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).

  • Patent number: 10717495
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body, a plurality of sprocket teeth, an axially outward protuberance, and an axially inward protuberance. The axially outward protuberance is disposed on an outward facing side of the sprocket body to overlap at least partly with a bicycle chain engaging with a neighboring bicycle sprocket when viewed along a rotational center axis. The axially inward protuberance is disposed on an inward facing side of the sprocket body to overlap at least partly with the axially outward protuberance when viewed along the rotational center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Fukunaga, Hiroshi Fujita, Tsuyoshi Fukumori, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 10703442
    Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur is basically provided with a chain guide and an indicator. The chain guide includes a guide pulley. The indicator is provided on the chain guide such that the indicator disposed on or in an outer periphery of the chain guide. The indicator is indicative of a setting position of an outer circumference of a sprocket of a bicycle rear sprocket assembly relative to the guide pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Shouta Suyama
  • Patent number: 10668980
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket assembly comprises a first sprocket, a second sprocket, and a sprocket support. The first sprocket includes a first sprocket body and a plurality of first sprocket teeth. The first sprocket body has at least one first recess. The second sprocket includes a second sprocket body and a plurality of second sprocket teeth. The sprocket support is configured to engage with a bicycle hub assembly. The sprocket support includes a sprocket attachment part. The first sprocket and the second sprocket are attached to the sprocket attachment part. The sprocket attachment part is at least partly provided in the at least one first recess to transmit a rotational force between the first sprocket and the sprocket support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 10648538
    Abstract: A bicycle-chain outer link plate comprises a first outer-link end portion, a second outer-link end portion, and a first outer-link intermediate portion. The first outer-link end portion comprises a first outer-link opening and a first outer-link end outermost edge. The second outer-link end portion comprises a second outer-link opening and a second outer-link end outermost edge. The first outer-link intermediate portion comprises a first outer-link intermediate outermost edge and a first additional outer-link intermediate outermost edge. The first outer-link intermediate portion has a first distance defined in an axial direction on a first outer-link longitudinal axis. The first outer-link intermediate outermost edge has a second distance defined in the axial direction. The first outer-link end outermost edge has a third distance defined in the axial direction. The first distance is larger than the second distance and the third distance. The second distance is larger than the third distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi Akanishi, Atsuhiro Emura, Yuta Mizutani, Tsuyoshi Fukumori
  • Patent number: 10625820
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket assembly comprises a plurality of sprockets and a sprocket carrier. The plurality of sprockets includes a first sprocket and a second sprocket. The first sprocket has at least one circumferential coupling point. The first sprocket is coupled to a radially extending surface of at least one of a plurality of sprocket mounting portions at the at least one circumferential coupling point. The second sprocket has at least one additional circumferential coupling point. The second sprocket is coupled, at the at least one additional circumferential coupling point, to at least one of the sprocket carrier and one of the plurality of sprockets. A total number of the at least one circumferential coupling point is different from a total number of the at least one additional circumferential coupling point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Hiroshi Fujita, Fumiaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10618598
    Abstract: A bicycle chain comprises a first outer link plate and a second outer link plate. A first outer-link longitudinal axis extends through a first outer-link center axis and a second outer-link center axis to divide a first outer surface into a first side and a second side when viewed in an axial direction. A second outer-link longitudinal axis extends through a third outer-link center axis and a fourth outer-link center axis to divide a second outer surface into a third side and a fourth side when viewed in the axial direction. The fourth side includes a first circumferential area and a first chamfer free area. The first circumferential area has a first angle equal to or larger than 20 degrees. The first chamfer free area is adjacent to the first circumferential area. At least one second chamfer is provided outside the first chamfer free area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Fukumori, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 10604211
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket comprises a sprocket body and a plurality of sprocket teeth. The plurality of sprocket teeth includes at least one driving tooth configured to engage with a roller of a bicycle chain. The at least one driving tooth comprises a driving surface, a first tangential line, a first angle, a second tangential line, and a second angle. The driving surface includes a first driving surface and a second driving surface. The first driving surface has a first contact point. The second driving surface has a second contact point. The first angle is defined between the first tangential line and a reference line. The second angle is defined between the second tangential line and the reference line. The first angle is smaller than the second angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 10577050
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body and chain-driving teeth. The chain-driving teeth comprises at least one first tooth and at least one second tooth. The at least one first tooth has a first circumferential tooth-length defined in a circumferential direction at a radial location defined in vicinity of a reference line. The at least one second tooth has a second circumferential tooth-length defined in the circumferential direction at the radial location. The first circumferential tooth-length is larger than the second circumferential tooth-length. A dimensional difference between the first circumferential tooth-length and the second circumferential tooth-length is equal to or smaller than 1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi Akanishi, Atsuhiro Emura, Sota Yamaguchi, Toshinari Oishi
  • Patent number: 10577051
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a plurality of sprocket teeth including at least one first tooth and at least one second tooth. The at least one first tooth has a first non-driving surface including a first non-driving surface portion and a second non-driving surface portion so that a first ridge is formed between the first non-driving surface portion and the second non-driving surface portion. The at least one second tooth is configured to initially engage with the bicycle chain in a shifting operation. The at least one second tooth is disposed adjacent to the at least one first tooth. The at least one second tooth has a second non-driving surface including a third non-driving surface portion and a fourth non-driving surface portion so that a second ridge is formed between the third non-driving surface portion and the fourth non-driving surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Fukunaga, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Publication number: 20200040979
    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: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi AKANISHI, Atsuhiro EMURA, Shingo SHIRAISHI
  • Patent number: 10501147
