Universal Arbor for Fishing Rod Blanks

Abstract

Universal arbors mountable on tapered fishing rod blanks as non-degradable self-centering collars to which a reel seat may be mounted. The inventive cylinder-shaped arbor comprises a flexible thermoplastic resin formed as an outer cylinder, closed at one end with an integral end wall or separate disc/washer, which included a cylindrical hole to receive a rod blank. The annulus between the cylinder inner wall and the hole margin includes curved or straight centering fins secured to the cylinder inner wall that are free to flex. Flexing of the centering fins permits accommodating a wide range of blank tapers at the proper place of location of a reel seat making the arbor universal and positionally forgiving. Once the arbor is located on the blank and oriented properly, the cylinder is filled with a fluid epoxy resin, which when cured permanently secures the arbor to the blank and to the reel seat tube.

Claims

1. A universal arbor for a fishing pole reel seat assembly which includes a tubular component, comprising in operative combination: a flexible polymeric cylinder comprising a side wall having an inner surface, a central longitudinal axis extending between spaced first and second ends, at least one open end of said cylinder, a plurality of spaced-apart flexible centering fins secured to said inner surface of said cylindrical wall, said fins extending between said cup inner surface toward said cylindrical axis, said fins terminating a preselected radial length short of said cylindrical axis to define an internal cylindrical volume along the length of said axis from said first and second ends of said cylinder for receivingly engaging a fishing rod blank having an outer surface, said centering fins functioning to space said cylindrical side wall uniformly from said rod blank outer surface so that said reel seat may be seated to said rod blank via said arbor.

2. A universal arbor as in claim 1 wherein said flexible polymeric cylinder is closed at least at one end by a transverse bottom wall selected from a wall integral with said side wall and said fins and a separate disk/washer not integral with said side wall and said fins and said bottom wall or said disk/washer includes an aperture for receiving therethrough said rod blank.

3. A universal arbor as in claim 2 wherein said fin shapes as seen in plan view from said open end of said cylinder are selected from curved or radially oriented straight shapes.

4. A universal arbor as in claim 2 wherein said fins are secured to at least one of said side wall and said bottom wall.

5. A universal arbor as in claim 4 wherein said fins are secured to both said side wall and said bottom wall.

6. A universal arbor as in claim 2 wherein an inner edge of each of said fins terminates adjacent said cylindrical volume along the length of said volume from said first end to said second end of said cylinder.

7. A universal arbor as in claim 2 wherein said bottom wall or disc/washer aperture is sized smaller than the diameter of a fishing rod blank at the location where the arbor is to be placed in order to provide a seal to retain a polymer glue introduced into said cylinder to secure said arbor to said fishing rod blank and on which said reel seat tubular component is seated and secured.

8. A universal arbor as in claim 7 wherein said cylinder polymer is selected from a thermoplastic resin.

9. A universal arbor as in claim 7 wherein said polymer glue is selected from a multi-part epoxy glue.

10. A universal arbor for fishing pole reel seat assemblies including a tubular component, comprising in operative combination: a. a generally cylindrical vessel for retaining a polymeric glue, said vessel including: a tubular side wall having a diameter, an exterior surface and an inner surface; a first end and a second end spaced from said first end, the distance between said ends defining the height of said vessel; said first end being open; and a central axis; b. when said vessel is oriented with said central axis vertical, said second end of said vessel is closed by a transverse generally planar bottom wall having an inner surface and an exterior surface, said transverse bottom wall having a central aperture there through for insertion of a tapered fishing rod blank and defining a cylindrical volume as said aperture is extended along said central axis, and space between said central aperture and said tubular side wall inner surface defining an annulus between an outer circumference of said aperture and said inner surface of said outer wall, as said annulus is extended along said central axis for the height of said vessel, defining an interior space of said vessel; c. a plurality of spaced, vertically upstanding centering fins connected to at least one of said inner surface of said cylindrical side wall and said bottom wall inner surface, at least a portion of said fins terminating proximate to said annulus; d. said vessel and centering fins comprising an elastomeric polymer so that said fins and bottom wall central aperture flex to accommodate a varying diameter of said tapered fishing rod blank when inserted through said central aperture of said bottom wall without substantially affecting the exterior surface diameter of said cylindrical side wall along its length; and e. said universal arbor permitting rapid, accurate mounting and proper location, on a range of fishing rod blanks having various tapers, of a reel seat assembly tube seated thereover, said universal arbor receivingly retaining in said interior space a polymeric glue to secure said reel seat assembly to said fishing rod blank, yet being impervious to water, which would otherwise result in movement of said reel seat assembly with respect to said fishing rod blank.

