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).

  • Patent number: 9752633
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake rotor comprises a friction member and a cooling member. The friction member includes at least one friction surface and a first inner peripheral edge. The cooling member includes a cooling body. The cooling body includes at least one cooling surface and a second inner peripheral edge. The second inner peripheral edge is provided radially inward of the first inner peripheral edge with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle disc brake rotor. The radially outer part is provided radially outward of the cooling body. The second inner peripheral edge is offset from the radially outer part in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis of the bicycle disc brake rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakakura, Yusuke Hosomi, Noriko Masuta
  • Publication number: 20170234473
    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: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi WATARAI, Osamu KARIYAMA, Nobuyoshi FUJII, Shinya HIROTOMI, Takahiro YAMASHITA, Masahiro NAKAKURA, Hideki IKEMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170225669
    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: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Osamu Kariyama, Nobuyoshi Fujii, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 9726216
    Abstract: A cable adjusting unit includes a first member, a second member and an actuator. The second member is movably arranged with respect to the first member. The actuator is operatively coupled to at least one of the first member and the second member. The actuator is arranged to relatively move the first member with respect to the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Osamu Kariyama, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 9718515
    Abstract: A bicycle control device includes a housing member, a shift-operating mechanism, a hydraulic fluid pressure generator and a control lever member. 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 shift-operating mechanism is coupled to a shifting device by a control cable. The hydraulic fluid pressure generator has a cylinder, a piston movably disposed within the cylinder to generate fluid pressure for controlling a braking device, and a rod part coupled to the piston. The control lever member has a cam member arranged to actuate the rod part, and a first operating lever coupled to the cam member. The first operating lever is pivotal around a first axis relative to the housing member and actuates the cam member by pivoting around the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Osamu Kariyama, Tatsuya Matsushita, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Publication number: 20170204921
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake rotor comprises a friction member, a cooling member, and a hub attachment member. The friction member includes at least one friction surface. The cooling member is coupled to the friction member. The cooling member includes at least one cooling surface. A surface area of the at least one cooling surface is equal to or larger than 110% of a surface area of the at least one friction surface. The hub attachment member is coupled to the friction member. The hub attachment member includes a hub engagement structure to engage with a bicycle hub assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro NAKAKURA, Yusuke HOSOMI, Noriko MASUTA
  • Publication number: 20170204922
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake rotor comprises a friction member and a cooling member. The friction member includes at least one friction surface and a first inner peripheral edge. The cooling member includes a cooling body. The cooling body includes at least one cooling surface and a second inner peripheral edge. The second inner peripheral edge is provided radially inward of the first inner peripheral edge with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle disc brake rotor. The radially outer part is provided radially outward of the cooling body. The second inner peripheral edge is offset from the radially outer part in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis of the bicycle disc brake rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakakura, Yusuke Hosomi, Noriko Masuta
  • Patent number: 9688348
    Abstract: A hydraulic hose fitting is basically provided with a first connection portion and a second connection portion. The first connection portion is configured to be attached a hydraulic device. The first connection portion has a first fluid passageway with a first center longitudinal axis and a fastener structure including one of a fastener receiving hole and an attachment stud that has a second center longitudinal axis that is non-perpendicular and non-coaxial with the first center longitudinal axis. The second connection portion is configured to be attached to a hydraulic hose. The second connection portion has a second fluid passageway fluidly communicating with the first fluid passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 9643682
    Abstract: A hydraulic operating device includes a base member, a hydraulic cylinder provided on the base member and having a bore, a piston located in the bore to move between an initial position and an actuated position, a lever pivotally coupled to the base member around a lever axis for pivotal movement between a rest position and an operated position and including a contact portion, and a connecting member configured to connect the lever to the piston such that the piston is pulled from the initial position to the actuated position in response to the pivotal movement of the lever from the rest position to the operated position. The connecting member has a first end portion coupled to the piston and a second end portion configured to displaceably contact with the contact portion of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Osamu Kariyama, Takuma Sakai, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Publication number: 20170097058
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake rotor having a rotational center axis is provided including an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion includes a first member having a first thermal conductivity and a second member having a second thermal conductivity that is higher than the first thermal conductivity. The second member is attached to the first member. The inner portion is disposed radially inwardly from the outer portion with respect to the rotational center axis. The inner portion is a separate member from the first and second members. The inner portion is attached to or contacts the second member of the outer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Masahiro NAKAKURA, Yusuke HOSOMI, Ryosuke YAMAMOTO, Masanori TANIGUCHI, Toru IWAI
