Patents by Inventor Kenichi AKANISHI

Kenichi AKANISHI 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: 11713801
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket is basically provided with a sprocket body and a plurality of chain-driving teeth. The sprocket body includes a central portion, an annular portion and an intermediate portion. The central portion has a central opening through which the rotational center axis passes and a plurality of internal splines for engaging external splines of a crank arm. The annular portion is disposed radially outward from the central portion with respect to the rotational center axis. The intermediate portion extends between the central portion and the annular portion in a radial direction about the rotational center axis. The plurality of chain-driving teeth extends radially outward from the annular portion of the sprocket body to engage with a bicycle chain. The sprocket body and the plurality of chain-driving teeth are formed as a one-piece, unitary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kenichi Akanishi
  • Patent number: 11292555
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body, a plurality of sprocket teeth, a mounting member, at least one fastening member, and a cover member. The sprocket body has at least one first threaded portion. The mounting member has at least one fastening hole configured to be aligned with the at least one first threaded portion in the assembled state. The at least one fastening member has a fastening shaft portion, a fastening head portion, and a second threaded portion. The second threaded portion is configured to threadedly engage with the at least one first threaded portion of the sprocket body in the assembled state. The cover member is configured to at least cover the fastening shaft portion of the at least one fastening member when viewed from an axial direction with respect to the rotational center axis in the assembled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi Akanishi, Atsuhiro Emura, Shingo Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10982733
    Abstract: A bicycle-chain outer link plate comprises a first outer-link end portion, a second outer-link end portion, and a first outer-link intermediate portion. The first outer-link end portion comprises a first outer surface, a first inner surface, a first outer-link opening, and a first outer-link end outermost edge. The first outer-link intermediate portion comprises a first intermediate outer surface, a first intermediate inner surface, a first outer-link intermediate outermost edge, a first additional outer-link intermediate outermost edge, and a first intermediate chamfer. The first intermediate chamfer has a first minimum distance defined between the first outer-link intermediate outermost edge and the first inner edge along a reference line. A distance defined between the first outer-link intermediate outermost edge and the first additional outer-link intermediate outermost edge on the reference line is minimum in the first outer-link intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi Akanishi, Atsuhiro Emura, Yuta Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10830329
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket includes a sprocket body, a tooth ring, and at least one non-threaded fastener. The sprocket body is made of a first material and has a rotational center axis. A central portion of the sprocket body has a central opening through which the rotational center axis passes. The sprocket body further includes a plurality of arm portions that extend radially outward from the central portion with respect to the rotational center axis. Each arm portion includes a sprocket body attachment portion. The tooth ring is made of a second material different from the first material and includes an annular portion. The annular portion includes a plurality of tooth ring attachment portions and a plurality of chain-driving teeth extending radially outward from the annular portion. The non-threaded fastener fixedly connects a sprocket body attachment portion and to a corresponding tooth ring attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yuki Hirose, Atsuhiro Emura, Shingo Shiraishi, Kenichi Akanishi
  • Patent number: 10648538
    Abstract: A bicycle-chain outer link plate comprises a first outer-link end portion, a second outer-link end portion, and a first outer-link intermediate portion. The first outer-link end portion comprises a first outer-link opening and a first outer-link end outermost edge. The second outer-link end portion comprises a second outer-link opening and a second outer-link end outermost edge. The first outer-link intermediate portion comprises a first outer-link intermediate outermost edge and a first additional outer-link intermediate outermost edge. The first outer-link intermediate portion has a first distance defined in an axial direction on a first outer-link longitudinal axis. The first outer-link intermediate outermost edge has a second distance defined in the axial direction. The first outer-link end outermost edge has a third distance defined in the axial direction. The first distance is larger than the second distance and the third distance. The second distance is larger than the third distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi Akanishi, Atsuhiro Emura, Yuta Mizutani, Tsuyoshi Fukumori
  • Publication number: 20200088286
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket is basically provided with a sprocket body and a plurality of chain-driving teeth. The sprocket body includes a central portion, an annular portion and an intermediate portion. The central portion has a central opening through which the rotational center axis passes and a plurality of internal splines for engaging external splines of a crank arm. The annular portion is disposed radially outward from the central portion with respect to the rotational center axis. The intermediate portion extends between the central portion and the annular portion in a radial direction about the rotational center axis. The plurality of chain-driving teeth extends radially outward from the annular portion of the sprocket body to engage with a bicycle chain. The sprocket body and the plurality of chain-driving teeth are formed as a one-piece, unitary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventor: Kenichi AKANISHI
  • Patent number: 10577050
