Abstract: An internal gear shifting hub includes a motor that assists in gear shifting operations. The internal gear shifting hub is mounted at on rear portion of a bicycle frame and includes a hub shaft, a drive cylinder, a hub shell, a power transmitting mechanism, a shift mechanism and a generator mechanism. The drive cylinder and hub shell are both rotatably mounted to the hub shaft. The power transmitting mechanism is mounted between the drive cylinder and the hub shell and transmits rotational force from the drive cylinder to the hub shell via one of a plurality of force transmission paths. The shift mechanism shifts between the plurality of transmission paths. The generator mechanism is mounted alongside the power transmitting mechanism inside the hub shell and generates electric power via the rotation of the hub shell to power the motor.

Abstract: An optical device includes: a sealed container having edge walls facing each other in a thickness direction of the container and a side wall connecting both of the edge walls; a first liquid with polarity or electrical conductivity and sealed within the container; a second liquid that is sealed within the container and does not mixed with the first liquid; and a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage across the first liquid. The first and second liquid have equal specific gravity, and transmissivity of the first liquid is lower than the transmissivity of the second liquid. An interface between the first liquid and the second liquid changes shape in response to a voltage applied by the voltage applying unit. The first liquid is formed so as to have equal specific gravity to the second liquid by mixing three or more kinds of liquids each having a different specific gravity.

Abstract: An internal gear shifting hub includes a motor that assists in gear shifting operations. The internal gear shifting hub is mounted at on rear portion of a bicycle frame and includes a hub shaft, a drive cylinder, a hub shell, a power transmitting mechanism, a shift mechanism and a generator mechanism. The drive cylinder and hub shell are both rotatably mounted to the hub shaft. The power transmitting mechanism is mounted between the drive cylinder and the hub shell and transmits rotational force from the drive cylinder to the hub shell via one of a plurality of force transmission paths. The shift mechanism shifts between the plurality of transmission paths. The generator mechanism is mounted alongside the power transmitting mechanism inside the hub shell and generates electric power via the rotation of the hub shell to power the motor.

Abstract: A bicycle drive unit comprises a frame main unit, first and second cover members, a rear hub, a rear gear shift apparatus, an electric driving mechanism and a power supply unit. The frame main unit diverges from a front end portion toward first and second rear end portions with the front end portion movably coupled to a frame of a bicycle, and the first and second rear end portions coupled to the rear hub. The first and second cover members are coupled to transverse outer surfaces of the frame main unit such that a first space is formed between the first cover member and the frame main unit and a second space is formed between the second cover member and the frame main unit. The electric driving mechanism is disposed in the first space and linked to the rear gear shift apparatus.

Abstract: A bicycle brake apparatus comprises a securing bracket with an axle opening dimensioned to receive a bicycle wheel hub axle therethrough, a braked member that has a braking surface and is adapted to rotate with a bicycle wheel hub rotatably supported by the hub axle, a braking member adapted to contact the braking surface, and an operating unit that selectively causes the braking member to contact the braking surface. A locking unit is structured for attachment to the securing bracket, wherein the locking unit extends in an axial direction of the hub axle and is dimensioned to nonrotatably engage the bicycle frame radially inwardly of a rotating portion of the brake apparatus.