Fixing structure for fishing line guide, and fishing rod

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application Serial Nos. 2015-069340 (filed on Mar. 30, 2015) and 2016-009874 (filed on Jan. 21, 2016), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present invention relates to a fixing structure for a fishing line guide on a fishing rod, and a fishing rod having a fishing line guide mounted thereon using the fixing structure.

Typically, a fishing line guide provided on a fishing rod includes an opening formed by a guide ring through which a fishing line is to be passed, and a leg to be placed and fixed on the surface of the fishing rod. A fishing rod has a plurality of fishing line guides fixed on the surface thereof and arranged longitudinally at regular intervals. An example of known methods for fixing a fishing line guide on the surface of a fishing rod is to bind the leg of the fishing line guide onto the surface of the fishing rod with a thread and then apply a resin (thread setting agent) to the thread wound on the leg, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 551-35596.

There is known a fishing line guide (also referred to as a free guide) not placed on the surface of the fishing rod but having different structure as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. H03-25569, which has an insertion hole through which the fishing rod is to be inserted so as to fix the fishing line guide on the fishing rod by press-fitting or adhesion. This fishing line guide is also known to have unevenness in the inner surface of the member around the insertion hole to be contacted with the surface of the fishing rod, thereby to prevent rotation of the fishing line guide relative to the fishing rod.

In the above method of fixing the fishing line guide disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. S51-35596, the weight of the fishing rod may be increased in connection with the thickness of the thread necessary to ensure the fixing and the amount of the thread setting agent applied. In addition, it is difficult to maintain the strength for a long period in a harsh fishing environment; a crack may occur in the thread setting agent and the fishing line guide may come off due to bending of the fishing rod. Further, this method requires a skill in fixing the fishing line guide, leading to instable qualities and higher costs. The fixing method disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. H03-25569 is applied mainly to rod joints of the fishing rod Since the small adhesion area with the fishing rod leads to an insufficient adhesion strength, the fishing line guide tends to come off.

The present invention is intended to overcome the above problem. One object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight and low-cost fixing structure for a fishing line guide which allows simple and secure fixing and a fishing rod having a fishing line guide mounted thereon using the fixing structure.

To the above end, a fixing structure for a fishing line guide according to the present invention comprises: a fishing line guide including an opening for guiding a fishing line and a circular portion having an insertion hole through which the tip rod of a fishing rod is to be passed; and two fixing pipes contacting a front surface and a rear surface of the circular portion of the fishing line guide so as to fix the fishing line guide on the fishing rod, wherein the circular portion of the fishing line guide and end surfaces of the fixing pipes contacting the circular portion are inclined, in a side view, at a same angle with respect to a vertical plane orthogonal to an axial direction of the fishing rod, and the fishing line guide is squeezed between the two fixing pipes and fixed on the fishing rod.

In the above fixing structure for a fishing line guide, the fixing pipes are fitted on the fishing rod, and the circular portion of the fishing line guide including the insertion hole is fitted on the fishing rod adjacent to the fixing pipes, such that the end surfaces of the fixing pipes contact the surfaces of the circular portion, thereby to fix the fishing line guide on the fishing rod. Thus, the fishing line guide is fixed with respect to the axial direction by the fixing pipes. Further, the circular portion and the end surfaces of the fixing pipes are inclined at a same angle with respect to the vertical plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the fishing rod; therefore, the fishing line guide is restricted from rotating in the circumferential direction and thus is also fixed with respect to the rotational direction. Thus, the fishing line guide is fixed with respect to the axial and circumferential directions by the fixing pipes fixed on the fishing rod and restricted; therefore, the fishing line guide can be simply and securely fixed without need of winding a thread on the leg of the fishing line guide as in the conventional arts.

The circular portion and the fixing pipes contact each other while being inclined at a same angle with respect to the vertical plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the fishing rod. This contact may be between a part of the circular portion and a part of the end surfaces of the fixing pipes. That is, the fishing line guide can be prohibited from rotating in the circumferential direction as long as any part of the circular portion and any part of the end surfaces of the fixing pipes contact each other while being inclined at a same angle with respect to the vertical plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the fishing rod.

The present invention provides a lightweight and low-cost fixing structure for a fishing line guide which allows simple and secure fixing and a fishing rod having a fishing line guide mounted thereon using the fixing structure.

