Patents Represented by Attorney Shinjyu Global IP Counselors, LLP
  • Patent number: 7004867
    Abstract: A rear sprocket assembly has a plurality of sprockets with the smallest sprocket being a top or first sprocket. At least one of the teeth is a down shift tooth that has a recessed side surface to assist in shifting the chain to the next larger sprocket. Preferably, all of the teeth of the top sprocket are identical. The sprocket body of the top sprocket is threaded to be coupled to a freewheel or hub. A second sprocket is located adjacent the top sprocket and preferably cooperates with the top sprocket during a down shift from the top sprocket to the second sprocket. The second sprocket cooperates with a third sprocket during a down shift from the second sprocket to the third sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Yu Wei
  • Patent number: 7004137
    Abstract: A V-type multiple cylinder air intake is being configured to improve the volumetric efficiency by utilizing the resonance effect while also eliminating the adverse influence of the resonance effect (residual resonance) when the engine is operating in regions of medium to high rotational speeds. The V-type multiple-cylinder air intake device has two collectors with one arranged on each bank of the V-type multiple-cylinder engine; a plurality of branch pipes extending from the collectors to a respective intake port of an opposite bank; and a plurality of crossover passages extending from the collectors to a respective branch pipes extending from the collector of the opposite bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motors Co., LTD
    Inventors: Takashi Kunugi, Shigeru Sakuragi, Toru Sasaki, Hidehiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 7000979
    Abstract: A vehicle cowl structure basically comprises a cowl panel and a vent pipe disposed in the cowl panel at a low drainage point on a lateral wall portion of the cowl panel. The vent pipe includes an opening that is split by a divider into an upper air passageway and a lower water drain passageway. The vent pipe also includes a mounting flange that contacts with an interior surface of the lateral wall portion and retaining projections to create a snap-fit between the vent pipe and the drainage aperture of the cowl panel. The vent pipe is also inserted into a hole formed in a vehicle body section such that a retaining member installed over the vent pipe contacts the vehicle body section around the hole and seals a space between the vent pipe and the hole of the vehicle body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Slav Borkowski, Youichi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7001306
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus is provided that distributes an engine braking torque Tbe to the front and rear wheels in accordance with an ideal braking torque distribution to suppress and prevent the tendency for one of either the front or rear wheels to lock when the engine braking torque operates. When the road surface friction state is a low friction state and the engine braking torque operates, the brake control apparatus derives an engine braking torque Tbe and distributes the engine braking torque Tbe to the front and rear wheels in accordance with the ideal braking torque distribution. In addition, when the engine braking torque reduction amount is small, the engine drives a generator connected to the engine. When the friction state between the wheels and the road surface is not in the low friction state, the generator attached to the engine is operated as a motor that supplements driving of the engine to reduce the engine braking torque of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6997080
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly has a cleat releasably coupled to a pedal by a cleat engagement mechanism formed on an upper surface of its pedal body. The pedal body has a front end configured and arranged to include a sole guide portion that assists the rider in rotating the pedal body about its pedal shaft. In one embodiment, the sole guide portion is formed by a first concaved sole receiving recess located in a tip surface of the pedal body and a second concaved sole receiving recess located on the upper surface of the pedal body adjacent to the tip surface. Alternatively, the concaved sole receiving recesses can be replaced with either a pair of laterally spaced projections located on at the front end of the pedal body, or a V-shaped tip surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Muraoka, Tomohiko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6990822
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air conditioning system provided with an outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger, and a gaseous refrigerant pipe connecting the indoor heat exchanger to the compressor. The present invention serves to make it possible to run such an air conditioning system in cooling mode continuously even when the outside air temperature is low by preventing the indoor heat exchanger from freezing. The air conditioning system is provided with one air-cooled outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected in parallel to the outdoor unit. The indoor heat exchangers and the compressor are connected together by the gaseous refrigerant pipe. A pressure adjusting device is installed in the gaseous refrigerant pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiromune Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 6991081
    Abstract: A shift and brake control device is configured to combine an electrical shift operating device and a cable operated brake operating device. The control device basically has a brake lever bracket with a pivotally mounted brake lever moveably coupled to the brake lever bracket to move between a rest position and a braking position along a brake operating plane, and at least one an electrical shift control switch. The electrical shift control switch is either fixedly mounted to the brake lever or the brake lever bracket. When two electrical shift control switches are used, the electrical shift control switches are mounted to both the brake lever and the brake lever bracket. In some embodiments, the electrical shift control switch has a rotating operating member, while other embodiments have a sliding operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kouji Uno, Kazuhiro Fujii
  • Patent number: 6989698
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a charge pump circuit for improving switching speed and compensating mismatch between a source and a sink currents flowing to output terminal. A charge pump circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a first and second switching elements, a discharging and charging elements, a biasing unit, a first and second compensating unit, a charge pumping unit, a current mirror unit, a control unit, and a biasing unit. The compensating circuit removes the deterioration owing to the parasitic capacitance, and the control circuit controls the charge that is flowed or emitted from the parasitic capacitance. A charge pump circuit according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises a charge pumping unit, a current mirror unit, a control unit a biasing unit. The charge pump circuit decects the mismatch between the output currents via the control unit, and compensates the mismatch by the biasing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Integrant Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Minsu Jeong
  • Patent number: 6988763
