Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21 78976
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
SPOOL SUPPORTING STRUCTURE OF SPINNING REEL
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a spinning reel for
fishing and, more particularly, to an improvement in a
spool supporting structure in a spinning reel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fig. 18 shows a spool section o~ a conventional
spinning reel. A spool 102 on which a fishing line is
wound is rotatably supported on a main shaft 101 as a
shaft center. The spool 102 in which the main shaft 101
is inserted has a recessed holding bore 104 around the
front shaft center portion of the spool 102; inside the
holding bore 104 are assembled a multitude of drag
washers 106 in a laminated manner. In the open end of
the holding bore 104 an approximately C-shaped retainer
105 is elastically fitted to prevent accidental removal
of the drag washers 106.
On the forward end of the main shaft 101 is
engagedly mounted a drag knob 103, the end face of which
is inserted into the opening section of the holding bore
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104 to press a cluster of the drag washers 106 with a
predetermined pressure. The amount of compression of
the drag washers 106 is increased or decreased by
turning this drag knob, thereby adjusting the amount of
reversion resistance of the spool 102.
In the conventional spinning reel of the above
constitution, the drag washers 106, being worn with
frequent use, will require replacement after a
predetermined period of time.
When the drag washers 106 of the above-described
spinning reel are replaced, it is necessary to replace
the cluster of the drag washers 106 by removing the drag
knob 103 from the forward end of the main shaft 101, and
then by removing the retainer 105 which is elastically
fitted in the opening section of the holding bore 104 of
the spool 101. This work, however, is very troublesome
because it needs the use of a special tool to remove the
retainer 105 carefully.
Furthermore, when replacement of the spool 102 is
required in order to change the line, the drag knob 103
must be removed; therefore when spool replacement is to
be done at a rocky place or at a fishing spot surrounded
with water, the drag knob 103 thus removed will be
clumsily handled to be lost.
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SUMMARY OF THE lNV~N'l'ION
It is an object of the present invention to provide
a structure which facilitates drag washer replacement in
the conventional spinning reel stated above, and also
spool replacement without removing the drag knob.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a structure which allows spool replacement while
maintaining a preset drag pressure.
It is further another object of the present
invention to provide a structure that enables spool
replacement with only one control.
Further objects and advantages of the invention can
be more fully understood from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view showing a spool
section of a spinning reel according to the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a draw washer
under replacement;
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Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a spool under
replacement;
Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view showing a spool
section of a spinning reel of another embodiment;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line (5)-(5)
in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a draw washer
under replacement;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the spool
under replacement;
Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view showing a spool
section of a spinning reel of another embodiment;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line (9)-(9)
in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the drag
washer under replacement;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the spool
under replacement;
Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view showing the spool
section of the spinning reel of another embodiment;
Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along line (13)-
(13) in Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view showing the spool
section of the spinning reel of another embodiment;
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Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along line (15)-
(15) in Fig. 14;
Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the spool
under replacement;
Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing the drag
washer under replacement; and
Fig. 18 is a cross sectional view showing a spool
section of a conventional spinning reel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter one embodiment of a spool supporting
structure of a spinning reel according to the present
invention will be explained with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figs. 1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present
invention, wherein a reference numeral 1 denotes a spool
shaft of a known structure, which is stroked backward
and forward by turning an unillustrated handle.
On the outer periphery of the spool shaft 1 a
stationary drag body 2 is fitted.
The stationary drag body 2 is made of a stainless
steel or other metal or of a plastic material, and is
composed of a cylindrical fitting section 20 which is
fitted on the outer periphery of the main shaft 1, and a
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disk-shaped resistance plate 21 provided in a collar
form on the outer peripheral surface of the rear end of
the fitting section 20. The stationary drag body 2 is
of such a constitution that a pin 10 is inserted into
the fitting section 20 and the main shaft 1 so that the
stationary drag body 2 and the main shaft 1 will rotate
as one body. On the outer periphery of the fitting
section 20 of the stationary drag body 2 a rotary drag
body 3 is rotatably mounted. The rotary drag body 3,
like the stationary drag body 2, is formed of a metal
such as stainless steel or a plastic material,
comprising a fitting section 30 fitted on the outer
periphery of the fitting section 20 of the stationary
drag body 2 and a disk-shaped resistance plate 31
mounted in a form of collar on the outer peripheral
surface of the rear end of the fitting section 30. On
the inner periphery of the fitting section 31 a brass
sleeve 32 is fitted integrally and rotatable with
respect to the outer peripheral surface of the fitting
section 21 of the stationary drag body 2.
