Patent Publication Number: US-8534584-B2

Title: Dual-bearing reel speed change operation mechanism

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-140745 filed on Jun. 21, 2010. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-140745 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a speed change operation mechanism, and particularly to a dual-bearing reel speed change operation mechanism for switchably transmitting handle rotation to a spool at either a high speed or a low speed. 
     2. Background Art 
     Japan Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. H07-039413 (Y2) describes an exemplary dual-bearing reel embedded with a rotation transmission mechanism configured to transmit handle rotation to a spool. The rotation transmission mechanism includes a speed change mechanism configured to switch handle rotation between a high speed and a low speed. In the speed change mechanism, a high speed gear with a large diameter and a low speed gear with a small diameter are attached onto the distal end of a handle shaft. Either of the high speed gear and the low speed gear is selectively allowed to unitarily rotate with the handle shaft. Further, a pinion gear with a small diameter and a pinion gear with a large diameter are attached to a spool shaft and a spool while being unitarily rotatable therewith. The small-diameter pinion gear is allowed to mesh with the large-diameter high speed gear, whereas the large-diameter pinion gear is allowed to mesh with the small-diameter low speed gear. In conjunction with a press operation of an operating shaft, rotation transmission from the handle shaft to the high speed gear is configured to be switched to rotation transmission from the handle shaft to the low speed gear. When the operating shaft is pressed inwards, handle rotation is transmitted to the low speed gear through the handle shaft and is further transmitted to the large-diameter pinion gear through the low speed gear. The spool shaft and the spool hereby rotated at a low speed. On the other hand, handle rotation is transmitted to the high speed gear through the handle shaft and is further transmitted to the small-diameter pinion gear through the high speed gear when the operating shaft is pulled outwards by an operation of moving a lock member, which is movably disposed onto the handle arm, in a direction away from a lock groove formed on the operating shaft. The spool shaft and the spool are thereby rotated at a high speed. 
     In the speed change operation mechanisms of the aforementioned type, the operating shaft is generally configured to be pulled outwards by an operation of moving the lock member, which is movably disposed onto the handle arm, in a direction away from the lock groove formed on the operating shaft (see e.g., http://fservice.shimano.co.jp/parts/pdf/02030.pdf). The speed change operation mechanisms of the aforementioned type include a base member (retainer), a lock member (lock plate) and a coil spring. The base member is a plate member disposed onto a handle arm. The lock member is a plate member including an operating knob and a locking portion. The operating knob is attached to the tip of the handle arm while being disposed on the base member. An angler pinches and moves the operating knob with his/her fingers. The base end of the lock portion is configured to be locked with a lock groove formed on an operating shaft. The coil spring is held by a protrusion protruding from the base member. Under the condition, the coil spring is configured to urge the lock portion of the lock member towards the lock groove formed on the operating shaft. Further, the base member includes a guide groove thereon for guiding and moving the lock member in a predetermined direction. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the aforementioned well-known speed change operation mechanism, the base member includes the protrusion for holding an end of the coil spring and the guide groove for guiding the lock member. The base member is thereby formed in a convexo-concave shape. In other words, the base member can have a complex shape. It is difficult to assemble the base member by a combination of simply shaped members when the base member has a complex shape. Further, the following drawbacks are produced when the base member has a convexo-concave shape. For example, salt is easily deposited on the convexo-concave portion of the base member after evaporation of seawater attached thereto. Further, it is very difficult to remove the deposited salt from the base member by easily disassembling the base member. 
     In view of the above, the present invention addresses needs to produce a dual-bearing reel speed change operation mechanism including a base member assembled by a combination of simply shaped members. Further, the present invention addresses another need to provide a dual-bearing reel speed change operation mechanism for preventing salt from being easily deposited on a base member and allowing the base member to be easily disassembled for removing the deposited salt. 
