Abstract:
Universal arbors mountable on tapered fishing rod blanks as non-degradable self-centering collars to which a reel seat may be mounted. The inventive cylinder-shaped arbor comprises a flexible thermoplastic resin formed as an outer cylinder, closed at one end with an integral end wall or separate disc/washer, which included a cylindrical hole to receive a rod blank. The annulus between the cylinder inner wall and the hole margin includes curved or straight centering fins secured to the cylinder inner wall that are free to flex. Flexing of the centering fins permits accommodating a wide range of blank tapers at the proper place of location of a reel seat making the arbor universal and positionally forgiving. Once the arbor is located on the blank and oriented properly, the cylinder is filled with a fluid epoxy resin, which when cured permanently secures the arbor to the blank and to the reel seat tube.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is the Regular Application corresponding to and based on prior U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/289,068 for the same invention filed by the same inventors on Jan. 29, 2016, the priority of which is claimed under 35 USC §§119 and 120. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a universal self-centering arbor device for precisely mounting reel seats with respect to the blank of a fishing rod, both longitudinally and radially centered, so that the reel seats may be precisely and securely assembled to the rod blank, and which resist degradation due to infiltration of water during use. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Modern fishing rods are assembled in a multi-step process beginning with provision of a rod blank, which is a tapered core to which a suite of specialty parts are sequentially assembled. These parts include line guides, tops and tips, reel seats, trolling butts, grips, sleeves and tapes, hook keepers, butts and caps, gimbals and end plugs, to name the main ones. 
         [0004]    Modern rod blanks are made of carbon, fiberglass or other fiber composites, that is carbon fibers embedded in a cured polyester or epoxy core. The resulting finished blanks are very smooth and taper continuously from the butt to the tip. Closer to the butt end, a reel seat must be secured to the blank. Since the blank is tapered, one solution has been to wrap masking tape around the blank until an annulus of suitable thickness is built up on which the reel seat assembly may be secured. This is a very time consuming and difficult procedure, and one that must be done with great care so that the built up tape annulus is the proper diameter and precisely located. One disadvantage is that the tape is of uniform thickness, so that the taper of the blank at that spot is replicated on the exterior surface of the tape annulus. A more serious disadvantage is that the tape has a short life, and is adversely affected by water or water vapor infiltrating into the layers during use. The annulus will degrade and the reel seat will loosen, making the rod unusable. 
         [0005]    When using masking tape to create a built-up spacer for the reel seat, many windings of the tape are required to build up to the diameter needed for the reel seat. This is slow and labor intensive. The rod builder must ensure the tape is completely covered in epoxy; if it is not, then water will enter and eventually soak the tape. As a result the tape becomes first soggy and soon breaks down into mush. The reel seat becomes loose, mis-aligned (cockeyed) or detaches from the blank, resulting in a rod that cannot be used. To fix the problem, the rod must be disassembled and a new reel seat mounted on the blank. Rod repair is very expensive in time and cost. 
         [0006]    Another solution has been to use a foam arbor. These are longitudinally elongated donuts having a constant diameter bore. It is very rare that the I.D. of the foam arbor bore is exactly the correct dimension to permit placing the reel seat at the correct location along the tapered blank. To size the bore of the foam arbor, current practice is to ream it out so that the I.D. of the arbor more closely matches the O.D. of the blank measured at the correct location along the length of the blank, This process is time consuming. Over-reaming is the norm, resulting in an arbor that is too loose to be used. The reaming process must be repeated on a new arbor. In addition, since the arbors have a longitudinal length, an arbor that fits snug facing the butt will be loose facing the tip due to the taper of the blank. 
         [0007]    Further, during the reaming process, the I.D. of the bore easily becomes off-center in relation to the outside diameter, as this type of arbor is made of foam material. If an off-center-bored arbor is used to mount a reel seat, it results in an off-center seat, which has a negative effect on the performance of the finished fishing rod. A minor mistake early in the construction process is magnified in the end-product, leading to many “seconds” and reject rods. 
         [0008]    Finally, there are some 15,000 to 20,000 differently tapered blanks available to the trade, each having a different taper along their length. Thus, arbor fitting is a one-of a kind process, dictated by the blank specifications. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, there is an unmet need in the art to provide an arbor that is universal, that is, it accommodates a wide number of different blank tapers, has a bore that itself can taper, and is water resistant, thereby providing a more secure, permanent bushing for a reel seat. 
       THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The inventive self-centering universal arbor comprises a non-foam, unitary flexible polymer assembly comprising, in a first embodiment, an outer cylinder that is open at both ends, and in a second embodiment one end is partially closed by an integral bottom wall having a hole therethrough that is sized with a diameter that is slightly smaller than that of a tapered rod blank (also referred to as a core) at the point of location of the reel seat on the blank to retain glue to secure the arbor to the rod blank. The first embodiment may be described as an internally-finned sleeve with optional closure washer for one end. The second embodiment may be described as a cylindrical cup open at a first end, having internal fins, and an integral bottom wall at its second end, which wall includes a hole centered with respect to the circumference of the outer cylindrical wall. The first, sleeve embodiment is open at both ends and may employ a separate disc-shaped flexible element (washer) having a central hole that can serve as a retainer for securing glue when the disc is in contact with the sleeve. That is, the inventive arbor may be a single piece cup, or two-pieces: a sleeve plus optional flexible disc/washer for closing one end. 
         [0011]    The interior of the cylinder in both embodiments includes a plurality of curved or straight ribs that function as centering fins so that the outer cylindrical surface of the arbor is radially equidistant from the rod blank axis. The ribs are secured to and project inwardly from the inner wall of the arbor cylindrical wall. The ribs are equi-angularly spaced apart from each other around the circumference of the cylinder, and project inwardly toward the central axis of the cylinder, but terminate short of the central axis so that they define a central cylinder (bore) to receive the rod blank. In the second cup-shaped embodiment, the ribs may also be secured to the interior face of the bottom wall. In the first embodiment, the bottom of the ribs are free standing, that is, not secured to the optional separate disc/washer bottom wall. The ribs terminate short of the central axis of the cylinder. In one embodiment, the ribs do not project inwardly beyond the diameter of the bottom wall hole or disc/washer hole. That is, in terms of geometry, the diameter of the hole, extended along a central axis of the arbor defines a cylindrical bore, and the ribs terminate adjacent to or at the outer surface of that bore cylinder. A pair of arbors are selected for mounting that have bore cylinders that are slightly smaller in diameter than the rod blank diameter at the point of mounting, so that when mounted on the rod blank, the ribs flex into contact with the outer surface of the rod blank to self-center the arbor with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rod blank. 
         [0012]    The second embodiment of the cup, in having an integral bottom wall permits the inventive universal arbor to be slipped over the tip of the rod blank and pushed longitudinally down the length of the tapering blank until it is properly positioned for the reel seat assembly. The bottom wall, being flexible, provides a wiper seal with the surface of the blank and forms a dam to retain a liquid polymeric fluid glue while the glue is curing. An exemplary arbor flexible polymer which may be used is a thermoplastic resin that forms a strong bond with the glue, such as epoxy, which in turn forms a strong bond with the rod blank. 
         [0013]    The disc/washer in one embodiment is planar, but may be concave or convex (depending on which side it is viewed-from). The first, sleeve embodiment may be used with or without one or more disc/washers to close one or both ends. Generally, it is more difficult to retain the glue in the sleeve without using a washer to close a lower end. However, the more fins in the sleeve, the easier it is to retain the glue without use of an end-closing disc/washer, as the more closely spaced the fins are, the more the glue will be retained between them by capillary action, depending on the nature of the glue and its viscosity. In addition, disc/washers may be used as closures at both ends of the sleeve. In use, a disc/washer is pushed down the rod blank into position, followed by a sleeve, the rod oriented vertically and the sleeve filled with glue, and a second disc/washer pushed down to close the top of the sleeve. Likewise, a disc/washer can be used to close the open end of a cup embodiment arbor after filling with glue. 
         [0014]    With respect to the curved rib embodiment, as seen in an end view from the open end of the arbor sleeve or cup assembly, in one embodiment, the center line of each rib follows a generally geometric curve, such as an arc of a circle, a parabolic curve, a hyperbolic curve, logarithmic spiral, Fibonacci spiral, golden spiral, or the like, with the curve origin at or near the axial center of the bottom wall or disc hole. The center of the bottom wall or disc/washer hole is the intersection of the central axis of the arbor cylindrical outer wall and the plane of the bottom wall or disc/washer. Thus, the centering fins may flexibly fold outwardly toward the inner wall of the arbor cylindrical outer wall, that is, outwardly from the rod blank surface, during installation as the arbor is pushed down the tapered rod blank. This permits the arbor to snugly fit a large variance in rod blank O.D. measurements while providing a straight, cylindrical outer wall for reel seat mounting. During installation the free ends of the curved fins flex, and in the sleeve embodiment they may also pivot at their outer ends which are secured to the inner surface of the arbor cylindrical outer wall. The number of fins may be selected to provide uniform centering action of the outer cylindrical surface of the arbor on the tapering blank, along the length of the cylinder. 
