward directions with respect to the reel body1as the handle9rotates, by an oscillating mechanism8that is disposed inside the reel body1.

The rotor3is a member with which the fishing line is wound onto the spool2. The rotor3comprises a rotor body portion3a, a first rotor arm3b, and a second rotor arm3c. The first rotor arm3band the second rotor arm3care formed opposite each other across the rotor body portion3aon the radially outer side of the rotor body portion3a. The rotor3is rotated about the center axis of the spool2as the handle9rotates by the rotor drive mechanism7.

The bail arm4is pivotably attached to the respective distal ends of the first rotor arm3band the second rotor arm3c. The bail arm4pivots between the line-winding position shown inFIG. 2and the line-releasing position shown inFIG. 3. The line-winding position is the position of the bail arm4for winding the fishing line onto the spool2, and the line-releasing position is the position of the bail arm4for unwinding the fishing line that is wound on the spool2.

The bail arm4comprises a first bail support member4a, a second bail support member4b, and a curved bail portion4cthat connects the first bail support member4aand the second bail support member4b. The first bail support member4ais pivotably mounted on the first rotor arm3bby a first mounting screw11that is threaded into the distal end of the first rotor arm3b. The second bail support member4bis pivotably mounted on the second rotor arm3cby a second mounting screw12that is threaded into the distal end of the second rotor arm3c.

The bail reversing mechanism5is disposed inside the first rotor arm3b. The bail reversing mechanism5is used to hold the position when the bail arm4is in the line-winding position or the line-releasing position. In addition, the bail reversing mechanism5returns the bail arm4to the line-winding position in cooperation with the rotation of the rotor3when the bail arm4is in the line-releasing position.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 5, the bail reversing mechanism5comprises a moving member15, a toggle spring16, and a switching member17.

The moving member15is made of, for example, a metal wire material, and, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, includes a first projecting portion15aand a second projecting portion15b, which are formed by bending the two ends by 90 degrees in different directions.

The first projecting portion15ais bent toward the rotational center of the rotor3. The second projecting portion15bis bent in a direction away from the rotational center of the rotor3and is held in place by an engagement recess4dthat is formed in the first bail support member4a.

The moving member15can move between a first position, shown inFIG. 2, and a second position, which is retracted from the first position, shown inFIG. 3, as the bail arm4pivots between the line-winding position and the line-releasing position. More specifically, the moving member15moves between the first position and the second position as the bail arm4pivots, by being guided by the engagement recess4dand a guide portion3dthat extends in the front-to-back direction in the first rotor arm3b.

The toggle spring16is a member that biases the bail arm4into either the line-winding position or the line-releasing position, and holds the bail arm4in the line-winding position and the line-releasing position. The rear end side of the toggle spring16is held in place by the first rotor arm3b. The toggle spring16is a coiled spring member, and a portion of a rod18that extends along the first rotor arm3bextends through the inside of the toggle spring16from the distal end side.

The rod18is biased toward the first bail support member4aby the toggle spring16. A locking projection18ais disposed at the intermediate portion of the rod18, and a washer19is disposed between the locking projection18aand the distal end of the toggle spring16. The distal end of the rod18is held in place by a latch hole4ethat is formed on the first bail support member4a, and pivots about the pivot center of the first bail support member4aas the first bail support member4apivots. The distance from the rear end side of the toggle spring16to the distal end portion of the rod18thereby capable of changing and the toggle spring16is compressed.

The dead point of the toggle spring16is the point of maximum compression of the toggle spring16when the distal end of the rod18is positioned on a straight line that connects the proximal end side center and the pivot center of the first bail support member4a. The toggle spring16biases the bail arm4into either the line-winding position or the line-releasing position before and after the dead point.

As shown inFIG. 4, the switching member17moves the moving member15from the second position, indicated by the solid line, to the first position, indicated by the broken line, in cooperation with a rotation of the rotor3. As shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 5, the switching member17is disposed on the flange portion1bof the reel body1. The first position of the moving member15, indicated by the broken line inFIG. 4, corresponds to the first position of the moving member15shown inFIG. 2. Similarly, the second position of the moving member15, indicated by the solid line inFIG. 4, corresponds to the second position of the moving member15shown inFIG. 3.

When the moving member15is in the second position, the switching member17comes into contact with the first projecting portion15aof the moving member15, when the rotor3rotates in the fishing line-winding direction LW and reaches a prescribed position. More specifically, the switching member17has an inclined surface17athat is inclined in a direction in which the moving member15is gradually pushed upward in the first position direction (forward). When the first projecting portion15aof the moving member15passes the inclined surface17aas the rotor3rotates, the first projecting portion15aof the moving member15is gradually pushed upward in the first position direction. Then, when the moving member15is pushed up to a position beyond the dead point of the toggle spring16, the bail arm4, which has been biased toward the line-releasing position side, is biased toward the line-winding position side, and, ultimately, the bail arm4returns to the line-releasing position.

The rotor braking device6brakes the rotation of the rotor3when the bail arm4is in the line-releasing position. As shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 6, the rotor braking device6comprises a moving member15, a braking member (or brake)21, and at least one protrusion22.

The moving member15constitutes a part of the bail reversing mechanism5as well as a part of the rotor braking device6. The moving member15is disposed inside the first rotor arm3bso as to be capable of assuming a first position corresponding to the line-winding position and a second position corresponding to the line-releasing position, in cooperation with the pivoting of the bail arm4. As shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 5, when moving from the first position to the second position, the first projecting portion15aof the moving member15is positioned on the radially outer side of the braking member21, and the distal end of the first projecting portion15aengages the engagement portion21bof the braking member21, which will be described below.

The braking member21is mounted in a mounting groove1dthat is formed on the cylindrical portion1cof the reel body1. In the present embodiment, the braking member21is an annular member that can be elastically deformed, made of rubber, for example. The braking member21comprises a friction portion21aand a plurality of engagement portions21b.

The friction portion21ais formed on the inner perimeter side of the braking member21. The friction portion21ais rotatable relative to the reel body1and frictionally engages the reel body1. More specifically, the friction portion21arotates relative to the mounting groove1dand frictionally engages the mounting groove1d.

The plurality of engagement portions21bare formed on the outer perimeter side of the braking member21. More specifically, the plurality of engagement portions21bare formed extending radially outwardly from the outer perimeter of the braking member21at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. When the bail arm4pivots to the line-releasing position, that is, when the moving member15moves to the second position, the plurality of engagement portions21bengage the moving member15. As a result, if the rotor3attempts to rotate when the bail arm4is in the line-releasing position, the friction portion21aand the mounting groove1dfrictionally engage and brake the moving member15; as a result, the rotation of the rotor3is stopped.

At least one of the protrusions22is provided to cause the friction portion21aof the braking member21to partially frictionally engage the reel body1. More specifically, the at least one protrusion is provided on either the reel body1or the friction portion21aof the braking member21, in contact with the other component, that is, the friction portion21aof the braking member21or the reel body1. As shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 6, in the present embodiment protrusions22are integrally formed with the mounting groove1dof the reel body1, and protrude from the mounting groove1dtoward the friction portion21a. In addition, the protrusions22protrude in an arc-like shape radially outward from the outer perimeter of the mounting groove1dand extend along the axial direction. A plurality (for example, three) of protrusions22are formed on the mounting groove1dof the reel body1at intervals in the circumferential direction. The protrusions22may be a member that can be subsequently mounted on the reel body1with a fixing element, such as by adhesion.

As shown inFIG. 5, the friction portion21aof the braking member21comes into contact with and frictionally engages with the protrusions22in the mounting groove1d. The outer perimeter portion of the mounting groove1dother than the protrusions22and the friction portion21aof the braking member21have a gap therebetween in the radial direction and are not in contact with each other. Accordingly, compared to a case in which the entire perimeter of the friction portion21africtionally engages the mounting groove1d, the braking force is not too large, and it is possible to produce a stable braking force. In addition, even if there is variation in the outer diameter of the mounting groove1dor the inner diameter of the braking member21due to manufacturing error or the like, because the friction portion21acomes into contact with and frictionally engages the protrusions22, the variation can be absorbed, and there is no risk that the braking force will change significantly, so that it is possible to produce a stable braking force.

Other Embodiments

A first embodiment of the present invention was described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the various embodiments described in the present Specification may be combined in any manner, as required.

In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of protrusions22is disposed in the mounting groove1d, and the friction portion21aof the braking member21is brought into contact with only the protrusions22, but it is sufficient if one protrusion22is provided. For example, the rotor braking device106shown inFIG. 7is configured such that only one protrusion22is disposed in the mounting groove101d, and that the protrusion22and a portion other than the protrusion22frictionally engaged the friction portion21aof the braking member21. More specifically, the outer perimeter portion of the mounting groove1dother than the protrusion22and the friction portion21aof the braking member21have a gap therebetween in the radial direction, and are not in contact with each other in the vicinity of the protrusion22, but are in frictional engagement with each other in the outer perimeter portions away from the protrusion22. As a result, because the mounting groove101dand the friction portion21aof the braking member21partially frictionally engage each other, compared to a case in which the entire friction portion21africtionally engages the mounting groove1d, the braking force is not too large, and it is possible to produce a stable braking force.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 8, when a plurality of protrusions22is provided, the protrusions22may be disposed in the mounting groove201dat unequal intervals. In the rotor braking device206in this embodiment, it is possible to adjust the braking force and to produce a more stable braking force by adjusting the gaps between the protrusions22and adjusting the range of frictional engagement at portions other than the protrusions22. Manufacturing errors can thus be better absorbed, and it is possible to produce a more stable braking force.

In the above-described embodiment, the protrusions22are disposed in the mounting groove1dof the reel body1; however, a protrusion322may be disposed on a friction portion321aof a braking member321, as in the rotor braking device306shown inFIG. 9. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a protrusion22in the mounting groove301d. The protrusion322protrude from the friction portion321aof the braking member321toward the mounting groove301d.

In the above-described embodiments, the protrusions22are disposed in the mounting groove1dof the reel body1or, as shown inFIG. 9, a protrusion322is disposed in the friction portion321aof the braking member321; however, in the rotor braking device406shown inFIG. 10, protrusions22,322may be disposed both in the mounting groove1dof the reel body1and on the friction portion321aof the braking member321. In addition, as shown inFIG. 10, the protrusions22,322may extend further along the circumferential direction and more gently protrude than in the above-described embodiments.