     A dual-bearing reel speed change operation mechanism in provided for a user to switch transmission speed from rotation of a handle to a spool at either a first speed or a second speed. The second speed is lower than the first speed. The dual-bearing reel speed change operation mechanism includes a handle, a handle shaft, an operating shaft, an operating shaft urging member, a base member, a lock member, and a lock member urging member. The handle includes a handle arm and a handle knob. The handle arm includes a first through hole penetrating therethrough in a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the handle arm, and a first protrusion protruding from a front surface of the handle arm away from the spool. The handle knob is attached to a distal end of the handle arm. The front surface of the handle facing the handle knob. The handle shaft includes a base end being inserted in the first through hole, and a second through hole penetrating in an axial direction of handle shaft. The operating shaft includes a shaft portion being inserted in the second through hole, where the shaft portion including an engaged portion on an outer periphery of a base end thereof. The operating shaft also includes a press operating portion being configured adjacent to the base end of the shaft portion for the user to switch the transmission speed of the rotation of the handle between the first speed to the second speed by pressing the press operating portion. The press operation portion has a larger diameter than a diameter of the shaft portion. The operating shaft urges member configured to urge the operating shaft axially to the handle. The base member is formed in a plate shape. The base member is configured on the front surface of the handle arm, and includes a third through hole, and a fourth through hole. The third through hole communicates with the first through hole. In fourth through hole, the first protrusion is inserted. The lock member is movably disposed on a front surface of the base member. The front surface of the base member faces the handle knob. The lock member includes an engaging portion, a fifth through hole, a holding portion, and a moving operating portion. The engaging portion is configured to be engaged with the engaged portion of the shaft portion. The fifth through hole is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the lock portion. The first protrusion is inserted in the fifth through hole. The fifth through hole is configured to restrict movement of the lock member by abutting the first protrusion. The holding portion is formed on a longitudinal end of the fifth through hole. The moving operating portion is configured to be operated for allowing the engaging portion to be engaged with or disengaged from the engaged portion. The lock member urging member is configured to urge the lock member in a direction to allow the engaging portion being engaged with the engaged portion. The lock member urging member is attached in the fifth through hole of the lock member to allow one of axial ends thereof being held by the first protrusion and to allow the other of the axial ends thereof being held by the holding portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fishing reel adopting an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the fishing reel; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the right part of the fishing reel; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a speed change operation mechanism of the fishing reel; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the speed change operation mechanism of a partially assembled state; and 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a base member of the speed change operation mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a dual-bearing reel adopting an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a large dual-bearing reel to be used for trolling. The dual-bearing reel includes a tubular reel unit  1 , a spool shaft  2 , a spool  3  and a handle  4 . The spool shaft  2  is rotatably attached to the center part of the reel unit  1 . The spool  3  is supported by the spool shaft  2  while being allowed to rotate but prevented from axially moving. The handle  4  is disposed lateral to the reel unit  1 . Further, the dual-bearing reel includes a rotation transmission mechanism  6 , a lever drag mechanism  7  and an anti-reverse mechanism  9  in the inside of the reel unit  1 . The rotation transmission mechanism  6  is configured to transmit rotation of the handle  4  to the spool  3 . The lever drag mechanism  7  is configured to brake the rotation of the spool  3  in a fishing line release direction. The anti-reverse mechanism  9  is configured to prevent the spool  3  from rotating in the fishing line release direction. 
     The reel unit  1  includes a first side plate  10  (left side plate) and a second side plate  11  (right side plate), and a reel body  12 . The first and second side plates  10  and  11  are closed-end tubular members made of metal. The reel body  12  is a perforated tubular member made of metal. The first and second side plates  10  and  11  are concentrically joined to the both axial ends of the reel body  12  by a socket joint. Under the condition, the first and second side plates  10  are fixed to the reel body  12  by a plurality of fixation screws. The first and second side plates  10  and  11  support the both axial ends of the spool shaft  2  with roughly the center parts thereof for allowing the spool shaft  2  to rotate. 