11. A universal arbor as in claim 6 wherein said centering fins are secured to at least said inner surface of said side wall.

12. A universal arbor as in claim 6 wherein said centering fins are secured to both said inner surface of said side wall and said inner surface of said bottom wall.

13. A universal arbor as in claim 6 wherein said centering fin shapes as seen in plan view from said open end of said cup are selected from curved and radially oriented straight shapes.

14. A universal arbor as in claim 9 wherein an inner edge of said centering fins terminates adjacent said cylindrical volume.

15. A universal arbor as in claim 7 wherein said cylinder bottom wall aperture is sized smaller than the diameter of a fishing rod blank at the location where the arbor is to be placed on said blank in order to provide a seal to retain a polymer glue introduced into said cylinder to secure said arbor to said fishing rod blank and on which said reel seat tubular component is seated and secured.

16. A universal arbor as in claim 10 wherein said cylinder flexible polymer is selected from a thermoplastic resin.

17. A universal arbor as in claim 15 wherein said polymer glue is selected from a multi-part epoxy glue.

18. A fishing rod assembly comprising: a. a rod blank, b. at least two, spaced apart universal arbors, each comprising a flexible polymeric cylinder including a side wall having an inner surface, open opposed ends spaced apart along a central axis, and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart flexible centering fins extending between said cylinder inner side wall toward, but terminating short of, said axis; c. a reel seat comprising a tubular component having fittings to receive reel feet, said reel seat is fitted over said arbors in seating engagement therewith; d. a polymeric glue introduced into and retained by said universal arbor cylinders to secure said arbors and said reel seat to said rod blank.

19. A fishing rod assembly as in claim 18 wherein said arbor assembly includes a transverse bottom wall element having a central aperture which is sized smaller than the diameter of a fishing rod blank at the location where the arbor is to be placed in order to provide a seal to retain a polymer glue introduced into said cylinder to secure said cylinder to said fishing rod blank and on which said reel seat tubular component is seated.

20. A fishing rod assembly as in claim 19 wherein said arbor flexible polymer is selected from a thermoplastic resin, said centering fins are secured to at least an inner surface of said cylinder side wall, said fin shapes as seen in plan view from an open end of said cylinder are selected from curved and radially oriented straight shapes and wherein an inner edge of said centering fins terminates adjacent a cylindrical volume defined by said central aperture of said bottom wall element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a ¾ isometric view from the top of the inventive universal arbor sleeve and cup embodiments illustrating the centering fins and an open end of the arbor;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a bottom end elevation showing the integral bottom wall or separate disc/washer, both serving as an epoxy dam and each having a central hole to receive the rod blank;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a ¾ isometric view from the bottom of the inventive universal arbor illustrating the outer cylinder, integral bottom wall or separate disc/washer (in phantom) serving as an epoxy “dam” having a central hole and fins visible through the hole, as well as a rod segment shown in phantom;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a top end elevation of either embodiment showing the configuration of the curved centering fins secured to the outer cylinder and terminating at or adjacent the margin of the hole;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a diametric cross section in elevation showing the centering fins, epoxy dam and outer cylinder;

[0025] FIG. 6 is a ¾ isometric elevated cross section showing the curve of the centering fins, their join to the inner wall of the outer cylinder and optionally their join to the bottom wall dam at their bottom ends;

[0026] FIGS. 7A-7D are a set of optional layouts in plan view of the internal centering fins of the sleeve and cup embodiments from the open end of the inventive arbor, in which: FIG. 7A illustrates a standard curved fin embodiment with arrows indicating the direction of flex as the rod core is inserted through the bottom hole; FIG. 7B shows a second embodiment in which the fins are curved in a direction reversed from that of FIG. 7A and accordingly the flex is in the opposite direction; FIG. 7C shows radially oriented fins with flex shown going either direction; and FIG. 7D illustrates fins oriented tangentially to the central hole of the bottom wall or/and the separate disc/washer (lead line dashed);

