Patents by Inventor Akira Niitsuma

Akira Niitsuma has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240215557
    Abstract: A fishing information processing system includes an acquisition unit that acquires prescribed fishing information, an information accumulation controller that accumulates the prescribed information acquired by the acquisition unit as accumulated information, an estimation unit that estimates optimum conditions related to a fishing trip based on the accumulated information accumulated by the information accumulation controller, and a provision unit that provides the optimum conditions estimated by the estimation unit to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Shunsuke KUSANAGI, Akira NIITSUMA, Satoshi IKEBUKURO
  • Publication number: 20240215558
    Abstract: A fishing tackle management system includes an identification unit for identifying fishing tackle from an image, a determination unit for making determinations regarding prescribed matters regarding to the fishing tackle based on the results of an identification of the identification unit, and a notification unit that controls user notifications of information based on the determination results of the determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Kento INOKUCHI, Takuya YASHIKI, Seishu MORI, Hitoshi HARAGUCHI, Shunsuke KUSANAGI, Kentaro HAYAsHI, Akira NIITSUMA, Mitsuyo MAEDA
  • Patent number: 11856930
    Abstract: A collar member is used for a spinning reel. The spinning reel has a reel body, a spool shaft that moves in a front-back direction with respect to the reel body, a pinion gear that rotates around the spool shaft, a rotor nut that rotates integrally with the pinion gear, and a bearing that is disposed between the spool shaft and the rotor nut in a radial direction and rotatably supports the rotor nut. The collar member is disposed between the spool shaft and the bearing in the radial direction. The collar member is formed by a resin material that has a linear expansion coefficient of 10×10?6 (1/° C.) or more and 50×10?6 (1/° C.) or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Ochiai, Kei Saito, Akira Niitsuma, Satoshi Ikebukuro, Atsushi Kawamata
  • Patent number: 11819012
    Abstract: A spinning reel has a reel body, a spool shaft, a spool, a spool ring, and a drag knob. The spool ring is disposed on the external radial portion of a front flange of the spool. The drag knob is disposed in front of the spool shaft. As seen from the outside of the spool ring in the radial direction, an angle formed by a tangent line, which passes through a contact point between an external radial portion and a spherical boundary and which is tangent to the spherical boundary, and a straight line, which is orthogonal to the spool shaft and which passes through the contact point, is less than or equal to degrees. The drag knob is disposed inside the spherical boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Niitsuma, Atsushi Kawamata, Shu Kusuda, Kei Saito, Hirokazu Hirayama, Satoshi Ikebukuro, Yoshiyuki Takemoto
  • Patent number: 11761494
    Abstract: A drag washer for a fishing reel has a sliding surface slidable relative to a plate washer. The drag washer includes a felt material formed by entwining a first fiber and a second fiber. The first fiber extends in a first direction along a thickness of the drag washer. The second fiber extends in a second direction along the sliding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Niitsuma, Shu Kusuda, Atsushi Yagara, Takuji Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 11751549
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a reel body, a spool shaft moveably supported to the reel body in a front-rear direction with a reciprocal stroke distance (S), and a spool including a bobbin trunk, the bobbin trunk including an outer circumference around which a fishing line is capable of being wound, and a front flange extending radially outward from a front end of the bobbin trunk, and connected to the spool shaft. An outer diameter of the front flange is less than 60 mm, and a first value obtained by dividing a stroke distance of the spool shaft by a winding pitch of the fishing line is greater than or equal to 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 11737439
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a spool shaft movable in a front-rear direction with respect to a reel body, a spool connected to the spool shaft and configured to have a fishing line wound therearound, a pinion gear supported by the reel body so as to be rotatable, a reciprocating mechanism configured to move the spool shaft in reciprocating fashion in the front-rear direction, and an intermediate gear disposed between the pinion gear and the reciprocating mechanism, the intermediate gear reducing rotation of the pinion gear, and transmitting rotation to the reciprocating mechanism. A value obtained by dividing a stroke distance of the spool shaft by a winding pitch of the fishing line and a module (M) of the intermediate gear is greater than or equal to 60, the module (M) being a diameter of a pitch circle relative to a number of teeth of the intermediate gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 11716980
