Patents by Inventor Keigo Kitajima

Keigo Kitajima 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: 20060071107
    Abstract: A handle assembly has a handle arm, a knob shaft and a handle knob that includes a tubular portion and a substantially spherical knob portion. The tubular portion is mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the knob shaft. The knob portion is unitarily formed with the tubular portion. The knob portion has a first knob with a substantially spherically shaped outer peripheral surface and a second knob that is disposed on a side of the first knob opposite the handle arm. The second knob has a substantially spherically shaped outer peripheral surface with a diameter larger than a diameter of the first knob. The second knob is unitarily linked with the first knob at a junction a distance from the outermost radial portion at a region of the knob portion opposite the tubular portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Ochiai, Keigo Kitajima
  • Patent number: 6983905
    Abstract: A screw operation structure includes a screw-in portion that is capable of being mounted to a rear portion of a reel unit, a screw member, and an operation member. The screw-in portion includes an outer threaded portion, and a tubular portion that is integrally formed with the outer threaded portion. The tubular portion is formed such that the diameter thereof is larger than the inner diameter of the inner threaded portion of the screw member. In this configuration, the screw member is prevented from falling off of the screw-in portion by the tubular portion of the screw-in portion, which has a diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of the inner threaded portion of the screw member. In this manner, it is easy to mount an the operation member and the screw member in the reel unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Keigo Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20050279872
    Abstract: A brake operation structure is mounted on a reel unit, and adjusts a braking force applied to a spool. This brake operation structure includes a mounting tube, an operation knob, and a screw member. The mounting tube is formed to project from the reel unit. The operation knob is formed in a closed-end tubular shape to accommodate the mounting tube. The screw member has two male threaded portions that have a tubular shape when coupled to one another. The operation knob is pivotably retained to the mounting tube when the screw member engages an outer peripheral portion of the mounting tube and an inner peripheral portion of the operation knob. The operation knob is prevented from falling off from the mounting tube, while allowing the operation knob to pivot stably relative to the mounting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Keigo Kitajima, Takuji Takamatsu, Ng Huat
  • Patent number: 6957788
    Abstract: A sound generating mechanism 60 includes a sounding member 61, a retaining member 62, a sounding pin 64, and a coil spring 65. The sounding member 61 includes a disk portion 61a formed into a ring shape, a plurality of sounding concavities 61b formed circumferentially apart on the disk portion 61a, and engagement portions 61c integrally formed with the disk portion 61a. The retaining member 62 prevents the sounding member 61 from falling off. The sounding pin 64 is mounted in the knob member 56 at a position opposite at least one of the sounding concavities 61b so as to be movable toward and away from the sounding concavities 61b. The coil spring 65 urges the sounding pin 64 toward the sounding concavities 61b. The sounding pin 64 is unlikely to fall off when the knob member 56 is attached to or removed from the knob mounting portion 52.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Keigo Kitajima
  • Patent number: 6955316
    Abstract: A reel unit for a spinning reel has a casing and a lid portion. The casing has an opening formed in its side portion, a mechanism accommodating space formed inside, and a rotation support portion for supporting a rotation shaft (pinion gear) of the rotor. The lid portion has a cover portion and a mounting leg portion. The cover portion is mounted detachably to the casing to cover the opening of the casing. The cover portion is formed unitarily with a second flange portion so as to define a space in the interior thereof. The mounting leg portion extends from the cover portion and to the front end of which a fishing rod can be mounted. In this reel unit, the weight of the lid portion is reduced at low cost while precision and relative strength are maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Keigo Kitajima
  • Patent number: 6929204
    Abstract: A spinning reel rotor includes a cylindrical portion, first and second rotor arms, a bail arm, and a second cover member. The cylindrical portion is mounted rotatably to one end of a reel unit. The first and a second rotor arms extend in a direction away from the reel unit while being curved outward in radial direction from a position in opposition, with respect to the radial direction, to an end of the cylindrical portion on the reel unit side. An aperture is formed in the second rotor arm. The second cover member covers the outside of the second rotor arm and has through holes for adjusting its mass. The through holes expose a portion of the aperture. In this rotor that has a rotor arm provided with an aperture, variations in the rotational balance of cover members due to different degrees of exposure of the aperture are suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Masakazu Iwabuchi, Keigo Kitajima
  • Patent number: 6880776
    Abstract: A seat member of a reel unit of a spinning reel is fixed by means of a screw member to a cover portion of a lid member formed by die casting in a direction in which a body member and the lid member are separated from each other. The lid member is mounted to the body member to which various mechanisms have been mounted, and a cover member is mounted to the lower rear portion of the reel unit. Then, the cover member and the body member are fixedly coupled to each other by means of a screw member in a direction transverse to the direction in which the body member and the lid member are separated from each other, i.e., a direction transverse to the direction in which the body member and the lid member are extracted from the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Keigo Kitajima
  • Patent number: 6874717