Both the resistance plates 21 and 32 of the
stationary drag body 2 and the rotary drag body 3 which
are mutually fitted as described above face to each
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other as shown in Fig. l; between these resistance
plates 21 and 32 a drag washer 4 is inserted.
The drag washer 4 is a ring-type (doughnut-type)
plate washer produced of cork or carbon fiber, and is
fitted in a recess section 22 formed in the mating
surface of the resistance plate 21 on the stationary
side and held in this state between the resistance
plates 21 and 32.
A spool 5 is engagedly fitted and firmly tightened
on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting section
30 of the rotary drag body 3.
The spool 5 is a cylindrical body fitted to cover
the outer periphery of the rotary drag body 3, and has a
through hole 50 along the axial center section.
The spool 5 is provided with an internal thread
section 51 in the inner periphery which is the smallest
inside diameter section of the through hole 50. This
internal thread section 51 is engaged with an external
thread section 33 formed in the outer peripheral surface
of the fitting section 30 of the rotary drag body 3.
Further, the spool 5 is so constituted that as the
internal thread section 51 is tightened further, the
rear end face 52 of the internal thread section 51 comes
into contact with the front face of the resistance plate
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31 of the rotary drag body 3, thereby locking the rotary
drag body 3.
The internal thread section 51 of the spool 5 has a
larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of a
drag knob 6.
On the forward end portion of the spool shaft 1 the
drag knob 6 is engagedly mounted.
The drag knob 6 formed substantially cylindrical is
produced of aluminum or synthetic resin; in a screw hole
61 formed in the shaft center of one end face, the
forward end of the main shaft 1 is engaged, so that the
spool can be moved for adjustment in the axial direction
of the main shaft 1 by turning the drag knob 6 in both
the normal and reverse directions.
The outside diameter of the drab knob 6 formed
substantially cylindrical is made somewhat smaller than
the inside diameter of the internal thread section 51
which is the smallest inside diameter of the spool 5.
Thus there exists no interference between the inner
peripheral surface of the spool 5 and the outer
peripheral surface of the drag knob 6, thereby allowing
the removal and mounting of the spool 5 in relation to
the fitting section-30 of the rotary drag body 3 without
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removing the drag knob 6 from the forward end of the
main shaft 1.
Also, around the screw hole 61 in one end face of
the drag knob 6 is formed a circular deep groove 62, in
which a drag spring 7 is inserted.
The drag spring 7 is an elastic body of a coil
spring produced of a relatively thick wire, for pressing
the resistance plate 30 of the rotary drag body 3
against the resistance plate 20 of the stationary drag
body 2. The drag spring 7 is elastically fitted in a
compressed state between the deep groove 62 of the drag
knob 6 and the end face of the fitting section 30 of the
rotary drag body 3. It should be noticed that the
elastic body for pressing the resistance plate 20 is not
limited to the above-mentioned drag spring 7 formed in
the shape of coil spring and may be any form that can
variably adjust the pressure of the resistance plate 20
by moving the drag knob 6.
As described above, a metal washer 23 and a ring-
shaped locking plate 8 of Teflon resin are fitted on the
outer periphery of the forward end portion of the
fitting section 20 of the stationary drag body 2 with
which the end of the drag spring 7 is in contact.
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The locking plate 8 has an approximately oval inner
bore, and a narrow part of the inner bore is fitted in a
slot formed oppositely to the outer peripheral surface
of the fitting section 20, thereby locking in relation
to the stationary drag body 2.
The locking plate 8 is loosely fitted in a groove
34 provided in the inner periphery of the opening
section on the forward end side of the fitting section
30 of the rotary drag body 3, and a set ring 9 is
elastically fitted in the groove 34 to thereby develop
locking action in the axial direction.
At the front of the spool 5 is provided a rink-
shaped drag guard 52, the outer peripheral edge of which
is retained in a loose-fit state by a ring-shaped
retainer 53 threadedly mounted at the front face of the
spool 5 in such a manner that the spool will freely
rotate without disturbing rotation of the drag knob 6.
