Patents by Inventor Naohiro Nishimoto

Naohiro Nishimoto 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: 10406855
    Abstract: A bicycle hub assembly comprises a hub axle, a hub shell, and a sprocket support body. The sprocket support body includes a tubular part, a first sprocket engaging tooth, and a second sprocket engaging tooth. The tubular part includes an outer peripheral surface and an attachment portion. The first sprocket engaging tooth includes a first radially outer surface provided radially outward of the outer peripheral surface. The second sprocket engaging tooth includes a second radially outer surface and a third radially outer surface. The third radially outer surface is provided radially outward of the outer peripheral surface and radially inward of the second radially outer surface. A first distance is defined from the outer peripheral surface to the first radially outer surface. A second distance is defined from the outer peripheral surface to the third radially outer surface. The second distance is shorter than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Naohiro Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 10315727
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket assembly is basically provided that includes a first sprocket assembly and a second sprocket assembly. The first sprocket assembly includes at least one first sprocket and a first torque transmitting profile. The second sprocket assembly includes at least one second sprocket and a second torque transmitting profile. The second torque transmitting profile is configured to engage the first torque transmitting profile to transmit torque between the first sprocket assembly and the second sprocket assembly. A threaded portion is provided to one of the first sprocket assembly and the second sprocket assembly. The threaded portion is configured to threadedly engage a bicycle rear hub assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Naohiro Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 10293639
    Abstract: A bicycle hub assembly comprises a hub axle, a hub shell, a sprocket support body, a first ratchet member, a second ratchet member, and a sliding member. The hub shell includes at least one first tooth. The sprocket support body includes a first helical spline. The first ratchet member comprises at least one first ratchet tooth and a second helical spline engaged with the first helical spline. The second ratchet member comprises at least one second ratchet tooth and at least one second tooth. The at least one second ratchet tooth is engageable with the at least one first ratchet tooth. The at least one second tooth is engaged with the at least one first tooth. The sliding member is provided between the sprocket support body and the second ratchet member in an axial direction parallel to a rotational axis. The sliding member includes a non-metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Naohiro Nishimoto, Kazuki Koshiyama
  • Publication number: 20180229801
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket assembly is basically provided that includes a first sprocket assembly and a second sprocket assembly. The first sprocket assembly includes at least one first sprocket and a first torque transmitting profile. The second sprocket assembly includes at least one second sprocket and a second torque transmitting profile. The second torque transmitting profile is configured to engage the first torque transmitting profile to transmit torque between the first sprocket assembly and the second sprocket assembly. A threaded portion is provided to one of the first sprocket assembly and the second sprocket assembly. The threaded portion is configured to threadedly engage a bicycle rear hub assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventor: Naohiro NISHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170232791
    Abstract: A bicycle hub assembly comprises a hub axle, a hub shell, a sprocket support body, a first ratchet member, a second ratchet member, and a sliding member. The hub shell includes at least one first tooth. The sprocket support body includes a first helical spline. The first ratchet member comprises at least one first ratchet tooth and a second helical spline engaged with the first helical spline. The second ratchet member comprises at least one second ratchet tooth and at least one second tooth. The at least one second ratchet tooth is engageable with the at least one first ratchet tooth. The at least one second tooth is engaged with the at least one first tooth. The sliding member is provided between the sprocket support body and the second ratchet member in an axial direction parallel to a rotational axis. The sliding member includes a non-metallic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Naohiro NISHIMOTO, Kazuki KOSHIYAMA
  • Patent number: 9707801
    Abstract: A bicycle hub assembly comprises a hub axle, a hub shell, a sprocket support body, a first ratchet member, a second ratchet member, and a spacer. The hub shell includes at least one first tooth. The sprocket support body includes a first helical spline. The first ratchet member comprises at least one first ratchet tooth and a second helical spline engaged with the first helical spline. The second ratchet member comprises at least one second ratchet tooth and at least one second tooth. The at least one second tooth is engaged with the at least one first tooth. The spacer is at least partly provided between the at least one first tooth and the at least one second tooth in a circumferential direction defined about a rotational axis. The spacer includes a non-metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Naohiro Nishimoto, Kazuki Koshiyama
