Patents by Inventor Kazutaka Fukao

Kazutaka Fukao 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: 11787506
    Abstract: A derailleur comprises a base member, a chain guide, and a linkage structure. The linkage structure includes a first link pivotally coupled to the base member about a first link pivot axis. The chain guide includes a first chain guide pivotally coupled to the first link about a first guide pivot axis spaced apart from the first link pivot axis. The first chain guide includes a first guide body and a first guide protrusion. The first guide protrusion protrudes from the first guide body and is pivotally coupled to the first link about the first guide pivot axis. The first guide protrusion is spaced apart from the first link in an axial direction with respect to the first guide pivot axis to define an intermediate space between the first guide protrusion and the first link in the axial direction. The intermediate space is free of a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Furuya, Kazutaka Fukao
  • Publication number: 20220315165
    Abstract: A derailleur comprises a base member, a chain guide, and a linkage structure. The linkage structure includes a first link pivotally coupled to the base member about a first link pivot axis. The chain guide includes a first chain guide pivotally coupled to the first link about a first guide pivot axis spaced apart from the first link pivot axis. The first chain guide includes a first guide body and a first guide protrusion. The first guide protrusion protrudes from the first guide body and is pivotally coupled to the first link about the first guide pivot axis. The first guide protrusion is spaced apart from the first link in an axial direction with respect to the first guide pivot axis to define an intermediate space between the first guide protrusion and the first link in the axial direction. The intermediate space is free of a spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Takashi FURUYA, Kazutaka FUKAO
  • Publication number: 20210086864
    Abstract: A bicycle adapter is configured to couple a bicycle operating device to a handlebar clamp is coupled to a handlebar. The bicycle adapter includes a first attachment surface and a second attachment surface. The first attachment surface is configured to be attached to an outer surface of the clamp. The second attachment surface is configured to be attached to the bicycle operating device. The first attachment surface has a first curved section. The second attachment surface has a second curved section that is different from the first curved section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Kentaro MIYAZAKI, Kazutaka FUKAO, Yoshimitsu MIKI, Kohei OBUCHI
  • Patent number: 10889348
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device includes a base member coupled to a handlebar clamp and a user operated member movably coupled to the base member to move a mechanical control cable with respect to the base member. The base member includes a coupling portion coupled to the handlebar clamp. The coupling portion includes an elongated hole having a long direction extending parallel to a center axis of the handlebar clamp. The coupling portion is coupled to the handlebar clamp via a fastener extending into the elongated hole. The user operated member is movable with respect to the base member between a rest position and an operated position. The bicycle operating device does not mechanically fix a position of the mechanical control cable with respect to the base member in accordance with movement of the user operated member between the rest position and the operated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro Miyazaki, Kazutaka Fukao, Yoshimitsu Miki, Kohei Obuchi
  • Patent number: 10793220
    Abstract: A bicycle component operating apparatus includes a first operating device and a second operating device. The first operating device includes a base member, a main body and an operating member. The base member has a clamp configured to be coupled to a handlebar. The operating member is movably arranged with respect to the base member. The operating device member is configured to perform an operation of at least one of a bicycle transmission component and a bicycle brake component. The second operating device includes an attachment part that is detachably and adjustably attached to the attachment area of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Miki, Kazutaka Fukao, Kentaro Kosaka
  • Patent number: 10745079
    Abstract: A bicycle component control device includes a bracket, a hydraulic brake unit and either a mechanical shifting unit or electric control unit. The bracket has a gripping portion. The hydraulic brake unit is operatively mounted on the bracket and configured to operate a hydraulic brake device. The mechanical shifting unit or the electric control unit is operatively mounted on the bracket and configured to operate a bicycle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Miki, Kazutaka Fukao, Kentaro Kosaka
  • Patent number: 10737744
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device is basically provided with a main support body, a first operating member, a hydraulic brake operating unit, an additional operating unit and a second operating member. The main support body is configured to be attached to a handlebar. The first operating member is pivotally coupled to the main support body about a first pivot axis. The hydraulic brake operating unit is mounted to the main support body. The hydraulic brake operating unit has a piston operated in response to operation of the first operating member between a rest position to an operated position. The additional operating unit is mounted to the main support body. The second operating member is configured to actuate the additional operating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takaaki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsushita, Yoshimitsu Miki, Kazutaka Fukao
