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: 20170240246
    Abstract: A front derailleur includes a base member, a chain guide, a link mechanism and a cable guiding structure. The base member is fixedly coupled to a bicycle. The chain guide is configured to guide a chain. The link mechanism movably couples the chain guide to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position in response to movement of an operation cable. The cable guiding structure has one of bore, recess and groove formed on the link mechanism to guide the operation cable. The operation cable exits forwardly from the cable guiding structure within a sector having an angle of 150 degrees around the crank axis from an upper radius lying in a first plane that is perpendicular to a second plane containing a crank axis and a rear wheel axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE, Tomohiro NIIMI
  • Publication number: 20170233036
    Abstract: A front derailleur basically includes a fixed member, a movable member, a driven link and a first link. The fixing member is configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame. The movable member is movably supported with respect to the fixed member. The driven link is operatively coupled to the movable member. The first link movably connects the movable member to the fixed member, and is adjustably coupled to the driven link in a fixed position by a fixing structure to establish a fixed rest position of the movable member with respect to the fixed member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi TACHIBANA, Yuuta MIZUTANI, Keijiro NISHI, Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE
  • Patent number: 9726283
    Abstract: An electric front derailleur includes a base member, a chain guide, a first link member, a second link member and an electric driving unit. The base member includes a mounting portion to be operatively mounted to a bicycle frame. The chain guide is movable with respect to the base member. The first link member movably connects the chain guide to the base member. The first link member is at least partially aligned with the chain guide in a lateral direction with the electric front derailleur in an installed position. The second link member movably connects the chain guide to the base member. The second link member is at least partially aligned with the chain guide in the lateral direction with the electric front derailleur in the installed position. The electric driving unit is operatively coupled to the chain guide to move the chain guide with respect to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kazuya Kuwayama
  • Publication number: 20170191547
    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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Fukumori, Yusuke Nishimoto, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 9676447
    Abstract: A front derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a chain guide, a link mechanism and a cable guiding structure. The base member is fixedly coupled to a bicycle. The chain guide is configured to guide a chain. The link mechanism movably couples the chain guide to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position in response to movement of an operation cable. The link mechanism includes a cable attachment portion that is configured to be attached to the operation cable. The cable guiding structure guides the operation cable from the cable attachment portion. The cable guiding structure is disposed on at least one of the base member and the link mechanism. The cable guiding structure has a cable exit that is arranged such that the operation cable exits forwardly from the cable guiding structure towards the front of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue, Tomohiro Niimi
  • Patent number: 9623931
    Abstract: A bicycle transmission apparatus comprises a base member, an input shaft, a first transmission member, a second transmission member, and a first coupling member. The base member is configured to be attached to a bicycle frame as a separate member from the bicycle frame. The first transmission member is rotatable relative to the base member about a first rotational axis different from the input rotational axis. The second transmission member is rotatable relative to the base member about a second rotational axis different from each of the input rotational axis and the first rotational axis. The first coupling member is configured to couple the first transmission member to the second transmission member to transmit rotation of the first transmission member to the second transmission member at a variable speed stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Sota Yamaguchi, Toshinari Oishi, Yusuke Nishimoto, Kazuki Koshiyama
  • Patent number: 9616970
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a chain guide, a linkage assembly and a first adjusting member. The chain guide is pivotally supported with respect to the base member between a retracted and an extended position. The linkage assembly includes a first link coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis and coupled to the chain guide about a second pivot axis. The linkage assembly includes a second link coupling the base member to the chain guide. The second link is farther from the bicycle frame than the first link when the base member is mounted to the bicycle frame. The first adjusting member is movably attached to the first link. The first adjusting member is configured to contact one of the base member and the chain guide to restrict movement of the chain guide at one of the retracted and extended positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuwayama, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 9573652
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur includes a fixing member, a selected chain guide unit and a motor unit. The fixing member is configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame. The selected chain guide unit has a chain guide for guiding a bicycle chain and a support mechanism moveably supporting the chain guide relative to the fixing member. The selected chain guide unit is one of a plurality of different configurations of chain guide units. The motor unit is configured to be selectively attached to the selected chain guide unit to move the chain guide. The motor unit is configured to be mounted to each of the plurality of configurations of chain guide units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuwayama, Etsuyoshi Watarai, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 9555857
    Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a movable member, an electric driving unit and a biasing member. The base member includes a bicycle mounting portion. The movable member is movably supported with respect to the base member between a first position and a second position that is farther than the first position from the base member. The electric driving unit is operatively coupled to the movable member to move the movable member between the first position and the second position. The biasing member is operatively disposed between the base member and the movable member to bias the movable member towards the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuwayama, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 9555856
    Abstract: An electric front derailleur is provided with a base member, a movable member, a driving unit and a controller. The base member includes a bicycle mounting portion. The movable member moves with respect to the base member. The controller selectively operates the driving unit with one of a first mode which moves the movable member between a first end position and a second end position, and a second mode which moves the movable member between a third end position and a fourth end position. The controller operates the driving unit to selectively position the movable member at first, second and third stop positions while in the first mode. At least one of the third and fourth end positions differs from the first and second end positions. A first distance between the first and second stop positions differs from a second distance between the second and third stop positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuwayama, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Publication number: 20170001685