    Abstract: The vehicle body side structure is provided that comprises a front pillar, a center pillar, a rear pillar, a side sill, a roof side rail, and front and rear strengthening members. The center pillar further comprises an inner pillar member or portion coupled to the roof side rail and the side sill and an outer pillar member or portion disposed on the transversely outward side of the inner pillar member. The outer pillar member is coupled to the side sill a vertically approximate center portion of the inner pillar member. A main energy absorbing section is provided at a lower end portion of the outer pillar member. The front and rear strengthening members are coupled only to the outer pillar member of the center pillars. As a result, a load input during a side collision is dispersed and transmitted through the strengthening members and through the inner pillar member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetsugu Saeki
  • Patent number: 6988684
    Abstract: A handle assembly has a handle arm mounted to a fore-end of a handle shaft, a handle grip rotatively mounted to one end of the handle arm, and a rotation support portion made of a metal for rotatively mounting the handle grip to handle arm. The handle grip is a substantially egg-shaped member made of a synthetic resin, and is rotatively provided on the outward side of the rotation support portion. The handle grip is shaped such that the user can grip the whole of the handle grip with his palm. The handle grip also has first through fourth recesses such that the user can grasp the handle grip by attaching the thumb to the third recess, or pinch the handle grip between the thumb and fingertips by placing the thumb and index finger in the first and second recesses. Accordingly, it is possible to conduct high-speed winding easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Hirayama, Kenichi Kawasaki, Tomoharu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 6988765
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure has a heat radiation insulating arrangement that improves the thermal environment inside a vehicle cabin when the vehicle is positioned at a sunny location during hot weather by increasing the insulation effects of the automobile body along with blocking radiant heat. The heat radiation insulating arrangement of vehicle body structure forms a first space by arranging a light shielding shade on the inside of a windowpane, a second space formed between the exterior roof panel and ceiling material, and an air passageway that links the first space and the second space to allow the air to flow from the first space to the second space. A reflective material is provided on the surface of the second space of the ceiling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Nagayama, Hiroaki Harata, Toshiya Shibukawa
  • Patent number: 6987227
    Abstract: The weight detecting apparatus includes a weight detecting load cell having a fixed end fixed to a fixed base arranged on a floor and a free end bearing a weight of an object, a first vibration detecting load cell arranged on the fixed end side of the weight detecting load cell for detecting a vibration component on the fixed end side, i.e., a floor vibration component, and a second vibration detecting load cell arranged on the free end side of the weight detecting load cell for detecting a motor vibration component on the free end side, i.e., the motor vibration component. The weight detecting apparatus precisely detects the weight of the object by removing the vibration component from the detection signal of the weight detecting load cell based on the detection signals of the respective load cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Ishida, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Wakasa
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6983981
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure is configured to convert a lateral-impact input to an input that acts on a pillar member in substantially a vertical direction of the vehicle body. The vehicle body structure has an input conversion structure configured to convert a side-impact input that acts inwardly on the pillar member in a substantially horizontal direction from the vehicle exterior to an input that is applied to the pillar member in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. Thus, the side-impact input can be converted as an input that is applied to the pillar member in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, so that the input can be absorbed as a compression load applied to the pillar member in the longitudinal direction, and deformation into the passenger compartment can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetsugu Saeki
  • Patent number: 6983591
    Abstract: A particulate filter regenerating device is configured to prevent the uneven distribution of particulate matter that results from interruption of the regeneration process and protect the particulate filter. The frequency with which regeneration is executed is increased by determining that it is time to regenerate the particulate filter at a time t1 when the exhaust gas temperature Texhin has reached or exceeded a prescribed temperature Texh1. Additionally, particulate filter regenerating device determines that it is time to regenerate the particulate filter when the quantity of accumulated particulate matter reaches or exceeds a prescribed value PM1. The particulate filter is regenerated by raising the temperature of the exhaust gas and combusting the accumulated particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terunori Kondo, Jun-ichi Kawashima, Naoya Tsutsumoto, Makoto Ohtake, Takao Inoue, Toshimasa Koga
  • Patent number: 6983906
    Abstract: A master gear includes a shaft made of an aluminum alloy, a gear portion, and an annular member made of stainless steel alloy. The shaft is screwed onto a handle shaft, a gear portion that is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the shaft. The shaft is supported by the reel unit at rotational support portions via bearings and has female threaded portions on its ends such that the handle is screwed to one of the female threaded portions. The gear portion is arranged on an outer periphery of the shaft portion between the rotational support portions, and meshes with a pinion gear. The annular portion is mounted to the outer periphery of the shaft such that at least part of the annular member is disposed not between the rotational support portions. With this structure, it is easy to remove bearings from a master gear of a spinning reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nishikawa, Hirokazu Hiraoka, Yasuhiro Hitomi
  • Patent number: 6983907
    Abstract: A spool braking device for a dual bearing reel includes a spool brake unit, a spool control unit, and a tension detection unit that includes a rotational speed sensor. The spool control unit is arranged between a spool and a reel body, and it an electrically controllable unit that controls the spool. The tension detection unit detects the tension applied to fishing line that is released from the spool during casting. The spool control unit electrically controls the spool braking unit so that the spool braking unit brakes the spool with a first braking force of 50 to 100% of the maximum braking force during a first predetermined time period when the tension detected by the tension detection unit is at or below a first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Ikuta, Ken′ichi Kawasaki, Kazuki Hiraizumi
  • Patent number: D514190
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Tomokazu Kitazaki
  • Patent number: RE38975
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kanji Kirimoto, Yoshiaki Ando, Kenji Ose, Tadashi Ichida, Toshio Tetsuka, Tatsuya Matsushita
  • Patent number: D516161
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Masakazu Iwabuchi