Controller capable of remotely operating fishing electric reel

Abstract

To provide a controller that is easy to remotely operate a fishing electric reel.SOLUTION: A controller 20 of the present invention has a housing 21 provided with: a grip part 22 that can be gripped by one hand; and a display part 23 that is visible when the grip part 22 is gripped. In a state of gripping the grip part 22, the housing 21 is provided with an operation member with which an output of a drive motor on a reel body side can be adjusted by the thumb. The operation member is configured by any of a rotation body, a slide body, or an oscillation body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a controller that enables remote operation of an electric fishing reel that winds fishing line around a spool by the output from a drive motor supported by a reel body.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a configuration has been known in which an electric fishing reel can be remotely operated using a controller. Transmission and reception units are provided on the controller side and the reel body side so as to enable two-way communication. On the housing of the controller, there are provided a button-type operation switch for transmitting an operation signal to the reel body side, and a display unit on which information indicating the operation state is displayed from the reel body side.

[0003] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which dedicated application software is downloaded to a smartphone, information is displayed on the screen of the smartphone, and the reel body is remotely controlled.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The controller disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above is configured to remotely control the reel body by pressing an operation switch disposed below the display unit. With such an operation switch, it is necessary to continuously press it, making remote operation difficult. Further, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, since it is operated with a smartphone, it is necessary to perform a touch operation while looking at the display screen. Thus, similar to Patent Document 1, remote operation is difficult.

[0006] The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a controller that enables easy remote operation of an electric fishing reel.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a controller capable of remotely operating an electric fishing reel including a drive motor that rotationally drives a spool around which a fishing line is wound. The controller has a housing provided with a gripping portion that can be gripped with one hand and a display portion that is visible when the gripping portion is gripped. The housing is provided with an operation member that can adjust the output of the drive motor with the thumb while gripping the gripping portion. The operation member is constituted by any one of a rotating body, a sliding body, and a swinging body.

[0008] The housing of the above-described controller is provided with a gripping portion that can be gripped with one hand, and is configured such that the output of the drive motor on the electric reel body side can be adjusted by operating the operation member with the thumb in a state where the gripping portion is gripped. That is, in a state where the housing is held, the output of the drive motor can be adjusted by operating the operation member with the thumb, so there is no need to operate while looking at the display portion, and a controller that is easy to remotely operate can be obtained.

[0009] The operation member of the controller is composed of any one of a rotating body, a sliding body, and a swinging body. By pressing the thumb and simply shifting the thumb in a certain direction, the output of the drive motor can be adjusted. Therefore, unlike conventional push buttons or the operation of a smartphone screen where multiple pressing operations are required or the operation is performed while visually observing the screen, the output of the drive motor can be adjusted without such operations.

[0010] For example, if the operation member is a rotating body, the operation can be performed by pressing the abdomen of the thumb against the surface (operation part) and rotating (rolling) the rotating body. With such a configuration, the output of the drive motor can be adjusted according to the amount of rotation of the rotating body. Also, if the operation member is a sliding body, the operation can be performed by pressing the abdomen of the thumb against the surface (operation part) and sliding the sliding body. For example, with the sliding body in the initial position (where the output of the drive motor is zero), by sliding the sliding body in a certain direction, the output of the drive motor can be adjusted according to the amount of movement of the sliding body. Further, if the operation member is a swinging body, for example, it can be supported so as to be swingable to displace to the on side or off side of the drive motor, and by pressing the abdomen of the thumb and displacing the swinging body to the on side or off side, the output of the drive motor can be adjusted.

[0011] In this way, since the output of the drive motor can be adjusted only by displacing (rotational movement or linear movement) the position of the thumb applied to the operation member, the output of the drive motor can be adjusted based on the feeling of the operation amount (movement amount) of the thumb without looking at the operation member while holding the housing, and the operability can be improved. Also, the output of the drive motor can be adjusted while observing the state of the rod tip.

Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, a controller that can easily remotely operate an electric fishing reel is obtained.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electric fishing reel according to the present invention and various embodiments of a controller will be described. In the following description, the front-rear direction (axial direction) and the left-right direction (width direction) of the controller are defined in the directions shown in FIG. 1. Also, the up-down direction is defined in the direction shown in FIG. 4(e).

