Patents Assigned to Shimano, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11964729
    Abstract: An operated component for a human-powered vehicle comprises a first wired communicator and a first wireless communicator. The first wired communicator has a first wired communication state in which the first wired communicator is configured to recognize a wired signal transmitted via a wired communication channel. The first wireless communicator has a first wireless communication state in which the first wireless communicator is configured to recognize a wireless signal transmitted via a wireless communication channel. The first wireless communicator is configured to be in the first wireless communication state while the first wired communicator is in the first wired communication state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Akihiro Nozaki, Tomohiro Takimoto, Hirofumi Fukui
  • Patent number: 11958568
    Abstract: A motor unit comprises a torque limiter and a transmitting structure. The torque limiter includes a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member are movable relative to each other in a state where a torque applied to the torque limiter is equal to or higher than a torque threshold. The first member and the second member are movable together with each other in a state where the torque is lower than the torque threshold. The transmitting structure includes a first race, a second race, a first intermediate element at least partially provided between the first race and the second race, and a second intermediate element at least partially provided between the first race and the second race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Shota Suyama, Yuta Mizutani, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 11952081
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller that controls a transmission to shift a ratio of a rotational speed of a wheel to a rotational speed of a crank axle in accordance with a control state. In a case where the controller controls the transmission to shift the ratio in accordance with an input from a shift operation device in a first control state, the controller changes the control state to a second control state. In a case where a change amount of a parameter related to a vehicle state of the human-powered vehicle becomes a predetermined amount or greater in the second control state, the controller changes the control state to the first control state. Shifting of the ratio in accordance with a shifting condition is more restricted in the second control state than the first control state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Shahana
  • Publication number: 20240109619
    Abstract: An operating device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a base member, an operating member, an electronic component, and a reinforcement member. The base member includes a first end portion and a second end portion and extends between the first end portion and the second end portion in a longitudinal direction. The first end portion is configured to be coupled to a vehicle body of the human-powered vehicle. The second end portion includes an internal space. The operating member is movably coupled to the base member. The electronic component is provided in the internal space of the second end portion. The reinforcement member is coupled to the second end portion. The reinforcement member is a separate member from the second end portion. The reinforcement member is at least partially provided between the second end portion and the operating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki KOMADA, Kodai HIROTA
  • Patent number: 11944997
    Abstract: A surface decoration structure includes an undercoat film, a silver mirror film layer, and a topcoat film formed on a surface of a substrate. The silver mirror film layer includes a film of stacked nanometer-sized silver particles having surfaces coated with a polymer dispersing agent, and the topcoat film includes, as a solvent, at least one member selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic hydrocarbon compound, an aliphatic hydrocarbon compound solution including 10% by mass or less of an aromatic compound, and diisobutyl ketone. The undercoat film and/or the topcoat film may include a corrosion inhibitor. The silver mirror film layer may further include a corrosion inhibitor. The surface decoration structure includes the silver mirror film layer with improved luster and corrosion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasushi Nishimura, Akio Nagai, Wataru Yamauchi, Kazumi Yasuda, Hiroyuki Arimoto, Mai Ooe
  • Publication number: 20240101207
    Abstract: An actuator device for a rider-posture changing apparatus of a human-powered vehicle comprises a cam follower and a cam member. The cam member is rotatable about a rotational axis. At least one of the cam follower and the cam member includes a curved surface contactable with another of the cam follower and the cam member to move the cam follower in a movement direction in response to a rotation of the cam member. The movement direction is different from a circumferential direction defined about the rotational axis. The curved surface has a curved shape in a first cross-section perpendicular to the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto SHIRAI, Yuki SAKAGAWA, Kiichiro NAGATA
  • Publication number: 20240101211
    Abstract: An electrical device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a main body, an item storage, and an actuator. The main body is configured to be coupled to a vehicle body of the human-powered vehicle. The item storage is at least partially provided to the main body so as to store an item. The item is free from function of the electrical device or non-operational with respect to the electrical device in a state where the item is at least partially arranged in the item storage. The actuator is coupled to the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki KOMADA, Kodai HIROTA, Hiroshi MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 11939027
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal is provided with a pedal shaft, and a body part and an end cap. The pedal shaft has a center axis. The body part is rotatably supported by the pedal shaft around the center axis. The body part has a pedal shaft receiving bore with a first opening and a second opening. The first opening receives the pedal shaft along the center axis. The end cap is adjustably attached to the body part at the second opening to adjust a position of the pedal shaft within the pedal shaft receiving bore in an axial direction with respect to the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Inoue, Tatsuya Watanabe, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 11939028
