WO2000038511A1

WO2000038511A1 - Oscillation mechanism for a fishing reel

Info

Publication number: WO2000038511A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/001104
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ning Tao
Original assignee: Jarvis Walker Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Jarvis Walker Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1998-12-23
Filing date: 1999-12-13
Publication date: 2000-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2001-06-23
Also published as: AUPP790798A0

Abstract

A mechanism for reciprocating a spool shaft (10) of a fishing reel, including a lever (28) having a first end and a second end, the first end of which is mounted to the spool shaft (10), an aperture (26) in the lever (28) between the first end and the second end of it to receive a first projection (24) such as a pin, cam or the like, an elongate slot (38) on the opposite side of the aperture (26) to the first end to receive a second pin (30), the second pin (30) being fixed in relation to the body or the casing of the fishing reel allowing the lever (28) to pivot but not to translate relative to the body, the lever (28) being oscillated by the first projection (24) moving relative to the body in the aperture (26) for reciprocating the spool shaft (10), the elongate slot (38) allowing the first end of the lever (28) to reciprocate in a substantially linear fashion.

Description

Oscillation mechanism for a fishing reel

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an oscillation mechanism for a spinning reel for fishing.

Background of the Invention

In a fishing reel, the spool of the reel has to move forwards and backwards when the handle of the fishing reel is turned, in order to wind line onto the spool by means of a rotor.

It is known to use a mechanism in which a small oscillation gear turns with the main gear. The small gear turns a large oscillation gear. The large gear oscillates an end of a lever which causes the spool shaft or main shaft to reciprocate forwards and backwards and hence reciprocate the spool which is fixed to the end of the spool shaft. However, the problem with such mechanisms is that the spool has to move linearly backwards and forwards however, the movement of the end of the lever approximates to an arc of a circle. Therefore, it is necessary to compensate for the differences in the desired motion and the actual motion of the end of the lever. The compensation is provided in the area where the lever is mounted to a block fixed to the spool. A number of components are required to provide the necessary compensation and this has the effect of making the mechanism complicated, difficult to assemble, and consequently, expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a more streamlined oscillation and compensation mechanism which can be manufactured in a more cost effective manner.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mechanism for reciprocating a spool shaft/main shaft of a fishing reel forwards and backwards in a linear direction along the longitudinal axis of the spool shaft, the mechanism including: a lever having a first end and a second end. the first end of which is mounted to the spool shaft; an aperture defined in the lever between the first end and the second end of the lever, the aperture being adapted to receive a first projection such as a pin. cam or the like, which projection may move in the aperture: and wherein an elongate slot is provided in the lever on the opposite side of the aperture to the first end, the elongate slot receiving a second pin. projection or the like which is fixed to. or relative to. the body or the casing of the fishing reel or fixed in a manner which allows it to turn but not translate relative to the casing/body, and which acts as a pivot for the lever, and wherein the spool shaft is constrained to move in a substantially linear direction: the arrangement being such, that when the lever is oscillated by means of the first projection moving relative to the casing in the aperture for reciprocating the spool shaft, movement of the pivot within the elongate slot, allows the first end of the lever to reciprocate in a substantially linear fashion.

Thus the invention provides a simple and cost effective compensation system for a fishing reel and reduces the number of components required for the fishing reel and thus reduces manufacturing costs.

The oscillation lever may be formed of one piece. Alternatively, it may be manufactured in two or more pieces which can be stamped out and then joined face to face in a sandwich type construction. An oscillation cover comprising a plate may be used to retain the oscillation lever in its proper position. By joining two plates together to form the lever, the lever may be made by a stamping method which is a cost effective method of production. In one embodiment, the projection may be a pin and the aperture a further elongate slot, and the lever is oscillated by means of the pin travelling in a generally circular motion relative to the casing.

The first and second slots in the lever do not have to be straight. Either, or both, may be curved. In an alternative embodiment, the projection may be a cam and the aperture may be wide and curved to receive the cam. the geometry being such that rotation of the cam causes the oscillation of the lever.

