阅读说明：本技术 钓线引导件、包括钓线引导件的钓竿和钓线引导件的坯件 (Fishing line guide, fishing rod comprising the same, and blank for fishing line guide ) 是由 大村一仁 于 2019-08-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种引导钓线的钓线引导件,其附接到钓竿的竿体。钓线引导件包括环保持部和从环保持部延伸的第一支撑腿部。环保持部包括内周部、外周部和在内周部和外周部之间沿周向方向延伸的环形部。环保持部在内周部处联接到引导环。第一支撑腿部具有与外周部连接的一对侧表面。环保持部包括一对扭曲部,其形成外周部的一部分和环形部的一部分,并且分别从环形部朝向第一支撑腿部的侧表面扭曲到外周部。(A fishing line guide for guiding a fishing line is attached to a rod body of a fishing rod. The fishing line guide includes a ring holding portion and a first support leg extending from the ring holding portion. The ring holding portion includes an inner circumferential portion, an outer circumferential portion, and an annular portion extending in a circumferential direction between the inner circumferential portion and the outer circumferential portion. The ring holding portion is coupled to the guide ring at the inner peripheral portion. The first support leg has a pair of side surfaces connected to the outer peripheral portion. The ring holding portion includes a pair of twisted portions that form a part of the outer peripheral portion and a part of the annular portion, and are twisted from the annular portion to the outer peripheral portion toward a side surface of the first support leg portion, respectively.)

1. A fishing line guide comprising:

a ring holder including an inner peripheral portion, an outer peripheral portion, and an annular portion extending in a circumferential direction between the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion, wherein the ring holder is coupled to a guide ring at the inner peripheral portion; and

a first support leg portion extending downward from the ring holding portion and having a pair of side surfaces connected to the outer peripheral portion,

wherein the ring holding portion includes a pair of twisted portions that form a part of the outer peripheral portion and a part of the annular portion and are twisted from the annular portion to the outer peripheral portion toward the pair of side surfaces of the first support leg portion, respectively.

2. The fishing line guide of claim 1, wherein the width of the ring-retaining portion gradually decreases from an upper end of the twisted portion toward a lower end of the twisted portion when the fishing line guide is viewed from the side.

3. The fishing line guide of claim 1 wherein the width of the loop retaining portion at the lower end of the twisted portion is the same as the width at the upper end of the first support leg when the fishing line guide is viewed from the side.

4. The line guide of claim 1 wherein the first support leg includes a bend that is curved relative to the ring holder and extends from a connection where the first support leg connects with the ring holder, and

wherein, when the fishing line guide is viewed from the side, the front contour of the curved portion is located above or at a position further forward than the front contour of the ring holding portion.

5. The line guide of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of twists comprises:

a twisted surface extending while being twisted toward one of a pair of side surfaces of the first support leg;

a peripheral contour where the peripheral portion meets the twisted surface; and

an inner peripheral contour where the annular portion meets the twisted surface, and

wherein the twisted surface comprises:

a first surface forming a portion of the annular portion and abutting the outer peripheral portion by the outer peripheral contour;

a second surface that is continuous from the first surface in a circumferential direction, and that adjoins the outer peripheral portion and the annular portion by the outer peripheral contour and the inner peripheral contour, respectively, and that is twisted toward one of the pair of side surfaces of the first support leg portion; and

a third surface that is continuous from the second surface in a circumferential direction, and that abuts the annular portion by the inner peripheral contour, and that forms a part of the outer peripheral portion.

6. The line guide of claim 5 wherein the outer peripheral profile is continuous with a front profile of the first support leg and the inner peripheral profile is continuous with a rear profile of the first support leg when the line guide is viewed from the side.

7. The line guide of claim 1, further comprising a pair of second support legs extending from the loop portions of the loop retaining portions, respectively,

wherein the pair of twisted portions are respectively located between a connecting portion where the first support leg portion is connected with the outer peripheral portion and a connecting portion where the pair of second support leg portions is connected with the annular portion.

8. The fishing line guide of claim 1 wherein the peripheral portion has a curved surface that extends along the inner peripheral portion in the circumferential direction and that curves relative to the inner peripheral portion and faces a tip of the fishing rod.

9. A fishing rod comprising:

a rod body; and

the fishing line guide of any of claims 1 to 8,

wherein a fishing line guide is attached to the rod body.

10. A blank machined into a fishing line guide, the fishing line guide comprising:

a ring holding portion having an inner circumferential portion, an outer circumferential portion, and an annular portion extending in a circumferential direction between the inner circumferential portion and the outer circumferential portion; and

a first support leg portion extending from the ring holding portion and having a pair of side surfaces connected to the outer peripheral portion, wherein the ring holding portion includes a pair of twisted portions that form a part of the outer peripheral portion and a part of the annular portion and that are twisted from the annular portion to the outer peripheral portion toward the pair of side surfaces of the first support leg portion, respectively,

the blank comprises:

a head portion processed into the ring holding portion and having a curved edge portion forming the outer peripheral portion and the annular portion; and

a first leg extending from the head and machined into the first support leg,

wherein the curved edge portion comprises:

a pair of first curved edge portions respectively adjoining the first leg portions, each first curved edge portion having a first curved width, and the first curved edge portions becoming wider as the first curved edge portions extend away from the first leg portions, the first curved width increasing in a radial direction; and

a second curved edge portion located between the pair of first curved edge portions and having a second curved width uniform in the radial direction, and

wherein when the first curved edge portion and the second curved edge portion are curved, an outer peripheral surface of the first curved edge portion is formed as the pair of twisted portions, and an outer peripheral surface of the second curved edge portion is formed as a part of the ring portion.

11. The blank of claim 10, wherein a connection of the first leg to the head portion is not bent when the first and second curved edge portions are bent.

12. The blank according to claim 10, wherein the fishing line guide has a pair of second support legs extending from the ring-shaped portions, respectively,

wherein the blank further comprises a pair of second legs extending from the second curved edge portion and machined into the pair of second support legs, respectively, and

wherein the pair of first curved edge portions are respectively located between a connecting portion where the first leg portion is connected to the head portion and a connecting portion where the pair of second leg portions is connected to the second curved edge portion.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fishing line guide attached to a fishing rod and guiding a fishing line, and a fishing rod including the fishing line guide. Further, the present disclosure relates to a blank processed into a fishing line guide.

Background

A fishing line guide for guiding a fishing line in a fishing rod has a guide ring through which the fishing line passes, and a frame that is fixed to the fishing rod by winding the line and holds the guide ring.

The guide ring is formed of a hard material such as ceramic. The frame is formed by press working (e.g., bending, drawing) a metal plate material made of a metal material such as stainless steel, titanium, or brass. For example, the frame is formed by press working so that it integrally has a ring holding portion that holds the guide ring, an attachment foot that is fixed to the fishing rod by a winding wire, and a support leg that supports the ring holding portion. The fishing line guide may be made by fitting a guide ring to the ring holding part and fixing the guide ring to the ring holding part with an adhesive.

Several fishing line guides are attached to a single fishing rod. For example, in the case where the total length of the fishing rod is about 3 meters, about 10 line guides may be attached to the fishing rod. Therefore, the weight ratio of the fishing line guide in the fishing rod increases, and the fishing rod requires a weight reduction of the fishing line guide. During fishing, the fishing line often covers the line guide and may get tangled onto the line guide. For this reason, the ring holding part, which is often covered with the fishing line, may be formed into a cylindrical shape by a drawing process so as not to damage the fishing line. The ring holding portion drawn into a cylindrical shape can prevent the guide ring from directly contacting a surrounding object and thus being broken.

As an example of a fishing line guide, japanese patent application laid-open No.1999-225628 (patent document 1) discloses a fishing line guide having a ring holding portion drawn in a cylindrical shape. As another example of the fishing line guide, japanese registered patent publication No.3072313 (patent document 2) discloses a fishing line guide in which a support leg portion is bent directly forward from a drawn-out ring holding portion.

