Patents by Inventor Kadunori IUCHI

Kadunori IUCHI 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: 12114734
    Abstract: A shoe sole includes a first sole layer including a first region having a first rigidity, and a second region extending in a longitudinal direction of the shoe sole. The second region is spaced from a toe edge of the first sole layer and is spaced from a heel edge of the first sole layer. The first sole layer has a cleat engagement part. The second region is located between the cleat engagement part and a side edge of the first sole layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kadunori Iuchi, Junichi Kikuta, Toshiaki Aoki
  • Publication number: 20240335000
    Abstract: A shoe is basically provided with an upper, an inner plate, an outer plate and a first coupling member. The upper has a toe end, a heel end and a bottom portion extending between the toe end and the heel end in a longitudinal direction. The inner plate is removably disposed on an upper side of the bottom portion. The outer plate has a contact portion configured to contact at least one of a cleat and a pedal. The outer plate is disposed on a bottom side of the bottom portion. The first coupling member is configured to couple the inner plate and the outer plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Toshiaki AOKI, Kaoru OUCHI, Kadunori IUCHI, Junichi KIKUTA
  • Patent number: 12102189
    Abstract: An upper is provided for a shoe. The upper is basically provided with a base layer, a first reinforcement layer and a second reinforcement layer. The base layer includes a toe portion and a heel portion. The base layer has a joint free three-dimensional shape at least partly defining an interior foot receiving space. The first reinforcement layer is disposed on an outer side of a centerline of a toe-heel direction of the upper. The first reinforcement layer overlies a first heel area of the heel portion. The second reinforcement layer is disposed on an inner side of the centerline. The second reinforcement layer overlies a second heel area of the heel portion. The first reinforcement layer and the second reinforcement layer are separated at the heel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kadunori Iuchi, Junichi Kikuta, Toshiaki Aoki
  • Publication number: 20240277110
    Abstract: A shoe sole is basically provided with a first layer and a second layer. The second layer is coupled to the first layer. The second layer has a forefoot part and a tarsal part. The forefoot part extends along the first layer and the tarsal part is configured to be displaceable relative to the first layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Kadunori IUCHI, Junichi KIKUTA, Toshiaki AOKI
  • Patent number: 11877624
    Abstract: A shoelace arrangement is provided for a shoe. The shoelace arrangement is basically provided with an upper, a shoelace tightener and a shoelace. The upper includes a first surface and a second surface opposite side of the first surface. The shoelace tightener is disposed to the upper. The shoelace is coupled to the shoelace tightener. The shoelace includes a first shoelace portion entirely extending on the first surface, and a second shoelace portion entirely extending on the second surface. The first shoelace portion and the second shoelace portion cross one another via the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kaoru Ouchi, Toshiaki Aoki, Kadunori Iuchi
  • Publication number: 20230404213
    Abstract: An upper is provided for a shoe. The upper is basically provided with a base layer, a first reinforcement layer and a second reinforcement layer. The base layer includes a toe portion and a heel portion. The base layer has a joint free three-dimensional shape at least partly defining an interior foot receiving space. The first reinforcement layer is disposed on an outer side of a centerline of a toe-heel direction of the upper. The first reinforcement layer overlies a first heel area of the heel portion. The second reinforcement layer is disposed on an inner side of the centerline. The second reinforcement layer overlies a second heel area of the heel portion. The first reinforcement layer and the second reinforcement layer are separated at the heel portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Kadunori IUCHI, Junichi KIKUTA, Toshiaki AOKI
  • Publication number: 20230371656
    Abstract: A shoe sole includes a first sole layer including a first region having a first rigidity, and a second region extending in a longitudinal direction of the shoe sole. The second region is spaced from a toe edge of the first sole layer and is spaced from a heel edge of the first sole layer. The first sole layer has a cleat engagement part. The second region is located between the cleat engagement part and a side edge of the first sole layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Kadunori IUCHI, Junichi KIKUTA, Toshiaki AOKI
  • Publication number: 20230371644
    Abstract: A shoe sole includes a first sole layer including a first region having a first rigidity, and a plurality of second regions having a second rigidity that is more flexible than the first rigidity. The plurality of the second regions extends in a longitudinal direction of the shoe sole. The plurality of the second regions is spaced from a toe edge of the first sole layer, and is spaced from a heel edge of the first sole layer. The plurality of the second regions has arcuate shapes bending in a same lateral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Kadunori IUCHI, Junichi KIKUTA, Toshiaki AOKI
  • Publication number: 20230148712
    Abstract: A shoelace arrangement is provided for a shoe. The shoelace arrangement is basically provided with an upper, a shoelace tightener and a shoelace. The upper includes a first surface and a second surface opposite side of the first surface. The shoelace tightener is disposed to the upper. The shoelace is coupled to the shoelace tightener. The shoelace includes a first shoelace portion entirely extending on the first surface, and a second shoelace portion entirely extending on the second surface. The first shoelace portion and the second shoelace portion cross one another via the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Kaoru Ouchi, Toshiaki Aoki, Kadunori Iuchi