In yet a further alternative embodiment, the cam may be replaced by a planetary gear system, with the sun gear mounted on the main gear, an outer toothed ring fixed relative to the casing disposed' around the sun gear, and a planetary gear defining the projection disposed between the sun gear and the outer ring.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a mechanism for reciprocating a spool shaft/main shaft of a fishing reel having a main gear, forwards and backwards along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, including: a lever having a first end and a second end. the first end of which is mounted to the spool shaft, the lever defining a central rounded aperture in which there is disposed a cam for rotation about an axis, the second end of the lever being mounted on a pivot, the arrangement being such that the cam turns about the axis when the main gear of the fishing reel is turned, thus oscillating the lever about the pivot, reciprocating the first end of the lever, and hence reciprocating the spool shaft.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a mechanism for reciprocating a spool shaft/main shaft of a fishing reel, forwards and backwards along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, including: a lever having a first end and a second end, the first end of which is mounted to the spool shaft, the lever defining an elongate slot; wherein a sun gear is mounted on the main gear of the reel, an outer toothed ring fixed relative to the casing is disposed about the sun gear, and a planetary gear disposed between the sun gear and the outer ring, the planetary gear defining a projection which is located in the elongate slot, the second end of the lever being mounted on a pivot, the arrangement being such that movement of the projection about a circular path occurs when the main gear is turned, which causses the lever to oscillate about the pivot moving the first end of the lever and thus moving the spool shaft.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1A is an exploded view of a first embodiment of an oscillation mechanism embodying the present invention:

Figure IB shows the components of Figure 1A assembled together: Figure 2 shows the assembly shown in Figure IB installed in the body of a fishing reel: Figure 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention:

Figure 4 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention: Figure 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention:

Figure 7 A shows an exploded view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention: Figure 7B shows an assembled view of the embodiment shown in

Figure 7A;

Figure 8A shows an exploded view of a seventh embodiment of the present invention: and

Figure 8B shows an assembled view of the embodiment shown in Figure 8 A.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the drawings. Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a spool oscillation mechanism for a fishing reel. The mechanism includes a spool shaft 10 also referred to as a main shaft, and a main gear 12. The main gear 12 is fixed on a hollow shaft 14 which accepts a fishing reel handle shaft, not shown. The spool shaft extends through an annular cylinder 18. A pinion 16 is formed at one end of that annular cylinder. The spool shaft is free to reciprocate inside the cylinder, moving relative to the cylinder 18 in a linear direction along its longitudinal axis 10A. Pinion 16 turns a mechanism for turning a rotor, not shown.

As discussed, in the "Background of the Invention", fishing reels also include a mechanism for moving the spool backwards and forwards as the handle turns the main gear 12. The spool (not shown) is fixed via an adjustable drag system to one end of the spool shaft. The spool shaft 10 is reciprocated in a linear direction along its longitudinal axis 10A to reciprocate the spool.

In the first described embodiment of the present invention, that oscillation is achieved by the following mechanism. A small oscillation gear 20 is mounted on the hollow shaft 14 spaced from the main gear 12.

Referring to Figure IB that small oscillation gear 20 meshes with a large oscillation gear 22. to cause large gear 22 to rotate about its central axis 22A. Turning to Figure 1A. a pin 24 is mounted on the large oscillation gear 22 between its centre and its toothed perimeter. The pin 24 extends into a central elongate slot 26 formed in an oscillation lever 28. The lever 28 oscillates about a pivot pin 30 which is mounted to, or relative to, the casing or body of the fishing reel 1 (not shown in Figures lA and IB). The pivot 30 may turn about its central axis. However, it may not translate relative to the casing body. The pivot has a first cylindrical portion 31, a flange 32. a second portion 34 which is generally cylindrical but has two parallel flats either side of the axis of the pivot, and at the end of the pivot, a short relatively narrower cylindrical portion 36 also referred to as a stud. A further elongate slot 38 is formed in the upper end of the oscillation lever 28. When the mechanism is assembled (refer to Figure IB), the slot 38 receives the flatted portion 34 of the pivot pin 30. The lower end of the oscillation lever 28 defines a cylindrical hole 40 which is adapted to receive a projection or cylinder block 42 which projects from an oscillation block 44. The oscillation block 44 is rotatably mounted on the main shaft and retained by an oscillation block retainer 46. The oscillation block retainer 46 allows the oscillation block 44 to have angular movement relative to the main shaft 10 but does not allow the oscillation block 44 to move axially relative to the spool shaft in the direction 10A. Thus if the oscillation block 44 moves along the longitudinal axis end 10A so does the spool shaft 10 and the spool.

