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).

  • Publication number: 20150018146
    Abstract: A front derailleur is attachable to a bicycle with a frame in which a fixing bore is provided. The front derailleur basically includes a base member, a chain guide and a link mechanism. The base member has an attaching bore for attaching the base member to a fixing bore of a frame by a fastening member. The chain guide configured to guide a chain. The link mechanism movably couples the chain guide to the base member. The base member is disposed with respect to the chain guide such that at least a part of the attaching bore is disposed in front of the chain guide and above the chain guide while the front derailleur is in a state in which the base member is attached to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Kenkichi INOUE
  • Publication number: 20150018145
    Abstract: A front derailleur is provided for mounting to a bicycle having a crank axis. The front derailleur is provided with a base member, a chain guide and a link mechanism. The base member is mounted on the bicycle for positioning in a predetermined adjustment direction. The chain guide guides the chain. The link mechanism movably couples the chain guide to the base member. The link mechanism includes a first link member pivotally arranged in relation to the base member about a first link axis and pivotally arranged in relation to the chain guide about a second link axis. The first link axis and the second link axis are arranged non-parallel and non-orthogonal to the predetermined adjustment direction when viewed from the axial direction of the crank axis in a state where the base member is mounted to the bicycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Shimano Inc,
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE, Tomomi SUGIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8905880
    Abstract: A chain connecting pin basically includes a pin body, a connecting portion and an inserting portion. The pin body has a first axial end face and a second axial end face, the second axial end face having a recessed surface with respect to an outermost edge of the second axial end face. The connecting portion is attached to the recessed surface of the second axial end face of the pin body. The inserting portion is attached to the connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kenkichi Inoue, Tsuyoshi Fukumori, Toshinari Oishi
  • Publication number: 20140349793
    Abstract: A front derailleur is basically provided with abuse 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 link mechanism includes a cable attachment portion that is configured to be attached to the operation cable. The cable guiding structure guides the operation cable from the cable attachment portion. The cable guiding structure is disposed on at least one of the base member and the link mechanism. The cable guiding structure has a cable exit that is arranged such that the operation cable exits forwardly from the cable guiding structure towards the front of the bicycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE, Tomohiro NIIMI
  • Patent number: 8888620
    Abstract: A front derailleur unit basically includes a fixed member and a movable member. The fixed member is configured to be releasably attached to a plurality of different type mounting units. The different type mounting units is detachably attached to a bicycle frame. The movable member is movably supported to the fixed member to move with respect to the fixed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Emura, Kazuya Kuwayama, Kenkichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8864611
    Abstract: A front derailleur basically includes a fixed member, a main body, a movable member and a support member. The fixing member is configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame. The main body is attached to the fixing member. The movable member is movably supported to the main body with respect to the fixing member. The support member is movably attached to one of the fixing member and the main body. The support member including an operated portion selectively operated by an operating element and positioned between the fixing member and the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuwayama, Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8808123
    Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur that includes a chain guide configured to engage a bicycle chain and a mounting member operatively coupled to the chain guide. The mounting member includes a frame support structure that includes a contact member that is configured to contact the frame of the bicycle, and a support member mounted to the mounting member. The contact member is supported by the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kenkichi Inoue, Atsuhiro Emura, Kazuya Kuwayama
  • Publication number: 20140155204
    Abstract: A front derailleur unit basically includes a fixed member and a movable member. The fixed member is configured to be releasably attached to a plurality of different type mounting units. The different type mounting units is detachably attached to a bicycle frame. The movable member is movably supported to the fixed member to move with respect to the fixed member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Kenkichi INOUE
  • Publication number: 20140155205
    Abstract: A front derailleur basically includes a fixed member, a main body, a movable member and a support member. The fixing member is configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame. The main body is attached to the fixing member. The movable member is movably supported to the main body with respect to the fixing member. The support member is movably attached to one of the fixing member and the main body. The support member including an operated portion selectively operated by an operating element and positioned between the fixing member and the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE
  • Publication number: 20140148287
