Patents by Inventor Masahiro Yamanaka
Masahiro Yamanaka 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: 20150000459Abstract: A composite bicycle component comprises a first member, a second member, a bonding member, and an inner holding member. The first member is made of metallic material. The second member is made of non-metallic material. The first and second members are configured to form an interior cavity therebetween in a state where the first and second members are attached to each other. The bonding member is configured to attach the first and second members to each other. The inner holding member is configured to be disposed within the interior cavity so as to prevent the first and second members from being separated from each other until completion of attaching the first and second members to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: Tetsu NONOSHITA, Masahiro YAMANAKA
-
Publication number: 20140182413Abstract: A bicycle crank arm includes a first member and a second member. The first member has a crank axle interacting portion and a first recessed part around the crank axle interacting portion. The second member is attached to the first member. The first member has a first side facing the second member and a second side opposite to the first side. The first recessed part is recessed from the second side toward the first side such that the first recessed part includes an attachment area attached to the second member on the first side.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2012Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Masahiro YAMANAKA, Yusuke NISHIMOTO, Tetsu NONOSHITA, Yuki WATANABE
-
Publication number: 20140144285Abstract: A bicycle crank axle assembly has first and second crank arms that are attached to opposite ends of a crank axle. The ends of the crank axle are non-rotatably disposed in axle mounting openings of the first and second crank arms. A first end of the crank axle has at least one axially extending first spline that protrudes radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of its middle body portion. The at least one axially extending first spline non-rotatably couples the crank axle to the first crank arm and prevents outward axial movement of the first crank arm away from the second crank arm. The second end portion of the crank axle has at least one recess that extend radially inward with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the middle body portion to form at least one axially extending second spline.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2014Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Masahiro YAMANAKA, Yusuke NISHIMOTO, Shingo SHIRAISHI, Akinobu SUGIMOTO
-
Patent number: 8721187Abstract: A bicycle axle assembly is provided with an axle including a rotational axis, a bearing, a bearing adapter and a conical element. The bearing includes a cone disposed on the axle, a cup and a plurality of roller elements disposed between the cone and the cup such that the cup rotates relative to the cone about the rotational axis. The bearing adapter includes a tubular mounting section for mounting to a tubular member and a bearing housing section housing the bearing therein. The bearing housing section has a tapered abutment angled relative to the rotational axis at a first abutment angle and contacting a tapered contact surface of the cup. The conical element is disposed on the axle. The conical element has a tapered abutment angled relative to the rotational axis at a second abutment angle and contacting a tapered contact surface of the first cone. The second abutment angle of the tapered abutment of the conical element is smaller than the first abutment angle of the bearing housing section.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Masahiro Yamanaka
-
Patent number: 8677859Abstract: A bicycle crank axle assembly has first and second crank arms that are attached to opposite ends of a crank axle. The ends of the crank axle are non-rotatably disposed in axle mounting openings of the first and second crank arms. A first end of the crank axle has at least one axially extending first spline that protrudes radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of its middle body portion. The at least one axially extending first spline non-rotatably couples the crank axle to the first crank arm and prevents outward axial movement of the first crank arm away from the second crank arm. The second end portion of the crank axle has at least one recess that extend radially inward with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the middle body portion to form at least one axially extending second spline.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2011Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Masahiro Yamanaka, Yusuke Nishimoto, Shingo Shiraishi, Akinobu Sugimoto
-
Publication number: 20140047947Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly is provided with a crank arm that includes a first outer shell, a second outer shell, and a pedal attachment structure. The first outer shell is a one-piece, pressed sheet metal member with the projecting part being a bent portion that defines the first pedal axle opening. The first outer shell has a projecting part projecting from the first outer shell in an axial direction. The first and second outer shells are adhesively attached together to form an interior cavity. The pedal attachment structure includes an abutment face with a recess formed in the abutment face such that the abutment face contacts the first outer shell adjacent the first pedal axle opening and the projecting part of the first outer shell is disposed in the recess of the pedal attachment structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2013Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Tetsu NONOSHITA, Masahiro YAMANAKA
-
Patent number: 8616085Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly is provided that basically provided with a crank arm that includes a first outer shell, a second outer shell, a first axle supporting member and a second axle supporting member. The first and second outer shells are adhesively attached together to form an interior cavity. The first axle supporting member is disposed at the first axle attachment end of the first outer shell. The first axle supporting member has a first bore with a first splined inner surface at least partially disposed in the interior cavity. The second axle supporting member is disposed at the second axle attachment end of the second outer shell. The second axle supporting member has a second bore with a second splined inner surface aligned with the first splined inner surface of the first bore and at least partially disposed in the interior cavity.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2010Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Tetsu Nonoshita, Masahiro Yamanaka
