Patents by Inventor Hirokazu Hiraoka

Hirokazu Hiraoka 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: 20150048193
    Abstract: A spinning reel for forwardly unreeling a fishing line includes a reel main body having a through-hole extending through the peripheral wall in a longitudinal direction of the spinning reel, a handle configured to wind a fishing line, and being rotatably mounted to the reel main body. A screw member has a screw head disposed on a first end, a screw shaft section extending from the screw head toward a second end, and male threads disposed on the screw shaft section, the screw head contacting a peripheral wall at the front end side of the through-hole and the screw shaft section extending through the through-hole. A stopper member is mounted to the screw shaft section and contacts a periphery of the rear end side of the through-hole. A cover member has a fixed section fixed by the screw member, and covers a rear of the reel main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Shingo MATSUO, Hirokazu HIRAOKA, Keigo KITAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20150048192
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a reel body, a handle, a spool shaft, a spool, a rotor, a rotor driving mechanism, and an oscillating mechanism configured to rotate in conjunction with the handle and cause the spool to reciprocate via the spool shaft. The oscillating mechanism includes a threaded shaft having a spiral groove and is configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the handle. A slider is engaged with the spiral groove of the threaded shaft, and is configured to reciprocate in conjunction with rotation of the threaded shaft. A guide shaft has a rear end disposed in the through-hole arranged in the rear portion of the reel body, and is locked so as to prevent the shaft from disconnecting from by the reel body, and is configured to guide the reciprocation of the slider. An annular elastic member is disposed between the through-hole and the guide shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Shingo MATSUO, Hirokazu HIRAOKA, Keigo KITAJIMA
  • Patent number: 8950697
    Abstract: A handle assembly for a spinning reel is configured to be mounted onto a drive gear shaft that is rotationally supported on a main body of the spinning reel. The handle assembly includes a metal shaft member, a metal handle arm, a handle grip and a first metal tubular member. The metal shaft member includes a threaded portion disposed at one end for screwing to the drive gear shaft and a coupling portion disposed at the other end. The metal handle arm includes a connected portion pivotally coupled to the coupling portion of the metal shaft member to pivot around a radial axis of the shaft member. The handle grip is rotatably attached to the metal handle arm to rotate around an axis that is parallel to a rotational axis of the metal shaft member. The first metal tubular member includes first and second pipe portions. The first pipe portion is disposed on an outer circumferential side of the metal shaft member for contacting the metal handle arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takuji Takamatsu, Hirokazu Hiraoka
  • Publication number: 20150028143
    Abstract: A line clip of a spinning reel includes a mounting member and a clip member. The mounting member is configured to be mounted to the spool. The clip member is disposed on the mounting member, and is configured to lock the fishing line between the clip member and the surface of the spool. The clip member comprises a mounting end portion having the mounting member attached thereto, the mounting end portion having a predefined width in a circumferential direction of the spool, an introduction end portion configured to have a fishing line introduced thereto, and a movement restriction portion disposed between the mounting end portion and the introduction end portion, having a width that is different from the predefined width, and being configured to restrict the fishing line from moving to the introduction section side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Hirokazu HIRAOKA, Shingo MATSUO
  • Publication number: 20140312153
    Abstract: A line roller basically includes a bearing member and a guide member. The bearing member includes: an inner race having a cylindrical shape; an outer race having a cylindrical shape and a plurality of rotting elements. The outer race is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the inner race. The rolling elements are circumferentially aligned at intervals between the inner race and the outer race. The guide member is made of a material of the same kind as that of the outer race. Further, the guide member is a tubular member having a guide surface for guiding a fishing line on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The guide member is firmly fixed to the bearing member on the outer peripheral surface of the bearing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Hirokazu HIRAOKA
  • Publication number: 20140203131
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a handle, a reel unit, a rotor, a spool, a spool shaft, and an oscillating mechanism. The oscillating mechanism includes a traverse cam and a slider including a slider body, a through hole, an engaging member, a first bearing, and a retainer member. The slider body is coupled to the spool shaft. The engaging member has a shaft part and an engaging part. The engaging part is mounted to a tip end of the shaft part to be engaged with helical grooves. The first bearing has a fitted part, a protruding part, and a support hole. The fitted part is fitted into the through hole. The protruding part has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the fitted part. The fitted part includes a stepped surface on an end thereof abutting the protruding part. The retainer member retains the first bearing at the stepped surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Hirokazu HIRAOKA
  • Publication number: 20140191071
    Abstract: A spinning reel configured to forwardly reel out a fishing line includes a handle, a spool, a rotor, an oscillating mechanism, a rotor drive mechanism, and a reel unit. The reel unit includes a fishing rod attachment leg, a chassis, a lid member, a reel unit guard, a protruding portion, and a restriction portion. The chassis has a mechanism attachment space to accommodate the oscillating mechanism and the rotor drive mechanism. The protruding portion protrudes towards at least one of the chassis and the lid member from an inner lateral surface of the reel unit guard. The restriction portion is disposed on at least of the chassis and the lid member The restriction portion is engaged with the protruding portion to restrict the reel unit guard from moving in a direction away from the fishing rod attachment leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Hirokazu HIRAOKA
  • Publication number: 20140175206
    Abstract: A spinning reel spool according to a first aspect of the present invention is a spinning reel spool that delivers fishing line forward. The spinning reel spool comprises a spool body and a ring member. This spool body has a body portion and a protruding portion. The protruding portion is integrally formed on a front side of the body portion. The protruding portion is annularly arranged and protrudes from the body portion in an axial direction of the spool body. The ring member is disposed on an outer circumferential portion of the protruding portion of the spool body. The ring member is held between the body portion and a plastically deformed part of the protruding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Hirokazu HIRAOKA, Takuji TAKAMATSU, Keigo KITAJIMA, Kouji OCHIAI, Akihiko SATO
  • Publication number: 20140175205
    Abstract: A spinning reel for delivering fishing line has a spinning reel body, a handle, a rotor, and a spool. A rotor body of the rotor has a cylindrical coupling portion, a first rotor arm, and a second rotor arm. A first cover member of the rotor is removably attached to the rotor body covering a radially outer side of the first rotor arm. A first guard member of the rotor is removably attached to the rotor body and has a first guard portion covering a boundary between an outside surface of the coupling portion and a rear end surface of the coupling portion. A second guard member of the rotor is removably attached to the rotor body and has a second guard portion that covers the boundary between the outside surface and the rear end surface at a position opposing the first guard portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Hirokazu HIRAOKA
  • Publication number: 20140151483
    Abstract: A drag knob for regulating drag force of a drag mechanism configured to brake rotation of a spool rotatably mounted to a reel unit of a fishing reel includes an operating member, a coil spring, a receiver member, and a slide member. The operating member is rotatably mounted to the reel unit. The coil spring extends and contracts in a rotary axis direction of the operating member in conjunction with rotation of the operating member. The receiver member is configured to receive urging force of the coil spring and apply drag force to the spool. The slide member is disposed between the coil spring and the receiver member in the rotary axis direction. The slide member has a friction coefficient less than a friction coefficient of the receiver member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Hirokazu HIRAOKA
  • Publication number: 20140027555
    Abstract: A handle assembly for a spinning reel is configured to be mounted onto a drive gear shaft that is rotationally supported on a main body of the spinning reel. The handle assembly includes a metal shaft member, a metal handle arm, a handle grip and a first metal tubular member. The metal shaft member includes a threaded portion disposed at one end for screwing to the drive gear shaft and a coupling portion disposed at the other end. The metal handle arm includes a connected portion pivotally coupled to the coupling portion of the metal shaft member to pivot around a radial axis of the shaft member. The handle grip is rotatably attached to the metal handle arm to rotate around an axis that is parallel to a rotational axis of the metal shaft member. The first metal tubular member includes first and second pipe portions. The first pipe portion is disposed on an outer circumferential side of the metal shaft member for contacting the metal handle arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takuji TAKAMATSU, Hirokazu HIRAOKA
  • Publication number: 20130327870
    Abstract: The reel unit includes a chassis, a lid member, a guard member, a tubular part, and a screw member. The chassis includes a mechanism attachment space at a lateral side thereof, a first opening extending through a front edge of the chassis, and a second opening extending through a rear edge of the chassis. The guard member includes a boss being inserted into the second opening from the rear edge of the chassis. The guard member is attached to the chassis and the lid member from behind to cover the chassis and the lid member. The tubular part is disposed between the first opening and the second opening within the mechanism attachment space and arranged to be liquid-tight. The screw member passes through the first opening and being screwed into the boss. The screw member includes a head being held inside the tubular part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Hirokazu HIRAOKA
  • Publication number: 20130256438
    Abstract: A spinning reel fishing line guide mechanism for guiding a fishing line onto a spool includes a support member and a fixation member. The spinning reel fishing line guide mechanism is attached to a tip of a rotor arm and is pivotable between a fishing-line guide position and a fishing-line release position. The support member is attached pivotably to the tip of the rotor arm. The support member includes an outer member made of metal and an inner member made of synthetic resin. The inner member is fixed to an inner surface of the outer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Hirokazu HIRAOKA
  • Patent number: 8342438
    Abstract: A retainer member has a retainer portion, a through hole, and non-circular cross section. A bearing section is disposed on an outer periphery of the retainer portion. The through hole has a circular axial cross section and an inner periphery, which is axially penetrated by a non-circular portion of a spool shaft from back to front. The non-circular cross-sectional portion is formed by cutting out a front end of the retainer portion by machining. The non-circular cross-sectional portion has a non-circular axial cross section that engages the non-circular portion of the spool shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Hiraoka
  • Publication number: 20120128414
    Abstract: A gear attachment structure receives rotation of a handle assembly. The gear attachment structure includes a traverse cam shaft and a driven gear. The traverse cam shaft includes a shaft body, a gear support portion and a gear engaging portion. The gear support portion includes intersecting helical grooves on the outer peripheral surface. The gear support portion is disposed on an end of the shaft body and has a circular cross-section. The gear engaging portion includes a pair of circular-arc portions and a pair of straight portions. The circular-arc portions are opposed to each other while being either disposed along and within the outer periphery of the gear support portion or disposed radial outwards of the gear support portion. One of the straight portions is coupled to one ends of the circular-arc portions whereas the other of the straight portions is coupled to the other ends of the circular-arc portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Hirokazu HIRAOKA
  • Publication number: 20110180646
    Abstract: A retainer member has a retainer portion, a through hole, and non-circular cross section. A bearing section is disposed on an outer periphery of the retainer portion. The through hole has a circular axial cross section and an inner periphery, which is axially penetrated by a non-circular portion of a spool shaft from back to front. The non-circular cross-sectional portion is formed by cutting out a front end of the retainer portion by machining. The non-circular cross-sectional portion has a non-circular axial cross section that engages the non-circular portion of the spool shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Hirokazu HIRAOKA
  • Patent number: 7967232
    Abstract: In a bail arm of a spinning reel, a first bail support member includes a through hole penetrating therethrough toward an inner periphery of the roller from outside. A cap member made of a synthetic resin is attached to the through hole. The cap member includes a lubricating port to supply a lubricant therethrough. Further in the bail arm of a spinning reel, a first lubricating port is formed in a first rotation support portion configured to be exposed to the outside in a fishing line release posture of the first bail support member. The first lubricating port continuously penetrates inner and outer peripheries of the first rotation support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Hiraoka, Keigo Kitajima, Shingo Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20110095118
    Abstract: In a bail arm of a spinning reel, a first bail support member includes a through hole penetrating therethrough toward an inner periphery of the roller from outside. A cap member made of a synthetic resin is attached to the through hole. The cap member includes a lubricating port to supply a lubricant therethrough. Further in the bail arm of a spinning reel, a first lubricating port is formed in a first rotation support portion configured to be exposed to the outside in a fishing line release posture of the first bail support member. The first lubricating port continuously penetrates inner and outer peripheries of the first rotation support portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hirokazu HIRAOKA, Keigo KITAJIMA, Shingo MATSUO
  • Patent number: 7798437
    Abstract: A rotor includes a rotor body, first to third cover members, and first and second mounting brackets. The rotor body includes a tubular member and first and second rotor arms. The first and second rotor arms extend forward from first and second sides of the rear end of the tubular member. The rotor arms are also spaced apart from the outer periphery of the tubular member. The first and second cover members cover a portion of the outside of the first and second rotor arms. The third cover member is coupled to the rear ends of the first and second cover members, and covers the rear end of the tubular member. The first and second mounting brackets are disposed in front of the third cover member so as to be covered by the first and second cover members. The first and second mounting brackets are used for mounting the third cover member to the rotor body by way of screw members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Hiraoka, Keigo Kitajima, Shingo Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20100187345
    Abstract: A rotor includes a rotor body, first to third cover members, and first and second mounting brackets. The rotor body includes a tubular member and first and second rotor arms. The first and second rotor arms extend forward from first and second sides of the rear end of the tubular member. The rotor arms are also spaced apart from the outer periphery of the tubular member. The first and second cover members cover a portion of the outside of the first and second rotor arms. The third cover member is coupled to the rear ends of the first and second cover members, and covers the rear end of the tubular member. The first and second mounting brackets are disposed in front of the third cover member so as to be covered by the first and second cover members. The first and second mounting brackets are used for mounting the third cover member to the rotor body by way of screw members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hirokazu HIRAOKA, Keigo KITAJIMA, Shingo MATSUO