In use. when the shaft 14 is rotated by turning the handle, the main gear 12 rotates the pinion 16 and thus causes the rotor to turn whilst the small oscillation gear 20 turns the large oscillation gear 22. moving pin 24 in a circular path. The pin 24 which extends into elongate slot 26. acts in a cam like fashion and forces the oscillation lever 28 to swing about the pivot 30. This causes the lower end of the oscillation lever to reciprocate backwards and forwards. If the lever 28 were mounted on a fixed pivot which could not move along slot 38 relative to the lever 28. the lower end of the lever would describe an arc of circle. However, the flatted part 34 of the pivot 30 can slide along slot 38. Further, the oscillation block 44 is constrained to move only in a linear direction along axis 10A. Thus the slot 38 slides on the flatted part 34 of the pivot as the lever oscillates. The portion 34 is near the bottom of the slot as the lever moves to a central position when the pin 24 is located below the centre of the large gear 22 and moves upwards relative to the slot (although it is the lever 28 which moves along its longitudinal axis relative to the casing, not the pivot 34) as the lever swings out either side of the central position. This compensates for the arcuate (curved) movement of the lever and the spool shaft and allows the spool of the fishing reel to be linearly oscillated. The oscillation lever 28 does not have to be formed in one piece and can be formed from a number of pieces typically two stacked together face to face to form a thicker lever. In that case, an oscillation cover 50 may be provided to retain the oscillation levers 28 in their proper position. The cover may also be provided even if the lever is formed in one piece.

Figure 2 of the drawings shows the components shown in Figures lA and IB located within the body 2 of a fishing reel 1.

Figure 3 shows a variant in which, instead of mounting via an oscillation block, the bottom end of the lever is mounted to or alternatively relative to or mounted in a manner which allows it to turn but not translate relative to the spool shaft 10 by means of a pin 60 which passes through the spool shaft and is fixed to the same. The upper pivot 30 is replaced by a simple pin 62 mounted to the reel casing. Those changes result in a less complicated and cheaper level reel design. Figure 4 shows a further variant in which the oscillation lever 28A is formed from two identical pieces which are stamped out and joined together and in which the elongate slot 26 A is curved. The further slot 38 in the lever as shown is straight although it too could be curved.

Figure 5 shows a yet further variant in which an alternative mechanism is used to oscillate the lever in place of the small oscillation gear 20. and large oscillation gear 22 and pin 24. In the embodiment of Figure 5, a cam 70 is directly mounted on the hollow shaft 14 and the oscillation lever 72 has a generally oval hole 74 in place of an elongate slot. Again, the fixed pivot 30 locates in an elongate slot 38 formed at the top of the lever. Turning the handle shaft causes the lever to oscillate about the pivot with relative movement of the pivot 30 up and down the elongate slot 38 allowing the resultant motion of the lower part of the lever to be translational movement along axis 10A of the spool shaft as the spool shaft is constrained to move by the cylinder 18. The bottom end of the oscillation lever is mounted to or relative to or mounted in a manner which allows it to turn but not translate relative to the spool shaft via an L-shaped rod 76.

Figure 6 shows a variant to the embodiment shown in Figure 5 in which the cam is set on a reverse side of the main gear 12 to that shown in Figure 5. A shaft 80 is riveted to the oscillation lever 72 and extends to an oscillation block 82. The shaft is free to rotate in the oscillation block 82 which is connected to the spool shaft 10. In a yet further embodiment illustrated in Figures 7A and 7B. the cam arrangement is replaced by a planetary gear system. In this embodiment, a sun gear 90 is mounted on the reverse side of main gear 12. Planetary gear 92 meshes with the sun gear 90 and a fixed toothed ring 94 defined in a plate 96 which is fixed around the sun gear. There is a cylindrical pin 104 defined on the planetary gear 92 and the pin 104 extends into a circular slot (not shown), located inside the reel body which acts a guide for the motion of the planetary gear 92. As the main gear 12 turns, the planetary gear 92 will move around circular slot 98 thereby forcing an oscillation lever 100 to swing about pivot 102. thus reciprocating the main shaft and compensating for the rotational movement of the swing in a similar manner to the previously described embodiments.

