Patents by Inventor Akihiko Shoge

Akihiko Shoge 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).

  • Patent number: 6083136
    Abstract: A bicycle hub transmission includes an axle, a driving member rotatably supported on the axle, a slave rotatably supported on the axle, and a power transmitting mechanism disposed between the driving member and the slave for communicating rotational force from the driving member to the slave through a plurality of power transmitting paths. A clutch member is rotatably supported and axially movable on the axle for selecting one of the plurality of power transmitting paths of the power transmitting mechanism, and a shift key is provided for moving the clutch member axially. A shift rod is axially movably supported to the axle for moving the shift key axially, and a biasing mechanism is provided for biasing the clutch member toward the shift key. A link is provided for linking the clutch member to the shift key so that the clutch member is substantially axially immovable relative to the shift key. As a result, the shift key always moves with the clutch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
  • Patent number: 5964678
    Abstract: A bicycle transmission includes a hub axle, a drive member rotatably mounted around the hub axle, a hub body rotatably mounted around the hub axle, and a planetary gear mechanism coupled between the drive member and the hub body for communicating rotational force from the drive member to the hub body through multiple rotational force transmission paths. The planetary gear mechanism includes a planet gear supported by a planet gear rack for rotation around the hub axle, and a ring gear engaging the planet gear. The ring gear includes a transmission pawl that can be displaced between a first position for transmitting rotational motion between the ring gear and the hub body and a second position for inhibiting the transmission of rotational motion between the ring gear and the hub body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsugu Hanada, Akihiko Shoge
  • Patent number: 5961416
    Abstract: An internally mounted bicycle transmission includes a hub axle, a drive member rotatably mounted around the hub axle, a hub body rotatably mounted around the hub axle, and a gear mechanism coupled between the drive member and the hub body for communicating rotational force from the drive member to the hub body through multiple transmission paths. The gear mechanism includes a sun gear rotatably supported around the axle, a planet gear supported by a planet gear carrier for rotation around the hub axle and for engaging the sun gear, and a ring gear engaging the planet gear. According to the invention, the ring gear is integrally formed with the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
  • Patent number: 5928103
    Abstract: An internal hub transmission for a bicycle includes a hub axle having an axle axis for retaining the transmission to a bicycle frame, a driver rotatably supported relative to the hub axle, an output member rotatably supported relative to the hub axle, and a planet gear mechanism. The planet gear mechanism includes a sun gear disposed around the hub axle, a gear frame rotatably supported relative to the hub axle, a planet gear rotatably supported on the gear frame and meshing with the sun gear, and a ring gear rotatably supported relative to the hub axle and meshing with the planet gear. A first one-way clutch disposed in a transmission path between the driver and the output member, and a second one-way clutch disposed in a transmission path between the driver and the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
  • Patent number: 5882274
    Abstract: A bicycle transmission includes a hub axle, a drive member rotatably mounted around the hub axle, a hub body rotatably mounted around the hub axle, and a gear mechanism coupled between the drive member and the hub body for communicating rotational force from the drive member to the hub body through multiple transmission paths. A clutch is rotatably mounted around the hub axle, wherein the clutch is movable in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the hub axle for selecting a rotational force transmission path through the gear mechanism. A clutch operator for operating the clutch includes a first guide surface formed along the hub axle and a first shift key that operates the clutch when the first shift key is moved along the first guide surface. The clutch includes a first cam face that is inclined relative to the axis of the hub axle for contacting the first shift key and for converting rotational force of the clutch into axial displacement of the clutch to ensure operation of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
  • Patent number: 5829563
    Abstract: A hub transmission with a coaster brake unit includes a hub axle, a drive member rotatably mounted around the hub axle, a hub body rotatably mounted around the hub axle, and a planetary gear mechanism coupled between the drive member and the hub body for communicating rotational force from the drive member to the hub body through multiple rotational force transmission paths. The planetary gear mechanism includes a planet gear supported by a planet gear rack for rotation around the hub axle, and a ring gear engaging the planet gear. The gear rack includes a depression formed in a peripheral direction thereof, and the ring gear includes a serration formed in a peripheral direction thereof. A clutch having an engagement component is movable in a direction of an axis of the axle between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
  • Patent number: 5732598
    Abstract: A shifting apparatus for controlling a change gear device winding or unwinding a cable. The shifting apparatus essentially includes a control member rotatable about a handlebar, a takeup drum for winding the cable thereon, a positioning mechanism for retains the takeup element in each angular position, and an indicator for indicating a speed stage of the change gear device. The indicator is formed separately from the control member and takeup drum, and has an axis different from a rotational axis of the control member. The indicator may be installed in any desired orientation determined freely without regard to orientations of the control member and takeup drum. The shifting apparatus, therefore, has the indicator which is small but easy to see.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiko Shoge, Masao Kojima
  • Patent number: 5562563
    Abstract: A control system for a working apparatus such as a derailleur or self-contained change speed apparatus of a bicycle, operable by a pulling force and a restoring force. This control system comprises a first sleeve shiftable in one direction by the pulling force, and in the other direction by the restoring force; a second sleeve for transmitting a shift of the first sleeve to a controlled member of the change speed apparatus to control the controlled member, the first sleeve and the second sleeve being interlocked to be shiftable relative to each other; a clutch pawl switchable between a first position to transmit rotational drive of the bicycle to the second sleeve, and a second position to break drive transmission; and a clutch controller for switching the clutch pawl to the first position in response to a relative shift between the first sleeve and the second sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiko Shoge