         [0015]    With respect to strait fins, they are oriented radially with respect to the central axis of the bore cylinder, and they may flex either direction as the arbor is pushed down the taperingly increasing diameter of the rod core. By rotationally twisting (rotating) the arbor sleeve or cup as it is pushed down the rod core, in the direction of the curvature of the fins, or in either direction in the case of radially straight fins, the flexing of the fin tips to provide proper centering is facilitated. The result is an arbor that engages and is retained by the rod blank at a particular predetermined location with the outer surface of the arbor cylinder properly centered so that the axis of the arbor and the axis of the rod core are essentially congruent, and the outer surface of the arbor is strait and cylindrical. A second arbor is pushed down the rod core, oriented with the two open ends of the arbors facing each other and positioned at a predetermined distance from the first that is suitable for receiving the tube of a reel seat assembly and for receiving and retaining glue so that the complete assembly may be cured with the reel seat in the proper position for a given rod core. 
         [0016]    As a result of the flexing or/and bending action of the fins, the need to ream an arbor is eliminated. It also eliminates the mistake of over-reaming and reduces rejects. Indeed, the flexible fins rebound (readjust) even if the arbor is slid down the blank too far, and is then moved back up the blank to the correct position for reel seat mounting. The fins provide a self-centering action when the inventive universal arbor is placed on the blank and slid down to the correct location for reel seat mounting. Simply sliding the inventive universal arbor to the correct location on the blank creates a truly centered mount for the reel seat tube. The polymer resin of the inventive arbor completely eliminates the possibility of water damage causing a loose reel seat. Loosening is eliminated. 
         [0017]    Thus, the inventive arbor is truly universal and forgiving, accommodating a wide range of blank tapers, yet the outer wall of the cylinder is parallel to the center line of the blank. As mounted on the blank in the correct position with the reel seat then slipped over the inventive arbors and into correct position, the inventive arbor forms a sleeve or cup into which the fluid glue, such as epoxy, is poured or injected and then cured. Once cured, the “potted” cylinder, that is the epoxy-embedded cylinder, is accurately and permanently positioned with the reel seat assembly secured to the hardened arbor assembly and the rod blank. As noted, the outer wall surface of the universal arbor is straight, that is, parallel to the center axis of the rod, rather than being parallel to the tapered surface of the blank. Multiple arbors are typically mounted on the rod blank, e.g., two or three, depending on the spacing size of the reel seats. 
         [0018]    With respect to materials, the arbor sleeve, cup and disc/washer are presently preferred to be made of a flexible TPR (thermoplastic resin) not filled with carbon or glass fiber. Alternative materials include any suitable flexible castable or moldable resin, such as: PVC (polyvinyl chloride); polyurethane; PLA (polylactic acid); polyolefins, PETG (polyethylene triglyceride); PET (polyethylene terephthalate); ABS (acrylic-butadiene-styrene); elastomers such as: elastomeric polypropylene, polyacrylate, silicone, nitrile, fluorosilicone, nitrile such as Buna-N, SBR (Styrene-Butadiene Rubber), butyl, silicone rubber, EPDM (Ethylene Propylene-Diene Monomer), neoprene (chloroprene), and curable natural rubber. All of these materials must be able to be bonded to the rod material and to the sleeve of the reel seat by a suitable synthetic glue or adhesive material. The preferred glue/adhesive is a multi-part epoxy. Alternative glue/adhesives include: urethanes, cyanoacrylates, polyacrylates, phenol formaldehyde, epoxy, polyamides, polyester resins, methacrylates, and solvent cements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a ¾ isometric view from the top of the inventive universal arbor sleeve and cup embodiments illustrating the centering fins and an open end of the arbor; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a bottom end elevation showing the integral bottom wall or separate disc/washer, both serving as an epoxy dam and each having a central hole to receive the rod blank; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a ¾ isometric view from the bottom of the inventive universal arbor illustrating the outer cylinder, integral bottom wall or separate disc/washer (in phantom) serving as an epoxy “dam” having a central hole and fins visible through the hole, as well as a rod segment shown in phantom; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a top end elevation of either embodiment showing the configuration of the curved centering fins secured to the outer cylinder and terminating at or adjacent the margin of the hole; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a diametric cross section in elevation showing the centering fins, epoxy dam and outer cylinder; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a ¾ isometric elevated cross section showing the