Patents by Inventor Atsuhiro Emura

Atsuhiro Emura 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).

  • Publication number: 20230373585
    Abstract: A bicycle component includes a base member, a movable member, a link member, an actuator, and a battery holder. The link member movably couples the movable member to the base member. The actuator is operatively coupled to the link member to move the link member. The battery holder is detachably attached to the link member. The battery holder includes a battery holding portion configured to hold a battery and a flexible element electrically connecting the battery holding portion to the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Takeshi UEDA, Satoshi FUJII, Atsuhiro EMURA, Shota SUYAMA, Yuta MIZUTANI, Dai YOKOZAWA
  • Publication number: 20230227121
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle includes a crank axle, a first rotational body, a wheel, a second rotational body, a transmission body that transmits a driving force between the first rotational body and the second rotational body, a derailleur configured to operate the transmission body to change a transmission ratio, and a motor configured to drive the transmission body. A control device has an electronic controller configured to control the motor and drive the transmission body with the motor so as to change at least one of a rotational angle of the motor and an output torque of the motor in correspondence with a state of the human-powered vehicle upon determining the derailleur has been actuated to change the transmission ratio and a predetermined condition related to pedaling is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Hayato SHIMAZU, Mitsuhiko KAWASAKI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20230202614
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle includes a crank axle, a first rotational body, a wheel, a second rotational body, a transmission body that transmits a driving force between the first rotational body and the second rotational body, a derailleur configured to operate the transmission body to change a transmission ratio, a motor configured to drive the transmission body and an electric actuator configured to operate the derailleur. A control device has an electronic controller configured to control electric actuator and the motor. The electronic controller is configured to control the electric actuator and drive the transmission body with the motor so that the transmission ratio is changed in a predetermined shifting range in upon determining the derailleur has been actuated to change the transmission ratio and a predetermined condition related to pedaling is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Hayato SHIMAZU, Mitsuhiko KAWASAKI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20230202615
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle includes a crank axle, a first rotational body, a wheel, a second rotational body, a transmission body that transmits a driving force between the first rotational body and the second rotational body, a derailleur configured to operate the transmission body to change a transmission ratio, an electric actuator configured to actuate the derailleur, and a motor configured to drive the transmission body. A control device has an electronic controller configured to control the motor and drive the transmission body upon determining the derailleur has been actuated with the electric actuator to change the transmission ratio and a predetermined condition related to pedaling is satisfied. The electronic controller is configured to control the electric actuator so as not to change the transmission ratio until a first condition related to shifting is satisfied in a case where the derailleur is actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Hayato SHIMAZU, Mitsuhiko KAWASAKI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20230166812
    Abstract: A bracket apparatus for mounting a derailleur to a frame of a human-powered vehicle comprises a bracket body and one of a restriction member and a restriction opening. The bracket body includes a frame attachment portion configured to be attached to the frame of the human-powered vehicle and a derailleur attachment portion to which the derailleur is to be attached. The restriction member is configured to be at least partly provided in the restriction opening to restrict a rotation of the bracket body relative to the frame of the human-powered vehicle in a bracket mounting state where the bracket apparatus is mounted to the frame of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Atsuhiro EMURA, Shota SUYAMA, Yusuke ODA
  • Publication number: 20230166814
    Abstract: A bracket apparatus for mounting a derailleur to a frame of a human-powered vehicle comprises a bracket body. The bracket body includes a frame attachment portion configured to be attached to the frame of the human-powered vehicle, a derailleur attachment portion to which the derailleur is to be attached, and a cable groove in which a cable is to be at least partly provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Atsuhiro EMURA, Yuki SAKAGAWA, Dai YOKOZAWA
  • Publication number: 20230166813
    Abstract: A bracket apparatus for mounting a derailleur to a frame of a human-powered vehicle comprises a frame attachment portion, a derailleur attachment portion spaced apart from the frame attachment portion, and a component attachment portion spaced apart from the frame attachment portion and the derailleur attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Atsuhiro EMURA, Shota SUYAMA, Dai YOKOZAWA, Yusuke ODA
  • Patent number: 11655003
