Patents by Inventor Kenkichi INOUE
Kenkichi INOUE 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).
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Patent number: 11813891Abstract: A hub is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The hub basically includes a hub axle, a member, a cable and a sealing element. The member is provided to the hub axle. The cable extends through a passageway. The sealing element is configured to occupy a space between the passageway and the cable.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Kenkichi Inoue, Yuuya Yoneda
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Patent number: 11643159Abstract: An electric power generator is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The electric power generator includes an axle, a stator, a rotor and a first electrical cable. The axle has a first axial end, and a second axial end. The stator has a first axial stator-end that faces the first axial end of the axle with respect to the rotational center axis and a second axial stator-end that faces the second axial end of the axle with respect to the rotational center axis. The rotor is rotatably mounted on the axle to rotate around a rotational center axis of the electric power generator. The first electrical cable is electrically connected to the stator on the first axial stator-end of the stator. The first electrical cable extends axially through the stator toward the second axial stator-end of the stator with respect to the rotational center axis.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Azusa Yamazaki, Kenkichi Inoue, Yuuya Yoneda
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Publication number: 20230037945Abstract: A hub assembly is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The hub assembly includes a hub axle, a hub body, a cable and a cable protector. The hub axle has a first axial end and a second axial end. The hub body is rotatably mounted on the hub axle to rotate around a rotational center axis of the hub assembly. The cable has a first portion disposed inside of the hub assembly and a second portion disposed outside of the hub assembly. The cable protector is movably arranged between a first position and a second position. The second portion of the cable extends along the rotational center axis where the cable protector is in the first position. The second portion of the cable being at least partly restrained in an angled position with respect to the rotational center axis where the cable protector is in the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2021Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: Yuuya YONEDA, Kenkichi INOUE, Azusa YAMAZAKI
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Publication number: 20230045281Abstract: A component assembly for a human-powered vehicle, the component assembly basically includes a member and a wire rod. The member includes a wall that has a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and an opening. The wire rod passes through the opening in the wall of the member. The wire rod includes a first portion located on the first surface side of the wall and a second portion located on the second surface side of the wall. The first portion includes an abutment portion that contacts the first surface adjacent the opening in the wall to suppress axial movement of the first portion of the wire rod through the opening in the wall with respect to an axial direction with respect to a center axis of the opening in the wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2021Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: Yuuya YONEDA, Kenkichi INOUE, Azusa YAMAZAKI
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Publication number: 20220410999Abstract: An electric power generator is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The electric power generator includes an axle, a stator, a rotor and a first electrical cable. The axle has a first axial end, and a second axial end. The stator has a first axial stator-end that faces the first axial end of the axle with respect to the rotational center axis and a second axial stator-end that faces the second axial end of the axle with respect to the rotational center axis. The rotor is rotatably mounted on the axle to rotate around a rotational center axis of the electric power generator. The first electrical cable is electrically connected to the stator on the first axial stator-end of the stator. The first electrical cable extends axially through the stator toward the second axial stator-end of the stator with respect to the rotational center axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Azusa YAMAZAKI, Kenkichi INOUE, Yuuya YONEDA
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Publication number: 20220411003Abstract: An electrical assembly is provided to a human-powered vehicle. The electrical assembly includes an electric component and an electrical cable. The electrical cable has a first cable-end electrically connected to the electric component and a second cable-end spaced from the first cable-end by an intermediate section of the electrical cable. A cable intersection is formed in the intermediate section of the electrical cable to restrict movement of the electrical cable relative to the electric component.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Azusa YAMAZAKI, Kenkichi INOUE, Yuuya YONEDA
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Publication number: 20220388333Abstract: A hub assembly is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The hub assembly includes a hub axle, a hub body, a bearing spacer and a first hub body bearing. The hub body is rotatably mounted on the hub axle to rotate around a rotational center axis of the hub assembly. The bearing spacer has an inner peripheral end provided to the hub axle and an outer peripheral end spaced radially outward of the inner peripheral end in a radial direction with respect to the rotational center axis. The first hub body bearing is disposed at the outer peripheral end of the bearing spacer and rotatably supporting the hub body.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2021Publication date: December 8, 2022Inventors: Kenkichi INOUE, Yuuya YONEDA, Azusa YAMAZAKI
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Publication number: 20220388332Abstract: A hub is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The hub basically includes a hub axle, a member, a cable and a sealing element. The member is provided to the hub axle. The cable extends through a passageway. The sealing element is configured to occupy a space between the passageway and the cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2021Publication date: December 8, 2022Inventors: Kenkichi INOUE, Yuuya YONEDA
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Patent number: 11161569Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur is provided that can be easily coupled to a bicycle frame. The bicycle front derailleur includes a base member, a chain guide and a link mechanism. The base member is configured to be coupled to a bottom bracket hanger of the bicycle frame. The chain guide is configured to guide a chain. The link mechanism connects the chain guide to the base member to move the chain guide between a retracted position and an extended position. The base member includes a recess configured to accommodate a part of the chain guide in a state where the chain guide is located at the retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Kenkichi Inoue, Kohei Obuchi, Mineho Masuda
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Patent number: 10780737Abstract: A bicycle hub has a hub axle, a hub shell, a sprocket support body, first and second ratchet members and a friction member. The hub shell and the sprocket support body are mounted on the hub axle. The first ratchet member has at least one first ratchet tooth and rotates with the sprocket support body. The second ratchet member has at least one second ratchet tooth mating with the first ratchet tooth and rotates with the hub shell. The friction member is configured to rotate with one of the hub shell and the first ratchet member and contacts a contacted member configured to rotate with the other of the hub shell and the first ratchet member. The sprocket support body has a guiding portion that move the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member from each other while coasting.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Jun Nakajima, Kenkichi Inoue
