Patents by Inventor Kimitaka Takahama

Kimitaka Takahama 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: 9656720
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal is provided with a pedal body having a front cleat retainer and a rear cleat retainer. The rear cleat retainer is pivotally coupled to the pedal body about a rear pivot axis. The front cleat retainer has a forward cleat stopping point facing towards the rear end of the pedal body. The rear cleat retainer has a rear cleat step-in point facing away from the pedal body. The forward and rear cleat stopping points and the rear pivot axis define a triangle with a first side interconnecting the forward and rear cleat stopping points, a second side interconnecting the rear cleat step-in point and the rear pivot axis, and a third side interconnecting the forward cleat stopping point and the rear pivot axis, with an interior angle of ninety degrees or less between the first and second sides of the triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kimitaka Takahama, Nobuyuki Kakinoki, Akira Inoue, Shinpei Okajima
  • Publication number: 20090139369
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal is provided with a pedal body having a front cleat retainer and a rear cleat retainer. The rear cleat retainer is pivotally coupled to the pedal body about a rear pivot axis. The front cleat retainer has a forward cleat stopping point facing towards the rear end of the pedal body. The rear cleat retainer has a rear cleat step-in point facing away from the pedal body. The forward and rear cleat stopping points and the rear pivot axis define a triangle with a first side interconnecting the forward and rear cleat stopping points, a second side interconnecting the rear cleat step-in point and the rear pivot axis, and a third side interconnecting the forward cleat stopping point and the rear pivot axis, with an interior angle of ninety degrees or less between the first and second sides of the triangle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kimitaka TAKAHAMA, Nobuyuki KAKINOKI, Akira INOUE, Shinpei OKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 6733031
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system includes a boot and a binding configured to be releasably coupled together. The snowboard binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement, and a front binding arrangement. The snowboard boot includes an upper portion, a sole portion, at least one rear catch and a front catch. The sole portion has a forward to rearward longitudinal axis extending between a toe section and a heel section. The rear catch is located at the heel section of the sole portion. The front catch is coupled to the toe section. The front catch has a pair of leg portions extending downwardly from the toe section and a tongue portion extending laterally between the leg portions. The tongue portion has a forward to rearward dimension that is larger than forward to rearward dimensions of the leg portions to longitudinally secure the boot relative to the binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Hiroshi Morita, Kimitaka Takahama
  • Patent number: 6733030
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system has a boot and a binding configured to be releasably coupled together. The boot has an upper potion, a sole portion, a front catch and at least one rear catch. The binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement and a front binding member. The base member has a front portion and a rear portion. The rear binding arrangement is coupled to the rear portion to selectively engage the rear catch. The front binding member includes a front claw and a release lever. The front claw is movably coupled to the front portion of the base member. The release lever is coupled to the front claw to move therewith between a release position and a latched position. An indexing mechanism is arranged to selectively retain the front claw and the release lever in the release position and the latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Hiroshi Morita, Kimitaka Takahama
  • Patent number: 6729641
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system has a boot and a binding configured to be releasably coupled together. The boot has an upper potion, a sole portion, a front catch and at least one rear catch. The binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement and a front binding member. The base member has a front portion and a rear portion. The rear binding arrangement is coupled to the rear portion to selectively engage at least one rear catch. The rear catch has a concave abutment surface. The rear binding arrangement has a movable tooth portion with a convexly shaped latching surface designed to selectively engage the abutment surface to couple the boot to the binding. The abutment surface and the latching surface are configured to reduce flexing of the binding when the boot is deflected relative to the binding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Hiroshi Morita, Kimitaka Takahama
  • Patent number: 6648364
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system has a boot and a binding configured to be releasably coupled together. The boot has an upper potion, a sole portion, a front catch and at least one rear catch. The binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement and a front binding arrangement. The rear binding arrangement selectively engages at least one rear catch of the heel of the boot. The front binding arrangement selectively engages the front catch that extends downwardly from of the sole portion of the boot. The front binding arrangement and the front catch are arranged to limit forward and rearward movement of the boot relative to the binding and prevent premature release of the front catch from the front binding arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Kimitaka Takahama
