Patents by Inventor Tatsuya Matsushita
Tatsuya Matsushita 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).
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Publication number: 20090188340Abstract: A bicycle control device is basically provided with a bracket member, a brake lever and a non-shifting control switch. The bracket member has a handlebar mounting part and a main body with an upper surface, a pair of side surfaces and a lower surface, the main body being configured to form a gripping part. The brake lever is pivotally coupled to the main body of the bracket member at a coupling point such that the brake lever extends from the coupling point in a direction opposite of the upper surface with a majority of the brake lever being disposed below the handlebar mounting part. The non-shifting control switch is disposed on the main body of the bracket member in an area of the upper surface of the main body.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Toshio TETSUKA, Tatsuya MATSUSHITA
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Patent number: 7500545Abstract: A reservoir apparatus for a bicycle brake lever device comprises a master cylinder and a fluid reservoir including first and second reservoirs. The master cylinder has a master cylinder chamber dimensioned for receiving a master cylinder piston therein. The first reservoir has a first reservoir chamber in fluid communication with the master cylinder chamber for supplying a hydraulic fluid to the master cylinder chamber. At least a portion of the first reservoir chamber is disposed below a portion of the master cylinder chamber. The second reservoir has a second reservoir chamber in fluid communication with the first reservoir chamber, wherein the second reservoir chamber includes an air entrainment surface. The air entrainment surface is positioned higher than an upper surface of the first reservoir chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2005Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Tatsuya Matsushita, Osamu Kariyama, Shinichi Takizawa
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Patent number: 7412829Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus such as a bleeder screw comprises an inner end, an outer end, and a main body extending between the inner end and the outer end. The main body includes a first section having a threaded outer peripheral surface a second section disposed between the first section and the inner end. The second section has a smaller diameter than the threaded outer peripheral surface of the first section, and an axial length of the threaded outer peripheral surface is less than an axial length of the second section. An internal fluid passage opens through an outer peripheral surface of the second section at a location between the inner end and the threaded outer peripheral surface, and the internal fluid passage opens through the main body at a location between the threaded outer peripheral surface and the outer end.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2005Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Tatsuya Matsushita, Osamu Kariyama, Shinichi Takizawa, Toshiyuki Ueda, Kenichi Kikuno
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Patent number: 7389642Abstract: A brake lever assembly for actuating a hydraulic disc brake system is shown and described. The brake lever assembly provides two-stage braking by operatively connecting a lever to first and second pistons contained in a master cylinder. The first and second pistons are operatively connected to one another such that they move together until the first piston reaches a threshold distance from a top end of the master cylinder, after which the second piston moves with respect to the first piston.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Shinichi Takizawa, Etsuyoshi Watarai, Tatsuya Matsushita
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Patent number: 7377367Abstract: A brake lever assembly for actuating a hydraulic system is shown and described. The brake lever assembly comprises a housing, a master cylinder disposed in the housing, and a master piston disposed in the master cylinder. The master piston has an adjustable dead band. A lever is connected to the housing and has an adjustable reach. The lever is pivotable about a first axis to adjust the reach and is pivotable about a second axis to actuate the master piston.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Shinichi Takizawa, Tatsuya Matsushita
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Patent number: 7308791Abstract: A brake lever assembly for actuating a hydraulic disc brake system is shown and described. The brake lever assembly provides two-stage braking by operatively connecting a lever to first and second pistons contained in a master cylinder. The first and second pistons are operatively connected to one another such that they move together until the first piston reaches a threshold distance from a top end of the master cylinder, after which the second piston moves with respect to the first piston.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Shinichi Takizawa, Etsuyoshi Watarai, Tatsuya Matsushita
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Publication number: 20070209360Abstract: A brake lever assembly for actuating a hydraulic disc brake system is shown and described. The brake lever assembly provides two-stage braking by operatively connecting a lever to first and second pistons contained in a master cylinder. The first and second pistons are operatively connected to one another such that they move together until the first piston reaches a threshold distance from a top end of the master cylinder, after which the second piston moves with respect to the first piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2007Publication date: September 13, 2007Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Shinichi Takizawa, Etsuyoshi Watarai, Tatsuya Matsushita
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Publication number: 20070131495Abstract: A reservoir apparatus for a bicycle brake lever device comprises a master cylinder and a fluid reservoir including first and second reservoirs. The master cylinder has a master cylinder chamber dimensioned for receiving a master cylinder piston therein. The first reservoir has a first reservoir chamber in fluid communication with the master cylinder chamber for supplying a hydraulic fluid to the master cylinder chamber. At least a portion of the first reservoir chamber is disposed below a portion of the master cylinder chamber. The second reservoir has a second reservoir chamber in fluid communication with the first reservoir chamber, wherein the second reservoir chamber includes an air entrainment surface. The air entrainment surface is positioned higher than an upper surface of the first reservoir chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2005Publication date: June 14, 2007Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.Inventors: Tatsuya Matsushita, Osamu Kariyama, Shinichi Takizawa
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Publication number: 20070131503Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus such as a bleeder screw comprises an inner end, an outer end, and a main body extending between the inner end and the outer end. The main body includes a first section having a threaded outer peripheral surface a second section disposed between the first section and the inner end. The second section has a smaller diameter than the threaded outer peripheral surface of the first section, and an axial length of the threaded outer peripheral surface is less than an axial length of the second section. An internal fluid passage opens through an outer peripheral surface of the second section at a location between the inner end and the threaded outer peripheral surface, and the internal fluid passage opens through the main body at a location between the threaded outer peripheral surface and the outer end.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2005Publication date: June 14, 2007Applicant: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Tatsuya Matsushita, Osamu Kariyama, Shinichi Takizawa, Toshiyuki Ueda, Kenichi Kikuno