     A pair of harness lugs  13  is attached to the top of the reel unit  1  at a predetermined interval for connecting the dual-bearing reel to a single or plurality of reel harnesses. Specifically, one of the harness lugs  13  is disposed between the first side plate  10  and the reel body  12 , whereas the other of the harness lugs  13  is disposed between the second side plate  11  and the reel body  12 . On the other hand, a fishing rod attachment portion  14  is disposed on the bottom of the reel body  12  for attaching the dual-bearing reel to a fishing rod. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the spool shaft  2  is rotatably supported by the first and second side plates  10  and  11  through a bearing  31   a  (left side bearing) and a bearing  31   b  (right side bearing) disposed onto the both axial ends of the spool shaft  2 . Further, the spool  3  is rotatably supported by two bearings  32   a  and  32   b  disposed onto the spool shaft  2 . The bearings  32   a  and  32   b  are separate from each other while being disposed between the bearings  31   a  and  31   b  in the axial direction. Specifically, the bearings  32   a  and  32   b  are disposed in the both axial ends of the spool  3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a ratchet wheel  50  (to be described) of the anti-reverse mechanism  9  is abutted to the right side of an inner race of the bearing  31   a  disposed onto the left axial end of the spool shaft  2 . On the other hand, a friction disc  26  (to be described) of the lever drag mechanism  7  is abutted to the left side of an inner race of the left-side bearing  32   a  supporting the spool  3 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the spool  3  includes a bobbin trunk  3   a  and a pair of flanges  3   b  integrally formed with the axial ends of the bobbin trunk  3   a.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the handle  4  is fixed onto a protruded end of a tubular handle shaft  5  disposed in parallel to and below the spool shaft  2 . The handle shaft  5  is rotatably supported by the reel unit  1  through two bearings  33   a  and  33   b . The bearings  33   a  and  33   b  are disposed below a boss  11   a  while being axially separated from each other. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the rotation transmission mechanism  6  includes a speed change operation mechanism  8  configured to switch handle rotation speed between a high speed (first speed) and a low speed (second speed). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the speed change operation mechanism  8  includes a first main gear  16 , a second main gear  17 , a first pinion gear  18 , a second pinion gear  19 , an engaging piece  20 , a first compression spring  21   a , a second compression spring  21   b  and an operating shaft  22 . The first main gear  16  is used for winding a fishing line at a high speed, whereas the second main gear  17  is used for winding the fishing line at a low speed. The first and second main gears  16  and  17  are both rotatably supported onto the handle shaft  5  of the handle  4 . The first pinion gear  18  is meshed with the first main gear  16 , whereas the second pinion gear  19  is meshed with the second main gear  17 . Under the condition, the first and second pinion gears  18  and  19  are rotatably supported onto the spool shaft  2 . The engaging piece  20  is configured to couple the handle shaft  5  to either the first main gear  16  or the second main gear  17  and transmit rotation therefrom to a coupled one of the first and second pinion gears  16  and  17 . The first compression spring  21   a  is disposed on the left side of the engaging piece  20  in  FIG. 2  for urging the operating shaft  22  axially outwards (rightwards in  FIG. 2 ) through the engaging piece  20  and the second compression spring  21   b  to be described. The second compression spring  21   b  is disposed on the right side of the engaging piece  20  in  FIG. 2  for urging the engaging piece  20  towards the second main gear  17 . The operating shaft  22  is configured to set the engaging piece  20  to be in either a high speed position or a low speed position. In the high speed position, the engaging piece  20  is engaged with the first main gear  16 . The engaging piece  20 , which is set in the high speed position, is depicted with a solid line in  FIG. 2 . In the low speed position, on the other hand, the engaging piece  20  is engaged with the second main gear  17 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first pinion gear  18  is a tubular member made of metal having a corrosion resistance property (e.g., non-magnetic stainless alloy). The second pinion gear  19  is a tubular member made of material similar to that of the first pinion gear  18 . The engaging piece  20  is non-rotatably disposed within a slit of the handle shaft  5 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the operating shaft  22  is inserted into a through hole  5   b  (an example of a second through hole) of the handle shaft  5 . In FIG.  2 , the axially right end of the operating shaft  22  is protruding axially outwards (rightwards in  FIG. 2 ) from a handle arm  4   a . Therefore, the operating shaft  22  is allowed to be pushed leftwards in  FIG. 2 . The operating shaft  22  is supported by a nut member  23  in an axially movable state. The nut member  23  is provided for fixing the handle  4  to the handle shaft  5  under the condition that the handle  4  is screwed onto the protruded end of the handle shaft  5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the speed change operation mechanism  8  includes