Fishing reel equipped with deco trim and drain

Abstract

A fishing reel with a deco trim and a drain includes: a frame; a shaft mounted on the frame; a spool fitted on the shaft to wind a fishing line; a first side cover disposed on a side of the frame; and a second side cover disposed on the opposite side to the first side cover, coupled to the frame, and capable of opening to separate the spool. The fishing reel further includes a mounting portion formed at one or both of the first side and second side covers, a deco trim coupled to the mounting portion, and a drain formed on the first side cover, the second side cover, the deco trim, or the frame to discharge water between the deco trim and the first side cover or the second side cover.

Claims

1. A fishing reel comprising: a frame; a shaft mounted on the frame; a spool fitted on the shaft to wind a fishing line; a first side cover disposed on one side of the frame; a second side cover disposed on the other side opposite to the one side of the frame; a deco trim attached to the first side cover, the deco trim having an annular shape and including an inner edge, an outer edge, and an inclined portion in-between; a mounting portion formed in the first side cover, the mounting portion including a locking step into which the inner edge is locked, and a recessed portion into which the outer edge is inserted, wherein a space is formed between the first side cover and the deco trim; and a drain groove formed along the outer edge of the deco trim in such a way that contents inside the space are drained out through the drain groove when the frame rotates.

2. The fishing reel of claim 1, wherein external-air holes are formed through the deco trim.

3. The fishing reel of claim 1, wherein the inner edge of the deco trim has a curved portion which is locked into the locking step of the mounting portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B are views showing fishing reels having various deco trims and drains.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) The present invention is described hereafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(4) The present invention will now be described in detail based on aspects (or embodiments). The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to only the embodiments set forth herein, but should be construed as covering modifications, equivalents or alternatives falling within ideas and technical scopes of the present invention. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific exemplary embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions included in the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

(5) In the figures, like reference numerals, particularly, reference numerals having the same last two digits or the same last two digits and letters refer to like elements having like functions throughout, and unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, elements referred to by reference numerals of the drawings should be understood based on this standard.

(6) Also, for convenience of understanding of the elements, in the figures, sizes or thicknesses may be exaggerated to be large (or thick), may be expressed to be small (or thin) or may be simplified for clarity of illustration, but due to this, the protective scope of the present invention should not be interpreted narrowly.

(7) The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects (or embodiments) only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises, comprising, includes, and/or including when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

(8) Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

(9) In the following description, when it is determined that well-known function and configuration may unnecessarily make the spirit of the present invention unclear, they will not be described.

(10) Terms such as a first and a second are used only for the purpose for distinguishing a constitutive element from other constitutive elements, but constitutive element should not be limited to a manufacturing order, and the terms described in the detailed description of the invention may not be consistent with those described in the claims.

(11) FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A show deco trims and drains at first side covers C1 and FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B, and 4B show deco trims and drains at second side covers C2.

(12) Further, in each of FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A and FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B, and 4B, the first and second ones are perspective view and the third ones are cross-sectional views enlarging main parts.

(13) First, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a fishing reel R equipped with a deco trim and a drain according to the present invention largely includes a frame F, a shaft (not shown and almost the same as common fishing reel structures) mounted on the frame, a spool S fitted on the shaft to wind a fishing line, and first and second side covers C1 and C2 disposed at both sides of the frame, respectively.

(14) A handle H is disposed through gear side cover, that is, the first side cover C1 and the first side cover C1 is disposed under a star drag nut that controls drag power to protect the fishing line by reducing the speed of the fishing line unwound from the spool when a fish flees with a hook in its mouth.

(15) A palm side cover disposed at the opposite side to the first side cover, that is, the second side cover C2 has a well-known structure that generally can open to separate the spool.

(16) One or both of the first and second side covers C1 and C2 have a mounting portion M for a decorative deco trim D and a drain W that are important parts of the fishing reel R equipped with a deco trim and a drain according to the present invention.

(17) In order to fix the deco trim D to the mounting portion M, an adhesive, screws, an integrated type hook, or forcible fitting may be used.

(18) When an adhesive is used, if the adhesive is wet with water, the adhesive force is decreased and the deco trim can be easily separated, so a replaceable deco trim cannot be used.

(19) When screws are used, the number of parts is increased and corresponding portions should be formed at the deco trim or the side covers to hold the screws, so more spaces are occupied and the entire weight is increased.

(20) When a hook is used, the elasticity of an integrated type hook is used, elasticity is decreased due to attachment/detachment using the elasticity, so the deco trim is separated as time passes.

(21) However, when forcible fitting is used, deformation may be caused by heat that is generated by forcible fitting, the fitting pressure is difficult to control, and a replaceable deco trim cannot be used.

(22) Accordingly, it may be possible to select appropriate types for fixing a deco trim but seawater inevitably flows in between side covers and a deco trim of conventional types during fishing, so the present invention proposes a plan to solve the problem of seawater remaining without being quickly discharged, whereby it corrodes the reel, the deco trim, the deco trim screws, etc., and as this phenomenon is repeated, salt is accumulated, so the deco trim separates and comes off.

