Patents by Inventor Masahiro Nakakura

Masahiro Nakakura 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: 20180087560
    Abstract: A bicycle end cap has a first end and a second end that is opposite to the first end for attaching to a bicycle line shape member. The bicycle end cap includes a tubular portion and an attachment structure. The tubular portion is arranged at the first end and defining a receiving space that is dimensioned to axially receive the line shape member from the first end. The attachment structure is configured to attach a pulling member having a cable portion and a head portion that has larger diameter than the cable portion. The attachment structure is configured to position the head portion relative to the tubular portion as the cable portion is pulled toward the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Osamu KARIYAMA, Masahiro NAKAKURA, Takahiro YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 9915306
    Abstract: A rotor cover comprises a cover body and a biasing member. The cover body is configured to at least partially cover a disc brake rotor rotatable relative to a bicycle frame about a rotational center axis. The biasing member is configured to bias the cover body in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis. The biasing member is provided between the cover body and the bicycle frame in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuki Koshiyama, Takafumi Nishino, Shingo Sakurai, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 9908585
    Abstract: A bicycle brake caliper assembly comprises a brake caliper and a base member. The brake caliper is configured to apply a braking force on a brake disc rotor configured to be rotatable about a rotational axis. The base member is configured to be coupled to the brake caliper and to be attached to a bicycle frame such that relative position between the rotational axis of the brake disc rotor and the brake caliper is adjustable in a radial direction of the brake disc rotor. The base member includes a first coupling portion at which the brake caliper is coupled, and a second coupling portion at which the brake caliper is coupled and which is arranged apart from the first coupling portion in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Daisuke Noborio, Tsutomu Muraoka, Osamu Kariyama, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 9903522
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic hose cap comprises a hose attachment to be detachably attached to an end of a hydraulic hose, and a reservoir including a fluid chamber having a variable internal volume. The fluid chamber is connected to a fluid passageway of the hydraulic hose in an attachment state where the hose attachment is attached to the end of the hydraulic hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Osamu Kariyama, Nobuyoshi Fujii, Shinya Hirotomi, Takahiro Yamashita, Masahiro Nakakura, Hideki Ikemoto
  • Publication number: 20180031061
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake rotor, having a rotational center axis, comprises an outer portion having plural layers including first and second braking surfaces in opposite axial directions. The plural layers include a first layer made of a copper or a copper alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Takeshi Oi, Masanori Taniguchi, Toru Iwai, Masahiro Nakakura, Noriko Masuta, Yusuke Hosomi
  • Patent number: 9874238
    Abstract: A bicycle end cap has a first end and a second end that is opposite to the first end for attaching to a bicycle line shape member. The bicycle end cap includes a tubular portion and an attachment structure. The tubular portion defines a first opening that is arranged at the first end and a receiving space that is dimension to axially receive the line shape member from the first opening. The attachment structure is configured to attach a pulling member having a cable portion and a head portion that has larger diameter than the cable portion. The attachment structure is configured to position the head portion relative to the tubular portion as the cable portion is pulled toward the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Osamu Kariyama, Masahiro Nakakura, Takahiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9873483
    Abstract: A bicycle control device includes a housing member, a control lever member, a shift-operating mechanism and a hydraulic fluid pressure generator. The housing member has an attachment part for attachment to a handlebar, and a grip part extending longitudinally between first and second ends of the grip part. The control lever member pivots respect to the housing member. The shift-operating mechanism is coupled to a shifting device by a control cable. The hydraulic fluid pressure generator has a cylinder and a piston movably disposed within the cylinder to generate fluid pressure for controlling a braking device. The hydraulic fluid pressure generator has an output port that transmits hydraulic pressure generated in the cylinder to outside of the cylinder, and a hydraulic fluid channel coupled to the output port. A connecting part fluidly communicates with the output port through the hydraulic fluid channel, and is connected an external hydraulic hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Osamu Kariyama, Tatsuya Matsushita, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Publication number: 20180010654
    Abstract: A rotor cover is provided that limits contact of a disc brake rotor with an object flying from a radially outer side of the disc brake rotor. The rotor cover covers a disc brake rotor, which is rotatable relative to a bicycle frame. The rotor cover includes a circumferential part that at least partially covers a circumferential edge of the disc brake rotor at a radially outer side of the disc brake rotor. The circumferential part includes at least three first pieces facing the circumferential edge of the disc brake rotor, and first openings provided between two adjacent ones of the first pieces in a circumferential direction of the disc brake rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Masahiko JIMBO, Masahiro NAKAKURA
  • Publication number: 20180010653
    Abstract: A rotor cover is provided that includes different portions and is configured to meet requirements of each portion. The rotor cover includes a positioning portion that is positioned relative to a bicycle frame or a disc brake rotor and a cover portion that is coupled to the positioning portion to cover the disc brake rotor. The cover portion and the positioning portion include different materials with respect to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi WATARAI, Takashi ADACHI, Yoshiaki ANDO, Takafumi NISHINO, Osamu KARIYAMA, Nobuyoshi FUJII, Masahiro NAKAKURA
  • Patent number: 9834276
    Abstract: A bicycle control device includes a housing member, a control lever member, a shift-operating mechanism and a hydraulic fluid pressure generator. The housing member has an attachment part for attachment to a handlebar, and a grip part extending longitudinally between first and second ends of the grip part. The attachment part is provided on the first end of the grip part. The attachment part is provided on the first end of the grip part. The control lever member is pivotally provided with respect to the housing member. The shift-operating mechanism is supported by the housing member. The shift-operating mechanism includes a control cable attachment part that is configured to be coupled to a shifting device by a control cable. The hydraulic fluid pressure generator has a cylinder provided in the grip part of the housing member, and a piston movably disposed within the cylinder by movement of the control lever member to generate fluid pressure for controlling a braking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Osamu Kariyama, Tatsuya Matsushita, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 9828059
