Patents by Inventor Kohei OBUCHI

Kohei OBUCHI 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: 20230257060
    Abstract: An operating device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a base, a piston, an operating member, an intermediate member, and a mounting structure. The base includes a hole. The piston is movably provided in the hole. The operating member is pivotally coupled to the base about a first pivot axis. The intermediate member is pivotally coupled to the base about a second pivot axis to transmit a pivotal movement of the operating member to the piston. The mounting structure is configured to couple the base and a handlebar of the human-powered vehicle. The mounting structure defines a mounting axis extending along the handlebar in a mounting state where the mounting structure couples the base and the handlebar. The first pivot axis is closer to the mounting axis than the second pivot axis in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the mounting axis as viewed along the first pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kohei OBUCHI, Yu KATO, Kazuma MORI, Nobuyoshi FUJII
  • Patent number: 11618528
    Abstract: A piston assembly is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The piston assembly includes a main body and a primary seal. The main body is configured to be movable from a rest position to an actuated position along an actuation direction in a cylinder bore. The primary seal includes a primary seal body arranged on the main body. The primary seal body is made of a resin material. The primary seal body has a primary lip portion configured to be in contact with the cylinder bore in an arranged state where the piston assembly is arranged in the cylinder bore. The primary seal further includes a biasing part configured to be in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the main body to outwardly bias the primary lip portion of the primary seal body in the arranged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kohei Obuchi, Yasuyuki Komada, Nobuyoshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11572128
    Abstract: A piston assembly is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The piston assembly includes a main body, a primary seal and a secondary seal. The main body is configured to be movable from a rest position to an actuated position along an actuation direction in a cylinder bore. The primary seal includes a primary seal body arranged on the main body, the primary seal body being made of the first seal material. The secondary seal includes a secondary seal body arranged on the main body at upstream of the primary seal with respect to the actuation direction. The secondary seal body is made of a second seal material that is more elastic than the first seal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kohei Obuchi, Yasuyuki Komada, Nobuyoshi Fujii
  • Publication number: 20220379993
    Abstract: An operating device comprises a base member and an operating member. The base member includes a base body and a mounting part. The mounting part includes a mounting contact surface contactable with a tubular part of the human-powered vehicle in a mounting state where the mounting part couples the base body to the tubular part of the human-powered vehicle. The base member includes a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface is contactable with the tubular part of the human-powered vehicle in the mounting state. The first contact surface is spaced apart from the mounting contact surface in an axial direction. The second contact surface is contactable with the tubular part of the human-powered vehicle in the mounting state. The second contact surface is spaced apart from the mounting contact surface and the first contact surface in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kohei OBUCHI
  • Patent number: 11492063
    Abstract: An operating device comprises a base member and an operating member. The base member includes a base body and a mounting part. The mounting part includes a mounting contact surface contactable with a tubular part of the human-powered vehicle in a mounting state where the mounting part couples the base body to the tubular part of the human-powered vehicle. The base member includes a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface is contactable with the tubular part of the human-powered vehicle in the mounting state. The first contact surface is spaced apart from the mounting contact surface in an axial direction. The second contact surface is contactable with the tubular part of the human-powered vehicle in the mounting state. The second contact surface is spaced apart from the mounting contact surface and the first contact surface in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Kohei Obuchi
  • Patent number: 11390356
    Abstract: An electric connector device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a connector base and a coupling structure. The connector base includes a first connection port and a second connection port. The first connection port defines a first center axis. The second connection port defines a second center axis. The second center axis is spaced apart from the first center axis as viewed in a predetermined direction. The coupling structure is configured to detachably attach the connector base to an additional device so that the connector base is non-movably attached to the additional device. The coupling structure is provided between the first center axis and the second center axis as viewed in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Komada, Kohei Obuchi, Yuichiro Hidaka, Hirohisa Toyoshima, Eiji Mishima, Ryo Yamazaki, Norihisa Senoo, Noor Ashyikkin Binti Mohd Noor, Takaya Masuda
  • Patent number: 11359721
