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: 20150191214
    Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly includes a crank arm and at least one sprocket. The sprocket includes a set of regular teeth and a set of first and second teeth. The first teeth have a first chain engaging tooth width for engaging outer links of a bicycle chain. The second teeth have a second chain engaging tooth width for engaging inner links of the bicycle chain. The first chain engaging tooth width is greater than the second chain engaging tooth width. The regular teeth have a third chain engaging tooth width being smaller than the first chain engaging tooth width. The regular teeth are disposed along at least one of top and bottom dead center areas with respect to the crank arm. The first and second teeth are disposed along at least between the top and bottom dead center areas with respect to the crank arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Etsuyoshi WATARAI
  • Patent number: 9067641
    Abstract: A front derailleur comprises a base member structured to be attached to a bicycle frame member, a chain guide operatively connected to the base member, and an actuation mechanism coupled to the base member and to the chain guide for moving the chain guide relative to the base member between a first position corresponding to a location for positioning a chain on a first sprocket and a second position corresponding to a location for positioning the chain on a second sprocket. The actuation mechanism is configured so that an actuation ratio of the derailleur when the chain guide is located in the first position is greater than or equal to 1.5 times the actuation ratio when the chain guide is located in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuwayama, Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 9061730
    Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur that includes a main body and a chain guide operatively coupled to the main body. The chain guide includes a first plate, a second plate, and a contact member affixed to the first plate. The contact member includes a flexible portion that is adapted to flex when contacted by a chain running through the chain guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenkichi Inoue, Atsuhiro Emura, Kazuya Kuwayama
  • Publication number: 20150115568
    Abstract: A mounting device for mounting a front derailleur to a bicycle frame. The mounting device includes a mounting portion that is adapted to be adjustably mounted such that it is positioned around an axis that is defined by a bottom bracket of the bicycle frame, and an indicator configured to indicate an orientation of the mounting portion relative to a predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kazuya Kuwayama
  • Publication number: 20150094177
    Abstract: A derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member, a link member, and a biasing mechanism. The movable member is configured to be movable with respect to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position. The link member is configured to movably couple the movable member to the base member. The biasing mechanism is configured to bias the link member such that the movable member is disposed at one of the retracted position and the extended position. The biasing mechanism comprises a biasing member and an intermediate member. The biasing member has a first end portion. The intermediate member is separately provided from the movable member and the link member so as to transmit biasing force of the biasing member from the first end portion to one of the movable member and the link member through the intermediate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE, Tomomi SUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150094178
    Abstract: A derailleur comprises a base member, a chain guide, a link member, and a shaft member. The base member is configured to be attached to a bicycle frame. The chain guide comprises a first member and a second member. The first member includes a first connecting portion. The second member includes a second connecting portion to overlap the first connecting portion. The link member is configured to movably couple the chain guide to the base member. The shaft member is configured to couple the first connecting portion to the second connecting portion and configured to rotatably couple the chain guide to the link member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE, Yoshikazu SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 8968129
    Abstract: A bicycle chain guide assembly that includes a chain guide member having a mounting portion adapted to be positioned adjacent a chain ring of a bicycle, and a contact member removably affixed to the mounting portion. The mounting portion extends in a chain-running direction and has a chain-ring side and an opposite side. The contact member includes a first end portion affixed to the mounting portion and a chain contact portion that extends from the first end portion in the chain-running direction and is positioned adjacent the chain-ring side of the mounting portion. A gap is defined between the chain-ring side of the mounting portion and the chain contact portion of the contact member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Yoshikazu Sugiyama, Hideki Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 8961342
    Abstract: A bicycle chain guide assembly that includes a mounting bracket adapted to be affixed to a bicycle, and a movable member movably mounted to the mounting bracket. The movable member includes a chain guide portion adapted to be positioned adjacent a chain ring of the bicycle and below a bottom bracket of the bicycle. When the assembly is mounted on a bicycle with a chain-ring, the movable member can move in a first direction such that the chain guide portion moves toward an outer circumference of the chain-ring and the movable member can move in a second direction such that the chain guide portion moves away from the outer circumference of the chain ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Yoshikazu Sugiyama, Hideki Ikemoto
  • Publication number: 20150018146
    Abstract: A front derailleur is attachable to a bicycle with a frame in which a fixing bore is provided. The front derailleur basically includes a base member, a chain guide and a link mechanism. The base member has an attaching bore for attaching the base member to a fixing bore of a frame by a fastening member. The chain guide configured to guide a chain. The link mechanism movably couples the chain guide to the base member. The base member is disposed with respect to the chain guide such that at least a part of the attaching bore is disposed in front of the chain guide and above the chain guide while the front derailleur is in a state in which the base member is attached to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Kenkichi INOUE
  • Publication number: 20150018145
    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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Shimano Inc,
