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: 10336401
    Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly includes a fixing member for fixing a sprocket to a crank arm. The fixing member includes a radially-extending projection, to prevent the sprocket from moving relative to the crank axle in an axial direction, and an axially-extending base portion, which is secured to the crank arm. A contact part is provided on an inner periphery of the base portion and contacts the crank axle or is provided on the crank axle and contacts the base portion. The contact part permits force to be transmitted between the crank axle and the fixing member to limit flexing of the crank axle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Furuya, Masahiro Yamanaka, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 10316951
    Abstract: A bicycle drive unit comprises a housing configured to be mounted to a first base member. The housing includes a first wall at least partly defining an internal space to at least partly accommodate a bicycle crank having a crank rotational axis. The first wall includes a first transmitting surface disposed to at least partly face upward in a bicycle upright state where the crank rotational axis horizontally extends and the housing is mounted on the first base member. The first transmitting surface is configured to face a first receiving surface of the first base member to transmit an upward force from the housing to the first base member. The first transmitting surface being at least partly disposed below the crank rotational axis in the bicycle upright state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Toshinari Oishi, Yusuke Nishimoto, Sota Yamaguchi, Kohei Obuchi, Kento Mitsuyasu
  • Patent number: 10300986
    Abstract: A bicycle transmission apparatus comprises a base member, a first transmission member, a second transmission member, a first coupling member, a first guide structure, a switching device, and a transmission controller. The switching device is configured to switch a position of the first transmission member relative to the base member in an axial direction between a first axial position and a second axial position. The transmission controller is configured to control the switching device and the first guide structure so as not to change a first engagement state of the first coupling member from one cogwheel to another adjacent cogwheel among first cogwheels when the first transmission member moves relative to the base member in association with a movement of the first guide structure relative to the base member to change a second engagement state of the first coupling member from one cogwheel to another adjacent cogwheel among second cogwheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Toshinari Oishi, Yusuke Nishimoto, Sota Yamaguchi, Kohei Obuchi, Kento Mitsuyasu
  • Patent number: 10295019
    Abstract: An inner link plate for a bicycle chain is provided. The inner link plate may have a longitudinal centerline defining a longitudinal direction and comprising a first inner-link end portion including a first inner-link opening having a first inner-link center axis, a second inner-link end portion including a second inner-link opening having a second inner-link center axis parallel to the first inner-link center axis, and an inner-link intermediate portion interconnecting the first inner-link end portion and the second inner-link end portion. The first inner-link end portion may have an extended edge portion extending to be away from the second inner-link end portion in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Fukumori, Yusuke Nishimoto, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 10295041
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body and chain-driving teeth. The chain-driving teeth each have a first axial surface, a second axial surface, a driving surface, and a non-driving surface. 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 maximum chain-engaging width defined in the axial direction. The at least one second tooth has a second maximum chain-engaging width defined in the axial direction. The first maximum chain-engaging width is larger than the second maximum chain-engaging width. The at least one second tooth includes a first chamfer provided between the first axial surface of the at least one second tooth and the driving surface of the at least one second tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi Akanishi, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Publication number: 20190100278
    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: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi FUKUMORI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20190101189
    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 surface, a first inner surface, a first outer-link opening, and a first outer-link outermost edge. The first outer-link intermediate portion comprises a first intermediate outer surface, a first intermediate inner surface, a first outer-link intermediate outermost edge, a first additional outer-link intermediate outermost edge, and a first intermediate chamfer. The first intermediate chamfer has a first minimum distance defined between the first outer-link intermediate outermost edge and the first inner edge along a reference line. A distance defined between the first outer-link intermediate outermost edge and the first additional outer-link intermediate outermost edge on the reference line is minimum in the first outer-link intermediate portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi AKANISHI, Atsuhiro EMURA, Yuta MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20190101188
    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: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi AKANISHI, Atsuhiro EMURA, Yuta MIZUTANI, Tsuyoshi FUKUMORI
  • Patent number: 10239580
    Abstract: A bicycle frame includes a first frame member and a second frame member configured to be pivotally connected to the first frame member about a pivot axis. The first frame member includes a threaded hole, through which a fixing bolt for fixing a mounting member of a bicycle front derailleur to the first frame member passes, and an abutting portion configured to restrict rotation of a mounting member of a bicycle front derailleur around the fixing bolt by abutting the mounting member. The threaded hole is located on a front side of the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20190084649
    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: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasufumi FUKUNAGA, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20190084645
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket comprises a sprocket body and a plurality of sprocket teeth. The plurality of sprocket teeth includes a plurality of first teeth. Each tooth of the plurality of first teeth has a driving surface and a non-driving surface provided on a reverse side of the driving surface in a circumferential direction with respect to the rotational center axis. Each tooth of the plurality of first teeth has an axial maximum tooth-width and an axial driving-surface tooth-width. The axial maximum tooth-width is defined in an axial direction of the rotational center axis as a maximum width in each tooth of the plurality of first teeth. The axial driving-surface tooth-width is smaller than the axial maximum tooth-width. The plurality of first teeth accounts for at least 25% of the plurality of sprocket teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20190084646
    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: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20190084647
    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: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasufumi FUKUNAGA, Hiroshi FUJITA, Tsuyoshi FUKUMORI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20190061877
    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: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Shouta SUYAMA, Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenta NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20190061873
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket assembly comprises a sprocket support and a first sprocket. The sprocket support includes a hub engagement part configured to engage with a bicycle hub assembly. The sprocket support includes a plurality of sprocket attachment members extending radially outwardly from the hub engagement part with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle rear sprocket assembly. The first sprocket is attached to the plurality of sprocket attachment members. The first sprocket includes a first sprocket body and a plurality of first sprocket teeth which extends radially outwardly from the first sprocket body with respect to the rotational center axis and a total number of which is equal to or larger than thirty-four. The first sprocket has a plurality of shifting facilitation areas. A total number of the plurality of shifting facilitation areas is a divisor of a total number of the plurality of sprocket attachment members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Atsuhiro EMURA, Yasufumi FUKUNAGA, Tsuyoshi FUKUMORI
  • Publication number: 20190061874
    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: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20190061876
    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: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Shouta SUYAMA, Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenta NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20190048973
    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: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi FUKUMORI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20190048974
    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 second inner link plate comprises a third inner-link end portion, a fourth inner-link end portion, and a second inner-link intermediate portion. A first inner-link end edge has a first chamfer extending about the first inner-link center axis such that a part of the first chamfer is disposed in a first circumferential area defined from a first inner-link longitudinal centerline to a first reference line when viewed in an axial direction of the first inner-link center axis. The first circumferential area is smaller than 14 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi FUKUMORI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20190016412
    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: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Shouta SUYAMA