-
Publication number: 20130133477Abstract: A bicycle crank axle assembly has first and second crank arms that are attached to opposite ends of a crank axle. The ends of the crank axle are non-rotatably disposed in axle mounting openings of the first and second crank arms. A first end of the crank axle has at least one axially extending first spline that protrudes radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of its middle body portion. The at least one axially extending first spline non-rotatably couples the crank axle to the first crank arm and prevents outward axial movement of the first crank arm away from the second crank arm. The second end portion of the crank axle has at least one recess that extend radially inward with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the middle body portion to form at least one axially extending second spline.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Masahiro YAMANAKA, Yusuke NISHIMOTO, Shingo SHIRAISHI, Akinobu SUGIMOTO
-
Patent number: 8438947Abstract: A bicycle crank arm has a body member and a cover member that at least partially overlies a peripheral surface of the body member. The body member includes a crank axle attachment portion that has a crank axle receiving opening. A slit extends from the peripheral surface of the body member to the crank axle receiving opening. A fastener bore extends transversely through the slit for adjusting the crank axle receiving opening in size. The peripheral surface of the body member has abutments located on opposite sides of the slit. The abutments are arranged relative to the slit such that the abutments move closer together as the crank axle attachment portion is squeezed to decrease the crank axle receiving opening in size. The cover member contacts the abutments and moves with the abutments as the crank axle attachment portion is squeezed to decrease the crank axle receiving opening in size.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2011Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Masahiro Yamanaka, Eigo Kuroiwa, Tetsu Nonoshita
-
Publication number: 20130091981Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly is basically provided with a crank axle, a first outer shell member, a second outer shell member, a first crank axle supporting member and a second crank axle supporting member. The crank axle has an end portion with an external mounting surface and an internal mounting surface. The first and second outer shell members are arranged relative to each other with a space being formed between the first and second outer shell members. The first crank axle supporting member is disposed on the first outer shell member and supports the external mounting surface of the crank axle. The second crank axle supporting member is disposed on the first outer shell member and supports the internal mounting surface of the crank axle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Masahiro YAMANAKA, Eigo KUROIWA, Tetsu NONOSHITA
-
Publication number: 20130087011Abstract: A bicycle crank arm has a body member and a cover member that at least partially overlies a peripheral surface of the body member. The body member includes a crank axle attachment portion that has a crank axle receiving opening. A slit extends from the peripheral surface of the body member to the crank axle receiving opening. A fastener bore extends transversely through the slit for adjusting the crank axle receiving opening in size. The peripheral surface of the body member has abutments located on opposite sides of the slit. The abutments are arranged relative to the slit such that the abutments move closer together as the crank axle attachment portion is squeezed to decrease the crank axle receiving opening in size. The cover member contacts the abutments and moves with the abutments as the crank axle attachment portion is squeezed to decrease the crank axle receiving opening in size.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2011Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Masahiro YAMANAKA, Eigo KUROIWA, Tetsu NONOSHITA
-
Patent number: 8375827Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly is provided with a crank arm including a front side surface and a back side surface. The crank arm has a crank axle mounting portion with a crank axle receiving opening defined by an axle coupling structure. The axle coupling structure at least includes a plurality of full length splines and at least one short spline. The full length splines extends completely in an axial direction of the crank axle receiving opening from a first axial end edge to a second axial end edge. The short spline extends in the axial direction with a truncated end positioned adjacent one of the first and second axial end edges such that the at least one short spline does not extend completely from the other of the first and second axial end edges to the one of the first and second axial end edges.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Eigo Kuroiwa, Masahiro Yamanaka
-
Patent number: 8267417Abstract: A bicycle bottom bracket assembly is at least provided with a first support member and a first bearing unit. The first support member includes a first hanger mounting part and a first bearing mounting part. The first bearing unit is coupled to the first bearing mounting part. The first hanger mounting part has a first outer circumferential surface that is configured and arranged to be press-fitted into a first open end of a hanger part of a bicycle frame. The first hanger mounting part has a first slit extending in an axial direction relative to a rotational axis of the first bearing unit from an open axial innermost end of the first slit at least up to a region that is located radially outwardly from the first bearing unit in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the first bearing unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2011Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Masahiro Yamanaka
-
