Inter-line fishing rod

Abstract: An inter-line fishing rod including a joint portion which, when a spirally shaped fishing line guide is disposed in the interior of a rod pipe joined outside, prevents the fishing line from getting caught in the terminated portion of the spirally shaped fishing line guide, thereby allowing the fishing line to be inserted smoothly through the fishing rod. In the inter-line fishing rod including a joint portion 24 to be joined according to a normal joining method or a reverse joining method or to be connected integrally, a spirally shaped fishing line guide 22 is disposed in the interior of a rod pipe 12 situated outside the joint portion 24, the terminated portion 22E of the guide 22 is situated in the neighborhood of the joint portion 24, and a fishing line guide ring 26 having a smaller inside diameter D1 than the inside diameter D2 of the portion of the spirally shaped fishing line guide 22 existing in the terminated portion thereof is disposed at a position which exists not only in the end portion of a rod pipe 10 situated inside the joint portion 24 or in the neighborhood of such end portion but also in the rod pipe 10 or in the outside rod pipe 12.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an inter-line fishing rod and, in particular, to an improvement for a fishing line guide disposed in the interior of an inter-line fishing rod. In an inter-line fishing rod, generally, a fishing line guide is provided in a rod pipe in order to prevent a fishing line passing through the interior of the rod pipe from touching the inner surface of the rod pipe to increase its resistance. For this purpose, in some cases, as the fishing line guide, there is used a fishing line guide which is formed to continue spirally. In a conventional method for uniting the spirally shaped fishing line guide with the main body of the rod pipe, a carbon fiber bundle or the like used as the material of the spirally shaped fishing line guide is wound around a core metal, a prepreg for forming the rod pipe main body is then wound around the core metal from above the previously wound, spirally shaped fishing line guide and, after then, the thus wound assembly is heated under pressure so that the rod pipe main body and the fishing line guide can be formed integrally with each other. However, if the fishing line guide is wound such that it is terminated at the intermediate position of the rod pipe main body prepreg in the longitudinal direction thereof, then the terminated portion of the spirally shaped fishing line guide is likely to be raised, with the result that the rod pipe main body prepreg to be wound on the raised fishing line guide is caused to meander easily, which in turn leads to the poor product or poor fishing rod. To avoid this inconvenience, a time and labor taking processing must be carried out to thereby prevent the terminated portion of the fishing line guide from being raised. Besides this, generally, the spirally shaped fishing line guide is disposed over the whole length of the rod pipe main body and is formed integrally with the rod pipe main body and, after then, the unnecessary portions of the spirally shaped fishing line guide are scraped off or removed by reaming or by a similar operation. However, the thus scraped end portion of the fishing line guide sometimes shows a sharp-angle state and thus, if the fishing line gets caught in such sharp-angle portion, then there is a danger that the fishing line can be damaged. Also, even when the end portion does not show such sharp-angle state, the existence of the end portion causes the fishing line to be easily caught in it when the fishing line is inserted through the rod pipe, which interrupts the smooth insertion of the fishing line, thereby decreasing the meaning of provision of the spirally shaped fishing line guide. In an inter-line fishing rod including a joint portion, the spirally shaped fishing line guide cannot be provided on a rod pipe inner surface situated outside a joint portion formed between front and rear rod pipes for joining reasons. Therefore, the spirally shaped fishing line guide must be terminated in the neighborhood of the joint portion or far apart from the joint portion. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an inter-line fishing rod including a joint portion which, when a spirally shaped fishing line guide is disposed in the interior of a rod pipe joined outside, prevents a fishing line from getting caught in the terminated portion of the spirally shaped fishing line guide, thereby allowing the fishing line to be inserted smoothly through the fishing rod. Said objective is performed by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are laid down in the subclaims. In the rod pipe situated outside the joint portion, the spirally shaped fishing line guide must be formed in other areas than the joint portion area. Therefore, the terminated portion of the guide must be formed in the inner portion of the rod pipe to prevent the fishing line from getting caught in the terminated portion. In view of this, the fishing line guide ring is disposed in the end portion of the rod pipe situated inside the joint portion or in the neighborhood of the present end portion, the inside diameter of the fishing line guide ring is set smaller than the inside diameter of the spirally shaped fishing line guide in the neighborhood of the terminated portion thereof, and the spirally shaped fishing line guide is formed in such a manner that it is terminated in the neighborhood of the joint portion. Due to this, the fishing line to be inserted, when it passes through the rod pipe, is tightened or forced radially inwardly by the fishing line guide ring having a small inside diameter and is thus prevented from touching the terminated portion of the spirally shaped fishing line guide, so that the fishing line can be inserted smoothly through the rod pipe. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a partially broken side view of a first embodiment of an inter-line fishing rod including a joint portion according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a grossly enlarged longitudinal section view of the main portions of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMETNS Now, description will be given below in more detail of embodiments of an inter-line fishing rod according to the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a partially broken side view of a joint-type removable inter-line fishing rod belonging to an inter-line fishing rod including a joint portion according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a grossly enlarged longitudinal section view of the main portions of the fishing rod shown in Fig. 1. In the present fishing rod, a top rod 12 is joined to the leading end portion of a base rod 10 according to a reverse joining method, thereby forming a joint portion 24. Here, a reverse joining method means that a tipend side rod pipe is joined to the outside of a butt end side rod pipe. The joint portion 24 has a taper of the order of 6/1000. The base and top rods 10 and 12, namely, the rod pipes thereof, in the present embodiment, are respectively formed of a fiber reinforced prepreg which includes carbon fibers as the main components of reinforcing fibers. Also, a top guide 14 is mounted on the leading end of the top rod 12. Further, a grip 16 with cork mounted on the surface thereof is provided in the rear portion of the base rod 10, while a reel seat 18 is mounted on the grip 16. Moreover, a fishing line introduction portion 20 is provided in the front portion of the base rod 10 and, in the present embodiment, a frame member including a fishing line guide ring 20G is disposed in such a manner that it covers the upper two-side portions of a hole formed in the base rod 10, while the frame member is fixed by winding a thread member 21 therearound. In the interior of the top rod 12, a spirally shaped fishing line guide 22 is formed integrally with the rod pipe main body of the top rod 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the spirally shaped fishing line guide 22 is formed of a fiber reinforced prepreg composed of a carbon fiber bundle impregnated with epoxy resin. However, this is not limitative but the guide 22 may be formed of other material. Also, the guide 22 may not be formed by heating integrally with the rod pipe main body but, after they are formed separately, they may be fixed to each other. Further, the spirally shaped fishing line guide may be so formed as to extend up to the leading end of the top rod 12 or may be terminated at the intermediate position of the top rod 12. In Fig. 2 which shows the portions of the fishing rod situated before and behind the joint portion 24, the leading end portion of the base rod 10 is formed in such a stepped shape that the inside diameter thereof is increased, while a fishing line guide ring 26 formed of hard material such as ceramics or the like is mounted in the stepped portion. On the other hand, the top rod 12 joined outside the joint portion 24 includes a joined area 12A having a large diameter, the area 12B of the top rod 12 existing forwardly of the joined area 12A decreases in diameter in a tapered manner, and the main body area 12C of the top rod 12 existing further forwardly of the area 12B decreases in diameter forwardly in a more gently tapered manner than the area 12B. Referring here again to the above-mentioned spirally shaped fishing line guide 22 formed in the interior of the top rod 12, it is arranged such that one end portion or terminated portion 22E thereof is situated in the neighborhood of the leading end of the base rod joined inside the joint portion 24, that is, in the neighborhood of the joint portion 24. Now, the inside diameter D1 of the fishing line guide ring 26 is set smaller than the inside diameter D2 of the portion of the spirally shaped fishing line guide 22 existing adjacent to the terminated portion 22E of the guide 22. Therefore, after it is drawn out from a spinning reel 19 mounted on the reel seat 18, the fishing line passes swingingly through the fishing line guide ring 20G of the fishing line introduction portion 20 of the base rod 10 to be introduced into the interior of the base rod 10, then passes through the fishing line guide ring 26 situated forwardly of the guide ring 20G, next passes through the fishing line guide ring 26 having a smaller inside diameter in which the fishing line is forced to pass in the neighborhood of the central portion of the joint portion 24, and, after then, advances toward the spirally shaped fishing line guide 22 situated forwardly of the guide ring 26 and having a larger inside diameter. In this movement, although the fishing line is regulated by the fishing line guide ring 26 in such a manner that it is situated in the neighborhood of the central portion of the joint portion 24, the fishing line is set free from such regulation after it has passed through the guide ring 26 having the inside diameter D1, so that the fishing line is going to spread out. However, the fishing line does not spread out suddenly but it spreads gradually and, therefore, while the fishing line is prevented from touching the spirally shaped fishing line guide terminated portion 22E situated in the neighborhood of the joint portion 24, the fishing line advances into the spirally shaped fishing line guide 22 having the larger inside diameter D2. That is, the fishing line advances smoothly in this manner and is released externally from the top guide 14 mounted on the leading end of the top rod. Now, the fishing line guide ring 26 may be mounted at a position existing slightly backwardly of the leading end portion of the base rod 10, or may be mounted at a position 26'' of the top rod 12 existing slightly forwardly of the base rod leading end portion. Of course, the position of the spirally shaped fishing line guide terminated portion 22E is situated in front of the fishing line guide ring position 26''. By the way, since the joint portion 24 is set according to a reverse joining method, the inside diameter D2 of the spirally shaped fishing line guide 22 can be set equal to or greater than the inside diameter D3 of the base rod 10. This prevents the possibility that the resistance of the fishing line can be increased due to the joining of the rod pipes in the joint portion 24. In the top rod 12, as a connecting portion between the joined area 12A and main body area 12C, a stepped portion may also be used instead of the above-mentioned tapered portion 12B. Also, if the position of the fishing line introduction portion 20 is set a little further forwardly in the base rod 10, then there is eliminated the need for provision of the fishing line guide ring 28. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, in Fig. 2, the right side of the fishing rod is the rear side thereof and the left side of the fishing rod is the front side thereof. However, even if these sides of the fishing rod are reversed, the present invention holds similarly. That is, in this case, the joining method is a normal joining method, and the front area 12A of the rod pipe 12 with the spirally shaped fishing line guide 22 mounted therein (the main body of the rod pipe is reversely tapered with respect to the case shown in Fig. 2) is so formed as to have a large diameter, while the leading side rod pipe 10 is normally joined to the large-diameter front or joining area 12A. Also, the present invention can also apply to a fishing rod consisting of a single rod which is produced by joining together front and rear rod pipe elements according to a normal joining method or a reverse joining method. In this case as well, referring to the swinging motion of the fishing line, since the inside diameter D1 of the fishing line guide ring 26 is smaller than the inside diameter D2 of the front portion of the spirally shaped fishing line guide 22, the fishing line cannot spread out fully up to the inside diameter D2 of the front portion of the spirally shaped fishing line guide but advances toward the smaller inside diameter D1 of the forwardly situated fishing line guide ring 26 while the diameter of the fishing line is being reduced. This prevents the fishing line from touching the front terminated portion 22E of the spirally shaped fishing line guide 22, so that the fishing line can pass through the rod pipe smoothly. As can be clearly understood from the foregoing description, according to the invention, a fishing line guide ring is disposed in the end portion of a rod pipe situated inside a joint portion or in the neighborhood of such end portion, the inside diameter of the fishing line guide ring is set smaller than the inside diameter of the portion of a spirally shaped guide existing in the neighborhood of the terminated portion thereof, the spirally shaped fishing line guide is arranged such that it extends adjacently to the joint portion, and the terminated portion of the guide is situated in the neighborhood of the joint portion. Due to this structure, a fishing line to be inserted through the fishing rod passes through the rod pipe while it is tightened or forced inwardly by the fishing line guide ring having the smaller inside diameter, and is thereby prevented from touching the terminated portion of the spirally shaped fishing line guide, so that the fishing line can be inserted smoothly through the fishing rod.

Claims: An inter-line fishing rod including a joint portion (24) connecting a rear end of a first rod (12) to the leading end portion of another rod (10), wherein a spirally shaped fishing line guide (22) is disposed in the interior of a rod pipe and extends up to an area adjacent to said joint portion (24), and a fishing line guide ring (26) having a smaller inside diameter (D1) than the inside diameter (D2) of the adjacent end portion of the spirally shaped fishing line guide (22) is disposed in the area of the joint portion (24) connected to one of said rods (12,10) of the fishing rod. An inter-line fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joint portion (24) has a taper in the order of 6/1000. An inter-line fishing rod as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the rod pipes (12,10) are formed of a fiber-reinforced prepreg which includes carbon fibers as main components of the reinforcing fibers. An inter-line fishing rod according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein a top guide (14) is mounted on the leading end of a top rod (12). An inter-line fishing rod according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein a grip (16) with cork mounted on the surface thereof is provided on the rear portion of a base rod (10) while a reel seat (18) is mounted on the grip (16). An inter-line fishing rod according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein a frame member including a fishline guide ring (20G) is disposed such that it covers portions of a hole formed in the base rod (10) while the frame member is fixed by winding a thread member (21) therearound, An inter-line fishing rod according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein the spirally shaped fishing line guide (22) is formed of a fiber-reinforced prepreg composed of a carbon fiber bundle impregnated with epoxy resin. An inter-line fishline rod according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein the fishing line guide ring (26) is formed of a hard material, in particular made of ceramics. An inter-line fishing rod according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein the leading end portion of the said other rod (10) is formed of a stepped shape providing an increased diameter thereof, said stepped shape accommodating the guide ring (26). An inter-line fishing rod according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the said first rod (12) joined at the joint portion (24) to the said other rod (10) from outside includes a joined area (12A) having a large diameter, from which the diameter of the said first rod (12) decreases forwardly in a tapered manner with a main body area (12C) of the said first rod (12) decreasing in diameter in a more gently tapered manner than the area (12B) towards the top end thereof. An inter-line fishing rod according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 10, wherein the inside diameter of the adjacent end portion of the spirally shaped fishing line guide (22) is set equal to or greater than an inside diameter (D3) of the said first rod (10). An inter-line fishing rod according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, wherein the fishing line guide ring (26) is accommodated forwardly of a leading end portion of the said other rod (10) inside the said first rod (12). An inter-line fishing rod according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 12, wherein a second fishline guide ring (28) is provided inside the said other rod (10).

Inventors: KATOH YOSHINAO, KOMURA YASUO, TSURUFUJI TOMOYOSHI, WATANABE TAKASHI, KATOH, YOSHINAO, KOMURA, YASUO, TSURUFUJI, TOMOYOSHI, WATANABE, TAKASHI
Applicants: DAIWA SEIKO INC, DAIWA SEIKO INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A01K87
IPC codes: A01K87