curve of the centering fins, their join to the inner wall of the outer cylinder and optionally their join to the bottom wall dam at their bottom ends; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 7A-7D  are a set of optional layouts in plan view of the internal centering fins of the sleeve and cup embodiments from the open end of the inventive arbor, in which:  FIG. 7A  illustrates a standard curved fin embodiment with arrows indicating the direction of flex as the rod core is inserted through the bottom hole;  FIG. 7B  shows a second embodiment in which the fins are curved in a direction reversed from that of  FIG. 7A  and accordingly the flex is in the opposite direction;  FIG. 7C  shows radially oriented fins with flex shown going either direction; and  FIG. 7D  illustrates fins oriented tangentially to the central hole of the bottom wall or/and the separate disc/washer (lead line dashed); 
           [0027]      FIGS. 8A-8C  are a series showing the installation of inventive arbors on a tapered rod core blank, in which  FIG. 8A  shows two arbors properly spaced apart along a tapered rod core;  FIG. 8B  shows arbors that have been filled with epoxy to secure them to a tapered rod core; and  FIG. 8C  is a longitudinal section view through a tapered rod core blank after filling with epoxy to secure the sleeve of a reel holder; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  shows a reel holder in process of being slipped down a rod core blank to engage the inventive arbors; a reel is shown mounted in the reel holder. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example, not by way of limitation of the scope, equivalents or principles of the invention. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention. One feature may be shown in one drawing, and another feature is better shown in another drawing. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 1-6  show an exemplary inventive universal arbor  10 .  FIG. 1  shows the universal arbor  10  in isometric view, formed from flexible plastic as a cylinder  12  with an open top  14 , and having an aperture (“hole”)  16  located centrally of a planar, integral bottom end  18  that is oriented transverse to a central axis of the cylinder (see  FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6 ). As best seen in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 , together, the cylindrical wall  12  and bottom wall  18  form a cup shape. The interior of the arbor cup includes a plurality of spaced centering fins  20   a,    20   b , . . .  20   n  having their outer ends  22  secured to the inner wall of the cylinder  24  (see  FIGS. 4 and 6 ). The inner ends  26  of the centering fins terminate at or adjacent to, and define, a virtual cylinder whose diameter is generally equal to the diameter of aperture  16  (best seen in  FIG. 3 ). As shown in phantom in  FIG. 3 , a rod core  30  is inserted through the hole  16 .  FIG. 3  also shows in dashed lines that the bottom may be a separate disc or washer  48 , rather than integral to the arbor  10 . In this embodiment\ the bottom of the fins  28  (see  FIGS. 5 &amp; 6 ) are not secured to the disc  48 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows the planar transverse bottom wall  18  or disc/washer  48  forming a dam for liquid epoxy resin when the fishing rod blank (see  FIGS. 3 and 8A ) is threaded through the hole  16  in the bottom of the end wall  18 ,  48 . Note the fins do not extend into the cylindrical volume defined by the hole. That is, fins  20  terminate at or near the outer surface of the virtual cylinder whose diameter is that of the hole  16 .  FIG. 3  shows in isometric the outer cylinder  12 , the bottom end wall epoxy dam  18  or disc/washer  48  and the hole  16  in the end wall  18 ,  48  through which the rod blank  30  (shown in phantom) is inserted. Some of the inner ends  26  of fins  20  can be seen through the hole.  FIG. 4  shows in top (plan) view the curvature of the centering fins  20  that are secured to the inner wall  24  of the outer cylinder  12 , and terminate with free ends at the margin of the hole  16  in the bottom epoxy dam wall  18  or disc  48 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows in vertical cross-section the centering fins  20  having their outer ends  22  secured to the inner wall  24  of the outer cylinder  14 . In this embodiment, optionally the bottom ends of the  28  of the fins are secured to the bottom, inner surface of the epoxy dam transverse end wall  18 . The bottom ends  28  of the fins  20  may be free, that is not secured to the inner surface of the bottom end when using a disc/washer  48 .  FIG. 6  shows in isometric cross-section the centering fins  20  having their outer edges  22  secured to the inner wall  24  of the outer cylinder  12 , and their bottom ends to the bottom wall epoxy dam  3 . When a disc/washer  48  is used, the bottom ends of the fins are free. Note the thickness of the individual fins collectively form a virtual cylinder that is an extension of the hole  16  (see  FIG. 3 ). The inner ends of the fins  26  contact the surface of the rod blank  30  when the inventive universal arbor is slid down onto the rod core blank to the proper position to receive the tube  34  of the reel seat assembly (see  FIGS. 8C and 9 ). 
