Patents by Inventor Tsutomu Muraoka

Tsutomu Muraoka 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: 6845688
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly includes a pedal and a cleat. The pedal includes a pedal body that rotates about a shaft and front and rear clamping members coupled to opposite ends of the pedal body. The cleat has front and rear attachment portions that are selectively engageable with the pedal via the front and rear clamping members. The pedal and the cleat are configured to form a laterally shiftable floating pivot axis such that the bicycle shoe cleat pivots and laterally shifts about the floating pivot axis relative to the pedal body through predetermined ranges of pivotal and lateral movements without releasing the bicycle shoe cleat from the bicycle pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20040154433
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly includes a pedal and a cleat. The pedal includes a body that rotates about a shaft. Front and rear clamping member are coupled to opposite ends of the pedal body. Each of the clamping members has an engagement surface facing in a first direction. The cleat has front and rear attachment portions that are selectively engageable with the pedal via the front and rear clamping members. Specifically, the front and rear attachment portions have front and rear offset coupling surfaces engageable with the front and rear engagement surfaces. The pedal and the cleat are configured to form a rear float pivot axis on a rear side of a center rotation axis of the pedal and a front cleat release pivot axis on a front side of the center rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20040130119
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly has a cleat releasably coupled to a pedal by a cleat engagement mechanism formed on an upper surface of its pedal body. The pedal body has a front end configured and arranged to include a sole guide portion that assists the rider in rotating the pedal body about its pedal shaft. In one embodiment, the sole guide portion is formed by a first concaved sole receiving recess located in a tip surface of the pedal body and a second concaved sole receiving recess located on the upper surface of the pedal body adjacent to the tip surface. Alternatively, the concaved sole receiving recesses can be replaced with either a pair of laterally spaced projections located on at the front end of the pedal body, or a V-shaped tip surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Muraoka, Tomohiko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6722229
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly includes a pedal and a cleat. The pedal includes a body that rotates about a shaft. Front and rear clamping member are coupled to opposite ends of the pedal body. Each of the clamping members has an engagement surface facing in a first direction. The cleat has front and rear attachment portions that are selectively engageable with the pedal via the front and rear clamping members. Specifically, the front and rear attachment portions have front and rear offset coupling surfaces engageable with the front and rear engagement surfaces. The pedal and the cleat are configured to form a rear float pivot axis on a rear side of a center rotation axis of the pedal and a front cleat release pivot axis on a front side of the center rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Patent number: 6708584
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly includes a pedal and a cleat. The pedal includes a body that rotates about a shaft. Front and rear clamping member are coupled to opposite ends of the pedal body. Each of the clamping members has an engagement surface facing in a first direction. The cleat has front and rear attachment portions that are selectively engageable with the pedal via the front and rear clamping members. Specifically, the front and rear attachment portions have front and rear offset coupling surfaces engageable with the front and rear engagement surfaces. The pedal and the cleat are configured to form a rear float pivot axis on a rear side of a center rotation axis of the pedal and a front cleat release pivot axis on a front side of the center rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Patent number: 6694846
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly has a cleat releasably coupled to a pedal by a cleat engagement mechanism formed on an upper surface of its pedal body. The pedal body has a front end configured and arranged to include a sole guide portion that assists the rider in rotating the pedal body about its pedal shaft. In one embodiment, the sole guide portion is formed by a first concaved sole receiving recess located in a tip surface of the pedal body and a second concaved sole receiving recess located on the upper surface of the pedal body adjacent to the tip surface. Alternatively, the concaved sole receiving recesses can be replaced with either a pair of laterally spaced projections located on at the front end of the pedal body, or a V-shaped tip surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Muraoka, Tomohiko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6692086
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel basically has a hub, a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from the hub and an annular rim coupled to the outer ends of the spokes for supporting a tire. The annular rim has a spoke attachment portion with a plurality of spoke openings for receiving the outer ends of the spokes therein. The spoke openings of the annular rim have reinforcement members located between the spokes and annular rim. The outer ends of the spokes have bent sections located within the spoke holes of the reinforcement members or washers and head section that engage the inner surface of the reinforcement members. The rim is free of access apertures or holes in the outer annular portion adjacent a majority of the spoke holes. The reinforcement member has a transverse dimension allowing the outer end of the spoke and the reinforcement member to pass through the openings in a first orientation and be retained in the openings in a second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20030159538
