Patent Description:
Fishing spinning reels include a spool for winding a fishing-line thereon. The spool may be attached on a front side of a spool shaft that reciprocates in a front-rear direction by a handle operation. In this manner, the fishing line is evenly wound on the spool.

The spool shaft may be inserted in a drive shaft sleeve that transmits a drive force generated by a handle operation to a rotor. When a large load is worked on the spool and the spool shaft is bent, a contact pressure between an outer peripheral surface of the spool shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the drive shaft sleeve is increased, and consequently a sliding resistance on the spool shaft is increased, which may degrade smoothness of the rotational operation of the handle.

In order to avoid such a situation, Patent Literature <NUM> disclosed rolling members interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the drive shaft sleeve and the outer peripheral surface of the spool shaft to support the spool shaft such that the spool shaft can be guided and rolled in the front-rear direction.

Patent Literature <NUM> disclosed a bearing fitted in an inner peripheral surface of a rotor nut screwed on the drive shaft sleeve. The spool shaft is supported by the bearing such that the spool shaft is slidable in the front-rear direction.

However, the feature disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM> requires a high strength and durability of the drive shaft sleeve and the spool shaft since the rolling members contact the inner peripheral surface of the drive shaft sleeve and the outer peripheral surface of the spool shaft. This requirement limits the applicable materials for the drive shaft sleeve and the spool shaft and the degree of freedom of design.

Meanwhile, it is difficult to achieve a high concentricity of the bearing disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM> with the drive shaft sleeve because the bearing is supported by the rotor nut screwed on the drive shaft sleeve. For this reason, a sliding resistance on the spool shaft that slides in the front-rear direction within the bearing is increased and this may impair the accuracy of the reciprocation of the spool in the front-rear direction.

In view of the above problems, the disclosure provides a fishing spinning reel in which a degree of design freedom is increased and a high concentricity of the bearing with the drive shaft sleeve can be obtained to decrease the sliding resistance of the spool shaft.

The present invention provides a fishing spinning reel according to claim <NUM>.

A reference example disclosed herein describes a fishing spinning reel which includes a cylindrical drive shaft sleeve that is rotatably supported by a reel body and extends in a front-rear direction, a spool shaft that is inserted in the drive shaft sleeve and reciprocates back and forth, a cylindrical aligning holder attached on a front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve, and a bearing that is fitted on an inner peripheral surface of the aligning holder and supports the spool shaft slidably in the front-rear direction. The aligning holder includes a bearing fitted portion situated in front of the front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve and having the inner peripheral surface on which the bearing is fitted, and a concentric fitting portion fitted into the front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve to obtain a high concentricity of the bearing with the drive shaft sleeve.

According to the above-described reference example, the rolling members in the prior art are not used so that there is no material limitation for the drive shaft sleeve and the spool shaft. Consequently, a degree of design freedom is increased.

Moreover, according to the above-described reference example, the aligning holder and the drive shaft sleeve form a single body such that the concentric fitting portion is fitted in the front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve. More specifically, the aligning holder according to the embodiment is not screwed to the drive shaft sleeve unlike a conventional rotor nut, so that it is not difficult to achieve a high concentricity of the bearing with the drive shaft sleeve. In this manner, a high concentricity of the bearing with the drive shaft sleeve can be obtained and a sliding resistance of the spool shaft can be decreased.

Moreover, as for the aligning holder according to the reference example, there are no particular limitations on the design of the inner diameter of the bearing fitted portion. More specifically, it is possible to select the bearing that has a sufficient strength against the sliding resistance of the spool shaft, and to set the inner diameter of the bearing fitted portion such that the inner periphery of the bearing fitted portion can house the bearing. Therefore, a designer is not forced to select a bearing that has a low strength or a particular bearing.

In the above-described reference example, it is preferable that the concentric fitting portion be fitted on an outer periphery of the front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve, and an inner peripheral surface of the concentric fitting portion and the inner peripheral surface of the bearing fitted portion be made concentric with each other.

Alternatively, it is preferable that the concentric fitting portion be fitted on an inner periphery of the front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve, and an outer peripheral surface of the concentric fitting portion and the inner peripheral surface of the bearing fitted portion be made concentric with each other.

