Patents by Inventor Kenji Kamada

Kenji Kamada 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: 11591044
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket assembly comprises a first sprocket and a second sprocket. The first sprocket includes a plurality of first sprocket teeth, a first sprocket inward surface, a first sprocket outward surface, and an axial space. The second sprocket includes a plurality of second sprocket teeth, a second sprocket inward surface, and a second sprocket outward surface. The axial space is defined between the first sprocket outward surface and an axially inward outer link plate in the axial direction while the second sprocket outward surface contacts an axially outward inner link plate in an engagement state where the one of the plurality of the second sprocket teeth is positioned between an axially inward inner link plate and the axially outward inner link plate in the axial direction. The axial space is larger than mm and equal to or smaller than 0.15 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kamada
  • Patent number: 11584473
    Abstract: A suspension control device is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The suspension control device includes a sensor and an electronic controller. The sensor is configured to detect information relating to a ground contact condition. The electronic controller is configured to selectively control a suspension of the human-powered vehicle in accordance with the information detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Takuya Katsuki, Kenji Kamada
  • Patent number: 11577803
    Abstract: A derailleur comprises a base member configured to be attached to a human-powered vehicle frame, a movable member movable with respect to the base member, a pulley assembly pivotally attached to the movable member in a first pivotal direction and a second pivotal direction opposite to the first pivotal direction and including a first pulley having a first pulley axis and a second pulley having a second pulley axis, a pulley assembly biasing member configured to bias the pulley assembly with respect to the movable member in the first pivotal direction, a pulley distance (centimeter) being defined between the first pulley axis and the second pulley axis, a biasing return force (newton) being defined by rotational force of the pulley assembly relative to the movable member, and a return value defined by the biasing return force multiplied by the pulley distance. The return value is 136 or larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Kamada
  • Patent number: 11440346
    Abstract: A hub assembly for a human-powered vehicle comprises a hub axle, a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, and a rotation control structure. The rotation control structure couples the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member to transmit a first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at a first ratio of a first output rotation of the second rotatable member to the first input rotation of the first rotatable member. The rotation control structure couples the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member to transmit a second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at a second ratio of a second output rotation of the first rotatable member to the second input rotation of the second rotatable member. The second ratio is different from the first ratio. The second ratio is larger than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kamada
  • Patent number: 11414157
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a bicycle rear sprocket assembly that can reduce shock in a gear shifting operation and can reduce changing of gear ratio during the gear shifting operation. A bicycle rear sprocket assembly includes a plurality of sprockets. A total tooth number of at least one of the plurality of sprockets is an even number. The plurality of sprockets have at least two coaxially arranged sprockets. At least one of the at least two coaxially arranged sprockets has an upshifting facilitation area and a downshifting facilitation area. Each of the at least two coaxially arranged sprockets has a total tooth number that is equal to or larger than eighteen. The tooth number difference is equal to or smaller than seven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Azusa Yamazaki, Kenji Kamada
  • Patent number: 11364971
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket assembly comprises a plurality of sprockets comprising at least twelve sprockets having different numbers of teeth. The at least twelve sprockets are coaxially arranged along a rotational center axis of the bicycle sprocket assembly. An entire gear range of the plurality of sprockets is equal to or larger than 360%. An average percentage gear stage step of the plurality of sprockets being equal to or larger than 10%. The average percentage gear stage step of the plurality of sprockets is smaller than 15%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kamada
  • Publication number: 20220063760
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket assembly comprises a first sprocket and a second sprocket. The first sprocket includes a plurality of first sprocket teeth, a first sprocket inward surface, a first sprocket outward surface, and an axial space. The second sprocket includes a plurality of second sprocket teeth, a second sprocket inward surface, and a second sprocket outward surface. The axial space is defined between the first sprocket outward surface and an axially inward outer link plate in the axial direction while the second sprocket outward surface contacts an axially outward inner link plate in an engagement state where the one of the plurality of the second sprocket teeth is positioned between an axially inward inner link plate and the axially outward inner link plate in the axial direction. The axial space is larger than 0 mm and equal to or smaller than 0.15 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kenji KAMADA
  • Patent number: 11180217
    Abstract: A multiple bicycle sprocket assembly is basically provided that is capable of creating a gear ratio in a wide range. The multiple bicycle sprocket assembly includes a first sprocket and a second sprocket. The first sprocket includes a first tooth number that is less than or equal to ten. The second sprocket includes a second tooth number that is more than or equal to forty-four.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Tokuyama, Kenji Ose, Toshinari Oishi, Kenji Kamada, Sota Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11148755
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member, and a chain guide. The chain guide comprises an inner guide plate, an outer guide plate, at least one pulley axle, and at least one pulley. The chain guide is configured to be movable between a plurality of shifting positions. The at least one pulley is configured to be movable between the inner guide plate and the outer guide plate within a maximum pulley movable amount in a pulley axial direction with respect to a rotational center axis of the at least one pulley. A single shifting distance is defined between adjacent shifting positions of the plurality of shifting positions. A ratio of the maximum pulley movable amount to the single shifting distance ranges from 0.21 to 0.35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kamada
  • Patent number: 11066118
    Abstract: A bicycle seatpost system is basically provided with a height adjustable seatpost and an electronic controller. The height adjustable seatpost includes an electric actuator. The electronic controller is configured to control the electric actuator to change a height of the height adjustable seatpost in accordance with detected information about a change of orientation of a bicycle relative to a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takuya Katsuki, Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Kenji Kamada, Tomohiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 11046392
