Patents Assigned to Shimano, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11787501
    Abstract: A determination device is for a human-powered vehicle. The determination device includes a processor that is configured to obtain information related to a rotational speed of an input rotational shaft of the human-powered vehicle and information related to a rotational speed of a wheel of the human-powered vehicle to determine a predetermined state in accordance with a varied amount of the rotational speed of the input rotational shaft and a varied amount of the rotational speed of the wheel in a state in which a human driving force that is applied to the human-powered vehicle is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Jumpei Nakamura, Takuya Katsuki, Keiji Terashima, Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11787499
    Abstract: A bicycle communication apparatus is provided that contributes to usability. The bicycle communication apparatus includes a base portion and a wireless communicator provided at the base portion. The wireless communicator is configured to transmit first information related to a motor that assists propulsion of a bicycle and second information related to a shifting device of the bicycle through wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takeshita, Shun Kakehashi, Taketoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 11787506
    Abstract: A derailleur comprises a base member, a chain guide, and a linkage structure. The linkage structure includes a first link pivotally coupled to the base member about a first link pivot axis. The chain guide includes a first chain guide pivotally coupled to the first link about a first guide pivot axis spaced apart from the first link pivot axis. The first chain guide includes a first guide body and a first guide protrusion. The first guide protrusion protrudes from the first guide body and is pivotally coupled to the first link about the first guide pivot axis. The first guide protrusion is spaced apart from the first link in an axial direction with respect to the first guide pivot axis to define an intermediate space between the first guide protrusion and the first link in the axial direction. The intermediate space is free of a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Furuya, Kazutaka Fukao
  • Patent number: 11785927
    Abstract: A lure includes a body, a weight, a guide member and an elastic member. The body is hollow and has a head in a front portion and a tail in a rear portion thereof. The weight is inside of the body so as to be movable in a front-rear direction. The guide member is in the body and configured to guide movement of the weight in the front-rear direction. The elastic member is in the body and is configured to generate an energizing force to move the weight in a forward direction. The weight is movable backward against the energizing force of the elastic member and one of the weight and the elastic member is inserted into an inside of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takuro Yamane, Tatsurou Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20230322328
    Abstract: A linkage having a link arm including a first link and a second link. The first link includes a first hole and a second hole. The second link includes a third hole and a fourth hole. The first link and the second link are pivotally coupled to a first member about a first pivot axis, and are pivotally coupled to a second member about a second pivot axis spaced apart from the first pivot axis. The first hole and the third hole are provided coaxially with the first pivot axis. The second hole and the fourth hole are provided coaxially with the second pivot axis. The third hole is provided between the first hole and the first member in an axial direction with respect to the first pivot axis in a state where the first link is pivotally coupled to the first member about the first pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi FUJII, Takashi YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11778999
    Abstract: A fishing reel includes a reel body, a first shaft member, a second shaft member, a rolling element, and an outer member. The first shaft member is rotatably supported by the reel body. The second shaft member is connected to an end of the first shaft member in an axial direction of the first shaft member. The second shaft member rotates integrally with the first shaft member. The rolling element contacts the second shaft member in a radial direction away from an axial center of the first shaft member. The outer member is disposed outside the rolling element in the radial direction. The outer member rotates integrally with the second shaft member only in one direction along a circumferential direction around the axial center of the first shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kouhei Nakamura, Kunio Takechi
  • Patent number: 11780529
    Abstract: An operating device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a base structure, a first switch unit, and a second switch unit. The base structure defines a mounting axis. The first switch unit comprises a first switch base member, a first switch, and a first point. The first point is closest to the mounting axis along a first direction parallel to a first pivot axis. The second switch unit comprises a second switch base member, a second switch, and a second point. The second point is closest to the mounting axis along a second direction parallel to a second pivot axis. A second minimum distance is longer than a first minimum distance. A third minimum distance is longer than a fourth minimum distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kentaro Kosaka
  • Patent number: 11779000
    Abstract: A one-way clutch unit for a fishing reel is disclosed. The one-way clutch is configured to brake a rotation of a shaft member of the fishing reel. The one-way clutch includes a rolling element and an outer member. The rolling element contacts the shaft member in a radial direction away from an axle of the shaft member. The outer member is disposed outside the rolling element in the radial direction. The outer member is configured to rotate in only one direction along a circumferential direction around the axle. The outer member includes a first external force receiving portion that receives a first external force in an axial direction of the shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kouhei Nakamura, Kunio Takechi
  • Patent number: 11780519
    Abstract: A telescopic apparatus controller for a human-powered vehicle comprises a controller configured to control a telescopic apparatus in one of a plurality of operating modes. The plurality of operating modes includes a first operating mode in which a reference portion of the telescopic apparatus is selectively arranged to one of a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position, and a second operating mode in which the reference portion of the telescopic apparatus is arbitrarily arranged between a first end position and a second end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto Shirai, Yuki Sakagawa, Norikazu Taki, Akihiro Nozaki, Noor Ashyikkin Binti Mohd Noor, Kentaro Kosaka
  • Publication number: 20230312041
    Abstract: A device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a communication electrical contact. The communication electrical contact is contactable with an electrical contact of an electric device. The electrical contact has a first state where the electrical contact receives electricity from a power supply and a second state where the electrical contact is in contact with the communication electrical contact. The communication electrical contact is configured to be in contact with the electrical contact to allow communication between an external device and the electric device via the communication electrical contact and the electrical contact in the second state of the electrical contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki KOMADA, Yuichiro HIDAKA
