Patents by Inventor Kazutaka Fukao

Kazutaka Fukao 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).

  • Publication number: 20120318096
    Abstract: A bicycle shift operating device is basically provided with a base member, a shift unit, a first operating lever, a second operating lever, a first biasing element and a second biasing element. The first operating lever operates the shift unit by pivoting about a first pivot axis between a rest position and a shifting position. The second operating lever operates the shift unit by pivoting about a second pivot axis on the first operating lever between a rest position and a shifting position. The first biasing element biases the first operating lever towards the first rest position to keep the first operating member at the first rest position. The second biasing element biases the first operating lever towards its rest position in response to independent movement of the second operating lever from its rest position to its shifting position while the first operating lever remains at its rest position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazutaka FUKAO, Kazunori OOKUBO
  • Publication number: 20120318094
    Abstract: A bicycle shift operating device is basically provided with a base member, a shift unit, an operating lever and a connecting member. The shift unit is disposed in the base member between first and second ends of the base member. The operating lever is pivotally mounted relative to the base member about first and second pivot axes. The connecting member operatively connects the shift unit to the first operating lever. The connecting member includes a lever contact portion that contacts the operating lever to transmit movement of the operating lever to the connecting member in response to pivotal movement of the operating lever about the second pivot axis. The connecting member is arranged such that the contact portion passes through a space provided between the first pivot axis and the first operating lever from the top surface side with respect to the first pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazutaka FUKAO, Yoshimitsu MIKI
  • Publication number: 20120318095
    Abstract: A bicycle component operating device is provided with a base member, an operating lever and an operating unit. The base member includes an insertion opening that is provided on one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the base member to provide access to an interior space within the base member. The operating lever is pivotally mounted on the base member about a first pivot axis extending transverse to the lateral surfaces. The operating unit is disposed in the interior space of the base member. The operating unit has a dimension relative to the insertion opening such that the operating unit is insertable into the interior space of the base member through the insertion opening. The base member is configured such that the insertion opening continuously extends from the first pivot axis toward the first end and the second end with respect to the first pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazutaka FUKAO, Yoshimitsu MIKI, Kazunori OOKUBO
  • Publication number: 20120297918
    Abstract: A bicycle shift operating device is basically provided with a pair of operating members and a take-up member. The take-up member pivots in opposite rotational directions in response to movement of the first and second operating members. The first operating member pivotally supports a pawl member having first and second pawls. The first pawl selectively engages and moves one of a release member and a pulling ratchet in response to the movement of the first operating member. The second pawl selectively engages and moves other of the release member and the pulling ratchet in response to the movement of the second operating member. An abutment portion of the first operating member selectively contacts an abutment portion of the pawl member such that the pawls pivot when one of the first and second operating members is operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu MIKI, Kazutaka FUKAO, Kazunori OOKUBO
  • Publication number: 20120297919
    Abstract: A shift positioning mechanism basically comprises a fixed member, a take-up member, a positioning ratchet, a stopping pawl, a positioning pawl and a releasing member. The take-up member is movably arranged with respect to the fixed member in a first direction and a second direction that is different from the first direction. The positioning ratchet is fixedly coupled to the take-up member to move with the take-up member. The stopping pawl has a stopping tooth and is rotatably mounted on a first rotational axis such that the stopping tooth moves between a non-stop position and a stop position to prevent movement of the take-up member in the first direction. The positioning pawl has a positioning tooth and is rotatably mounted on the first rotational axis such that the positioning tooth moves between a non-holding position and a holding position to hold the take-up member in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazutaka FUKAO, Yoshimitsu MIKI
  • Publication number: 20110154939
    Abstract: A bicycle gear shift operating device is a device configured to be mounted to a handlebar. The bicycle gear shift operating device includes at least one operating lever, a support member that supports the operating member and a mounting member that supports the support member on a handlebar. The mounting member has a mounting portion configured to be attached to the handlebar and a fastening portion that is configured to fasten the support member. The mounting member is configured to be selectively fasten the support member in either a first mounting orientation in which the fastening portion is offset in a first axial direction of the handlebar from the middle portion or a second mounting orientation in which the support member is offset in a second axial direction that is opposite the first axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi WATARAI, Kanji KIRIMOTO, Kenji OSE, Kazutaka FUKAO, Yoshimitsu MIKI
  • Publication number: 20110056319
    Abstract: A bicycle shift control device is provided with a shifter housing, a gear shifting mechanism, a shift operating member, and a shift switching arrangement. The gear shifting mechanism is disposed in the shifter housing with the gear shifting mechanism having a plurality of operating positions. The shift operating member is movable with respect to the shifter housing to operate the gear shifting mechanism. The shift switching arrangement includes a restricting member movably mounted with respect to the shifter housing between a non-shift restricting position and a shift restricting position. The gear shifting mechanism moves in a first set of the operating positions when the restricting member is in the non-shift restricting position, and moves in a second set of the operating positions that are different from the first set of the operating positions when the restricting member is in the shift restricting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Takeuchi, Kazutaka Fukao, Yoshimitsu Miki
  • Publication number: 20100288070
    Abstract: A bicycle component operating device is basically provided with a base member, an operating pawl, a positioning ratchet member, a positioning pawl, a release member and a control member. The operating pawl rotates the positioning ratchet member in a winding direction in response to a winding operation of the operating pawl. The positioning pawl prevents rotation of the positioning ratchet member in the release direction when the positioning pawl is in a holding position. The positioning pawl releases the positioning ratchet member for rotation in the release direction when the positioning pawl is moved from the holding position to a releasing position by the release member in response to the releasing operation of the operating pawl. The control member prevents the operating pawl from rotating the positioning ratchet member during the releasing operation of the operating pawl while the control member is disposed in the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kazutaka FUKAO
  • Publication number: 20090320636
    Abstract: A bicycle component operating device is basically provided with a base member, an operating member and an insert element. The base member includes a body member having a recess with an inner wire opening. The operating member is movably coupled with respect to the base member to operatively pull and release an inner wire. The insert element has a first channel portion and a second channel portion disposed in the recess of the body member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu MIKI, Kazutaka FUKAO