Patent number: 8246064Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly is provided with a crank arm and an axial gap adjustment device. The crank arm has a crank axle mounting part, an extension part extending from the crank axle mounting part, a pedal attachment part provided on a radial outer end of the extension part and a sprocket attachment part. The axial gap adjustment device includes an adjustment adapter and an adjustment member. The adjustment adapter has a crank arm engagement structure that non-rotatably engages the crank arm, a first crank axle opening, and a first screw part. The adjustment member has a second crank axle opening, and a second screw part threadedly engaged with the first screw part to selectively position the adjustment member relative to the adjustment adapter.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Eigo Kuroiwa, Masahiro Yamanaka, Shingo Shiraishi
-
Publication number: 20120048058Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly is provided with a crank arm including a front side surface and a back side surface. The crank arm has a crank axle mounting portion with a crank axle receiving opening defined by an axle coupling structure. The axle coupling structure at least includes a plurality of full length splines and at least one short spline. The full length splines extends completely in an axial direction of the crank axle receiving opening from a first axial end edge to a second axial end edge. The short spline extends in the axial direction with a truncated end positioned adjacent one of the first and second axial end edges such that the at least one short spline does not extend completely from the other of the first and second axial end edges to the one of the first and second axial end edges.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Eigo KUROIWA, Masahiro YAMANAKA
-
Publication number: 20120042746Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly is provided that basically provided with a crank arm that includes a first outer shell, a second outer shell, a first axle supporting member and a second axle supporting member. The first outer shell has a first elongated portion with a first axle attachment end. The second outer shell has a second elongated portion with a second axle attachment end. The first and second outer shells are adhesively attached together to form an interior cavity therebetween. The first axle supporting member is disposed at the first axle attachment end of the first outer shell. The first axle supporting member has a first bore with a first splined inner surface that is at least partially disposed in the interior cavity between the first and second outer shells. The second axle supporting member is disposed at the second axle attachment end of the second outer shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2010Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Tetsu NONOSHITA, Masahiro YAMANAKA
-
Publication number: 20110140390Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly is provided with a crank arm and an axial gap adjustment device. The crank arm has a crank axle mounting part, an extension part extending from the crank axle mounting part, a pedal attachment part provided on a radial outer end of the extension part and a sprocket attachment part. The axial gap adjustment device includes an adjustment adapter and an adjustment member. The adjustment adapter has a crank arm engagement structure that non-rotatably engages the crank arm, a first crank axle opening, and a first screw part. The adjustment member has a second crank axle opening, and a second screw part threadedly engaged with the first screw part to selectively position the adjustment member relative to the adjustment adapter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2009Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Eigo KUROIWA, Masahiro YAMANAKA, Shingo SHIRAISHI
-
Patent number: 7856903Abstract: A bicycle crank axle comprises an axle body having first and second end portions, a plurality of first splines disposed at the first end portion of the axle body, a plurality of second splines disposed at the second end portion of the axle body, and a projection extending radially outwardly from the first end portion of the axle body, wherein the projection is structured to abut against a lateral outer surface of a bicycle crank arm to prevent the bicycle crank arm from moving axially outward. A separate projecting member is mounted to the first end of the axle body to form the projection. The plurality of first splines extend radially outwardly from an outer peripheral surface of the axle body for engaging a splined surface of the bicycle crank arm, but the plurality of second splines do not extend radially outwardly relative to the outer peripheral surface of the axle body.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2006Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Masahiro Yamanaka, Etsuyoshi Watarai
-
Publication number: 20100270932Abstract: An electronic ballast is capable of inhibiting ballast shutdown caused by erroneously determining a fault condition. The ballast includes a DC power supply circuit for outputting DC power, a power conversion circuit that appropriately converts DC power outputted by the DC power supply circuit and outputs it to a discharge lamp, a DC voltage droop detection circuit for determining existence/absence of a fault condition in the DC power supply circuit 1, a lamp end of life detection circuit for determining existence/absence of a fault condition of the discharge lamp; and a sequence control circuit and a shutdown control circuit that control at least the power conversion circuit according to detection by the DC voltage droop detection circuit the discharge lamp life detection circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Inventors: Naoki Onishi, Hiroyuki Asano, Tetsuya Hamana, Masahiro Yamanaka
-
Publication number: 20100270949Abstract: An electronic ballast includes circuitry to prevent a switch from being damaged in the case where an abnormality occurs in an output voltage of an input power supply. A DC power supply control circuit has a zero current detection circuit that, when a current through an inductor becomes equal to or less than a predetermined current value, outputs a zero signal. A peak current detection circuit, when current through a switch the DC power supply circuit becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined current value, outputs a peak signal. A first drive circuit turns on the switch according to the zero signal, and turns off the switch Q1 according to the peak signal. The zero current detection circuit is provided with a mask circuit that stops the zero signal from being outputted to the first drive circuit for a predetermined period after the current through the inductor has become equal to or less than the predetermined current value.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Inventors: Naoki ONISHI, Hiroyuki ASANO, Tetsuya HAMANA, Masahiro YAMANAKA