A prior art fishing line guide is described below with reference to fig. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 shows a prior art fishing line guide similar to the fishing line guide disclosed in patent document 2, for example. Figure 2 is a rear view of the fishing line guide shown in figure 1. The fishing line guide 800 has a ring holding part 820 which holds the guide ring 810 and has a ring shape; there is also a front support leg 830 that extends from the ring holder 820 and curves forward relative to the ring holder 820.

The front support leg 830 is bent forward relative to the ring body 821 of the ring holder 820 at the joint end 831 where the front support leg is connected to the ring body 821. The front support leg 830 is bent forward relative to the ring body 821, and a portion between the front surface 822 of the ring body 821 and the engaging end 831 becomes a bending start portion 832. The concave portions CP are formed between the rear surface 823 of the ring body 821 and the curved front support leg 830 and between the front surface 822 of the ring body 821 and the curved front support leg 830, respectively. Further, the front support leg 830 is bent such that it does not project rearwardly from a plane extending through the rear surface 823 of the ring 821. Since the front support leg 830 is directly bent from the ring body 821, the lower portion of the ring body 821 is expanded and deformed outward. Therefore, the deformed portion DP is inevitably formed between the ring body 821 and the coupling end 831 of the front support leg 830. The deformed portion DP is subjected to excessive elongation with bending of the front support leg portion 830, and thus, a crack or break may be generated in the deformed portion DP.

The curve start 832 shown in figure 1 is located rearwardly of the front surface 822 of the toroid 821. In the case where the support leg portion is bent with respect to the ring holding portion, the bending start portion may be located in the middle of the annular body of the ring holding portion, or may be located near the front surface of the annular body of the ring holding portion. The fishing line can be easily caught by the recess CP. In order to make the depth of the concave portion CP shallow, it is necessary that the bending start portion where the support leg portion starts to bend is moved toward the front surface 822. However, the position of the bending start portion should be determined in consideration of the processing difficulty of bending the support leg portion.

An example of the prior art is described with reference to fig. 3A to 3D, in which a blank is machined into a ring holder and support legs are bent with respect to the ring holder. The blank has a shape formed by unfolding the fishing line guide into an unfolded pattern, and refers to a workpiece obtained from a metal plate material by a blanking process.

Figure 3A shows a portion of a blank for making a prior art line guide. Referring to fig. 3A, a prior art blank 900 may have a pan 910 and legs 920. The disk 910 has a substantially circular shape and may be machined into the annular body 821 of the ring holder 820 shown in fig. 1. The leg 920 extends from the pan 910 and may be machined into the front support leg 830 shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3B shows an example in which the disk portion of the blank is processed into an annular body of the ring holding portion by drawing. The entire edge portion of the disk portion 910 shown in fig. 3A is drawn into a cylindrical shape, thereby forming the annular body 821 of the annular holding portion 820 shown in fig. 1. The drawn annular body 821 has an annular front surface 822 on a front side of the annular body 821 and an annular rear surface 823 on a rear side of the annular body 821. The ring body 821 is formed by perpendicularly bending the entire edge of the disk portion 910 with respect to the disk portion 910. When the disk portion 910 is processed into the ring body 821, the leg portion 920 moves together with the bent edge portion of the disk portion 910 so as to be perpendicular with respect to the disk portion 910. That is, if the disk portion 910 is drawn into a cylindrical shape, the leg portion 920 protrudes from the rear surface 823 of the ring body 321 and is positioned perpendicularly with respect to the ring body 821, as shown in fig. 3B.

Fig. 3C shows an example of processing the support leg portion from the drawn annular body by bending. Referring to fig. 3C, the support leg 830 is bent from a vertical direction shown in fig. 3B to a horizontal direction shown in fig. 3A. Further, the support legs 830 are bent such that there is no recess between the front surface 822 of the ring body 821 and the support legs 830. As shown in fig. 3B and 3C, in order to exclude the concave portion, a corner portion between the front surface 822 of the toroidal body 821 and the leg portion 920 may become a portion where bending of the leg portion 920 starts. That is, the bending start portion 832 may be provided as a corner portion between the front surface 822 of the toroidal body 821 and the leg portion 920. In this case, when bending work is performed on the leg portion 920, a portion including the lower portion of the ring body 821, the lower portion of the rear surface 823, and the bending start portion 832 (i.e., a portion denoted by a reference numeral BP in fig. 3B) is bent and deformed downward and outward, thereby forming a circular deformed portion DP between the ring body 821 and the support leg portion 830. The deformed portion DP is excessively elongated by the bending process of the leg portion 920, and thus a crack SC is generated in the surface of the deformed portion DP. Such cracks SC reduce the strength of the fishing line guide. Further, if a fishing line guide in which a crack SC is generated in the deformed portion DP is used for fishing, the fishing line may be caught on the crack of the deformed portion DP. This results in the fishing line breaking.

In order to increase the elongation of the metal material to prevent the generation of cracks during the leg portion bending process, it may be considered to enlarge the sectional area of the elongated portion between the ring body 821 and the leg portion 920 and to increase the pressing pressure. However, in order to increase the sectional area, the thickness of the metal plate material must be made thicker. This inevitably increases the weight of the fishing line guide. In addition, increasing the pressing pressure during the bending process increases the difficulty of the bending process and decreases the pressing speed. This results in a reduction in productivity of the fishing line guide.

Fig. 3D shows another example of bending a leg portion according to the related art. Referring to fig. 3D, to reduce the difficulty of the leg bending process, the bend initiation 832 is located between the rear surface 823 of the ring 821 and the support legs 830. If the bending start portion 832 is positioned as shown in fig. 3D, the elongation amount of the deformation portion DP may be reduced at the upper end of the support leg portion 830. However, since the bending start portion 832 is located at the rear surface 823 of the ring body 821, the concave portion CP is inevitably formed between the ring body 821 (or the ring holding portion) and the support leg portion 830. Due to such a recess, the fishing line is caught on the fishing line guide, and the user must perform a cumbersome task of releasing the caught fishing line.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments of the present disclosure solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fishing line guide including a ring holding portion drawn into a cylindrical shape to prevent damage to a fishing line or damage to a guide ring. Further, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fishing line guide that does not have a recess that traps a fishing line between a ring holder and a support leg, and does not have a crack that causes breakage of the fishing line between the ring holder and the support leg. Further, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fishing line guide that is lightweight and strong. Further, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fishing line guide that prevents tangling or jamming of the fishing line and does not present a burdensome task for the user to release the jammed fishing line. Further, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a blank machined into the fishing line guide according to the foregoing embodiments.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a fishing line guide that is attached to a rod body of a fishing rod and guides a fishing line. A fishing line guide according to one embodiment includes a ring holder and a first support leg extending from the ring holder. The ring holding portion includes an inner circumferential portion, an outer circumferential portion, and an annular portion extending in a circumferential direction between the inner circumferential portion and the outer circumferential portion. The ring holding portion is coupled to the guide ring at the inner peripheral portion. The first support leg extends downwardly from the ring holding portion. The first support leg has a pair of side surfaces connected to the outer peripheral portion. The ring holding portion includes a pair of twisted portions. The pair of twisted portions form a part of the outer peripheral portion and a part of the annular portion. The pair of twisted portions are twisted from the annular portion to the outer peripheral portion toward the pair of side surfaces of the first support leg portion, respectively.

In one embodiment, the ring holding portion has a width gradually decreasing from an upper end of the twisted portion toward a lower end of the twisted portion when the fishing line guide is viewed from the side.

In one embodiment, the ring holding part has the same width at the lower end of the twisted part as the width at the upper end of the first support leg when the fishing line guide is viewed from the side.

In one embodiment, the first support leg comprises a bend which bends relative to the ring holder and extends from a connection where the first support leg connects with the ring holder. When the fishing line guide is viewed from the side, the front contour of the curved portion is located on or more forward than the front contour of the ring holding portion.

In one embodiment, each of the pair of twists includes: a twisted surface extending while being twisted toward one of a pair of side surfaces of the first support leg; a peripheral contour where the peripheral portion meets the twisted surface; and an inner peripheral profile where the annular portion meets the twisted surface.

