Patents Assigned to Shimano, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12043339
    Abstract: A wireless communication device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a wireless communicator and a controller. The wireless communicator is configured to wirelessly communicate with an additional wireless communicator. The wireless communicator has a first mode in which the wireless communicator operates under a first power consumption and a second mode in which the wireless communicator operates under a second power consumption which is lower than the first power consumption. The controller is configured to detect a change in a state of at least one switch. The controller is configured to set the wireless communicator with the first mode if the controller detects the change in the state of the at least one switch as the wireless communicator is in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Takaya Masuda, Akihiko Syouge
  • Patent number: 12043345
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member, a motor unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the motor unit to rotate an output shaft of the motor unit at a first maximum voltage during a first shifting operation of the chain in a first shifting direction. The controller is configured to control the motor unit to rotate the output shaft of the motor unit at a second maximum voltage during a second shifting operation of the chain in a second shifting direction. The first maximum voltage is different from the second maximum voltage. The bicycle derailleur is configured to receive electricity from an electric power source configured to supply electricity to an assist driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Naoki Fujimoto, Katsuhiro Tachibana, Yutaro Yamada
  • Patent number: 12037081
    Abstract: A bracket device is configured to mount a bicycle rear derailleur on a rear-wheel axis of a bicycle. The bracket device includes a frame attachment end for coupling to a bicycle frame and a derailleur attachment end for coupling to the bicycle rear derailleur. The frame attachment end has a first arm and a second arm, which are spaced apart in an axial direction with respect to the rear-wheel axis. The first arm has a first attachment opening through which the rear-wheel axis coaxially passes in a mounting state of the bracket device. The second arm has a second attachment opening through which the rear-wheel axis coaxially passes in the mounting state of the bracket device. The derailleur attachment end has a third attachment opening configured to receive a derailleur fastener for coupling to the base element of the bicycle rear derailleur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Shahana
  • Patent number: 12037079
    Abstract: A front sprocket assembly basically includes a front sprocket, a sprocket carrier and at least one slide shaft. The front sprocket includes a sprocket body having at least one carrier mounting portion. The at least one carrier mounting portion has the at least one slide opening. The sprocket carrier includes at least one sprocket mounting portion. The at least one sprocket mounting portion has a first shaft-supporting portion and a second shaft-supporting portion. The at least one slide opening receives the at least one slide shaft between the first shaft-supporting portion and the second shaft-supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Nobukatsu Hara
  • Patent number: 12037076
    Abstract: A hydraulic reservoir of a human-powered vehicle comprises a reservoir structure and a bleeding plug. The reservoir structure includes a reservoir chamber, a bleeding port, and a connecting port. The bleeding port is configured to be in communication with the reservoir chamber. The bleeding port has a bleeding-port inner diameter. The connecting port is configured to connect the reservoir chamber and a hydraulic chamber. The hydraulic chamber is at least partially defined by a piston. The reservoir structure includes an intermediate port through which a fluid is to flow from the connecting port to the bleeding port when bleeding the hydraulic reservoir. The intermediate port has an intermediate-port inner diameter smaller than the bleeding-port inner diameter. The bleeding plug is configured to be attached to the bleeding port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yu Kato, Kohei Obuchi, Takeru Ishihara
  • Patent number: 12037074
    Abstract: A control device is provided for controlling a suspension of a human-powered vehicle. The control device includes comprises an electronic controller. The suspension includes a first member, a second member movable relative to the first member, and an adjustment unit adjusting a relative movable amount of the first member and the second member. The electronic controller is configured to electrically control the adjustment unit in accordance with relative position information related to a relative position of the first member and the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yuki Sakagawa, Toyoto Shirai
  • Patent number: 12030575
    Abstract: A rider-posture changing device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a first member, a second member, a detector, and a controller. The second member is configured to be movable relative to the first member. The detector is configured to detect position information of the second member relative to the first member. The controller is configured to obtain movement information of the second member relative to the first member based on the position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki Sakagawa, Toyoto Shirai, Akihiro Nozaki, Satoshi Shahana, Hitoshi Takayama, Noor Ashyikkin Binti Mohd Noor
