Patents by Inventor Mototsugu Nakai

Mototsugu Nakai 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: 11524741
    Abstract: A sensor wheel for a human-powered vehicle comprises a wheel body and an attachment part. The wheel body is configured to be rotatable relative to a vehicle body of the human-powered vehicle about a rotational axis along with a rotational hub of the human-powered vehicle. The wheel body includes a plurality of openings spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction with respect to the rotational axis. The attachment part is configured to be operatively coupled to the rotational hub. At least one opening of the plurality of openings has a radial length defined radially with respect to the rotational axis. The radial length is equal to or larger than 8 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Mototsugu Nakai, Kazuya Kuwayama, Ryosuke Habara
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20220017175
    Abstract: A sensor wheel for a human-powered vehicle comprises a wheel body and an attachment part. The wheel body is configured to be rotatable relative to a vehicle body of the human-powered vehicle about a rotational axis along with a rotational hub of the human-powered vehicle. The wheel body includes a plurality of openings spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction with respect to the rotational axis. The attachment part is configured to be operatively coupled to the rotational hub. At least one opening of the plurality of openings has a radial length defined radially with respect to the rotational axis. The radial length is equal to or larger than 8 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Mototsugu NAKAI, Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Ryosuke HABARA
  • Patent number: 11124262
    Abstract: An adapter body is configured to be attached to a vehicle body in each of a first orientation in which a caliper body is coupled to the vehicle body via the adapter body in a first position corresponding to a first disc brake rotor having a first outer diameter, and a second orientation in which the caliper body is coupled to the vehicle body via the adapter body in a second position corresponding to a second disc brake rotor having a second outer diameter different from the first outer diameter. The indicator is configured to indicate an correspondence between an orientation of the adapter body and at least one of the first disc brake rotor and the second disc brake rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Mototsugu Nakai, Kazuya Kuwayama
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10829180
    Abstract: A hydraulic operating device for a small vehicle including a bicycle comprises a base member, a mounting structure, an operating member, and a piston. The base member includes a cylinder bore having a cylinder axis. The mounting structure defines a mounting axis linearly extending along the handlebar in a mounting state where the base member is mounted on a handlebar with the mounting structure. The operating member is pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis between a rest position and an operated position. The cylinder axis is non-perpendicular to the mounting axis as viewed along the first pivot axis in the mounting state. The piston is movably provided in the cylinder bore. The piston is coupled to the operating member to be pulled in response to a pivotal movement of the operating member from the rest position to the operated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Takuma Sakai, Yasuyuki Komada, Mototsugu Nakai, Masahiro Nakakura, Takafumi Nishino
  • Publication number: 20200339217
    Abstract: An adapter body is configured to be attached to a vehicle body in each of a first orientation in which a caliper body is coupled to the vehicle body via the adapter body in a first position corresponding to a first disc brake rotor having a first outer diameter, and a second orientation in which the caliper body is coupled to the vehicle body via the adapter body in a second position corresponding to a second disc brake rotor having a second outer diameter different from the first outer diameter. The indicator is configured to indicate an correspondence between an orientation of the adapter body and at least one of the first disc brake rotor and the second disc brake rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Mototsugu NAKAI, Kazuya KUWAYAMA
  • 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: 10604209
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic device includes a cylinder including a cylinder bore, a piston located in the cylinder bore and movable between an initial position and an actuation position, a reservoir tank that is in fluidal communication with the cylinder bore through a communication port, and a flow modulator configured to modulate a flow behavior of a fluid in accordance with a direction in which the fluid flows in the communication port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Mototsugu Nakai, Takaaki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsushita, Yasuyuki Komada, Etsuyoshi Watarai
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10358183
    Abstract: A hydraulic operating apparatus for a small vehicle, including a bicycle, comprises a housing, a piston, a mounting assembly, a lever, and a fluid reservoir tank. The housing includes a cylinder bore extending along a cylinder axis. The piston is movably disposed within the cylinder bore. The mounting assembly is configured to mount the housing to a handlebar of the small vehicle. The mounting assembly defines a handlebar mounting axis that is not perpendicular to the cylinder axis in a mounted state where the housing is mounted to the handlebar. The lever is pivotally mounted to the housing and configured to move the piston within the cylinder bore in response to a movement of the lever. The fluid reservoir tank has a lid opening. The lid opening is configured to face a center plane that passes through a geometric center of the handlebar and that is perpendicular to the handlebar mounting axis, in the mounted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Komada, Takuma Sakai, Mototsugu Nakai