[0027] FIGS. 8A-8C are a series showing the installation of inventive arbors on a tapered rod core blank, in which FIG. 8A shows two arbors properly spaced apart along a tapered rod core; FIG. 8B shows arbors that have been filled with epoxy to secure them to a tapered rod core; and FIG. 8C is a longitudinal section view through a tapered rod core blank after filling with epoxy to secure the sleeve of a reel holder; and

[0028] FIG. 9 shows a reel holder in process of being slipped down a rod core blank to engage the inventive arbors; a reel is shown mounted in the reel holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example, not by way of limitation of the scope, equivalents or principles of the invention. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention. One feature may be shown in one drawing, and another feature is better shown in another drawing.

[0030] FIGS. 1-6 show an exemplary inventive universal arbor 10. FIG. 1 shows the universal arbor 10 in isometric view, formed from flexible plastic as a cylinder 12 with an open top 14, and having an aperture (“hole”) 16 located centrally of a planar, integral bottom end 18 that is oriented transverse to a central axis of the cylinder (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6). As best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, together, the cylindrical wall 12 and bottom wall 18 form a cup shape. The interior of the arbor cup includes a plurality of spaced centering fins 20a, 20b, . . . 20n having their outer ends 22 secured to the inner wall of the cylinder 24 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). The inner ends 26 of the centering fins terminate at or adjacent to, and define, a virtual cylinder whose diameter is generally equal to the diameter of aperture 16 (best seen in FIG. 3). As shown in phantom in FIG. 3, a rod core 30 is inserted through the hole 16. FIG. 3 also shows in dashed lines that the bottom may be a separate disc or washer 48, rather than integral to the arbor 10. In this embodiment\ the bottom of the fins 28 (see FIGS. 5 & 6) are not secured to the disc 48.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the planar transverse bottom wall 18 or disc/washer 48 forming a dam for liquid epoxy resin when the fishing rod blank (see FIGS. 3 and 8A) is threaded through the hole 16 in the bottom of the end wall 18, 48. Note the fins do not extend into the cylindrical volume defined by the hole. That is, fins 20 terminate at or near the outer surface of the virtual cylinder whose diameter is that of the hole 16. FIG. 3 shows in isometric the outer cylinder 12, the bottom end wall epoxy dam 18 or disc/washer 48 and the hole 16 in the end wall 18, 48 through which the rod blank 30 (shown in phantom) is inserted. Some of the inner ends 26 of fins 20 can be seen through the hole. FIG. 4 shows in top (plan) view the curvature of the centering fins 20 that are secured to the inner wall 24 of the outer cylinder 12, and terminate with free ends at the margin of the hole 16 in the bottom epoxy dam wall 18 or disc 48.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows in vertical cross-section the centering fins 20 having their outer ends 22 secured to the inner wall 24 of the outer cylinder 14. In this embodiment, optionally the bottom ends of the 28 of the fins are secured to the bottom, inner surface of the epoxy dam transverse end wall 18. The bottom ends 28 of the fins 20 may be free, that is not secured to the inner surface of the bottom end when using a disc/washer 48. FIG. 6 shows in isometric cross-section the centering fins 20 having their outer edges 22 secured to the inner wall 24 of the outer cylinder 12, and their bottom ends to the bottom wall epoxy dam 3. When a disc/washer 48 is used, the bottom ends of the fins are free. Note the thickness of the individual fins collectively form a virtual cylinder that is an extension of the hole 16 (see FIG. 3). The inner ends of the fins 26 contact the surface of the rod blank 30 when the inventive universal arbor is slid down onto the rod core blank to the proper position to receive the tube 34 of the reel seat assembly (see FIGS. 8C and 9).

[0033] In the upright position shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, once the inventive universal arbor 10 is slid down onto a rod blank 30 through the hole 16, it forms a cup to receive the liquid glue, such as epoxy, that, upon curing, permanently secures the arbor to the blank 30 and provides a smooth cylindrical exterior face to engage a reel seat assembly (best seen in FIGS. 8A-8C). The glue also secures the arbor to the inner surface of the reel seat tube 34.