  • Patent number: 12030580
    Abstract: An operating device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a base, a piston, an operating member, an intermediate member, and a mounting structure. The base includes a hole. The piston is movably provided in the hole. The operating member is pivotally coupled to the base about a first pivot axis. The intermediate member is pivotally coupled to the base about a second pivot axis to transmit a pivotal movement of the operating member to the piston. The mounting structure is configured to couple the base and a handlebar of the human-powered vehicle. The mounting structure defines a mounting axis extending along the handlebar in a mounting state where the mounting structure couples the base and the handlebar. The first pivot axis is closer to the mounting axis than the second pivot axis in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the mounting axis as viewed along the first pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kohei Obuchi, Yu Kato, Kazuma Mori, Nobuyoshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 12030589
    Abstract: An electric device comprises first communicator circuitry and first electronic controller circuitry. The first communicator circuitry is configured to receive a signal from second communicator circuitry of a second electric device. The first electronic controller circuitry is configured to change a state of the first communicator circuitry from a first state to a second state based on a first output of a first sensor configured to sense a first sensor object. The first state has first power consumption. The second state has second power consumption. The first power consumption is lower than the second power consumption. The first electronic controller circuitry is configured to change the state of the first communicator circuitry from the second state to the first state based on a second output of a second sensor configured to sense a second sensor object different from the first sensor object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toru Sano, Tomohiro Takimoto
  • Patent number: 12017724
    Abstract: An electronic device is related to a human-powered vehicle operating device that includes an operating mechanism, which is for operating at least one of a human-powered vehicle transmission device and a human-powered vehicle braking device, and at least one operating member. The electronic device comprises a storage, an electronic controller, and a communication unit. The storage stores setting information related to an operation of the at least one operating member and to an output destination device. The electronic controller is configured to generate an output signal corresponding to the operation of the at least one operating member based on the setting information. The communication unit transmits the output signal to the output destination device that includes at least one of a game device, a training device, an audio device, and a video device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Takeda, Tsuyoshi Miyake, Shun Komobuchi, Daisuke Nago
  • Patent number: 12017727
    Abstract: A bicycle apparatus comprises an assist motor, an ABS unit, an assist selection switch and a control device. The ABS unit is configured to control a braking force that is applied to a bicycle wheel. The assist selection switch is configured to switch the assist motor between an ON mode in which the assist motor is ON and an OFF mode in which the assist motor is OFF. The control of the ABS unit by the control device is dependent on an operation of the assist selection switch. The control device is configured to control the assist motor to add the assisting force to the manual drive force when the assist motor is in the ON mode. The control device is configured to set the ABS unit to an ABS operating mode to begin control of the ABS unit when the assist selection switch selects the ON mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimoda, Shinichiro Noda
  • Patent number: 12017728
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device for a human-powered vehicle includes an electronic controller that controls a motor assisting in propulsion of the human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to control the motor in a first control state that limits at least one of a first driving time of the motor assisting in propulsion of the human-powered vehicle, a first driving number of times of the motor, a driving timing of the motor, a second driving time for driving the motor so that an output of the motor becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined output value, and a second driving number of times for driving the motor so that the output of the motor becomes greater than or equal to the predetermined output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Keisuke Miura, Atsushi Komatsu, Tadaharu Kurotobi, Shingo Sakurai, Satoshi Idogaki
  • Patent number: 12012176
    Abstract: A bicycle control device includes an electronic controller and a gas pressure detection device. The electronic controller receives data indicative of a detected gas pressure of a tire provided to a bicycle. The tire is configured to maintain a gas in a compressed state. The gas pressure detection device is directly attached to a valve of the tire. The gas pressure detection device includes a sensor and a wireless communication device. The sensor detects the gas pressure of the tire. The wireless communication device is configured to perform wireless communication with the electronic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda, Takuya Katsuki