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Patent number: 10407128Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur includes a base member to be mounted to a bicycle frame, a chain guide, a first link pivotally connected to the chain guide about a first pivot axis, and a second link pivotally connected to the chain guide about a second pivot axis. The chain guide includes a link-connecting structure pivotally connected to the first link. The link-connecting structure includes a first link-connecting portion and a second link-connecting portion. The first link includes a first chain guide-connecting portion and a second chain guide-connecting portion. At least one of the first link-connecting portion and the second link-connecting portion is located between the first chain guide-connecting portion and the second chain guide-connecting portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue, Kohei Obuchi
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Publication number: 20190217662Abstract: A bicycle hub has a hub axle, a hub shell, a sprocket support body, first and second ratchet members and a friction member. The hub shell and the sprocket support body are mounted on the hub axle. The first ratchet member has at least one first ratchet tooth and rotates with the sprocket support body. The second ratchet member has at least one second ratchet tooth mating with the first ratchet tooth and rotates with the hub shell. The friction member is configured to rotate with one of the hub shell and the first ratchet member and contacts a contacted member configured to rotate with the other of the hub shell and the first ratchet member. The sprocket support body has a guiding portion that move the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member from each other while coasting.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Jun NAKAJIMA, Kenkichi INOUE
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Patent number: 10252773Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a chain guide and a chain restricting abutment. The base member is configured to be mounted on a bicycle frame. The chain guide is configured to be movably coupled to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position to move a bicycle chain. The chain restricting abutment is configured to restrict the bicycle chain from moving in a radially outward direction of a rotational center axis of a bicycle front sprocket when the base member is mounted on the bicycle frame and the chain guide moves from the extended position toward the retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Kenkichi Inoue, Akinobu Sugimoto
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Patent number: 10239580Abstract: A bicycle frame includes a first frame member and a second frame member configured to be pivotally connected to the first frame member about a pivot axis. The first frame member includes a threaded hole, through which a fixing bolt for fixing a mounting member of a bicycle front derailleur to the first frame member passes, and an abutting portion configured to restrict rotation of a mounting member of a bicycle front derailleur around the fixing bolt by abutting the mounting member. The threaded hole is located on a front side of the pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue
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Patent number: 10086905Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur including a chain guide; a linkage assembly; and a mounting bracket configured to mount the chain guide to a bicycle frame such that the chain guide is movable with respect to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes at least one fixed portion adapted to receive a fastener to fix the fixed portion so that an axis of the fastener extends toward a bottom bracket hangar of the bicycle frame when the fixed portion is fixed to the bicycle frame via the fastener. The axis of the fastener is generally vertical.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue, Kazuya Kuwayama, Kohei Obuchi, Mineho Masuda, Kento Mitsuyasu
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Publication number: 20180265170Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur is provided that can be easily coupled to a bicycle frame. The bicycle front derailleur includes a base member, a chain guide and a link mechanism. The base member is configured to be coupled to a bottom bracket hanger of the bicycle frame. The chain guide is configured to guide a chain. The link mechanism connects the chain guide to the base member to move the chain guide between a retracted position and an extended position. The base member includes a recess configured to accommodate a part of the chain guide in a state where the chain guide is located at the retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Kenkichi INOUE, Kohei OBUCHI, Mineho MASUDA
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Publication number: 20180093739Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur includes a base member to be mounted to a bicycle frame, a chain guide, a first link pivotally connected to the chain guide about a first pivot axis, and a second link pivotally connected to the chain guide about a second pivot axis. The chain guide includes a link-connecting structure pivotally connected to the first link. The link-connecting structure includes a first link-connecting portion and a second link-connecting portion. The first link includes a first chain guide-connecting portion and a second chain guide-connecting portion. At least one of the first link-connecting portion and the second link-connecting portion is located between the first chain guide-connecting portion and the second chain guide-connecting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2016Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE, Kohei OBUCHI
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Patent number: 9926039Abstract: A front derailleur includes a base member, a chain guide, a link mechanism and a cable guiding structure. The base member is fixedly coupled to a bicycle. The chain guide is configured to guide a chain. The link mechanism movably couples the chain guide to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position in response to movement of an operation cable. The cable guiding structure has one of bore, recess and groove formed on the link mechanism to guide the operation cable. The operation cable exits forwardly from the cable guiding structure within a sector having an angle of 150 degrees around the crank axis from an upper radius lying in a first plane that is perpendicular to a second plane containing a crank axis and a rear wheel axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2017Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue, Tomohiro Niimi
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Patent number: 9796450Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur is basically provided with a base member and a movable member. The base member includes a bicycle mounting portion. The movable member is movably supported to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the base member. The movable member includes a first guide plate having a first inner surface and a second guide plate having a second inner surface. The first and second inner surfaces face each other to form a chain receiving slot therebetween. The second guide plate includes an adjustable guide member that is arranged at the chain receiving slot to move between at least two different positions relative to the second guide plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2011Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kazuya Kuwayama, Kenkichi Inoue
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Publication number: 20170283005Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a chain guide and a chain restricting abutment. The base member is configured to be mounted on a bicycle frame. The chain guide is configured to be movably coupled to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position to move a bicycle chain. The chain restricting abutment is configured to restrict the bicycle chain from moving in a radially outward direction of a rotational center axis of a bicycle front sprocket when the base member is mounted on the bicycle frame and the chain guide moves from the extended position toward the retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2016Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Kenkichi INOUE, Akinobu SUGIMOTO