Patents by Inventor Kaoru OUCHI

Kaoru OUCHI 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: 12543816
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Aoki, Kaoru Ouchi, Kadunori Iuchi, Shota Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20250098823
    Abstract: A shoe sole basically includes a body and a cover. The body extends in a longitudinal direction between a toe end and a heel end. The body includes a receiving area so as to receiving a cleat-nut provided in between the toe end and the heel end. The cover is configured to cover the receiving area in a state where the cover is coupled to the body. The receiving area includes a body engagement part. The cover includes a cover engagement part configured to be detachably engaged with the body engagement part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Toshiaki AOKI, Kaoru OUCHI
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 11751632
    Abstract: A shoe includes a shoe body, an elongated tightening member, at least one hook and an intermediate attaching member. The shoe body includes a sole and an upper mounted on the sole. The elongated tightening member has a first end, a second end and an intermediate part between the first end and the second end. The first end is attached to a first attaching position located on a front side of the upper. The second end is detachably attached to a second attaching position located rearward of the first end in the longitudinal direction of the upper. The hook is located rearward of the first attaching position and forward of the second attaching position, and enables the tightening member to be wound and hooked to the hook. The intermediate attaching member is configured to enable the intermediate part to be attached to the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kaoru Ouchi, 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
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 11497278
    Abstract: A shoe includes a sole, an upper and a strap. The upper is attached to the sole. The strap extends in a width direction of the shoe. The strap includes a proximal end fixed to the upper and a distal end located on an opposite side of the proximal end in the width direction of the shoe. One of the upper and the strap includes at least one first engaging portion, whereas the other of the upper and the strap includes at least one second engaging portion that is engaged with the at least one first engaging portion while extending in a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the shoe where the distal end is held against the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Aoki, Kaoru Ouchi
  • Publication number: 20220142303
    Abstract: A shoe includes a shoe body, an elongated tightening member, at least one hook and an intermediate attaching member. The shoe body includes a sole and an upper mounted on the sole. The elongated tightening member has a first end, a second end and an intermediate part between the first end and the second end. The first end is attached to a first attaching position located on a front side of the upper. The second end is detachably attached to a second attaching position located rearward of the first end in the longitudinal direction of the upper. The hook is located rearward of the first attaching position and forward of the second attaching position, and enables the tightening member to be wound and hooked to the hook. The intermediate attaching member is configured to enable the intermediate part to be attached to the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Kaoru OUCHI, Toshiaki AOKI
  • Publication number: 20210368946
    Abstract: A shoe includes a sole, an upper and a strap. The upper is attached to the sole. The strap extends in a width direction of the shoe. The strap includes a proximal end fixed to the upper and a distal end located on an opposite side of the proximal end in the width direction of the shoe. One of the upper and the strap includes at least one first engaging portion, whereas the other of the upper and the strap includes at least one second engaging portion that is engaged with the at least one first engaging portion while extending in a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the shoe where the distal end is held against the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Toshiaki AOKI, Kaoru OUCHI