In this case, only two surfaces among the outer peripheral surfaces of the aligning holder (an inner peripheral surface of the bearing fitted portion and an inner peripheral surface of the concentric fitting portion, or an inner peripheral surface of the bearing fitted portion and an outer peripheral surface of the concentric fitting portion) need to be concentric but the entire aligning holder is not necessarily formed concentric. Therefore the fabrication is made easier and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

A fishing spinning reel according to the invention includes a cylindrical drive shaft sleeve rotatably supported by a reel body and extending in a front-rear direction, a spool shaft that is inserted in the drive shaft sleeve and reciprocates back and forth, a rotor nut screwed in an front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve, a bearing that is fitted on an inner peripheral surface of the rotor nut and supports the spool shaft slidably in a front-rear direction, and an cylindrical aligning holder attached on a front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve. The aligning holder is fitted in the front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve and fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor nut, and a joint surface of the aligning holder fitted in the front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve and an outer peripheral surface of the aligning holder fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor nut are made concentric with each other.

According to the above-described invention, the rolling members in the prior art are not used so that there is no material limitation for the drive shaft sleeve and the spool shaft are not limited. Consequently, a degree of design freedom is increased.

In the above-described embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the rotor nut that abuts the outer peripheral surface of the aligning holder is adjusted to be concentric with the spool shaft. As a result, the bearing fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor nut is also arranged concentric with the drive shaft sleeve. Consequently a sliding resistance of the spool shaft is reduced.

Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, there is no limitation on the design of the inner peripheral surface of the rotor nut. More specifically, it is possible to select the bearing that has a sufficient strength against the sliding resistance of the spool shaft, and to set the inner diameter of the rotor nut such that the inner periphery of the rotor nut can house the bearing. Therefore, a designer is not forced to select a bearing <NUM> that has a low strength or a particular bearing.

According to the above-described aspects of the disclosure, it is possible to provide a fishing spinning reel in which a degree of design freedom is increased and a high concentricity of a bearing with a drive shaft sleeve can be obtained to decrease a sliding resistance of the spool shaft.

Moreover, according to the above-described aspects of the disclosure, it is possible to select an adequate bearing and provide an inexpensive and highly-durable fishing spinning reel.

A fishing spinning reel according to one embodiment will be hereunder described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the directions referred to as a "front-rear direction" and an "upper-lower direction" are based on those shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a fishing spinning reel <NUM> may include a reel body <NUM> having a spoof shaft <NUM> that extends out toward the front direction, a rotor <NUM> that rotates about a central axis "O" of the spool shaft <NUM>, and a spool <NUM> that is attached on a front end of the spool shaft <NUM> and reciprocates back and forth. The central axis O of the spool shaft <NUM> may be hereunder referred to as simply the "central axis O.

The reel body <NUM> may have an interior space 2a in which a drive gear <NUM> and the like may be housed, which will be later described. On the reel body <NUM>, provided are a leg 2b that extends upward to be attached on a fishing rod, and a cylindrical portion 2c that opens toward the front and in which a drive shaft sleeve <NUM> and the spool shaft <NUM> are inserted.

The reel body <NUM> may support a handle shaft <NUM> rotatably and the handle shaft <NUM> extends in the left-right direction in the interior space 2a.

The handle shaft <NUM> may be engaged with a drive gear <NUM> that meshes with a pinion gear <NUM> formed at a rear end of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> so as to rotate together. In this way, a rotational movement of the handle shaft <NUM> is transmitted to the drive shaft sleeve <NUM>.

One end of the handle shaft <NUM> penetrates the reel body <NUM> to be situated in a side portion of the reel body <NUM> and a handle <NUM> is attached thereto.

Referring to <FIG>, the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> is inserted through a first bearing <NUM> and a second bearing <NUM> that are supported and fitted on an inner peripheral surface 2d of the cylindrical portion 2c such that the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> freely rotates inside the cylindrical portion 2c.

An inner ring <NUM> that is a component of a later-described anti-reverse mechanism <NUM> is disposed between the first bearing <NUM> and the second bearing <NUM> placed between the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> and the cylindrical portion 2c.

Here, the inner peripheral surface 2d of the cylindrical portion 2c on which the first bearing <NUM> and the second bearing <NUM> are fitted may be formed in a cross-sectionally circular shape as viewed from the front and concentric with the central axis O of the spool shaft <NUM>. Therefore a rotational axis of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> corresponds to the central axis O of the spool shaft <NUM>, and the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> rotates on the central axis O of the spool shaft <NUM>.

An outer ring of a rolling one-way clutch that is a component of the common anti-reverse mechanism <NUM> is unrotatably fitted on the inner peripheral surface 2d of the cylindrical portion 2c. Therefore, when a knob <NUM> (see <FIG>) is operated to be set in an anti-reverse position, reverse rotation of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> in which the inner ring <NUM> is unrotatably fitted is prevented.