At the front face of the drag guard 52, two guard
plates 54 which draw a circle continuing to a spherical
surface at the forward end of the drag knob 6 are
protruding forwardly, thereby preventing the line from
tangling on the drag knob 6 by the guard plates 54
provided on both sides of the drag knobs 6. The inside
diameter of the drag guard 53 is a little larger than
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the outside diameter of the drag knob 6, so that the
drag guard 53 can freely be inserted and removed
together with the spool 5.
In the spinning reel of the above-described
constitution, when the spool 5 is to be replaced, the
drag knob 6 is fully tightened as shown in Fig. 3, and
then the spool 5 is turned to disengage the thread
engagement sections 33 and 51. After all the thread
engagement sections have been disengaged, the spool 5 is
ready to be pulled out along the outer periphery of the
drag knob 6. After the removal of the spool 5, a new
spool 5 is inserted into engagement with, and tightened
relative to, the fitting section 30 of the rotary drag
body 3. Thereafter, the drag knob 6 is loosened to an
appropriate position, in which the spinning reel is
ready for use.
Since the spool 5 is releasably engaged and
tightened on the outer periphery of the fitting section
30 of the rotary drag body 3 and the minimum inside
diameter of the through hole 50 of the spool is larger
than the maximum outside diameter of the drag knob 6
which is engaged with the forward end of the spool shaft
1, it is possible to remove the spool 5 from the outer
periphery of the spool shaft 1 and easily replace it
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with a new one. Therefore, it has become unnecessary,
unlike conventional ones, to remove the drag knob 6 at
the time of replacement of the spool 5. It is possible
to obviate such a trouble as the loss of the drag knob 6
at a fishing spot.
Also since the drag washer 4 can be replaced by
removing the drag knob 6 from the forward end of the
spool shaft 1 and pulling off the rotary drag body 3 and
the spool 5 from the outer periphery of the fitting
section 20 of the stationary drag body 2 as shown in
Fig. 2, the replacement of the drag washer 4 can easily
be conducted as compared with the conventional one which
requires the use of a special tool to remove the drag
washer retainer.
Furthermore, when replacing the drag washer 4, it
is possible to perform drag washer replacement by
removing the drag knob 6 from the spool shaft l and then
by pulling the spool 5 and the rotary drag body 3 from
the fitting section 20 of the stationary drag body 2.
It is possible to change drag characteristics by
changing the combination of the materials of the
resistance places 21 and 31 of both the stationary drag
body 2 and the rotary drag body 3, thereby enabling the
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application of the drag characteristics of the spinning
reel according to purposes of use.
For example, the resistance plates 21 and 31
mounted both sides of the drag washer 4, if produced
both of stainless steel or reinforced resin, will slip
with rotation of the spool 5, enabling to stabilize drag
operation when the line is fed out from the spool 5.
It is also possible to obtain a great drag by using
the resistance plates 21 and 31 produced of stainless
steel and the drag washers 4 produced of cork material.
The use of the resistance plates 21 and 31 produced
of reinforced resin and the drag washers 4 produced of
cork material produces a less drag than the use of a
combination of stainless steel resistance plates 21 and
31 and cork drag washers 4, but can obtain a stabilized
drag characteristic.
It is also possible to obtain a stabilized drag by
using the resistance plates 21 and 31 of stainless steel
and the drag washer 4 of carbon fiber. The drag washer
4 is made of glass fiber sandwiched with carbon cloth
and further impregnated with resin and set.
Furthermore, it is possible to obtain a drag
characteristic of a stabilized drag even when the
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reinforced resin resistance plates 21 and 31 and carbon
fiber drag washer 4 are used.
Hereinafter another embodiment of the present
invention will be explained with reference to the
accompanying drawings. A part of the embodiment that
has been described will not be explained to prevent
redundancy.
In the present embodiment, as shown in Figs. 4 to
7, a drag adjusting member 63 is engagedly mounted on
the forward end of the spool shaft 1 mounted with the
stationary drag body 2 in which the rotary drag body 3
is fitted; the drag spring 7 is elastically mounted
between the drag adjusting member 63 and the forward end
of the rotary drag body 3; and the spool 5 provided with
the drag knob 6 which is engaged for operation with the
drag adjusting member 63 is engaged with the rotary drag
body 3.
An anti-reverse mechanism A is formed throughout
the resistance plate 21 in the stationary drag body 2
and the resistance plate 31 of the rotary drag body 3
for the purpose of preventing reverse rotation of the
spool 5.
