Patents by Inventor Takafumi KATSURA

Takafumi KATSURA 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: 11008067
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device, having a center axis, comprises a mounting structure configured to be press fitted into a free end of a bicycle handlebar; and an operating structure for an operation of a bicycle component, the operating structure being coupled to the mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi Katsura, Takuro Jimbu, Kensuke Tagaya
  • Patent number: 10279867
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device, having a center axis, comprises a mounting structure configured to be press fitted into a free end of a bicycle handlebar; and an operating structure for an operation of a bicycle component, the operating structure being coupled to the mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi Katsura, Takuro Jimbu, Kensuke Tagaya
  • Publication number: 20190071149
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device, having a center axis, comprises a mounting structure configured to be press fitted into a free end of a bicycle handlebar; and an operating structure for an operation of a bicycle component, the operating structure being coupled to the mounting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Takafumi Katsura, Takuro Jimbu, Kensuke Tagaya
  • Patent number: 10220915
    Abstract: A bicycle bar end attachment includes a main body, a shoe, a compression member, a rotation member, a transmission structure and a fixing structure. The main body is insertable into a bicycle handlebar, and includes a first threaded portion. The shoe is located between an inner surface of the handlebar and the main body. The compression member includes a second threaded portion engaged with the first threaded portion and a first pressing surface contacting one end of the shoe. The rotation member includes an exposed portion accessible from outside the handlebar and a second pressing surface contacting the other end of the shoe. The transmission structure transmits rotation of the rotation member to the compression member. The fixing structure holds the shoe between the compression member and the rotation member, and moves the shoe in a radial direction of the handlebar to fix the main body to the handlebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Takafumi Katsura
  • Publication number: 20170369125
    Abstract: A bicycle bar end attachment includes a main body, a shoe, a compression member, a rotation member, a transmission structure and a fixing structure. The main body is insertable into a bicycle handlebar, and includes a first threaded portion. The shoe is located between an inner surface of the handlebar and the main body. The compression member includes a second threaded portion engaged with the first threaded portion and a first pressing surface contacting one end of the shoe. The rotation member includes an exposed portion accessible from outside the handlebar and a second pressing surface contacting the other end of the shoe. The transmission structure transmits rotation of the rotation member to the compression member. The fixing structure holds the shoe between the compression member and the rotation member, and moves the shoe in a radial direction of the handlebar to fix the main body to the handlebar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventor: Takafumi KATSURA
  • Patent number: 9821884
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device, having a center axis, comprises a mounting structure configured to be press fitted into a free end of a bicycle handlebar; and an operating structure for an operation of a bicycle component, the operating structure being coupled to the mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi Katsura, Takuro Jimbu
  • Patent number: 9809276
    Abstract: An electric bicycle derailleur control system is basically provided with a derailleur, a detecting device and a controller. The derailleur includes a chain guide and an electrical actuator. The chain guide is configured to displace a bicycle chain. The electrical actuator is operatively coupled to the chain guide to displace the chain guide. The detecting device is configured to detect information related to a reaction force of the bicycle chain. The controller is configured to control the electrical actuator in accordance with detected information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi Katsura, Keijiro Nishi, Yuta Mizutani, Hiroshi Tachibana
  • Publication number: 20170247082
    Abstract: An electric bicycle derailleur control system is basically provided with a derailleur, a detecting device and a controller. The derailleur includes a chain guide and an electrical actuator. The chain guide is configured to displace a bicycle chain. The electrical actuator is operatively coupled to the chain guide to displace the chain guide. The detecting device is configured to detect information related to a reaction force of the bicycle chain. The controller is configured to control the electrical actuator in accordance with detected information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Takafumi KATSURA, Keijiro NISHI, Yuta MIZUTANI, Hiroshi TACHIBANA
  • Publication number: 20160347416
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device, having a center axis, comprises a mounting structure configured to be press fitted into a free end of a bicycle handlebar; and an operating structure for an operation of a bicycle component, the operating structure being coupled to the mounting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Takafumi Katsura, Takuro Jimbu
  • Publication number: 20160347415