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly has a cleat releasably coupled to a pedal by a cleat engagement mechanism formed on an upper surface of its pedal body. The pedal body has a front end configured and arranged to include a sole guide portion that assists the rider in rotating the pedal body about its pedal shaft. In one embodiment, the sole guide portion is formed by a first concaved sole receiving recess located in a tip surface of the pedal body and a second concaved sole receiving recess located on the upper surface of the pedal body adjacent to the tip surface. Alternatively, the concaved sole receiving recesses can be replaced with either a pair of laterally spaced projections located on at the front end of the pedal body, or a V-shaped tip surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Muraoka, Tomohiko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6568766
    Abstract: A hollow bicycle rim includes a pair of side portions, an outer portion and a spoke attachment portion with a plurality of spoke openings. The side portions have ribs to form opposing tire supporting surfaces. The outer portion extends between the side portions. The outer portion includes a pair of annular inclined surfaces extending radially inwardly from the side portions with a curved connecting surface extending therebetween. The spoke attachment portion is rigidly coupled with the side portions and the outer portion. The inclined surfaces are preferably angled between three degrees and seventeen degrees. The outer annular portion preferably has at least one aperture, but fewer than half of the number of spoke openings. The side portions preferably have a pair of inner bent sections. A pair of spoke attachment sections with the plurality of circumferentially arranged spoke openings preferably have radial lengths larger than the spoke openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20030090142
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel basically has a hub, a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from the hub and an annular rim coupled to the outer ends of the spokes for supporting a tire. The annular rim has a spoke attachment portion with a plurality of spoke openings for receiving the outer ends of the spokes therein. The spoke openings of the annular rim have reinforcement members located between the spokes and annular rim. The outer ends of the spokes have bent sections located within the spoke holes of the reinforcement members or washers and head section that engage the inner surface of the reinforcement members. The rim is free of access apertures or holes in the outer annular portion adjacent a majority of the spoke holes. The reinforcement member has a transverse dimension allowing the outer end of the spoke and the reinforcement member to pass through the openings in a first orientation and be retained in the openings in a second orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Patent number: 6536849
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel basically has a hub, a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from the hub and an annular rim coupled to the outer ends of the spokes for supporting a tire. The annular rim has a spoke attachment portion with a plurality of spoke openings for receiving the outer ends of the spokes therein. The spoke openings of the annular rim have reinforcement members located between the spokes and annular rim. The outer ends of the spokes have bent sections located within the spoke holes of the reinforcement members or washers and head section that engage the inner surface of the reinforcement members. The rim is free of access apertures or holes in the outer annular portion adjacent a majority of the spoke holes. The reinforcement member has a transverse dimension allowing the outer end of the spoke and the reinforcement member to pass through the openings in a first orientation and be retained in the openings in a second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20030051574
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly includes a pedal and a cleat. The pedal includes a body that rotates about a shaft. Front and rear clamping member are coupled to opposite ends of the pedal body. Each of the clamping members has an engagement surface facing in a first direction. The cleat has front and rear attachment portions that are selectively engageable with the pedal via the front and rear clamping members. Specifically, the front and rear attachment portions have front and rear offset coupling surfaces engageable with the front and rear engagement surfaces. The pedal and the cleat are configured to form a rear float pivot axis on a rear side of a center rotation axis of the pedal and a front cleat release pivot axis on a front side of the center rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20030051576
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly includes a pedal and a cleat. The pedal includes a pedal body that rotates about a shaft and front and rear clamping members coupled to opposite ends of the pedal body. The cleat has front and rear attachment portions that are selectively engageable with the pedal via the front and rear clamping members. The pedal and the cleat are configured to form a laterally shiftable floating pivot axis such that the bicycle shoe cleat pivots and laterally shifts about the floating pivot axis relative to the pedal body through predetermined ranges of pivotal and lateral movements without releasing the bicycle shoe cleat from the bicycle pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Publication number: 20030051575
    Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly includes a pedal and a cleat. The pedal includes a body that rotates about a shaft. Front and rear clamping member are coupled to opposite ends of the pedal body. Each of the clamping members has an engagement surface facing in a first direction. The cleat has front and rear attachment portions that are selectively engageable with the pedal via the front and rear clamping members. Specifically, the front and rear attachment portions have front and rear offset coupling surfaces engageable with the front and rear engagement surfaces. The pedal and the cleat are configured to form a rear float pivot axis on a rear side of a center rotation axis of the pedal and a front cleat release pivot axis on a front side of the center rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Patent number: 6382381
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel basically has a central hub assembly, a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from the central hub assembly and an annular rim coupled to the outer ends of the spokes for supporting a tire. The central hub assembly has a hub axle, a hub unit, a freewheel and a sprocket assembly with a plurality of sprockets. The hub axle has a center axis extending between a first frame mounting end and a second frame mounting end. The hub unit has a hub body, a first spoke mounting portion, a second spoke mounting portion and an interior passageway. The first spoke mounting portion is located adjacent a first end of the hub body. The second spoke mounting portion is located adjacent a second end of the hub body. The interior passageway extends through the hub body with the hub axle being rotatably supported therein. The freewheel is operatively coupled between the first end of the hub axle and the first end of the hub body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Patent number: 6354668
    Abstract: A bicycle rim is provided with a wear indicator. The bicycle rim has an outer annular portion, an annular spoke attachment portion and a pair of oppositely facing annular braking surfaces. The outer annular portion is adapted to receive a tire and the annular spoke attachment portion is coupled to the outer annular portion. The annular spoke attachment portion is adapted to be coupled to a plurality of spokes. At least one of the annular braking surfaces has a wear indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Patent number: 6339323
    Abstract: A noise reduction device is provided that mounts at the intersection of a pair of spokes of a bicycle wheel. The noise reduction device can also have magnetic properties for use with a bicycle monitoring device. In a preferred embodiment, the noise reduction device is a magnetic device that has a body portion and a magnet. The body portion has at least one spoke-receiving recess on one side, and at least another spoke-receiving recess on the other side. In an alternate embodiment, the spoke-receiving recesses are irregularly shaped, so as to accommodate a variety of spoke angles. When the magnetic device is used with a monitoring device, it communicates with a sensing device, which is adapted to be coupled to a portion of the bicycle that is adjacent to a wheel of the bicycle. A display unit is adapted to be mounted on handlebars of the bicycle for displaying the speed of the bicycle or other information obtained from sensing the rotation of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Patent number: 6331771
    Abstract: A magnetic device mounts on a flat spoke of a wheel. This magnetic device can comprise a magnet and a housing. The housing is coupled to the magnet, and has a spoke-receiving recess with a non-circular cross section, and at least one detent. The detent extends from the housing into the spoke-receiving recess to secure a flat spoke within the spoke-receiving recess via a snap-fit. The magnetic device communicates with a sensing device, which is adapted to be coupled to a portion of the bicycle that is adjacent to a wheel of the bicycle. A display unit, adapted to be mounted on handlebars of the bicycle, displays the speed information obtained from the sensing device. In a second embodiment, the housing is made of a more elastic material, and the detents become optional. In a third embodiment, the spoke-receiving recess of the housing has a projection that engages a concavity form in the connecting portion of the spoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Muraoka, Kazuo Wada, Kozo Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20010028192
    Abstract: A bicycle rim is provided with a wear indicator. The bicycle rim has an outer annular portion, an annular spoke attachment portion and a pair of oppositely facing annular braking surfaces. The outer annular portion is adapted to receive a tire and the annular spoke attachment portion is coupled to the outer annular portion. The annular spoke attachment portion is adapted to be coupled to a plurality of spokes. At least one of the annular braking surfaces has a wear indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Patent number: 6283557
    Abstract: A bicycle rim is provided with a wear indicator. The bicycle rim has an outer annular portion, an annular spoke attachment portion and a pair of oppositely facing annular braking surfaces. The outer annular portion is adapted to receive a tire and the annular spoke attachment portion is coupled to the outer annular portion. The annular spoke attachment portion is adapted to be coupled to a plurality of spokes. At least one of the annular braking surfaces has a wear indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Tsutomu Muraoka