    Abstract: A hydraulic device comprises a base member, a piston, a seal ring, and an intermediate member. The base member includes a cylinder bore and an annular groove. The annular groove includes a first inner surface and a second inner surface. The piston is movable relative to the base member from a rest position toward an actuated position in a second direction opposite to a first direction. The piston is movable relative to the base member from the actuated position toward the rest position in the first direction. The seal ring includes a first axial surface facing in the first direction and a second axial surface facing in the second direction. The seal ring is provided in the annular groove so as to define a clearance between the first axial surface and the first inner surface. The intermediate member is provided in the clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Mototsugu Nakai, Yusuke Hosomi, Kohei Obuchi, Takanori Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20220170546
    Abstract: A hydraulic device comprises a base member, a piston, a seal ring, and an intermediate member. The base member includes a cylinder bore and an annular groove. The annular groove includes a first inner surface and a second inner surface. The piston is movable relative to the base member from a rest position toward an actuated position in a second direction opposite to a first direction. The piston is movable relative to the base member from the actuated position toward the rest position in the first direction. The seal ring includes a first axial surface facing in the first direction and a second axial surface facing in the second direction. The seal ring is provided in the annular groove so as to define a clearance between the first axial surface and the first inner surface. The intermediate member is provided in the clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Mototsugu NAKAI, Yusuke HOSOMI, Kohei OBUCHI, Takanori YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 11325674
    Abstract: An operating device comprises a base member, an operating member, a piston, and a coupling structure. The base member includes a cylinder bore having a cylinder center axis. The operating member is movable relative to the base member between a rest position and an operated position. The piston is movably provided in the cylinder bore and is coupled to the operating member to be pulled in a pulling direction in response to a pulling movement of the operating member from the rest position to the operated position. The operating member includes a cam surface including a curved surface. The base member includes a guide groove linearly extending in the pulling direction. The coupling structure includes a follower configured to be in contact with the cam surface to receive the pulling movement, and a guided part movably provided in the guide groove to move the follower in the pulling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kohei Obuchi, Nobuyoshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11292552
    Abstract: A piston assembly is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The piston assembly includes a main body and a primary seal. The main body is configured to be movable from a rest position to an actuated position along an actuation direction in a cylinder bore. The primary seal includes a primary seal body arranged on the main body. The primary seal body is made of a resin material. The main body includes a first part and a second part. The first part is at least partly arranged upstream of the primary seal with respect to the actuation direction. The second part is coupled to the first part to be at least partly arranged downstream of the primary seal with respect to the actuation direction. The at least one of the first part and the second part includes a support portion supporting the primary seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kohei Obuchi, Yasuyuki Komada, Nobuyoshi Fujii
  • Publication number: 20210362803
    Abstract: A piston assembly is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The piston assembly includes a main body and a primary seal. The main body is configured to be movable from a rest position to an actuated position along an actuation direction in a cylinder bore. The primary seal includes a primary seal body arranged on the main body. The primary seal body is made of a resin material. The primary seal body has a primary lip portion configured to be in contact with the cylinder bore in an arranged state where the piston assembly is arranged in the cylinder bore. The primary seal further includes a biasing part configured to be in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the main body to outwardly bias the primary lip portion of the primary seal body in the arranged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Kohei OBUCHI, Yasuyuki KOMADA, Nobuyoshi FUJII
  • Publication number: 20210362802
    Abstract: A piston assembly is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The piston assembly includes a main body, a primary seal and a secondary seal. The main body is configured to be movable from a rest position to an actuated position along an actuation direction in a cylinder bore. The primary seal includes a primary seal body arranged on the main body, the primary seal body being made of the first seal material. The secondary seal includes a secondary seal body arranged on the main body at upstream of the primary seal with respect to the actuation direction. The secondary seal body is made of a second seal material that is more elastic than the first seal material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Kohei OBUCHI, Yasuyuki KOMADA, Nobuyoshi FUJII
  • Publication number: 20210362801
    Abstract: A piston assembly is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The piston assembly includes a main body and a primary seal. The main body is configured to be movable from a rest position to an actuated position along an actuation direction in a cylinder bore. The primary seal includes a primary seal body arranged on the main body. The primary seal body is made of a resin material. The main body includes a first part and a second part. The first part is at least partly arranged upstream of the primary seal with respect to the actuation direction. The second part is coupled to the first part to be at least partly arranged downstream of the primary seal with respect to the actuation direction. The at least one of the first part and the second part includes a support portion supporting the primary seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Kohei OBUCHI, Yasuyuki KOMADA, Nobuyoshi FUJII
