Patents by Inventor Akihiko Shoge
Akihiko Shoge 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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Patent number: 9090312Abstract: A continuously variable bicycle transmission includes a ring roller, a first conical planetary roller, a first carrier and a sun roller. The first conical planetary roller is frictionally engaged with the ring roller. The first carrier rotatably supports the first conical planetary roller. The sun roller is movable along an axis. The sun roller is frictionally engaged with the first conical planetary roller.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Hiroyuki Urabe, Akihiko Shoge, Takashi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 8958935Abstract: A bicycle drive apparatus includes a bicycle transmission, a drive assistance electric motor and a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes an output control section that controls an output of the drive assistance electric motor, and that issues a motor output increasing command to increase the output of the drive assistance electric motor upon receiving a shift command for shifting the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
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Patent number: 8831810Abstract: A bicycle drive apparatus includes a bicycle crankset, a bicycle transmission, a drive assistance electric motor and a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes an output control section, a gear shift feasibility determining section and a gear shift control section. The output control section controls an output of the drive assistance electric motor. The gear shift feasibility determining section determines if an output condition of the bicycle crankset satisfies a gear shift allowable condition. The gear shift control section receives a gear shift request, instructs the output control section to at least one of stop the output of the drive assistance electric motor and decrease the output of the drive assistance electric motor, and instructs the transmission to execute a gear shifting operation upon the gear shift permission determining section determining that the gear shift allowable condition is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Akihiko Shoge, Etsuyoshi Watarai
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Publication number: 20140221151Abstract: A bicycle drive unit includes a motor, a crank axle, a torque combining mechanism, and a clutch mechanism. The crank axle is rotatable about a first rotational axis. The torque combining mechanism is operatively coupled to the motor and the crank axle. The torque combining mechanism has a sprocket mounting portion that is configured to be operatively attached to a sprocket such that the sprocket rotates about a second rotational axis of the sprocket in a first direction as the crank axle rotates about the first rotational axis in the first direction. The clutch mechanism is operatively disposed between the crank axle and the sprocket. The clutch mechanism is configured to rotate the sprocket about the second rotational axis in a second direction as the crank axle rotates about the first rotational axis in the second direction. The second direction is opposite the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2013Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Tetsuya HINO, Akihiko SHOGE, Minoru ITO
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Patent number: 8777791Abstract: A bicycle drive unit includes a motor, a crank axle, a torque combining mechanism, and a clutch mechanism. The crank axle is rotatable about a first rotational axis. The torque combining mechanism is operatively coupled to the motor and the crank axle. The torque combining mechanism has a sprocket mounting portion that is configured to be operatively attached to a sprocket such that the sprocket rotates about a second rotational axis of the sprocket in a first direction as the crank axle rotates about the first rotational axis in the first direction. The clutch mechanism is operatively disposed between the crank axle and the sprocket. The clutch mechanism is configured to rotate the sprocket about the second rotational axis in a second direction as the crank axle rotates about the first rotational axis in the second direction. The second direction is opposite the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Tetsuya Hino, Akihiko Shoge, Minoru Ito
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Publication number: 20130184115Abstract: A continuously variable bicycle transmission includes a ring roller, a first conical planetary roller, a first carrier and a sun roller. The first conical planetary roller is frictionally engaged with the ring roller. The first carrier rotatably supports the first conical planetary roller. The sun roller is movable along an axis. The sun roller is frictionally engaged with the first conical planetary roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2012Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Hiroyuki Urabe, Akihiko Shoge, Takashi Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20130054067Abstract: A bicycle drive apparatus includes a bicycle crankset, a bicycle transmission, a drive assistance electric motor and a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes an output control section, a gear shift feasibility determining section and a gear shift control section. The output control section controls an output of the drive assistance electric motor. The gear shift feasibility determining section determines if an output condition of the bicycle crankset satisfies a gear shift allowable condition. The gear shift control section receives a gear shift request, instructs the output control section to at least one of stop the output of the drive assistance electric motor and decrease the output of the drive assistance electric motor, and instructs the transmission to execute a gear shifting operation upon the gear shift permission determining section determining that the gear shift allowable condition is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Akihiko SHOGE, Etsuyoshi WATARAI
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Publication number: 20130054068Abstract: A bicycle drive apparatus includes a bicycle transmission, a drive assistance electric motor and a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes an output control section that controls an output of the drive assistance electric motor, and that issues a motor output increasing command to increase the output of the drive assistance electric motor upon receiving a shift command for shifting the transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Akihiko SHOGE
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Patent number: 8376897Abstract: An internally geared hub is provided with a hub axle, a hub shell, a driver, a planetary gear mechanism and a gear changing mechanism. The hub shell rotates freely about the hub axle. The driver rotates freely relative to both the hub axle and the hub shell. The planetary gear mechanism is operatively connected between the hub shell and the driver. The planetary gear mechanism includes a plurality of driver rotation transmission paths that transmits rotation of the driver in a prescribed operating direction to the hub shell, and a hub shell rotation transmission path that transmits rotation of the hub shell in the prescribed operating direction to the driver. The gear changing mechanism is operatively connected the planetary gear mechanism for selectively establishing one of the driver rotation transmission paths or the hub shell rotation transmission path.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2009Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Akihiko Shoge, Tatsushi Okamoto, Naoto Migita