the handle  4 , the handle shaft  5  including the nut member  23 , the first compression spring  21   a , the operating shaft  22 , a lock member  70 , a spring member  75  (an example of a lock member urging member), a base member  71  and a case member  72 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the handle  4  includes the handle arm  4   a  and a handle knob  4   b . The handle arm  4   a  includes a through hole  4   c  (an example of a first through hole) formed in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction thereof. The handle knob  4   b  is rotatably attached to the distal end of the handle arm  4   a . The handle arm  4   a  is a metal plate member including the through hole  4   c  non-circularly formed in the base end thereof. The nut member  23 , which forms a part of the handle shaft  5 , is fitted in the through hole  4   c  while being unitarily rotatable with the handle arm  4   a . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the handle shaft  5  includes a female threaded portion  5   a  on the inner periphery of the base end portion of the through hole  5   b . A male threaded portion  23   a  of the nut member  23  is screwed into the female threaded portion  5   a . Accordingly, the handle shaft  5  and the nut member  23  are unitarily rotatable. The nut member  23  includes a head portion  23   b  with a hexagonal shape. The head portion  23   b  is engaged with a through hole  71   a  (an example of a third through hole) while being prevented from rotating with respect thereto. The through hole  71   a  is a non-circular hole formed in the base member  71  attached to the handle arm  4   a  to be described. The nut member  23  includes a through hole  23   c  in the center part thereof. A shaft portion  22   a  of the operating shaft  22  to be described is movably inserted through the through hole  23   c . Further, the handle arm  4   a  includes two female threaded holes  4   f  on the surface thereof. Specifically, the female threaded holes  4   f  are disposed about the through hole  4   c . The female threaded holes  4   f  are used for fixing the base member  71  and the case member  72  (both of which are to be specifically described) to the handle arm  4   a  by two screw members. Further, the handle arm  4   a  includes a first protrusion  4   d  and a second protrusion  4   e , both of which are protruding from the surface thereof. Specifically, the first and second protrusions  4   d  and  4   e  are respectively disposed on the base-end and the front-end positions across the through hole  4   c . The first protrusion  4   d  is a roughly columnar portion allowed to be inserted through a through hole  71   b  (an example of a fourth through hole) formed in the base member  71  and a through hole  70   d  (an example of a fifth through hole) formed in the lock member  70  to be specifically described. The second protrusion  4   e  is a roughly columnar portion allowed to be inserted through a through hole  71   d  (an example of an eighth through hole) formed in the base member  71  and a through hole  70   f  (an example of a ninth through hole) formed in the lock member  70 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the operating shaft  22  is a bolt-like shaft member to be inserted through the through hole  4   c  of the handle arm  4   a . The operating shaft  22  includes the shaft portion  22   a  and a press operating portion  22   b  having a diameter greater than that of the shaft portion  22   a . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the shaft portion  22   a  is disposed under the condition that the left distal end thereof presses the engaging piece  20  towards the second main gear  17  through the second compression spring  21   b . Further, the shaft portion  22   a  includes an engaged portion  22   c  on the outer periphery of the base end (i.e., right end) thereof. The engaged portion  22   c  is an engagement groove formed on the outer periphery of the shaft portion  22   a . An engaging portion  70   c , which is a curved portion of the lock member  70  to be specifically described, is allowed to be engaged with the engaged portion  22   c . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the shaft portion  22   a  includes an annular groove  22   d  on the outer periphery of the axial center thereof. Further, two E-shaped retainer rings  22   e  are attached to the annular groove  22   d  for preventing the operating shaft  22  from being ejected from the handle shaft  5  to the outside of the handle arm  4   a . The press operating portion  22   b  is a large-diameter circular press operation button formed in the axial base end (right end in  FIG. 2 ) of the shaft portion  22   a  for allowing an angler to perform a press operation of switching handle rotation between a high speed and a low speed. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the lock member  70  includes a main body  70   a  and a moving operating portion  70   b . The main body  70   a  is a plate member movably disposed on the surface of the base member  71  along the longitudinal direction of the base member  71 . The moving operating portion  70   b  is disposed on a distal end of the main body  70   a . As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the lock member  70  further includes the engaging portion  70   c , the through hole  70   d , a holding portion  70   e  and the through hole  70   f . The engaging portion  70   c  is allowed to be engaged with the engaged portion  22   c  formed on the shaft portion  22   a  of the operating shaft  22 . The through hole  70   d  is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the lock member  70 . The first protrusion  4   d  of the handle arm  4   a  is allowed to be inserted through the through hole  70   d  while being abutted to the front end (i.e., the right end in  FIG. 4 ) of the through hole  70   d  for restricting movement of the lock member  70 . The holding portion  70   e  is formed in the base end (i.e., the left end in  FIG. 4 ) of the through hole  70   d . The through hole  70   f  is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the lock member  70 . The second protrusion  4   e  of the handle arm  4   a  is allowed to be inserted through the through hole  70   f  while being abutted to the base end (i.e., the left end in  FIG. 4 ) of the through hole  70   f  for restricting movement of the lock member  70 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the main body  70   a  is a plate member. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the moving operating portion  70   b  is a knob member having a roughly circular shape. The shape allows an angler to easily pinch the moving operation portion  70   b  with his/her fingers. In other words, an angler can easily perform a moving operation of the moving operating portion  70   b . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the moving operating portion  70   b  is movably disposed along the longitudinal direction of the handle arm  4   a . The main body  70   a  includes the engaging portion  70   c  on the front-end lateral part thereof for allowing the engaging portion  70   c  to be engaged with the engaged portion  22   c . The engaging portion  70   c  is a roughly circular through hole laterally opened to be engaged with the engaged portion  22   c . The main body  70   a  includes the through hole  70   d  longitudinally between the moving operating portion  70   b  and the engaging portion  70   c  for allowing the first protrusion  4   d  of the handle arm  4   a  to be inserted therethrough. The through hole  70   d  is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the main body  70   a . The through hole  70   d  is abutted to the front side of the first protrusion  4   d  for restricting the lock member  70  from moving towards the base-end side (i.e., the left side in  FIG. 4 ). Further, the spring member  75  is attached to the through hole  70   d . The through hole  70   d  has a transverse width slightly greater than the outer diameter of the first protrusion  4   d  of the handle arm  4   a . The through hole  70   d  includes the holding portion  70   e  in the base end thereof. The holding portion  70   e  is a rod-like portion protruding towards the front end of the through hole  70   d . The base end of the spring member  75  is attached onto the holding portion  70   e . Further, the main body  70   a  includes the through hole  70   f  on the front end thereof. The through hole  70   f  is opened to the front-end side for allowing the second protrusion  4   e  of the handle arm  4   a  to be inserted therethrough. The through hole  70   f  is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the main body  70   a . The through hole  70   f  is abutted to the base-end side of the second protrusion  4   e  of the handle arm  4   a  for restricting the lock member  70  from moving towards the front-end side (i.e., the right side in  FIG. 4 ). The through hole  70   f  has a transverse width slightly greater than the outer diameter of the second protrusion  4   e  of the handle arm  4   a.    
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the spring member  75  is a coil spring for urging the lock member  70  towards the operating shaft  22 . The spring member  75  is disposed within the through hole  70   d  in a compressed state. Specifically, a first end  75   a  (i.e., front end) of the spring member  75  is abutted to the first protrusion  4   d  of the handle arm  4   a , whereas a second end  75   b  (i.e., base end) of the spring member  75  is held by the holding portion  70   e.    
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the base member  71  is a plate member produced by press working and is disposed on the surface of the handle arm  4   a  along the longitudinal direction of the handle arm  4   a . As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the base member  71  includes the through hole  71   a , the through hole  71   b , two screw holes  71   c  and the through hole  71   d . The through hole  71   a  is a non-circular hole communicating with the through hole  4   c  of the handle arm  4   a . The head portion  23   b  of the nut member  23  is engaged with the through hole  71   a . The through hole  71   b  is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the base member  71  for allowing the first protrusion  4   d  of the handle arm  4   a  to be inserted therethrough and allowing the spring member  75  to be attached to the inside thereof. The two screw holes  71   c  are disposed about the through hole  71   a  for fixing the base member  71  to the handle arm  4   a  using two screw members penetrating therethrough. The through hole  71   d  is disposed closer to the front-end of the base member  71  than the through hole  71   a  is for allowing the second protrusion  4   e  of the handle arm  4   a  to be inserted therethrough. The base member  71  is a base for allowing both the main body  70   a  of the lock member  70  and the spring member  75  to be movably disposed on the front surface thereof. Further, the base member  71  includes the non-circular through hole  71   a  to be engaged with the head portion  23   b  of the nut member  23 . Therefore, the base