  • Publication number: 20210339823
    Abstract: An electric connector device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a connector base and a coupling structure. The connector base includes a first connection port and a second connection port. The first connection port defines a first center axis. The second connection port defines a second center axis. The second center axis is spaced apart from the first center axis as viewed in a predetermined direction. The coupling structure is configured to detachably attach the connector base to an additional device so that the connector base is non-movably attached to the additional device. The coupling structure is provided between the first center axis and the second center axis as viewed in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki KOMADA, Kohei OBUCHI, Yuichiro HIDAKA, Hirohisa TOYOSHIMA, Eiji MISHIMA, Ryo YAMAZAKI, Norihisa SENOO, Noor Ashyikkin BINTI MOHD NOOR, Takaya MASUDA
  • Patent number: 11161569
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kenkichi Inoue, Kohei Obuchi, Mineho Masuda
  • Patent number: 10967932
    Abstract: A hydraulic operating device for a small vehicle including a bicycle is basically provided with a base member, an operating member, a piston, a handlebar fixing structure and a hydraulic reservoir tank. The base member includes a cylinder having a cylinder bore. The operating member is pivots about a pivot axis to move the piston within the cylinder bore. The handlebar fixing structure defines a handlebar arrangement area. The hydraulic reservoir tank has a hydraulic fluid chamber fluidly connected to the cylinder bore. The cylinder defines a hydraulic pressure chamber with a space between the piston and a fluid outlet port of the cylinder. The hydraulic reservoir tank is partially disposed on a first side of the handlebar fixing structure while the hydraulic pressure chamber is disposed on a second side of the handlebar fixing structure as view in the pivot axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Mototsugu Nakai, Kohei Obuchi, Natsuki Noma
  • Publication number: 20210086864
    Abstract: A bicycle adapter is configured to couple a bicycle operating device to a handlebar clamp is coupled to a handlebar. The bicycle adapter includes a first attachment surface and a second attachment surface. The first attachment surface is configured to be attached to an outer surface of the clamp. The second attachment surface is configured to be attached to the bicycle operating device. The first attachment surface has a first curved section. The second attachment surface has a second curved section that is different from the first curved section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Kentaro MIYAZAKI, Kazutaka FUKAO, Yoshimitsu MIKI, Kohei OBUCHI
  • Patent number: 10889348
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device includes a base member coupled to a handlebar clamp and a user operated member movably coupled to the base member to move a mechanical control cable with respect to the base member. The base member includes a coupling portion coupled to the handlebar clamp. The coupling portion includes an elongated hole having a long direction extending parallel to a center axis of the handlebar clamp. The coupling portion is coupled to the handlebar clamp via a fastener extending into the elongated hole. The user operated member is movable with respect to the base member between a rest position and an operated position. The bicycle operating device does not mechanically fix a position of the mechanical control cable with respect to the base member in accordance with movement of the user operated member between the rest position and the operated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro Miyazaki, Kazutaka Fukao, Yoshimitsu Miki, Kohei Obuchi
  • Patent number: 10676151
    Abstract: A hydraulic operating device for a small vehicle including a bicycle is basically provided with a base member, an operating member, a piston, a handlebar fixing structure and a hydraulic reservoir tank. The base member includes a cylinder having a cylinder bore. The operating member is pivotally coupled to the base member about a pivot axis. The piston is movably disposed in the cylinder bore and operatively coupled to the operating member to move the piston within the cylinder bore. The handlebar fixing structure is coupled to the base member. The handlebar fixing structure defines a handlebar arrangement area. The hydraulic reservoir tank has a hydraulic fluid chamber fluidly connected to the cylinder bore. The hydraulic reservoir tank at least partially overlaps the handlebar arrangement area as viewed in a pivot axis direction parallel to the pivot axis of the operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Mototsugu Nakai, Kohei Obuchi, Natsuki Noma
  • Patent number: 10526038
    Abstract: An operating device for a handlebar steered vehicle is basically provided with a base member, an operating member and a handlebar fixing structure. The base member includes a support abutment arranged to contact an outer surface of a handlebar while the operating device is in an installed state. The operating member is pivotally coupled to the base member about a pivot axis. The handlebar fixing structure is coupled to base member. The handlebar fixing structure defines a handlebar arrangement area extending along a handlebar axis. The support abutment being spaced from the handlebar receiving area of the handlebar fixing structure in a handlebar axis direction parallel to the handlebar axis by an axial width with a range from ten millimeters to thirty millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Mototsugu Nakai, Kohei Obuchi, Natsuki Noma