Abstract:
A fastening arrangement for securing a fishing reel to a fishing wherein the fastening arrangement includes a bulge to enhance controllability of the fishing rod, and a constriction receiving one of the angler&#39;s fingers to enable precision manipulation of the fishing rod.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/110,708, filed Aug. 23, 1993, which was abandoned upon the filing hereof. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     a) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention concerns fastening means for attaching a fishing reel to a fishing rod. Specifically, the present invention is directed to fastening means for light-weight fishing rods in which minute, precise movements are required, such as while fishing for small fish. 
     b) Description of Related Art 
     While waiting for a fish to bite the bait, an angler may grasp the fishing rod by a conventional fishing rod grip located either between the reel and the tip end of the fishing rod, or between the reel and the butt end of the fishing rod. Alternatively, it is not uncommon for the angler to grasp the reel in the proximity of where the fishing reel is attached to the fishing rod. 
     Japanese Utility Model Application (OPI, i.e. &#34;unexamined published application&#34;) No. 3-102850 discloses a reel fastener including a protuberance (2) formed on an upper surface. The protuberance prevents a gap from being formed between the palm of the angler&#39;s hand and the upper surface when the fishing rod is grasped. 
     Japanese Utility Model Application (OPI) No. 2-67765 similarly discloses a cylindrical cover for a fishing rod with a protuberance (8) extending away from the fishing reel. 
     The enlarged size of the reel fasteners in the prior art improve the angler&#39;s grasp of the fishing reel, whereby control of the fishing rod becomes limited to broad movements of the angler&#39;s body including the wrist, arm or shoulder. Unfortunately, it makes precise manipulation of the fishing rod, such as by the angler&#39;s fingers more difficult. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problem and provide fastening means linking securing means on a fishing rod with mounting means on a fishing reel. The fastening means also include a bulge extending radially outward away from a longitudinal axis of the fishing rod, as well as a constriction located between the bulge and a tip end of the fishing rod. 
     The bulge increases the stability while grasping the fastening means whereas the constriction is adapted to receive the angler&#39;s finger for precisely controlling minute movements of the fishing rod. Essentially, the fishing rod may be precisely manipulated by simple movements of the angler&#39;s finger rather than attempting to attenuate the broad movements of the angler&#39;s body including the wrist, arm or shoulder. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fishing rod according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the fishing rod according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the fishing rod according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the fishing rod according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a variation on the fishing rod according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in the Figures, the present invention includes a fishing rod 10, a butt grip 12, and reel fastening means 14. The fishing rod 10 includes a tip end 101 and a butt end 102, with a longitudinal axis 103 extending therebetween. 
     The reel fastening means 14 attaches a fishing reel (not shown) to a reel contact surface 25 of the fishing rod 10. The reel contact surface 25 is provided between the tip end 101 and the butt end 102, and may also be used to grasp and precisely manipulate the fishing rod. 
     The reel fastening means 14 includes a primary body 16 fitted on the fishing rod 10 and secured thereto, such as by an adhesive, a rear portion 18 between the primary body 16 and the butt end 102, and a secondary body 20 provided between the primary body 16 and the tip end 101. A part of the primary body 16 closest to the tip end 101 has a male screw 16A with which a female screw 20A of the secondary body 20 is engaged. The rear portion 18 may be secured to the fishing rod 10 by an adhesive. The part 16B of the primary body 16, which is closest to the butt end 102, partially covers the part of the rear portion 18 which is closest to the tip end 101 and opposite the reel contact surface 25. 
     The reel fastening means 14 has a first securing means 28B formed as a recess in the primary body 16 and open toward the tip end 101. A second securing means 28A is formed as a recess in the secondary body 20 and opens toward the butt end 102. When the reel is to be fastened to the fishing rod contact surface 25 by the fastening means 14, the secondary body 20 is moved away from the rear portion 18. First 24B and second 24A projections from a fishing reel mounting means 24 are received in the first and second securing means 28B and 28A, respectively, and the secondary body 20 is oppositely moved toward the rear portion 18. Tightening the secondary body 20 securely clamps the mounting means 24 against the fishing rod contact surface 25 by virtue of the cooperation between the securing means 28A,28B and the projections 24A,24B. 
     The primary body 16 has a bulge (FIGS. 1-5) which extends radially outward away from the longitudinal axis 103 to enhance stability while grasping the fastening means 14. The primary body 16 also has a constriction 22 between the bulge and the tip end 101. The transverse width with respect to the longitudinal axis 103 of the primary body 16 is minimal at the constriction 22. The transverse width of the constriction may be made generally equivalent to (solid lines), or less than (chain-dot lines in FIG. 1), the outside diameter of the fishing rod 10, thereby providing a comfortable rest for the middle and/or index finger(s). An expanded portion 23 is located toward the tip end 101 with respect to the constriction 22. The expanded portion circumscribes the rod 10 and has a relatively larger cross-sectional dimension than the constricted portion 22. 
     When the primary body 16 of the reel fastening means 14 is grasped in the angler&#39;s hand, the index and middle fingers are proximate to the front projection 24A, and the third and little fingers are proximate to the rear projection 24B. The middle finger is generally received in the constriction 22 between the bulge in the primary body 16 and the expanded portion 23. Consequently, the fishing rod can be precisely manipulated through the use of the finger received in the constriction 22, while the bulge ensures a stable grasp may also be comfortably maintained. 
     In the general axial proximity of the constriction 22, the primary body 16 is radially spaced away from the fishing rod 10 so that the fishing rod 10 is exposed in an opening 26. This enables the angler&#39;s hand to touch the fishing rod 10 thereby enhancing sensitivity to a fish biting the bait, as well as reducing the weight of the fastening means 14. 
     To ensure the entire palm of the angler&#39;s hand is used to comfortably grasp the fishing rod 10, the rear part 16B of the contours of the primary body 16 may extend over and radially cover some of the rear portion 18. Since the contours of the primary body 16, rather than the rear portion 18, are comfortably grasped by the entire palm, the angler gets a consistent feeling when grasping the fishing rod. 
     FIG. 5 shows the variation in which the corresponding rear part 36B of the primary body 36 does not extend over and radially cover some of the rear portion 38. Instead the primary body 36 and rear portion 38 abut one another at a plane perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis 103. 
     Although the fastening means 14 has been described with reference to the attached Figures, the present device is not limited thereby. For example, the fastening means 14 need not have a generally tubular shape, the fishing rod contact surface 25 may be flatly shaped, the fastening means 14 may have additional bumps on the opposite side with respect to the longitudinal axis 103, and/or the constriction 22 may have a different cross-section or size.