    Abstract: An oscillating mechanism is for reciprocating a spool in a spool shaft direction in cooperation with rotation of a handle. The oscillating mechanism includes a slider member, a gear member, and a guide shaft. The slider member is mounted at least axially immovably to a spool shaft, on the fore end of which the spool is mounted. The gear member reciprocates the slider member in the shaft axial direction in cooperation with rotation of the handle. The guide shaft is supported at two locations of its outer circumferential surface with the reel unit, has an annular groove to which a retainer can be attached for preventing disengagement of the guide shaft in one axial direction, and guides the slider member in a direction substantially parallel to the spool shaft. In this way, structure for retaining a guide shaft is simplified and design constraint alleviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Takikura, Takeshi Ikuta, Keigo Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20050051652
    Abstract: The reel unit includes a reel body that accommodates a variety of mechanisms therein and a T-shaped rod attachment leg that extends diagonally frontward and formed integrally with the reel body. The reel body includes a body member having an accommodation space in the interior thereof that opens to a side, and a lid member detachably mounted on the body member to cover the opening of the body member. A reduced thickness portion is formed in an upper rear portion of the reel body, where the rod attachment leg connects the reel body. The reduced thickness portion has a peripheral rim poriton and a recessed portion that is further recessed from the peripheral rim portion. The cover member is mounted to cover the rear lower portion of the reel body in order to cover at least the peripheral rim portion of the reduced thickness portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Seiji Myojo, Keigo Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20050045758
    Abstract: An oscillating mechanism includes a first non-circular gear, a rotary cam and a slider. The first non-circular gear is a bi-lobe gear rotatable about an axis of the handle rotation. The rotary cam is rotatably mounted in the reel unit so as to be parallel with the first non-circular gear. The rotary cam includes a cam protrusion, and a multi-lobe second non-circular gear arranged so that a tooth corresponding to the minimum tip diameter of the second non-circular gear meshes with a tooth corresponding to the maximum tip diameter of the first non-circular gear. The number of teeth of the second non-circular gear is greater than that of the first non-circular gear. The slider is axially movably mounted to the spool shaft. The slider includes a cam groove engaging the cam protrusion. The present invention facilitates tight winding of fishing line in a shape closer to a cylindrical shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Masuo Ban, Keigo Kitajima, Taisei Morise
  • Patent number: 6857589
    Abstract: A spinning reel spool is detachable from a spool shaft having a tapered surface and an engagement groove. The spool includes a spool unit, an engagement spring, a positioning projection, a lid member, an operation button, and an engagement hole. The spool unit includes a circular mounting space. The positioning projection determines the rotational position of the engagement spring. The operation button is mounted in the lid member and can pass over the engagement groove. The operation button includes a pair of tapered portions that are disposed with the spool shaft therebetween such that the gap between the pair of engagement portions is widened by movement of the operation button in the axial direction. The engagement hole controls the rotational position of the operation button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Keigo Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20050023393
    Abstract: The rear drag operation structure includes a knob mounting portion, a first rear drag knob, and a second rear drag knob. The knob mounting portion includes a tubular portion that projects rearward from the rear portion of the reel unit, and a male threaded portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion. The first rear drag knob is mounted on the rear end portion of the knob mounting portion. The second rear drag knob includes lever members that are disposed between the rear portion of the reel unit and the front portion of the first rear drag knob, and a nut member that is mounted on the lever members so as to be not rotatable but moveable forward and backward relative thereto, and is screwed onto the male threaded portion of the knob mounting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Keigo Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20040206840
    Abstract: A sound generating mechanism 60 includes a sounding member 61, a retaining member 62, a sounding pin 64, and a coil spring 65. The sounding member 61 includes a disk portion 61a formed into a ring shape, a plurality of sounding concavities 61b formed circumferentially apart on the disk portion 61a, and engagement portions 61c integrally formed with the disk portion 61a. The retaining member 62 prevents the sounding member 61 from falling off. The sounding pin 64 is mounted in the knob member 56 at a position opposite at least one of the sounding concavities 61b so as to be movable toward and away from the sounding concavities 61b. The coil spring 65 urges the sounding pin 64 toward the sounding concavities 61b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventor: Keigo Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20040155134
    Abstract: A spinning reel rotor includes a cylindrical portion, first and second rotor arms, a bail arm, and a second cover member. The cylindrical portion is mounted rotatably to one end of a reel unit. The first and a second rotor arms extend in a direction away from the reel unit while being curved outward in radial direction from a position in opposition, with respect to the radial direction, to an end of the cylindrical portion on the reel unit side. An aperture is formed in the second rotor arm. The second cover member covers the outside of the second rotor arm and has through holes for adjusting its mass. The through holes expose a portion of the aperture. In this rotor that has a rotor arm provided with an aperture, variations in the rotational balance of cover members due to different degrees of exposure of the aperture are suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.
