Fishing reel seat for improved sensitivity

Abstract

To provide a reel seat which provides an angler with better sensitivity.SOLUTION: A reel seat for a fishing rod having a rod blank including a butt end and a rod tip includes a body including proximal and distal ends and an intermediate portion, wherein only the proximal end is directly secured to the rod blank, and wherein the intermediate portion and the distal end of the body are spaced apart from an exterior surface of a portion of the rod blank passing therethrough, a first opening at a bottom side of the distal end of the body allowing a user's index finger to directly contact the rod blank, a second opening at a bottom side of the intermediate portion of the body allowing at least one of a user's ring finger and pinky finger to directly contact the rod blank, and an integral connecting section separating the first and second openings from each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application relates to fishing reels, and more particularly to a reel seat that provides an angler with enhanced sensitivity when experiencing a pull on a fishing line. [Background technology]

[0002] A reel seat provides a connection for a reel to be secured to a fishing rod. The reel seat also provides a grip for a fisherman to hold while using the fishing rod. Conventionally, a reel seat surrounds a portion of the rod and can be used by the fisherman as a grip. However, reel seats dampen vibrations from the rod, reducing the sensitivity of the fishing rod. As a result, a reel seat that provides better sensitivity to the fisherman is desired. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a reel seat for a fishing rod having a rod blank including a butt end and a rod tip, the reel seat including: a body including a proximal end, a distal end, and an intermediate portion, wherein only the proximal end is directly fixed to the rod blank and the intermediate portion and distal end of the body are spaced apart from an outer surface of a portion of the rod blank passing therethrough; a first opening on a bottom side of the distal end of the body that allows a user's index finger to directly contact the rod blank; a second opening on a bottom side of the intermediate portion of the body that allows at least one of the user's ring finger and little finger to directly contact the rod blank; and an integral connecting section that separates the first opening and the second opening from each other.

[0004] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the reel seat is provided with a forward reel foot cavity on the top side adjacent the distal end of the body.

[0005] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the reel seat is provided with a rear reel foot component configured to slide on and along the proximal end of the body and having a rear reel foot cavity.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the proximal end of the body of the reel seat includes external threads, and the reel seat further includes a locking nut having internal threads and configured to engage the external threads of the body and be advanced or retracted along the proximal end of the body to position the rear reel foot component.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a reel seat for a fishing rod having a rod blank including a butt end and a rod tip, the reel seat comprising a body having a proximal end and a distal end and an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein only the proximal end of the body is directly secured to the rod blank adjacent the butt end of the rod tip, and the intermediate portion and distal end of the body are spaced apart from an outer surface of a portion of the rod blank that passes through the intermediate portion and the distal end of the body, the body comprising a first opening at a bottom side of the distal end of the body configured to allow a user's index finger to directly contact the rod blank, and one of a user's ring finger and little finger to directly contact the rod blank. A reel seat is provided, comprising: a body further including a second opening at a bottom side of an intermediate portion of the body configured to allow at least one of the openings to directly contact a rod blank, an integral connecting section separating the first opening and the second opening from each other, and male threads adjacent to a proximal end of the body; a rear reel foot component configured to slide along the proximal end of the body and having a rear reel foot cavity; and a locking nut having female threads that engage the male threads of the body and is configured to be advanced or retracted along the proximal end of the body to position the rear reel foot component.

[0008] These and other aspects are merely illustrative of the myriad aspects associated with the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting in any way. These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the referenced drawings.

[0009] Reference will now be made more particularly to the drawings illustrating the best presently known modes for carrying out the present disclosure, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the various drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a reel seat assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the reel seat assembly of FIG. 1 taken along a centerline extending from the proximal end to the distal end. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the reel seat of the reel seat assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view identifying areas of a reel seat according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view identifying areas of a reel seat according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The following description of the technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture, and use of one or more inventions and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or use of any particular invention(s) claimed in this application or any other application that may be filed claiming priority to this application, or any patents therefrom. The following definitions and non-limiting guidelines should be considered in considering the description of the technology described herein.

[0012] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. For example, the present disclosure is not limited in scope to the particular type of industrial application illustrated in the drawings. In some instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present disclosure.