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket assembly comprises a plurality of sprockets and a sprocket carrier. The sprocket carrier includes at least ten internal spline teeth and a circumferentially extending non-splined portion. The at least ten internal spline teeth extend in an axial direction with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle rear sprocket assembly. The at least ten internal spline teeth includes a plurality of internal-spline driving surfaces. The plurality of internal-spline driving surfaces each includes a radially outermost edge, a radially innermost edge, and a radial length. The total of the radial lengths ranges from 11 mm to 14 mm. The circumferentially extending non-splined portion is disposed to be adjacent to the at least ten internal spline teeth in the axial direction and recessed from the at least ten internal spline teeth in a radial direction with respect to the rotational center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Hiroshi Fujita, Fumiaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11623713
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle includes a crank axle, a first rotational body, a wheel, a second rotational body, a transmission body that transmits a driving force between the first rotational body and the second rotational body, a derailleur configured to operate the transmission body to change a transmission ratio, and a motor configured to drive the transmission body. A control device has an electronic controller configured to control the motor and drive the transmission body with the motor upon determining the derailleur has been actuated to change the transmission ratio and a predetermined condition related to pedaling is satisfied, and control the motor to increase a rotational speed of the motor as a difference of a first rotational speed, which is calculated in correspondence with a rotational speed of the wheel and the transmission ratio, and a predetermined rotational speed or a rotational speed in a predetermined range increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Hayato Shimazu, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 11603166
    Abstract: A rear sprocket assembly comprises a first sprocket, a second sprocket, and at least one tooth-position maintaining member. The at least one tooth-position maintaining member is configured to maintain a relative position between a plurality of first sprocket teeth and a plurality of second sprocket teeth in a circumferential direction with respect to a rotational center axis. The at least one tooth-position maintaining member includes a fixed portion and at least one guide portion. The fixed portion is configured to be fixed to one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket. The at least one guide portion is configured to engage with the other of the first sprocket and the second sprocket such that the other of the first sprocket and the second sprocket is slidable relative to the one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Publication number: 20220348286
    Abstract: A rear sprocket assembly comprises a first sprocket and a lock device. The lock device includes a first lock member and a second lock member. The first lock member includes a first axial end and a second axial end. The second lock member includes a third axial end and a fourth axial end. The third axial end is configured to be attached to the second axial end of the first lock member in an assembled state where the first sprocket and the lock device are assembled as one unit. The fourth axial end has at least one radial projection configured to abut against a first sprocket in the axial direction in the mounting state. The lock device is configured so that the first sprocket is slidable relative to the lock device in the axial direction in the assembled state and before the mounting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20220348287
    Abstract: A rear sprocket assembly comprises a first sprocket, a second sprocket, and at least one tooth-position maintaining member. The at least one tooth-position maintaining member is configured to maintain a relative position between a plurality of first sprocket teeth and a plurality of second sprocket teeth in a circumferential direction with respect to a rotational center axis. The at least one tooth-position maintaining member includes a fixed portion and at least one guide portion. The fixed portion is configured to be fixed to one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket. The at least one guide portion is configured to engage with the other of the first sprocket and the second sprocket such that the other of the first sprocket and the second sprocket is slidable relative to the one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20220204127
    Abstract: A control device is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The control device includes an electronic controller that is configured to control a motor that assists in propulsion of the human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to control the motor in accordance with a pitch angle of the human-powered vehicle and information related to a user load applied by a user to the human-powered vehicle in a negative direction with respect to a propulsion direction of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Akira INOUE, Akinobu SUGIMOTO, Atsuhiro EMURA, Nobukatsu HARA, Hitoshi TAKAYAMA, Shingo SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20220194515
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal is provided with a pedal shaft, and a body part and an end cap. The pedal shaft has a center axis. The body part is rotatably supported by the pedal shaft around the center axis. The body part has a pedal shaft receiving bore with a first opening and a second opening. The first opening receives the pedal shaft along the center axis. The end cap is adjustably attached to the body part at the second opening to adjust a position of the pedal shaft within the pedal shaft receiving bore in an axial direction with respect to the center axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Akira INOUE, Tatsuya WATANABE, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Patent number: 11338887