    Abstract: A bicycle component controller is basically provided with a processor. The processor is configured to perform a gear shift control based on a sprocket assembly information of at least one sprocket assembly. The sprocket assembly information at least includes a single shifting distance and shifting gate information. The single shifting distance corresponds to an axial spacing between adjacent sprockets of the at least one sprocket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki, Shota Suyama
  • Patent number: 11937592
    Abstract: A waterproof structure is provided on a spinning reel including a reel main body, a cylindrical member disposed on an outer periphery of a spool shaft and a rotor disposed at a front of the cylindrical member in the reel main body. The waterproof structure includes a seal member which waterproofs the entire circumference in the area between the cylindrical member and the rotor. The seal member includes a main lip that is in liquid-tight contact at a contact portion in the axial direction of the spool shaft. An annular wall portion is disposed on at least one of the rotor or the cylindrical member. The annular wall portion covers the contact portion at the entire circumference of an outer peripheral side of the contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Koji Ochiai
  • Publication number: 20240092456
    Abstract: A motor unit comprises a torque limiter and a transmitting structure. The torque limiter includes a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member are movable relative to each other in a state where a torque applied to the torque limiter is equal to or higher than a torque threshold. The first member and the second member are movable together with each other in a state where the torque is lower than the torque threshold. The transmitting structure includes a first race, a second race, a first intermediate element at least partially provided between the first race and the second race, and a second intermediate element at least partially provided between the first race and the second race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Shota SUYAMA, Yuta MIZUTANI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20240092455
    Abstract: A lock device comprises a first lock member and a second lock member. The first lock member includes a first axial end, a second axial end, and a first surface. The first axial end is configured to be detachably attached to a sprocket support body of the rear hub assembly in a mounting state where the plurality of rear sprockets is mounted to the rear hub assembly. The second lock member includes a third axial end, a fourth axial end, and a second surface. The third axial end is configured to be attached to the second axial end of the first lock member in an assembled state where a smallest sprocket and the lock device are assembled as one unit. The lock device is configured so that the smallest sprocket is slidable relative to the lock device in the axial direction in the assembled state and before the mounting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Patent number: 11930799
    Abstract: A guide frame of a fishing line guide includes a hollow frame body, and a core member inserted into at least a part of the frame body. The frame body includes a frame member configured to abut a prescribed angle region on a circumference of a guide ring, an attachment foots configured to attach to a fishing rod and a support leg configured to connect ends of the frame member and then attachment foots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kaminou, Kazuma Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11932347
    Abstract: A control device and a transmission system are configured to improve riding comfort of a human-powered vehicle. The control device includes an electronic controller that is configured to control a transmission device of a human-powered vehicle so that a transmission ratio at which the vehicle is started becomes equal to a designated transmission ratio. The electronic controller is configured to set the designated transmission ratio based on reference information that excludes information related to a gradient of a road surface, information related to manual operation of the transmission device, and information related to propulsion assistance of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11926394
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur comprises a derailleur body, a charging port, a charging-port cover, and a cover connector. The charging port is configured to be detachably connected to a charging cable to charge an electric power source. The charging-port cover is configured to be detachably attached to the charging port. The charging-port cover has a detachment state in which the charging-port cover is detached from the derailleur body to allow connection between the charging port and the charging cable. The cover connector is configured to couple the charging-port cover to the derailleur body in the detachment state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Akihiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11919607
    Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur includes a base element including a first attachment end for coaxial installation on a rear-wheel axis and a second attachment end, a movable element movable relative to the base element, a linkage mechanism connecting the movable element to the base element, and a chain guide arrangement rotatably connected to the movable element. The second attachment end is coupled to the linkage mechanism. The first attachment end includes a first arm and a second arm, which are spaced apart in an axial direction with respect to the rear-wheel axis. The base element includes an angular position adjustment structure that adjusts an angular position of the derailleur relative to a bicycle frame by rotating the first arm and the second arm about the rear-wheel axis. The angular position adjustment structure is disposed between the first and second attachment ends in a radial direction of the rear-wheel axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Sota Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20240067299
    Abstract: A rear sprocket comprises a sprocket body, a plurality of sprocket teeth, a plurality of spline teeth, a maximum spline distance, and a radial tooth-bottom distance. Each of the plurality of spline teeth has a spline crest. The maximum spline distance is defined from the rotational center axis to the spline crest. The radial tooth-bottom distance is defined from a rotational center axis to one of plurality of tooth bottom center points. The maximum spline distance is larger than the radial tooth-bottom distance. The spline crest of each of the plurality of spline teeth is positioned radially inwardly from the tooth outline of each of the plurality of sprocket teeth in the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Yusuke ODA, Hiroaki UEMURA
  • Patent number: D1016967
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Nago
  • Patent number: D1022112
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Nobuo Furuya
  • Patent number: D1023229
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Nago