A fixing portion 3a of the rotor <NUM> may be unrotatably fitted on the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> on a front side portion. When the handle shaft <NUM> is rotated by the rotational operation of the handle <NUM>, the drive force of the handle is transmitted to the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> through the drive gear <NUM> and the pinion gear <NUM>, and the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> and the rotor <NUM> rotate on the central axis O.

On the rear side of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM>, a buffer material <NUM> that prevents the inner ring of the first bearing <NUM> from contacting the pinion gear <NUM> may be provided.

A front end portion 10a of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> will be later described.

The spool shaft <NUM> is inserted in the drive shaft sleeve <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, a rear end of the spool shaft <NUM> may extend out from the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> toward the rear side and be situated in the interior space 2a to be coupled to a common oscillating mechanism <NUM> provided in the interior space 2a.

The oscillating mechanism <NUM> may include a worm shaft (a traverse cam shaft) 9a that rotates in mesh with the pinion gear <NUM> of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM>, and a slider 9b that meshes with grooves in the worm shaft 9a. When the handle shaft <NUM> is rotated by the rotational operation of the handle <NUM>, the spool shaft <NUM> reciprocates back and forth via the drive gear <NUM>, the pinion gear <NUM>, the worm shaft 9a, and the slider 9b.

A front end portion 10a of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> will be now described.

Referring to <FIG>, a thread groove <NUM> (male thread) may be formed on the outer periphery of the front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM>. Moreover a joint portion <NUM> may be formed in front of the thread groove <NUM> in the axial direction. A rotor nut <NUM> may be screwed in the thread groove <NUM> an aligning holder <NUM> may be jointed to the joint portion <NUM>.

On an inner peripheral surface of the aligning holder <NUM>, a collar <NUM> and a bearing <NUM> for slidably supporting the spool shaft <NUM> in the front-rear direction may be provided.

The details of these components will be hereunder described.

Referring to <FIG>, the rotor nut <NUM> may include a clamping portion <NUM> that is fitted in the thread groove <NUM> and presses the fixing portion 3a of the rotor <NUM> toward the rear side through a buffer material <NUM>, and an extending portion <NUM> that extends toward the front side from the clamping portion <NUM> along an outer peripheral surface 30a of the aligning holder <NUM>.

Referring again to <FIG>, the clamping portion <NUM> clamps the fixing portion 3a of the rotor <NUM>, the inner ring <NUM> of the anti-reverse mechanism <NUM>, the inner ring of the first bearing <NUM>, and the buffer material <NUM> between the clamping portion <NUM> and the pinion gear <NUM>. In this way, the drive shaft <NUM> is supported by the first bearing <NUM> and the anti-reverse mechanism <NUM> without jolting in the front-rear direction.

The extending portion <NUM> of the rotor nut <NUM> will be later described.

The bearing <NUM> is a bearing that supports the spool shaft <NUM> slidably in the front-rear direction through the collar <NUM> fitted on the inner side of the bearing <NUM>.

The collar <NUM> may be a cylindrical member formed of a resin. The inner diameter of the collar <NUM> may be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the spool shaft <NUM>. Therefore when a central axis of the collar <NUM> coincides with the central axis O of the spool shaft <NUM>, a small gap (not shown) is made along the entire circumference between an inner peripheral surface 32a of the collar <NUM> and the outer peripheral surface 8a of the spool shaft <NUM>.

The collar <NUM> may be made of a metal in the embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the joint portion <NUM> of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> may be formed in a cylindrical shape and its outer diameter may be smaller than the outer diameter of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM>. An outer peripheral surface 13a of the joint portion <NUM> may be formed in a circular shape as viewed from the front-rear direction and be concentric with the central axis O.

The aligning holder <NUM> may be a cylindrical member for supporting the bearing <NUM> and may include a concentric fitting portion <NUM> that is formed in a cylindrical shape and fitted on the outer periphery of the joint portion <NUM>, and a bearing fitted portion <NUM> that extends from the concentric fitting portion <NUM> toward the front side and in which the bearing <NUM> is fitted on the inner periphery.

A first inner peripheral surface 33a of the concentric fitting portion <NUM> and a second inner peripheral surface 34a of the bearing fitted portion <NUM> may be formed in circular shapes as viewed from the front.

A notch 33b may be formed in front of the first inner peripheral surface 33a in order to prevent the aligning holder <NUM> from touching the inner ring of the bearing <NUM> and the collar <NUM>.