[0015] FIGS. 1 to 9 are diagrams showing a first embodiment. The electric fishing reel and the controller according to the present embodiment are, for example, in a state where the angler is away from the position where the fishing rod is installed on the rod holder, in a state where the angler (captain) operating the fishing boat leaves the rod on the rod rest and is in the cabin, or in a state where the angler (fisherman) leaves the rod and is doing another task. In such a situation where the electric fishing reel for fishing cannot be directly operated, or when in a remote position, by operating the controller, the driving state of the drive motor of the electric fishing reel for fishing can be easily adjusted remotely.

[0016] Therefore, the controller may be constantly held by the angler, or may be placed on other objects (articles, etc.) such as the gunwale, the seat, or the cooler box. Alternatively, a strap or the like may be provided and hooked on the ship's structure (pillar, protrusion, etc.) for use.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of an electric fishing reel and a controller. The reel body 1A of the electric fishing reel 1 of the present embodiment includes left and right side plates 3A and 3B, and a spool 5 around which a fishing line is wound is rotatably supported between the left and right side plates 3A and 3B.

[0018] On one side plate (right side plate 3B) side of the left and right side plates, a manual handle 6 for winding operation is provided, and the spool 5 can be wound up through a known power transmission mechanism. Also, in the present embodiment, a drive motor (not shown) is held between the left and right side plates 3A and 3B on the front side of the spool 5. The spool 5 is rotationally driven in the fishing line winding direction by the winding operation of the manual handle 6 and the rotational drive of the drive motor.

[0019] Above the spool 5 between the left and right side plates 3A and 3B, a box-shaped control case 10 that houses a control unit for controlling the drive motor is disposed. On the front surface side of the control case 10, a display unit (liquid crystal display unit) 11 for displaying the thread length (water depth), time, mode, etc., and button-type (touch-type or the like is also acceptable) operation buttons 12 for setting various modes are disposed.

[0020] Also, at the rear portion of the control case 10, an operation member 15 for adjusting the output of the drive motor is arranged. The operation member 15 of the present embodiment is in the form of a lever provided on a support shaft rotatably supported on the right side plate side at the rear of the control case 10, and is configured such that the output of the drive motor can be adjusted by rotating the operation member (operation lever) 15 in the front-rear direction.

[0021] Also, on one side plate (right side plate 3B) side, a known clutch mechanism for switching the spool 5 between the fishing line winding state / free rotation state is arranged. This clutch mechanism has a function of engaging and disengaging the power transmission from the manual handle 6 and the drive motor to the spool 5, and is configured to be switched from the clutch ON state to the clutch OFF state by a clutch operation member 16 displaceable in the front-rear direction on the right side plate 3B side. In this case, in the clutch ON state (power transmission state) shown in FIG. 1, when the clutch operation member 16 is rotated forward, it is switched to the clutch OFF state.

[0022] Note that the return from the clutch OFF state to the clutch ON state can be automatically performed, for example, by an operation in the opposite direction of the clutch operation member 16, a winding operation of the manual handle 6, or driving of the drive motor.

[0023] As is well known, the electric fishing reel 1 with the above-described configuration is mounted on a fishing rod and used in a state where the fishing rod is fixed to a rod keeper member (rod keeper) fixed to the gunwale. Specifically, the clutch mechanism is turned off and the rig is cast into the sea, and when it reaches a predetermined shelf, the clutch is turned on (the clutch can be turned on automatically or manually). In this state, when a fish bites, the operating member 15 is rotated to drive the drive motor while adjusting the speed, and the fishing line is wound around the spool 5. In this case, as described above, the electric fishing reel 1 can remotely operate the drive motor by the controller 20 even when the angler is at a location away from the position of the fishing rod.

[0024] The controller 20 has a housing 21 provided with a grip portion 22 that can be held with one hand and a display portion (liquid crystal display portion) 23 that can be visually recognized when the grip portion 22 is held. In addition, the housing 21 is provided with an operating member 25 that can adjust the output of the drive motor on the reel body 1A side with the thumb while holding the grip portion 22.

[0025] The same information as the display portion 11 on the reel body side is displayed on the display portion 23, and at least the water depth information is displayed. In addition to the water depth information, it is also possible to display time (current time, winding time, etc.), communication radio wave status, etc. In addition, individual information on the controller side, such as the remaining battery level and the motor output value of the operation dial, may be displayed. The housing 21 is provided with operation buttons 26. These operation buttons 26 can be provided at any position of the housing 21. In the present embodiment, a plurality of them are provided between the display portion 23 and the operating member 25. The operation buttons 26 of the present embodiment include an ON / OFF button for the controller, a menu button for setting various menus, and a Back button used when canceling (returning) within the menu.