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a reel body, a rotor, a bail arm, a rod, a coil spring, a swing member, and a tubular member. The rotor rotates with respect to the reel body. The bail arm is configured to swing with respect to the rotor. The bail arm has a bail and a bail support member that supports one end of the bail. The rod is connected to the bail support member. The coil spring is disposed around the outer circumference of the rod and presses the rod toward the bail support member. The swing member has a bottom that supports the coil spring and is swingably supported by the rotor. The tubular member is supported by the swing member. The tubular member is disposed in the inner circumference of the coil spring. The rod is configured to slide in accordance with a swing movement of the bail arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kawamata, Akira Niitsuma, Satoshi Ikebukuro, Kei Saito
  • Patent number: 11716981
    Abstract: A spinning reel, includes a reel body, a spool shaft supported by the reel body, a reciprocating mechanism having a slider mounted on the spool shaft and a worm shaft configured to rotate to move the spool shaft and the slider back and forth, and a torque-limiting mechanism that includes the worm shaft, a worm shaft gear that is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the worm shaft, and a frictional force-generating member disposed between the worm shaft and the worm shaft gear and that is configured to contact the worm shaft or the worm shaft gear to generate a frictional force in a circumferential direction and to permit or cancel transmission of torque from the worm shaft gear to the worm shaft by the frictional force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Niitsuma, Atsushi Kawamata
  • Publication number: 20230122536
    Abstract: A spinning reel has a reel body, a spool shaft, a spool, a spool ring, and a drag knob. The spool ring is disposed on the external radial portion of a front flange of the spool. The drag knob is disposed in front of the spool shaft. As seen from the outside of the spool ring in the radial direction, an angle formed by a tangent line, which passes through a contact point between an external radial portion and a spherical boundary and which is tangent to the spherical boundary, and a straight line, which is orthogonal to the spool shaft and which passes through the contact point, is less than or equal to degrees. The drag knob is disposed inside the spherical boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Akira NIITSUMA, Atsushi KAWAMATA, Shu KUSUDA, Kei SAITO, Hirokazu HIRAYAMA, Satoshi IKEBUKURO, Yoshiyuki TAKEMOTO
  • Publication number: 20230101660
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a spool shaft movable in a front-rear direction with respect to a reel body, a spool connected to the spool shaft and configured to have a fishing line wound therearound, a pinion gear supported by the reel body so as to be rotatable, a reciprocating mechanism configured to move the spool shaft in reciprocating fashion in the front-rear direction, and an intermediate gear disposed between the pinion gear and the reciprocating mechanism, the intermediate gear reducing rotation of the pinion gear, and transmitting rotation to the reciprocating mechanism. A value obtained by dividing a stroke distance of the spool shaft by a winding pitch of the fishing line and a module (M) of the intermediate gear is greater than or equal to 60, the module (M) being a diameter of a pitch circle relative to a number of teeth of the intermediate gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventor: Akira NIITSUMA
  • Publication number: 20230097331
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a reel body, a spool shaft moveably supported to the reel body in a front-rear direction with a reciprocal stroke distance (S), and a spool including a bobbin trunk, the bobbin trunk including an outer circumference around which a fishing line is capable of being wound, and a front flange extending radially outward from a front end of the bobbin trunk, and connected to the spool shaft. An outer diameter of the front flange is less than 60 mm, and a first value obtained by dividing a stroke distance of the spool shaft by a winding pitch of the fishing line is greater than or equal to 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventor: Akira NIITSUMA
  • Publication number: 20230087009
    Abstract: A spinning reel, includes a reel body, a spool shaft supported by the reel body, a reciprocating mechanism having a slider mounted on the spool shaft and a worm shaft configured to rotate to move the spool shaft and the slider back and forth, and a torque-limiting mechanism that includes the worm shaft, a worm shaft gear that is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the worm shaft, and a frictional force-generating member disposed between the worm shaft and the worm shaft gear and that is configured to contact the worm shaft or the worm shaft gear to generate a frictional force in a circumferential direction and to permit or cancel transmission of torque from the worm shaft gear to the worm shaft by the frictional force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Akira NIITSUMA, Atsushi KAWAMATA
  • Publication number: 20230071854
    Abstract: A drag washer for a fishing reel has a sliding surface slidable relative to a plate washer. The drag washer includes a felt material formed by entwining a first fiber and a second fiber. The first fiber extends in a first direction along a thickness of the drag washer. The second fiber extends in a second direction along the sliding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Akira NIITSUMA, Shu KUSUDA, Atsushi YAGARA, Takuji TAKAMATSU