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a movable member, a link structure and a cable interactive structure. The link structure is configured to movably connect the movable member relative to the base member. The cable interactive structure is provided on the link structure. The cable interactive structure includes a chain barrier portion. The chain barrier portion is configured to prevent a chain from contacting the link structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shouta Suyama, Atsuhiro Emura, Kenta Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20190359285
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body, a plurality of sprocket teeth, and at least one upshifting facilitation area. The plurality of sprocket teeth extends radially outwardly from the sprocket body with respect to the rotational center axis. The plurality of sprocket teeth includes at least one axially recessed upshifting initiation tooth. The at least one axially recessed upshifting initiation tooth includes a driving surface, a non-driving surface and a tooth tip portion. The non-driving surface includes a non-driving surface protrusion disposed radially inwardly from a non-driving surface side tooth tip end with respect to a rotational center axis. The non-driving surface protrusion has a protrusion tip disposed closer to the second axially-facing surface than the non-driving-surface-side tooth tip end in the axial direction so that a guiding slope extends from the protrusion tip toward the first axially-facing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Yasufumi FUKUNAGA, Tsuyoshi FUKUMORI
  • Publication number: 20190359284
    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: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasufumi FUKUNAGA, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Patent number: 10486770
    Abstract: A bicycle tensioner apparatus comprises a first base member, a second base member, and a tensioner. The second base member is movably coupled to the first base member. The tensioner is configured to contact a driving-force transmitting member to apply tension to the driving-force transmitting member. The tensioner is coupled to both the first base member and the second base member. The tensioner is movable relative to at least one of the first base member and the second base member in response to a relative movement between the first base member and the second base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Toshinari Oishi, Yusuke Nishimoto, Sota Yamaguchi, Kohei Obuchi, Kento Mitsuyasu
  • Patent number: 10480617
    Abstract: A bicycle chain comprises a first outer link plate. The first outer link plate comprises a first outer-link end portion, a second outer-link end portion, a first outer-link intermediate portion, and a first outer-link longitudinal centerline. The first outer-link end portion, the second outer-link end portion and the first outer-link intermediate portion define a first outer-link outer peripheral edge. The first outer-link outer peripheral edge comprises a first outer-link end edge, a second outer-link end edge, and a pair of first outer-link intermediate edges. A first radial distance is defined from a first outer-link center axis to the first outer-link end edge in a perpendicular direction. A minimum distance is defined between the pair of first outer-link intermediate edges in the perpendicular direction. The minimum distance is smaller than 200% of the first radial distance and is equal to or larger than 5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Fukumori, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Publication number: 20190277386
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket includes a sprocket body, a tooth ring, and at least one non-threaded fastener. The sprocket body is made of a first material and has a rotational center axis. A central portion of the sprocket body has a central opening through which the rotational center axis passes. The sprocket body further includes a plurality of arm portions that extend radially outward from the central portion with respect to the rotational center axis. Each arm portion includes a sprocket body attachment portion. The tooth ring is made of a second material different from the first material and includes an annular portion. The annular portion includes a plurality of tooth ring attachment portions and a plurality of chain-driving teeth extending radially outward from the annular portion. The non-threaded fastener fixedly connects a sprocket body attachment portion and to a corresponding tooth ring attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Yuki Hirose, Atsuhiro Emura, Shingo Shiraishi, Kenichi Akanishi
  • Patent number: 10407128
    Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur includes a base member to be mounted to a bicycle frame, a chain guide, a first link pivotally connected to the chain guide about a first pivot axis, and a second link pivotally connected to the chain guide about a second pivot axis. The chain guide includes a link-connecting structure pivotally connected to the first link. The link-connecting structure includes a first link-connecting portion and a second link-connecting portion. The first link includes a first chain guide-connecting portion and a second chain guide-connecting portion. At least one of the first link-connecting portion and the second link-connecting portion is located between the first chain guide-connecting portion and the second chain guide-connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue, Kohei Obuchi
  • Patent number: 10377445
    Abstract: A bicycle front sprocket assembly is basically provided with a first sprocket, a second sprocket, a sprocket carrier and a chain guiding portion. The first sprocket includes a first sprocket body and a plurality of first sprocket teeth disposed on a first outer periphery of the first sprocket body, The second sprocket includes a second sprocket body and a plurality of second sprocket teeth. The second sprocket teeth are disposed on a second outer periphery of the second sprocket body. The sprocket carrier includes a torque transmitting profile and a sprocket mounting portion. The chain guiding portion is positioned between the first and second sprockets in an axial direction parallel to a rotational center axis of the bicycle front sprocket assembly. At least one of the first and second sprockets is mounted to the sprocket mounting portion of the sprocket carrier by a non-threaded fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yuki Hirose, Atsuhiro Emura, Tetsu Nonoshita
  • Publication number: 20190225301
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket assembly comprises a plurality of sprockets and a sprocket carrier configured to support at least one of the plurality of sprockets. The sprocket carrier includes at least ten internal spline teeth and a circumferentially extending non-splined portion. The at least ten internal spline teeth are configured to engage with the sprocket support body of the bicycle rear hub assembly. 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 and are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction with respect to the rotational center axis. 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: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Hiroshi FUJITA, Fumiaki YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20190225302
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket assembly comprises a plurality of sprockets and a sprocket carrier. The plurality of sprockets includes a first sprocket and a second sprocket. The first sprocket has at least one circumferential coupling point. The first sprocket is coupled to a radially extending surface of at least one of a plurality of sprocket mounting portions at the at least one circumferential coupling point. The second sprocket has at least one additional circumferential coupling point. The second sprocket is coupled, at the at least one additional circumferential coupling point, to at least one of the sprocket carrier and one of the plurality of sprockets. A total number of the at least one circumferential coupling point is different from a total number of the at least one additional circumferential coupling point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Hiroshi FUJITA, Fumiaki YOSHIDA