Patents by Inventor Nobukatsu Hara

Nobukatsu Hara 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: 9845134
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur comprises a base member adapted to be mounted to a bicycle, a movable member movably coupled to the base member, and a chain guide coupled to the movable member. The chain guide is coupled for rotation around a rotational axis (X), and a biasing element biases the chain guide in a selected rotational direction. A resistance applying unit applies a resistance to rotational movement of the chain guide in a direction opposite the selected rotational direction, and an adjusting unit adjusts an amount of resistance applied by the resistance applying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Takachi, Atsushi Iizuka, Nobukatsu Hara
  • Patent number: 9840294
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a bicycle component in accordance with a seat position of a bicycle seat is provided. The control device may comprise a transmitter configured to transmit a signal relating to the seat position of the bicycle seat, and a mounting structure configured to detachably mount the transmitter to at least one of a bicycle seat post, a bicycle frame, and the bicycle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Nobukatsu Hara
  • Publication number: 20170297649
    Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly has a rotational center axis and comprises a crank member, a sprocket member, a sliding mechanism, a first stopper member, a second stopper member and a damping member. The crank member rotatably is arranged around the rotational center axis. The sprocket member is integrally and rotatably attached to the crank member. The sliding mechanism movably coupling the sprocket member in an axial direction with respect to the crank member. The first stopper member is attached to the crank member. The second stopper member is attached to the sprocket member. The damping member is attached to at least one of the first stopper member and the second stopper member. The damping member is configured to contact the other of the first stopper member and the second stopper member while the sliding mechanism is in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Nobukatsu HARA, Michihiro KODAMA
  • Publication number: 20170274961
    Abstract: A bicycle chain device that includes a mounting bracket configured to be affixed to a bicycle. The bicycle has a solitary bicycle front sprocket. A cage is movably mounted to the mounting bracket so that the cage is positioned adjacent to the front sprocket. The cage has a chain-receiving slot, through which a bicycle chain passes. The cage is configured to move in accordance with a shifting operation of a bicycle rear derailleur to maintain alignment with a chain to prevent the chain from falling off the sprocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventor: Nobukatsu HARA
  • Publication number: 20170233037
    Abstract: A bicycle driving system includes a crank assembly and a multiple rear sprocket assembly. The crank assembly includes a front sprocket including a rotational center axis and a crank arm. The front sprocket is movable relative to the crank arm in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis. The multiple rear sprocket assembly includes eleven or more rear sprockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: Nobukatsu Hara
  • Publication number: 20170225743
    Abstract: A bicycle shifting system is basically provided with a first shifting device, a second shifting device and a controller. One of the first shifting device and the second shifting device is mechanically operated, while the other of the first shifting device and the second shifting device is electrically operated. The controller is configured to operate at least one of the first shifting device and the second shifting device in accordance with at least one of a predetermined upshifting route and a predetermined downshifting route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventor: Nobukatsu HARA
  • Patent number: 9725132
    Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly having a rotational center axis is basically provided with a crank member and a sprocket member. The crank member includes a support portion that extends in the axial direction and an arm portion that is integrally rotatable around the rotational center axis with the support portion. The sprocket member includes a sliding portion that extends in the axial direction that is integrally rotatable with respect to the support portion and that is displaceable in the axial direction. The bicycle crank assembly is constructed to achieve high strength and to suppress the decrease in the efficiency of the rotation transmission from the crank member to the sprocket member in a crank assembly in which the sprocket member is movable in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Hara, Michihiro Kodama
  • Patent number: 9714067
    Abstract: A bicycle chain device that includes a mounting bracket configured to be affixed to a bicycle. The bicycle has a solitary bicycle front sprocket. A cage is movably mounted to the mounting bracket so that the cage is positioned adjacent to the front sprocket. The cage has a chain-receiving slot, through which a bicycle chain passes. The cage is configured to move in accordance with a shifting operation of a bicycle rear derailleur to maintain alignment with a chain to prevent the chain from falling off the sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Nobukatsu Hara
  • Publication number: 20170167542
    Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly includes a sprocket having a rotational center axis, a crank, a crank axle and a slide mechanism. The crank axle is attached to the crank and includes an internal space. The slide mechanism is configured to displace the sprocket relatively to the crank in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis. At least part of the slide mechanism is disposed in the internal space of the crank axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventor: Nobukatsu HARA
  • Publication number: 20170158281
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, a brake operating member, and a first operating member. The base member comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a grip portion. The brake operating member is movably coupled to the base member to operate a brake device. The first operating member is coupled to the base member movably between a rest position and an operated position to move a mechanical control cable relative to the base member. The first operating member is movable relative to the base member between the rest position and the operated position without mechanically positioning the mechanical control cable relative to the base member during a movement of the first operating member occurring between the rest position and the operated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu HARA, Etsuyoshi WATARAI
  • Publication number: 20170096184
    Abstract: An electrical seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a positioning structure, an electrical actuator, and a power supply. The second cylinder is telescopically received in the first cylinder. The positioning structure is to adjustably position the second cylinder relative to the first cylinder in a telescopic direction. The electrical actuator is to actuate the positioning structure in accordance with an electrical signal. The power supply is to supply electrical power to the electrical actuator. The power supply and the electrical actuator are disposed in one of the first cylinder and the second cylinder to at least partly overlap with each other when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the telescopic direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu HARA, Toyoto SHIRAI
  • Publication number: 20170096185
    Abstract: An electrical seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a guide member, a positioning structure, an electrical actuator, and an electrical device. The guide member is disposed between the first cylinder and the second cylinder to slidably guide the second cylinder with respect to the first cylinder. The positioning structure is to adjustably position the second cylinder relative to the first cylinder in a telescopic direction. The electrical actuator is to actuate the positioning structure in accordance with an electrical signal. The electrical device is mounted to the first cylinder. An upper end of the electrical device is disposed above a lower end of the guide member in the telescopic direction in a mounting state where the first cylinder is mounted to a bicycle frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu HARA, Toyoto SHIRAI, Yuta KUROKAWA
  • Patent number: 9511809
    Abstract: A height adjustable seatpost assembly is provided with first and second tubes, a ratchet mechanism and a drive source. The first and second tubes are telescopically arranged. The ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet tooth structure and a pawl structure. The pawl structure is engaged with the ratchet tooth structure in a lock position. The pawl structure is movably coupled with respect to the ratchet tooth structure in a movable position such that the first and second tubes are movably arranged relative to each other in at least one axial direction of the first and second tubes. The drive source moves the pawl structure between the lock position and the movable position in response to operation of the drive source. The drive source further axially moves the first and second tubes relative to each other in response to operation of the drive source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Michihiro Kodama, Nobukatsu Hara, Toshikuni Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20160311256
    Abstract: A hub assembly for bicycle is provided. The hub assembly includes a hub shell having first and second ends at a distance from each other along a rotational axis, a first engagement structure pair having a first inner engagement structure and a first outer engagement structure, the first engagement structure pair being releasably engagable for co-rotation; and a second engagement structure pair having a second inner engagement structure and a second outer engagement structure, the pair being second engagement structure releasably engagable for co-rotation. The first inner engagement structure and the second outer engagement structure are configured not to engage with each other, and/or the second inner engagement structure and the first outer engagement structure are configured not to engage with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventor: Nobukatsu Hara
  • Publication number: 20160304162
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur comprises a base member adapted to be mounted to a bicycle; a movable member movably coupled to the base member; a chain guide coupled to the movable member through a pivot shaft, wherein the chain guide is coupled for rotation around a rotational axis (X); a biasing element that biases the chain guide in a selected rotational direction around the rotational axis (X); and a resistance applying unit that applies a resistance to rotational movement of the chain guide in a direction opposite the selected rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Takachi, Atsushi Iizuka, Nobukatsu Hara
  • Publication number: 20160280330
    Abstract: A bicycle transmission control apparatus is basically provided with a controller that is configured to control a gear ratio of a transmission based on seat height information of a bicycle seat relative to a bicycle frame, or change a parameter for shifting the transmission based on the seat height information of the bicycle seat relative to the bicycle frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventor: Nobukatsu HARA
  • Publication number: 20160280299
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a bicycle component in accordance with a seat position of a bicycle seat is provided. The control device may comprise a transmitter configured to transmit a signal relating to the seat position of the bicycle seat, and a mounting structure configured to detachably mount the transmitter to at least one of a bicycle seat post, a bicycle frame, and the bicycle seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventor: Nobukatsu Hara
  • Patent number: 9400037
    Abstract: A bicycle chain tensioner includes a bicycle mounting bracket, and a chain tensioning element. The bicycle mounting bracket is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. The chain tensioning element is movably coupled to the bicycle mounting bracket by a first coupling structure to move in a lateral direction and by a second coupling structure to move in a direction different from the lateral direction, during operation of the bicycle chain tensioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Nobukatsu Hara
  • Patent number: 9326412
    Abstract: An electric control device for a bicycle that includes a base member mountable to a bicycle handlebar, a first electric user interface member operatively coupled to the base member, and a second electric user interface member operatively coupled to the base member. The first electric user interface member and the second electric user interface member are adjustable relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kosaka, Nobukatsu Hara, Michihiro Kodama
  • Patent number: 9302735
    Abstract: A bicycle power source holder is provided that basically has a holder main body part and a frame attaching part. The holder main body part is configured to retain a power source. The frame attaching part is configured to movably mount the holder main body part to a bicycle frame so that the holder main body part is movably mounted in a lateral direction of a bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kensuke Tagaya, Takuro Jinbu, Satoshi Fujii, Nobukatsu Hara