The twisted surface includes: a first surface forming part of the annular portion and abutting the peripheral portion by a peripheral contour; a second surface continuous with the first surface in the circumferential direction and adjoining the outer peripheral portion and the annular portion by an outer peripheral contour and an inner peripheral contour, respectively, and twisted toward one of the pair of side surfaces of the first support leg portion; and a third surface that is continuous with the second surface in the circumferential direction, and that adjoins the annular portion by an inner circumferential profile and forms a part of the outer circumferential portion.

In one embodiment, the outer peripheral profile is continuous with the front profile of the first support leg and the inner peripheral profile is continuous with the rear profile of the first support leg when the line guide is viewed from the side.

In one embodiment, the fishing line guide further includes a pair of second support legs extending from the ring portions of the ring holders, respectively. The pair of twisted portions are respectively located between a connecting portion where the first support leg portion is connected to the outer peripheral portion and a connecting portion where the pair of second support leg portions is connected to the annular portion.

In one embodiment, the outer peripheral portion has a curved surface extending along the inner peripheral portion in the circumferential direction and curved with respect to the inner peripheral portion and facing the tip of the fishing rod.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a fishing rod including a fishing line guide according to one of the foregoing embodiments. A fishing line guide is attached to the rod body.

A further aspect of the present disclosure provides a blank for a fishing line guide machined to a fishing line guide according to one of the foregoing embodiments. A blank according to one embodiment includes a head and a first leg extending from the head. The head of the blank is machined into a ring-holding portion of the fishing line guide, and the first leg of the blank is machined into a first support leg of the fishing line guide. The head portion has an outer peripheral portion forming a ring holding portion and a curved edge portion forming a ring portion. The curved edge portion includes: a pair of first curved edge portions respectively adjoining the first leg portions, each of the first curved edge portions having a first curved width and widening as the first curved edge portion extends away from the first leg portion, the first curved width increasing in a radial direction; and a second curved edge portion located between the pair of first curved edge portions and having a second curved width that is uniform in a radial direction. When the first curved edge portion and the second curved edge portion are curved, the outer peripheral surface of the first curved edge portion is formed as a pair of twisted portions, and the outer peripheral surface of the second curved edge portion is formed as a part of the ring portion.

In one embodiment, when the first curved edge portion and the second curved edge portion are curved, the connection portion of the first leg portion to the head portion is not curved.

In one embodiment, the fishing line guide has a pair of second support legs each extending from the ring portion. The blank includes a pair of second legs extending from the second curved edge portion and machined into the pair of second support legs, respectively. The pair of first bent edge portions are respectively located between the connection portion where the first leg portion is connected to the head portion and the connection portion where the pair of second leg portions is connected to the second bent edge portion.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

Figure 1 is a side view showing a prior art fishing line guide.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the fishing line guide shown in figure 1.

Figure 3A shows a portion of a blank machined into a prior art line guide.

Fig. 3B shows an example in which the disk portion of the blank shown in fig. 3A is processed into the annular body of the ring holding portion by a drawing process.

Fig. 3C shows an example of processing the support leg portion from the ring-shaped body drawn out of the ring holder shown in fig. 3B by bending processing.

Fig. 3D shows another example of processing the support leg portion from the ring-shaped body drawn out of the ring holder shown in fig. 3B by bending processing.

Figure 4 is a side view of a fishing rod including a fishing line guide according to one embodiment.

Figure 5 is a side view of a fishing line guide according to one embodiment.

Figure 6 is a front view of a fishing line guide according to one embodiment.

Figure 7 is a rear view of a fishing line guide according to one embodiment.

Figure 8 is a bottom view of a fishing line guide according to one embodiment.

Figure 9 is a front perspective view of a fishing line guide according to one embodiment.

Figure 10 is a rear perspective view of a fishing line guide according to one embodiment.

Figure 11 is an enlarged side view illustrating a portion of a fishing line guide according to one embodiment.

Figure 12 shows a side view and a rear view of a fishing line guide according to one embodiment.

Figure 13 shows a fishing line guide and fishing line according to one embodiment.

Fig. 14 shows a state where the fishing line covers the fishing line guide.

Figure 15 shows an example where a fishing line is tangled between the ring holder and the support leg.

Figure 16 shows the movement of the fishing line shown in figure 15.

FIG. 17 illustrates a portion of the cross-sectional shape taken along line 71-71 of FIG. 16.

Figure 18 shows the movement of the fishing line shown in figure 16.

Figure 19 shows the movement of the fishing line shown in figure 16.

Figure 20 shows a comparative example of the inability of a tangled fishing line to move.

Fig. 21 shows a comparative example in which a right-angled edge is formed in the ring holder.

Figure 22 shows a blank machined into a fishing line according to one embodiment.

Fig. 23 schematically illustrates a portion of the head and leg portions in the blank.

Fig. 24 shows a portion of the head and legs in the blank, and also shows the outline of the head.

Fig. 25 schematically shows the head of the blank, the drawing die and the drawing punch before drawing.

Fig. 26A shows a schematic cross-sectional shape taken along line 81-81 of fig. 25.

Fig. 26B shows a schematic cross-sectional shape taken along line 82-82 of fig. 25.

Fig. 26C shows a schematic cross-sectional shape taken along line 83-83 of fig. 25.

FIG. 26D shows a schematic cross-sectional shape taken along line 84-84 of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 schematically illustrates a drawing die, a drawing punch and a head of a drawn blank

Fig. 28A shows a schematic cross-sectional shape taken along line 91-91 of fig. 27.

Fig. 28B shows a schematic cross-sectional shape taken along line 92-92 of fig. 27.

Fig. 28C shows a schematic cross-sectional shape taken along line 93-93 of fig. 27.

Fig. 28D shows a schematic cross-sectional shape taken along line 94-94 of fig. 27.

Fig. 29 shows a side view and a rear view of the drawn head together.

FIG. 30 shows a side view and a back view of a drawn head in accordance with another embodiment.

Figure 31 shows a side view and a rear view of a fishing line guide according to another embodiment.

Figure 32 is a rear view showing a fishing line guide with a single support leg.

Fig. 33 shows bending proof stress measurement tests of the examples and comparative examples.

Fig. 34 is a table showing the results of the bending proof stress measurement test.

Detailed Description

The embodiments of the present disclosure are shown for the purpose of explaining the technical concept of the present disclosure. The scope of rights according to the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments presented below or the detailed description of these embodiments.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein include meanings or definitions commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. All terms in this disclosure are selected to more clearly describe the present disclosure, and are not selected to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

As used in this disclosure, expressions such as "including," "comprising," "having," and the like are to be understood as open-ended terms with the possibility of covering other embodiments, unless otherwise stated in a phrase or sentence comprising such expressions.

Unless otherwise indicated, singular expressions described in the present disclosure may include plural expressions, which will also apply to singular expressions recited in the claims.

Expressions such as "first", "second", and the like shown in various embodiments of the present disclosure are used to distinguish a plurality of elements from each other, and are not intended to limit the order or importance of the respective elements.

In the present disclosure, it should be understood that the description of one element being "connected" or "coupled" to another element indicates that one element may be directly connected or coupled to the other element, and it should be further understood that a new element may be interposed between the one element and the other element.

As used herein, the directional terms "forward", "front", and the like refer to a direction toward the tip of the fishing rod, while the directional terms "rearward", "rear", and the like refer to a direction toward the tail of the fishing rod. Further, as used herein, the directional terms "upward," "upper," and the like are based on the direction in which the guide ring is positioned relative to the attachment foot, while the directional terms "downward," "lower," and the like refer to a direction opposite to the upward or upward direction.

The term "profile" as used herein refers to the line or line that forms the edge of the element as seen at the outermost side of the element when the line guide is viewed in one direction. For example, "front profile" refers to the line that forms the element edge furthest forward in a side view of the line guide. For example, "outer contour" refers to the line that forms the outermost edge of the element.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like or corresponding elements. Further, a repetitive description of the same or corresponding elements may be omitted in the following description of the embodiments. However, even if the description of the elements is omitted, it is not intended to exclude the elements in any embodiment.

Figure 4 illustrates a fishing rod 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In fig. 4, arrow TD indicates a forward direction pointing towards the tip of the fishing rod, and arrow BD indicates a rearward direction pointing towards the tail of the fishing rod.

