Patents by Inventor Toyoto Shirai

Toyoto Shirai 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: 20240101207
    Abstract: An actuator device for a rider-posture changing apparatus of a human-powered vehicle comprises a cam follower and a cam member. The cam member is rotatable about a rotational axis. At least one of the cam follower and the cam member includes a curved surface contactable with another of the cam follower and the cam member to move the cam follower in a movement direction in response to a rotation of the cam member. The movement direction is different from a circumferential direction defined about the rotational axis. The curved surface has a curved shape in a first cross-section perpendicular to the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto SHIRAI, Yuki SAKAGAWA, Kiichiro NAGATA
  • Publication number: 20230406430
    Abstract: A telescopic apparatus comprises a first tube, a second tube configured to be telescopically coupled to the first tube, and an electric cable connector provided to one of the first tube and the second tube. The electric cable connector is configured to be detachably coupled to an electric cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto SHIRAI, Yuki SAKAGAWA, Norikazu TAKI, Akihiro NOZAKI, Noor Ashyikkin BINTI MOHD NOOR, Kentaro KOSAKA
  • Publication number: 20230382482
    Abstract: A control device for a human-powered vehicle comprises an electronic controller configured to obtain driving-environment information relating to driving environment of the human-powered vehicle. The driving-environment information includes at least one of traffic information relating to traffic and road object information relating to road objects. The electronic controller is configured to control an electric component based on the driving-environment information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto SHIRAI, Nobukatsu HARA, Yuki SAKAGAWA, Satoshi SHAHANA, Noor Ashyikkin BINTI MOHD NOOR
  • Patent number: 11780519
    Abstract: A telescopic apparatus controller for a human-powered vehicle comprises a controller configured to control a telescopic apparatus in one of a plurality of operating modes. The plurality of operating modes includes a first operating mode in which a reference portion of the telescopic apparatus is selectively arranged to one of a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position, and a second operating mode in which the reference portion of the telescopic apparatus is arbitrarily arranged between a first end position and a second end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto Shirai, Yuki Sakagawa, Norikazu Taki, Akihiro Nozaki, Noor Ashyikkin Binti Mohd Noor, Kentaro Kosaka
  • Patent number: 11697467
    Abstract: A rider-posture changing device is for a human-powered vehicle. The rider-posture changing device includes a first member, a second member, a positioning structure and an electric actuator. The second member is configured to be movable relative to the first member. The positioning structure is configured to adjustably position the first member relative to the second member. The electric actuator is configured to actuate the positioning structure. The electric actuator includes a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector. The first electrical connector is configured to be detachably and reattachably connected to a first power supply. The second electrical connector is configured to be detachably and reattachably connected to a second power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Toyoto Shirai, Nicholas C Murdick
  • Publication number: 20230174191
    Abstract: A brake caliper for a bicycle includes a housing configured to be installed on the bicycle, the bicycle including a disc attached to a wheel of the bicycle. A brake pad is installed within the housing and is configured to move between a braking position and a non-braking position. The braking position is a location within the housing where the brake pad contacts the disc when the housing is installed on the bicycle. The non-braking position is a location within the housing where the brake pad is further from the disc than in the braking position. The caliper also includes a biasing member configured to bias the brake pad in a downstream direction within the housing with the brake pad is in the non-braking position, the downstream direction being parallel to a direction of rotation of the disc when a wheel of the bicycle is rotating to move the bicycle forward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi FUJII, Kazuya KUWAYAMA, Kazuki KOSHIYAMA, Toyoto SHIRAI, Yusuke HOSOMI
  • Publication number: 20230159135
    Abstract: A motorized component of a human-powered vehicle includes an electric actuator and controller circuitry configured to control the electric actuator. At least one of the electric actuator and the controller circuitry is configured to be electrically connected via an electric cable to a remotely located power source configured to supply electricity to an assist drive unit configured to assist pedaling. The motorized component is other than a rear derailleur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki SAKAGAWA, Toyoto SHIRAI, Satoshi SHAHANA, Hitoshi TAKAYAMA, Noor Ashyikkin BINTI MOHD NOOR
  • Publication number: 20230089903
    Abstract: An electrical device for a system of a human-powered vehicle comprises a controller. The controller is configured to selectively act, based on reference information relating to the system, as each of a master controller and a slave controller. The master controller is configured to transmit a first control signal to a different slave controller of a different electrical device of the system. The different slave controller is configured to be operated in response to the first control signal. The slave controller is configured to be operated in response to a second control signal transmitted from a different master controller of a different electrical device of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki SAKAGAWA, Toyoto SHIRAI, Noor Ashyikkin BINTI MOHD NOOR, Akihiro NOZAKI, Satoshi SHAHANA, Hitoshi TAKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 11548580
    Abstract: A telescopic apparatus for a human-powered vehicle comprises a first hydraulic chamber, a second hydraulic chamber, a valve member, a cam member, and an actuator. The second hydraulic chamber is configured to be in fluid communication with the first hydraulic chamber. The valve member is configured to control a fluid communication between the first hydraulic chamber and the second hydraulic chamber. The cam member is rotatable about a rotational axis to move the valve member in a movement direction. The actuator is configured to rotate the cam member. The actuator includes an output shaft rotatable about an actuation rotational axis. The actuation rotational axis is offset from the rotational axis as viewed in the movement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki Sakagawa, Toyoto Shirai
  • Patent number: 11535323
    Abstract: A telescopic apparatus comprises a first tube, a second tube, and a non-contact detector. The second tube is configured to be telescopically received in the first tube. The non-contact detector is provided inside at least one of the first tube and the second tube configured to detect a position of the second tube relative to the first tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto Shirai, Yuki Sakagawa, Yoshimitsu Miki, Norikazu Taki
  • Patent number: 11524737
    Abstract: An actuation device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a base member, a movable member, and an actuator. The movable member is movably provided on the base member. The actuator is configured to be actuated by stimulation including at least one of electric stimulation and heat stimulation so as to move the movable member relative to the base member in a first direction by pulling the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki Sakagawa, Toyoto Shirai, Yoshimitsu Miki