  • Publication number: 20230061422
    Abstract: A collar member is used for a spinning reel. The spinning reel has a reel body, a spool shaft that moves in a front-back direction with respect to the reel body, a pinion gear that rotates around the spool shaft, a rotor nut that rotates integrally with the pinion gear, and a bearing that is disposed between the spool shaft and the rotor nut in a radial direction and rotatably supports the rotor nut. The collar member is disposed between the spool shaft and the bearing in the radial direction. The collar member is formed by a resin material that has a linear expansion coefficient of 10×10-6 (1/°C) or more and 50×10-6 (1/°C) or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Koji OCHIAI, Kei SAITO, Akira NIITSUMA, Satoshi IKEBUKURO, Atsushi KAWAMATA
  • Publication number: 20230059668
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a reel body, a rotor, a bail arm, a rod, a coil spring, a swing member, and a tubular member. The rotor rotates with respect to the reel body. The bail arm is configured to swing with respect to the rotor. The bail arm has a bail and a bail support member that supports one end of the bail. The rod is connected to the bail support member. The coil spring is disposed around the outer circumference of the rod and presses the rod toward the bail support member. The swing member has a bottom that supports the coil spring and is swingably supported by the rotor. The tubular member is supported by the swing member. The tubular member is disposed in the inner circumference of the coil spring. The rod is configured to slide in accordance with a swing movement of the bail arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi KAWAMATA, Akira NIITSUMA, Satoshi IKEBUKURO, Kei SAITO
  • Patent number: 11395482
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a rotor rotatable around an axis of a spool shaft, a handle shaft, a drive shaft rotatable around an axis of the handle shaft, a rotational transmission mechanism configured to transmit the rotation of the drive shaft to a rotor, a rotational control mechanism disposed between the handle shaft and the drive shaft and only transmitting rotation of the handle shaft in a reeling direction to the drive shaft and not transmitting rotation of the rotor in a casting direction from the drive shaft to the handle shaft, and a brake arranged to be in contact with the handle shaft and integrally rotatable with the drive shaft and configured to apply a braking force to the rotation of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shu Kusuda, Akira Niitsuma, Kei Saito
  • Patent number: 11330809
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a spool shaft, a handle, a pinion gear, a first intermediate gear, a second intermediate gear, and a reciprocating mechanism. The first intermediate gear is rotatably disposed around a first shaft parallel to the spool shaft. The first intermediate gear includes a first large-diameter gear which meshes with the pinion gear and a first small-diameter gear which integrally rotates with the first large-diameter gear. The second intermediate gear is rotatably disposed around a second shaft parallel to the first shaft. The second intermediate gear includes a second large-diameter gear which meshes with the first small-diameter gear and a second small-diameter gear which integrally rotates with the second large-diameter gear. The reciprocating mechanism includes a driven gear which meshes with the second small-diameter gear and reciprocates the spool shaft in the front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Niitsuma
  • Publication number: 20210386046
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a rotor rotatable around an axis of a spool shaft, a handle shaft, a drive shaft rotatable around an axis of the handle shaft, a rotational transmission mechanism configured to transmit the rotation of the drive shaft to a rotor, a rotational control mechanism disposed between the handle shaft and the drive shaft and only transmitting rotation of the handle shaft in a reeling direction to the drive shaft and not transmitting rotation of the rotor in a casting direction from the drive shaft to the handle shaft, and a brake arranged to be in contact with the handle shaft and integrally rotatable with the drive shaft and configured to apply a braking force to the rotation of the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Shu KUSUDA, Akira NIITSUMA, Kei SAITO
  • Publication number: 20210352881
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a spool shaft, a handle, a pinion gear, a first intermediate gear, a second intermediate gear, and a reciprocating mechanism. The first intermediate gear is rotatably disposed around a first shaft parallel to the spool shaft. The first intermediate gear includes a first large-diameter gear which meshes with the pinion gear and a first small-diameter gear which integrally rotates with the first large-diameter gear. The second intermediate gear is rotatably disposed around a second shaft parallel to the first shaft. The second intermediate gear includes a second large-diameter gear which meshes with the first small-diameter gear and a second small-diameter gear which integrally rotates with the second large-diameter gear. The reciprocating mechanism includes a driven gear which meshes with the second small-diameter gear and reciprocates the spool shaft in the front-rear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventor: Akira NIITSUMA