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body and chain-driving teeth. The chain-driving teeth comprises at least one first tooth and at least one second tooth. The at least one first tooth has a first circumferential tooth-length defined in a circumferential direction at a radial location defined in vicinity of a reference line. The at least one second tooth has a second circumferential tooth-length defined in the circumferential direction at the radial location. The first circumferential tooth-length is larger than the second circumferential tooth-length. A dimensional difference between the first circumferential tooth-length and the second circumferential tooth-length is equal to or smaller than 1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi Akanishi, Atsuhiro Emura, Sota Yamaguchi, Toshinari Oishi
  • Publication number: 20200040979
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body, a plurality of sprocket teeth, a mounting member, at least one fastening member, and a cover member. The sprocket body has at least one first threaded portion. The mounting member has at least one fastening hole configured to be aligned with the at least one first threaded portion in the assembled state. The at least one fastening member has a fastening shaft portion, a fastening head portion, and a second threaded portion. The second threaded portion is configured to threadedly engage with the at least one first threaded portion of the sprocket body in the assembled state. The cover member is configured to at least cover the fastening shaft portion of the at least one fastening member when viewed from an axial direction with respect to the rotational center axis in the assembled state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi AKANISHI, Atsuhiro EMURA, Shingo SHIRAISHI
  • Patent number: 10550925
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket is basically provided with a sprocket body and a plurality of chain-driving teeth. The sprocket body includes a central portion, an annular portion and an intermediate portion. The central portion has a first end surface disposed around a central opening on a side surface of the intermediate portion. The annular portion is disposed radially outward from the central portion. The intermediate portion extends between the central portion and the annular portion in a radial direction. The chain-driving teeth extend radially outward from the annular portion of the sprocket body to engage with a bicycle chain. The sprocket body includes a rib protruding from the side surface of the intermediate portion. The rib has a second end surface being axially outermost in the intermediate portion. The second end surface is farther away from the center plane than the first end surface in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kenichi Akanishi
  • Publication number: 20190277386
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket includes a sprocket body, a tooth ring, and at least one non-threaded fastener. The sprocket body is made of a first material and has a rotational center axis. A central portion of the sprocket body has a central opening through which the rotational center axis passes. The sprocket body further includes a plurality of arm portions that extend radially outward from the central portion with respect to the rotational center axis. Each arm portion includes a sprocket body attachment portion. The tooth ring is made of a second material different from the first material and includes an annular portion. The annular portion includes a plurality of tooth ring attachment portions and a plurality of chain-driving teeth extending radially outward from the annular portion. The non-threaded fastener fixedly connects a sprocket body attachment portion and to a corresponding tooth ring attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Yuki Hirose, Atsuhiro Emura, Shingo Shiraishi, Kenichi Akanishi
  • Patent number: 10359106
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body and a plurality of chain-driving teeth. The plurality of chain-driving teeth comprises a first tooth and a second tooth. The first tooth has a first radial length radially defined from a reference line to a first radially outermost end. The second tooth has a second radial length radially defined from the reference line to a second radially outermost end. The second radial length is in a range of 1.5 mm to 2.9 mm. A shortest distance is defined between the downstream circumferential surface and a first intersection point of the circumferential center plane and an additional reference line. The shortest distance is equal to or larger than 2.0 mm. The additional reference line is defined at a reference position radially outward spaced apart from the reference line by 1.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kenichi Akanishi
  • Patent number: 10295041
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body and chain-driving teeth. The chain-driving teeth each have a first axial surface, a second axial surface, a driving surface, and a non-driving surface. The chain-driving teeth comprises at least one first tooth and at least one second tooth. The at least one first tooth has a first maximum chain-engaging width defined in the axial direction. The at least one second tooth has a second maximum chain-engaging width defined in the axial direction. The first maximum chain-engaging width is larger than the second maximum chain-engaging width. The at least one second tooth includes a first chamfer provided between the first axial surface of the at least one second tooth and the driving surface of the at least one second tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi Akanishi, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Publication number: 20190101188
    Abstract: A bicycle-chain outer link plate comprises a first outer-link end portion, a second outer-link end portion, and a first outer-link intermediate portion. The first outer-link end portion comprises a first outer-link opening and a first outer-link end outermost edge. The second outer-link end portion comprises a second outer-link opening and a second outer-link end outermost edge. The first outer-link intermediate portion comprises a first outer-link intermediate outermost edge and a first additional outer-link intermediate outermost edge. The first outer-link intermediate portion has a first distance defined in an axial direction on a first outer-link longitudinal axis. The first outer-link intermediate outermost edge has a second distance defined in the axial direction. The first outer-link end outermost edge has a third distance defined in the axial direction. The first distance is larger than the second distance and the third distance. The second distance is larger than the third distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi AKANISHI, Atsuhiro EMURA, Yuta MIZUTANI, Tsuyoshi FUKUMORI
  • Publication number: 20190101189
