Fishing reel line guide device

Abstract

To provide a line guide apparatus (1000) of a fishing reel.SOLUTION: A line guide apparatus (1000) of a fishing reel comprises: a line guide unit (100) having a bore extending longitudinally; and a sleeve (110) provided within the bore configured to receive a fishing line, where the line guide unit (100) has an inner surface defining a wall (120) of the bore that is formed with one or more protruding ribs (121) configured to retain the sleeve (110) in a position inside the line guide unit (100).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a line guide device for fishing reels, and more particularly to a line guide device for use in baitcasting reels. [Background technology]

[0002] Fishing line is wound around a spool in a fishing reel, which can perform line reeling and line release operations. However, continuous execution of these operations can cause the fishing line to become tangled or damaged. To solve this problem, a line guide device is provided to guide the fishing line as the spool rotates. The line guide device is attached to a level winder, which controls the winding of the spool, via a coupling unit of the line guide device. The line guide unit of the line guide device helps to thread the fishing line and wind it around the spool. The line guide device regulates and stabilizes the winding of the fishing line, with the aim of smooth movement of the fishing line in and out of the water during casting and reeling. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] One common problem with line guide devices is that the sleeve located inside the line guide unit tends to come off the line guide unit. The line guide unit has a longitudinally extending hole. The sleeve is attached to the inside of the line guide unit. It is important that the line guide unit be sturdy to prevent breakage caused by the fishing line when subjected to large forces from the fishing line during fishing. For this reason, the sleeve is used as a reinforcing component of the line guide unit.

[0004] Partial or total sleeve detachment before or after use of the line guide device is caused by weak attachment of the sleeve to the inner surface of the line guide unit, defined by the wall of the hole. Typically, the sleeve is adhered to the wall with an adhesive, such as glue. However, the adhesive's performance deteriorates when exposed to water. This is particularly true during fishing, when fishing reels are constantly exposed to saltwater, which can weaken the adhesive's performance. This affects the adhesion of the sleeve to the line guide unit, making the sleeve more likely to detach from the line guide unit. Alternative attachment methods, such as providing a specific structure inside the line guide unit to hold the sleeve in place after insertion into the line guide unit, are difficult to implement because the sleeve is prone to damage. Furthermore, if such a structure is provided inside the line guide unit, manufacturing the structure is complex and expensive. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a line guide device for a fishing reel having a sleeve that is securely held to the line guide unit without falling off the line guide unit.

[0006] Such sleeves provide structural reinforcement to the line guide unit so that it can withstand the continuous forces exerted by the fishing line and prevent breakage or damage caused by the fishing line, and therefore it is important that the sleeve remains in place inside the line guide unit.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a line guide device that can structurally retain a sleeve, wherein protruding ribs are formed on the interior of the line guide unit to hold the sleeve in place and prevent it from falling off the line guide unit.

[0008] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an efficient method for preventing the sleeve from falling off the line guide unit, particularly, the method does not affect the attachment of the sleeve to the line guide unit even when the sleeve is exposed to water.

[0009] Additionally, the present invention provides a structure that allows for easy manufacturing of the line guide device, where the protruding ribs are formed to clamp the sleeve in place without damaging the components of the line guide device in a process that is easily controlled and safe to carry out.

[0010] The durability of the line guide device with a securely held sleeve can be guaranteed with the present invention, which can be manufactured in an uncomplicated and inexpensive manner. A strong attachment of the sleeve to the line guide unit, which permanently holds the sleeve, can be achieved with the present invention. The present invention is suitable for application in baitcasting reels, which require a durable, sturdy, and high-strength structure, capable of withstanding heavier equipment or fish and overcoming problems caused by exposure to water.

[0011] At least one of the foregoing objects is satisfied, in whole or in part, by the present invention, which provides a line guide device for a fishing reel, comprising: a line guide unit having a longitudinally extending bore; and a sleeve disposed within the bore for receiving a fishing line. The line guide unit has an inner surface defining walls of the bore formed with one or more protruding ribs for holding the sleeve in place inside the line guide unit.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the ribs are formed adjacent to both end portions of the sleeve so as to sandwich the sleeve. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the ribs is a protrusion that extends radially from the wall of the hole and tapers inward from each end of the wall to reach each end of the sleeve.

[0013] Preferably, the distance between the end of the wall of the hole and the end of the sleeve is in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm. Preferably, the line guide unit is made of plastic and the sleeve is made of ceramic. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of the line guide device showing the line guide unit, the coupling unit, and the hole portion of the nail holder unit. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the line guide device as seen from the opposite side to the first perspective view. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the line guide device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the line guide unit with the sleeve held inside the line guide unit by the protruding rib. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a baitcasting reel to show the position of the line guide device relative to the fishing reel frame assembly and level winder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0016] Disclosed herein is a fishing reel line guidance device 1000 used to guide a fishing line. Referring to Figure 5, the fishing reel is preferably a baitcasting reel. The fishing reel includes a spool 5675 for winding and releasing the fishing line. The fishing line is held and stored on the spool 5675.

[0017] Coupled to the level winder is a line guide device 1000. The level winder is provided for winding the fishing line onto the spool 5675. The line guide device 1000 prevents tangles in the fishing line, allowing for even winding and unwinding of the fishing line.

[0018] 1 and 2, the line guide device 1000 includes three main units: a line guide unit 100, a coupling unit 200, and a nail holder unit 300. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, all three main units are integrally formed.

[0019] It should be noted that the three main units may be assembled from separate parts to form the line guide device 1000. Preferably, each unit is formed with a tubular hole.

