Patents by Inventor Koken Ueno

Koken Ueno 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: 7563998
    Abstract: An electrical switch apparatus for a bicycle control device comprises a mounting member structured to be mounted to a bicycle, an operating member supported by the mounting member for movement between an operating member start position and an operating member operating position, a first piezoelectric element supported by the mounting member, and a first striking member supported by the mounting member for movement between a first striking member start position and a first striking member striking position. The first striking member is operatively coupled to the first operating member such that the first striking member moves from the first striking member start position to the first striking member striking position to strike the first piezoelectric element in response to movement of the first operating member from the first operating member start position to the first operating member operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Koken Ueno
  • Patent number: 7540217
    Abstract: A cable winding conversion device is provided that enables relatively easy placement on a frame such as a bicycle frame between a pair of cables. The cable winding conversion device basically includes a base member, a first winder, a second winder, a first cable mounting portion, and a second cable mounting portion. The base member is configured to be mounted to a frame. The first and second winders are rotatably mounted to the base member to wind first and second inner wires of the first and second cables. The second winder has at least a portion with a winding radius larger than the first winder. The first cable mounting portion directs the first cable. The second cable mounting portion directs the second cable. The second cable mounting portion includes a cable receiving opening that is directed toward a rotation center of the winders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Koken Ueno
  • Patent number: 7192044
    Abstract: A bicycle headset has an adjustment member and a fastening member. A bicycle fork column passes through the adjustment member and the fastening member. The fastening member is fastened securely to the bicycle fork column by applying pressure to the outer peripheral side of the bicycle fork column. The fastening member non-rotatably mates with the adjustment member in such a way so as to move freely in the axial direction of the bicycle fork column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Koken Ueno
  • Publication number: 20070000343
    Abstract: An electrical switch apparatus for a bicycle control device comprises a mounting member structured to be mounted to a bicycle, an operating member supported by the mounting member for movement between an operating member start position and an operating member operating position, a first piezoelectric element supported by the mounting member, and a first striking member supported by the mounting member for movement between a first striking member start position and a first striking member striking position. The first striking member is operatively coupled to the first operating member such that the first striking member moves from the first striking member start position to the first striking member striking position to strike the first piezoelectric element in response to movement of the first operating member from the first operating member start position to the first operating member operating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.
    Inventor: KOKEN UENO
  • Patent number: 7042123
    Abstract: A bicycle gearshift system is mounted on the rear part of the frame of the bicycle. The bicycle gearshift system includes an electrically powered rear derailleur, a rear hub, a charger part, and a gearshift control part. The electrically powered rear derailleur is mounted on the rear part of the frame. The rear hub is also mounted to the rear part of the frame. The rear hub has an electrical generator mechanism that generates electricity through the rotation of the wheel. The charger part is mounted on the rear hub and stores the electrical energy that was generated by the generator part. The gearshift control part is equipped on the electrically powered rear derailleur, where gearshift control of the electrically powered rear derailleur is performed through the energy that is stored in the charger part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Koken Ueno, Kazuhiro Takeda, Masahiko Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20060055146
    Abstract: A bicycle headset has an adjustment member and a fastening member. A bicycle fork column passes through the adjustment member and the fastening member. The fastening member is fastened securely to the bicycle fork column by applying pressure to the outer peripheral side of the bicycle fork column. The fastening member non-rotatably mates with the adjustment member in such a way so as to move freely in the axial direction of the bicycle fork column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Koken Ueno
  • Patent number: 6983949
    Abstract: A bicycle headset structure is provided to aid in concealment of wiring from components mounted in the handlebar area to components mounted on the rest of the bicycle. The bicycle headset structure basically comprises a handlebar attachment member and a tubular spacer member. The handlebar attachment member has wiring passage extends between the handlebar mounting portion and the steerer tube attachment portion. The tubular spacer member has a wiring channel extending between first and second ends of the tubular spacer member and an axial passageway extending axially between the upper and lower end openings of the tubular spacer member. The axial passageway is dimensioned to receive the bicycle steerer tube. The wiring channel is arranged to communicate with the wiring passage of handlebar attachment member when the handlebar attachment member and the tubular spacer member are attached to the bicycle steerer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Koken Ueno, Hiroyuki Miyoshi
  • Publication number: 20050284979
