Patent Publication Number: US-2023157269-A1

Title: Reel body for a spinning reel

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-188765, filed on Nov. 19, 2021. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-188765 are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to the reel body for a spinning reel. 
     Background Art 
     A conventional reel body for a spinning reel comprises a foot portion, a housing, and a leg portion. A fishing rod is attached to the foot portion. The housing has an accommodating portion for accommodating a mechanism. The leg portion extends from the housing toward the foot portion. 
     SUMMARY 
     It has been determined that in general, the leg portion of the reel body should preferably have a small cross-sectional area in consideration of its ability to be easily grasped. On the other hand, since the housing of the reel body contains an accommodating portion, the cross-sectional area of the housing is generally large. 
     When the leg portion and housing are formed as a single piece, if the cross-sectional area is significantly reduced at the proximal end part of the leg portion, which is the part that connects the leg portion and the housing, significant stress can be concentrated at the proximal end part of the leg portion, and the strength of the proximal end part of the leg portion may be decreased. 
     In order to avoid the foregoing, in the reel body of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 56[1981]-096644, the proximal end part of the leg portion is formed such that its cross-sectional area gradually increases as it approaches the housing, and thin reinforcing core material is disposed into the leg portion. It has been determined that in this structure, the weight of the reel body will increase since the cross-sectional area (thickness) of the proximal end part of the leg portion is larger. Moreover, an increased cross-sectional area (thickness) of the proximal end part of the leg portion results in a longer required cooling time when the reel body is formed by injection molding, which can cause sink marks to appear on the outer surface of the reel body. Further, in the reel body of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 56[1981]-096644, since there is no way to position the reinforcing core material inside the reel body, the disposition of the reinforcing core material can become unstable, and the reinforcing core material may become exposed to the surface of the reel body. 
     The object of the present disclosure is to describe a reel body for a spinning reel that has reduced weight and/or improved appearance. 
     The reel body for a spinning reel according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a foot portion for attachment to a fishing rod, a housing with an accommodating portion for accommodating a mechanism, a leg portion that extends from the housing toward the foot portion, and an insert element arranged in the housing and the leg portion. The foot portion, the housing, and the leg portion can be integrally formed by injection molding. 
     The insert element includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is placed in the accommodating portion such that at least a part of the first portion is exposed. The second portion is integrally formed with the first portion. At least part of the second portion is disposed within the proximal end part of the leg portion. 
     In the reel body, the thickness of the injection resin at the proximal end part of the leg portion can be reduced by placing at least part of the second portion of the insert element within the proximal end part of the leg portion, this configuration enables an improved appearance of the reel body that is free of sink marks on the surface. Further, the weight of the reel body can be reduced by using a lighter material than injection resin to form the insert element. 
     Further, since the first portion is disposed in the accommodating portion so that at least part of the first portion of the insert element is exposed, the exposed portion of the first portion can be used as a positioning means or device for the insert element, thereby making it possible to favorably position the insert element with respect to the proximal end part of the leg portion. 
     In the reel body for a spinning reel according to another aspect of the present invention, the second portion is preferably formed with a tapered shape. With this configuration, the cross-sectional area (thickness) of the proximal end part of the leg portion can be suitably reduced. 
     In the reel body for a spinning reel according to another aspect of the present invention, the second portion preferably has at least one recess. This configuration ensures that the second portion and the leg portion can be integrated into a single unit. Further, the second portion can be prevented from falling off the leg portion. 
     In the reel body for a spinning reel according to another aspect of the present invention, the thickness between the outer surface of the second portion and the outer surface of the leg portion is preferably up to 3.0 mm. With this configuration, the generation of sink marks can be suitably prevented. 
     In the reel body for a spinning reel according to another aspect of the present invention, the thickness between the outer surface of the second portion and the outer surface of the leg portion is preferably at least 1.5 mm. This configuration enables the material to suitably flow at the time of injection molding. 
     In the reel body for a spinning reel according to another aspect of the present invention, the first portion preferably has at least one hole. A positioning member that is fixed to a mold is fitted in the at least one hole portion. With this configuration, the insert element can be suitably positioned with respect to the proximal end part of the leg portion. 
     In the reel body for a spinning reel of the present disclosure, both reduced weight and improved appearance can be achieved at the same time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a side view of a reel body for a spinning reel according to an embodiment of the present invention (excluding an insert element). 
         FIG.  2    is an enlarged perspective view of the part of the reel body that houses the first portion of the insert element. 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of the reel body for a spinning reel (including the insert element). 
         FIG.  4    is an external perspective view of the insert element. 