[0026] The operating member 25 of this embodiment is configured as a rotating body. Specifically, it is configured in a dial form that can be rolled by pressing the thumb (hereinafter also referred to as the operation dial 25). The operation dial 25 includes an operation portion 25a having a substantially cylindrical shape at the center of the support shaft, and both sides of the support shaft are rotatably supported with respect to the housing 21. The operation portion 25a is exposed from a substantially rectangular opening 21a formed in the central portion of the housing 21. By pressing the operation portion 25a with the thumb and performing a push-up operation / push-down operation (slide operation) along the vertical direction as it is, it is rotationally driven. In addition, it is preferable to form a large number of unevenness such as grooves and knurling along the axial direction on the operation portion 25a, for example, as in this embodiment, so as to increase the frictional force and prevent slipping during operation.

[0027] Further, since the controller 20 is used on a ship, there is a possibility of colliding with other objects or seawater entering inside. Therefore, it is preferable to attach a cover member 80 to the housing 21 at least where the display portion 23 and the operating member 25 are exposed. The specific configurations of the controller 20 and the cover member 80 described above will be described later.

[0028] Next, with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 2, the control system on the reel body 1A side and the control system on the controller 20 side will be described.

[0029] The control unit 100 housed in the control case 10 of the reel body 1A includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 110 that controls the operation of the electric fishing reel, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 111, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 112 as a temporary storage area, and a communication module 115 that transmits and receives various information signals to and from the controller 20. It is provided with a control board (microcomputer) 120 on which etc. are mounted. The communication module 115 may be any system that can transmit and receive information at a short distance on a ship. For example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) is used.

[0030] The control board 120 transmits and receives signals to and from each operating element via the I / O port 122, and controls the operations of the respective operating elements. Between the control board 120 and the control board 120, there are detection means for detecting the operation amount of the operation member 15. Specifically, an angle sensor 130 that outputs an operation position signal according to the operation angle of the operation member 15, a thread length measuring device 140 that can detect the amount of fishing line paid out wound around the spool 5, and an operation button 12 provided on the control case 10 are configured to transmit and receive operation signals.

[0031] In addition, a display control circuit 150 for causing the display unit 11 to display various information and a motor drive circuit 160 for continuously increasing and decreasing the output of the drive motor 8 from a stop state to a high output value are mounted on the control board 120. Then, the CPU 110 executes a predetermined program stored in the ROM 111, and supplies a control signal generated accordingly to each of the above-described operating elements via the I / O port 115 to control each operating element, and has a function of controlling the entire electric fishing reel.

[0032] The ROM 111 stores various programs executed by the CPU 110, for example, data required for control processing (for example, an arithmetic program for measuring the thread length based on a detection signal input from the thread length measuring device 140, a variable control table for specifying a duty ratio for varying the rotation speed of the drive motor 8 corresponding to the operation angle of the operation member 15, image display data for displaying images such as characters and numbers on the display unit 11, etc.). In addition, the RAM 112 has a work area and has a function of temporarily storing processing procedures, data, etc. when the program is operating.

[0033] The operation button 12 receives various types of information from the angler, such as depth information for stopping the set-up at a desired depth, output range setting information for changing the variable range of the output of the drive motor 8, and the like. Further, when the spool 5 is rotationally driven by the pay-out / winding of the fishing line, the fishing line length measuring device 140 detects, for example, the actual amount of rotation and the direction of rotation by a magnet attached to the rotating part and a magnetic sensor for detecting the same, and generates a detection signal therefor.

[0034] The motor drive circuit 160 has a function of driving and controlling the drive motor 8 that rotationally drives the spool 5. Specifically, the motor drive circuit 160 variably controls, for example, the drive current conduction time ratio (duty ratio) for the drive motor based on a control signal (PWM signal; pulse width modulation signal) from the CPU 110, and continuously increases and decreases the drive motor 8 from a stopped state (OFF state) to a high-speed rotation state (Max state). Note that, based on a detection signal from an angle sensor that detects the actual operation amount from the initial position (OFF position) of the operation member 15, a control signal regarding the duty ratio set for each angle is output from the CPU  110.

[0035] The display control circuit 150 is driven based on the control of the CPU 110, and has a function of causing the display unit 11 to display various types of information for the angler, such as the current pay-out amount of the fishing line, the time since the set-up was put in, the drive speed of the drive motor 8 (which may also be displayed by an indicator), or operation methods and messages.