  • Patent number: 10711808
    Abstract: A bar-end type bicycle hydraulic operating device is basically provided with a base member and a hydraulic unit. The base member is configured to be mounted on a handlebar. The base member has an abutment that is configured to contact an end of the handlebar. The hydraulic unit is provided on the base member. The hydraulic unit includes a hydraulic cylinder that has a cylinder bore, a piston movably disposed in the cylinder bore, and a reservoir fluidly communicating with the cylinder bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takaaki Fujiwara, Kazutaka Fukao
  • Patent number: 10696352
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, an operating member, an operating structure, and an operating unit. The operating member is movable relative to the base member between a rest position and an operated position. The operating structure includes a take-up member movable relative to the base member to move a first operation cable in a pulling direction and a releasing direction opposite to the pulling direction. The operating unit is mounted to the base member to operate a second bicycle component in response to an input operation from a user. The operating unit includes an electrical switch and a controller. The electrical switch is configured to receive the input operation from the user. The controller is configured to generate an operation signal to operate the second bicycle component in response to the input operation inputted from the electrical switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Fukao, Yasuhisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10597109
    Abstract: A bicycle component positioning device includes a wire takeup member, a positioning member, first and second maintaining members and a release member. The positioning member rotates with the wire takeup member between a plurality of predetermined positions. The first maintaining member moves between a position to maintain the positioning member in one of the predetermined positions and a position to release the positioning member. The second maintaining member moves between a position to maintain the positioning member in one of the predetermined positions and a position to release the positioning member. The release member moves in the first direction to selectively move the first maintaining member between its two positions, and to selectively move the second maintaining member between its two positions. The release member moves in the second direction in response to a rotation of the wire takeup member in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Fukao, Yoshimitsu Miki
  • Patent number: 10550858
    Abstract: A bicycle control device is basically provided with a bracket, a shift unit, a hydraulic cylinder unit and a first operating member. The bracket includes a coupling portion that is configured to be coupled to a handlebar. The shift unit is mounted to the bracket. The hydraulic cylinder unit is mounted to the bracket in a location that is closer to the coupling portion than the shift unit. The first operating member is pivotally mounted relative to the bracket around a first pivot axis to operate the hydraulic cylinder unit. The first pivot axis is disposed between the shift unit and the coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Fukao, Yoshimitsu Miki, Kentaro Kosaka, Takaaki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10543884
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device is basically provided with a base member, a positioning ratchet, a first positioning pawl and a second positioning pawl. The positioning ratchet pivots with respect to the base member about a pivot axis. The positioning ratchet pivots in first and second directions. The first and second positioning pawls are pivotally mounted about a pawl pivot axis between holding positions and releasing positions. The first and second positioning pawls include contact points that selectively contact the positioning ratchet to prevent pivoting of the positioning ratchet in the first direction while the holding position. The contact points of the first and second positioning pawls are perpendicularly spaced from the pawl pivot axis by first and second linear lengths, respectively, that are different. The pivot axis and the pawl pivot axis defines a plane. The first and second contact points are located on a same side of the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Kazutaka Fukao
  • Patent number: 10410173
    Abstract: A bicycle component operating device is basically provided with a first base member, a first operating member, a second base member and a second operating member. The first operating member is pivotally mounted to the first base member to pivot about a first axis to control a first bicycle component. The second base member is different from the first base member. The second base member is separably attached to the first base member along an axial direction parallel to the first axis. The second operating member is pivotally mounted to the second base member to control a second bicycle component that is different from the first bicycle component. The first operating member remains with the first base member and the second operating member remains with the second base member upon separation of the first base member from the second base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro Miyazaki, Kazutaka Fukao
  • Patent number: 10351210
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, a first operating structure, a second operating structure, and a prevention member. The first operating structure comprises a first take-up member, a first operating member, and a first actuating member. The second operating structure comprises a second take-up member and a second operating member. The prevention member is configured to move together with the second operating member to prevent the first actuating member from actuating the first take-up member to move in at least one of a first pulling actuation direction and a first releasing actuation direction during a movement of the first operating member from a first rest position toward a first operated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kentaro Miyazaki, Kazutaka Fukao