    Abstract: A front derailleur basically includes a fixed member, a movable member, a driven link and a first link. The fixing member is configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame. The movable member is movably supported with respect to the fixed member. The driven link is operatively coupled to the movable member. The first link movably connects the movable member to the fixed member, and is adjustably coupled to the driven link in a fixed position by a fixing structure to establish a fixed rest position of the movable member with respect to the fixed member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi TACHIBANA, Yuuta MIZUTANI, Keijiro NISHI, Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE
  • Publication number: 20140128189
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a movable member and a connecting structure. The base member includes a bicycle mounting portion. The movable member is movable with respect to the base member between a first position and a second position that is farther than the first position from the base member. The connecting structure movably connects the movable member to the base member. The connecting structure moves the movable member with an actuation ratio that descends and then ascends as the movable member moves from the first position towards the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Atsuhiro EMURA, Kenkichi INOUE
  • Patent number: 8678963
    Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a movable member and a biasing arrangement. The biasing arrangement is operatively disposed between the base member and the movable member such that a biasing force of the biasing arrangement is smaller during an early range of a movement range of the movable member as the movable member moves from a first position to a second position. The biasing arrangement includes a first biasing member, a second biasing member and a pre-load body. The first and second biasing members selectively bias the movable member. The pre-load body maintains the second biasing member in a loaded state such that the second biasing member applies the second biasing force only after the movable member has partially moved from the first position towards the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuwayama, Kenkichi Inoue, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Publication number: 20140038759
    Abstract: A chain connecting pin basically includes a pin body, a connecting portion and an inserting portion. The pin body has a first axial end face and a second axial end face, the second axial end face having a recessed surface with respect to an outermost edge of the second axial end face. The connecting portion is attached to the recessed surface of the second axial end face of the pin body. The inserting portion is attached to the connecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kenkichi INOUE, Tsuyoshi FUKUMORI, Toshinari OISHI
  • Publication number: 20130085025
    Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur that includes a main body and a chain guide operatively coupled to the main body. The chain guide includes a first plate, a second plate, and a contact member affixed to the first plate. The contact member includes a flexible portion that is adapted to flex when contacted by a chain running through the chain guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.
    Inventors: Kenkichi INOUE, Atsuhiro EMURA, Kazuya KUWAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20130085024
    Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur that includes a chain guide configured to engage a bicycle chain and a mounting member operatively coupled to the chain guide. The mounting member includes a frame support structure that includes a contact member that is configured to contact the frame of the bicycle, and a support member mounted to the mounting member. The contact member is supported by the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.
    Inventors: Kenkichi INOUE, Atsuhiro EMURA, Kazuya KUWAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20130085026
    Abstract: A front derailleur comprises a base member structured to be attached to a bicycle frame member, a chain guide operatively connected to the base member, and an actuation mechanism coupled to the base member and to the chain guide for moving the chain guide relative to the base member between a first position corresponding to a location for positioning a chain on a first sprocket and a second position corresponding to a location for positioning the chain on a second sprocket. The actuation mechanism is configured so that an actuation ratio of the derailleur when the chain guide is located in the first position is greater than or equal to 1.5 times the actuation ratio when the chain guide is located in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuwayama, Atsuhiro Emura, Kenkichi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130072333
    Abstract: A bicycle front derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a movable member and a biasing arrangement. The biasing arrangement is operatively disposed between the base member and the movable member such that a biasing force of the biasing arrangement is smaller during an early range of a movement range of the movable member as the movable member moves from a first position to a second position. The biasing arrangement includes a first biasing member, a second biasing member and a pre-load body. The first and second biasing members selectively bias the movable member. The pre-load body maintains the second biasing member in a loaded state such that the second biasing member applies the second biasing force only after the movable member has partially moved from the first position towards the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Kenkichi INOUE, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20120295745
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro EMURA, Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Kenkichi INOUE