[0036] The angle sensor 130 that detects the operation rotation angle of the operation member 15 may be any device that has a function of generating a signal corresponding to the operation angle of the operation member 15. For example, those equipped with a potentiometer that outputs a change in resistance value corresponding to the operation amount of the operation member 15, those equipped with an encoder that generates pulses corresponding to the operation amount, those incorporating a hall sensor that detects a magnetic field change according to the rotation angle of the operation member, etc., variously structured devices can be applied.

[0037] The control unit 200, which is the control system on the controller 20 side, is housed within the housing 21 and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 210 that controls the operation of the controller 20, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 211 that stores a transmission / reception program for transmitting and receiving information with the reel body 1A and various setting information (control tables), a RAM (Random Access Memory) 212 as a temporary storage area, and a control board (microcomputer) 220 on which a communication module 215 for transmitting and receiving various information signals with the reel body 1A is mounted. Further, a display control circuit 250 for causing the display unit 23 to display various information is mounted on this control board 220. Similar to the communication module 115 on the reel body side, Bluetooth (registered trademark) is used for the communication module 215.

[0038] The control board 220 transmits and receives signals to and from each operating element via the I / O port 222 so that the operation is controlled. Between the control board 220 and the angle sensor 230 that detects the operation amount of the operation dial 25 and the operation button 26 provided on the housing 21, signal transmission and reception are configured to occur.

[0039] Then, the CPU 210 executes a predetermined program stored in the ROM 211 and supplies a control signal generated accordingly to each of the above-described operating elements via the I / O port 222 to control each operating element and has a function of controlling the entire controller 20.

[0040] Regarding the angle sensor 230 for detecting the operation rotation angle of the operation dial 25, by having the same configuration as the angle sensor 130 on the reel body side, it becomes easier to synchronize the drive signal generated according to the operation angle of the operation member 15 that drives the drive motor 8 on the reel body 1A side and the drive signal generated according to the operation angle of the operation dial 25 on the controller 20 side.

[0041] According to the above-described configuration, information is transmitted and received between the reel main body 1A side and the controller 20 side via the communication modules 115 and 215. Therefore, various types of information (such as water depth information) displayed on the display unit 11 on the reel main body 1A side can be displayed on the display unit 23 on the controller 20 side, or the drive motor 8 on the reel main body 1A side can be driven and controlled at the same rotational speed as the rotational operation of the operating member 15 by rotating the operation dial 25 on the controller 20 side.

[0042] In this way, the operation dial 25 can be remotely operated with the same function as the operating member 15 on the reel main body side. That is, by pressing the thumb against the operation dial 25 while holding the grip portion 22 and rotating it as it is, it is possible to remotely operate the speed increase, speed decrease, and stop of the drive motor of the reel main body 1A. As a result, with only one hand and without looking at one's hands, the output of the drive motor on the reel main body side can be adjusted only by the amount of operation of the thumb (finger feeling), and by holding the grip portion 22, the rotational control of the drive motor can be performed in a secure gripping state.

[0043] Although different from the configuration shown in FIG. 1, by making the shape of the operation dial 25 on the controller side and the operating member 15 on the reel main body 1A side the same or similar shapes (including similar shapes), the angler can perform the motor control operation of the reel main body 1A that is usually performed with the same operating feeling on the controller 20, and can remotely operate without a sense of discomfort.

[0044] Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9, the configurations of the controller 20 and the cover member 80 will be described.

[0045] As described above, the controller 20 is configured in a shape that can be held with one hand and the operation dial 25 can be easily rotated with the thumb. Therefore, the housing 21 of the controller extends in the front-rear direction, the rear side A is the gripping area, the front side B is the information display area, and the intermediate area C between the two is the operation area. The above-described housing 21 can be formed of a metal material, a resin material, or the like.

[0046] The gripping area A is provided with a gripping portion 22 having a size and shape that are easy to grip (for example, a circular cross-section shape, a semi-circular shape, an elliptical shape, a semi-elliptical shape). Further, in the information display area B, the display portion 23 and the operation button 26 are arranged, and in the intermediate area C, the operation dial 25 is arranged.

[0047] Regarding the housing 21, it may be formed to have the same width in the front-rear direction. However, when the maximum width of the information display area B where the display portion 23 is arranged is W, and the maximum width of the gripping area A which is the gripping portion 22 is W1, it is preferably formed such that W > W1.

[0048] In this way, by forming the width of the information display area B that cannot be gripped wider than the gripping portion 22, the display portion 23 and the operation button 26 can be easily arranged and enlarged, the display portion 23 can be easily visually recognized, and the pressing operation can be easily performed.

