Patents by Inventor Takaaki FUJIWARA

Takaaki FUJIWARA 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: 20190367127
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle drive unit that reduces loss of human driving force includes an electric motor, a crankshaft, an output portion, a speed reducer, and a clutch. The electric motor is configured to assist in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle. The output portion is coupled to the crankshaft. The speed reducer reduces a rotational speed of the electric motor in multiple steps. The clutch is provided between the output portion and the speed reducer. In a case in which the crankshaft rotates in a first rotational direction, the output portion is configured to rotate in the first rotational direction. In a case in which the crankshaft rotates in a second rotational direction, the output portion is configured to rotate in the second rotational direction. The clutch is configured to transmit a rotational force of the electric motor to the output portion from the speed reducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Shinichiro NODA, Tomoyuki IIBOSHI, Takaaki FUJIWARA, Akihiro IZAWA
  • Publication number: 20190308689
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle component includes a crankshaft including a rotational center axis and a first coupling portion that allows a crank arm to be coupled and a transmission provided on the crankshaft and including a second coupling portion that allows a sprocket to be coupled. The first coupling portion includes a first positioning portion that determines a first predetermined relative phase position of the crank arm with respect to the crankshaft in a circumferential direction about the rotational center axis. The second coupling portion includes a second positioning portion that determines a second predetermined relative phase position of the sprocket with respect to the crankshaft in the circumferential direction about the rotational center axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Kosuke KITAHARA, Takaaki FUJIWARA, Shinichiro NODA
  • Publication number: 20190152560
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle in accordance with a human driving force input to the human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to switch at least five control states imparting different output characteristics to the motor with respect to the human driving force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Yoshinori IINO, Keiji TERASHIMA, Takaaki FUJIWARA, Tetsuya KITANI
  • Publication number: 20190112000
    Abstract: A method for mounting a bicycle drive unit to a frame of a bicycle, in which the bicycle drive unit includes a housing, a crankshaft and a propulsion assist motor. The housing has a first portion and a second portion. The crankshaft is provided to the first portion. The propulsion assist motor is provided to the second portion and includes a rotational axis extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which the crankshaft extends. The method includes a first step of arranging the first portion at a position for mounting the first portion on the frame, and a second step of rotating the housing about an axis parallel to a rotational axis of the crankshaft and inserting the second portion into an opening of the frame after the first step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Shinichiro NODA, Yoshinori IINO, Takuya EDAMURA, Kento MITSUYASU, Takaaki FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20190112003
    Abstract: A bicycle component includes a drive unit and a battery. The drive unit includes a housing mounted on a bicycle frame, a crankshaft provided to a first portion of the housing, and a propulsion assist motor provided to a second portion of the housing. The battery is electrical connected to the propulsion assist motor to supply electrical power to the propulsion assist motor. The propulsion assist motor includes a rotational axis extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which the crankshaft extends. At least part of the second portion and at least part of the battery are accommodated in the frame in a state in which the second portion and the battery are arranged next to each other in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the propulsion assist motor and the battery is coupled to the second portion in an attachable and detachable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Shinichiro NODA, Yoshinori IINO, Takuya EDAMURA, Kento MITSUYASU, Takaaki FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20190111998
    Abstract: A bicycle drive unit includes a housing, crankshaft and a propulsion assist motor. The housing is configured to be mounted on a frame of a bicycle. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion. The crankshaft is provided to the first portion of the housing. The propulsion assist motor is provided to the second portion of the housing and configured to assist propulsion of the bicycle. The propulsion assist motor includes a rotational axis extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which the crankshaft extends. The second portion has a maximum dimension of smaller than or equal to 75 mm in a direction orthogonal to the rotational axis of the propulsion assist motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Shinichiro NODA, Yoshinori IINO, Takuya EDAMURA, Kento MITSUYASU, Takaaki FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20190111999
    Abstract: A bicycle drive unit includes a housing, a crankshaft and a propulsion assist motor. The housing is configured to be mounted on a frame of a bicycle. The crankshaft is provided to the housing. The assist propulsion motor is provided to the housing to assist propulsion of a bicycle. The propulsion assist motor includes a rotational axis extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which crankshaft extends. The bicycle drive unit is configured such that a distance from a rotational axis of the crankshaft to a part of the bicycle drive unit that is the farthest from the rotational axis of the crankshaft in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the propulsion assist motor is smaller than or equal to 210 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Shinichiro NODA, Yoshinori IINO, Takuya EDAMURA, Kento MITSUYASU, Takaaki FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20190112001
    Abstract: A bicycle drive unit includes a housing, a crankshaft and a propulsion assist motor. The housing is configured to be coupled to a frame of a bicycle. The housing includes first and second portions. The crankshaft is provided to the first portion of the housing. The propulsion assist motor is provided to the second portion of the housing. The propulsion assist has a rotational axis extending in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the crankshaft extends. A maximum dimension of the first portion in the direction in which the crankshaft extends is less than or equal to 100 mm. A maximum output torque of the propulsion assist motor is greater than or equal to 10 Nm and less than or equal to 80 Nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Shinichiro NODA, Yoshinori IINO, Takuya EDAMURA, Kento MITSUYASU, Takaaki FUJIWARA