FIG. 1 shows a fishing rod according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 a is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 b is a side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, showing a fixing pipe and the fishing rod.

FIG. 6 a is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 showing an arrangement where a fishing line guide is being fixed with a pair of fixing pipes; and FIG. 6 b is a side view showing an arrangement where the fishing line guide has been fixed on the fishing rod.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, showing the fixing pipe and the fishing line guide.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b show a sixth embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 8 a is a side view showing a fixing site of the fishing line guide, and FIG. 8 b is a side view showing a variation of the same.

FIG. 9 a is a side view of a seventh embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 9 b is a perspective view of the same.

FIG. 10 a is a side view of an eighth embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 10 b is a perspective view of the same.

A fishing rod according to the invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a fishing rod according to the present invention. The fishing rod 1 may include a plurality of rods jointed together. In the embodiment, the fishing rod 1 may include a base rod 3 , an intermediate rod 5 , and a tip rod 7 ; and these three rods may be telescopically jointed together. The casting rod 1 may either include no intermediate rod 5 or include two or more intermediate rods jointed together. Also, the fishing rod may either include a plurality of rods jointed together in an ordinary or counter ordinary manner or include a single rod.

The base rod 3 may be provided with a reel seat 8 for fixing a fishing reel. Each of the rods may be provided on the outer circumferential surface thereof with a plurality of line guides 10 for guiding a fishing line released from the fishing reel; and a top guide 11 may be fixed on the distal end. A desired number of line guides may be disposed on the rods.

The base rod 3 and the intermediate rod 5 may be formed of a tube made of a fiber reinforced resin. More specifically, these rods may be formed in accordance with a conventional method, including rolling on a core bar a fiber reinforced resin prepreg (a prepreg sheet) including reinforcement fibers (such as carbon fibers and glass fibers) impregnated with a synthetic resin (thermosetting synthetic resin, thermoplastic synthetic resin) such as an epoxy resin, heating the prepreg sheet, and pulling out the core bar. The tip rod 7 may be either tubular or solid and may be formed of a fiber-reinforced resin or a metal.

FIG. 2 a is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 b is a side view of the same. FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show a fishing line guide mounted on the tip rod 7 , and fishing line guides mounted on other sites may be in the same arrangement.

The fishing line guide 10 may include a frame 10 A having a circular (or oval) opening 10 a for guiding a fishing line released from the fishing reel and an insertion hole 10 b located below through which the tip rod 7 (hereinafter referred to as “the fishing rod”) is inserted. The frame 10 A may be constituted by, e.g., a metal material such as a titanium alloy or a thermosetting or thermoplastic plastic reinforced with reinforcement fibers such as carbon fibers or glass fibers, and may be formed of, e.g., a metal planar plate punched into a predetermined shape or a prepreg sheet made of a fiber-reinforced resin pressed with a die. The frame 10 A may have a guide ring 14 disposed around the opening 10 a and formed of ceramic, titanium, titanium alloy, etc., and a fishing line may slide on the guide ring 14 .

The frame 10 A may include a circular portion 10 c forming the insertion hole 10 b . The circular portion 10 c may extend downward from the portion on the opening 10 a ; as shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b , the surfaces 10 c ′ (on both sides) of the circular portion 10 c may be inclined at an angle θ with respect to the vertical plane P which is orthogonal to the axial direction X of the fishing rod. Therefore, the insertion hole 10 b may be formed in an oval shape. As shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b , the entirety of the circular portion 10 c may be inclined with respect to the vertical plane P, or a portion thereof may be inclined, so as to form the inclined surfaces 10 c′.

The fishing rod 7 may be provided with a fixing pipe 15 having a tubular shape and fixed with the end surface 15 a thereof contacted with the circular portion 10 c of the frame 10 A. This fixing pipe may preferably be formed of the same material as the fishing rod (a thermosetting or thermoplastic plastic reinforced with reinforcement fibers such as glass fibers or carbon fibers), and the fixing pipe formed of such a material can be readily fabricated by rolling the prepreg sheet described above around a mandrel, heating the prepreg sheet, and pulling out the mandrel, as with a tube made of a fiber-reinforced resin and used as an ordinary fishing rod.