  • Patent number: 9593727
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake rotor having a rotational center axis is provided including an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion includes a first member having a first thermal conductivity and a second member having a second thermal conductivity that is higher than the first thermal conductivity. The second member is attached to the first member. The inner portion is disposed radially inwardly from the outer portion with respect to the rotational center axis. The inner portion is a separate member from the first and second members. The inner portion is attached to or contacts the second member of the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakakura, Yusuke Hosomi, Ryosuke Yamamoto, Masanori Taniguchi, Toru Iwai
  • Patent number: 9586646
    Abstract: A bicycle rim brake comprises a first brake arm, a second brake arm, and a pivotal cam member. The first brake arm is configured to pivot about a first pivot axis. The first brake arm includes a first mounting portion and a first follower. The second brake arm is configured to pivot about a second pivot axis which is different from the first pivot axis. The second brake arm includes a second mounting portion and a second follower. The pivotal cam member is configured to pivot about a third pivot axis which is different from the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis to guide the first follower and the second follower so that the first brake arm pivots about the first pivot axis and the second brake arm pivots about the second pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Masahiro Nakakura
  • Publication number: 20170043839
    Abstract: A disc brake caliper for applying a braking force on a brake disc rotor configured to be rotatable about a rotational axis. The disc brake caliper comprises an attachment surface and a first threaded hole. The attachment surface is configured to face a pipe portion of a bicycle frame in a state where the disc brake caliper is coupled to the bicycle frame. A first thread bolt is to be inserted in the first threaded hole so as to couple the disc brake caliper to one of the bicycle frame and a base member attached to the bicycle frame, the first threaded hole being provided on the attachment surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Daisuke NOBORIO, Tsutomu MURAOKA, Osamu KARIYAMA, Masahiro NAKAKURA
  • Publication number: 20170036732
    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: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya KAKIMOTO, Tatsuya MATSUSHITA, Masahiro NAKAKURA, Shinya HIROTOMI
  • Patent number: 9550546
    Abstract: A hydraulic bicycle hose structure includes a hydraulic hose and a first seal. The hydraulic hose has a first end with a first opening. The hydraulic hose is configured to be coupled to a hydraulic component. The hydraulic hose is filled with hydraulic fluid. The first seal is arranged to seal the first opening of the first end of the hydraulic hose. The first seal is configured to be physically ruptured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Osamu Kariyama, Masahiro Nakakura, Takahiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9533733
    Abstract: A disc brake caliper for applying a braking force on a brake disc rotor configured to be rotatable about a rotational axis. The disc brake caliper comprises an attachment surface and a first threaded hole. The attachment surface is configured to face a pipe portion of a bicycle frame in a state where the disc brake caliper is coupled to the bicycle frame. A first thread bolt is to be inserted in the first threaded hole so as to couple the disc brake caliper to one of the bicycle frame and a base member attached to the bicycle frame, the first threaded hole being provided on the attachment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Daisuke Noborio, Tsutomu Muraoka, Osamu Kariyama, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 9505463
    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 relative 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, a piston movably disposed within the cylinder by movement of control lever member to generate fluid pressure for controlling a braking device, a piston position adjustment mechanism adjustably coupling the piston with respect to the cylinder to change an initial position of the piston with respect to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakakura, Yoshimitsu Miki
  • Patent number: 9469381
    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, a reservoir, and a piston movably disposed within the cylinder to generate fluid pressure for controlling a braking device. The cylinder is disposed in the housing member at a position closer toward the second end of the grip part than is the shift-operating mechanism to the second end of the grip part. The reservoir is disposed next to the cylinder in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Osamu Kariyama, Tatsuya Matsushita, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 9469380
    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 shift-operating mechanism includes a cable take-up member rotatably mounted around a cable take-up axis. The cable take-up member has 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 and a piston movably that is disposed within the cylinder by movement of the control lever member to generate fluid pressure for controlling a braking device. The cylinder defines a cylinder axis that forms an angle of greater than or equal to 20° and less than or equal to 50° with the cable take-up axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Osamu Kariyama, Tatsuya Matsushita, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 9457868
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic quick-release apparatus comprises a main body and a hydraulic chamber. The main body includes a first hole and a second hole. The hydraulic chamber has a changeable volume and is provided between the first hole and the second hole. The hydraulic chamber is configured to be in a first chamber state where a volume of the hydraulic chamber is a first volume. The hydraulic chamber is configured to be in a second chamber state where the volume of the hydraulic chamber is a second volume different from the first volume. The hydraulic chamber is disconnected from the first hole in the second chamber state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Osamu Kariyama, Tatsuya Matsushita, Masahiro Nakakura