  • Publication number: 20170190384
    Abstract: A bicycle hub assembly comprises a hub axle, a hub shell, and a sprocket support body. The sprocket support body includes a tubular part, a first sprocket engaging tooth, and a second sprocket engaging tooth. The tubular part includes an outer peripheral surface and an attachment portion. The first sprocket engaging tooth includes a first radially outer surface provided radially outward of the outer peripheral surface. The second sprocket engaging tooth includes a second radially outer surface and a third radially outer surface. The third radially outer surface is provided radially outward of the outer peripheral surface and radially inward of the second radially outer surface. A first distance is defined from the outer peripheral surface to the first radially outer surface. A second distance is defined from the outer peripheral surface to the third radially outer surface. The second distance is shorter than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Naohiro NISHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 9649880
    Abstract: A bicycle hub assembly comprises a hub axle, a hub shell, a sprocket support body, a first ratchet member, a second ratchet member, and a holding member. The sprocket support body includes a first helical spline. The first ratchet member includes at least one first ratchet tooth, and a second helical spline configured to mate with the first helical spline. The second ratchet member includes at least one second ratchet tooth configured to mate with the at least one first ratchet tooth, and a hub shell engagement portion configured to engage with the hub shell. The holding member is configured to hold an assembled state where the sprocket support body. The first ratchet member and the second ratchet member are assembled as a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Naohiro Nishimoto
  • Publication number: 20170096029
    Abstract: A bicycle hub assembly comprises a hub axle, a hub shell, a sprocket support body, a first ratchet member, a second ratchet member, and a spacer. The hub shell includes at least one first tooth. The sprocket support body includes a first helical spline. The first ratchet member comprises at least one first ratchet tooth and a second helical spline engaged with the first helical spline. The second ratchet member comprises at least one second ratchet tooth and at least one second tooth. The at least one second tooth is engaged with the at least one first tooth. The spacer is at least partly provided between the at least one first tooth and the at least one second tooth in a circumferential direction defined about a rotational axis. The spacer includes a non-metallic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Naohiro NISHIMOTO, Kazuki KOSHIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160223033
    Abstract: A bicycle hub assembly comprises a hub axle, a hub shell, a sprocket support body, a first ratchet member, a second ratchet member, and a holding member. The sprocket support body includes a first helical spline. The first ratchet member includes at least one first ratchet tooth, and a second helical spline configured to mate with the first helical spline. The second ratchet member includes at least one second ratchet tooth configured to mate with the at least one first ratchet tooth, and a hub shell engagement portion configured to engage with the hub shell. The holding member is configured to hold an assembled state where the sprocket support body. The first ratchet member and the second ratchet member are assembled as a single unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi FUJITA, Naohiro NISHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 9284169
    Abstract: A sailboat winch basically includes a support, a winch drum, a drive shaft and a transmission mechanism. The support is mounted to a sailboat. The winch drum is rotatable with respect to the support. The drive shaft is rotatable with respect to the support and the winch drum. The transmission mechanism is operatively disposed between the drive shaft and the winch drum to transmit rotation from the drive shaft to the winch drum in a single output rotational direction. The transmission mechanism increases an output rotational speed of the winch drum with respect to an input rotational speed of the drive shaft as the drive shaft rotates in a first rotational direction. The transmission mechanism also decreases the output rotational speed of the winch drum with respect to the input rotational speed of the drive shaft as the drive shaft rotates in a second rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Naohiro Nishimoto
  • Publication number: 20150210517
    Abstract: A sailboat winch basically includes a support, a winch drum, a drive shaft and a transmission mechanism. The support is mounted to a sailboat. The winch drum is rotatable with respect to the support. The drive shaft is rotatable with respect to the support and the winch drum. The transmission mechanism is operatively disposed between the drive shaft and the winch drum to transmit rotation from the drive shaft to the winch drum in a single output rotational direction. The transmission mechanism increases an output rotational speed of the winch drum with respect to an input rotational speed of the drive shaft as the drive shaft rotates in a first rotational direction. The transmission mechanism also decreases the output rotational speed of the winch drum with respect to the input rotational speed of the drive shaft as the drive shaft rotates in a second rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Naohiro NISHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8498109