[0013] The headings and subheadings used herein are intended only for general organization of topics within the disclosure and are not intended to limit the disclosure of the technology or any aspect thereof. In particular, subject matter disclosed in the "Background" section may include new technology and may not constitute a recitation of prior art. Subject matter disclosed in the "Summary" section is not an exhaustive or complete disclosure of the entire scope of the technology or any embodiment thereof. The classification or discussion of materials within sections of this specification as having particular utilities is made for the sake of convenience, and no inference should be drawn that a material, when used in any given composition, should necessarily function, or have only those functions, in accordance with the classification described herein.

[0014] The mention of references herein does not constitute an admission that those references are prior art or have any relevance to the patentability of the technology disclosed herein. All references mentioned in the Detailed Description section of this specification are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0015] 1-4 illustrate one embodiment of a reel seat assembly 10 according to the present disclosure. The reel seat assembly 10 may comprise a three-piece construction including a body 14, a rear reel capture component 18, and a locking nut 22. The reel seat assembly 10 surrounds and is coupled to a rod blank 26. The reel seat assembly 10 has a distal end 30 and a proximal end 34, and a top side 38 and a bottom side 42. The body 14 may include a trigger extension 46 in some embodiments.

[0016] The proximal end 34 of the body 14 may be secured onto the rod blank 26 by adhesive or other suitable means. The remainder of the body 14, particularly the intermediate and distal portions of the body 14, are preferably spaced apart from the exterior surface of the rod blank 26, as shown in cross-section in Figure 2. The spaced apart intermediate and distal portions of the body 14 allow for limited radial movement or "floating" of the rod blank 26 within those portions of the body 14.

[0017] The bottom side 42 of the body 14 is provided with a first opening 58 and a second opening 62 separated by a connecting section 54. The connecting section 54 forms part of and is integral with the body 14. The connecting section 54 enhances the structural rigidity of the body 14 and provides a surface that allows a user to support the rod and reel with a portion of the user's hand without having to directly grasp the rod blank 26. The first opening 58 and second opening 62 in the body 14 allow some of the user's fingers to directly contact the rod blank 26 to detect vibrations of the rod blank 26.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the second opening 62 in the body 14 is positioned to accommodate the user's ring and little fingers. These fingers are associated with a branch of the ulnar nerve that is separate from the more complex nerves, and as a result, tend to be more sensitive to touch and vibration than the other fingers. Therefore, direct contact between the user's ring and little fingers and the rod blank 26 enhances the user's ability to detect vibrations transmitted along the rod blank 26 from the rod tip to the reel seat when, for example, a fish is hooked.

[0019] The first opening 58, located adjacent the distal end 30 of the body 14, allows the user's index finger to make direct contact with the rod blank 26. The greater distance of the first opening 58 from the proximal portion of the body 14 that is affixed to the rod blank 26 allows for a greater amplitude than at the second opening 62. Thus, while the index finger is less sensitive to touch and vibration, the greater amplitude at the first opening 58 similarly provides the user with increased perceptibility of any vibrations.

[0020] 4 identifies the aforementioned regions of the body as they relate to the transmission of vibrations along the rod blank 26 from the rod tip to the reel seat. As a result of the relative stiffness of the body 14, generally, minimal or no vibration occurs in region A of the body 14. In contrast, region B, located at the first opening 58 where the index finger contacts the rod blank 26, and region C, located at the second opening 62 where the ring / pinky finger contact the rod blank 26, experience much greater vibration. Furthermore, the vibration of the rod blank 26 at this location is more noticeable due to the contrast with the relatively stiff, non-vibrating portions of the body 14 adjacent the first opening 58.

[0021] The rear reel capture component 18 is configured to slide over the proximal portion of the body 14 and includes a cavity 74 further configured to engage and trap the rear end of the reel foot. The locking nut 22 is provided with internal threads 68 that engage with external threads 66 on the proximal end 34 of the body 14 to advance and secure the rear reel capture component 18, securing the reel foot in place. Corresponding to the cavity 74 in the rear reel capture component 18, the top side 38 of the body 14 may also be provided with another cavity 70 for engaging and trapping the front end of the reel foot.