[0034] FIGS. 7A-7D are a set of layouts in plan view of alternative embodiments of the internal centering fins 20, seen from the open (upper) end 14 of the inventive arbor 10. FIG. 7A shows a standard curved fin embodiment as in FIG. 4, except that the center hole 16 is much enlarged for a larger diameter rod blank 30. The small arrows 46 show the direction of the flex of the inner ends 26 of the fins 20 as the arbor is slid down the rod blank 30 (see FIGS. 3, 8A and 9). FIG. 7B shows a second embodiment in which the fins 20 are curved in a direction (clockwise, seen from above), which is reversed from that of FIG. 7A (counterclockwise, seen from above). Again, arrows 46 show the flexing of the inner ends 26 of the fins 20 as the arbor is mounted on a rod blank 30. FIG. 7C shows an embodiment in accord with the principles of this invention having radially oriented fins 20. In this embodiment, double ended arrow 46 shows the fins are free to flex either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the direction of rotation of the arbor when mounting it on the rod blank. FIG. 7D illustrates an embodiment having fins 20 oriented tangentially (canted) to the central hole 16, and the arrows 46 show the direction of flex of the inner ends 26 of the fins 20.

[0035] FIG. 8A illustrates two of the inventive universal arbors 10a and 10b slipped onto a rod blank 30a. In this embodiment, the rod blank 30a is fiberglass. The two arbors 10a and 10b are inserted so that their open ends 14a and 14b face each other, so that the end dams 18a, 18b, or the disc/washer 48, capture the epoxy in the arbor. The arbors are spaced apart a preselected distance 32 so that they provide spaced support for the tubular reel seat tube 34 (see FIG. 8C) which is slipped over and engages the exterior surface of the cylindrical arbor outer wall 12a, 12b. FIG. 8B shows two arbors 10a and 10b fitted onto a rod blank 30b, which in this case is carbon fiber. Note the rod blank is larger in diameter and the arbors are spaced farther apart to accommodate a larger reel seat tube (not shown). In this embodiment, both of the arbor cups have been filled with epoxy at 36a, 36b to illustrate how they are secured to the rod. The space between the arbors is not filled with epoxy, but may be, if desired. FIG. 8C shows a finished assembly of a rod blank 30, glue-secured arbors 10a, 10b and reel seat tubular sleeve 34, that has been cut in two longitudinally in order to show the location of the arbors 10a and 10b recessed into the ends of the sleeve 34, and having the arbors bonded to both the rod core 30 and to the reel seat tubular sleeve 34 by the epoxy 36a, 36b. The space 38 between the inner face of the sleeve 34 and the outer face of the blank 30 may be left empty, partially filled with epoxy, or completely filled with epoxy.

[0036] FIG. 9 shows the reel seat sleeve 34 being fitted over spaced arbors, the lower arbor 10a being shown exposed, as the sleeve has already been slid over the upper arbor 10b (not seen). In this position, the rod can be turned vertical, and epoxy introduced into the cup of arbor 10a, and then the sleeve 34 is slid down and properly seated over the lower arbor 10a. Then the upper arbor can be injected with epoxy to complete the assembly. This figure also shows a reel 40 has been fitted onto the reel holder, and a reel foot-retaining ferrule 42 screwed down tight on the threads 44 on the exterior of the holder tube to retain the reel in place.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0037] The inventive universal arbor of this application has wide applicability to the fishing industry, namely to rod building suppliers and rod manufacturers. The inventive arbor assembly is clearly universal and accommodating, and a significant and substantial time-saver in precision of rod construction. Thus, the inventive universal arbor has the clear potential of becoming adopted as the new standard for apparatus and methods of manufacture of fishing rods.

[0038] It is clear that various modifications within the scope of this invention can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit thereof and without undue experimentation. For example, the fin curvature and points of securement to the interior of the cup (cylinder or/and bottom end wall of the arbor) can have a wide range of designs to provide centering functionality. Likewise, the number of fins may be increased or decreased. The diameter of the hole in the bottom wall or disc/washer may be selected to provide a snug fit for a particular diameter of rod blank, or it may be a cross-slit, +, rather than a circular hole. This invention is therefore to be defined by the scope of the appended claims as broadly as the prior art will permit, and in view of the specification if need be, including a full range of current and future equivalents thereof.