Patents by Inventor Etsuyoshi Watarai
Etsuyoshi Watarai 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).
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Patent number: 11203395Abstract: A method of making a bicycle sprocket having a rotational center axis basically includes providing an annular portion and forming a first tooth and a second tooth. The annular portion is made of a base material and has a plurality of teeth. At least one of the teeth is processed to form a first tooth, and at least one other of the teeth is processed to form a second tooth. The first tooth has a first axial chain engaging width that is smaller than a first axial spacing of an outer link of a bicycle chain and larger than a second axial spacing of an inner link that is coupled to an outer link. The second tooth is formed to have a second axial chain engaging width that is smaller than the second axial spacing. The second tooth is formed by deforming the base material.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Koji Yuasa
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Patent number: 11091226Abstract: A bicycle controller includes an electronic control unit that controls a transmission device. The transmission device is configured to change a ratio of a rotational speed of a wheel of a bicycle to a rotational speed of a crank of the bicycle, and a motor. The motor transmits torque to an upstream side of the transmission device in a transmission path of manual driving force that is input to the crank. The electronic control unit is configured to switch between a first mode that drives the motor in accordance with the manual driving force and a second mode that allows the motor to be driven to assist walking of the bicycle. The electronic control unit is configured to control a rotational speed of the motor in accordance with the ratio in the second mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda, Kazuhiro Fujii, Satoshi Shahana, Hiroyuki Miyoshi, Etsuyoshi Watarai
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Publication number: 20210031882Abstract: A bicycle controller includes an electronic control unit that controls a transmission device. The transmission device is configured to change a ratio of a rotational speed of a wheel of a bicycle to a rotational speed of a crank of the bicycle, and a motor. The motor transmits torque to an upstream side of the transmission device in a transmission path of manual driving force that is input to the crank. The electronic control unit is configured to switch between a first mode that drives the motor in accordance with the manual driving force and a second mode that allows the motor to be driven to assist walking of the bicycle. The electronic control unit is configured to control a rotational speed of the motor in accordance with the ratio in the second mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Inventors: Yasuhiro TSUCHIZAWA, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Kazuhiro FUJII, Satoshi SHAHANA, Hiroyuki MIYOSHI, Etsuyoshi WATARAI
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Patent number: 10906607Abstract: A bicycle control apparatus is provided that can improve the stability of the behavior of a bicycle. The bicycle control apparatus includes a controller that is configured to reduce the output of a motor when a rear wheel of a bicycle is in a prescribed state. The prescribed state is a state in which a load of the rear wheel is determined to be less than a prescribed load for a duration of time that is equal to or more than a prescribed time.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Tadashi Ichida, Hiroyuki Miyoshi, Etsuyoshi Watarai
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Patent number: 10889352Abstract: A bicycle control apparatus is provided that can improve the stability of the behavior of a bicycle. The bicycle control apparatus includes a controller configured to control a motor that assists a manual drive force, based on a state of a suspension that absorbs vibrations of a bicycle.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2018Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Tadashi Ichida, Hiroyuki Miyoshi, Etsuyoshi Watarai
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Patent number: 10836453Abstract: A bicycle controller includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit controls a transmission device that changes a ratio of a rotational speed of a wheel of a bicycle to a rotational speed of a crank of the bicycle, and a motor that transmits torque to an upstream side of the transmission device in a transmission path of a manual driving force that is input to the crank. The electronic control unit switches between a first mode that drives the motor in accordance with the manual driving force and a second mode that allows the motor to be driven to assist walking of the bicycle. The electronic control unit controls the transmission device to change the ratio upon detection of the electronic control unit switching between the first mode and the second mode or the electronic control unit being in the second mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda, Kazuhiro Fujii, Satoshi Shahana, Hiroyuki Miyoshi, Etsuyoshi Watarai
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Patent number: 10766561Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, a brake operating member, and a first operating member. The base member comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a grip portion. The brake operating member is movably coupled to the base member to operate a brake device. The first operating member is coupled to the base member movably between a rest position and an operated position to move a mechanical control cable relative to the base member. The first operating member is movable relative to the base member between the rest position and the operated position without mechanically positioning the mechanical control cable relative to the base member during a movement of the first operating member occurring between the rest position and the operated position.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2016Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Nobukatsu Hara, Etsuyoshi Watarai
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Patent number: 10604209Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic device includes a cylinder including a cylinder bore, a piston located in the cylinder bore and movable between an initial position and an actuation position, a reservoir tank that is in fluidal communication with the cylinder bore through a communication port, and a flow modulator configured to modulate a flow behavior of a fluid in accordance with a direction in which the fluid flows in the communication port.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2016Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Mototsugu Nakai, Takaaki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsushita, Yasuyuki Komada, Etsuyoshi Watarai
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Patent number: 10502276Abstract: A rotor cover is provided that includes different portions and is configured to meet requirements of each portion. The rotor cover includes a positioning portion that is positioned relative to a bicycle frame or a disc brake rotor and a cover portion that is coupled to the positioning portion to cover the disc brake rotor. The cover portion and the positioning portion include different materials with respect to one another.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2017Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Takashi Adachi, Yoshiaki Ando, Takafumi Nishino, Osamu Kariyama, Nobuyoshi Fujii, Masahiro Nakakura
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Publication number: 20190315434Abstract: A method of making a bicycle sprocket having a rotational center axis basically includes providing an annular portion and forming a first tooth and a second tooth. The annular portion is made of a base material and has a plurality of teeth. At least one of the teeth is processed to form a first tooth, and at least one other of the teeth is processed to form a second tooth. The first tooth has a first axial chain engaging width that is smaller than a first axial spacing of an outer link of a bicycle chain and larger than a second axial spacing of an inner link that is coupled to an outer link. The second tooth is formed to have a second axial chain engaging width that is smaller than the second axial spacing. The second tooth is formed by deforming the base material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Etsuyoshi WATARAI, Koji YUASA