[0049] Further, regarding the information display area B, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the substantially cylindrical gripping portion 22 is extended forward as it is, and a box-shaped control case 24 that is wider in the left-right direction is formed on the upper surface of the front area of the gripping portion 22. Such a control case 24 may have a separate structure from the gripping portion 22 and integrate the two, or may be integrally formed with the housing 21.

[0050] Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the control board 220 on the controller 20 side is arranged in the information display area B that is larger than the gripping portion 22 of the housing 21, and is arranged so as to overlap the display portion 23, efficiently utilizing the space. Note that, for space saving, the control board 220 may have its functions distributed and a plurality of control boards may be arranged so as to overlap in the vertical direction.

[0051] The upper surface side of the housing 21 may be flat, but in this embodiment, an inclined portion 27 that rises as it approaches the display portion 23 is formed in the region from the gripping portion 22 to the display portion 23, and a substantially rectangular opening 21a is formed in this portion. That is, the opening 21a is formed in the inclined portion 27, and the operation portion 25a of the operation dial 25 is exposed from the inclined opening 21a.

[0052] In this way, by forming the inclined portion 27 in the housing 21 and exposing the operation portion 25a of the operation dial 25 in the inclined portion 27, as shown in FIG. 9, in a state where the gripping portion 22 is gripped, the operation portion 25a can be pressed by simply extending the thumb forward as it is, and the operation dial 25 can be easily rotated.

[0053] Also, the operation dial 25 may be formed at any position in the width direction of the housing, but it is preferably arranged such that the operation portion 25a is located on the center line of the housing 21. That is, by disposing the operation dial 25 at the center position equidistant from the left and right sides of the housing, the operability and mountability of the operation dial 25 can be improved, and the operation dial 25 can be rotated in the same feeling even when the gripping portion 22 is gripped with the right hand / left hand.

[0054] The operation dial 25 is preferably disposed so that at least a part, preferably all, of the operation portion 25a is recessed from the surface of the housing 21. That is, the operation dial 25 is supported at a position embedded in the housing 21, and when viewed from the side, the operation portion 25a is in a state of not protruding from the surface of the housing 21, or as shown in FIGS. 4(c)(d), it is supported in a state where a part protrudes.

[0055] According to such an arrangement mode of the operation dial 25, when the controller 20 is not in use and is stored in a pocket, a bag, etc., it is difficult for the operation dial 25 to come into contact with other objects, and malfunction can be prevented.

[0056] As shown in Fig. 8, inside the housing 21, a plurality (two) of AA dry batteries 30 serving as a power source (battery) are configured to be accommodated. In the present embodiment, a battery box 31 is disposed and incorporated inside the gripping portion 22 of the housing 21. Regarding this portion, it is preferable that the diameter does not increase, and the battery box 31 is configured to accommodate the dry batteries 30 across the gripping region A to the information display region B so that the overall weight balance is not biased in the front-rear direction.

[0057] Regarding the battery box 31, a cap-type lid 33 that can be attached and detached by a rotational operation is provided at the rear end portion of the housing 21 to open and close the battery box 31. Alternatively, a plate-shaped opening / closing lid that is engaged and disengaged from the back surface of the housing 21 may be provided to open and close the battery box 31. Further, the battery may be a rechargeable power pack.

[0058] As described above, it is preferable to attach the cover member 80 to the controller 20. The cover member 80 of the present embodiment is separate from the housing 21 and is constituted by an elastic member such as silicon rubber.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 6, the cover member 80 is formed with a recess 80a capable of accommodating the housing, and when the housing 21 is accommodated in the recess, a close contact piece 80b is formed to closely contact and cover the outer edge region of the upper surface of the housing 21. That is, when the housing 21 is accommodated in the recess 80a of the cover member 80, as shown in Fig. 7, the housing 21 is covered from the side surface region to the lower surface region, and further, the outer edge region of the upper surface of the housing 21 is covered.

[0060] Regarding the close contact piece 80b, as shown in Fig. 7, as long as the display portion 23, the operation dial 25, and the operation button 26 of the housing 21 can be exposed, the covering method of the outer edge of the housing 21 is not limited.

[0061] By attaching the cover member 80 made of silicone rubber as described above to the housing 21, it becomes difficult for seawater to enter the inside of the housing 21, and even if it hits other objects, the impact can be mitigated, preventing damage to the controller 20. Also, since the cover member 80 has a higher coefficient of friction than the housing 21, for example, even when placed on the gunwale or the like, it will not easily shift in position, and the water depth display on the display unit 23 can be stably visually recognized.

[0062] It is preferable that the periphery of the operation dial 25 of the cover member 80 is formed higher than the operation portion 25a of the operation dial 25. For example, by thickening both side portions 80c of the operation dial 25 within the contact piece 80b, when viewed from the side, the operation portion 25a can be prevented from protruding from the cover member 80, and it is possible to prevent accidental operation by touching other members in the vicinity.

[0063] Alternatively, projections (wall portions) may be formed on the surface of the cover member 80, for example, on the surface of the contact piece 80b, so that the operation portion 25a does not protrude. Such projections (wall portions) may be provided at at least two points on the diagonal line centered on the operation dial 25, but by forming them so as to surround the entire periphery of the operation dial 25, accidental operation can be reliably prevented. In this case, considering the operability of the operation dial 25, it is preferable not to provide projections (wall portions) in the direction where the thumb is pressed.

[0064] Regarding the projections (wall portions) that suppress the upward protrusion of the operation dial 25 as described above, they may be formed around the opening 21a of the housing 21 of the controller 20, or may be provided on both the housing 21 and the cover member 80. Also, a structure in which the inside of the opening 21a is deeply recessed to sink the operation dial 25 may be used.

[0065] Also, it is preferable to form a locking portion on the back surface of the cover member 80 (the back surface with respect to the operation member 25) that allows the index finger to be hooked when the gripping portion 22 is gripped. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, by forming a convex portion 81 on the front side of the back surface of the cover member 80, it is possible to configure the front surface 81a of the convex portion 81 as a locking portion.

[0066] Alternatively, by forming a convex portion 82 spaced apart from the convex portion 81 toward the rear side, a concave portion 83 is formed between the convex portions 81 and 82, and it is also possible to place the index finger on this portion.

[0067] In this way, by forming the locking portions (front surface 81a, concave portion 83) on the back surface of the cover member 80, when the gripping portion 22 is gripped, the index finger can be placed and firmly gripped, so that the gripping state is stabilized and the controller 20 can be prevented from falling.

[0068] Note that the above-described locking portion may be formed on the back surface of the housing 21 (the back surface with respect to the operation member 25), and can be appropriately deformed as long as the index finger can be placed, such as its shape and arrangement position.

[0069] Also, it is preferable to form protrusions on the back surface of the cover member 80 that are spaced apart in the front-rear direction and are applied to the installation surface (such as a gunwale, a chair, various structural parts, etc.). In the present embodiment, the convex portions 81 and 82 that constitute the above-described locking portion also constitute such protrusions, and the presence of such protrusions enables a stable placement state.

[0070] Note that the above-described protrusions may be formed on the housing 21, and can be appropriately deformed such as its shape, arrangement position, height, etc. Also, the position where the convex portions 81 and 82 are formed is set on the back surface side corresponding to the display portion 23 so that the concave portion 83 between the convex portions 81 and 82 is located, thereby enabling the display portion 23 to be stably visually recognized.

[0071] In this embodiment, since the power supply for driving the controller 20 is configured such that a cap-shaped lid 33 is provided at the rear end of the housing 21 to open and close the battery box 31, the rear end portion of the cover member 80 may expose the lid 33. That is, by forming the cover member 80 so that the portion (such as the lid) for replacing the battery is exposed, the battery can be replaced while the cover member is attached, and the replacement operation when the power runs out can be easily performed.

[0072] The cover member 80 configured as described above may be configured to be integrally attached to the surface of the housing 21 instead of attaching a member separate from the housing 21.

[0073] According to the above-described controller 20, the following operations and effects can be obtained. Normally, in boat fishing using an electric fishing reel, the angler visually checks the bending of the rod and sensually adjusts the output of the drive motor while feeling the load at hand. In this case, depending on the angler (fisherman), he may have to adjust the output while performing some work (such as steering the boat, having a snack, preparing the tackle, maintenance, etc.), and the fingers to be operated are often in a state where fish slime or bait is attached.

[0074] The controller 20 as in this embodiment visually checks the state of the rod tip at a separated position, and as shown in FIG. 9, only by gripping the housing 21 and stretching the thumb as it is and sensually rotating the operation dial 25, the output of the drive motor can be surely and easily adjusted remotely while gripping the controller 20.