Referring to fig. 4, the fishing rod 10 includes a rod body 11. The rod body 11 has an elongated cylindrical shape. The rod body 11 serves as a structure for resisting various external forces acting on the fishing rod 10 and maintaining the shape of the fishing rod 10. The rod body 11 may be formed of a single tubular rod. Alternatively, the rod body 11 may be composed of a plurality of tubular rods. The fishing rod 10 includes a reel seat 12 near its rear end. A reel (not shown) for winding and containing fishing line may be removably attached to the reel seat 12.

The fishing rod 10 includes a plurality of fishing line guides 100, the fishing line guides 100 being attached to the rod body 11 and guiding a fishing line. The fishing line guide 100 guides a fishing line, which is unwound from a reel during casting of a fishhook or wound on the reel during fishing. As shown in fig. 4, a plurality of line guides 100 may be attached to the rod body 11, the plurality of line guides 100 having different sizes but the same configuration.

The fishing line guide 100 can be firmly fixed to the rod body 11 by means of the attachment pin and the winding line 13. That is, the attachment leg is firmly fixed to the rod body 11 by contacting the attachment leg with the outer surface of the rod body 11 and then densely winding the winding wire 13 around the attachment leg and a portion of the rod body 11 where the attachment leg is located. After winding the winding wire 13, an adhesive is applied on the wound winding wire 13. If the adhesive hardens, an adhesive coating 14 is formed over the entire wound wrap wire 13. The adhesive coating 14 prevents the wound wires from unwinding and filling the gaps between adjacent wound wires.

Referring to fig. 5-12, a fishing line guide according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is described. Figures 5 to 8 show side, front, rear and bottom views, respectively, of a fishing line guide according to one embodiment. A fishing line guide according to one embodiment includes a guide ring, a ring holder, and a support leg.

Reference is made to fig. 5 and 6 for the guide ring. The guide ring 110 has an annular shape and a circular opening 111 is formed therein. The outer circumferential surface of the guide ring 110 is formed as a flat surface. The guide ring 110 contacts the fishing line at the inner circumferential surface of the opening 111. The fishing line is guided by the fishing line guide 100 while passing through the opening 111 of the guide ring 110. The guide ring 110 may be made of a hard material, such as a ceramic material, which has excellent wear resistance.

Reference is made to fig. 5 to 8 with respect to the ring holder and the support leg. The ring holding portion 120 is configured to hold the guide ring 110. The support legs 130, 140 extend from the ring holding part 120 and support the ring holding part 120 with respect to the rod body 11. The ring holder 120 and the support legs 130, 140 are integrally formed. For example, a blank having a shape formed by unfolding the fishing line guide into an unfolded pattern may be obtained from a metal plate by subjecting the metal plate to press working (e.g., blanking). The workpiece in which the ring holder 120 and the support legs 130, 140 are integrally formed may be formed by subjecting such a blank to press working (e.g., drawing, bending). After forming such a workpiece, the guide ring 110 may be coupled to the ring holder 120. Since the guide ring 110 is a part to be coupled to the ring holder 120, a workpiece in which the ring holder 120 and the support legs 130, 140 are integrally formed may be referred to as a fishing line guide 100.

The ring holding hole 121 corresponding to the guide ring 110 penetrates in the ring holding part 120 in the forward and backward directions of the ring holding part 120. For example, the ring holding portion 120 may be formed by drawing an approximately circular portion of a blank into a cylindrical shape and then forming the ring holding hole 121 in the drawn cylindrical portion. Thus, the ring holding portion 120 includes an annular body in which the ring holding hole 121 is formed. The ring holding portion 120 formed as an annular body has an inner circumferential portion 122, an outer circumferential portion 123, and an annular portion 124.

The inner peripheral portion 122 is an inner peripheral surface of an annular body forming the ring holding portion 120. The guide ring 110 may be coupled to the ring holder 120 by fitting through the inner peripheral portion 122. Then, by applying an adhesive between the inner peripheral portion 122 and the ring holding portion 120, the guide ring 110 can be firmly fixed to the ring holding portion 120. Inner peripheral portion 122 has at least an annular mating surface 125, and guide ring 110 is coupled to mating surface 125. The mating surface 125 defines a ring retention aperture 121.

The outer peripheral portion 123 is an outer peripheral surface of an annular body forming the ring holding portion 120. In this embodiment, referring to fig. 5, the outer peripheral portion 123 meets the inner peripheral portion 122 at its front edge, and the annular portion 124 is located at the rear edges of the inner peripheral portion 122 and the outer peripheral portion 123. In other embodiments, annular portion 124 may be located forward of inner circumferential portion 122 and outer circumferential portion 123. Further, in this embodiment, the outer peripheral portion 123 has a curved surface 126 along its front edge. The curved surface 126 is located opposite the ring portion 124 and is disposed to face the tip of the fishing rod. The curved surface 126 extends along the inner circumferential portion 122 in the circumferential direction, and is curved with a curvature with respect to the inner circumferential portion 122. As shown in fig. 5, when the fishing line guide is viewed from the side, the curved surface 126 of the outer peripheral portion 123 forms a part of the front end surface of the ring holding portion 120. The front end surface of the ring holder 120 may have a flat surface in an area other than the curved surface 126. For example, the front end surface of the ring holding portion 120 may have a flat surface at the connection between the peripheral portion 123 and the support leg portion 130.

Referring to fig. 5 and 7, the ring portion 124 extends between the inner circumferential portion 122 and the outer circumferential portion 123 in the circumferential direction of the ring holding portion 120, and interconnects the inner circumferential portion 122 and the outer circumferential portion 123. In this embodiment, the ring portion 124 is positioned to face the tail of the fishing rod, i.e. to face backwards. Therefore, when the line guide is viewed from the side, the ring portion 124 forms the rear end surface of the ring holding portion 120 as shown in fig. 5. The rear end surface of the ring holding portion 120 is not a single flat surface when the fishing line guide is viewed from the side. A lower portion of the rear end surface is closer to the front end surface than a remaining portion of the rear end surface.

The support legs 130, 140 extend from the ring holder 120. The support legs 130, 140 contact the rod body 11 of the fishing rod at a portion thereof. In this embodiment, the support legs 130, 140 include a first support leg 130 and a pair of second support legs 140. A fishing line guide according to some embodiments may include only the first support leg 130.

The first support leg 130 extends downward from the ring holding part 120 and is bent with respect to the ring holding part 120. The first support leg 130 includes a connection portion 131, a bent portion 132, a support portion 133, and a first attachment foot 134. The first support leg 130 is connected to the ring holder 120 at a connection 131. The bent portion 132 extends from the connecting portion 131 and is bent with respect to the ring holding portion 120. The support portion 133 extends from the bent portion 132. The first attachment leg 134 extends from the support portion 133. The first support leg 130 contacts the rod body 11 of the fishing line guide at the first attachment foot 134. At the connecting portion 131, the bent portion 132, and the supporting portion 133 of the first support leg 130, the first support leg 130 has a surface defining the shape of the first support leg 130. That is, the first support leg 130 has a pair of side surfaces 135SL, a front surface 135SF, and a rear surface 135 SR. The side surface 135SL is directly connected to the outer peripheral portion 123 of the ring holder 120. Further, the side surface 135SL extends from the outer peripheral portion 123 of the ring holding portion 120. The front surface 135SF faces the tip of the rod and the rear surface 135SR faces the tail of the rod. The rear surface 135SR is directly connected with the ring portion 124 of the ring holder 120.

The connection portion 131 forms a boundary between the ring holding portion 120 and the first support leg portion 130. The connection portion 131 may slightly protrude from the outer circumferential portion 123. The connecting portion 131 extends from the outer peripheral portion 123 and the annular portion 124 without being bent at the lower end region of the ring holding portion 120. Therefore, the connection portion 131 does not have defects such as cracks as shown in fig. 3C. This is because, when the annular body of the ring holding part 120 is formed by the drawing process, the connecting part 131 is not subjected to the bending action and is not deformed. Thus, at the connection portion 131, the surface of the ring portion 124 and the rear surface 135SR of the first support leg portion 130 form a non-curved flat surface. Further, at the connecting portion 131, the surface of the outer peripheral portion 123 (at the lower portion of the front end surface of the ring holding portion 120) and the front surface 135SF of the first support leg portion 130 form a non-curved flat surface.