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device, having a center axis, comprises a mounting structure configured to be press fitted into a free end of a bicycle handlebar; and an operating structure for an operation of a bicycle component, the operating structure being coupled to the mounting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Takafumi Katsura, Takuro Jimbu, Kensuke Tagaya
  • Patent number: 9493210
    Abstract: An electric power storage holder is inserted in a seat tube of a bicycle frame and holds an electric power storage member. The electric power storage holder includes a restricting section and a holding section. The restricting section contacts an end edge of an open end section of a seat tube to restrict axial movement of the holder in one of axial directions of the seat tube, the one of the axial directions being a direction in which the seat tithe extends. The holding section holds the electric power storage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fujii, Takafumi Katsura
  • Patent number: 9381974
    Abstract: An electric derailleur motor unit includes a base member, a motor, an output shaft, and a drive train. The motor is mounted to the base member. The motor has a motor shaft rotatable about a first rotational axis. The output shaft is rotatable about a second rotational axis. The drive train is operatively disposed between the motor shaft of the motor and the output shaft. The drive train includes an anti-backdriving device. The anti-backdriving device is configured to transmit rotation of the motor shaft of the motor in both rotational directions about the first rotational axis to the output shaft. The anti-backdriving device is further configured to prevent the output shaft from rotating in both rotational directions about the second rotational axis while the output shaft receives an external rotational torque from outside of the electric derailleur motor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi Katsura, Kensuke Tagaya, Hisashi Kawamoto, Yasuhiro Uno
  • Patent number: 8979683
    Abstract: A bicycle electric actuator unit basically has a housing, an electric drive part and a cable holding member. The electric drive part is disposed in the housing and electrically connected to an electrical cable. The cable holding member is provided at an outer surface of the housing to hold a portion of the electrical cable. The bicycle electric actuator unit can be for example part of an electric bicycle component such as an electric front derailleur or an electric rear derailleur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi Katsura, Kazutaka Niki
  • Patent number: 8906528
    Abstract: A bicycle electric power source assembly comprises a tubular member, an electric power source member and a restricting member. The tubular member includes an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface and a through hole that passes through the tubular member between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface. The electric power source member is disposed inside the tubular member. The electric power source member includes a restriction accepting part. The restricting member is disposed in the through hole. The restricting member includes a restricting part that engages with the restriction accepting part to restrict relative movement of the electric power source member with respect to the tubular member in an axial direction of the tabular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fujii, Takafumi Katsura
  • Publication number: 20140121047
    Abstract: An electric derailleur motor unit includes a base member, a motor, an output shaft, and a drive train. The motor is mounted to the base member. The motor has a motor shaft rotatable about a first rotational axis. The output shaft is rotatable about a second rotational axis. The drive train is operatively disposed between the motor shaft of the motor and the output shaft. The drive train includes an anti-reverse clutch. The anti-reverse clutch is configured to transmit rotation of the motor shaft of the motor in both rotational directions about the first rotational axis to the output shaft. The anti-reverse clutch is further configured to prevent the output shaft from rotating in both rotational directions about the second rotational axis while the output shaft receives an external rotational torque from outside of the electric derailleur motor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi KATSURA, Kensuke TAGAYA, Hisashi KAWAMOTO, Yasuhiro UNO
  • Publication number: 20130192405
    Abstract: A bicycle electric actuator unit basically has a housing, an electric drive part and a cable holding member. The electric drive part is disposed in the housing and electrically connected to an electrical cable. The cable holding member is provided at an outer surface of the housing to hold a portion of the electrical cable. The bicycle electric actuator unit can be for example part of an electric bicycle component such as an electric front derailleur or an electric rear derailleur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Takafumi KATSURA, Kazutaka NIKI
  • Publication number: 20130147153
    Abstract: An electric power storage holder is inserted in a seat tube of a bicycle frame and holds an electric power storage member. The electric power storage holder includes a restricting section and a holding section. The restricting section contacts an end edge of an open end section of a seat tube to restrict axial movement of the holder in one of axial directions of the seat tube, the one of the axial directions being a direction in which the seat tithe extends. The holding section holds the electric power storage member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro FUJII, Takafumi KATSURA