The first inner peripheral surface 33a and the second inner peripheral surface 34a may be concentric with each other. Therefore the central axis of the bearing <NUM> (the central axis of the collar <NUM>) fitted on the second inner peripheral surface 34a coincides with the central axis of the joint portion <NUM> on which the first inner peripheral surface 33a is fitted and the central axis O of the spool shaft <NUM>. As a result, a small gap (not shown) is made along the entire circumference between the inner peripheral surface 32a of the collar <NUM> and the outer peripheral surface 8a of the spool shaft <NUM>, and a sliding resistance of the spool shaft <NUM> that slides inside the collar <NUM> in the front-rear direction is made very small.

Moreover, a front end surface 33c of the concentric fitting portion <NUM> abuts the outer ring of the bearing <NUM> fitted on the second inner peripheral surface 34a so that the aligning holder <NUM> can stably support the bearing <NUM>.

The extending portion <NUM> of the rotor nut <NUM> may be situated on the outer periphery of the aligning holder <NUM>.

An inner peripheral surface 22a of the extending portion <NUM> may be formed to abut the outer peripheral surface 30a of the aligning holder <NUM>. Therefore, when a load acts on the spool <NUM> to bend the spool shaft <NUM>, in other words, when a load acts on the aligning holder <NUM> through the bearing <NUM>, the extending portion <NUM> of the rotor nut <NUM> supports the aligning holder <NUM> and can prevent deformation of the aligning holder <NUM>.

A groove <NUM> is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the extending portion <NUM> of the rotor nut <NUM>. A retainer <NUM> that abuts a front end surface 30b of the aligning holder <NUM> is engaged in the groove <NUM>. In this way, the aligning holder <NUM> is prevented from falling off from the joint portion <NUM>.

A disk-shaped sealing member <NUM> made of rubber is provided between the retainer <NUM> and the outer ring of the bearing <NUM>. The sealing member <NUM> abuts the outer peripheral surface of the spool shaft <NUM>, which prevents foreign substances from entering into the bearing <NUM> and between the collar <NUM> and the spool shaft <NUM>.

According to the first reference example described above, a high concentricity of the bearing <NUM> (the collar <NUM>) with the drive shaft <NUM> can be definitely obtained and the spool <NUM> attached on the spool shaft <NUM> can smoothly and accurately move in the front-rear direction.

Moreover, according to the first reference example, the rolling members described as the prior art above are not used so that materials for the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> and the spool shaft <NUM> are not limited and a degree of design freedom is increased.

Furthermore, according to the first reference example, the inner diameter of the bearing fitted portion <NUM> is set in accordance with the size of the bearing <NUM> so that it is possible to select the bearing <NUM> that has a sufficient strength against the sliding resistance of the spool shaft <NUM>. Therefore, a designer is not forced to select the bearing <NUM> that has a low strength or a particular bearing <NUM> in order to adapt to the inner diameter of the bearing fitted portion <NUM>.

In addition, according to the first reference example, as for the periphery of the aligning holder <NUM>, only the first inner peripheral surface 33a of the concentric fitting portion <NUM> and the second inner peripheral surface 34a of the bearing fitted portion <NUM> need to be concentric and the entire aligning holder <NUM> is not necessarily formed concentric. Therefore the fabrication is made easier and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The first ref erence example has been described. Alternatively the spool shaft <NUM> may be supported slidably in the front-rear direction by the bearing 31A without the collar <NUM> interposed therebetween as illustrated in <FIG>.

The entire outer peripheral surface 13a and the entire first inner peripheral surface 33a fitted thereon are formed in a circular shape as viewed in section in the first reference example.

Alternatively threads may be formed on a portion of the outer peripheral surface 13a and the first inner peripheral surface 33a by a milling machine, and the outer peripheral surface 13a can be unrotatably fitted on the first inner peripheral surface 33a.

The inner peripheral surface 22a of the extending portion <NUM> of the rotor nut <NUM> may be formed to abut the outer peripheral surface 30a of the aligning holder <NUM>. Alternatively a gap may be formed between the inner peripheral surface 22a and the outer peripheral surface 30a.

Even in this case the bearing <NUM> is also supported by the aligning holder <NUM> so that the spool <NUM> attached on the spool shaft <NUM> can move accurately and smoothly in the front-rear direction. In other words, a high precision is not required for the outer diameter of the aligning holder <NUM> and the inner diameter of the extending portion <NUM> of the rotor nut <NUM> in the invention.

Moreover, the concentric fitting portion <NUM> of the aligning holder <NUM> is configured to be fitted on the outer peripheral surface 13a of the joint portion <NUM> of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> in the first reference example.

