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).
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Patent number: 9580124Abstract: A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a positioning structure, and a mechanical position informing structure. The second cylinder is configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder such that a positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is continuously adjustable within an adjustable position range of the bicycle seatpost assembly. The mechanical position informing structure is configured to inform a user that at least one of the first and second cylinders reaches a reference position. The reference position is defined between a maximum-length position and a minimum-length position of the adjustable position range.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
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Patent number: 9540063Abstract: A bicycle actuation structure comprises an input member, a coupling member, and an output member. The input member is configured to receive a pulling force to move in a first direction. The coupling member is pivotally coupled to the input member about a first pivot axis. The output member is pivotally coupled to the coupling member about a second pivot axis to move in a second direction opposite to the first direction in response to a movement of the input member in the first direction, the second pivot axis being different from the first pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
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Publication number: 20160362153Abstract: A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a mounting structure, a first engagement portion, and a second engagement portion. The second cylinder is configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder. The mounting structure is attached to a distal end part of the second cylinder. The mounting structure is configured to fixedly mount a bicycle saddle to the distal end part of the second cylinder. The first engagement portion is provided to an outer periphery of the second cylinder. The second engagement portion is configured to engage with the first engagement portion such that a circumferential position of the mounting structure relative to the second cylinder is selectively adjustable.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2015Publication date: December 15, 2016Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Toyoto SHIRAI
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Publication number: 20160355225Abstract: A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a positioning structure, an actuation structure, and a connecting rod. The second cylinder is configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The actuation structure is configured to actuate the positioning structure and is disposed at a distal end of the first cylinder. The connecting rod is configured to operatively couple a control cable to the actuation structure. The connecting rod extends from the distal end of the first cylinder in a longitudinal direction of the first cylinder.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2015Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Toyoto SHIRAI
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Patent number: 9499224Abstract: A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, and a positioning structure. The second cylinder is configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to switch a state of the bicycle seatpost assembly among a first adjustable state and a second adjustable state. In the first adjustable state, a positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is continuously adjustable within a first adjustable position range. In the second adjustable state, the positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is continuously adjustable within a second adjustable position range different from the first adjustable position range.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
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Patent number: 9481425Abstract: A bicycle suspension comprises a cylinder element, a piston element, and a stroke adjustment structure. The cylinder element includes an internal space extending in an axial direction of the cylinder element. The piston element is provided in the internal space to define a first air chamber and a second air chamber in the cylinder element. The second air chamber is opposite to the first air chamber with respect to the piston element. The stroke adjustment structure is configured to adjust a stroke of the bicycle suspension and includes an axially movable member configured to initiate a stroke adjustment of the bicycle suspension. The axially movable member is configured to be entirely disposed in the first air chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
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Publication number: 20160304161Abstract: A chain tensioning device includes a main body, a chain guide and a rotary fluid damper unit. The chain guide is pivotally coupled to the main body to rotate around a rotational axis with respect to the main body. The rotary fluid damper unit is operatively connected between the main body and the chain guide to provide rotational resistance to the chain guide around the rotational axis. The rotary fluid damper unit includes at least one primary flow limiting valve and at least one support member. The primary flexible valve portion of the at least one primary flow limiting valve is configured to flex and contact the at least one support member to form a primary flow path between a free end of the primary flexible valve portion of the at least one primary flow limiting valve and the other of the first and second members.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2015Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventor: Toyoto SHIRAI
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Patent number: 9452798Abstract: A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, and a positioning structure. The second cylinder is configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The positioning structure includes a receiving member, a first seal member, and a movable member. The first seal member is configured to provide a first gate of a first passageway together with the receiving member. The first seal member includes a spherical surface contactable with the receiving member to close the first gate. The movable member is configured to move the first seal member relative to the receiving member to open the first gate.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
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Publication number: 20160236739Abstract: A bicycle seatpost assembly is provided, which may include a first cylinder, a second cylinder configured to be telescopically received therein, a positioning structure configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder, an operating device configured to be mounted to a bicycle and operatively coupled to the positioning structure, and a control cable. The control cable may include an outer casing, a first cable having a first end and a second end and configured to be operatively connected to the positioning structure at the first end, and a second cable having a third end and a fourth end. The second cable may be configured to be operatively connected to the operating device at the third end. The bicycle seatpost assembly may additionally comprise a cable connecting device configured to connect the second end of the first cable and the fourth end of the second cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2015Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
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Publication number: 20160229481Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, an operating member, and a movable member. The movable member is configured to move an operation cable in a pulling direction to operate a bicycle component in response to a first movement of the operating member. The movable member is configured such that the operation cable is movable in a releasing direction in response to a release of the operating member from a first operated position. The movable member is configured to move the operation cable in the pulling direction to operate the bicycle component in response to a second movement of the operating member. The movable member is configured such that the operation cable is movable in the releasing direction in response to a release of the operating member from a second operated position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2015Publication date: August 11, 2016Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Toyoto SHIRAI, Kazutaka FUKAO