  • Publication number: 20190039677
    Abstract: A bicycle component includes a housing that supports a crankshaft of a bicycle and a first mounting portion that mounts the housing on a frame of the bicycle. The first mounting portion is configured to apply force to the housing and the frame that moves the housing and the frame away from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Shinichiro NODA, Takaaki FUJIWARA, Kensuke TAGAYA
  • Publication number: 20190039688
    Abstract: A bicycle component that can be reduced in size in a direction orthogonal to a crankshaft includes a housing and a first mounting portion. The housing includes a support that supports a crankshaft of a bicycle. The first mounting portion is provided on the housing independently from the support to mount the housing on a frame of the bicycle. The first mounting portion includes a through hole through which the crankshaft extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Shinichiro NODA, Takaaki FUJIWARA
  • Patent number: 10189531
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a piston, and an operating unit. The hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder bore. The piston is provided in the cylinder bore and is movable relative to the hydraulic cylinder. The piston is configured to receive a pulling force to generate a hydraulic pressure to a bicycle hydraulic component. The operating unit is configured to actuate at least one bicycle component different from the bicycle hydraulic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Takaaki Fujiwara, Kazutaka Fukao
  • Patent number: 10144484
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic operating device is provided with a cylinder including a cylinder bore, a first reservoir tank including a first reservoir opening, and a second reservoir tank including a second reservoir opening. The first reservoir tank is in fluid communication with the cylinder bore, and the second reservoir tank is in fluid communication with the cylinder bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Osamu Kariyama, Nobuyoshi Fujii, Tatsuya Matsushita, Takaaki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20180105226
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device is basically provided with a main support body, a first operating member, a hydraulic brake operating unit, an additional operating unit and a second operating member. The main support body is configured to be attached to a handlebar. The first operating member is pivotally coupled to the main support body about a first pivot axis. The hydraulic brake operating unit is mounted to the main support body. The hydraulic brake operating unit has a piston operated in response to operation of the first operating member between a rest position to an operated position. The additional operating unit is mounted to the main support body. The second operating member is configured to actuate the additional operating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Takaaki FUJIWARA, Tatsuya MATSUSHITA, Yoshimitsu MIKI, Kazutaka FUKAO
  • Publication number: 20180099724
    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: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Mototsugu NAKAI, Takaaki FUJIWARA, Tatsuya MATSUSHITA, Yasuyuki KOMADA, Etsuyoshi WATARAI
  • Patent number: 9896150
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device is basically provided with a main support body, an external handlebar fixing structure and an operating unit. The main support body has an abutment that is configured to contact an end of a handlebar in a state where the bicycle operating device is mounted to the handlebar. The external handlebar fixing structure is disposed on the main support body. The external handlebar fixing structure is configured to contact an external surface of the handlebar in a state where the bicycle operating device is mounted to the handlebar. The operating unit is mounted to the main support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takaaki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsushita, Yoshimitsu Miki, Kazutaka Fukao
  • Patent number: 9759243
    Abstract: A bicycle clamp structure comprises a first clamp member and a second clamp member. The first clamp member includes a first clamp body having an inner curved surface defining a first inner radius. The second clamp member is configured to clamp a bicycle tube member between the first clamp member and the second clamp member. The second clamp member includes a second curved surface defining a second inner radius different from the first inner radius of the first clamp body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Shinya Hirotomi, Yoshimitsu Miki, Takaaki Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20170240244
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic operating device is provided with a cylinder including a cylinder bore, a first reservoir tank including a first reservoir opening, and a second reservoir tank including a second reservoir opening. The first reservoir tank is in fluid communication with the cylinder bore, and the second reservoir tank is in fluid communication with the cylinder bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Osamu KARIYAMA, Nobuyoshi FUJII, Tatsuya MATSUSHITA, Takaaki FUJIWARA
  • Patent number: 9731787
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device mounting assembly is basically provided with a handlebar mounting clamp and an adapter member. The handlebar mounting clamp has a clamp opening. The adapter member includes at least a first part that is detachably disposed within the clamp opening. The first part is configured to be clamped between the handlebar mounting clamp and a handlebar as the handlebar mounting clamp is tightened in a state that the first part is disposed within the clamp opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinya Hirotomi, Kentaro Kosaka, Yoshimitsu Miki, Kazutaka Fukao, Takaaki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9651070
    Abstract: A bicycle clamp structure comprises a first clamp member, a second clamp member, a connecting member, a first connecting structure, a second connecting structure, and a third connecting structure. The second clamp member is configured to clamp a bicycle tube member between the first clamp member and the second clamp member. The connecting member is configured to be arranged between the first clamp member and the second clamp member. The first connecting structure is configured to connect the first clamp member with the connecting member. The second connecting structure is configured to connect the second clamp member with the connecting member. The third connecting structure is configured to connect the first clamp member with the second clamp member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Shinya Hirotomi, Yoshimitsu Miki, Takaaki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: D828574
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ARKRAY, INC.
    Inventors: Takaaki Fujiwara, Kazuyoshi Kamekawa