The anti-reverse mechanism A is so adapted as to
allow removal of the spool S from the rotary drag body 3
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without turning the spool S if the drag is set at a
lower value than the tightening force required to
tighten the spool 5 to the rotary drum body 3 when the
spool 5 is replaced. The spool can be replaced while
maintaining the drag set by the anti-reverse mechanism
A, thereby obviating such a trouble as drag re-setting
every time the spool is replaced.
The drag adjusting member 63 engagedly mounted on
the spool shaft 1 is a cylindrical part having a
hexagonal cross section, and is engaged with the drag
knob 6 in the spool 5. With the rotation of the drag
knob 6,the drag adjusting member 63 moves in the axial
direction of the spool shaft 1. There is provided a
deep groove 62A formed as if surrounding the screw hole
61 in the axial direction from the rear end face of the
drag adjusting member 63. In this deep groove 62A the
drag spring 7 is inserted.
It should be noted that the sectional form of the
drag adjusting member 63 is not limited to the hexagonal
cross section and may be any form if it is engages with
the drag knob 6, rotating together as one body.
The drag knob 6 rotatably mounted and locked on the
forward end of the spool 5 is provided with a projection
66 on a disk-like base plate 64 having a larger diameter
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than the minimum diameter of the through hole 50 of the
spool 5. On the outer peripheral surface of this
projection 66 an operating section 67 is formed,
extending to the vicinity of the outer periphery of the
base plate 64, at right angles with the axial direction.
The retainer 53 engagedly fitted at the front face of
the spool 6 rotatably retains the outer peripheral edge
of the base plate 64.
In the rear end face of the drag knob 6 there is
provided an engaging hole 68 which fits the sectional
form of the drag adjusting member 63. In this engaging
hole 68 is mounted the drag adjusting member 63 with the
spool 5 engaged with the rotary drag body 3.
The spool 6 in the spinning reel of the above-
described constitution, when replaced, can be pulled off
in the axial direction by turning out of engagement with
the rotary drag body 3 as shown in Fig. 7.
Subsequently, replacement can be accomplished by
reversing the procedure of removal after fitting the
spool to be mounted.
When the drag washer 4 requires replacement, the
drag knob 6 is turned in a direction in which the drag
will decrease; at this time the drag adjusting member 63
which is engagedly mounted on the spool shaft 1 turns as
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one body, allowing the removal of the drag washer 4 from
the spool shaft 1 as shown in Fig. 6. The rotary drag
member 3, being engaged with the spool 5, is drawn out
as one body together with the spool 5. The drag washer
4 is exposed so as to be replaceable. A new drag washer
4 can be mounted by reversing the procedure of the
above-described operation.
In either of the replacement of the spool 5 and the
replacement of the drag washer 4, the drag knob 6, being
freely rotatable and locked in relation to the spool 5,
can be protected from such a trouble as falling or
missing, ensuring safe handling of the spinning reel at
a fishing place.
Also since the drag knob 6 is larger in diameter
than the minimum diameter of the through hole of the
spool 5, the drag knob 6 can be handled properly if a
small-sized reel is employed.
Hereinafter another embodiment of the spool support
mechanism of the spinning reel according to the present
invention will be explained with reference to the
accompanying drawings. Members explained in the above-
described embodiment will not be explained to prevent
redundancy.
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21 78976
The support spool mechanism of the spinning reel
of the present embodiment is equipped with a ratchet
mechanism R which composes the anti-reverse mechanism A
of such a design that, as shown in Figs. 8 to 11, when
the rotary drag body 3 rotates in a direction in which
the spool is removed from the rotary drag body 3,
ranging from the resistance plate 21 in the stationary
drag body 2 secured on the spool shaft 1 and the
resistance plate 31 in the rotary drag body 3 fitted in
the stationary drag body 2, the rotary dra~ body 3 is
locked to the stationary drag body 2, and when the
rotary drag body 3 rotates in a direction in which the
spool is tightened to the rotary drag body 3, the rotary
drag body 3 rotates in relation to the stationary drag
body 2.
The ratchet mechanism R comprises an engaging plate
Rl which constitutes a part of the ratchet mechanism R
provided at the front end face of the resistance plate
21 in the stationary drag body 2 and an engaging section
R2 which constitutes a part of the ratchet mechanism R
provided on the peripheral surface of the end portion of
the resistance plate 31 in the rotary drag body 3.