  • Patent number: 6637768
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system includes a binding and a boot configured to be releasably coupled together. The snowboard binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement, and a front binding arrangement. The snowboard boot includes an upper portion, a sole portion, at least one rear catch and a front catch. The sole portion has a toe section, a mid section and a heel section. The rear catch is located at the heel section of the sole portion. The front catch is coupled to the toe section and has a pair of leg portions extending downwardly from the toe section of the sole portion, and a tongue portion extending laterally between the leg portions. The toe section has a pair of front catch guide surfaces located forwardly and laterally of the front catch to guide the front catch toward the front binding arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Hiroshi Morita, Kimitaka Takahama
  • Patent number: 6530590
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system includes a boot and a binding configured to be releasable coupled together. The boot has a mid sole constructed of a first material and an outer sole constructed of a second material. The first material has a lower coefficient of friction than the second material. First and second rear catches are formed on first and second lateral sides of the mid sole to engage a rear binding arrangement of the binding. A front catch of the boot selectively engages a front binding member of the binding. The outer sole partially covers the mid sole such that the mid sole is exposed in an area adjacent at least one of the first and second lateral sides. The binding includes a base member with a rear guide member and has an upper boot support surface arranged to contact the exposed area of the mid sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Hiroshi Morita, Kimitaka Takahama
  • Publication number: 20020153704
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system has a boot and a binding configured to be releasably coupled together. The boot has an upper potion, a sole portion, a front catch and at least one rear catch. The binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement and a front binding arrangement. The rear binding arrangement selectively engages at least one rear catch of the heel of the boot. The front binding arrangement selectively engages the front catch that extends downwardly from of the sole portion of the boot. The front binding arrangement and the front catch are arranged to limit forward and rearward movement of the boot relative to the binding and prevent premature release of the front catch from the front binding arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Kimitaka Takahama
  • Publication number: 20020153703
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system includes a boot and a binding configured to be releasably coupled together. The snowboard binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement, and a front binding arrangement. The snowboard boot includes an upper portion, a sole portion, at least one rear catch and a front catch. The sole portion has a forward to rearward longitudinal axis extending between a toe section and a heel section. The rear catch is located at the heel section of the sole portion. The front catch is coupled to the toe section. The front catch has a pair of leg portions extending downwardly from the toe section and a tongue portion extending laterally between the leg portions. The tongue portion has a forward to rearward dimension that is larger than forward to rearward dimensions of the leg portions to longitudinally secure the boot relative to the binding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Hiroshi Morita, Kimitaka Takahama
  • Publication number: 20020153701
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system has a boot and a binding configured to be releasably coupled together. The boot has an upper portion, a sole portion, a front catch located, and a rear catch. The binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement, and a front binding member. The front binding member includes a front claw pivotally coupled to the base member to move between a release position and a latched position. The front claw has a generally V-shaped free end surface. A catch engaging surface is located between the mounting portion of the front catch and the apex of the V-shaped free end surface. A guide surface is located between the apex and a free edge of the V-shaped free end surface. The catch engaging surface faces generally towards the base member and the guide surface faces generally away the base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Hiroshi Morita, Kimitaka Takahama
  • Publication number: 20020153705
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system has a boot and a binding configured to be releasably coupled together. The boot has an upper potion, a sole portion, a front catch and at least one rear catch. The binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement and a front binding member. The base member has a front portion and a rear portion. The rear binding arrangement is coupled to the rear portion to selectively engage at least one rear catch. The rear catch has a concave abutment surface. The rear binding arrangement has a movable tooth portion with a convexly shaped latching surface designed to selectively engage the abutment surface to couple the boot to the binding. The abutment surface and the latching surface are configured to reduce flexing of the binding when the boot is deflected relative to the binding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Hiroshi Morita, Kimitaka Takahama
  • Patent number: 6453771