    Abstract: A fitting mechanism includes a door member that is provided on a front side of a housing area for accommodating a terminal device and opens and closes the housing area, and a supporting member that is provided on a back side of the housing area and supports the terminal device accommodated in the housing area by urging the terminal device against the door member. The supporting member is urged toward the front side and has an abutting portion that abuts against the terminal device, the abutting portion being movable in a depth direction of the housing area within a predetermined movable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Naohiro Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 7956000
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for activating an hydrotreating catalyst comprising a Group VIB metal oxide and a Group VIII metal oxide which process comprises contacting the catalyst with an acid and an organic additive which has a boiling point in the range of 80-500° C. and a solubility in water of at least 5 grams per liter (20° C., atmospheric pressure), optionally followed by drying under such conditions that at least 50% of the additive is maintained in the catalyst. The hydrotreating catalyst may be a fresh hydrotreating catalyst or a used hydrotreating catalyst which has been regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignees: Albemarle Europe, SPRL, Nippon Ketjen Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Marcel Adriaan Jansen, Franciscus Wilhelmus Van Houtert, Toshiyuki Ado, Tetsuro Kamo, Naohiro Nishimoto
  • Publication number: 20110094939
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for activating an hydrotreating catalyst comprising a Group VIB metal oxide and a Group VIII metal oxide which process comprises contacting the catalyst with an acid and an organic additive which has a boiling point in the range of 80-500° C. and a solubility in water of at least 5 grams per liter (20° C., atmospheric pressure), optionally followed by drying under such conditions that at least 50% of the additive is maintained in the catalyst. The hydrotreating catalyst may be a fresh hydrotreating catalyst or a used hydrotreating catalyst which has been regenerated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Marcel Adriaan JANSEN, Franciscus Wilhelmus VAN HOUTERT, Toshiyuki ADO, Tetsuro KAMO, Naohiro NISHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20100014226
    Abstract: A fitting mechanism includes a door member that is provided on a front side of a housing area for accommodating a terminal device and opens and closes the housing area, and a supporting member that is provided on a back side of the housing area and supports the terminal device accommodated in the housing area by urging the terminal device against the door member. The supporting member is urged toward the front side and has an abutting portion that abuts against the terminal device, the abutting portion being movable in a depth direction of the housing area within a predetermined movable range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Naohiro Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 7422438
    Abstract: A bicycle wiring connector apparatus comprises a mounting portion and a connector portion. The mounting portion is structured to be mounted to an outer casing receiver of a bicycle, and the connector portion is retained to the mounting portion and is structured to retain an electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Naohiro Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 7388151
    Abstract: A bicycle electrical wiring support apparatus comprises an axially elongated rigid first cover member structured to substantially cover a portion of electrical wiring, and a resilient second cover member that couples to the first cover member for covering a portion of electrical wiring not covered by the first cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Naohiro Nishimoto
  • Publication number: 20070275845
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for activating an hydrotreating catalyst comprising a Group VIB metal oxide and a Group VIII metal oxide which process comprises contacting the catalyst with an acid and an organic additive which has a boiling point in the range of 80-500° C. and a solubility in water of at least 5 grams per liter (20° C., atmospheric pressure), optionally followed by drying under such conditions that at least 50% of the additive is maintained in the catalyst. The hydrotreating catalyst may be a fresh hydrotreating catalyst or a used hydrotreating catalyst which has been regenerated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Marcel Jansen, Franciscus Van Houtert, Toshiyuki Ado, Tetsuro Kamo, Naohiro Nishimoto
  • Patent number: RE41194
    Abstract: A switch guide located between a pair of switches on a computerized bicycle control panel is disclosed for guiding a bicycle rider's thumb to a proper switch on a bicycle handle bar. The switch guide is preferably a protrusion dimensioned to be detected by the bicycle rider's thumb. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the height of the switch guide is greater than the height of the switch. In an alternative embodiment, the height of the switch guide is greater than the height of the switch, when the switch is activated. The switch guide is located in sufficient proximity to the switches to allow the rider's thumb to access one of the switches by moving the thumb to one side of the switch guide and the other switch by moving the thumb to the other side of the switch guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Naohiro Nishimoto, Takuji Masui