member  71  functions as a retainer. The through hole  71   a  has a polygonal inner shape for allowing the head portion  23   b  having a hexagonal shape to be engaged therewith at any positions. The through hole  71   b  is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the base member  71  for communicating with the through hole  70   d  of the lock member  70  and allowing the spring member  75  to be attached therein. The base member  71 , together with the case member  72 , is fixed to the front surface of the handle arm  4   a  by two screw members. The screw members are herein inserted through the two screw holes  71   c . The through hole  71   b  is an elongated hole for allowing the first protrusion  4   d  of the handle arm  4   a  to be inserted therethrough and allowing the spring member  75  to be attached to the inside thereof. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the base member  71  is structured by two members having through holes of different shapes, i.e., a first base member  73  and a second base member  74 . The first and second base members  73  and  74  are separately produced by press working and are fitted to each other as a single member by adhesion or the like. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the first base member  73  includes a through hole  73   a , a through hole  73   b  (an example of a sixth through hole), two screw holes  73   c  and a through hole  73   d . The through hole  73   a  is a non-circular hole communicating with the through hole  4   c  of the handle arm  4  for allowing the head portion  23   b  of the nut member  23  to be engaged therewith. The through hole  73   b  is an elongated hole for allowing the first protrusion  4   d  of the handle arm  4   a  to be inserted therethrough and allowing the spring member  75  to be attached therein. The screw holes  73   c  allow two screw members to be inserted therethrough for fixing the base member  71  to the handle arm  4   a . The through hole  73   d  allows the second protrusion  4   e  of the handle arm  4   a  to be inserted therethrough. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the second base member  74  includes a through hole  74   a , a through hole  74   b  (an example of a seventh through hole), two screw holes  74   c  and a through hole  74   d . The through hole  74   a  is a non-circular hole communicating with the through hole  4   c  of the handle arm  4   a  for allowing the head portion  23   b  of the nut member  23  to be engaged therewith. The through hole  74   b  is a roughly circular through hole for allowing the first protrusion  4   d  of the handle arm  4   a  to be inserted therethrough. The screw holes  74   c  allow two screw members to be inserted therethrough for fixing the base member  71  to the handle arm  4   a . The through hole  74   d  allows the second protrusion  4   e  of the handle arm  4   a  to be inserted therethrough. When the first and second base members  73  and  74  are herein closely fitted to each other, the outer shapes of the first and second base members  73  and  74  are perfectly matched. Similarly, the outer shapes of the through holes  73   a  and  74   a  are perfectly matched. Further, the outer shapes of the two screw holes  73   c  and the two screw holes  74   c  are perfectly matched. Yet further, the outer shapes of the through holes  73   d  and  74   d  are perfectly matched. The through hole  74   b  is shaped for communicating with the front end (i.e., the right end in  FIG. 6 ) of the through hole  73   b . The first protrusion  4   d  of the handle arm  4   a  is thereby allowed to be inserted through the through hole  74   d  and the front end of the through hole  73   b.    
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the case member  72  is a cover member fixed to the surface of the handle arm  4   a  and covers the operating shaft  22 , the lock member  70 , the spring member  75  and the base member  71  for allowing the press operating portion  22   b  of the operating shaft  22  and the moving operating portion  70   b  of the lock member  70  to be exposed to the outside. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the case member  72  include a through hole  72   b , two screw holes  72   c  and a lateral hole  72   d . The through hole  72   b  is a roughly circular through hole for exposing the press operating portion  22   b  to the outside. The screw holes  72   c  allow two screw members to be inserted therethrough for fixing the case member  72 , together with the base member  71 , to the handle arm  4   a . The lateral hole  72   d  is a rectangular hole for exposing the moving operating portion  70   b  on the laterally outside of the case member  72 . Further a recess  72   a  is formed about the roughly circular through hole  72   b . Specifically, the recess  72   a  is formed by partially recessing the surface of the case member  72  while partially overlapping with the two screw holes  72   c.    
     When the operating shaft  22  is pressed leftwards by a press operation of the press operating portion  22   b  thereof in  FIG. 2 , the engaging portion  70   c  of the aforementioned lock member  70  is engaged with the engaged portion  22   c  of the operating shaft  22 . The operating shaft  22  is thereby set to be in a locked state. When the moving operating portion  70   b  of the lock member  70  is operated to be moved in a pressing direction, the engaging portion  70   c  of the lock member  70  is separated away from the engaged portion  22   c  of the operating shaft  22 . The operating shaft  22  is thereby set to be in an unlocked state. 