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Patent number: 9377089Abstract: A chain tensioning device is basically provided with a main body, a chain guide, a rotary fluid damper unit and a rotational resistance adjustment device. The main body is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. The chain guide is pivotally coupled to the main body to rotate around a rotational axis with respect to the main body. The rotary fluid damper unit is operatively connected between the main body and the chain guide to provide rotational resistance to the chain guide around the rotational axis. The rotational resistance adjustment device is operatively connected to the rotary fluid damper unit to change a rotational resistance setting of the rotary fluid damper unit with the rotational resistance adjustment device in an operative state.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2013Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Sota Yamaguchi, Toyoto Shirai, Masanori Taniguchi
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Publication number: 20160121952Abstract: A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, and a positioning structure. The second cylinder is configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The positioning structure includes a receiving member, a first seal member, and a movable member. The first seal member is configured to provide a first gate of a first passageway together with the receiving member. The first seal member includes a spherical surface contactable with the receiving member to close the first gate. The movable member is configured to move the first seal member relative to the receiving member to open the first gate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Toyoto SHIRAI
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Patent number: 9302739Abstract: A bicycle power control apparatus comprises a power supply sensor and a controller. The power supply sensor detects a power level of a first power supply. The controller is operatively coupled to the power supply sensor to receive a power level signal from the power supply sensor. Thus, the controller selectively operates a bicycle component actuator using power from the first power supply while the power level of the first power supply is detected at or above a first power level, and automatically sets the bicycle component actuator using power from a second power supply to a prescribed operating condition in response to detection of the power level of the first power supply being below the first power level.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
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Patent number: 9284016Abstract: A bicycle component control apparatus is basically provided with a controller that is configured to operate a first electrical bicycle component in response to receiving a first signal from a first input member, and to operate a second electrical bicycle component in response to receiving a second signal from a second input member. The controller is configured to prohibit operation of the second electrical bicycle component upon starting operation of the first electrical bicycle component.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Ryuichirou Takamoto, Yoshiyuki Kasai, Mao Kuroda, Tadashi Ichida, Toyoto Shirai
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Patent number: 9228643Abstract: A chain tensioning device is basically provided with a main body, a chain guide and a rotary fluid damper unit. The main body is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. The chain guide is pivotally coupled to the main body to rotate around a rotational axis with respect to the main body. The rotary fluid damper unit is operatively connected between the main body and the chain guide to provide rotational resistance to the chain guide around the rotational axis. The rotary fluid damper unit is a separate unit from the main body, the rotary fluid damper unit being detachably mounted on the main body.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Sota Yamaguchi, Toyoto Shirai
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Patent number: 9126651Abstract: A bicycle suspension adjustor is provided with a rotational input member, an axial output member and a rotation-to-axial movement converting structure. The rotation-to-axial movement converting structure includes a first converting member operatively coupled to a rotational input member and a second converting member facing the first converting member. At least one rolling member is operatively disposed between the first and second converting members. One of the converting members is operatively coupled to an axial output member. The rolling member is in rolling contact with the first and second converting members so that the rolling member induces relative displacement with respect to both of the first and second converting members as the rotational input member rotates the first converting member in response to a rotational movement of the rotational input member.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2010Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Toyoto Shirai
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Publication number: 20150239517Abstract: A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a positioning structure, and a an adjusting structure. The second cylinder is configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder and configured to switch a state of the bicycle seatpost assembly among a first adjustable state and a second adjustable state. In the first adjustable state, a positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is adjustable within a first adjustable position range. In the second adjustable state in which the positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is adjustable within a second adjustable position range different from the first adjustable position range. The adjusting structure is configured to adjust at least one of the first adjustable position range and the second adjustable position range.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Toyoto SHIRAI
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Publication number: 20150232142Abstract: A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, and a positioning structure. The second cylinder is configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to switch a state of the bicycle seatpost assembly among a first adjustable state and a second adjustable state. In the first adjustable state, a positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is continuously adjustable within a first adjustable position range. In the second adjustable state, the positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is continuously adjustable within a second adjustable position range different from the first adjustable position range.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2014Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Toyoto SHIRAI
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Publication number: 20150232148Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a base member and an operated member. The operated member is configured to be movable relative to the base member from a rest position to a first operated position along a first path such that an operation cable is pulled relative to the base member by a first amount of movement in a cable operating direction. The operated member is configured to be movable relative to the base member from the rest position to a second operated position along a second path such that the operation cable is pulled relative to the base member by a second amount of movement in the cable operating direction. The second path is at least partially different from the first path. The second amount of movement is different from the first amount of movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2014Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Toyoto SHIRAI
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Publication number: 20150225030Abstract: A bicycle seatpost assembly comprises a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a positioning structure, and a mechanical position informing structure. The second cylinder is configured to be telescopically received in the first cylinder. The positioning structure is configured to relatively position the first cylinder and the second cylinder such that a positional relationship between the first cylinder and the second cylinder is continuously adjustable within an adjustable position range of the bicycle seatpost assembly. The mechanical position informing structure is configured to inform a user that at least one of the first and second cylinders reaches a reference position. The reference position is defined between a maximum-length position and a minimum-length position of the adjustable position range.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2014Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventor: Toyoto SHIRAI