         FIG.  5    is a partially enlarged perspective view of the leg portion, housing, and insert element. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The reel body  1  of a spinning reel in which an embodiment of the present invention is employed is shown in  FIG.  1    and comprises a foot portion  3 , a housing  5 , a leg portion  7 , and an insert element  9 . The foot portion  3 , the housing  5 , and the leg portion  7  are integrally formed by injection molding. For example, the foot portion  3 , the housing  5 , and the leg portion  7  are formed from resin. The foot portion  3 , the housing  5 , and the leg portion  7  can be formed from other materials, such as metal. 
     The foot portion  3  can be attached to a fishing rod. The housing  5  has an accommodating portion  13 . For example, the housing  5  has a cylindrical portion  11  and the accommodating portion  13 . A rotor, not shown, is disposed in the cylindrical portion  11 . A spool, not shown, is disposed at the front of the rotor. 
     Various mechanisms for operating the spinning reel are located in the accommodating portion  13 . Such mechanisms, not shown, include a drive gear that rotates in conjunction with a handle, a spool shaft that is connected to the spool, a pinion gear that engages with the drive gear and rotates the rotor, and an oscillating mechanism that moves the spool shaft back and forth in conjunction with the rotation of the pinion gear. As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the accommodating portion  13  includes a retaining part  13   a . The retaining part  13   a  covers a retained part  15   a  (described further below) of a first portion  15  shown in  FIG.  4   . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the leg portion  7  extends from the housing  5  toward the foot portion  3 . The leg portion  7  has a proximal end part  7   a  and a distal end part  7   b.  The proximal end part  7   a  is disposed on the accommodating portion  13  side of the leg portion  7 . The proximal end part  7   a  is integrally formed with the accommodating portion  13  by injection molding. 
     The distal end part  7   b  is disposed on the foot portion  3  side of the leg portion  7 . The distal end part  7   b  is integrally formed with the proximal end part  7   a  and the foot portion  3  by injection molding. That is, the proximal end part  7   a  and the distal end part  7   b  are integrally formed with the housing  5  and the foot portion  3  by injection molding. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , the insert element  9  is located within the housing  5  and the leg portion  7 . For example, the insert element  9  is formed from resin. The insert element  9  can be formed form other materials, such as metal. The insert element  9  should be of lighter material than the resin of the foot portion  3 , the housing  5 , and the leg portion  7 . As shown in  FIG.  4   , the insert element  9  includes the first portion  15  and a second portion  17 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the first portion  15  is disposed in the accommodating portion  13  so that at least part of the first portion  15  is exposed. In this embodiment, with the insert element  9  placed in the housing  5  and the leg portion  7 , the first portion  15  is arranged in the accommodating portion  13  such that part of the first portion  15 , e.g., exposed surface  15   c,  is exposed. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the first portion  15  comprises the retained part  15   a  and at least one hole  15   b.  The retained part  15   a  is held by a positioning member H when injection molding is performed. The positioning member H is fixed to a metal mold, not shown. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the retained part  15   a  is held by the retaining part  13   a  (refer to  FIG.  2   ) of the accommodating portion  13 . With the retained part  15   a  placed in the retaining part  13   a  of the accommodating portion  13 , part of the retained part  15   a  is exposed. For example, part of the retained part  15   a  is the exposed surface  15   c  that forms one surface of the retained part  15   a.    
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the at least one hole  15   b  includes two holes  15   b.  The two holes  15   b  are recessed from the exposed surface  15   c.  The positioning member H is inserted in the two holes  15   b.  The insert element  9  is thereby positioned with respect to the metal mold. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the second portion  17  is integrally formed with the first portion  15 . The second portion  17  is formed with a tapered shape. As shown in  FIG.  5   , at least part of the second portion  17  is disposed in the proximal end part  7   a  of the leg portion  7 . In this embodiment, the second portion  17  is disposed in the proximal end part  7   a  of the leg portion  7 . The second portion  17  can be disposed both inside the proximal end part  7   a  and inside the distal end part  7   b  of the leg portion  7 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the second portion  17  has at least one recess  17   a . The at least one recess  17   a  includes two recesses  17   a   1 ,  17   a   2 . The two recesses  17   a   1 ,  17   a   2  are formed with a concave shape on the outer surface of the second portion  17 . For example, one of the recesses  17   a   1  is formed on a front surface of the second portion  17 . The other recess  17   a   2  is formed on a rear surface of the second portion  17 . 