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Publication number: 20110009231Abstract: An internally geared hub is provided with a hub axle, a hub shell, a driver, a planetary gear mechanism and a gear changing mechanism. The hub shell rotates freely about the hub axle. The driver rotates freely relative to both the hub axle and the hub shell. The planetary gear mechanism is operatively connected between the hub shell and the driver. The planetary gear mechanism includes a plurality of driver rotation transmission paths that transmits rotation of the driver in a prescribed operating direction to the hub shell, and a hub shell rotation transmission path that transmits rotation of the hub shell in the prescribed operating direction to the driver. The gear changing mechanism is operatively connected the planetary gear mechanism for selectively establishing one of the driver rotation transmission paths or the hub shell rotation transmission path.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2009Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Akihiko SHOGE, Tatsushi OKAMOTO, Naoto MIGITA
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Patent number: 6641500Abstract: A hub transmission for a bicycle comprises a hub axle; a driver rotatably supported to the hub axle; a hub shell rotatably supported to the hub axle; a power transmitting mechanism disposed between the driver and the hub shell for communicating rotational power from the driver to the hub shell through a plurality of power transmission paths; a shift mechanism for selecting the plurality of power transmission paths; a shift assist mechanism for communicating rotational power from the driver to the shift mechanism; and a power control mechanism disposed between the driver and the shift assist mechanism and coupling the driver to the shift assist mechanism for controlling an amount of rotational power communicated from the driver to the shift mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
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Patent number: 6640938Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a drive member rotatably supported on a bicycle includes a mounting member for mounting the apparatus to the bicycle, a braking mechanism coupled to the mounting member for applying a braking force to the drive member; and a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the braking mechanism to a shift control mechanism so that the braking mechanism applies the braking force to the drive member upon actuation of the shift control mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
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Patent number: 6607465Abstract: A sun gear apparatus includes an axle, a sun gear rotatably supported around the axle, and a sun gear guide ring disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the sun gear and the axle. The sun gear guide ring minimizes or eliminates looseness in the coupling between the sun gear and the axle.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2000Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
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Publication number: 20030130079Abstract: A hub transmission for a bicycle comprises a hub axle; a driver rotatably supported to the hub axle; a hub shell rotatably supported to the hub axle; a power transmitting mechanism disposed between the driver and the hub shell for communicating rotational power from the driver to the hub shell through a plurality of power transmission paths; a shift mechanism for selecting the plurality of power transmission paths; a shift assist mechanism for communicating rotational power from the driver to the shift mechanism; and a power control mechanism disposed between the driver and the shift assist mechanism and coupling the driver to the shift assist mechanism for controlling an amount of rotational power communicated from the driver to the shift mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2001Publication date: July 10, 2003Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
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Patent number: 6572508Abstract: A shift control apparatus for a hub transmission includes an axle defining an axle axis; a pawl support rotating member rotatably supported around the axle axis; a pawl rotatably supported to the pawl support rotating member; a biasing mechanism for biasing the pawl in a radial direction; and a pawl control rotating member for controlling a radial position of the pawl. One of the pawl support rotating member and the pawl control rotating member includes a location for coupling to a shift control mechanism, and the other one of the pawl support rotating member and the pawl control rotating member includes a location for coupling to an actuating member. A spring is provided for biasing the pawl support rotating member and the pawl control rotating member in a rotational direction relative to each other, and a stopper is provided for holding the pawl support rotating member and the pawl control rotating member in a rotational position relative to each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
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Patent number: 6533700Abstract: A sun gear apparatus includes an axle, a sun gear rotatably supported around the axle, and a sun gear guide ring disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the sun gear and the axle. The sun gear guide ring minimizes or eliminates looseness in the coupling between the sun gear and the axle.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2002Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
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Publication number: 20020137590Abstract: A sun gear apparatus includes an axle, a sun gear rotatably supported around the axle, and a sun gear guide ring disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the sun gear and the axle. The sun gear guide ring minimizes or eliminates looseness in the coupling between the sun gear and the axle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2002Publication date: September 26, 2002Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
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Publication number: 20020134625Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a drive member rotatably supported on a bicycle includes a mounting member for mounting the apparatus to the bicycle, a braking mechanism coupled to the mounting member for applying a braking force to the drive member; and a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the braking mechanism to a shift control mechanism so that the braking mechanism applies the braking force to the drive member upon actuation of the shift control mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2002Publication date: September 26, 2002Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
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Publication number: 20020128111Abstract: A sun gear apparatus includes an axle, a sun gear rotatably supported around the axle, and a sun gear guide ring disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the sun gear and the axle. The sun gear guide ring minimizes or eliminates looseness in the coupling between the sun gear and the axle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2002Publication date: September 12, 2002Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
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Patent number: 6325386Abstract: A seal for a bicycle transmission includes an annular housing and an annular seal member. The housing includes a side wall defining a plurality of circumferentially disposed slots. The seal member is retained to the housing and extends radially inwardly. The seal member is formed from a resilient material, and the housing is formed from a material that is more rigid than the seal member.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1999Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Akihiko Shoge