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller for controlling a transmission that changes a ratio of a rotational speed of a drive wheel to a rotational speed of a crank of the human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller switches the transmission from a first control state to a second control state in accordance with at least one of a human drive force, a rider's posture, a vehicle body attitude, a handle force, and a human-powered vehicle travel state, In the first control state, the electronic controller controls the transmission to change the ratio in accordance with an operation of a shift operating unit. In the second control state, irrespective of the operation of the shift operating unit, the electronic controller controls the transmission such that the ratio increases in accordance with the travel state of the human-powered vehicle and/or a travel environment of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Kenji Kamada
  • Publication number: 20210155317
    Abstract: A derailleur comprises a base member configured to be attached to a human-powered vehicle frame, a movable member movable with respect to the base member, a pulley assembly pivotally attached to the movable member in a first pivotal direction and a second pivotal direction opposite to the first pivotal direction and including a first pulley having a first pulley axis and a second pulley having a second pulley axis, a pulley assembly biasing member configured to bias the pulley assembly with respect to the movable member in the first pivotal direction, a pulley distance (centimeter) being defined between the first pulley axis and the second pulley axis, a biasing return force (newton) being defined by rotational force of the pulley assembly relative to the movable member, and a return value defined by the biasing return force multiplied by the pulley distance. The return value is 136 or larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji KAMADA
  • Patent number: 11008065
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket arrangement comprises a largest sprocket, a smallest sprocket, and a plurality of intermediate sprockets. A first quotient is obtained if a total tooth-space number of the large sprocket is divided by a half of the tooth-space number difference. The first quotient is an even number with respect to all sprockets of the plurality of intermediate sprockets. A second quotient is obtained if the total tooth-space number of the small sprocket is divided by a half of the tooth-space number difference. The second quotient is an even number with respect to all sprockets of the plurality of intermediate sprockets excluding a largest intermediate sprocket of the plurality of intermediate sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Kamada, Azusa Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10865870
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body and a plurality of sprocket teeth. The plurality of sprocket teeth includes at least one first axially recessed upshifting-facilitation tooth with respect to a rotational center axis. The plurality of sprocket teeth includes at least one first axially recessed downshifting-facilitation tooth with respect to the rotational center axis. The at least one first axially recessed downshifting-facilitation tooth is adjacent to the at least one first axially recessed upshifting-facilitation tooth without another tooth therebetween in a circumferential direction with respect to the rotational center axis. The at least one first axially recessed upshifting-facilitation tooth and the at least one first axially recessed downshifting-facilitation tooth provide a first continuous recess extending in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Azusa Yamazaki, Kenji Kamada
  • Patent number: 10850561
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel securing device comprises a shaft, an axial abutment structure, a bicycle-body engaging structure, a manual actuator, and a shaft-end retaining structure. The shaft has a first shaft end, a second shaft end, and a longitudinal center axis. The manual actuator is operatively connected to the axial abutment structure to bias the axial abutment structure against a first wheel attachment part of a bicycle body in response to operation of the manual actuator in a securing state where the bicycle-body engaging structure is engaged with a second wheel attachment part of the bicycle body. The shaft-end retaining structure is at least partly disposed at the second shaft end to retain the second shaft end in the first wheel attachment part in a maintenance state where the second shaft end is positioned in the first wheel attachment part of the bicycle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kamada
  • Publication number: 20200223255
    Abstract: A hub assembly for a human-powered vehicle comprises a hub axle, a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, and a rotation control structure. The rotation control structure couples the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member to transmit a first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at a first ratio of a first output rotation of the second rotatable member to the first input rotation of the first rotatable member. The rotation control structure couples the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member to transmit a second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at a second ratio of a second output rotation of the first rotatable member to the second input rotation of the second rotatable member. The second ratio is different from the first ratio. The second ratio is larger than 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kenji KAMADA
  • Patent number: 10689067
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket assembly comprises a first sprocket and a second sprocket. The first sprocket includes a first sprocket body, first sprocket teeth, and a first pitch circle. The first pitch circle has a first diameter. The second sprocket includes a second sprocket body, second sprocket teeth, and a second pitch circle. The first sprocket teeth include a large-sprocket downshifting tooth and an additional large-sprocket downshifting tooth. The second sprocket teeth include a first small-sprocket downshifting tooth, a second small-sprocket downshifting tooth, a first adjacent tooth, and a second adjacent tooth. A circumferential area is defined from a driving surface of the first adjacent tooth to a non-driving surface of the second adjacent tooth in a driving rotational direction about a rotational center axis when viewed in an axial direction. The large-sprocket downshifting tooth is disposed in the circumferential area when viewed in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kamada
  • Publication number: 20200140033
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket arrangement comprises a largest sprocket, a smallest sprocket, and a plurality of intermediate sprockets. A first quotient is obtained if a total tooth-space number of the large sprocket is divided by a half of the tooth-space number difference. The first quotient is an even number with respect to all sprockets of the plurality of intermediate sprockets. A second quotient is obtained if the total tooth-space number of the small sprocket is divided by a half of the tooth-space number difference. The second quotient is an even number with respect to all sprockets of the plurality of intermediate sprockets excluding a largest intermediate sprocket of the plurality of intermediate sprockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenji KAMADA, Azusa YAMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 10625814
    Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly has a sprocket, a first crank arm, a second crank arm and a crank axle, A first axial distance is defined between the first pedal attachment surface and the second pedal attachment surface in an axial direction. A second axial distance is defined between the first transverse center plane of the sprocket and the second axial center plane of the crank axle in the axial direction. The first axial distance is smaller than or equal to 170 mm. The second axial distance is larger than or equal to 55 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Kamada
  • Patent number: 10604698
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an organic light up-conversion material in a solid state that realizes high light up-conversion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kenji Kamada, Kenji Kobayashi