     The number of recesses  17   a  ( 17   a   1 ,  17   a   2 ) can be one, or three or more. The location for forming the recesses  17   a  ( 17   a   1 ,  17   a   2 ) can be different from the location described above. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the thickness T between the outer surface of the second portion  17  and the outer surface of the leg portion  7  in a state in which the second portion  17  is disposed in the proximal end part  7   a  of the leg portion  7  is at least 1.5 mm. The thickness T between the outer surface of the second portion  17  and the outer surface of the leg portion  7  is up to 3.0 mm. That is, the thickness T between the outer surface of the second portion  17  and the outer surface of the leg portion  7  is at least 1.5 mm and up to 3.0 mm. 
     Here, the thickness T between the outer surface of the second portion  17  and the outer surface of the leg portion  7  is defined by the outer surface of the leg portion  7  and the outer surface of the second portion  17 , excluding the recesses  17   a  ( 17   a   1 ,  17   a   2 ). 
     The thickness T between the outer surface of the second portion  17  and the outer surface of the leg portion  7  can be interpreted to be the thickness of the leg portion  7  (proximal end part  7   a ) disposed around the second portion  17 . In this embodiment, the portion disposed in the recesses  17   a  ( 17   a   1 ,  17   a   2 ) in the leg portion  7  (proximal end part  7   a ) is excluded from the measurement target of the thickness T. 
     The reel body  1  with the configuration described above is formed in the following manner using metal molds for forming the foot portion  3 , the housing  5 , and the leg portion  7 . First, the positioning members H fixed to the metal mold are respectively inserted into the two holes  15   b  of the insert element  9  (refer to  FIG.  4   ). The insert element  9  is thereby positioned within the metal mold. 
     Here, the metal mold is disposed spaced apart from the insert element  9  such that the thickness T between the outer surface of the second portion  17  and the outer surface of the leg portion  7  is at least 1.5 mm and up to 3.0 mm. The metal mold comes in contact with the exposed surface  15   c  of the insert element  9 . In this manner, the insert element  9  is secured to the metal mold by the two positioning members H and the exposed surface  15   c,  so that the insert element is stably disposed in the reel body without moving when the resin, described further below, is injected. 
     Next, heated resin is poured or injected into the metal mold. The space between the metal mold and the insert element  9  is thus filled with the heated resin. In this state, the resin is cooled. The cooling time of the resin is preferably at least 8 seconds and up to 12 seconds. 
     Next, after the resin has cooled, the foot portion  3 , the housing  5 , and the leg portion  7  are removed from the metal mold. The foot portion  3 , the housing  5 , the leg portion  7 , and the insert element  9  are thus integrally formed. 
     The reel body  1  of the spinning reel described above has the following features. 
     In the reel body  1 , the cross-sectional area (thickness) of the proximal end part  7   a  of the leg portion  7  is reduced by disposing at least part of the second portion  17  of the insert element  9  in the proximal end part  7   a  of the leg portion  7 . As a result, the weight of the reel body  1  can be reduced, and the appearance of the reel body  1  can be improved. For example, by forming the insert element  9  from a lighter material than that of the foot portion  3 , housing  5 , and leg portion  7 , the weight of the reel body  1  can be suitably reduced and the appearance of the reel body  1  can be improved. 
     In the reel body  1 , the first portion  15  is disposed within the accommodating portion  13  such that at least part (exposed surface  15   c ) of the first portion  15  in the insert element  9  is exposed, so that the insert element  9  can be suitably positioned with respect to the proximal end part  7   a  of the leg portion  7  by the positioning member H. 
     In the reel body  1 , since the second portion  17  is formed with a tapered shape, the cross-sectional area (thickness) of the proximal end part  7   a  of the leg portion  7  can be suitably reduced. In the reel body  1 , the second portion  17  has at least one retaining part  13   a,  so that the second portion  17  and the leg portion  7  can be reliably integrated. Further, the second portion  17  can be prevented from falling off the leg portion  7 . 
     In the reel body  1 , the thickness T between the outer surface of the second portion  17  and the outer surface of the leg portion  7  is up to 3.0 mm, so that it is possible to suitably prevent the appearance of sink marks. In the reel body  1 , the thickness T between the outer surface of the second portion  17  and the outer surface of the leg portion  7  is at least 1.5 mm, so that the material can be suitably flow at the time of injection molding. 
     In the reel body  1 , the positioning member H is fixed to the metal mold. In this state, the positioning member H is inserted in the hole  15   b  of the first portion  15  in the insert element  9 . As a result, the insert element  9  can be suitably positioned with respect to the proximal end part  7   a  of the leg portion  7 . 
     Embodiments of the present invention can be used for a reel body for a spinning reel.