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal is provided with a pedal shaft or spindle, a pedal body with at least one cleat engagement mechanism and a tread cage supporting a rider's foot for attaching a shoe thereto via a cleat. The bicycle pedal body and the tread cage are coupled together for rotation about the pedal shaft or spindle. The tread cage is at least partially constructed of a resilient material to allow deflection of the tread cage relative to the pedal body. The tread cage has a tread surface that is at least partially located above the cleat engagement mechanism such that the tread cage must be deformed for complete engagement of the cleat with the cleat engagement mechanism. In other words, the resilient material of the tread cage permits limited angular rotation between the pedal body and the cage such that the tread surface contacts the shoe of the shoe when the cleat is in complete engagement with the cleat engagement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kimitaka Takahama, Yutaka Ueda
  • Publication number: 20020043782
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system includes a boot and a binding configured to be releasable coupled together. The boot has a mid sole constructed of a first material and an outer sole constructed of a second material. The first material has a lower coefficient of friction than the second material. First and second rear catches are formed on first and second lateral sides of the mid sole to engage a rear binding arrangement of the binding. A front catch of the boot selectively engaes a front binding member of the binding. The outer sole partially covers the mid sole such that the mid sole is exposed in an area adjacent at least one of the first and second lateral sides. The binding includes a base member with rear guide member has an upper boot support surface arranged to contact the exposed area of the mid sole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Hiroshi Morita, Kimitaka Takahama
  • Publication number: 20020043783
    Abstract: A snowboard binding system includes a binding and a boot configured to be releasably coupled together. The snowboard binding includes a base member, a rear binding arrangement, and a front binding arrangement. The snowboard boot includes an upper portion, a sole portion, at least one rear catch and a front catch. The sole portion has a toe section, a mid section and a heel section. The rear catch is located at the heel section of the sole portion. The front catch is coupled to the toe section and has a pair of leg portions extending downwardly from the toe section of the sole portion, and a tongue portion extending laterally between the leg portions. The toe section has a pair of front catch guide surfaces located forwardly and laterally of the front catch to guide the front catch toward the front binding arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Hiroshi Morita, Kimitaka Takahama
  • Patent number: 6305244
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly is provided for attaching a shoe thereto via a cleat. The bicycle pedal has a pedal body rotatably coupled to the second end of the pedal shaft for supporting a cyclist's foot. The pedal body has a first end and a second end with a cleat receiving surface located therebetween and a center longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends. The pedal body preferably has a pair clamping members coupled thereto with at least one of the clamping members being pivotally coupled thereto. At least the pivoting clamping member is constructed of a resilient wire material that is designed to pivot upon a twisting movement between the cleat and the pedal body. In the preferred embodiment, the front or first clamping member is stationary, while the rear or second clamping member is movable. Each of the clamping members has a cleat engagement surface facing in a direction toward the pedal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kimitaka Takahama
  • Patent number: 6293169
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly is provided for attaching a shoe thereto via a cleat. The bicycle pedal has a pedal body rotatably coupled to the second end of the pedal shaft for supporting a cyclist's foot. The pedal body preferably has a pair clamping members coupled thereto with at least one of the clamping members being pivotally coupled thereto. At least the pivoting clamping member is constructed of a resilient wire material that is designed to pivot upon a twisting movement between the cleat and the pedal body. In the preferred embodiment, the front or first clamping member is stationary, while the rear or second clamping member is movable. The pivoting clamping member is fixedly secured directly to the pedal body without using a fastener. Each of the clamping members has a cleat engagement surface facing in a direction toward the pedal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kimitaka Takahama
  • Patent number: 5778739
    Abstract: A low profile bicycle pedal having a pedal body supported by a pedal shaft to be rotatably about an axis of the pedal shaft and at a least pair of clamping members attached to the pedal body for releasably coupling a cleat of a cyclist's shoe thereto. Preferably, at least one of the clamping members is pivotally coupled to the pedal body. The cleat has a substantially C-shape with a pair of attachment portions for coupling the cleat to the cyclists shoe, and connecting portion for interconnecting the attachment portions together. The attachment portions and the connecting portions form a pedal shaft receiving notch for accommodating the pedal shaft when coupled to the pedal body. The pedal body is provided with a friction adjusting mechanism for selectively increasing and/or decreasing friction between the cleat and the pedal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Kimitaka Takahama