Finally. Figures 8A and 8B show an arrangement which is similar to that shown in Figures 7A and 7B and in which similar components have the same reference numerals but in which the planetary gear oscillation system is located on the front side of the main gear 12 rather than the rear side as shown in Figures 7A and 7B. As with the previous embodiment, the lever is formed from two parts 102 A and 102B. In this arrangement, the connection of an L-shaped rod 76 to the spool shaft 10 can also be seen more clearly. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are. therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A mechanism for reciprocating a spool shaft/main shaft of a fishing reel forwards and backwards in a linear direction along the longitudinal axis of the spool shaft, the mechanism including: a lever having a first end and a second end. the first end of which is mounted to the spool shaft: an aperture defined in the lever between the first end and the second end of the lever, the aperture being adapted to receive a first projection such as a pin, cam or the like, which projection may move in the aperture: and wherein an elongate slot is provided in the lever on the opposite side of the aperture to the first end. the elongate slot receiving a second pin. projection or the like which is fixed to. or relative to. the body or the casing of the fishing reel or fixed in a manner which allows it to turn but not translate relative to the casing/body, and which acts as a pivot for the lever, and wherein the spool shaft is constrained to move in a substantially linear direction: the arrangement being such, that when the lever is oscillated by means of the first projection moving relative to the casing in the aperture for reciprocating the spool shaft, movement of the pivot within the elongate slot, allows the first end of the lever to reciprocate in a substantially linear fashion.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oscillation lever comprises two or more generally planar pieces joined face to face in a sandwich type construction.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising a retaining plate for the oscillation lever.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first projection is a pin and the aperture is a further elongate slot, and wherein the lever is oscillated by means of the pin travelling in a generally circular motion relative to the casing.

5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or more of the slots in the lever is curved.

6. A mechanism as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first projection is a cam and the aperture defines a cam follower surface and receives the cam. the geometry being such that rotation of the cam in the aperture causes the oscillation of the lever about the pivot.

7. A mechanism as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3 including a planetary gear system, the planetary gear system including a sun gear mounted on the main gear, an outer toothed ring fixed relative to the casing disposed around the sun gear, and a planetary gear between the sun gear and the outer ring and wherein the planetary gear defines the first projection which is arranged to move in a circular path for oscillating the lever about the pivot.

8. A mechanism for reciprocating a spool shaft/main shaft of a fishing reel having a main gear, forwards and backwards along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, including: a lever having a first end and a second end. the first end of the lever being mounted to the spool shaft, the lever defining a central aperture in which there is disposed a cam arranged for rotation about an axis when the main gear of the reel is turned, the aperture defining a cam follower surface. the second end of the lever being mounted on a pivot, the arrangement being such that the cam turns about the axis when the main gear of the fishing reel is turned, thus oscillating the lever about the pivot, reciprocating the first end of the lever, and hence reciprocating the spool shaft.

9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 8. wherein the cam is disposed on the opposite side of the spool shaft to the main gear.

10. A mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein the cam is disposed on the reverse, non-toothed side of the main gear.

11. A mechanism for reciprocating a spool shaft/main shaft of a fishing reel, forwards and backwards along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, including: a lever having a first end and a second end. the first end of the lever being mounted to the spool shaft, the lever defining an elongate slot; a planetary gear mechanism including a sun gear mounted coaxially for rotation with the main gear of the reel, an outer toothed ring fixed relative to the casing disposed about the sun gear, and a planetary gear is disposed between the sun gear and the outer ring, the planetary gear defining a projection which is located in the elongate slot; and a pivot about which the second end of the lever is mounted on a pivot; the arrangement being such that movement of the projection about a circular path occurs when the main gear is turned, which causes the lever to oscillate about the pivot moving the first end of the lever and hence the spool shaft.

12. A mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sun gear is mounted on the reverse, non-toothed face of the main gear.

13. A mechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sun gear is disposed on the opposite side of the spool shaft to the main gear and linked to the main gear via a shaft.