    Abstract: A bicycle-chain outer link plate comprises a first outer-link end portion, a second outer-link end portion, and a first outer-link intermediate portion. The first outer-link end portion comprises a first outer surface, a first inner surface, a first outer-link opening, and a first outer-link outermost edge. The first outer-link intermediate portion comprises a first intermediate outer surface, a first intermediate inner surface, a first outer-link intermediate outermost edge, a first additional outer-link intermediate outermost edge, and a first intermediate chamfer. The first intermediate chamfer has a first minimum distance defined between the first outer-link intermediate outermost edge and the first inner edge along a reference line. A distance defined between the first outer-link intermediate outermost edge and the first additional outer-link intermediate outermost edge on the reference line is minimum in the first outer-link intermediate portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi AKANISHI, Atsuhiro EMURA, Yuta MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 10247291
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body and a plurality of chain-driving teeth. The plurality of chain-driving teeth comprises a first tooth and a second tooth. The first tooth has a first maximum chain-engaging width defined in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis. The second tooth has a second maximum chain-engaging width defined in the axial direction. The first tooth has a first width defined in the axial direction. The first width is defined at a reference position radially outward spaced apart from a center point of a reference line by 1.5 mm. The reference line is defined to connect centers of neighboring pins of the bicycle chain engaged with the plurality of chain-driving teeth when viewed from the axial direction. The first width is 70% or more of the first maximum chain-engaging width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kenichi Akanishi
  • Publication number: 20180347680
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket is basically provided with a sprocket body and a plurality of chain-driving teeth. The sprocket body includes a central portion, an annular portion and an intermediate portion. The central portion has a first end surface disposed around a central opening on a side surface of the intermediate portion. The annular portion is disposed radially outward from the central portion. The intermediate portion extends between the central portion and the annular portion in a radial direction. The chain-driving teeth extend radially outward from the annular portion of the sprocket body to engage with a bicycle chain. The sprocket body includes a rib protruding from the side surface of the intermediate portion. The rib has a second end surface being axially outermost in the intermediate portion. The second end surface is farther away from the center plane than the first end surface in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventor: Kenichi AKANISHI
  • Publication number: 20180178880
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body and chain-driving teeth. The chain-driving teeth comprises at least one first tooth and at least one second tooth. The at least one first tooth has a first circumferential tooth-length defined in a circumferential direction at a radial location defined in vicinity of a reference line. The at least one second tooth has a second circumferential tooth-length defined in the circumferential direction at the radial location. The first circumferential tooth-length is larger than the second circumferential tooth-length. A dimensional difference between the first circumferential tooth-length and the second circumferential tooth-length is equal to or smaller than 1 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi AKANISHI, Atsuhiro EMURA, Sota YAMAGUCHI, Toshinari OISHI
  • Publication number: 20180180157
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body and chain-driving teeth. The chain-driving teeth each have a first axial surface, a second axial surface, a driving surface, and a non-driving surface. The chain-driving teeth comprises at least one first tooth and at least one second tooth. The at least one first tooth has a first maximum chain-engaging width defined in the axial direction. The at least one second tooth has a second maximum chain-engaging width defined in the axial direction. The first maximum chain-engaging width is larger than the second maximum chain-engaging width. The at least one second tooth includes a first chamfer provided between the first axial surface of the at least one second tooth and the driving surface of the at least one second tooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi AKANISHI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20170370462
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body and a plurality of chain-driving teeth. The plurality of chain-driving teeth comprises a first tooth and a second tooth. The first tooth has a first maximum chain-engaging width defined in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis. The second tooth has a second maximum chain-engaging width defined in the axial direction. The first tooth has a first width defined in the axial direction. The first width is defined at a reference position radially outward spaced apart from a center point of a reference line by 1.5 mm. The reference line is defined to connect centers of neighboring pins of the bicycle chain engaged with the plurality of chain-driving teeth when viewed from the axial direction. The first width is 70% or more of the first maximum chain-engaging width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kenichi AKANISHI
  • Publication number: 20170370460
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body and a plurality of chain-driving teeth. The plurality of chain-driving teeth comprises a first tooth and a second tooth. The first tooth has a first radial length radially defined from a reference line to a first radially outermost end. The second tooth has a second radial length radially defined from the reference line to a second radially outermost end. The second radial length is in a range of 1.5 mm to 2.9 mm. A shortest distance is defined between the downstream circumferential surface and a first intersection point of the circumferential center plane and an additional reference line. The shortest distance is equal to or larger than 2.0 mm. The additional reference line is defined at a reference position radially outward spaced apart from the reference line by 1.5 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kenichi AKANISHI