    Abstract: A cable winding conversion device is provided that enables relatively easy placement on a frame such as a bicycle frame between a pair of cables. The cable winding conversion device basically includes a base member, a first winder, a second winder, a first cable mounting portion, and a second cable mounting portion. The base member is configured to be mounted to a frame. The first and second winders are rotatably mounted to the base member to wind first and second inner wires of the first and second cables. The second winder has at least a portion with a winding radius larger than the first winder. The first cable mounting portion directs the first cable. The second cable mounting portion directs the second cable. The second cable mounting portion includes a cable receiving opening that is directed toward a rotation center of the winders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Koken Ueno
  • Publication number: 20050285461
    Abstract: A bicycle gearshift system is mounted on the rear part of the frame of the bicycle. The bicycle gearshift system includes an electrically powered rear derailleur, a rear hub, a charger part, and a gearshift control part. The electrically powered rear derailleur is mounted on the rear part of the frame. The rear hub is also mounted to the rear part of the frame. The rear hub has an electrical generator mechanism that generates electricity through the rotation of the wheel. The charger part is mounted on the rear hub and stores the electrical energy that was generated by the generator part. The gearshift control part is equipped on the electrically powered rear derailleur, where gearshift control of the electrically powered rear derailleur is performed through the energy that is stored in the charger part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Koken Ueno, Kazuhiro Takeda, Masahiko Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20050258617
    Abstract: A bicycle headset structure is provided to aid in concealment of wiring from components mounted in the handlebar area to components mounted on the rest of the bicycle. The bicycle headset structure basically comprises a handlebar attachment member and a tubular spacer member. The handlebar attachment member has wiring passage extends between the handlebar mounting portion and the steerer tube attachment portion. The tubular spacer member has a wiring channel extending between first and second ends of the tubular spacer member and an axial passageway extending axially between the upper and lower end openings of the tubular spacer member. The axial passageway is dimensioned to receive the bicycle steerer tube. The wiring channel is arranged to communicate with the wiring passage of handlebar attachment member when the handlebar attachment member and the tubular spacer member are attached to the bicycle steerer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Koken Ueno, Hiroyuki Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 6734376
    Abstract: An electrical switch or operating device is disclosed for controlling/operating an electrically controlled bicycle component. In one embodiment, the operating device controls/operates a bicycle shift device and a bicycle suspension. The operating device has a base portion, a toggle portion, a button portion, three electrical contact switches, and a clicking mechanism. The clicking mechanism is positioned in a manner to provide for a compact arrangement of the operating device. The toggle portion is pivotally mounted to the base portion to move from a toggle neutral position to first or second contact positions where the toggle portion depresses either the first or electrical contact switches. The button portion is movably coupled to the toggle portion between a button neutral position where the button portion is spaced from the third electrical contact switch and a third contact position where the button portion depresses the third electrical contact switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ichida, Koken Ueno
  • Publication number: 20030234163
    Abstract: An electrical switch or operating device is disclosed for controlling/operating an electrically controlled bicycle component. In one embodiment, the operating device controls/operates a bicycle shift device and a bicycle suspension. The operating device has a base portion, a toggle portion, a button portion, three electrical contact switches, and a clicking mechanism. The clicking mechanism is positioned in a manner to provide for a compact arrangement of the operating device. The toggle portion is pivotally mounted to the base portion to move from a toggle neutral position to first or second contact positions where the toggle portion depresses either the first or electrical contact switches. The button portion is movably coupled to the toggle portion between a button neutral position where the button portion is spaced from the third electrical contact switch and a third contact position where the button portion depresses the third electrical contact switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ichida, Koken Ueno
  • Patent number: 6523772
    Abstract: An electric device for a bicycle is provided that retains a cord to reduce or eliminate slack in the cord, which preferably extends between a pair of electric devices. At least one electric device includes a housing portion, a bobbin portion and a retainer portion. The bobbin portion extends from the housing portion and has a winding surface. The retainer portion is coupled to overlie a portion of the bobbin portion to retain an electrical cord on the winding surface of the bobbin portion. In one embodiment, the bobbin portion includes a pair of bobbin sections with the retainer portion releasably coupled to the housing portion. In another embodiment, the bobbin portion is a tubular member and the retainer portion is fixedly coupled to the housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Koken Ueno
  • Publication number: 20020179766
    Abstract: An electric device for a bicycle is provided that retains a cord to reduce or eliminate slack in the cord, which preferably extends between a pair of electric devices. At least one electric device includes a housing portion, a bobbin portion and a retainer portion. The bobbin portion extends from the housing portion and has a winding surface. The retainer portion is coupled to overlie a portion of the bobbin portion to retain an electrical cord on the winding surface of the bobbin portion. In one embodiment, the bobbin portion includes a pair of bobbin sections with the retainer portion releasably coupled to the housing portion. In another embodiment, the bobbin portion is a tubular member and the retainer portion is fixedly coupled to the housing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Koken Ueno