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake caliper is provided that may include a caliper body with a brake disc slot configured to at least partially accommodate a disc brake rotor removably arranged therein, first and second brake pads movably arranged in the brake disc slot relative to one another to contact the disc brake rotor arranged at least partially in a space between the first and second brake pads, and a spacer movably attached to the caliper body. The spacer may be configured to be positioned in a first position outside the space when the disc brake rotor is arranged in the brake disc slot, and the spacer may be configured to move from the first position to a second position in which the spacer is positioned in the space when the disc brake rotor is removed from the brake disc slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiro Nakakura
  • Publication number: 20170334507
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, a hydraulic cylinder, a piston, and a fluid passageway. The base member is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. The hydraulic cylinder is provided on the base member and includes a cylinder bore. The piston is movably provided in the cylinder bore. The cylinder bore and the piston define a hydraulic chamber. The fluid passageway is connected to the hydraulic chamber. The fluid passageway is provided inside the base member. The fluid passageway has a length longer than a stroke of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Keiji MATSUEDA, Kentaro KOSAKA, Masahiro NAKAKURA
  • Patent number: 9821880
    Abstract: A bicycle rim brake comprises a first shaft, a second shaft, a first brake arm, a second brake arm, and a reinforcing member. The first shaft includes a first fixed end part fixedly provided with respect to a bicycle body. The second shaft includes a second fixed end part fixedly provided with respect to the bicycle body. The first brake arm is pivotally provided on the first shaft around a first pivot axis. The first brake arm has an opposite surface opposite to the first fixed end part. The second brake arm is pivotally provided on the second shaft around a second pivot axis. The reinforcing member couples the first shaft to the second shaft. The reinforcing member is provided such that the first brake arm is at least partially arranged farther from the first fixed end part than the reinforcing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kakimoto, Tatsuya Matsushita, Masahiro Nakakura, Shinya Hirotomi
  • Patent number: 9821881
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic operating device comprises a base member, a piston, and a plug member. The base member is configured to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar and has a cylinder bore and a through-hole. The cylinder bore extends in a first direction. The through-hole includes an outer opening on an outer surface of the base member and extends from the cylinder bore. The piston is configured to be movably disposed within the cylinder bore. The plug member is configured to plug up the through-hole and has an inside part disposed inside the outer opening. The inside part has a maximum outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the outer opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Keiji Matsueda, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Publication number: 20170328428
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake rotor is provided. The bicycle disc brake rotor includes a friction disc having a center axis and including a first braking surface and a second braking surface. The bicycle disc brake rotor also includes a mounting adapter attached to a bicycle wheel and coupled to the friction disc through a coupling structure, wherein the coupling structure includes a first mating surface pair comprising a first adapter surface and a first disc surface, and a second mating surface pair comprising a second adapter surface and a second disc surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Masanori Taniguchi, Shingo Sakurai, Masahiro Nakakura, Yusuke Hosomi
  • Publication number: 20170291659
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake caliper is provided that may include a caliper body with a brake disc slot configured to at least partially accommodate a disc brake rotor removably arranged therein, first and second brake pads movably arranged in the brake disc slot relative to one another to contact the disc brake rotor arranged at least partially in a space between the first and second brake pads, and a spacer movably attached to the caliper body. The spacer may be configured to be positioned in a first position outside the space when the disc brake rotor is arranged in the brake disc slot, and the spacer may be configured to move from the first position to a second position in which the spacer is positioned in the space when the disc brake rotor is removed from the brake disc slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventor: Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 9783180
    Abstract: A banjo fitting is provided that may include an annular portion with an internal bore that extends along a first axis, and a hose attachment portion that extends radially from the annular portion, and has an internal fluid passageway extending along a second axis formed at an angle to the first axis. A seal rupturing structure may be positioned within the internal fluid passageway of the hose attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Osamu Kariyama, Nobuyoshi Fujii, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Publication number: 20170284489
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake rotor including a center rotational axis is provided with an outer member including a braking portion extending in a rotation direction of the bicycle disc brake rotor and an inner member located at an inner side of the outer member in a radial direction of the bicycle disc brake rotor and coupled to the outer member. At least one of the outer member and the inner member includes a displacement reducing structure configured to reduce displacement of the braking portion in an axial direction of the bicycle disc brake rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Masanori TANIGUCHI, Yusuke HOSOMI, Noriko MASUTA, Masahiro NAKAKURA
  • Patent number: 9764794
    Abstract: A bicycle brake device comprises a friction member, a base member, a link structure, and a piston. The base member includes a hydraulic cylinder. The link structure is configured to couple the friction member to the base member so as to move the friction member relative to the base member between a rest position and a braking position. The piston is movable in the hydraulic cylinder in a movement direction and configured to push the link structure to move the friction member from the rest position toward the braking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Osamu Kariyama, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 9751586
    Abstract: A cable disk brake apparatus comprises a caliper housing structured to be attached to a bicycle, a first brake pad coupled to the caliper housing for movement between a release position and a braking position, and a second brake pad coupled to the caliper housing and arranged facing the first brake pad. A drive shaft is coupled to the caliper housing, wherein the drive shaft rotates around a drive shaft axis to move the first brake pad in an axial direction from the release position towards the braking position. An actuating member rotates to communicate rotational force to the drive shaft to cause the drive shaft to move the first brake pad from the release position towards the braking position, and a drive coupling member is coupled to the drive shaft to communicate rotational force from the actuating member to the drive shaft. An adjusting member adjusts a position of the drive coupling member relative to the actuating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiro Nakakura