  • Patent number: 12010980
    Abstract: A lure includes a body provided with a cavity inside, an oscillating portion disposed in the cavity which is visible from outside and configured to emit light, and a connecting member made of a polymer elastomer and configured to attach the oscillating portion to the body oscillatably. The polymer elastomer is rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. The connecting member is rod-shaped and the cross-sectional shape of the connecting member is circular, oval or polygonal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tadasuke Nakamichi, Tatsurou Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 12005991
    Abstract: A brake caliper for a bicycle includes a housing configured to be installed on the bicycle, the bicycle including a disc attached to a wheel of the bicycle. A brake pad is installed within the housing and is configured to move between a braking position and a non-braking position. The braking position is a location within the housing where the brake pad contacts the disc when the housing is installed on the bicycle. The non-braking position is a location within the housing where the brake pad is further from the disc than in the braking position. The caliper also includes a biasing member configured to bias the brake pad in a downstream direction within the housing with the brake pad is in the non-braking position, the downstream direction being parallel to a direction of rotation of the disc when a wheel of the bicycle is rotating to move the bicycle forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Fujii, Kazuya Kuwayama, Kazuki Koshiyama, Toyoto Shirai, Yusuke Hosomi
  • Patent number: 12005985
    Abstract: A component is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The component includes a component body, a single substrate, a resistor, an electric wire, a signal processing unit, a signal output, and an electric power input. The single substrate is provided on the component body. The resistor is formed on the single substrate and forms a strain gauge with part of the single substrate. The electric wire is formed on the single substrate and electrically connected to the resistor. The signal processing unit is formed or directly mounted on the single substrate and electrically connected to the electric wire. The signal output outputs a signal from the signal processing unit. The electric power input is electrically connected to the signal processing unit and supplied with electric power from a power supply provided on at least one of the human-powered vehicle and the component body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinya Fujimura, Hitoshi Takayama
  • Patent number: 12005992
    Abstract: A hydraulic operating device is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The hydraulic operating device basically includes a base, an operating member and a handlebar mounting structure. The base includes a cylinder bore defining a cylinder axis. The operating member is pivotally coupled to the base about a pivot axis between a rest position and an operated position. The handlebar mounting structure is coupled to the base. The handlebar mounting structure defines a handlebar mounting axis that extends linearly along a handlebar in a mounted state. The cylinder axis is inclined towards the handlebar mounting axis as the cylinder bore extends away from the pivot axis as viewed in a pivot axis direction parallel to the pivot axis. The pivot axis is located in an area between the cylinder axis and the handlebar mounting axis as viewed in the pivot axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kosaka, Yusuke Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20240182133
    Abstract: A caliper adaptor for a disc brake caliper of a human-powered vehicle comprises an axle coupling portion, a caliper mounting portion, and a frame coupling portion. The axle coupling portion is configured to be coupled to a hub axle of a hub assembly of the human-powered vehicle. The hub axle extends along a rotational axis of the hub assembly. The caliper mounting portion is configured to mount the disc brake caliper. The caliper mounting portion includes a caliper mounting hole. The caliper mounting hole has a caliper-mounting center axis. The caliper-mounting center axis extends along a reference plane perpendicular to the rotational axis. The frame coupling portion is configured to be coupled to a vehicle body of the human-powered vehicle. The frame coupling portion is at least partially provided radially outwardly of the caliper mounting portion relative to the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kento MITSUYASU, Takehiko NAKAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20240183413
    Abstract: A caliper adaptor comprises a frame coupling portion, a first coupling portion, and a second coupling portion. The first coupling portion is configured to be coupled to a first caliper body of the disc brake caliper in a first state where the first caliper body is in a first radial position relative to the rotational axis. The first coupling portion extends in the axial direction in the first state. The second coupling portion is configured to be coupled to a second caliper body in a second state where the second caliper body is in a second radial position relative to the rotational axis. The second radial position is different from the first radial position. The second coupling portion extends in the axial direction in the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Takehiko NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: D1034895
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Nobuo Furuya