The fixing pipe of this embodiment may be cut at an angle θ such that an end thereof is in surface contact with the ring-shaped surface 10 c ′ of the circular portion 10 c of the frame 10 A. Therefore, the end surface 15 a may have an oval shape, and the circular portion 10 c and the fixing pipe 15 may be in surface contact with each other while being inclined at the same angle θ with respect to the vertical plane P orthogonal to the axial direction X of the fishing rod 7 .

In the embodiment, the fixing pipe 15 may include a pair of fixing pipes (a tip-side fixing pipe 15 A, a proximal fixing pipe 15 B) arranged on both axial sides of the circular portion 10 c , and these fixing pipes 15 A, 15 B may be fixed on the surface of the fishing rod such that the end surfaces 15 a thereof may be in surface contact with the surfaces 10 c ′ of the circular portion 10 c . In fixing the fixing pipes, an adhesive (such as epoxy-based, silicon acrylate-based, or cyanoacrylate-based adhesive) may be applied to predetermined positions on the surface of the fishing rod 7 , the proximal fixing pipe 15 B may be fitted and fixed on the fishing rod, and then the fishing line guide 10 may be fitted on the fishing rod. Further, the adhesive may be applied to the tip side of the fishing line guide 10 , and the tip-side fixing pipe 15 A may be fitted on the fishing rod, such that the fishing line guide 10 may be fixed at a predetermined position with the circular portion 10 c thereof being retained between the end surfaces 15 a of the fixing pipes 15 A, 15 B. The fixing pipes 15 A, 15 B may be either adhered to the frame 10 A or not.

When the fishing line guide is fixed between a pair of fixing pipes, the fishing line guide may be fixed with respect to the axial direction of the fishing rod. Further, the fishing line guide may be restricted from rotating in the circumferential direction and thus may be fixed with respect to the rotational direction, because the circular portion 10 c of the fishing line guide and the fixing pipes 15 A, 15 B are in surface contact with each other while being inclined with respect to the vertical plane P orthogonal to the axial direction X of the fishing rod. That is, the fishing line guide 10 may eliminate the need of winding a thread and can be fixed on the fishing rod simply by fitting the fixing pipes and the fishing line guide on the fishing rod, and the fishing line guide may be restricted by the fixing pipes 15 A, 15 B from moving in the axial direction and rotating in the circumferential direction of the fishing rod, thereby achieving secure fixing. Since a larger adhesion area can be obtained than in the case of fixing with a thread, the above structure having a small weight can provide the same adhesion strength as in the case of fixing with a thread.

The fixing pipes may be formed of a material less prone to cracking; and therefore, even when the fishing rod is bent largely, no cracking or noise occurs as in the case of fixing with a thread, leading to increased durability and freedom from maintenance.

Further, since the weight can be reduced as compared to the case of fixing with a thread, the fishing rod as a whole can have a smaller weight. Since elongated fixing pipes do not lead to a larger weight, it may be possible to elongate the fixing pipes to some degree in the axial direction so as to enhance the appearance (the external design of the fishing rod) while increasing the adhesion strength. More specifically, because of the small weight, the axial length L of the fixing pipes may be larger than the axial length L 1 of the fishing line guide 10 . Thus, the portion near the fishing line guide can be made thicker over some degree of length along the axial direction, thereby enhancing the external design. Additionally, since the fixing pipes can be previously provided with colors or patterns and then fixed on the fishing rod, the design can be readily enhanced or modified.

When the inclination angle θ, at which the end surfaces of the fixing pipes and the surfaces of the circular portion are in contact with each other, is less than 90°, the fishing line guide under a rotational force can be restricted from rotating. Further, in consideration of the workability and reduced strength due to the bending angle at the portion between the circular portion 10 b and the opening 10 a , the inclination angle θ should preferably be between 10 and 50°.

The fixing pipe 15 described above may be formed of the same material (a fiber-reinforced resin material) as the fishing rod so as to have a bending property similar to that of the fishing rod, thereby restricting the impact on the bending property of the fishing rod and enhancing the vibration conductivity for a nibble. If the fishing line guide 10 is also formed of a fiber-reinforced resin material, it may be possible to reduce the weight and enhance the vibration conductivity without affecting the bending property of the fishing rod.

If the fixing pipe is formed of a fiber-reinforced resin material as described above, the fiber-reinforced resin material should preferably include a larger proportion of reinforcement fibers oriented in the circumferential or inclined direction than that of reinforcement fibers oriented in the axial direction. That is, because of the smaller proportion of the reinforcement fibers oriented in the axial direction, the fixing pipe may have a lower rigidity and thus is less prone to inhibit the bending of the fishing rod.