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Patent number: 10363992Abstract: An electric bicycle component comprises a wireless communication device, a rechargeable power supply device, a movable member, and a charging port. The wireless communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate with an additional bicycle component. The rechargeable power supply device is configured to supply electrical power to the wireless communication device. The movable member is configured to be actuated by the electrical power supplied from the rechargeable power supply device. The rechargeable power supply device is to be charged via the charging port.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Etsuyoshi Watarai
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Patent number: 10155564Abstract: A bicycle bottom bracket assembly having a rotational central axis includes a support member, a bearing unit and a radially inward force reducing structure. The support member includes a hanger mounting portion and a bearing mounting portion. The bearing mounting portion is configured to be at least partly positioned within a hanger part of a bicycle frame. The bearing unit includes an outer race, an inner race and at least one roller element disposed between the outer and inner races in a radial direction with respect to the rotational central axis. The outer race is fixed to the bearing mounting portion of the support member. The radially inward force reducing structure reduces a radially inward force being transmitted to the bearing unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Shingo Shiraishi, Takashi Furuya, Etsuyoshi Watarai, Yoshiaki Ando
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Publication number: 20180354583Abstract: A bicycle control apparatus is provided that can improve the stability of the behavior of a bicycle. The bicycle control apparatus includes a controller that is configured to reduce the output of a motor when a rear wheel of a bicycle is in a prescribed state. The prescribed state is a state in which a load of the rear wheel is determined to be less than a prescribed load for a duration of time that is equal to or more than a prescribed time.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2018Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Tadashi ICHIDA, Hiroyuki MIYOSHI, Etsuyoshi WATARAI
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Publication number: 20180354582Abstract: A bicycle control apparatus is provided that can improve the stability of the behavior of a bicycle. The bicycle control apparatus includes a controller configured to control a motor that assists a manual drive force, based on a state of a suspension that absorbs vibrations of a bicycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2018Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Tadashi ICHIDA, Hiroyuki MIYOSHI, Etsuyoshi WATARAI
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Patent number: 10107377Abstract: A bicycle sprocket has a rotational center axis. The bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body, a plurality of sprocket teeth, and at least one chain-supporting portion. The plurality of sprocket teeth are circumferentially arranged on an outer periphery of the sprocket body. The at least one chain-supporting portion is configured to contact one of inner link plates of a bicycle chain without engaging with the bicycle chain at inner link spaces each defined between a pair of inner link plates that face each other in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis. The at least one chain-supporting portion is offset from the sprocket teeth in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Etsuyoshi Watarai
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Patent number: 10081409Abstract: A bicycle control apparatus is provided that can improve the stability of the behavior of a bicycle. The bicycle control apparatus includes a controller configured to reduces an output of a motor that assists a manual drive force, upon determining a pitch angle of a bicycle body becomes greater than or equal to a prescribed angle, or based on a state of a suspension that absorbs vibrations of a bicycle, or upon determining a load that is applied to a rear wheel of a bicycle becomes less than a prescribed load.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Tadashi Ichida, Hiroyuki Miyoshi, Etsuyoshi Watarai
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Patent number: 10036465Abstract: A bicycle component is provided that is capable of suppressing rattling against a frame. The bicycle component includes a housing, a first attaching part and an adjustment member. The housing is configured to rotatably support a crankshaft. The first attaching part is provided to the housing and configured to be attached to a frame. The adjustment member has at least a portion which is configured to be disposed in a gap that is formed between the first attaching part and the frame while in a state in which the first attaching part is attached to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Yusuke Nishikawa, Shinichiro Noda
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Patent number: 10029754Abstract: A bicycle electrical system is provided with a first electric component, a second electric component, a first wireless communication unit, a first power source, and a second wireless communication unit. The first wireless communication unit and the first power source are electrically connected to at least the first electric component. The second wireless communication unit is electrically connected to at least the second electric component. The first electric component can communicate with the first wireless communication unit. The second electric component can communicate with the second wireless communication unit. At least the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit are attached to the bicycle without interposing the first electric component and the second electric component.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Takashi Toyoshima, Tadaharu Kurotobi
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Patent number: 10023139Abstract: A bicycle control system is basically provided with a first power supply, a plurality of electric drive devices and an operating apparatus. The electric drive devices are electrically coupled to the first power supply to receive electric power supplied from the first power supply. The operating apparatus wirelessly operates the electric drive devices by wireless signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2014Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Hideki Ikemoto, Takeshi Oi
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Patent number: 10017224Abstract: A bicycle shift operating device basically has a base member, a shift wire take-up element rotatably mounted with respect to the base member and a shifting unit operatively coupled to the shift wire take-up element to selectively rotate the shift wire take-up element in first and second rotational directions about a pivot axis. The shifting unit includes a shift operating member pivotally mounted with respect to the base member along a pivotal path to operate the shift wire take-up element in the first rotational direction in response to pivotal movement of the shift operating member about an operating axis. The shift operating member is movably mounted with respect to the base member along a non-pivotal path to operate the shift wire take-up element in the second rotational direction in response to non-pivotal movement of the shift operating member with respect to the operating axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2008Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Satoshi Shahana