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket comprises a sprocket body and a plurality of sprocket teeth including a plurality of driving-noise reduction teeth. Each of the plurality of driving-noise reduction teeth comprises an upstream circumferential surface, a downstream circumferential surface, a first chamfer, and a second chamfer. The first chamfer has a first borderline relative to the bicycle outward surface. The second chamfer has a second borderline relative to the bicycle outward surface. A first opposite end of the first borderline and a second opposite end of the second borderline are disposed radially outwardly from each of a first end of the first borderline and a second end of the second borderline with respect to the rotational center axis. A total number of the plurality of driving-noise reduction teeth is equal to or larger than one-third of a total tooth-space number of the plurality of sprocket teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Fukunaga, Atsuhiro Emura, Kohei Hokai
  • Patent number: 11338886
    Abstract: A bicycle multiple sprocket comprises a plurality of sprockets. The plurality of sprockets includes a first sprocket and a second sprocket. The second sprocket includes a second sprocket body and a plurality of second sprocket teeth extending radially outwardly from the second sprocket body with respect to the rotational center axis. The plurality of second sprocket teeth includes at least one chain-curvature limiting tooth having a chain-curvature limiting surface configured to support an inner link plate of a bicycle chain in the axial direction in a chain-inclining state where the bicycle chain is inclined from the at least one chain-curvature limiting tooth toward the first sprocket so as to prevent one of a plurality of first sprocket teeth from engaging in an outer link space provided between an opposed pair of outer link plates of the bicycle chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Fukunaga, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 11319021
    Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur includes a base member, a chain guide, a movable member and a first link member. The base member is configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame at a frame mounting axis. The chain guide includes a first pulley rotatably arranged around a first pulley axis in a first pulley plane. The movable member pivotally supports the chain guide about a pivot axis. The first link member moves the chain guide between first and second lateral positions. The first lateral position is closer to a bicycle center plane. The first pulley plane intersects the first link member in a state where the chain guide is located at the second lateral position. The frame mounting axis is spaced from the pivot axis by a distance equal to or larger than eighty-nine millimeters when the chain guide is at the first lateral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shouta Suyama, Atsuhiro Emura, Kenta Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20220106009
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal is provided with a pedal shaft and a pedal body. The pedal shaft has a first end portion configured to attach to a bicycle crank, a second end portion on an opposite side of the first end portion in an axial direction with respect to a rotational center axis of the pedal shaft, and a contact portion between the first end portion and the second end portion. The pedal body has a body part rotatably supported by the pedal shaft and a load receiving part at a position corresponding to the contact portion of the pedal shaft. The load receiving part receives a load from the contact portion of the pedal shaft. The load receiving part is at least partly spaced from the contact portion under a no load condition and contacts the contact portion upon a load applied to the pedal body from a rider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Akira INOUE, Tatsuya WATANABE, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Patent number: 11292555
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body, a plurality of sprocket teeth, a mounting member, at least one fastening member, and a cover member. The sprocket body has at least one first threaded portion. The mounting member has at least one fastening hole configured to be aligned with the at least one first threaded portion in the assembled state. The at least one fastening member has a fastening shaft portion, a fastening head portion, and a second threaded portion. The second threaded portion is configured to threadedly engage with the at least one first threaded portion of the sprocket body in the assembled state. The cover member is configured to at least cover the fastening shaft portion of the at least one fastening member when viewed from an axial direction with respect to the rotational center axis in the assembled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi Akanishi, Atsuhiro Emura, Shingo Shiraishi
  • Publication number: 20210324941
    Abstract: A bicycle chain comprises a first inner link plate and a second inner link plate. The first inner link plate comprises a first inner-link end portion, a second inner-link end portion, and a first inner-link intermediate portion. The first inner-link end portion overlaps with a tooth of a sprocket when viewed in the axial direction to provide an overlapping area in a state where the bicycle chain is engaged with the sprocket. The overlapping area has a maximum circumferential length equal to or larger than 0.45 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi FUKUMORI, Atsuhiro EMURA