The bending part 132 is bent from the connection part 131, and the support part 133 extends linearly from the bending part 132. Due to the bent portion 132, the support portion 133 is bent at a predetermined bending angle BA with respect to the ring holding portion 120. The bending angle BA between the ring holder 120 and the first support leg 130 can be properly selected. In some embodiments, the curved portion 132 and the supporting portion 133 may be curved in a circular arc shape.

The first attachment leg 134 is bent at a predetermined bending angle with respect to the support portion 133. The first attachment leg 134 has a lower surface 136, and the lower surface 136 contacts with the outer surface of the rod body 11. Lower surface 136 may include a concave rounded surface. The supporting part 133 and the first attachment leg 134 are bent such that the loop holding part 120 is inclined at an inclination angle TA with respect to the axis of the rod body 11. Such inclination of the ring holding part 120 is effective for disentangling the fishing line. As an example, the inclination angle TA may be properly selected in the range of 0 degrees to 45 degrees. In some embodiments, the ring holding part 120 may be positioned perpendicular to the axis of the rod body 11 (i.e., when the inclination angle TA is zero degrees), and the supporting part 133 and the first attachment pin 134 may be bent such that the ring holding part 120 is positioned vertically.

Each of the second support legs 140 extends downward and rearward from the side end of the ring holding part 120. Each second support leg 140 extends from the loop portion 124 of the ring holder 120. Each of the second support leg portions 140 includes a connecting portion 141, a support portion 142, and a second attachment pin 143. The second support leg 140 is connected to the loop 124 at a connection 141. The support portion 142 extends curvedly from the connection portion 141. The second attachment leg 143 extends from the support portion 142. The connecting portion 141 forms a boundary between the annular portion 124 and the second support leg portion 140, and extends directly from the annular portion 124. Each of the second support legs 140 are adjacent to each other near their ends. The second attachment leg 143 extends from the pair of support portions 142 and is bent with respect to the pair of support portions 142. As shown in fig. 8, the second attachment leg 143 has a U-like shape and has a lower surface 144, the lower surface 144 contacting the outer surface of the rod body 11. Lower surface 144 may include a concave rounded surface. The second attachment leg 143 has a slit 145 therein. The slit 145 extends longitudinally and passes through the second attachment leg 143 in a vertical direction.

In the fishing line guide of this embodiment, the ring holding part 120 includes a pair of twisted parts 150 within a predetermined range upward from the connecting part 131 between the ring holding part 120 and the support leg (e.g., the first support leg 130). Each of the flexures 150 abuts a support leg (e.g., first support leg 130). When the annular body of the ring holding part 120 is formed by drawing, the twisted part 150 is formed on the surface of the ring holding part 120.

Figures 9 and 10 are front and rear perspective views, respectively, of the line guide shown in figure 5. Fig. 11 is an enlarged side view showing the ring holding portion. The twist portion formed in the ring holding portion is described in detail with reference to fig. 9 to 11.

The pair of twisted portions 150 is symmetrical with respect to the first support leg portion 130. The pair of twisted portions 150 are located on the lower side of the ring holding portion 120 and abut the connecting portion 131 of the first support leg 130. In this embodiment, the pair of twisted portions 150 are respectively located between the connecting portion 131 where the first support leg portion 130 is connected to the outer peripheral portion 123 and the connecting portions 141 where the pair of second support leg portions 140 is connected to the annular portion 124. In the case of the fishing line guide according to the embodiment that does not include the second support leg portion, the pair of twisted portions 150 may be positioned in the ring holding portion 120 within a predetermined range in opposite directions from the connecting portion 131 of the first support leg portion 130.

Each of the twists 150 extends from the connecting portion 131 of the first support leg 130 toward the connecting portion 141 of the second support leg 140 along the outer periphery of the ring holder 120. Each of the torsion portions 150 extends upward from the upper end of the side surface 135SL of the first support leg portion 130, or from the outer peripheral portion 123 of the ring holder at a position slightly spaced apart from the upper end of the side surface 135 SL. Each twisted portion 150 is continuously twisted to the outer peripheral portion 123 from the annular portion 124 toward the side surface 135SL of the first support leg portion 130. Therefore, in the ring holding portion 120, each of the twisted portions 150 forms both a part of the outer peripheral portion 123 and a part of the annular portion 124.

In an embodiment, each twisted portion 150 includes a twisted surface 151, an outer circumferential profile 152CO, and an inner circumferential profile 152 CI. The twisted surface 151 is twisted from the annular portion 124 toward the side surface 135SL of the first support leg 130 to the outer peripheral portion 123. The peripheral portion 123 and the twisted surface 151 meet each other at a peripheral contour 152 CO. The annular portion 124 and the twisted surface 151 meet each other at an inner circumferential contour 152 CI. Thus, in this embodiment, the twisted surface 151 may be defined by: a peripheral contour 152 CO; an inner peripheral profile 152 CI; a boundary BL1 between the outer peripheral portion 123 and the side surface 135SL of the first support leg 130; and a boundary BL2 between the loop portion 124 and the second support leg 140.

The twisted surface 151 includes a twisted curved surface twisted from the ring portion 124 toward the upper end of the side surface 135SL of the first support leg 130. The twisting surface 151 extends through the annular portion 124 and the outer peripheral portion 123 while twisting. When the fishing line guide 100 is viewed from the rear side and the bottom side, the twisting surface 151 extends toward the side surface 135SL of the first support leg 130 while twisting counterclockwise from the boundary BL2 between the second support leg 140 and the ring portion 124. As described above, since the twisting surface 151 is twisted from the annular portion 124 to the outer peripheral portion 123, the twisting surface 151 can be divided into three surfaces. That is, the twisted surface 151 may include the following portions: a first surface 153 at the upper end; a second surface 154 continuous with the first surface 153 in the circumferential direction; a third surface 155 continuous with the second surface 154 in the circumferential direction. First surface 153 forms a portion of annular portion 124 and abuts peripheral portion 123 via peripheral contour 152 CO. The second surface 154 adjoins the outer peripheral portion 123 and the annular portion 124 through an outer peripheral contour 152CO and an inner peripheral contour 152CI, respectively, and is twisted toward the one side surface 135SL of the first support leg 130. Third surface 155 abuts annular portion 124 by inner peripheral profile 152CI and forms a portion of outer peripheral portion 123. Second surface 154 of twisted surface 151 is twisted to extend over both annular portion 124 and peripheral portion 123. The second surface 154 of the twisted surface 151 may become a region that transitions from the annular portion 124 to the outer peripheral portion 123 in a spiral shape.

Due to the twisted portion 150, the ring holder 120 has a width gradually decreasing toward the lower end of the first support leg 130 connected with the ring holder 120. In this regard, the width refers to the minimum distance between the front end surface and the rear end surface of the ring holding part 120 when the fishing line guide is viewed from the side. Referring to fig. 11, the ring holding part 120 has a uniform width RW1 in an area RA1 from the upper end of the peripheral part 123 to the upper end of the twisting part 150 when the fishing line guide is viewed from the side. Further, in a region RA2 from the upper end of the twisted portion 150 to the lower end of the twisted portion 150, the ring holding portion 120 has a width RW2 that gradually decreases from the upper end of the twisted portion 150 toward the lower end of the twisted portion 150. Thus, the ring holding portion 120 has a width RW2 that gradually decreases toward the lower end. This is because the respective portions of the blank drawn into the ring holder 120 have varying bending widths.