  • Patent number: 11518477
    Abstract: An actuation controller for a rider posture changing device of a human-powered vehicle comprises a detector and a controller. The rider posture changing device includes a first member, a second member, and an electrical actuator configured to move the second member relative to the first member. The detector is configured to detect actuation information relating to an actuation state in which the electrical actuator moves the second member relative to the first member. The controller is configured to evaluate the actuation state in accordance with the actuation information detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto Shirai, Yuki Sakagawa, Norikazu Taki, Akihiro Nozaki, Noor Ashyikkin Binti Mohd Noor
  • Publication number: 20220126938
    Abstract: A rider-posture changing device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a first member, a second member, a detector, and a controller. The second member is configured to be movable relative to the first member. The detector is configured to detect position information of the second member relative to the first member. The controller is configured to obtain movement information of the second member relative to the first member based on the position information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki SAKAGAWA, Toyoto SHIRAI, Akihiro NOZAKI, Satoshi SHAHANA, Hitoshi TAKAYAMA, Noor Ashyikkin BINTI MOHD NOOR
  • Publication number: 20220106005
    Abstract: A rider-posture changing device is for a human-powered vehicle. The rider-posture changing device includes a first member, a second member, a positioning structure and an electric actuator. The second member is configured to be movable relative to the first member. The positioning structure is configured to adjustably position the first member relative to the second member. The electric actuator is configured to actuate the positioning structure. The electric actuator includes a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector. The first electrical connector is configured to be detachably and reattachably connected to a first power supply. The second electrical connector is configured to be detachably and reattachably connected to a second power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Toyoto SHIRAI, Nicholas C Murdick
  • Publication number: 20220041234
    Abstract: A rider-posture changing device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a first member, a second member, a first detector, a second detector, and a controller. The first member extends in a longitudinal direction. The second member is configured to be movable relative to the first member in the longitudinal direction. The first detector is configured to detect first information indicating whether the second member reaches an absolute position or not. The second detector is configured to detect second information indicating a movement distance of the second member from a reference position in the longitudinal direction. The controller is configured to obtain a current position of the second member relative to the first member based on the second information and the reference position. The controller is configured to store the absolute position as the reference position in accordance with the first information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki SAKAGAWA, Toyoto SHIRAI
  • Publication number: 20210394850
    Abstract: A bicycle telescopic apparatus includes a first tube having a receiving space, a second tube telescopically received in the receiving space of the first tube, a position detector configured to detect a relative position between the first tube and the second tube in a longitudinal direction of the bicycle telescopic apparatus, and an output device configured to output a signal based on a detected result of the position detector. The signal can control a bicycle component other than the bicycle telescopic apparatus. A detecting point of the position detector is located in the receiving space of the first tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventor: Toyoto SHIRAI
  • Patent number: 11180212
    Abstract: A fluid flow control structure is provided for a telescopic apparatus of a human powered vehicle. The fluid flow control structure basically comprises a first tube, a second tube and a positioning structure. The second tube is telescopically coupled to the first tube to move in an axial direction. The positioning structure includes first, second and third fluid chambers, and a valve that defines a port that is selectively opened and closed. The valve includes a valve body that is movable relative to a valve seat in the axial direction to change a valve state between a closed state and an open state. The valve body fluidly separates the first and second fluid chambers in the closed state and to fluidly connect the first and second fluid chambers in the open state. The third fluid chamber includes a compressible fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
  • Patent number: 11180211
    Abstract: A bicycle telescopic apparatus includes a first tube, a second tube, a positioning structure, a memory, and a controller. The second tube is telescopically received in the first tube and configured to be adjustably movable with respect to the first tube in a longitudinal direction of the bicycle telescopic apparatus. The positioning structure includes an electrical actuator to adjustably position the second tube relative to the first tube in the longitudinal direction. The memory is configured to store setting information for a predetermined relative position of the first tube and the second tube, and the setting information is changed via an electrical setting operation. The controller is configured to control the electrical actuator to position the second tube relative to the first tube at the predetermined relative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Hara, Satoshi Shahana, Toyoto Shirai, Yuki Sakagawa, Yuta Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 11136083
    Abstract: A bicycle telescopic apparatus includes a first tube having a receiving space, a second tube telescopically received in the receiving space of the first tube, a position detector configured to detect a relative position between the first tube and the second tube in a longitudinal direction of the bicycle telescopic apparatus, and an output device configured to output a signal based on a detected result of the position detector. The signal can control a bicycle component other than the bicycle telescopic apparatus. A detecting point of the position detector is located in the receiving space of the first tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
  • Publication number: 20210206443
    Abstract: A telescopic apparatus for a human-powered vehicle comprises a first hydraulic chamber, a second hydraulic chamber, a valve member, a cam member, and an actuator. The second hydraulic chamber is configured to be in fluid communication with the first hydraulic chamber. The valve member is configured to control a fluid communication between the first hydraulic chamber and the second hydraulic chamber. The cam member is rotatable about a rotational axis to move the valve member in a movement direction. The actuator is configured to rotate the cam member. The actuator includes an output shaft rotatable about an actuation rotational axis. The actuation rotational axis is offset from the rotational axis as viewed in the movement direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki SAKAGAWA, Toyoto SHIRAI