[0020] Preferably, the line guide unit 100 is provided above the coupling unit 200 and the claw holder unit 300 for passing the fishing line through. The coupling unit 200 is used to fix the line guide device 1000 to a level winder, for example, the shaft of the level winder.

[0021] For example, the shaft of the level winder is the level wind guard 5661 shown in Figure 5. The shaft of the level winder is inserted into the hole of the coupling unit 200. The claw holder unit 300 is used as a housing for the claw 5383. The claw 5383 is disposed inside the claw holder unit 300 and cooperates with the worm shaft 5660 of the level winder to smoothly guide the fishing line from the spool 5675.

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, the present invention focuses on a line guide unit 100. In this line guide unit 100, a sleeve 110 is inserted into a longitudinally extending hole of the line guide unit 100. The sleeve 110 is used to reinforce the line guide unit 100 to prevent the line guide unit 100 from being damaged by the fishing line.

[0023] The line guide unit 100 has an interior surface that defines a bore wall 120 that surrounds the sleeve 110. Preferably, the sleeve 110 is formed from a reinforcing material such as ceramic. The sleeve 110 is held in position inside the line guide unit 100 by one or more protruding ribs 121 that extend from the bore wall 120 to contact the sleeve 110, such that movement of the sleeve 110 is stopped or limited within the bore of the line guide unit 100.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 4, the line guide unit 100 is provided with two ribs 121 at positions adjacent to both ends 111 of the sleeve 110. The two ribs 121 sandwich the sleeve 110. The first rib is located at the first end of the sleeve 110. The second rib is located at the second end of the sleeve 110.

[0025] Each rib 121 is a protrusion that extends radially from the wall 120 of the hole, tapering inward from each end of the wall 120 until it reaches each of the ends 111 of the sleeve 110. An outer end 122 of the rib 121, which is the end of the wall 120, has a larger diameter than an inner end 123 of the rib 121.

[0026] The inner end 123 of the rib 121 has a smaller diameter than the end 111 of the sleeve 110. This holds the sleeve 110 in the space secured by the two ribs 121, restricting movement of the sleeve 110. The size of the inner end 123 of the rib 121 may be smaller than the end 111 of the sleeve 110, or may be large enough to prevent the sleeve 110 from coming off the line guide unit 100. This allows the sleeve 110 to be held inside the line guide unit 100.

[0027] The edge of the hole wall 120 and the edge 111 of the sleeve 110 define the thickness of the rib 121. The thickness of the rib 121 is the distance from the outer edge 122 of the rib 121 to the inner edge 123 of the rib 121. The thickness of the rib 121 is the spacing "D" marked in FIG. 4. The spacing "D" ranges from 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm. The most preferred spacing "D" is 0.5 mm. This thickness of the rib 121 ensures sufficient strength to hold the sleeve 110 in place.

[0028] The line guide device 1000 including the ribs 121 is preferably made of plastic, and since plastic has brittle properties, the ribs 121 should be formed so that they can withstand stress if they are not intended to be excessively thick.

[0029] The present invention uses insert molding techniques to manufacture the line guide device 1000, particularly the line guide unit 100 having ribs 121 for holding the sleeve 111 in place inside the line guide unit 100.

[0030] A molding tool for fabricating the present invention is formed with a configuration corresponding to the shape of the line guide unit 100. The molding tool is configured to provide at least one molding cavity for receiving a molding material, such as plastic, and forms all or part of the line guide unit 100, including one or more ribs 121 protruding from the inner surface of the line guide 100 to hold the sleeve 110 in place within the line guide unit 100.

[0031] The sleeve 110 functions as an insert that is pre-placed in the mold cavity to perform the insert molding process. By filling the mold cavity with a molding material, the line guide unit 100 having the ribs 121 of the above-mentioned preferred structure and dimensions for holding the sleeve 110 is formed. The sleeve 110 is pre-inserted inside the line guide unit 100 during the manufacturing stage and does not need to be inserted into the line guide unit 100 after the line guide unit 100 is manufactured.

[0032] Other forming tools may be used to form the entire line guide device 1000. The ribs 121 may be formed by welding or hot melt techniques without using a forming technique.

[0033] An exploded view of a baitcasting reel is shown in Figure 5. In Figure 5, the position of the line guide device 1000 is shown, which is intended to be coupled to a level winder including a level wind guard 5661. The level wind guard 5661 is inserted into the coupling unit 200. The level winder is inserted into the frame assembly 6736 of the fishing reel.

[0034] The following table lists the components of the baitcasting reel shown in FIG. TIFF0007735117000001.tif95168TIFF0007735117000002.tif222168TIFF0007735117000003.tif88162

[0035] Although many details have been set forth in the above description, the preferred form embodiments may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the invention.

Claims

1. a line guide unit (100) having a longitudinally extending hole; a sleeve (110) provided within said hole for receiving a fishing line; Equipped with the line guide unit (100) having an inner surface defining the walls (120) of the hole formed with one or more protruding ribs (121) for holding the sleeve (110) in place inside the line guide unit (100); The protruding ribs (121) are formed at positions adjacent to both ends (111) of the sleeve (110) so as to sandwich the sleeve (110), Each of the protruding ribs (121) is a protrusion, The protrusions extend radially from the wall (120) of the hole, tapering inward from each end of the wall (120) until they reach the respective ends (111) of the sleeve (110). A fishing reel line guide device (1000).

2. the spacing between the end of the wall (120) of the hole and the end (111) of the sleeve (110) is in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm; The fishing reel line guide device (1000) of claim 1.

3. The line guide unit (100) is made of plastic. The fishing reel line guide device (1000) of claim 1.

4. The sleeve (110) is made of ceramic.

10. The line guide device (1000) of claim 1.

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