  • Publication number: 20230312042
    Abstract: An electric device for a human-powered vehicle comprises an electrical contact. The electrical contact has a first state where the electrical contact receives electricity from a power supply and a second state where the electrical contact receives information from an external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Takaya MASUDA, Daiki KATO, Tomohiro TAKIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11772741
    Abstract: A sprocket support comprises at least ten internal spline teeth configured to engage with a bicycle hub assembly. The at least ten internal spline teeth of the sprocket support includes at least ten internal-spline driving surfaces. The at least ten internal-spline driving surfaces each include a radially outermost edge and a radially innermost edge. A radial length is defined from the radially outermost edge to the radially innermost edge. A total of the radial lengths of the at least ten internal-spline driving surfaces is equal to or larger than 7 mm. At least one internal-spline driving surface of the at least ten internal-spline driving surfaces has a first internal-spline-surface angle defined between the at least one internal-spline driving surface of the at least ten internal-spline driving surfaces and a first radial line. The first internal-spline-surface angle ranges from 0 degree to 10 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Kazuki Koshiyama, Takashi Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 11767080
    Abstract: A rear sprocket assembly comprises a first sprocket and a lock device. The lock device includes a first lock member, a second lock member, and a biasing member. The first lock member includes a first axial end and a second axial end. The second lock member includes a third axial end and a fourth axial end. The fourth axial end has at least one radial projection configured to abut against the first sprocket in the axial direction in a mounting state. The biasing member is disposed between the first sprocket and the at least one radial projection in the axial direction in the assembled state to bias the first sprocket and the at least one radial projection in a biasing direction in which the first sprocket and the at least one radial projection are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Koji Yuasa
  • Patent number: 11761494
    Abstract: A drag washer for a fishing reel has a sliding surface slidable relative to a plate washer. The drag washer includes a felt material formed by entwining a first fiber and a second fiber. The first fiber extends in a first direction along a thickness of the drag washer. The second fiber extends in a second direction along the sliding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Niitsuma, Shu Kusuda, Atsushi Yagara, Takuji Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 11751632
    Abstract: A shoe includes a shoe body, an elongated tightening member, at least one hook and an intermediate attaching member. The shoe body includes a sole and an upper mounted on the sole. The elongated tightening member has a first end, a second end and an intermediate part between the first end and the second end. The first end is attached to a first attaching position located on a front side of the upper. The second end is detachably attached to a second attaching position located rearward of the first end in the longitudinal direction of the upper. The hook is located rearward of the first attaching position and forward of the second attaching position, and enables the tightening member to be wound and hooked to the hook. The intermediate attaching member is configured to enable the intermediate part to be attached to the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kaoru Ouchi, Toshiaki Aoki
  • Patent number: 11751549
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a reel body, a spool shaft moveably supported to the reel body in a front-rear direction with a reciprocal stroke distance (S), and a spool including a bobbin trunk, the bobbin trunk including an outer circumference around which a fishing line is capable of being wound, and a front flange extending radially outward from a front end of the bobbin trunk, and connected to the spool shaft. An outer diameter of the front flange is less than 60 mm, and a first value obtained by dividing a stroke distance of the spool shaft by a winding pitch of the fishing line is greater than or equal to 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 11753108
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device is configured to control a derailleur in a suitable state. The human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a derailleur mounted to a human-powered vehicle based on a change in pressure of a tire detected by a pressure detector detecting the pressure of at least one tire of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Idogaki, Tadaharu Kurotobi, Koji Yuasa
  • Patent number: 11745828
    Abstract: A front derailleur comprises a base member, a chain guide, and a linkage structure. The base member includes a mounting hole. The mounting hole has a center axis. The linkage structure comprises a first link member and a second link member. The first link member is pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis. The second link member is pivotally coupled to the base member about a second pivot axis. The first link member is pivotally coupled to the chain guide about a third pivot axis. The second link member is pivotally coupled to the chain guide about a fourth pivot axis. At least three of the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis, the third pivot axis, and the fourth pivot axis are non-parallel to and non-perpendicular to the center axis of the mounting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Naoki Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20230271668
    Abstract: An operating device comprises a base and an operating member. The base includes a base body and a cover. The cover includes an upper outer surface, a first lateral outer surface, a second lateral outer surface, a first shoulder, and a second shoulder. The first shoulder is provided between the upper outer surface and the first lateral outer surface. The first shoulder includes a first curved surface connecting the upper outer surface and the first lateral outer surface. The second shoulder is provided between the upper outer surface and the second lateral outer surface. The second shoulder includes a second curved surface connecting the upper outer surface and the second lateral outer surface. The first curved surface is gentler than the second curved surface as viewed in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hayata MIZUTANI, Takuma SAKAI, Shun KAKEHASHI, Yuichiro HIDAKA, Hiroshi MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 11737439
    Abstract: A spinning reel includes a spool shaft movable in a front-rear direction with respect to a reel body, a spool connected to the spool shaft and configured to have a fishing line wound therearound, a pinion gear supported by the reel body so as to be rotatable, a reciprocating mechanism configured to move the spool shaft in reciprocating fashion in the front-rear direction, and an intermediate gear disposed between the pinion gear and the reciprocating mechanism, the intermediate gear reducing rotation of the pinion gear, and transmitting rotation to the reciprocating mechanism. A value obtained by dividing a stroke distance of the spool shaft by a winding pitch of the fishing line and a module (M) of the intermediate gear is greater than or equal to 60, the module (M) being a diameter of a pitch circle relative to a number of teeth of the intermediate gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Niitsuma