[0022] Figure 5 shows another embodiment of a reel seat according to the present disclosure. The embodiment of Figure 5 includes the same features as the embodiments of Figures 1-4, except that it has a single opening in the body to allow the user's fingers to directly contact the rod blank. Thus, the embodiment of Figure 5 has an area A' that experiences minimal or no vibration, while an area C' experiences significantly more pronounced vibration.

[0023] While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, this description is intended to explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to utilize the present disclosure. However, because various modifications can be made in the structures and methods described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, including all matter expressly incorporated by reference herein, be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. 1. A reel seat for a fishing rod having a rod blank including a butt end and a rod tip, a body having a proximal end and a distal end and an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein only the proximal end of the body is directly secured to the rod blank adjacent the butt end of the rod tip, and the intermediate portion and the distal end of the body are spaced apart from an exterior surface of a portion of the rod blank that passes through the intermediate portion and the distal end of the body; Equipped with A reel seat for a fishing rod, wherein the body further comprises at least one first opening on a bottom side of the distal end of the body configured to allow at least one of a user's fingers to directly contact the rod blank.

2. the first opening is configured to allow at least the user's index finger to directly contact the rod blank; The body a second opening at the bottom side of the middle portion of the body configured to allow at least one of the user's ring finger and little finger to directly contact the rod blank; an integral connecting section separating the first opening and the second opening from one another; 10. The fishing rod reel seat of claim 1, further comprising:

3. 2. The reel seat of claim 1, further comprising a front reel foot cavity on a top side of said body adjacent said distal end.

4. The reel seat of claim 1 , further comprising a rear reel foot component configured to slide over and along the proximal end of the body and having a rear reel foot cavity.

5. 5. The reel seat of claim 4, wherein the proximal end of the body further comprises external threads, and the reel seat further comprises a locking nut having internal threads and configured to engage the external threads of the body and be advanced or retracted along the proximal end of the body to position the rear reel foot component.

6. 1. A reel seat for a fishing rod having a rod blank including a butt end and a rod tip, a body having a proximal end and a distal end and an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein only the proximal end of the body is directly secured to the rod blank adjacent the butt end of the rod tip, and the intermediate portion and the distal end of the body are spaced from an exterior surface of a portion of the rod blank that passes through the intermediate portion and the distal end of the body; at least one first opening at a bottom side of the distal end of the body configured to allow at least one of a user's fingers to directly contact the rod blank; and a body further comprising external threads adjacent the proximal end of the body; a rear reel foot component configured to slide over and along the proximal end of the body, the rear reel foot component having a rear reel foot cavity; a locking nut having internal threads that engage the external threads of the body and that is configured to be advanced or retracted along the proximal end of the body to position the rear reel foot component; A reel seat equipped with:

7. the first opening is configured to allow a user's index finger to directly contact the rod blank; The body a second opening at the bottom side of the middle portion of the body configured to allow at least one of the user's ring finger and little finger to directly contact the rod blank; an integral connecting section separating the first opening and the second opening from one another; The reel seat of claim 6 further comprising:

8. 1. A reel seat for a fishing rod having a rod blank including a butt end and a rod tip, a body having a proximal end and a distal end and an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein only the proximal end of the body is directly secured to the rod blank adjacent the butt end of the rod tip, and the intermediate portion and the distal end of the body are spaced from an exterior surface of a portion of the rod blank that passes through the intermediate portion and the distal end of the body; a first opening at a bottom side of the distal end of the body configured to allow a user's index finger to directly contact the rod blank; and a second opening at the bottom side of the middle portion of the body configured to allow at least one of the user's ring finger and little finger to directly contact the rod blank; an integral connecting section separating the first opening and the second opening from one another; and a body further comprising external threads adjacent the proximal end of the body; a rear reel foot component configured to slide over and along the proximal end of the body, the rear reel foot component having a rear reel foot cavity; a locking nut having internal threads that engage the external threads of the body and that is configured to be advanced or retracted along the proximal end of the body to position the rear reel foot component; A reel seat equipped with:

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