When the annular body of the ring holding part 120 is formed by the drawing process, the twisted part 150 is formed by the bending action accompanying the drawing process, but the connecting part 131 of the first support leg part 130 is not subjected to the bending action accompanying the drawing process. Due to the twisted portion 150, the connecting portion 131 of the first support leg portion 130 is connected to the outer peripheral portion 123 and the annular portion 124 without being bent with respect to the ring holding portion 120. During the drawing process of the ring holder 120, the drawing process of the ring holder 120 is completed without a bending action on the connection 131. Thus, a bending action of excessively elongating the metal material does not act on the connection portion 131. Therefore, the connection portion 131 is not deformed and does not have defects such as cracks. Therefore, according to the embodiment, in the area of the fishing line guide including the connection part 131 adjacent to the twisting part 150, the thickness is not increased or decreased by the drawing process. That is, as shown in fig. 11, when the line guide is viewed from the side, the width RW3 of the lower end of the twisted portion 150 of the ring holding portion 120 is the same as the width LW of the upper end of the first support leg 130.

As described above, when the annular body of the ring holding portion 120 is formed by the drawing process, the twisted portion 150 is formed in the ring holding portion 120, but the connecting portion 131 is not subjected to the bending action accompanying the drawing process. The fishing line guide has a characteristic shape due to the twisted portion. The characteristic shape of the fishing line guide will be described with reference to fig. 5 to 7 and 12. Figure 12 shows a side view and a rear view of a fishing line guide together, and also schematically illustrates the profile of the elements of the fishing line guide, according to one embodiment. In fig. 12, a straight line PL1 indicates the position of the connecting portion between the ring holder 120 and the first support leg 130, and a straight line PL2 indicates the position of the connecting portion between the ring holder 120 and the second support leg 140. In fig. 12, a curve 128CO represents the outer peripheral contour of the ring holder 120 (outer peripheral contour of the outer peripheral portion), and a curve 128CI represents the inner peripheral contour of the ring holder 120 (inner peripheral contour of the annular portion).

At the connecting portion 131, the front surface 135SF of the first support leg portion 130 and the front end surface (the front lower surface of the outer peripheral portion 123) of the ring holding portion 120 form a non-curved flat surface. Specifically, when the fishing line guide is viewed from the side, as shown in fig. 12, the front contour 127CF of the ring holding portion 120 and the front contour 137CF of the first support leg portion 130 form a straight line at the connecting portion 131. Further, the front profile of the curved portion 132 (which becomes a part of the front profile 137 CF) becomes a curve oriented forward from the front profile 127CF of the ring holding portion 120. That is, when the fishing line guide is viewed from the side, the front contour of the curved portion 132 is located on the front contour 127CF of the ring holding portion 120 or at a position further forward than the front contour 127CF of the ring holding portion 120. Therefore, the fishing line guide 100 does not have a recess that traps the fishing line between the ring retaining portion 120 and the first support leg 130. The first support leg 130 is located more forward than the front contour 127CF of the ring holder 120. Specifically, the support portion 133 of the first support leg portion 130 is located more forward than the front contour 127CF of the ring holding portion 120, and is not located rearward of the front contour 127CF of the ring holding portion 120.

When the fishing line guide 100 is viewed from the rear side, the outer peripheral contour 152CO of the twisted portion 150 forms a part of the outer peripheral contour 128CO of the ring holding portion 120, and the inner peripheral contour 152CI of the twisted portion 150 is connected with the inner peripheral contour 128CI of the ring holding portion 120. When the fishing line guide 100 is viewed from the side, the outer peripheral contour 152CO of the twisted portion 150 is continuously connected with the front contour 137CF of the first support leg 130. The outer peripheral contour 152CO of the twisted portion 150 becomes a curve twisted toward the front contour 137CF of the first support leg 130. Further, when the fishing line guide is viewed from the side, the inner peripheral contour 152CI of the twisted portion 150 is connected with the rear contour 137CR of the first support leg 130 without interruption. The inner peripheral contour 152CI of the twisted portion 150 becomes a curve twisted toward the rear contour 137CR of the first support leg 130.

An example of a fishing line tangle occurring in a fishing line guide and an example of disentangling such a tangle according to one embodiment are described with reference to fig. 13 to 19.

Referring to fig. 13, the fishing line 15 passes through the guide ring 110, and an upward force to loosen the fishing line due to wind or manipulation by a user may be applied to the fishing line 15. Referring to fig. 14, when the fishing line 15 covers the ring holding part 120, the fishing line 15 may be wound around the ring holding part 120. Referring to fig. 15, the fishing line 15 is wound around the first support leg 130 at the lower side of the ring holding part 120, and a knot 15E may be formed. In a state where the fishing line is knotted, as shown in fig. 15, a portion 15R of the fishing line in the backward direction BD may be moved upward by a user or by a force applied to the fishing line. Therefore, the knot 15E of the fishing line can be pulled out upward from the first support leg 130 through the ring holding part 120. There is no recess between the ring holding part 120 and the first support leg 130. Therefore, the wire knot 15E can move while smoothly sliding from the first support leg 130 to the ring holding part 120. Referring to fig. 16 and 17, when the knot 15E of the fishing line 15 is pulled out upward, the knot 15E comes into contact with the curved surface 126 of the peripheral portion 123. Such a curved surface 126 reduces the frictional resistance between the fishing line 15 and the ring holding part 120, and the fishing line 15 can easily slide upward. Referring to fig. 18 and 19, if the fishing line 15 covering the ring holder moves above the center of the guide ring 110, the fishing line 15 can be pulled out upward along the ring holder 120 by pulling a portion 15R of the fishing line in the rearward direction BD with a small force.

Fig. 20 and 21 show a fishing line guide according to a comparative example, in which tangling of a fishing line is not easily disentangled. Referring to fig. 20, in the fishing line guide according to the comparative example, the first support leg 130C1 is bent from the ring part 124C1 of the ring holder 120C1, and the recess CP is formed between the ring holder 120C1 and the first support leg 130C 1. Therefore, the knot 15E of the fishing line 15 is caught by the recess CP. Although a force is applied to the portion 15R of the fishing line in the rearward direction, the knot 15E is difficult to escape upward. Referring to fig. 21, in the fishing line guide according to the comparative example, the ring holding portion 120C2 has a right-angled edge, and the fishing line 15 is in contact with the right-angled edge of the ring holding portion 120C 2. Therefore, friction between the fishing line 15 and the ring holding portion 120C2 increases, and the fishing line 15 is difficult to escape upward.

The fishing line guide of the present embodiment may be made of a blank obtained by blanking a metal plate. The fishing line guide of the embodiment may be manufactured by pressing (drawing, bending, etc.) a blank into the shape of the fishing line guide according to the embodiment. Referring to fig. 22 to 30, a blank for manufacturing a fishing line guide according to an embodiment, and an example in which a ring holding portion of a fishing line guide according to an embodiment is formed from such a blank are described below.

Figure 22 shows a blank for manufacturing a fishing line guide according to one embodiment. Referring to fig. 22, the blank 200 includes a head 210, a first leg 220, and a pair of second legs 230. A blank 200 according to other embodiments may include only the head 210 and the first leg 220. The head portion 210 is processed into the ring holder according to the embodiment by drawing the head portion 210 into a cylindrical shape. A first leg 220 extends from a lower end of the head 210. The first leg 220 has a first foot 221 at the free end. According to one embodiment, the first leg 220 is formed into a first support leg of the line guide by bending the first leg 220. The pair of second legs 230 respectively extend from side ends of the head 210, and have second feet 231 at free ends. According to one embodiment, the second leg 230 is machined into a second support leg by bending the second leg 230. The bending of the first leg 220 and the second leg 230 may be performed after the head 210 is completely machined into the loop holding part.

Fig. 23 schematically illustrates a portion of the head and leg portions in the blank. Referring to fig. 23, the head 210 has a circular opening at the center thereof and has an approximately circular plate shape. The head portion 210 has curved edge portions 211, 212 which form the periphery of the head portion 210. The curved edge portions 211, 212 are curved in the thickness direction of the head portion 210, thereby forming the outer peripheral portion and the annular portion of the ring holding portion according to one embodiment. The curved edge portions 211, 212 form an approximately annular shape. The head portion 210 has a circular non-bent portion 213 inside the bent edge portions 211, 212.

The curved edge portions 211, 212 include a pair of first curved edge portions 211 and second curved edge portions 212. The pair of first bent edge portions 211 extends along the outer periphery of the non-bent portion 213 and forms a part of the outer peripheral portion of the head portion 210. The pair of first curved edge portions 211 adjoin the first leg portions 220, respectively, and extend in the circumferential direction of the head portion 210. Each first curved edge portion 211 has a first curved width BW1 that increases in the radial direction. As the first curved edge portions 211 extend away from the first leg 220, each first curved edge portion 211 becomes wider, the first curved width BW1 increases in the radial direction. The second curved edge portion 212 is located between the pair of first curved edge portions 211, and forms a part of the outer peripheral portion of the head portion 210. The second curved edge portion 212 has a second curved width BW2 that is uniform in the radial direction. When the first curved edge portion 211 is curved with respect to the non-curved portion 213 during drawing of the head portion 210, the outer peripheral surface 214 of the first curved edge portion 211 is formed as the above-described twisted portion. Further, since the second curved edge portion 212 is curved with respect to the non-curved portion 213 during drawing of the head portion 210, the outer peripheral surface 215 of the second curved edge portion 212 is formed as a part of the above-described annular portion of the ring holding portion.

According to one embodiment, the connection 222 of the first leg 220 to the head 210 becomes the connection of the first support leg. During drawing of the head 210, the connection 222 of the first leg 220 is not drawn. That is, when the first curved edge portion 211 and the second curved edge portion 212 are curved with respect to the non-curved portion 213, the connection portion 222 does not undergo a bending action. A pair of second legs 230 extend from the second curved edge portions 212 of the head portion 210, respectively. In this embodiment, the pair of first curved edge portions 211 are respectively located between the connection portion 222 where the first leg portion 220 is connected to the head portion 210 and the connection portions 232 where the pair of second leg portions 230 is connected to the second curved edge portions 212. An upper end of each first bent edge portion 211 may abut a lower end of the connection portion 232. In other embodiments, the connection portion 232 may be spaced apart from the first curved edge portion 211 in the circumferential direction.

Fig. 24 shows a portion of the head and legs in the blank, and also shows the outline of the head. The first curved edge portion 211 has a circular arc shape with a first interior angle IA1 with respect to a center point CH of the non-curved portion 213, and the second curved edge portion 212 has a circular arc shape with a second interior angle IA2 with respect to the center point CH. In fig. 24, the first interior angle IA1 is an obtuse angle, and the second interior angle IA2 is greater than the first interior angle IA 1. Alternatively, depending on the position of the second leg 230, the first interior angle IA1 may be equal to or greater than 180 degrees and the second interior angle IA2 may be less than the first interior angle IA 1. Further, the outer peripheral contour of the head portion 210 has a first outer peripheral contour 216CO as an edge of the first curved edge portion 211, and a second outer peripheral contour 217CO as an edge of the second curved edge portion 212. The curvature of the first peripheral contour 216CO is smaller than the curvature of the second peripheral contour 217 CO. Therefore, the first outer circumferential profile 216CO forms a curve located inside the circumferential line of the imaginary circle IC centered on the center point CH and including the second outer circumferential profile 217 CO. Therefore, the area of the head portion 210 is smaller than the area of the imaginary circle IC including the second peripheral contour 217 CO. That is, the head 210 HAs an area obtained by subtracting the shadow area HA from the area of the imaginary circle. The head of a blank for a fishing line guide according to the prior art has the area of an imaginary circle IC. However, the head 210 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure has a first peripheral contour 216CO located inside a circumferential line of the imaginary circle IC. Thus, the ring holding part formed by the head 210 has a light weight, and the fishing line guide according to one embodiment therefore also has a light weight. In fig. 24, an imaginary line IL1 may correspond to an outer peripheral contour of the ring holding portion (an outer peripheral contour of an outer peripheral portion shown in fig. 12), and an imaginary line IL2 may correspond to an inner peripheral contour of the ring holding portion (an inner peripheral contour of an annular portion shown in fig. 12).

For example, the head 210 may form the ring-holding portion by a drawing process through a drawing die and a drawing punch. Fig. 25 schematically shows the head of the blank, the drawing die and the drawing punch before drawing. Fig. 26A to 26D show schematic cross-sectional shapes taken along lines 81-81, 82-82, 83-83 and 84-84 of fig. 25, respectively. The arrangement of the drawing die and the head before the drawing process is described with reference to fig. 25 to 26D.

Referring to fig. 25, the drawing die 310 has a drawing hole 311 therein, and the diameter of the drawing hole 311 corresponds to the annular portion of the ring holding portion. The diameter of the drawing punch 320 corresponds to the inner diameter of the annular portion. Further, the diameter of the drawing punch 320 corresponds to the non-curved portion of the head. The head 210 is located between the draw die 310 and the draw punch 320. The drawing process of the head 210 may be performed by forcibly pressing the head 210 into the drawing hole 311 by the drawing punch 320. That is, when the drawing punch 320 is inserted into the drawing hole 311, the first and second curved edge portions 211 and 212 are curved with respect to the non-curved portion 213, thereby processing the head portion 210 into the ring holding portion. When the head portion 210 is drawn into the annular body of the ring holding portion, the above-described twisted portion is formed in the ring holding portion, but no bending action is applied to the connecting portion 222 of the first leg portion 220. In fig. 25, reference numeral 312 denotes an outer periphery of the drawing die 310, and reference numeral 313 denotes an inner periphery of the drawing die 310, which defines the drawing hole 311. Further, reference numeral 321 denotes an outer periphery of the drawing punch 320.

As shown in fig. 25, the head portion 210 is disposed on the drawing die 310 such that the first curved edge portion 211 and the second curved edge portion 212 overlap with the drawing die 310 outside the drawing hole 311. The overlapping portions OP1 and OP2 exist between the outer peripheral portion of the head 210 and the inner periphery 313 of the drawing die 310. The first bending width BW1 of the first bending edge portion 211 increases in the radial direction. Therefore, as the first overlap extends away from the first leg 220, the first overlap OP1 between the first curved edge portion 211 and the draw die 310 widens, which increases in radial width in the radial direction. The second curved width BW2 of the second curved edge portion 212 is uniform in the radial direction. Therefore, the second overlap portion OP2 between the second curved edge portion 212 and the drawing die 310 has a width that is uniform in the radial direction along the inner periphery 312 of the drawing die. The first overlapping portion OP1 tapers from the second leg 230 toward the first leg 220. That is, as shown in fig. 25 and 26B, the first overlapping portion OP1 is gradually narrowed toward the first leg portion 220, and as shown in fig. 26D, there is almost no first overlapping portion near the first leg portion 220. In this way, the first overlap OP1 between the first outer peripheral profile 216CO of the head 210 and the inner periphery 313 of the draw die 310 gradually decreases toward the first leg 220. Therefore, the width of the drawn ring holding portion (e.g., the width RW2 shown in fig. 11) also gradually decreases toward the first leg portion 220.

Fig. 27 schematically shows a drawing die, a drawing punch and a head of a drawn blank. Fig. 28A to 28D show schematic cross-sectional shapes taken along lines 91-91, 92-92, 93-93 and 94-94 of fig. 27, respectively.

As shown in fig. 28A and 28B, the drawing process of the head portion forms an outer peripheral portion 123 of the ring holding portion and a ring portion 124. The first overlap between the outer peripheral contour of the first curved edge portion of the head portion and the inner periphery of the draw die 310 gradually decreases toward the connection 222 of the first leg portion 220. Therefore, as shown in fig. 28C, the twisted surface 151 of the twisted portion is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the annular portion of the ring holding portion. Such as

As shown in fig. 28D, a portion adjacent to the first leg portion 220 (i.e., a portion adjacent to the connection portion 222 of the first leg portion 220) does not have a first overlapping portion because it is not subjected to bending action and is not drawn during drawing work. Therefore, as shown in fig. 28D, the width RW3 of the ring holding portion 120 may be the same as the width of the head portion 210 before drawing, in the vicinity of the lower ends of the connecting portion 222 and the torsion portion 150. Therefore, the fishing line guide according to one embodiment has the same width at the lower end of the twisting part 150 and the upper end of the first support leg.

As described above, in the head portion of the blank, the first overlap between the contour of the first curved edge portion and the inner periphery 313 of the draw die 310 gradually decreases between the second leg portion 230 and the first leg portion 220 toward the first leg portion 220. Therefore, when the head portion is drawn into the ring holding portion by drawing the head portion into a cylindrical shape, the outer peripheral surface of the first curved edge portion of the head portion is formed into the twisted portion 150. Further, in the ring holding portion 120, the twisted portion 150 forms a part of the outer peripheral portion 123 and a part of the annular portion 124 at the same time, and is twisted from the annular portion 124 to the outer peripheral portion 123.

Fig. 29 shows a side view and a rear view of the drawn head together. The twisted portion 150 is formed in the outer peripheral portion 123 and the annular portion 124 of the annular retaining portion while the head portion 210 of the blank is drawn into the annular retaining portion. The inner peripheral contour 152CI of the twisted portion 150 becomes a part of the inner peripheral contour 128CI of the ring holding portion 120, and the outer peripheral contour 152CO of the twisted portion 150 becomes a part of the outer peripheral contour 128CO of the ring holding portion 120. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the first curved edge portion of the head portion becomes the twisted surface 151 of the twisted portion 150.

While the head portion 210 of the blank is machined into the ring holder, a bending action is not applied to the connecting portion 222 of the first leg portion 220. The first bent edge portion is bent and forms the twisted portion 150 without deforming the connection portion 222. When the twisted portion 150 is formed, the connection portion 222 does not undergo the stretching action of excessively elongating the metal material. Therefore, in the drawn-out ring holding portion, defects such as cracks are not formed in the connecting portion of the first support leg portion.

Since the connecting portion 222 of the first leg portion is not subjected to the bending action accompanying the drawing work, the front end surface of the drawn head portion 210 and the surface of the connecting portion 222 of the first leg portion 220 (the connecting portion of the first support leg portion) are maintained as non-bent flat surfaces, and no recess is formed between the ring holding portion and the first support leg portion. The ring holder is formed only by drawing work on the head 210, and the first leg 220 is not subjected to bending action. After the ring holder is completed by the drawing process, the first leg portion 220 is bent forward relative to the ring holder at the bending start point of the lower end of the connecting portion 222. Thus, the first leg may be machined into the first support leg of the line guide.

Referring to fig. 29, the width RW1 of the ring holding portion 120 (i.e., the minimum distance between the front end surface and the rear end surface of the ring holding portion 120) in between the upper end of the outer peripheral portion 123 and the lower end of the connecting portion 232 of the second leg portion 230 is uniform. The width RW2 of the ring holding portion 120 (i.e., the minimum distance between the front and rear end surfaces of the ring holding portion 120) gradually decreases from the upper end of the twisted portion 150 toward the lower end of the twisted portion 150 in the range from the connecting portion 232 of the second leg portion 230 to the connecting portion 222 of the first leg portion 220. Also, the width RW3 of the loop holding portion 120 at the lower end of the twisted portion 150 and the width LW at the upper end of the first leg portion 220 (or the first support leg portion) are both the same.

A ring holding hole 121 shown in fig. 5 is formed through the completed ring holding part 120. A ring-retaining hole may be formed in the ring holder by stamping the drawn head shown in fig. 29, thereby forming a hole through the head that is smaller than the inner peripheral profile 128 CI.

FIG. 30 shows a side view and a back view of a drawn head in accordance with another embodiment. Referring to fig. 30, the first curved edge portion 211A of the head portion 210A has a circumferential length smaller than that of the first curved edge portion 211 shown in fig. 29, and the second curved edge portion 212A of the head portion 210A has a circumferential length larger than that of the second curved edge portion 212 shown in fig. 29. The twisted portion 150A has a shorter circumferential length, and the starting point of the twisted portion 150A is spaced apart from the connecting portion 232 of the second leg portion 230 by a predetermined distance, when compared with the previous embodiment. Therefore, the range having the uniform width RW1 in the ring holding portion is increased, and the range of the curved surface 126 shown in fig. 5 is expanded. Therefore, when the tangled fishing line is pulled out upward, friction applied to the fishing line in motion can be reduced to a greater extent. In the embodiment shown in fig. 30, the peripheral profile of the first curved edge portion 211A of the head portion 201A may form a curve having a curvature different from the curvature of the peripheral profile of the ring holding portion. Thus, in the blank of the embodiment shown in fig. 30, the contour at the first curved edge portion 211A may form the same curvature as that of the ring holding portion. Further, the drawing die and the drawing punch for drawing the head portion 210A may be configured such that the first curved edge portion 211A is formed as the twisted portion 150A.

Figure 31 shows a side view and a rear view of a fishing line guide according to another embodiment. Referring to fig. 31, the ring holder 120 of the line guide 100 is positioned perpendicular to the axis of the rod body. For example, the loop holder 120 is positioned perpendicular to a horizontal line extending through the first and second attachment pins 134 and 143. The connecting portion 131 of the first support leg portion 130A is not bent with respect to the ring holder 120. The bent portion 132 and the support portion 133 of the first support leg portion 130A are bent in a circular arc shape with respect to the connection portion 131, and there is almost no clear starting point of bending between the connection portion 131 and the bent portion 132.

The technical concept of the present disclosure may also be applied to a fishing line guide having a single support leg. Figure 32 is a rear view showing a fishing line guide with a single support leg. Referring to fig. 32, the fishing line guide 100 has only the first support leg 130 extending from the lower end of the ring support 120. A pair of twisted portions 150 extend upward from the first support leg portion 130 in opposite directions along the circumferential direction, respectively. The twisted portion 150 is twisted from the annular portion 124 to the outer peripheral portion 123 toward the first support leg portion 130.

In the fishing line guide according to one embodiment, a pair of twisted portions located in the vicinity of the first support leg portion is formed in the ring support portion, and the first support leg portion is not subjected to a bending action of the over-extended metal material during drawing of the ring support portion. Thus, the fishing line guide according to one embodiment has enhanced bend-proof stress.

Enhanced bend-proof stress of a fishing line guide according to one embodiment is described with reference to fig. 33 and 34. Fig. 33 shows an example of the load applied in the proof stress measurement test performed for measuring the bending proof stress. The fishing line guide of one embodiment shown on the left side of fig. 33 may be a fishing line guide according to one of the previous embodiments. The fishing line guide of the comparative example shown on the right side of fig. 33 may be a fishing line guide of the related art shown in fig. 1, for example. To measure the bend-verifying stress, a forward load FL and a backward load RL may be applied to the ring holder parallel to the rod body of the fishing rod.

Fig. 34 is a table showing the results of the bending proof stress measurement test shown in fig. 33. In each test example, the fishing line guide of one embodiment and the fishing line guide of the comparative example have the same size of the ring holding part and the first support leg part. From test example 1 to test example 6, the size of the fishing line guide became large. In each test example, when a forward load and a backward load were applied to the ring holder, a load causing 0.5mm bending was measured as a proof stress.

As shown in fig. 34, the fishing line guide of one embodiment has an enhanced bend-proof stress for the same fore-aft load as compared to the fishing line guide of the comparative example. The reason why the fishing line guide of the comparative example has low proof stress is that bending work of overstretching a metal material is performed on the connecting portion of the first support leg portion, and such connecting portion is deformed or broken, and the strength of the connecting portion is reduced. However, in the fishing line guide of one embodiment, the drawing process is completed only in the range of the ring holding portion 120, and the first support leg 130 is not affected by the drawing process. That is, although the ring holding portion 120 is subjected to the bending action accompanying the drawing process, the connecting portion 131 of the first support leg portion 130 is not subjected to the bending action. Therefore, the connection portion 131 can maintain the original strength of the metal material.

According to the present disclosure, in some embodiments, the ring holding part is drawn to have a curved shape, and damage of the fishing line or breakage of the guide ring can be prevented. The fishing line guide according to some embodiments may exclude recesses and cracks from the ring holder and the support leg that cause the fishing line to get stuck and cause the fishing line to break. Fishing line guides according to some embodiments may have enhanced bend-proof stress and lightweight.

Although the present disclosure has been described with respect to some embodiments, it should be noted that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, which may be understood by those skilled in the art. Further, such modifications and variations are to be construed as falling within the scope of the appended claims.