Patents Assigned to Shimano, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11919607
    Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur includes a base element including a first attachment end for coaxial installation on a rear-wheel axis and a second attachment end, a movable element movable relative to the base element, a linkage mechanism connecting the movable element to the base element, and a chain guide arrangement rotatably connected to the movable element. The second attachment end is coupled to the linkage mechanism. The first attachment end includes a first arm and a second arm, which are spaced apart in an axial direction with respect to the rear-wheel axis. The base element includes an angular position adjustment structure that adjusts an angular position of the derailleur relative to a bicycle frame by rotating the first arm and the second arm about the rear-wheel axis. The angular position adjustment structure is disposed between the first and second attachment ends in a radial direction of the rear-wheel axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Sota Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20240067299
    Abstract: A rear sprocket comprises a sprocket body, a plurality of sprocket teeth, a plurality of spline teeth, a maximum spline distance, and a radial tooth-bottom distance. Each of the plurality of spline teeth has a spline crest. The maximum spline distance is defined from the rotational center axis to the spline crest. The radial tooth-bottom distance is defined from a rotational center axis to one of plurality of tooth bottom center points. The maximum spline distance is larger than the radial tooth-bottom distance. The spline crest of each of the plurality of spline teeth is positioned radially inwardly from the tooth outline of each of the plurality of sprocket teeth in the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Yusuke ODA, Hiroaki UEMURA
  • Publication number: 20240067301
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket comprises a sprocket body, a plurality of sprocket teeth, an opening, and a torque-transmitting structure. The plurality of sprocket teeth extends radially outwardly from the sprocket body with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle rear sprocket. The opening has a minimum diameter that is smaller than a minimum outer diameter of a sprocket support body of a bicycle rear hub assembly. The torque-transmitting structure includes at least ten torque-transmitting teeth configured to directly or indirectly transmit a pedaling torque to the sprocket support body of the bicycle rear hub assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Hiroshi FUJITA
  • Patent number: 11912371
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle component includes an input device, to which first information related to at least one of a human-powered vehicle, a rider of the human-powered vehicle, and environment of the human-powered vehicle is input. The human-powered vehicle component further comprises an electric actuator and an artificial intelligence processor configured to generate second information for controlling the electric actuator in accordance with the first information input to the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 11912363
    Abstract: A control device is configured to control a telescopic apparatus that is provided on a human-powered vehicle. The control device includes at least one sensor and an electronic controller. The at least one sensor is configured to detect an operating condition of the human-powered vehicle. The operating condition includes at least two of a sitting condition of a rider, a power input to the human-powered vehicle, and a forward speed of the human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to selectively control the telescopic apparatus of the human-powered vehicle in accordance to the operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Nobukatsu Hara
  • Patent number: 11897574
    Abstract: An operating device comprises a base member, a first switch unit, and a first coupling structure. The first switch unit includes a first base and a first operating member. The first coupling structure couples the base member and the first base such that the first base is adjustable relative to the base member in a first direction and is adjustable relative to the first coupling structure in a first additional direction different from the first direction. The first coupling structure includes a first intermediate member and a first fastener. The first intermediate member is at least partially provided between the base member and the first base to guide the first base relative to the base member in at least one of the first direction and the first additional direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kosaka, Kentaro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11897573
    Abstract: An operating device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a base member, an operating member, a first substrate, and a second substrate. The operating member is movably coupled to the base member. The first substrate is provided to one of the base member and the operating member. The second substrate is provided to the one of the base member and the operating member. The second substrate is separate from the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Ayako Takahashi, Takuma Sakai, Yasuyuki Komada, Yusuke Nishikawa, Kentaro Kosaka, Takaya Masuda, Katsuhiro Tachibana, Shun Kakehashi, Yuichiro Hidaka, Fumihide Numata
  • Patent number: 11897581
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises at least one chain engaging member constituting at least a part of at least one sprocket tooth of the bicycle sprocket. The at least one chain engaging member is configured to contact a bicycle chain in a state where the bicycle chain engages with the bicycle sprocket. The at least one chain engaging member is made of a first material. At least one bicycle attachment member constitutes at least a part of a sprocket body of the bicycle sprocket. The at least one bicycle attachment member is configured to be coupled to a bicycle. The at least one bicycle attachment member is made of a second material that is different from the first material. At least one shifting facilitation area is provided in the at least one chain engaging member to facilitate a shifting operation of a bicycle chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tooru Iwai, Tetsu Nonoshita, Toyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11897580
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle driving device includes a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle and a first electric switch including an operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Eiji Mishima, Norikazu Taki
  • Patent number: 11897576