Further, the end edges of the fixing pipe 15 (not in contact with the circular portion) should preferably have chamfered (tapered) portions 15 d . Such chamfered portions may effectively prevent snagging of the fishing line.

Next, the second embodiment of the invention will be described. In the following description of the embodiment, the same elements as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b will be denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the fixing pipes 15 A, 15 B may be formed so as to protrude gradually toward the fishing line guide.

The thickness of the fixing pipe can be thus changed to enhance the external design. Further, there may be a step 18 between the outer circumference of the circular portion 10 c and the surface of the fixing pipe, as shown in FIG. 3 . That is, the end edges 15 a of the fixing pipes may not be entirely in surface contact with the surfaces 10 c ′ of the circular portion 10 c , or conversely, the outer circumference of the circular portion 10 c may protrude beyond the surfaces of the fixing pipes such that the surfaces 10 c ′ of the circular portion 10 c are not entirely in surface contact with the end edges 15 a of the fixing pipes. In the latter case, the outer circumference of the circular portion 10 c may project beyond the surface of the fixing pipe 15 , and thus the projecting portion of the circular portion 10 c should preferably be chamfered.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the third embodiment of the present invention. In the first and second embodiments described above, the two fixing pipes provided on both sides of the circular portion of the fishing line guide may have the same length. In contrast, the tip-side fixing pipe 15 A′ of this embodiment may have a smaller length for weight reduction. That is, the fishing line guide 10 may be restricted by the fixing pipes from moving in the axial direction and rotating in the circumferential direction, as described above. Therefore, the fixing pipes can be formed so as to have a small length. More specifically, the tip-side fixing pipe 15 A′ may be formed such that the distance from the distal end edge to the upper end of the contacting portion contacting the circular portion 10 c may be 0 mm at the minimum. However, since it may be preferable to ensure some degree of strength in the surface contact area at the upper end, the distance L 2 should preferably be axially small (smaller than the axial length of the proximal fixing pipe 15 B) but equal to or larger than the thickness T 1 of the fixing pipe (L 2 >=T 1 ).

Further, the fixing pipe 15 may have a decorative ring 25 attached to the end edge thereof, as shown in FIG. 4 . Thus, use of the fixing pipe may allow addition of decoration for enhancing the appearance of the fixing portion of the fishing line guide.

FIG. 5 and FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show the fourth embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the fixing pipe and the fishing rod, FIG. 6 a is a side view showing an arrangement where a fishing line guide is being fixed with a pair of fixing pipes, and FIG. 6 b is a side view showing an arrangement where the fishing line guide has been fixed on the fishing rod.

In the embodiment, an engagement projection 7 a may be integrally formed on a portion of the surface of the fishing rod 7 along the axial direction, and an engagement recess 15 e may be formed in a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the fixing pipe 15 ( 15 A, 15 B) along the axial direction such that the engagement projection 7 a may be fitted into the engagement recess 15 e.

With such an arrangement, the fixing pipes 15 A, 15 B may be fixed on the fishing rod 7 so as to be securely prevented from rotating in the circumferential direction, achieving secure fixing of the fishing line guide 10 . Conversely, it may also be possible that the fixing pipe has a projection and the fishing rod has a recess. Moreover, the shape of the projection and recess can be appropriately modified.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention (the fishing line guide is sectioned). In this embodiment, one of the fixing pipes (the proximal fixing pipe 15 B) may have a step 15 g formed thereon that can be fitted into the circular portion 10 c of the fishing line guide 10 That is, the proximal fixing pipe 15 B can be fixed on the surface of the fishing rod 7 while being fitted into the fishing line guide 10 , and the fixing pipe 15 A may be fitted around the fishing rod such that the fishing line guide 10 may be retained between the pair of fixing pipes. In this arrangement, the frame 10 A including the insertion hole 10 b may not be directly fitted on the fishing rod 7 but fitted around the fishing rod 7 via the step 15 g . Additionally, instead of the above arrangement, the step 15 g may be formed on the tip-side fixing pipe 15 A.

In the above arrangement, the fishing line guide 10 can be readily mounted, and can be securely prevented from rotating by, e.g., roughening the surface of the step. Further, the sectional shape of the step 15 g and the shape of the insertion hole 10 b may be non-circular, such that the fishing line guide 10 can be securely prevented from rotating.