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a chain guide, a linkage assembly and a first adjusting member. The chain guide is pivotally supported with respect to the base member between a retracted and an extended position. The linkage assembly includes a first link coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis and coupled to the chain guide about a second pivot axis. The linkage assembly includes a second link coupling the base member to the chain guide. The second link is farther from the bicycle frame than the first link when the base member is mounted to the bicycle frame. The first adjusting member is movably attached to the first link. The first adjusting member is configured to contact one of the base member and the chain guide to restrict movement of the chain guide at one of the retracted and extended positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20160355234
    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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE
  • Patent number: 9499232
    Abstract: A front derailleur is provided for mounting to a bicycle having a crank axis. The front derailleur is provided with a base member, a chain guide and a link mechanism. The base member is mounted on the bicycle for positioning in a predetermined adjustment direction. The chain guide guides the chain. The link mechanism movably couples the chain guide to the base member. The link mechanism includes a first link member pivotally arranged in relation to the base member about a first link axis and pivotally arranged in relation to the chain guide about a second link axis. The first link axis and the second link axis are arranged non-parallel and non-orthogonal to the predetermined adjustment direction when viewed from the axial direction of the crank axis in a state where the base member is mounted to the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue, Tomomi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9469378
    Abstract: A bicycle derailer includes abuse member, a movable member and a linkage assembly. The base member is mounted to a bicycle frame. The movable member moves between a retracted position and an extended position at which the movable member is farther from the base member than the retracted position. The linkage assembly operatively couples the base member and the movable member. The linkage assembly includes a first link, a second link, an extension link and a sliding link. The first and second links are pivotally coupled between the base member and the movable member. The extension link extends from one of the first and second links toward the other of the first and second links. The sliding link includes a sliding portion slidably coupled to the extension link to slide along the extension link and a pivoting portion pivotally coupled to the other of the first and second links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuwayama, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 9457871
    Abstract: A front derailleur is provided with a base member, a linkage assembly, a chain guide, an input link, a connecting link and an outer casing receiving part. The linkage assembly includes a first link coupled to the base member at a first pivot axis, a second link coupled to the base member at a second pivot axis, and an extension link coupled to the first link and the base member. The chain guide is coupled to the first and second links. The input link, is supported relative to the base member about a third pivot axis, and connects to an operation cable. The connecting link is connected to the input link about a fourth pivot axis and to the extension link about a fifth pivot axis. The outer casing receiving part is disposed on the base member and receives an outer casing through which the operation cable passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuwayama, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 9452807
    Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur includes a mounting member, a chain guide, and a linkage assembly that pivotally couples the mounting member to the chain guide. The mounting member is configured to be mounted to a first frame member of a bicycle frame. The first frame member is pivotally connected to a second frame member of the bicycle frame about a pivot axis. The mounting member includes an attachment portion through which a fixing bolt for fixing the mounting member to the first frame member passes and includes an abutment configured to restrict rotation of the mounting member around the fixing bolt. The attachment portion is located on a front side of the pivot axis when the mounting member is mounted to the first frame member. The bicycle frame includes a structure for engaging and supporting the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20160257373
    Abstract: A bicycle transmission apparatus comprises a base member, a first transmission member, a second transmission member, and a first coupling member. The first transmission member is rotatable relative to the base member about a first rotational axis and is movable relative to the base member in an axial direction parallel to the first rotational axis. The second transmission member is rotatable relative to the base member about a second rotational axis and is stationary relative to the base member in the axial direction. The first coupling member is configured to couple the first transmission member to the second transmission member to transmit rotation of the first transmission member to the second transmission member at a variable speed stage which is variable in accordance with at least one positional relationship among the first transmission member, the second transmission member, and the first coupling member in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Toshinari OISHI, Yusuke NISHIMOTO, Sota YAMAGUCHI, Kohei OBUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160257375
    Abstract: A bicycle transmission apparatus comprises a base member, an input shaft, a first transmission member, a second transmission member, and a first coupling member. The base member is configured to be attached to a bicycle frame as a separate member from the bicycle frame. The first transmission member is rotatable relative to the base member about a first rotational axis different from the input rotational axis. The second transmission member is rotatable relative to the base member about a second rotational axis different from each of the input rotational axis and the first rotational axis. The first coupling member is configured to couple the first transmission member to the second transmission member to transmit rotation of the first transmission member to the second transmission member at a variable speed stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Sota YAMAGUCHI, Toshinari OISHI, Yusuke NISHIMOTO, Kazuki KOSHIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160236750
    Abstract: A bicycle drive system includes a front sprocket assembly having a first front sprocket and a second front-sprocket. The first front-sprocket has a first front-tooth number that is the largest tooth number in the front sprocket assembly. The second front-sprocket has a second front-tooth number that is less than or equal to the first front-tooth number. The second front-sprocket is adjacent to the first front-sprocket without another sprocket intervening therebetween in an axial direction. The first front-tooth number is less than or equal to 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Sota YAMAGUCHI, Toshinari OISHI, Yusuke NISHIMOTO, Kazuki KOSHIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160229488
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur is provided with a base member, a chain guide, a linkage assembly and a cable fixing structure. The base member is configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame. The chain guide is movable between retracted and extended positions with respect to the base member. The linkage assembly operatively couples the chain guide to the base member. The cable fixing structure is configured to fix an operation cable that moves the linkage assembly in response to an operation of the operation cable. The cable fixing structure is mounted to one of the chain guide and the linkage assembly. The cable fixing structure includes a cable attachment member to which the operation cable is fixed. The cable attachment member is movable with respect to the one of the chain guide and the linkage assembly with the operation cable being fixed to the cable attachment member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Atsuhiro EMURA