  • Patent number: 10259533
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device includes a base member, a positioning ratchet, a positioning member, a pulling member, a pulling pawl and first and second release members. The positioning ratchet pivots in first and second directions. The positioning member moves between a holding position that prevents pivoting of the positioning ratchet in the first direction, and a releasing position that releases the positioning ratchet in the first direction. The pulling member pivots the positioning ratchet in the second direction as the pulling member is moved by the pulling pawl. The first release member moves the positioning member from the holding position to the releasing position. The second release member moves the pulling pawl away from the pulling member. The second release member extends between opposite axial sides of the positioning ratchet. The first release member and the pulling member are positioned on opposite axial sides of the positioning ratchet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kazutaka Fukao
  • Publication number: 20190100273
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device includes a base member coupled to a handlebar clamp and a user operated member movably coupled to the base member to move a mechanical control cable with respect to the base member. The base member includes a coupling portion coupled to the handlebar clamp. The coupling portion includes an elongated hole having a long direction extending parallel to a center axis of the handlebar clamp. The coupling portion is coupled to the handlebar clamp via a fastener extending into the elongated hole. The user operated member is movable with respect to the base member between a rest position and an operated position. The bicycle operating device does not mechanically fix a position of the mechanical control cable with respect to the base member in accordance with movement of the user operated member between the rest position and the operated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Kentaro MIYAZAKI, Kazutaka FUKAO, Yoshimitsu MIKI, Kohei OBUCHI
  • Patent number: 10189531
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a piston, and an operating unit. The hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder bore. The piston is provided in the cylinder bore and is movable relative to the hydraulic cylinder. The piston is configured to receive a pulling force to generate a hydraulic pressure to a bicycle hydraulic component. The operating unit is configured to actuate at least one bicycle component different from the bicycle hydraulic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Takaaki Fujiwara, Kazutaka Fukao
  • Patent number: 10144483
    Abstract: A bicycle component control device basically includes a bracket and a bicycle component operating unit. The bicycle component operating unit is disposed in an interior space of the bracket. The bicycle component operating unit includes an operating member protruding toward outside of the interior space. The bracket includes a plurality of bracket parts being separate pieces from each other and non-movably fixed to at least one adjacent one of the plurality of bracket parts that define the interior space. The plurality of bracket parts is further configured relative to each other such that a connecting seam formed on the bracket extends along at least three of a mounting surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side surface and a second side surface of the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Miki, Kazutaka Fukao, Kentaro Kosaka
  • Patent number: 10137957
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, a cable control body, an operating member, a supporting structure, and an adjusting structure. The cable control body is configured to be pivotably mounted to the base member about a pivot axis to control a control cable. The operating member is configured to be movably mounted to the base member from a rest position to an operated position to move the cable control body. The supporting structure is configured to pivotably support the cable control body relative to the base member. The supporting structure is provided to the base member so as to at least partly intersect with the pivot axis. The adjusting structure is configured to adjustably position the supporting structure relative to the base member such that the rest position of the operating member is adjusted relative to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kentaro Miyazaki, Kazutaka Fukao, Yasuhisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10131405
    Abstract: A bicycle control device is provided for operating a bicycle component. The bicycle control device includes a base member, an operating member, a take-up member and a pulling member. The operating member moves relative to the base member in opposite directions from a rest position to first and second operated positions. The take-up member moves relative to the base member in a take-up direction for pulling a control cable and a releasing direction for releasing the control cable. The pulling member is disposed on the operating member to move the take-up member in the take-up direction in response to an operation of the operating member toward the first operated position. The take-up member moves in the releasing direction in response to an operation of the operating member toward the second operated position. The pulling member contacts the take-up member while the operating member is in the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Fukao, Yoshimitsu Miki