         [0033]    In the upright position shown in  FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 , once the inventive universal arbor  10  is slid down onto a rod blank  30  through the hole  16 , it forms a cup to receive the liquid glue, such as epoxy, that, upon curing, permanently secures the arbor to the blank  30  and provides a smooth cylindrical exterior face to engage a reel seat assembly (best seen in  FIGS. 8A-8C ). The glue also secures the arbor to the inner surface of the reel seat tube  34 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 7A-7D  are a set of layouts in plan view of alternative embodiments of the internal centering fins  20 , seen from the open (upper) end  14  of the inventive arbor  10 .  FIG. 7A  shows a standard curved fin embodiment as in  FIG. 4 , except that the center hole  16  is much enlarged for a larger diameter rod blank  30 . The small arrows  46  show the direction of the flex of the inner ends  26  of the fins  20  as the arbor is slid down the rod blank  30  (see  FIGS. 3, 8A and 9 ).  FIG. 7B  shows a second embodiment in which the fins  20  are curved in a direction (clockwise, seen from above), which is reversed from that of  FIG. 7A  (counterclockwise, seen from above). Again, arrows  46  show the flexing of the inner ends  26  of the fins  20  as the arbor is mounted on a rod blank  30 .  FIG. 7C  shows an embodiment in accord with the principles of this invention having radially oriented fins  20 . In this embodiment, double ended arrow  46  shows the fins are free to flex either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the direction of rotation of the arbor when mounting it on the rod blank.  FIG. 7D  illustrates an embodiment having fins  20  oriented tangentially (canted) to the central hole  16 , and the arrows  46  show the direction of flex of the inner ends  26  of the fins  20 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 8A  illustrates two of the inventive universal arbors  10   a  and  10   b  slipped onto a rod blank  30   a.  In this embodiment, the rod blank  30   a  is fiberglass. The two arbors  10   a  and  10   b  are inserted so that their open ends  14   a  and  14   b  face each other, so that the end dams  18   a,    18   b,  or the disc/washer  48 , capture the epoxy in the arbor. The arbors are spaced apart a preselected distance  32  so that they provide spaced support for the tubular reel seat tube  34  (see  FIG. 8C ) which is slipped over and engages the exterior surface of the cylindrical arbor outer wall  12   a,    12   b.    FIG. 8B  shows two arbors  10   a  and  10   b  fitted onto a rod blank  30   b,  which in this case is carbon fiber. Note the rod blank is larger in diameter and the arbors are spaced farther apart to accommodate a larger reel seat tube (not shown). In this embodiment, both of the arbor cups have been filled with epoxy at  36   a,    36   b  to illustrate how they are secured to the rod. The space between the arbors is not filled with epoxy, but may be, if desired.  FIG. 8C  shows a finished assembly of a rod blank  30 , glue-secured arbors  10   a,    10   b  and reel seat tubular sleeve  34 , that has been cut in two longitudinally in order to show the location of the arbors  10   a  and  10   b  recessed into the ends of the sleeve  34 , and having the arbors bonded to both the rod core  30  and to the reel seat tubular sleeve  34  by the epoxy  36   a,    36   b.  The space  38  between the inner face of the sleeve  34  and the outer face of the blank  30  may be left empty, partially filled with epoxy, or completely filled with epoxy. 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  shows the reel seat sleeve  34  being fitted over spaced arbors, the lower arbor  10   a  being shown exposed, as the sleeve has already been slid over the upper arbor  10   b  (not seen). In this position, the rod can be turned vertical, and epoxy introduced into the cup of arbor  10   a,  and then the sleeve  34  is slid down and properly seated over the lower arbor  10   a.  Then the upper arbor can be injected with epoxy to complete the assembly. This figure also shows a reel  40  has been fitted onto the reel holder, and a reel foot-retaining ferrule  42  screwed down tight on the threads  44  on the exterior of the holder tube to retain the reel in place. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0037]    The inventive universal arbor of this application has wide applicability to the fishing industry, namely to rod building suppliers and rod manufacturers. The inventive arbor assembly is clearly universal and accommodating, and a significant and substantial time-saver in precision of rod construction. Thus, the inventive universal arbor has the clear potential of becoming adopted as the new standard for apparatus and methods of manufacture of fishing rods. 
         [0038]    It is clear that various modifications within the scope of this invention can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit thereof and without undue experimentation. For example, the fin curvature and points of securement to the interior of the cup (cylinder or/and bottom end wall of the arbor) can have a wide range of designs to provide centering functionality. Likewise, the number of fins may be increased or decreased. The diameter of the hole in the bottom wall or disc/washer may be selected to provide a snug fit for a particular diameter of rod blank, or it may be a cross-slit, +, rather than a circular hole. This invention is therefore to be defined by the scope of the appended claims as broadly as the prior art will permit, and in view of the specification if need be, including a full range of current and future equivalents thereof.