     In the speed change operation mechanism  8  with the aforementioned structure, the engaging piece  20  is configured in the second main gear  17  when the operating shaft  22  is pressed leftwards in  FIG. 2  by a press operation of the press operating portion  22   b  of thereof. Accordingly, the rotation of the handle  4  is transmitted to the second pinion gear  19  through the second main gear  17 . The spool  3  is thereby rotated at a low speed. On the other hand, the engaging piece  20  is configured in the first main gear  16  when the operating shaft  22  is pulled rightwards in  FIG. 2  by urging force through an operation of moving the moving operating portion  70   b  of the lock member  70  in the pressing direction for unlocking the engaging portion  70   c  (i.e., the curved portion) of the lock member  70  from the engaged portion  22   c  (i.e., the annular groove) formed on the shaft portion  22   a  of the operating shaft  22  in a direction away from the engaged portion  22   c . Accordingly, the rotation of the handle  4  is transmitted to the first pinion gear  18  through the first main gear  16 . The spool  3  is thereby rotated at a high speed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the lever drag mechanism  7  includes a brake disc  25 , the friction disc  26 , and a moving mechanism  29 . The brake disc  25  is attached to the left side of the spool  3 . The friction disc  26  is disposed on the left side of the brake disc  25  while being opposed thereto. The moving mechanism  29  is configured to reciprocate the spool  3  and the brake disc  25  in the axial direction of the spool shaft  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the brake disc  25  is a washer-like disc member made of for instance, stainless. The brake disc  25  is attached to the end surface of the left-side flange  3   b  of the spool  3  by a plurality of attachment pins disposed at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction thereof. The brake disc  25  is prevented from rotating with respect to the spool  3  but is allowed to move at a predetermined distance in the axial direction of the spool  3  for making contact with or separating away from the spool  3 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the friction disc  26  is opposed to the brake disc  25 . The friction disc  26  is attached onto the spool shaft  2  while being movable in the axial direction of the spool shaft  2 . A friction plate  26   a  is fixed to the friction disc  26  surface opposed to the brake disc  25  by screws. For example, the friction plate  26   a  is a ring plate made of abrasion resistant material such as carbon graphite, fiber reinforced resin, or the like. The right end surface of the inner periphery of the friction disc  26  is abutted to the inner race of the bearing  32   a  disposed in the inner periphery of the spool  3  through a coil spring  47  of the moving mechanism  29 . On the other hand, the left end surface of the inner periphery of the friction disc  26  is indirectly abutted to the ratchet wheel  50  of the anti-reverse mechanism  9 . The ratchet wheel  50  is non-rotatably attached to the outer peripheral surface of the spool shaft  2 . The ratchet wheel  50  is abutted to the inner race of the bearing  31   a . The outer race of the bearing  31   a  is abutted to the first side plate  10 . The friction disc  26  is thereby prevented from moving outwards in the axial direction of the spool shaft  2  (i.e., leftwards in  FIG. 2 ). Further, the fiction disc  26  is prevented from rotating in the fishing line release direction by the ratchet wheel  50 . The anti-reverse mechanism  9  is a claw type mechanism and includes the ratchet wheel  50  and a ratchet claw  51 . The ratchet wheel  50  includes saw teeth on the outer periphery thereof. The ratchet claw  51  is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the ratchet wheel  50  for locking the saw teeth with the tip thereof. The ratchet claw  51  is pivotably attached to the inner surface of the first side plate  10 . The ratchet claw  51  is urged for locking the saw teeth by a tension spring. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the outside of the friction disc  26  is covered with a drag cover  41 . The drag cover  41  is made of, for instance, aluminum alloy for achieving good heat radiation. The drag cover  41  includes a cover body  41   a  and an attachment portion  41   b . The cover body  41  is a saucer-like member having a circular opening in the center thereof. The attachment portion  41   b  is a ring member integrally formed with the outer peripheral surface of the cover body  41   a . The cover body  41   a  includes a space in the inside thereof for containing the friction disc  26  and the brake disc  25 . The attachment portion  41   b  is fixed to the end surface of the flange  3   b  of the spool  3  by arbitrary fixation means such as a plurality of screws. The drag cover  41  is configured to unitarily rotate with the spool  3 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the moving mechanism  29  includes a brake operating lever  45 , a press mechanism  46 , and the coil spring  47 . The brake operating lever  45  is pivotably disposed in the reel unit  1 . The press mechanism  46  is configured to press and move the spool  3  and the brake disc  25  leftwards in  FIG. 2  in conjunction with a clockwise pivot of the brake operating lever  45 . The coil spring  47  is configured to urge the friction disc  26  for moving the spool  3  and the brake disc  25  rightwards in  FIG. 2  in conjunction with a counterclockwise pivot of the brake operating lever  45 . The coil spring  47  is attached onto the outer periphery of the spool shaft  2  in a compressed state while being interposed between the friction disc  26  and the bearing  32   a  disposed in the inner periphery of the spool  3 . The coil spring  47  is configured to urge the friction disc  26  and the spool  3  in opposite directions. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the brake operating lever  45  is attached to the reel unit  1  while being pivotable between a brake release position and a maximum brake position. When pivoted in the clockwise direction, the brake operating lever  45  is set to be in the brake release position. When pivoted in the counterclockwise direction, on the other hand, the brake operating lever  45  is set to be in the maximum brake position. The brake operating lever  45  includes a lever portion  45   a  and a knob portion  45   b . The lever portion  45   a  is pivotably attached onto the boss  11   a . The knob portion  45   b  is fixed to the front end of the lever portion  45   a . The base end of the lever portion  45   a  is non-rotatably held by a first cam member  60  forming a part of the press mechanism  46 . 