  • Patent number: 10300983
    Abstract: An operating assembly for a small vehicle including a bicycle is basically provided with a base member, an operating member, a handlebar fixing structure and a handlebar spacer. The base member includes a support. The operating member is movably coupled to the base member. The handlebar fixing structure is coupled to base member. The handlebar fixing structure defines a handlebar receiving area. The support is spaced from the handlebar receiving area of the handlebar fixing structure in a parallel direction parallel to a handlebar axis defined by the handlebar receiving area. The handlebar spacer is disposed between a handlebar and one of the support and the handlebar fixing structure in a mounted state where the operating device is mounted to the handlebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Mototsugu Nakai, Kohei Obuchi, Kentaro Kosaka, Takahiro Yamashita, Toshio Tetsuka
  • Patent number: 10259523
    Abstract: A hydraulic operating system for a small vehicle including a bicycle is basically provided with a base member, a piston, a hydraulic fluid chamber, a diaphragm and a deformation adjustment structure. The base member includes a cylinder bore. The piston is movably disposed in the cylinder bore. The hydraulic fluid chamber is fluidly connected to the cylinder bore. The diaphragm is at least partially defining the hydraulic fluid chamber. The diaphragm is deformed by fluid pressure in response to movement of the piston in the cylinder bore. The deformation adjustment structure is configured to selectively change a deformation condition of the diaphragm between at least two different deformation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Mototsugu Nakai, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Publication number: 20190061869
    Abstract: A hydraulic operating apparatus for a small vehicle, including a bicycle, comprises a housing, a piston, a mounting assembly, a lever, and a fluid reservoir tank. The housing includes a cylinder bore extending along a cylinder axis. The piston is movably disposed within the cylinder bore. The mounting assembly is configured to mount the housing to a handlebar of the small vehicle. The mounting assembly defines a handlebar mounting axis that is not perpendicular to the cylinder axis in a mounted state where the housing is mounted to the handlebar. The lever is pivotally mounted to the housing and configured to move the piston within the cylinder bore in response to a movement of the lever. The fluid reservoir tank has a lid opening. The lid opening is configured to face a center plane that passes through a geometric center of the handlebar and that is perpendicular to the handlebar mounting axis, in the mounted state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki KOMADA, Takuma SAKAI, Mototsugu NAKAI
  • Publication number: 20190061870
    Abstract: A hydraulic operating device for a small vehicle including a bicycle comprises a base member, a mounting structure, an operating member, and a piston. The base member includes a cylinder bore having a cylinder axis. The mounting structure defines a mounting axis linearly extending along the handlebar in a mounting state where the base member is mounted on a handlebar with the mounting structure. The operating member is pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis between a rest position and an operated position. The cylinder axis is non-perpendicular to the mounting axis as viewed along the first pivot axis in the mounting state. The piston is movably provided in the cylinder bore. The piston is coupled to the operating member to be pulled in response to a pivotal movement of the operating member from the rest position to the operated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Takuma SAKAI, Yasuyuki KOMADA, Mototsugu NAKAI, Masahiro NAKAKURA, Takafumi NISHINO
  • Publication number: 20190039685
    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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Mototsugu NAKAI, Kohei OBUCHI, Natsuki NOMA
  • Publication number: 20190039679
    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: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Mototsugu NAKAI, Kohei OBUCHI, Natsuki NOMA
  • Publication number: 20190039684
    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: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Mototsugu NAKAI, Kohei OBUCHI, Natsuki NOMA
  • Publication number: 20190039683
    Abstract: An operating assembly for a small vehicle including a bicycle is basically provided with a base member, an operating member, a handlebar fixing structure and a handlebar spacer. The base member includes a support. The operating member is movably coupled to the base member. The handlebar fixing structure is coupled to base member. The handlebar fixing structure defines a handlebar receiving area. The support is spaced from the handlebar receiving area of the handlebar fixing structure in a parallel direction parallel to a handlebar axis defined by the handlebar receiving area. The handlebar spacer is disposed between a handlebar and one of the support and the handlebar fixing structure in a mounted state where the operating device is mounted to the handlebar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Mototsugu NAKAI, Kohei OBUCHI, Kentaro KOSAKA, Takahiro YAMASHITA, Toshio TETSUKA