[0075] In deep-sea fishing, it may take nearly one hour from the input to the recovery of a single rigging operation. In such a case, while the rigging is being released (driving the drive motor in reverse for the release mode), the boat may be maneuvered and the fishing line may be wound up while preparing for baiting the next rigging. Under such circumstances, it may get entangled with riggings released from other fishing rods. Since the output of the drive motor can be remotely adjusted by the above-described controller 20 while observing the state of the rod tip, when a line trouble or the like occurs, the release and winding of the fishing line can be immediately stopped.

[0076] Furthermore, when there is a rigging in the sea, the rigging may move away from the location where the fish are, and it is necessary to periodically grasp the water depth. Since the above-described controller 20 can be stably placed on the gunwale or the like, it is possible to stably grasp the water depth even on a rocking boat.

[0077] Next, another embodiment of the controller will be described. In the embodiment described below, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the controller of the first embodiment described above, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0078] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the controller and the cover member, where (a) is a plan view, (b) is a rear view, (c) is a left side view, (d) is a front view, and (e) is a rear view. In this embodiment, a locking portion formed on the back surface of the cover member 80 and to which the index finger can be hooked is constituted by a convex portion 81A formed with a number of adjacent flanges 81b along the width direction.

[0079] According to such a convex portion 81A, the frictional force is increased by the number of flanges 81b, making it difficult to slip when the finger is hooked and stabilizing the gripping state. Also, when placed on the gunwale or the like, it is difficult to slide, and a stable placement state can be obtained. Further, when the cover member 80 is integrally formed by a mold, it is difficult for distortion or the like due to thermal shrinkage to occur due to the flanges, and the appearance of the cover member 80 can be finished neatly.

[0080] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the controller and the cover member, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a right side view. In this embodiment, the gripping region A, the information display region B, and the intermediate region C of the housing 21 are formed to have substantially the same length. Further, the portion of the cover member 80 corresponding to the gripping region A is embossed to form a number of uneven portions 85. By forming such uneven portions 85, it becomes possible to further improve the gripability.

[0081] Also, the operation member disposed on the housing 21 is constituted by a slide body 25A slidably disposed in the front-rear direction within an opening 21a formed in the housing 21. Such a slide body 25A has, for example, the rear end within the opening 21a at the initial position (the output of the drive motor is zero), and by pressing the abdomen of the thumb against the operation portion 25b on the surface and sliding the slide body 25A forward, the output of the drive motor can be adjusted. In this way, with the housing 21 being gripped, without looking at the slide body 25A, the output of the drive motor can be adjusted by the feeling of the operation amount of the thumb, and the operability can be improved. In such a configuration, it is preferable to form a locking convex portion 25c on the operation portion 25b of the slide body 25A so that the thumb can be hooked.

[0082] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the controller and the cover member, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a right side view. In this embodiment, the housing 21 has a configuration including a gripping region A (gripping portion 22) and an information display region B (control case 24), and an operation member 25B is disposed in the information display region B.

[0083] The back surface side of the cover member 80 is embossed to have a number of uneven portions 85, and an inclined surface (locking portion) 81c on which a finger can be hooked is formed on the front end side, and the back surface of the cover member 80 is formed as a flat surface 80c. According to such a configuration, the gripping performance can be improved, and by installing the flat surface 80c on a placement surface such as a gunwale, the placement state of the housing 21 becomes stable.

[0084] Also, regarding the operation member disposed on the housing 21, it is configured by a swing body 25B that swings within an opening 21a formed in the housing 21. The swing body 25B is configured to increase the output of the drive motor, for example, by pressing the front region (ON side) 25c within the opening 21a, and to decrease the output of the drive motor by pressing the rear region (OFF side) 25d.

[0085] In this way, since the output of the drive motor can be adjusted only by displacing the position of the thumb applied to the swing body 25B, the output of the drive motor can be adjusted in the sense of swinging the swing body 25B, and the operability can be improved.

[0086] In this embodiment, a screw-type hook member 40 is attached to the rear end of the housing 21, and it is possible to attach the controller 20 directly or via a strap to the angler's clothing or the structure of the fishing boat. According to such a configuration, loss or dropping (falling into the water) of the controller 20 can be prevented. Also, the control case 24 may be configured to be rotatable with respect to the gripping portion by a tilt mechanism so that the display portion 23 is easily visible.

[0087] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the controller and the cover member, (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a right side view. The cover member 80 of this embodiment is formed such that the back surface 80e is inclined, and a recess 83A where an index finger can be hooked is formed in the middle portion thereof.

[0088] In this way, regarding the shape of the back surface side of the cover member 80, it can be appropriately deformed according to the placement surface to be placed, and it is possible to configure the cover member 80 suitable for the use state. In addition, in this embodiment, a carabiner - type hook member 41 is attached to the rear end of the housing 21, enabling it to be easily hooked onto other objects.