(23) In FIGS. 1A and 1B, a drain W for the first and second side covers C1 and C2 is disposed between the deco trim D and the first side cover C1 or the second side cover C2, and particularly, the drain W is formed in the shape of a groove on the first side cover C1 or the second side cover C2.

(24) Further, in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a drain W for the first and second side covers C1 and C2 is disposed between the deco trim D and the first side cover C1 or the second side cover C2, and particularly, the drain W is formed in the shape of a groove on the corresponding contact side of the first side cover C1 or the second side cover C2.

(25) Next, in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a drain W for the first and second side covers C1 and C2 is disposed between the deco trim D and the first side cover C1 or the second side cover C2, and particularly, the drain W is formed in the shape of a groove on the deco trim.

(26) Finally, in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a drain W for the first and second side covers C1 and C2 is disposed between the deco trim D and the first side cover C1 or the second side cover C2, and particularly, the drain W extends to the contact side between the side covers and the frame F through the first side cover C1 or the second side cover C2.

(27) To this end, the side covers each have a first hole CH formed under the deco trim and a second hole Ch formed through the contact sides of the side covers and the frame, so the drains extend from the first holes to the second holes.

(28) Meanwhile, the first deco trims in FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A and the first and second deco trims in FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B, and 4B have an external-air hole, particularly, a plurality of external-air holes Dh (see an enlarged view indicated by a dash-dotted line at the upper portion in the first perspective view in FIG. 2A), so even if seawater collects between the deco trims and the side covers and remains without being discharged through the drains W, external air can easily come in contact with the seawater, so seawater and washing water can be quickly dried.

(29) The external-air holes Dh have various numbers, shapes, and sizes, so they can contribute to improving the decorative effect.

(30) Further, since the deco trims D in FIGS. 1A to 4B have an inclined portion Dt declining toward the outer edge (see the reference numerals in the enlarged cross-sectional view of main parts in FIG. 1A), water outside the deco trims is naturally guided outside the side cover areas, thereby solving the problem due to inflow of seawater and assisting the effect of drains.

(31) Meanwhile, in FIGS. 1A to 4B, the mounting portions M have a recessed portion M1 accommodating the outer edges Dr of the deco trims D, so it is possible to minimize the spaces between the deco trims and the contact sides of the side covers where salt accumulated by drying after seawater flows therein easily collects and to prevent the ends of the deco trim from separating from the tops of the side covers even if they minutely come off. Further, a curved portion De is formed at the ends of the deco trims D, so a section overlapping the recessed portion of the mounting portion is increased. Accordingly, even if the end of the deco trim is unavoidably lifted, it is possible to prevent the deco trim from completely separating from the tops of the side covers (see the reference numerals in the enlarged cross-sectional view of main parts in FIG. 1A).

(32) Further, spaces DS are defined between the deco trims and the first or second side covers (see the reference numerals in the enlarged cross-sectional view of main parts in FIG. 1A).

(33) The spaces are provided to ensure channels for the drains W and assist the drying function of the external-air holes Dh of the deco trims.

(34) In relation to the spaces, the distance between the deco trims and the first or second side covers when they are combined may be average 0.22 mm in terms of draining and drying (the centers and outer ends of the deco trims may be in contact with the side covers).

(35) Next, as can be seen from the cross-sectional views enlarging the main parts in FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A, the deco trims D each have a contact drum Dd being in contact with the outer side of a cylindrical portion in which the handle H of the first side cover C1 is fitted.

(36) An end of the contact drum Dd has a curved portion Db that is locked to a locking step Cj formed on the cylinder of the first side cover C1 (see the reference numerals in the enlarged cross-sectional view of main parts in FIG. 1A).

(37) The gap between two members is decreased by the contact drum Dd and the curved portion Db, so the effect of guiding the seawater to the drain W such that the seawater is not discharged between the cylinder of the first side cover C1 and the contact drum Dd is increased, and accordingly, it is possible to increase the effect of preventing seawater from contaminating and corroding other portions of the fishing reel R.

(38) Similarly, as can be seen from the cross-sectional views enlarging the main parts in FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A, the inner end of the deco trim has a curved portion Db around a hole DH of the deco trim D for receiving a dial for opening and locking the second side cover C2.

(39) The bottom of the curved portion Db is in contact with the top of a ring-shaped protrusion CC around an installation hole of the second side cover C2 where the dial is disposed, so it also contributes to guiding the entire seawater, that is, water to the drain W without contaminating or corroding other portions of the fishing reel R, if possible, (see the reference numerals in the enlarged cross-sectional view of main parts in FIG. 1B).

(40) Although the configuration relating to fishing reels, particularly, a bait reel known in the art was not described above, those skilled in the art can easily estimate, infer, and implement the configuration.

(41) Although a fishing reel which has a specific shape and structure was described above with reference to the accompanying drawing, the present invention may be changed and modified in various ways by those skilled in the art and those changes and modifications should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.