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Publication number: 20060185943Abstract: A brake lever assembly for actuating a hydraulic system is shown and described. The brake lever assembly comprises a housing, a master cylinder disposed in the housing, and a master piston disposed in the master cylinder. The master piston ahs an adjustable dead band. A lever is connected to the housing and has an adjustable reach. The lever is pivotable about a first axis to adjust the reach and is pivotable about a second axis to actuate the master piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2005Publication date: August 24, 2006Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.Inventors: Shinichi Takizawa, Tatsuya Matsushita
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Publication number: 20060185941Abstract: A brake lever assembly for actuating a hydraulic system is shown and described. The brake lever assembly comprises a housing, a master cylinder disposed in the housing, and a master piston disposed in the master cylinder. The master piston ahs an adjustable dead band. A lever is connected to the housing and has an adjustable reach. The lever is pivotable about a first axis to adjust the reach and is pivotable about a second axis to actuate the master piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2006Publication date: August 24, 2006Applicant: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Tatsuya Matsushita
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Publication number: 20060185360Abstract: A brake lever assembly for actuating a hydraulic disc brake system is shown and described. The brake lever assembly provides two-stage braking by operatively connecting a lever to first and second pistons contained in a master cylinder. The first and second pistons are operatively connected to one another such that they move together until the first piston reaches a threshold distance from a top end of the master cylinder, after which the second piston moves with respect to the first piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2005Publication date: August 24, 2006Inventors: Shinichi Takizawa, Etsuyoshi Watarai, Tatsuya Matsushita
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Patent number: 6688440Abstract: A brake control device is provided for connecting to a hydraulic fluid conduit, wherein the hydraulic fluid conduit has a first end for connecting to the brake control device and a second end for connecting to a braking apparatus. The brake control device comprises a bracket that can be mounted to a handlebar of the bicycle, a brake operating member that is movably coupled to the bracket, and a hydraulic fluid transmission unit disposed on the bracket. The hydraulic fluid transmission unit is structured to communicate a hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid conduit in response to movement of the brake operating member. A joint securing area is disposed on the hydraulic fluid transmission unit, wherein the joint securing area is structured to couple to the first end of the hydraulic fluid conduit. A rotation restrictor is disposed at the joint securing area, wherein the rotation restrictor is structured to restrict rotation of the first end of the hydraulic fluid conduit relative to the joint securing area.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2003Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Tatsuya Matsushita, Keiji Matsueda
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Publication number: 20030173160Abstract: A brake control device is provided for connecting to a hydraulic fluid conduit, wherein the hydraulic fluid conduit has a first end for connecting to the brake control device and a second end for connecting to a braking apparatus. The brake control device comprises a bracket that can be mounted to a handlebar of the bicycle, a brake operating member that is movably coupled to the bracket, and a hydraulic fluid transmission unit disposed on the bracket. The hydraulic fluid transmission unit is structured to communicate a hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic fluid conduit in response to movement of the brake operating member. A joint securing area is disposed on the hydraulic fluid transmission unit, wherein the joint securing area is structured to couple to the first end of the hydraulic fluid conduit. A rotation restrictor is disposed at the joint securing area, wherein the rotation restrictor is structured to restrict rotation of the first end of the hydraulic fluid conduit relative to the joint securing area.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2003Publication date: September 18, 2003Applicant: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Tatsuya Matsushita, Keiji Matsueda
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Patent number: 6334514Abstract: A bicycle disc brake is provided in which a support member movably couples the brake caliper to the frame of the bicycle. The bicycle disc brake caliper has a caliper housing with a single piston unit. The piston unit is movably coupled to the housing between a release position, in which the piston unit is spaced from a disc brake mounted to a wheel of a bicycle, and a braking position, in which the piston unit engages the disc brake of the bicycle wheel. The piston unit has a first friction member movably coupled between a release position and a braking position and a second friction member arranged substantially parallel to the first friction member to form a disc brake receiving space between the first and second friction members. In one embodiment, the caliper housing is movably coupled to the support member by a pivot pin. In another embodiment, the caliper housing is movably coupled to the support member by a linkage assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2000Date of Patent: January 1, 2002Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Kanji Kirimoto, Yoshiaki Ando, Kenji Ose, Tadashi Ichida, Toshio Tezuka, Tatsuya Matsushita
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Patent number: 6252149Abstract: In a finger plate for a stringed instrument, the frets are formed arcuately and have a center of curvature through which some extending lines of strings pass, so that lengths of the strings between adjacent frets are made equal and every string crosses every fret perpendicularly. As a result, exact musical interval can be attained.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2000Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Sanko Seisakusho Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tatsuya Matsushita
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Patent number: RE38975Abstract: A bicycle disc brake is provided in which a support member movably couples the brake caliper to the frame of the bicycle. The bicycle disc brake caliper has a caliper housing with a single piston unit. The piston unit is movably coupled to the housing between a release position, in which the piston unit is spaced from a disc brake mounted to a wheel of a bicycle, and a braking position, in which the piston unit engages the disc brake of the bicycle wheel. The piston unit has a first friction member movably coupled between a release position and a braking position and a second friction member arranged substantially parallel to the first friction member to form a disc brake receiving space between the first and second friction members. In one embodiment, the caliper housing is movably coupled to the support member by a pivot pin. In another embodiment, the caliper housing is movably coupled to the support member by a linkage assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2002Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Kanji Kirimoto, Yoshiaki Ando, Kenji Ose, Tadashi Ichida, Toshio Tetsuka, Tatsuya Matsushita