[0089] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a sixth embodiment of the controller and the cover member, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a right - side view. In this embodiment, the housing 21 has the operation dial 25 disposed below the display unit 23 without forming an inclined portion in the middle part. Further, the cover member 80 has convex portions 81B and 82B formed on the front - end side and the rear - end side of the back surface 80f, and the middle part is composed of a flat concave portion 83B extending in the vertical direction.

[0090] According to such a cover member, since the concave portion 83B can be firmly grasped with the middle finger, ring finger, and little finger, and the index finger can be hooked on the inclined surface (locking portion) 81c in front of the convex portion 81A, the gripping state of the controller 20 becomes stable.

[0091] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a seventh embodiment of the controller. The housing 21 of the controller in each of the above - described embodiments has a configuration in which a gripping region A (gripping portion 22), an information display region B (control case 24), and an inclined portion 27 are formed. However, as in this embodiment, for the housing 21A, the shape can be appropriately deformed, for example, formed into an oval shape such that the whole becomes a clamping portion and can be wrapped and gripped with the palm. Also, the arrangement position of the display unit 23, such as being below the operation dial 25, can be appropriately deformed.

[0092] According to the housing having such a configuration, the whole becomes compact and can be easily accommodated, for example, in the pocket of an angler.

[0093] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above - described embodiments and can be variously deformed. The configurations of the housing 21 and the cover member 80 can be appropriately deformed according to the usage mode. Also, regarding the operation member for adjusting the drive motor installed in the housing 21, when it is configured as a rotating body, it can be configured in a form other than the above-described dial form. For example, as long as it can be rotationally operated (pivoted), such as in a lever form or a stick form, its shape and operation mode are not limited. Also, regarding the slide body and the swing body, as long as they can be slid in one direction by the thumb or shifted in position and moved in one direction, they can be appropriately deformed.

[0094] Regarding the controller 20, it may be configured to be remotely operable in addition to adjusting the output of the drive motor on the reel body side. For example, alarm settings (ON / OFF, sound tone, interval), screen display settings (two-stage display, etc.), shake timer winding-up settings (motor time control), drive mode switching settings (constant speed winding-up setting), puff-up mode, electronic drag sound, drag force adjustment, clutch ON / OFF switching operation, switching of the gear ratio during winding-up, etc., various operations performed on the reel body side may be made possible to be performed on the controller side. Also, in this embodiment, one controller 20 is configured to be able to remotely operate one electric fishing reel, but it may be configured to be able to remotely operate a plurality of electric fishing reels.

[0095] Furthermore, the constituent elements in the above-described respective embodiments may be appropriately combined and implemented.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0096] 1 Electric fishing reel 1A Reel body 5 Spool 20 Controller 21 Housing 22 Gripping portion 23 Display portion 25 Operation member (operation dial) 80 Cover member

Claims

1. A remote control for an electric fishing reel equipped with a drive motor that rotates a spool around which fishing line is wound, The casing of the controller has a gripping portion that can be held by the user, The controller is characterized in that the housing is provided with a display unit and an operating member that allows the user to remotely operate the electric fishing reel.

2. The controller according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating member is composed of a rotating body, a sliding body, or a rocking body.

3. The controller according to claim 1, characterized in that a cover member is attached to the housing, exposing the display unit and the operating member.

4. The housing is provided with an inclined portion that rises in the region from the grip portion to the display portion as it approaches the display portion, The controller according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating member is installed on the inclined portion.

5. The controller according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating portion of the operating member is located on the center line of the housing.

6. The controller according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating member is disposed such that at least a portion of the operating part of the operating member is recessed from the surface of the housing.

7. The controller according to claim 3, characterized in that the housing or cover member is formed so that the area around the operating member is higher than the operating part.

8. The controller according to claim 3, characterized in that a locking portion is formed on the back surface of the housing or cover member relative to the operating member, allowing the index finger to be placed when the gripping portion is grasped.

9. The controller according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking portion is formed by a recess.

10. The controller according to claim 3, characterized in that projections are formed on the back surface of the housing or cover member, spaced apart in the front-rear direction, to contact the mounting surface.

11. The controller according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing is formed such that W > W1 when W is the width of the portion where the display unit is located and W1 is the width of the portion where the grip is located.

12. The controller according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing has a battery box that houses a plurality of dry cell batteries along the front-to-back direction.

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