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).

  • Patent number: 11040750
    Abstract: A detection device includes sensor device configured to obtain environmental information about surroundings of a small vehicle, an output unit outputting the environmental information to a control device of the small vehicle, and a mount configured to be attached to a rider of the small vehicle so as to hold the sensor device and the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
  • Publication number: 20210107589
    Abstract: A control device is provided for controlling an adjusting device of a human-powered vehicle. The adjusting device adjusts a front initial sag amount of a front suspension of the human-powered vehicle in a state in where a rider is riding the human-powered vehicle and a rear initial sag amount of a rear suspension of the human-powered vehicle in a state where the rider is riding the human-powered vehicle. The control device comprises an electronic controller configured to output a front control signal that adjusts the front initial sag amount of the front suspension of the human-powered vehicle, and output a rear control signal that adjusts the rear initial sag amount of the rear suspension of the human-powered vehicle to the adjusting device based on traveling information related to traveling of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Nobukatsu HARA, Toyoto SHIRAI, Yuta MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20210107588
    Abstract: A control device is provided for controlling a suspension of a human-powered vehicle. The control device includes comprises an electronic controller. The suspension includes a first member, a second member movable relative to the first member, and an adjustment unit adjusting a relative movable amount of the first member and the second member. The electronic controller is configured to electrically control the adjustment unit in accordance with relative position information related to a relative position of the first member and the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Yuki SAKAGAWA, Toyoto SHIRAI
  • Publication number: 20200377176
    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: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto SHIRAI, Yuki SAKAGAWA, Norikazu TAKI, Akihiro NOZAKI, Noor Ashyikkin BINTI MOHD NOOR
  • Patent number: 10800479
    Abstract: A fluid flow control structure for a bicycle device comprises a fluid chamber structure and a piston. The fluid chamber structure includes a tube member at least partly defining a first chamber, a third chamber, and a fluid passage for changing volumes of the first chamber and the third chamber. The tube member has a longitudinal axis. The fluid passage includes a minimum fluid passage. The piston is movably disposed in the tube member in a telescopic direction of the longitudinal axis. An aperture rate is defined by dividing an area of the minimum fluid passage by a flow rate. The flow rate is defined by fluid volume passing through the minimum fluid passage as the tube member moves relative to the piston at 1.0 mm. The aperture rate is equal to or greater than 0.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
  • Publication number: 20200307729
    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: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto SHIRAI, Yuki SAKAGAWA, Norikazu TAKI, Akihiro NOZAKI, Noor Ashyikkin BINTI MOHD NOOR, Kentaro KOSAKA
  • Patent number: 10780932
    Abstract: A bicycle telescopic apparatus includes a first tube, a second tube, an actuating member, and a hydraulic positioning structure. The first tube defines an axial direction. The second tube is telescopically received in the first tube in the axial direction. The actuating member is movable relative to the first tube in the axial direction of the first tube. The actuating member is configured to move the second tube relative to the first tube in the axial direction. The hydraulic positioning structure is configured to position the first tube and the second tube relative to each other in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
  • Patent number: 10759483
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Hara, Toyoto Shirai
  • Patent number: 10676146
    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 at least partly overlap with each other when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the telescopic direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Hara, Toyoto Shirai
  • Patent number: 10604201
    Abstract: A telescopic apparatus comprises a first tube, a second tube, a movable member, and an actuator. The second tube is telescopically and movably coupled to the first tube. The movable member is movable relative to the first tube in a telescopic direction. The actuator is configured to be deformable so as to move the movable member relative to the first tube in the telescopic direction. The actuator is provided in at least one of the first tube and the second tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto Shirai, Yuki Sakagawa, Yoshimitsu Miki
  • Publication number: 20200079453
    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: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki SAKAGAWA, Toyoto SHIRAI, Yoshimitsu MIKI
  • Publication number: 20200023918
    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: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventor: Toyoto SHIRAI
  • Publication number: 20190351966
    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: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto SHIRAI, Yuki SAKAGAWA, Yoshimitsu MIKI, Norikazu TAKI
  • Patent number: 10472012
    Abstract: A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first tube, a second tube, and a positioning structure to relatively position the first tube and the second tube. The positioning structure is mounted to at least one of the first tube and the second tube and is configured to change a state of the bicycle seatpost assembly among a first adjustable state in which the second tube is retracted or extended relative to the first tube at a first speed in response to a reference force applied to the second tube, and a second adjustable state in which the second tube is retracted or extended relative to the first tube at a second speed in response to the reference force applied to the second tube. The second speed is lower than the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
  • Publication number: 20190300085
    Abstract: A telescopic apparatus comprises a first tube, a second tube, a movable member, and an actuator. The second tube is telescopically and movably coupled to the first tube. The movable member is movable relative to the first tube in a telescopic direction. The actuator is configured to be deformable so as to move the movable member relative to the first tube in the telescopic direction. The actuator is provided in at least one of the first tube and the second tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto SHIRAI, Yuki SAKAGAWA, Yoshimitsu MIKI
  • Publication number: 20190283826
    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 at least partly overlap with each other when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the telescopic direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu HARA, Toyoto SHIRAI
  • Patent number: 10363986
    Abstract: An electrical bicycle operating system comprises a first switch, a second switch, and a controller. The first switch is configured to generate a first signal. The second switch is configured to generate a second signal. The controller is configured to generate a third signal different from the first signal and the second signal in response to a concurrent operation of the first switch and the second switch. The controller is configured to generate a fourth signal different from the third signal in response to a release of the first switch in a state where the second switch is operated continuously after the concurrent operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toyoto Shirai, Kentaro Kosaka, Takafumi Nishino, Takehiko Nakajima, Yuta Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20190193800
    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: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Hara, Satoshi Shahana, Toyoto Shirai, Yuki Sakagawa, Yuta Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20190185099
    Abstract: A detection device includes sensor device configured to obtain environmental information about surroundings of a small vehicle, an output unit outputting the environmental information to a control device of the small vehicle, and a mount configured to be attached to a rider of the small vehicle so as to hold the sensor device and the output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
  • Patent number: 10322762
    Abstract: A height adjustable seatpost assembly is basically provided with a first telescopic member, a second telescopic member, a positioning structure, an operating structure and an electric actuator. The second telescopic member is telescopically movable within the first telescopic member. The positioning structure is provided on one of the first and second telescopic members. The positioning structure includes a pair of longitudinal spaced positioning members configured to engage the other of the first and second telescopic members, respectively. The operating structure is at least partly movable with respect to the other of the first and second telescopic members in the longitudinal direction. The operating structure includes a release member that is disposed between the positioning members. The release member selectively disengages one of the positioning members. The electric actuator moves the operating structure relative to the other of the first and second telescopic members in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Toyoto Shirai