  • Patent number: 11633008
    Abstract: A shoe basically includes an upper and a sole. The sole is attached to the upper. The sole includes an outsole and a first midsole. The first midsole has a fore part, a first heel part, a second heel part and a boundary part. The first heel part is at least partly disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the shoe and configured to support a center part of a heel. The second heel part is disposed laterally outward of the longitudinal centerline of the shoe and configured to support an outer part of the heel. The boundary part is provided between the first heel part and the second heel part such that the first heel part and the second heel part are movable relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kadunori Iuchi, Junichi Kikuta, Toshiaki Aoki
  • Publication number: 20230122485
    Abstract: A cycling shoe system is basically includes an upper, a sole, a closure, an actuator, a communicator and a controller. The upper has a first portion, a second portion, and an opening between the first portion and the second portion. The sole is attached to the upper. The closure is coupled between the first portion and the second portion. The actuator is operatively coupled to the closure to adjust a relative position of the first portion and the second portion. The communicator is configured to receive at least one of bicycle information and user information. The controller is configured to control the actuator to adjust a tightening force applied by the closure to a target tightening force based on at least one of the bicycle information and the user information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Toshiaki AOKI, Kaoru OUCHI, Kadunori IUCHI, Shota NISHIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20230124355
    Abstract: A cleat adapter system is provided for a cycling shoe. The cleat adapter system comprises a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, an actuator, a communicator and a controller. The first connecting portion is configured to be connected to a cleat. The second connecting portion is connected to the first connecting portion. The actuator operatively is coupled to one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The second connecting portion is configured to adjust a relative position between the first connecting portion and the second connection portion. The communicator is configured to receive at least one of bicycle information and user information. The controller operatively couples the actuator and the communicator. The controller is configured to control the actuator to adjust the relative position based on at least one of the bicycle information and the user information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Toshiaki AOKI, Kaoru OUCHI, Kadunori IUCHI, Shota NISHIJIMA
  • Patent number: 11618530
    Abstract: A cleat adapter system is provided for a cycling shoe. The cleat adapter system comprises a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, an actuator, a communicator and a controller. The first connecting portion is configured to be connected to a cleat. The second connecting portion is connected to the first connecting portion. The actuator operatively is coupled to one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The second connecting portion is configured to adjust a relative position between the first connecting portion and the second connection portion. The communicator is configured to receive at least one of bicycle information and user information. The controller operatively couples the actuator and the communicator. The controller is configured to control the actuator to adjust the relative position based on at least one of the bicycle information and the user information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Aoki, Kaoru Ouchi, Kadunori Iuchi, Shota Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20230032704
    Abstract: A shoe basically includes an upper and a sole. The sole is attached to the upper. The sole includes an outsole and a first midsole. The first midsole has a fore part, a first heel part, a second heel part and a boundary part. The first heel part is at least partly disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the shoe and configured to support a center part of a heel. The second heel part is disposed laterally outward of the longitudinal centerline of the shoe and configured to support an outer part of the heel. The boundary part is provided between the first heel part and the second heel part such that the first heel part and the second heel part are movable relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Kadunori IUCHI, Junichi KIKUTA, Toshiaki AOKI
  • Publication number: 20230016820
    Abstract: A shoe includes a shoe sole and an upper coupled to the shoe sole. The upper has an upper body and an annular holding portion. The upper body has an opening portion for entry and removal of a wearer's foot. The annular holding portion is stretchable and configured to hold the wearer's foot. The annular holding portion is coupled to the opening portion. The opening portion has an edge that includes a first edge portion and a second edge portion. The first edge portion is located on a rear end in a longitudinal direction. The second edge portion is located forward of the first edge portion. The holding portion has a first degree of mobility relative to the first edge portion and a second degree of mobility relative to the second edge portion. The second degree of mobility is higher than the first degree of mobility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Kadunori IUCHI, Junichi KIKUTA, Toshiaki AOKI, Kaoru OUCHI