    Inventors: Masakazu Iwabuchi, Keigo Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20040113005
    Abstract: A screw operation structure includes a screw-in portion that is capable of being mounted to a rear portion of a reel unit, a screw member, and an operation member. The screw-in portion includes an outer threaded portion, and a tubular portion that is integrally formed with the outer threaded portion. The tubular portion is formed such that the diameter thereof is larger than the inner diameter of the inner threaded portion of the screw member. In this configuration, the screw member is prevented from falling off of the screw-in portion by the tubular portion of the screw-in portion, which has a diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of the inner threaded portion of the screw member. In this manner, it is easy to mount an the operation member and the screw member in the reel unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.
    Inventor: Keigo Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20040104291
    Abstract: A spinning reel spool is detachable from a spool shaft having a tapered surface and an engagement groove. The spool includes a spool unit, an engagement spring, a positioning projection, a lid member, an operation button, and an engagement hole. The spool unit includes a circular mounting space. The positioning projection determines the rotational position of the engagement spring. The operation button is mounted in the lid member and can pass over the engagement groove. The operation button includes a pair of tapered portions that are disposed with the spool shaft therebetween such that the gap between the pair of engagement portions is widened by movement of the operation button in the axial direction. The engagement hole controls the rotational position of the operation button.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventor: Keigo Kitajima
  • Publication number: 20040079821
    Abstract: A seat member of a reel unit of a spinning reel is fixed by means of a screw member to a cover portion of a lid member formed by die casting in a direction in which a body member and the lid member are separated from each other. The lid member is mounted to the body member to which various mechanisms have been mounted, and a cover member is mounted to the lower rear portion of the reel unit. Then, the cover member and the body member are fixedly coupled to each other by means of a screw member in a direction transverse to the direction in which the body member and the lid member are separated from each other, i.e., a direction transverse to the direction in which the body member and the lid member are extracted from the die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Keigo Kitajima
  • Patent number: 6702214
    Abstract: A power transmission mechanism is for transmitting power from a handle of a spinning reel to an oscillating mechanism, and includes a pinion gear, a dual-stepped gear, and a driven gear. The pinion gear rotates in cooperation with rotation of the handle. The dual-stepped gear has a larger-diameter gear that is a helical-tooth gear and meshes with the pinion gear, and a smaller-diameter gear that is arranged coaxially with the larger-diameter gear and is formed unitarily with the larger-diameter gear. The smaller-diameter gear is a straight-tooth gear or a helical gear whose orientation is substantially the same as an orientation of the larger gear. The driven gear meshes with the smaller-diameter gear to rotate the oscillating mechanism. In a power transmission device in a fishing reel, manufacturing cost is reduced while suppressing noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Keigo Kitajima, Koji Takikura, Taisei Morise
  • Publication number: 20040035968
    Abstract: An oscillating mechanism is for reciprocating a spool in a spool shaft direction in cooperation with rotation of a handle. The oscillating mechanism includes a slider member, a gear member, and a guide shaft. The slider member is mounted at least axially immovably to a spool shaft, on the fore end of which the spool is mounted. The gear member reciprocates the slider member in the shaft axial direction in cooperation with rotation of the handle. The guide shaft is supported at two locations of its outer circumferential surface with the reel unit, has an annular groove to which a retainer can be attached for preventing disengagement of the guide shaft in one axial direction, and guides the slider member in a direction substantially parallel to the spool shaft. In this way, structure for retaining a guide shaft is simplified and design constraint alleviated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.
    Inventors: Kohji Takikura, Takeshi Ikuta, Keigo Kitajima
  • Patent number: 6688545
    Abstract: First sounding mechanism, which issues sound when spool rotates relative to spool shaft, is furnished with sound-emitting member, pawl member, and plate spring. Sound-emitting member is non-rotatably mounted on spool shaft, and has multiple jags radially jutting on its outer periphery. Pawl member has body portion pivotably mounted on spool; pawl portion formed on the spool-shaft side of the swing center; and arcuate contact face formed on body portion on a side of the swing center SC opposite spool shaft. First-side radius R1 of contact face, is smaller than its second-side radius R2. Plate spring mounted on spool at an end nearer the first side of contact-face is, and contacts contact face at the other end, urging pawl portion of pawl member to collide with sound-emitting member. In a spinning-reel sounding device having a pawl member, the tone fluctuations due to spool rotational direction are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Keigo Kitajima, Hirokazu Hiraoka