FIG. 8 a is a side view of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The fishing line guide 10 of this embodiment may include a plurality of circular portions 10 ca , 10 cb each defining an insertion hole through which the fishing rod is to be inserted. This structure is similar to that of the common two-leg fishing line guide.

Thus, when a plurality of circular portions are formed (a plurality of legs are formed), a fixing pipe 15 c may be disposed in the intermediate portion such that each of the circular portions 10 ca , 10 cb may be retained between the fixing pipes, and thus the fishing line guide may be securely fixed with respect to the axial and circumferential directions. The proximal circular portion 10 ca may be fixed with the two fixing pipes 15 B, 15 C, and the tip-side circular portion 10 cb may be fixed with the fixing pipe 15 A, 15 C. It may also be possible that the middle fixing pipe 15 C is omitted, the tip-side fixing pipe 15 A is omitted, or the proximal fixing pipe 15 B is omitted. However, the arrangement of the embodiment may be more preferable in actual designing because the circular portions and the fixing pipes may be removed when the fishing line guide is subjected to a large stress.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 8 a , the plurality of legs may diverge obliquely from each other in a side view. It may also be possible that, as shown in FIG. 8 b , one of the legs (e.g., the leg for the circular portion 10 cb ) may extend downward straightly from the frame 10 A (in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction). As described above, it may also be possible that the middle fixing pipe 15 C is omitted, the tip-side fixing pipe 15 A is omitted, or the proximal fixing pipe 15 B is omitted. However, the arrangement of the embodiment may be more preferable in actual designing because the circular portions and the fixing pipes may be removed when the fishing line guide is subjected to a large stress.

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b show the seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the first to sixth embodiments described above, the circular portion 10 c of the fishing line guide 10 may be positioned between the end surfaces of the two fixing pipes and exposed externally. In contrast, in this embodiment, the circular portion 10 c may be embedded inside the contact surfaces of the fixing pipes 15 A, 15 B so as not to be exposed externally, as shown in FIG. 9 a.

As shown in FIG. 9 b , a recess 20 into which the circular portion 10 c is to be fitted may be formed in the end surface of the proximal fixing pipe 15 B. After the circular portion 10 c is inserted into the recess, the end surface of the proximal fixing pipe 15 B may be contacted with the end surface of the tip-side fixing pipe 15 A (which may not have a recess formed therein) so as not to expose the circular portion 10 c externally. Conversely, it may also be possible that a recess is formed in the end surface of the tip-side fixing pipe 15 A and no recess is formed in the end surface of the proximal fixing pipe 15 B. The reference numeral 30 in the drawing denotes a slit formed in the fixing pipe for allowing in the fishing line guide leg.

FIGS. 10 a and 10 b show the eighth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is a variation of the seventh embodiment. Both the tip-side fixing pipe 15 A and the proximal fixing pipe 15 B may have a recess formed in the end surfaces thereof. After the circular portion 10 c is inserted into the recesses, the tip-side fixing pipe 15 A and the proximal fixing pipe 15 B may be contacted with each other so as not to expose the circular portion 10 c externally. Additionally, the seventh and eighth embodiments may be configured such that, as shown in FIGS. 10 a and 10 b , the fixing pipes 15 B, 15 A have projections 40 and recesses 41 to be engaged with each other for firm meshing.

According to the seventh and eighth embodiments, the fishing line guide 10 mounted on the fixing pipe 15 can be readily fixed on the fishing rod. The leg of the fishing line guide 10 may be fitted into the slit 30 in the fixing pipe 10 so as to further restrict the rotation in the circumferential direction; and additionally, the engagement projection and the engagement recess shown in FIG. 5 may be applied to restrict the rotation more securely.

Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above descriptions and are susceptible to various modifications. To prevent the rotation of the fishing line guide in the circumferential direction, the fixing pipes and the fishing line guide may be in surface contact with each other while being inclined with respect to the vertical plane P orthogonal to the axial direction X of the fishing rod. It may also be possible that the surface contact may be replaced with contact between stepped surfaces so as to prevent the rotation of the fishing line guide. Additionally, the shape of the frame 10 A may be appropriately modified. For example, it may be inclined forward to prevent snagging of the fishing line.