Patents by Inventor Sota Yamaguchi

Sota Yamaguchi 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: 8744699
    Abstract: A bicycle operating characteristic control apparatus includes a first bicycle component and a second bicycle component, wherein the second bicycle component is changeable from a first status to a second status. The first bicycle component includes a base member for coupling to a bicycle frame, a movable member coupled for movement relative to the base member, and a chain guide coupled to the movable member for guiding a chain among a plurality of sprockets in response to movement of the movable member. A biasing device provides a biasing force to the chain guide for tensioning the chain, and a rotation resistance changing device changes a rotational resistance of the chain guide relative to the movable member. The first bicycle component and the second bicycle component are operatively coupled so that rotational resistance of the chain guide changes in conjunction with a change of status of the second bicycle component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Sota Yamaguchi, Satoshi Shahana
  • Publication number: 20130303317
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur comprises a base member adapted to be mounted to a bicycle, a movable member, a linkage mechanism coupled between the base member and the movable member so that the movable member moves relative to the base member, and a chain guide coupled to the movable member for movement relative to the movable member. A position-fixing member selectively fixes a position of the movable member relative to the chain guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.
    Inventor: Sota Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20130288834
    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 for rotation around a rotational axis, a resistance applying element that applies resistance to rotational movement of the chain guide, and a resistance control element. The resistance control element applies a force to the resistance applying element in a direction that is non-parallel with the rotational axis, without any manual operations, to prevent a reduction in the resistance to rotational movement of the chain guide applied by the resistance applying element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.
    Inventor: Sota Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20130090196
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur basically includes a base member, a movable member, a chain guide, a friction element and a motor. The base member is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. The movable member is movably coupled to the base member. The chain guide is coupled to the movable member to rotate around a rotational axis with respect to the movable member. The friction element is operatively arranged between the movable member and the chain guide to frictionally provide rotational resistance in a first rotational direction of the chain guide. The motor is operatively coupled to the movable member to move the movable member with respect to the base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Sota YAMAGUCHI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20130090195
    Abstract: A bicycle operating characteristic control apparatus includes a first bicycle component and a second bicycle component, wherein the second bicycle component is changeable from a first status to a second status. The first bicycle component includes a base member for coupling to a bicycle frame, a movable member coupled for movement relative to the base member, and a chain guide coupled to the movable member for guiding a chain among a plurality of sprockets in response to movement of the movable member. A biasing device provides a biasing force to the chain guide for tensioning the chain, and a rotation resistance changing device changes a rotational resistance of the chain guide relative to the movable member. The first bicycle component and the second bicycle component are operatively coupled so that rotational resistance of the chain guide changes in conjunction with a change of status of the second bicycle component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.
    Inventors: Sota Yamaguchi, Satoshi Shahana
  • Publication number: 20130079184
    Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a cable operated structure, a movable member and a biasing member. The movable member is movably supported to the base member by the cable operated structure to move between a plurality of shift stage positions with respect to the base member. The biasing member is interposed between the first and second link members such that the movable member is biased towards one of a top shift stage position and a low shift stage position. The cable operated structure and the biasing member configured balance an operation energy used for shifting between each of the shift stage positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Sota YAMAGUCHI, Shinya Oseto, Takeshi MURASAKA
  • Patent number: 8277346
    Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur comprises a base member; a movable member that supports a chain guide including a first pulley that rotates around a first pulley axis, wherein the pulley has a pulley plane; and a first linking member coupled between the base member and the movable member so that the chain guide moves laterally relative to the base member between a first lateral position and a second lateral position. The pulley plane intersects the first linking member when the chain guide is located at a first position between the first lateral position and the second lateral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Satoshi Shahana, Sota Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20120083371
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member movably coupled to the base member, and a chain guide coupled to the movable member for rotation around a rotational axis. A resistance applying element applies resistance to rotational movement of the chain guide. A resistance control element moves between at least different first and second positions, wherein the resistance control element is disposed so that the resistance control element can be directly manipulated by a user without using a tool. The resistance control element is operatively coupled to the resistance applying element so that the resistance applying element applies different first and second resistances to rotational movement of the chain guide when the resistance control element is disposed in the respective first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.
    Inventors: Sota Yamaguchi, Shingo Funai
  • Publication number: 20120083372
    Abstract: A bicycle derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member movably coupled to the base member, and a chain guide coupled to the movable member for rotation around a rotational axis. A resistance applying element applies resistance to rotational movement of the chain guide, and a resistance control element moves between at least different first and second positions. The resistance control element is operatively coupled to the resistance applying element so that the resistance applying element applies different first and second resistances to rotational movement of the chain guide when the resistance control element is disposed in the respective first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.
    Inventors: Sota Yamaguchi, Shingo Funai, Satoshi Shahana