The engaging plate Rl is made in a form of long
piece having a round mounting bore Rll at center, and in
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an approximately square form at the forward end on one
side of the engaging plate Rl; the other end is tapered
as it goes toward the forward end. Furthermore, a
cylindrical member R12 which has the same inside
diameter as the mounting bore Rll is formed as one body
on the same axis as the mounting bore Rll.
The engaging plate Rl is attached by a screw E in
the mounting bore Rll to the resistance plate 2A in the
stationary drag body 2 in such a manner that it will
rotate on the center of the axial direction.
A coil spring F is mounted on the cylindrical
member R12 of the engaging plate Rl, with one end of the
coil spring C attached on a projecting portion 21A
provided on the resistance plate 21 so that one end of
the engaging plate Rl will constantly be pulled outward
in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the
other end of the engaging plate Rl is held in contact
with the projecting portion 21A provided on the
resistance plate 21 to thereby restrict the rotation of
the engaging plate Rl.
The engaging section R2 is composed of recessed and
projecting portions R21 and R22 which continue along the
peripheral side edge of the resistance plate 31. The
forward end of the projecting portion R22 is inclined
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toward the inner periphery to form an inclined surface
R23, and also the base portion of the inclined surface
R23 is positioned outside of the forward end of the
engaging plate Rl.
In the ratchet mechanism R of the above-described
constitution, the engaging section Rl is engaged with,
and disengaged from, the engaging plate R2, thereby
restricting the rotation of the rotary drag body 3.
Therefore when the rotary drag body 3 rotates in a
direction in which the spool 5 comes off from the rotary
drag body 3, the rotary drag body 3 is locked to the
stationary drag body 2.
Also when the rotary drag body 3 rotates in a
direction in which the spool 5 is tightened to the
rotary drag body 3, the rotary drag body 3 rotates in
relation to the stationary drag body 2.
To replace the spool 5 of the spinning reel of the
above-described constitution, the spool 5 can be pulled
off in the axial direction by turning to disengage from
the rotary drag body 3 as shown in Fig. 11. At this
time, the rotary drag body 3 is locked to the stationary
drag body 2 by means of the ratchet mechanism R.
Subsequently the spool 5 to be installed is screwed into
the rotary drag body 3.
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Furthermore, to replace the drag washer 4, when the
drag knob 6 is turned in a direction in which the drag
is decreased as shown in Fig. 10, the drag knob 6
engaged with the spool shaft 1 comes off from the spool
shaft 1. At this time, the rotary drag body 3, being
engaged with the spool 5, is pulled out as one body
together with the spool 5, so that the drag washer 4 is
exposed out to be ready for replacement. The drag
washer 4, after replacement, can be assembled by
reversing the procedure described above. In this case,
if the forward end position of the engaging plate Rl of
the ratchet mechanism R is not properly aligned with the
recessed section R21 of the ratchet mechanism R, the
forward end of the engaging plate Rl is guided along the
inclined surface R23 in the projecting portion R22 of
the ratchet mechanism R.
According to the above-described constitution,
since the spool 5 can be replaced by disengaging it
without removing the drag knob 6, there will not occur
such an accident that the drag knob 6 will drop to be
lost at the time of replacement of the spool 5.
Also since the spool 5 can be replaced while
holding the drag set by the operation of the anti-
reverse mechanism A, it is possible to eliminate a
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trouble of setting the drag every time the spool 5 is
replaced.
The anti-reverse mechanism A may be a one-way
clutch W shown in Figs. 12 and 3.
The one-way clutch W is made in a form of flat non-
circular cylinder and inserted between the outer
peripheral surface of the fitting section 20 of the
stationary drag body 2 and the inner peripheral surface
of the fitting section 30 of the rotary drag body 3.
The one-way clutch W is releasably fitted in oval
engagement in the rotary drag body 3 so as to turn as
one body and as to move in and out of the opening
section of the rotary drag body 3. Also, the one-way
clutch W can be axially inserted in, and pulled out of,
the stationary drag body 2.
The one-way clutch W is of such a design that when
the rotation of the rotary drag body 3 turns the spool 5
in a direction in which the spool 5 will come off from
the rotary drag body 3, the anti-reverse mechanism of
the one-way clutch W acts on the stationary drag body 2
to lock the rotary drag body 3 to the stationary drag
body 2; and when the rotation of the rotary drag body 3
turns the spool 5 in a direction in which the spool will
be tightened to the rotary drag body 3, the rotary drag
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body 3 rotates in relation to the stationary drag body
2.
