# US 7,607,602 B2 · Reel unit for spinning reel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,602 B2 - Document ID: US7607602B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/125,066 - Filed: 2008-05-22 - Published: 2008-12-18 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-15 - Assignees: Shimano Inc. - Inventors: Hirokazu Hiraoka; Kenichi Sugahara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607602B2 ## CPC - A01K 89/0108: {Pick-up details} - A01K 89/01083: {to wind position by rotor drive} - A01K 89/0114: {Reciprocating mechanisms} - A01K 89/0117: {Anti-reverse mechanisms} - A01K 89/027: with pick-up {, i.e. for reels with the guiding member rotating and the spool not rotating during normal retrieval of the line} - A01K 89/011221: {with line or water shields} - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS ## Abstract A reel unit 2 for a spinning reel includes a housing unit 2a, a lid portion 2b, and a returning member 28. The housing unit 2a includes a cylindrical portion 27 and a somewhat semicircular first flange portion 24a arranged behind the cylindrical portion 27. The lid portion 2b has a somewhat semicircular second flange portion 24b arranged behind and forming a gap 27b with the rear surface of the cylindrical portion 27. The lid portion 2b is detachably coupled to the housing unit 2a. The returning member 28 is detachably mounted in gap 27b and includes a plate-like arranging portion 28a disposed in gap 27b and a protrusion 28b gradually protruding from a front side of the arranging portion 28a to face the first flange portion 24a. The protrusion 28b has a first sloped surface 28c contactable with a bail tripping mechanism. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reel unit for a spinning reel having a spool and a rotor with a bail tripping mechanism, the bail tripping mechanism arranged to return a bail arm, pivotable between a line-winding posture and a line-releasing posture, from the line-releasing posture to the line-winding posture, the spool arranged to moved forward and rearward along a spool shaft, the reel unit comprising: a housing unit including a cylindrical portion, a first flange portion and a mechanism accommodating space, the cylindrical portion disposed on a front portion the housing unit so that the center of the cylindrical portion coincides with the center of a rotation shaft of the rotor, the first flange portion arranged behind the cylindrical portion, the first flange portion having a substantially semicircular shape and the center that coincides with the center of the cylindrical portion, the mechanism accommodating space formed in a rear side of the first flange portion; a lid portion having a second flange portion with a substantially semicircular shape, the second flange portion forming a circular shape with the first flange portion, the first and second flange portions arranged behind and forming a gap with a rear surface of the cylindrical portion, the lid portion detachably coupled to the housing unit so as to cover the mechanism accommodating space; a rod attachment leg portion disposed on either the housing unit or the lid portion; and a returning member detachably mounted in the gap between the cylindrical portion and the second flange portion, the returning member returning the bail arm from the line-releasing posture to the line-winding posture, the returning member includes a plate-like arranging portion and a protrusion, the arranging portion disposed in the gap between the cylindrical portion and the second flange portion, the protrusion gradually protruding from a front side of the arranging portion to face the first flange portion along the line-winding direction of the rotor, the protrusion has a first sloped surface contactable with the bail tripping mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reel unit according to claim 1, wherein the first flange portion further has a returning portion returning the bail arm from the line-releasing posture to the line-winding posture, the returning portion including a second sloped surface formed on a front surface of the first flange portion along the line-winding direction, the second sloped surface being steeper than the first sloped surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The reel unit according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion further has a third sloped surface positioned to face and engage with the second sloped surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reel unit according to claim 1, wherein a cutout portion formed on the inner peripheral side of the second flange portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The reel unit according to claim 4, wherein the arranging portion has at least one projection locked to an edge portion of the cutout portion of the second flange portion and is sandwiched by the second flange portion and the cylindrical portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The reel unit according to claim 1, wherein the arranging portion has at least one fitting portion that fits with either the cylindrical portion or the second flange portion and is sandwiched by the second flange portion and the cylindrical portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The reel unit according to claim 6, wherein the at least one fitting portion include projection(s) that fit into a concave portion formed on either the cylindrical portion or the second flange portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reel unit according to claim 1, wherein the arranging portion fixedly coupled to either the cylindrical portion or the second flange portion. ### Claim 9 A spinning reel comprising: a spool; a rotor arranged to guide a fishing line on a peripheral surface of the spool, the rotor having a bail arm, pivotable between a line-winding posture and a line-releasing posture, and a bail tripping mechanism arranged to return the bail arm from the line-releasing posture to the line-winding posture, the spool arranged to moved forward and rearward along a spool shaft; and a reel unit configured to rotatably support the rotor, the reel unit including a housing unit including a cylindrical portion, a first flange portion and a mechanism accommodating space, the cylindrical portion disposed on a front portion the housing unit so that the center of the cylindrical portion coincides with the center of a rotation shaft of the rotor, the first flange portion arranged behind the cylindrical portion, the first flange portion having a substantially semicircular shape and the center that coincides with the center of the cylindrical portion, the mechanism accommodating space formed in a rear side of the first flange portion; a lid portion having a second flange portion with a substantially semicircular shape, the second flange portion forming a circular shape with the first flange portion, the first and second flange portions arranged behind and forming a gap with a rear surface of the cylindrical portion, the lid portion detachably coupled to the housing unit so as to cover the mechanism accommodating space; a rod attachment leg portion disposed on either the housing unit or the lid portion; and a returning member detachably mounted in the gap between the cylindrical portion and the second flange portion, the returning member returning the bail arm from the line-releasing posture to the line-winding posture, the returning member includes a plate-like arranging portion and a protrusion, the arranging portion disposed in the gap between the cylindrical portion and the second flange portion, the protrusion gradually protruding from a front side of the arranging portion to face the first flange portion along the line-winding direction of the rotor, the protrusion has a first sloped surface contactable with the bail tripping mechanism.