     The press mechanism  46  includes the first cam member  60 , a second cam member  61  and a press member  62 . The first cam member  60  is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the boss  11   a  while being rotatable but axially non-movable. The second cam member  61  is configured to axially move in conjunction with rotation of the first cam member  60 . The press member  62  is configured to axially move in conjunction with the second cam member  61 . The first cam member  60  is a two-tier (large and small tier) tubular member configured to rotate in conjunction with pivot of the brake operating lever  45 . Further, the first cam member  60  includes a tilt cam on the base-end surface of the large-diameter portion thereof. The second cam member  61  is a tubular member. The second cam member is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the boss  11   a  while being non-rotatable but axially movable. The second cam member  61  includes a tilt cam on the outer peripheral side end surface thereof opposed to the first cam member  60 . The tilt cam of the second cam member  61  is configured to be engaged with the tilt cam of the first cam member  60 . When the above two tilt cams are relatively rotated, rotary movement of the first cam member  60  is converted into axial linear movement of the second cam member  61 . The second cam member  61  is thereby axially moved. The inner peripheral surface of the second cam member  61  is screwed onto the press member  62 . The relative axial positional relation can be thereby adjusted between the second cam member  61  and the press member  62 . In other words, drag force can be adjusted depending on the position of the brake operating lever  45 . 
     According to the aforementioned dual-bearing reel speed change operation mechanism  8 , the base member  71  includes the through hole  71   b  allowing the first protrusion  4   d  of the handle arm  4   a  to be inserted therethrough, whereas the lock member  70  includes the through hole  71   d  elongated in the longitudinal direction thereof for allowing the first protrusion  4   d  of the handle arm  4   a  to be inserted therethrough and restricting movement of the lock member  70  by abutting the front-end side of the first protrusion  4   d . The handle arm  4   a  herein includes the first protrusion  4   d , whereas the lock member  70  includes the through hole  70   d  for restricting movement of the lock member  70 . Therefore, the base member  71  is not required to have a guide groove for guiding the protrusion and the lock member  70  unlike the well-known base member structure. Further, the base member  71  can be herein formed in a plate shape. Therefore, the base member  71  can be structured by a combination of simply shaped members, i.e., the first base member  73  and the second base member  74 . Yet further, the base member  71  can be formed without any convexo-concave portion due to the aforementioned advantage that the base member  71  is not required to have a guide groove for guiding the protrusion and the lock member  70  unlike the well-known base member structure. Therefore, it is possible to prevent salts from being easily deposited on the base member  71 . Even when salts are actually deposited on the base member  71 , the deposited salts can be removed by easily disassembling the base member  71 . 
     Other Exemplary Embodiments 
     (a) The aforementioned exemplary embodiment exemplifies a middle size lever drag reel. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to the above. For example, any suitable dual-bearing reels can adopt the present invention as long as they are the dual-bearing reels embedded with the speed change operation mechanism. 
     (b) In the aforementioned exemplary embodiment, the base member  71  is structured by two members, i.e., the first base member  73  and the second base member  74 . However, the structure of the base member  71  is not necessarily limited to the above. For example, the base member  71  can be made by a single member. 
     (c) In the aforementioned exemplary embodiment, the base member  71  is produced by press working. However, the base member  71  can be processed by other manufacturing methods. 
     (d) In the aforementioned exemplary embodiment, the first main gear  16  with a large diameter is disposed in an axial outward position on the handle shaft  5  for winding the fishing line at a high speed, whereas the second main gear  17  with a small diameter is disposed in an axial inward position on the handle shaft  5  for winding the fishing line at a low speed. With the structure, handle rotation can be switched from a high speed to a low speed in conjunction with a press operation of the press operating portion  22   b  of the operating shaft  22 . However, the second main gear with a small diameter can be disposed in an axial outward position on the handle shaft  5  for winding the fishing line at a low speed, whereas the first main gear with a large diameter can be disposed in an axial inward position on the handle shaft  5  for winding the fishing line at a high speed. Accordingly, handle speed can be switched from a low speed to a high speed in conjunction with a press operation of the press operating portion  22   b  of the operating shaft  22 . 
     GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF TERMS 
     In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Finally, terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies. 
     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.