Patents by Inventor Yoshiaki Nanko

Yoshiaki Nanko 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: 20030083163
    Abstract: A front derailleur mounting arrangement includes a bottom bracket tube and a front derailleur mounting bracket having first and second complementary mounting structures. The first and second complementary mounting structures are configured to retain the front derailleur mounting bracket in a predetermined rotational orientation and a predetermined axial orientation on an axial end edge of the bottom bracket tube prior to threading of a bottom bracket within the interior threaded passage of the bottom bracket tube. One of the first and second complementary mounting structures is formed as a slot and the other of the first and second complementary mounting structures is formed as a projection that mates with the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Nanko
  • Patent number: 6443032
    Abstract: An assisting apparatus that uses power from a rotating member to assist the operation of a bicycle transmission includes a mounting member; a cam member coupled to the mounting member for rotation around a cam axis, wherein the cam member has a cam surface; a cam follower cooperating with the cam surface for moving in response to rotation of the cam member; a transmission actuating element coupling member for communicating movement of the cam follower to a transmission actuating element; a first coupling member coupled for rotation of the cam member, wherein the first coupling member moves between a first engaged position and a first disengaged position; an operating member for moving the first coupling member to the first engaged position; and a decoupling member that moves the first coupling member to the first disengaged position in response to a rotational position of the cam member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fujii, Yoshiaki Nanko
  • Patent number: 6270124
    Abstract: A band adapter is provided for adapting a front derailleur of a bicycle to smaller sized frame tube. The front derailleur has a fixed member or tubular clamping member that is adapted to be coupled to the seat tube of the bicycle, a chain guide for shifting the chain of the bicycle and a linkage assembly coupled between the tubular clamping member and the chain guide. The band adapter is coupled to the tubular clamping member to decrease the effective clamping diameter of the tubular clamping member. In the preferred embodiment, the band adapter includes an adapting member and a band retaining member which are coupled to the tubular clamping member of the front derailleur for easy installation. The adapting member includes a first adapter with a first curved portion and a second adapter with a second curved portion. The band retaining member includes a first retainer with the first adapter coupled thereto and a second retainer with the second adapter coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Nanko
  • Patent number: 6146298
    Abstract: A band adapter is provided for adapting a front derailleur of a bicycle to smaller sized frame tube. The front derailleur has a fixed member or tubular coupling member that is adapted to be coupled to the seat tube of the bicycle, a chain guide for shifting the chain of the bicycle and a linkage assembly coupled between the tubular coupling member and the chain guide. The band adapter is coupled to the tubular coupling member to decrease the effective clamping diameter of the tubular clamping member. In the preferred embodiment, the band adapter includes an adapting member and a band retaining member which are coupled to the tubular clamping member of the front derailleur for easy installation. The adapting member includes a first adapter with a first curved portion and a second adapter with a second curved portion. The band retaining member includes a first retainer with the first adapter coupled thereto and a second retainer with the second adapter coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Nanko