By this constitution the same effect as in the case
of the ratchet mechanism R is obtainable. Furthermore
even if the one-way clutch has any trouble, the spinning
reel instantly becomes usable by replacing the one-way
clutch W.
Hereinafter another embodiment of the present
invention will be explained with reference to the
accompanying drawings. Same members as those in the
above-described embodiment will not be explained to
prevent redundancy.
According to the present embodiment, as shown in
Figs. 14 to 17, the forward end of the spool shaft 1
which is fastened to the stationary drag body 2 is
formed conical and a series of latching recesses 12 are
provided in a ring form at the rear end of the conical
section 11.
A projecting portion 35 is provided, along the
axial direction of the rotary drag body 3, on the outer
periphery of the rotary drag body 3 which is rotatably
and axially removably mounted on the stationary drag
body 2; and a groove 55 in which the projecting portion
fits is provided in the through hole 50 of the spool 5
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which is releasably mounted in the rotary drag body 3.
Thus the spool 5 is releasable and rotatable as one body
with the rotary drag body 3.
There is provided a through hole 69 open in the
axial direction through the drag knob 6 at the center of
the bottom of the recess section 68 in which the drag
knob 6 rotatably mounted and locked on the forward end
of the spool 6 fits. And a ring spring S which fits in
the latching recess 12 in the spool shaft 1 is mounted
at the bottom surface of the engaging recess 68.
The ring spring S is produced of a metal wire which
is bent in a circular form, and has a holding section S3
comprising straight levers Sl and S2 with its both ends
bent parallelly in the diametrical direction of a
circle. The width of the holding section S3 corresponds
to the width of the latching recess 12 in the spool
shaft 1.
The ring spring S thus formed is attached in the
recess 68A formed at the bottom of the engaging recess
68 and is retained by a ring-shaped retaining plate B
inserted in the engaging recess 12 and by a clip ring C
for keeping the retaining plate B in position.
An expanding tube D inserted through from the
through hole 69 in the drag knob 6 serves to spread the
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holding section S3 of the ring spring S; its front end
protrudes out of the through hole, while the opposite
faces on the diametral line of its rear end are tapered
to form a tapered surface Dl, so that the expanding tube
D will be fitted in between the straight levers
composing the holding section S3 of the ring spring S,
and that the holding section S3 will be expanded by
pressing the expanding tube D to thereby remove the ring
spring S from the latching recess 12.
To replace the spool 5 in the spinning reel of the
above-described constitution, the expanding tube D is
pressed to spread the holding section S3 to remove from
the latching recess 12, and the spool 5 is ready to be
pulled off in the axial direction. The spool 5, when
installed, is fitted onto the spool shaft 1 to thereby
expand the holding section S3 of the ring spring S by
the conical section 11 on the forward end of the spool
shaft 1. When the spool 5 is inserted through the
conical section 11, the holding section S3 engages with
the latching recess 12 in the spool shaft 1 to hold the
spool 5 on the spool shaft 1.
When the drag washer 4 requires replacement, the
drag knob 6 is turned in a direction in which the drag
will decrease, and the drag adjusting member 63 in
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21 7~976
engagement with the spool shaft 1 rotates as one body,
coming off the spool shaft l; and when the spool 5 and
the rotary drag body 3 are pulled off in order, the drag
washer 4 is exposed to be ready for replacement as shown
in Fig. 17. After the replacement of the drag washer 4,
the spool 5 can be installed by reversing the above-
described procedure.
According to the spinning reel of the aforesaid
constitution, when the spool 5 and the drag washer
require replacement, it is possible to prevent such a
trouble as the drop and loss of the drag knob 6,
ensuring safe handling of the spinning reel at a fishing
spot.
Furthermore, even when the reel is small in size,
the drag knob 6 can be handled easily, enabling the
provision of spinning reels of various sizes from small
to large types.
Furthermore, since installation and removal of the
spool 5 can easily be performed without decreasing the
drag, it is possible to replace the spool 5 very
efficiently and restart fishing within a short time.
Having described specific preferred embodiments of
the invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings, it will be appreciated that the present
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invention is not limited to those precise embodiments,
and that various changes and modifications can be
effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
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