Alternatively, referring to <FIG>, the concentric fitting portion 33A of an aligning holder 30A may be fitted on an inner peripheral surface 13b of a joint portion 13A of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM>.

When the aligning holder 30A according to such a modification example is used, the central axis O of the spool shaft <NUM> can be made coincide with the central axis of the collar <NUM> by making the second inner peripheral surface 34a of a bearing fitted portion 34A and an outer peripheral surface 33d of the concentric fitting portion 33A concentric.

As a means to prevent the aligning holder <NUM> from falling off the joint portion <NUM> of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM>, the extending portion <NUM> is provided on the rotor nut <NUM> and the retainer <NUM> that engages in the groove <NUM> in the extending portion <NUM> is further provided in the first reference example.

However, further reference examples may be considered.

For instance, referring to <FIG>, falling off of the aligning holder <NUM> may be prevented by a cover <NUM> fixed on the fixing portion 3a of the rotor <NUM> with a screw <NUM>.

The present invention will be now described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, an aligning holder <NUM> according to the invention is configured to obtain the concentricity of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> with the bearing <NUM> in an indirect manner by making the rotor nut <NUM> in which the bearing <NUM> is fitted concentric with the drive shaft sleeve <NUM>.

More specifically, the bearing <NUM> that supports the spool shaft <NUM> slidably in the front-rear direction is fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor nut <NUM> (the inner peripheral surface 22a of the extending portion <NUM>). The aligning holder <NUM> according to the an embodiment of the present invention is fitted between the front end portion 10a (the joint portion <NUM>) of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface 22a of the rotor nut <NUM>.

The aligning holder <NUM> has an inner peripheral surface (a joint surface) <NUM> and an outer peripheral surface <NUM> that are concentric with each other. Therefore the inner peripheral surface 22a of the rotor nut <NUM> that abuts the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the aligning holder <NUM> is aligned concentric with the outer peripheral surface 13a of the joint portion <NUM> of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM> that abuts the inner peripheral surface <NUM> of the aligning holder <NUM>. Consequently, the central axis of the bearing <NUM> (the central axis of the collar <NUM>) that is fitted on the inner peripheral surface 22a of the rotor nut <NUM> coincides with the central axis O of the spool shaft <NUM>.

According to the invention, a small gap (not shown) is made along the entire circumference between the inner peripheral surface 32a of the collar <NUM> and the outer peripheral surface 8a of the spool shaft <NUM>, and a sliding resistance of the spool shaft that slides inside the collar <NUM> in the front-rear direction is made very small.

According to the invention, a high concentricity of the bearing <NUM> (the collar <NUM>) with the drive shaft <NUM> can be definitely obtained and the spool <NUM> attached on the spool shaft <NUM> can smoothly and accurately move in the front-rear direction.

Moreover, since the rolling members described in the prior art are not used in the invention, so that a degree of design freedom is increased.

Moreover, according to the invention, there is no limit on the design of the inner peripheral surface 22a of the rotor nut <NUM>. Therefore it is possible to select the bearing <NUM> that has a sufficient strength against the sliding resistance of the spool shaft <NUM> and to set a diameter of the rotor nut <NUM> at the inner peripheral surface 22a so as to fit the bearing <NUM> thereon. Consequently, a designer is not forced to select the bearing <NUM> that has a low strength or a particular bearing <NUM> in order to adapt to the inner peripheral surface 22a of the rotor nut <NUM>. Moreover a high precision is not required for the rotor nut <NUM> and the thread portion of the drive shaft sleeve <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A fishing spinning reel (<NUM>) comprising:
a cylindrical drive shaft sleeve (<NUM>) rotatably supported by a reel body (<NUM>) and extending in a front-rear direction;
a spool shaft (<NUM>) inserted in the drive shaft sleeve (<NUM>) and reciprocating back and forth;
a rotor nut (<NUM>) screwed in a front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve (<NUM>);
a bearing (<NUM>) fitted on an inner peripheral surface (22a) of the rotor nut (<NUM>) and supporting the spool shaft (<NUM>) slidably in a front-rear direction; and
a cylindrical aligning holder (<NUM>) attached on the front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve (<NUM>), characterised in that
the aligning holder (<NUM>) is fitted in the front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve (<NUM>) and fitted on the inner peripheral surface (22a) of the rotor nut (<NUM>), and
a joint surface (<NUM>) of the aligning holder (<NUM>) fitted in the front end portion of the drive shaft sleeve (<NUM>) and an outer peripheral surface (<NUM>) of the aligning holder (<NUM>) fitted on the inner peripheral surface (22a) of the rotor nut (<NUM>) are made concentric with each other.