    Abstract: A crank assembly comprises a crank arm, a front sprocket unit, and a plurality of chain-drop control protrusions. The plurality of chain-drop control protrusions is configured to inhibit a drive chain from getting into a space provided radially inwardly from the plurality of chain-drop control protrusions and between the crank arm and the front sprocket unit in an axial direction. The plurality of chain-drop control protrusions is configured to be provided to at least one of an axially inwardly facing crank-surface of the crank arm and an axially outwardly facing sprocket-surface of the front sprocket unit. The plurality of chain-drop control protrusions is spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction with respect to the rotational center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kohei Ohyabu
  • Patent number: 11889899
    Abstract: A shoe sole comprises a bottom surface including a plurality of grooves arranged in a longitudinal direction of the shoe sole for engaging the engagement parts 6a, 6b that are formed parallel to the pedal shaft 8 of the bicycle pedal, and a protrusion having a ground contact surface between the grooves adjacent in the longitudinal direction, the sole characterized in that the protrusion has a width W2 in the longitudinal direction on an inner side in the left-right direction with respect to both feet of a wearer that is wider than a width W1 on an outer side in the left-right direction with respect to both feet of a wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Aoki, Masaya Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11884357
    Abstract: A suspension control system is provided for a suspension of a human-powered vehicle. The suspension control system basically includes a detector and an electronic controller. The detector is configured to detect information relating to a running condition of the human-powered vehicle indirectly indicative of a pedaling state of the human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to output a control signal to adjust an operating state of the suspension in accordance with the information detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Shahana
  • Patent number: 11884361
    Abstract: A bicycle apparatus is basically provided with a housing, an assist motor and a case. The housing is configured to be provided to a bicycle. The assist motor housed in an internal space of the housing. The assist motor is configured to add an assisting force to a manual drive force inputted from a bicycle crankshaft. The case that is separate from the housing. The ABS unit provided in an internal space of the case. The ABS unit is configured to control a braking force that is applied to a wheel of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimoda, Shinichiro Noda
  • Patent number: 11878764
    Abstract: A control device is provided for controlling a human-powered vehicle. The control device includes an electronic controller. The human-powered vehicle includes a drive unit, a brake device, and a brake control device. The drive unit is provided with an electric motor that assists in propulsion of the human-powered vehicle. The brake device generates brake force. The brake control device controls the brake force with an electric actuator differing from the electric motor. The electronic controller is configured to control the electric motor in accordance with an actuation state of the brake control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takuya Katsuki, Kiichiro Nagata, Daiki Iwabuchi, Toshihiko Takahashi, Kazuya Kuwayama, Atsushi Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 11877624
    Abstract: A shoelace arrangement is provided for a shoe. The shoelace arrangement is basically provided with an upper, a shoelace tightener and a shoelace. The upper includes a first surface and a second surface opposite side of the first surface. The shoelace tightener is disposed to the upper. The shoelace is coupled to the shoelace tightener. The shoelace includes a first shoelace portion entirely extending on the first surface, and a second shoelace portion entirely extending on the second surface. The first shoelace portion and the second shoelace portion cross one another via the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kaoru Ouchi, Toshiaki Aoki, Kadunori Iuchi
  • Publication number: 20240017792
    Abstract: A chain guide comprises a first guide member and a second guide member. The first guide member includes a first guide plate. The second guide member includes a second guide plate and an extending part. The extending part extends from the second guide plate toward the first guide plate. The extending part includes a first extending part and a second extending part. The first extending part has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first intermediate portion. The second extending part has a third end portion, a fourth end portion, and a second intermediate portion. The first intermediate portion is spaced apart from the second intermediate portion. The first end portion is coupled to the second guide plate. The third end portion is coupled to the second guide plate. The second end portion is coupled to the fourth end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Naoki FUJIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11875952
    Abstract: An operating device is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The operating device basically includes a base, first and second electric switches, and first and second operating members. The first operating member is movable with respect to the base to activate the first electric switch as the first operating member moves from a non-operated position to an intermediate operating position, and then activate the activate an electric switch different from the first electric switch as the first operating member moves from the intermediate operating position to an additional operating position. The second operating member is movable with respect to the base to activate the second electric switch as the second operating member moves from a non-operated position to an intermediate operating position, and then activate the electric switch as the second operating member moves from the intermediate operating position of the second operating member to an additional operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kosaka, Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Noor Ashyikkin Binti Mohd Noor
  • Patent number: 11866114
    Abstract: A control device for a human-powered vehicle including a control unit is provided. The control device controls a telescopic mechanism in accordance with output information related to controlling the telescopic mechanism that is output from a learning model in association with input information related to traveling of the human-powered vehicle. A method for creating the learning model, the learning model, and a computer-readable storage medium are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Yamamoto, Fumiaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: D1013094
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Nobuo Furuya
  • Patent number: D1016967
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Nago