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE, Tomomi SUGIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8932162
    Abstract: A front derailleur that includes a fixing member that is configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame, a chain guide movable between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the fixing member, a linkage mechanism coupling the chain guide to the fixing member, and a biasing member that biases the chain guide toward one of the retracted position and the extended position. The linkage mechanism includes a first link member that is pivotable with respect to the fixing member about a first axis and is pivotable with respect to the chain guide about a second axis that is positioned above the first axis when the fixing member is fixed to the bicycle frame. The biasing member is coaxially arranged around the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Yoshikazu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8900078
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur basically includes a base member, a movable member, a chain guide, a friction element and a motor. The base member is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. The movable member is movably coupled to the base member. The chain guide is coupled to the movable member to rotate around a rotational axis with respect to the movable member. The friction element is operatively arranged between the movable member and the chain guide to frictionally provide rotational resistance in a first rotational direction of the chain guide. The motor is operatively coupled to the movable member to move the movable member with respect to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Sota Yamaguchi, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Publication number: 20140349794
    Abstract: A front derailleur that includes a fixing member that is configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame, a chain guide movable between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the fixing member, a linkage mechanism coupling the chain guide to the fixing member, and a biasing member that biases the chain guide toward one of the retracted position and the extended position. The linkage mechanism includes a first link member that is pivotable with respect to the fixing member about a first axis and is pivotable with respect to the chain guide about a second axis that is positioned above the first axis when the fixing member is fixed to the bicycle frame. The biasing member is coaxially arranged around the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Yoshikazu Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20140349793
    Abstract: A front derailleur is basically provided with abuse 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: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE, Tomohiro NIIMI
  • Publication number: 20140345411
    Abstract: A bicycle component actuation apparatus basically comprises a base member; a user operating member and a controller. The user operating member is movably mounted to the base member from a rest position to a first operated position. The controller detects operation of the user operating member to operate first and second electric components, one of which is not a shifting device. The controller operates one of the first and second electric components upon the controller detecting the user operating member being moved to the first operated position. The controller operates at least the other of the first and second electric components upon the controller detecting the user operating member remaining at the first operated position for a period of time longer than a first prescribed time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu MIKI, Kentaro KOSAKA, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Patent number: 8888620
    Abstract: A front derailleur unit basically includes a fixed member and a movable member. The fixed member is configured to be releasably attached to a plurality of different type mounting units. The different type mounting units is detachably attached to a bicycle frame. The movable member is movably supported to the fixed member to move with respect to the fixed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kazuya Kuwayama, Kenkichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8882122
    Abstract: A bicycle gear changing apparatus is basically provided with an upshifting input, a downshifting input and a controller. The controller is operatively coupled to the upshifting input and the downshifting input to receive upshift signals and downshift signals. The controller outputs control signals to control a first gear changing device and a second gear changing device in accordance with a synchro-downshift route and a synchro-upshift route that is different from the synchro-downshift route, in response to receiving the upshift signals and the downshift signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Nobukatsu Hara, Hideki Ikemoto, Mao Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8882618
    Abstract: A rear derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a movable member, a chain guide, a friction element, a one-way clutch and an electric actuator. The base member is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. The movable member is movably coupled to the base member. The chain guide is coupled to the movable member to rotate around a rotational axis with respect to the movable member. The friction element is operatively arranged between the movable member and the chain guide to frictionally provide rotational resistance in a first rotational direction of the chain guide. The one-way clutch is operatively disposed between movable member and the chain guide to engage the friction element as the chain guide rotates in the first rotational direction. The electric actuator is operatively coupled to the one-way clutch to control the one-way clutch between a clutch-on mode and a clutch-off mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Sota Yamaguchi, Atsuhiro Emura, Tsuyoshi Miyake, Ryuichiro Takamoto, Yoshiyuki Kasai, Mao Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20140323254
    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: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Etsuyoshi WATARAI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Patent number: 8864611
    Abstract: A front derailleur basically includes a fixed member, a main body, a movable member and a support member. The fixing member is configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame. The main body is attached to the fixing member. The movable member is movably supported to the main body with respect to the fixing member. The support member is movably attached to one of the fixing member and the main body. The support member including an operated portion selectively operated by an operating element and positioned between the fixing member and the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuwayama, Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue