Patents by Inventor Akira Minoura
Akira Minoura 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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Publication number: 20070169455Abstract: A riding type mower comprises: a plurality of wheels; a vehicle body supported by the plurality of wheels; a water-cooled engine located in a rear region of the vehicle body; a hood for covering the engine; a driver's seat located forwardly of the hood; a rollover protection frame located between the driver's seat and the water-cooled engine, the rollover protection frame having a pair of right and left support columns spaced apart from each other in a lateral direction; a radiator for the water-cooled engine located between the pair of the support columns of the rollover protection frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2006Publication date: July 26, 2007Applicant: Kubota CorporationInventors: Hideya Umemoto, Akira Minoura, Osami Fujiwara, Kazuaki Nogami, Takeshi Komorida
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Patent number: 7059109Abstract: A mid-mount mower having a front frame unit including a pair of right and left front longitudinal frames, a first cross frame interconnecting the front longitudinal frames in forward positions thereof longitudinally of the vehicle body, and a second cross frame interconnecting the front longitudinal frames in rearward positions thereof longitudinally of the vehicle body, the front frame unit supporting the front wheel unit and also supporting a lift mechanism for vertically movably suspending the mower unit; a rear frame unit including a pair of right and left rear longitudinal frames, the rear frame unit being connected to the front frame unit; and a rear wheel drive unit interconnecting the rear longitudinal frames. The second cross frame has a downwardly opening recess disposed adjacent a middle position thereof, the recess allowing entry thereto of an upwardly protruding portion of the mower unit without interference when the mower unit is raised by the lift mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2003Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Kazuo Samejima, Masato Asahara, Hiroshi Shimada, Akira Minoura, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki
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Patent number: 6997280Abstract: A working vehicle propelled by independently driven right and left running units comprising a body frame with an engine mounted thereon; a front wheel unit for supporting the body frame in cooperation with the right and left running units; a left HST for receiving torque input from the engine; a right HST for receiving torque input from the engine; a left reduction mechanism for decelerating and transmitting torque output from the left HST to the left running unit; a right reduction mechanism for decelerating and transmitting torque output from the right HST to the right running unit; a left base block supported by the body frame, this base block forming a housing base for the left HST and a housing base for the left reduction mechanism; a right base block attached to the body frame, this base block forming a housing base for the right HST and a housing base for the right reduction mechanism. The base blocks are formed as port blocks for the HSTs, and define hydraulic ports in the housing bases for the HSTs.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2003Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Akira Minoura, Teruo Shimamura, Masahiro Yamada, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki
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Patent number: 6973768Abstract: A mid-mount mower having a body frame supported above the ground by front wheels and rear wheels, the body frame having a front cross frame in a forward portion thereof with respect to a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, and a mower unit disposed between the front wheels and rear wheels. A main jack body is mounted on the front cross frame to be pivotable about a pivot shaft extending longitudinally of the vehicle body. The main jack body is in a storage position extending along the front cross frame when pivoted to a first pivot position about the pivot shaft, and in a substantially vertical position relative to the ground when pivoted to a second pivot position about the pivot shaft. The main jack body has a controlled portion exposed upward when the main jack body is in the vertical position.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2003Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura
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Publication number: 20050217232Abstract: A mower tractor includes a vehicle body supported by a plurality of wheels; an engine mounted to the vehicle body; a mower suspended from the vehicle body; at least one grass collector bag for collecting grass cut by the mower; a grass collector bag holder supporting said at least one grass collector bag at a position on one side with respect to the engine; and a stopper portion for abutting against the grass collector bag so as to prevent the grass collector bag supported by the grass collector bag holder from moving toward the vehicle body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2005Publication date: October 6, 2005Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Masato Asahara, Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Akira Minoura, Yasunobu Nakatani, Osami Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20050039430Abstract: A lawn mower comprises a blade drive shaft with a blade rotatably mounted inside a mower deck supported by a vehicle body, a blower unit including a cylindrical blower housing connected to a grass clippings discharging section provided in a side end region of the mower deck, a vertical drive shaft having a shaft portion with vanes attached thereto inside the blower housing and a shaft portion extending upward through the blower housing, and a discharging sleeve projecting rearwardly along an outer tangent line of the blower housing, a grass collecting apparatus mounted rearwardly of the vehicle body, a duct for allowing the discharging sleeve to communicate with the grass collecting apparatus, and a belt-type blower driving mechanism for driving the vertical drive shaft of the blower unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2004Publication date: February 24, 2005Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Masato Asahara, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura, Osami Fujiwara
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Patent number: 6854249Abstract: A lawn mower comprises a blade drive shaft with a blade rotatably mounted inside a mower deck supported by a vehicle body, a blower unit including a cylindrical blower housing connected to a grass clippings discharging section provided in a side end region of the mower deck, a vertical drive shaft having a shaft portion with vanes attached thereto inside the blower housing and a shaft portion extending upward through the blower housing, and a discharging sleeve projecting rearwardly along an outer tangent line of the blower housing, a grass collecting apparatus mounted rearwardly of the vehicle body, a duct for allowing the discharging sleeve to communicate with the grass collecting apparatus, and a belt-type blower driving mechanism for driving the vertical drive shaft of the blower unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2004Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Masato Asahara, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura, Osami Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20040154274Abstract: A mid-mount mower having a body frame supported above the ground by front wheels and rear wheels, the body frame having a front cross frame in a forward portion thereof with respect to a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, and a mower unit disposed between the front wheels and rear wheels. A main jack body is mounted on the front cross frame to be pivotable about a pivot shaft extending longitudinally of the vehicle body. The main jack body is in a storage position extending along the front cross frame when pivoted to a first pivot position about the pivot shaft, and in a substantially vertical position relative to the ground when pivoted to a second pivot position about the pivot shaft. The main jack body has a controlled portion exposed upward when the main jack body is in the vertical position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura
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Publication number: 20040154278Abstract: A mid-mount mower having a front frame unit including a pair of right and left front longitudinal frames, a first cross frame interconnecting the front longitudinal frames in forward positions thereof longitudinally of the vehicle body, and a second cross frame interconnecting the front longitudinal frames in rearward positions thereof longitudinally of the vehicle body, the front frame unit supporting the front wheel unit and also supporting a lift mechanism for vertically movably suspending the mower unit; a rear frame unit including a pair of right and left rear longitudinal frames, the rear frame unit being connected to the front frame unit; and a rear wheel drive unit interconnecting the rear longitudinal frames. The second cross frame has a downwardly opening recess disposed adjacent a middle position thereof, the recess allowing entry thereto of an upwardly protruding portion of the mower unit without interference when the mower unit is raised by the lift mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuo Samejima, Masato Asahara, Hiroshi Shimada, Akira Minoura, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki
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Publication number: 20040112667Abstract: A working vehicle propelled by independently driven right and left running units comprising a body frame with an engine mounted thereon; a front wheel unit for supporting the body frame in cooperation with the right and left running units; a left HST for receiving torque input from the engine; a right HST for receiving torque input from the engine; a left reduction mechanism for decelerating and transmitting torque output from the left HST to the left running unit; a right reduction mechanism for decelerating and transmitting torque output from the right HST to the right running unit; a left base block supported by the body frame, this base block forming a housing base for the left HST and a housing base for the left reduction mechanism; a right base block attached to the body frame, this base block forming a housing base for the right HST and a housing base for the right reduction mechanism. The base blocks are formed as port blocks for the HSTs, and define hydraulic ports in the housing bases for the HSTs.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2003Publication date: June 17, 2004Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Akira Minoura, Teruo Shimamura, Masahiro Yamada, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki
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Patent number: 6708805Abstract: A riding tractor in which engine output is transmitted to a running device through a hydrostatic stepless transmission. The tractor has a braking device for acting on the running device, a first brake operating device and a second brake operating device operable independently of each other for operating the braking device, and a brake control device for linking control displacements from the first brake operating device and the second the brake operating device to the brake device.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2002Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Kazuo Samejima, Akira Minoura, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Osami Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20030046915Abstract: A riding tractor in which engine output is transmitted to a running device through a hydrostatic stepless transmission. The tractor has a braking device for acting on the running device, a first brake operating device and a second brake operating device operable independently of each other for operating the braking device, and a brake control device for linking control displacements from the first brake operating device and the second the brake operating device to the brake device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuo Samejima, Akira Minoura, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Osami Fujiwara
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Patent number: 6530200Abstract: A lawn mower includes a vehicle body, front wheels disposed in front positions of the vehicle body, rear wheels disposed in rear positions of the vehicle body, a mower unit suspended from the vehicle body between the front wheels and the rear wheels, and a driver's seat disposed on the vehicle body above the mower unit. A hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the mower unit is disposed above the mower unit and below the driver's seat. A hydraulic pump for supplying a hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic cylinder is disposed below the driver's seat and adjacent the hydraulic cylinder. An engine for driving the hydraulic pump disposed rearwardly of the driver's seat.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2000Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Akira Minoura, Takeshi Komorida, Kazuo Samejima
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Patent number: 6449933Abstract: A lawn mower with a vehicle body; an engine mounted on the vehicle body; caster-type front wheels; a rear wheel unit having a left rear drive wheel and a right rear drive wheel; a mower unit disposed between the front wheels and rear wheel unit; a left stepless transmission for transmitting drive, switched between forward drive and backward drive, to the left rear wheel; and a right stepless transmission for transmitting drive, switched between forward drive and backward drive, to the right rear wheel; wherein the right and left stepless transmissions are operable independently of each other. A caster-type auxiliary ground wheel unit (9) is disposed rearwardly of the rear wheel unit and supported by a support member (24) to be vertically movable relative to the vehicle body. A braking mechanism (30) is provided for braking an upward movement of the support member.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2001Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Kuboto CorporationInventors: Hideya Umemoto, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Masahiro Yamada, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura, Kazuo Samejima
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Publication number: 20020038537Abstract: A lawn mower with a vehicle body; an engine mounted on the vehicle body; caster-type front wheels; a rear wheel unit having a left rear drive wheel and a right rear drive wheel; a mower unit disposed between the front wheels and rear wheel unit; a left stepless transmission for transmitting drive, switched between forward drive and backward drive, to the left rear wheel; and a right stepless transmission for transmitting drive, switched between forward drive and backward drive, to the right rear wheel; wherein the right and left stepless transmissions are operable independently of each other. A caster-type auxiliary ground wheel unit (9) is disposed rearwardly of the rear wheel unit and supported by a support member (24) to be vertically movable relative to the vehicle body, A braking mechanism (30) is provided for braking an upward movement of the support member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2001Publication date: April 4, 2002Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Hideya Umemoto, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Masahiro Yamada, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura, Kazuo Samejima
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Patent number: 5718303Abstract: An engine hood construction for a work vehicle is disclosed. The engine hood is vertically separatable into a lower hood section and an upper hood section. The lower hood section is fixedly attachable to and detachable from a vehicle frame, and the upper hood section is attached to the vehicle frame to be pivotably and vertically opened and closed relative to the frame. A control panel is provided at a rear portion of the engine hood and forming a rear wall of an engine room. The control panel has a forwardly opened hook shape in a plan view. The construction further includes a connecting arrangement for fixedly connecting the lower hood section to the vehicle frame and engaging members for enabling the lower hood section to be engaged with the control panel along a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle when the connecting arrangement is not connected.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1995Date of Patent: February 17, 1998Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Ogasawara, Mikio Yuki, Akira Minoura, Kazuaki Kurohara, Masaki Hayashi, Katsuhiko Uemura, Eriya Harada
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Patent number: 5678649Abstract: A steering console connected to an engine hood to form an engine accommodating space with the engine hood. The steering console has a right side wall, a left side wall, a front wall interconnecting one vertical edge of the right side wall and one vertical edge of the left side wall, a control panel interconnecting upper edges of the right side wall, left side wall and front wall, and a steering column projecting upward from the control panel. The right side wall, left side wall, front wall and steering column are integrally formed of plastics to constitute the steering console. The front wall defines air flow guides, the side walls define partition plates, and the control panel defines an indicator support flange. These flow guides, partition plates and flange all extend obliquely downward.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1994Date of Patent: October 21, 1997Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Akira Minoura, Masatake Murakawa
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Patent number: 5367864Abstract: A riding lawn mower having a mower unit suspended from a chassis frame through a link mechanism. A driver's seat supporting auxiliary frame is provided, which includes a foot rest, a seat mount and right and left rear wheel fenders formed integral with one another. The auxiliary frame has a forward end portion thereof supported by the chassis frame to be pivotable about a cross pin, and a rear end portion supported by the chassis frame through a suspension mechanism. The cross pin is disposed adjacent a shift pedal and a brake pedal, while the suspension mechanism is disposed below the driver's seat.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1993Date of Patent: November 29, 1994Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Ogasawara, Nobuyuki Yamashita, Akira Minoura
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Patent number: 5367861Abstract: A small riding lawn mower having a grass cutting unit suspended from a body frame between a front axle and a rear axle, an engine supported by a body frame in a position forwardly of the rear axle with respect to a longitudinal direction of the body frame, a hydrostatic transmission disposed rearwardly of the rear axle, and a driver's seat disposed forwardly of the engine. The body frame includes profile members disposed at opposite sides and extending longitudinally of the mower, and a cross plate interconnecting the profile members. A belt transmission mechanism connecting the hydrostatic transmission to an engine output shaft is surrounded by a plate frame structure formed below the body frame. The plate frame structure defines a further independent chamber for accommodating a muffler of the engine. This chamber has peripheral walls shaped to guide cooling air from the engine to the muffler and laterally outwardly of the mower.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1992Date of Patent: November 29, 1994Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Masatake Murakawa, Mikio Yuki, Ryozo Imanishi, Masatsugu Tone, Akira Minoura
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Patent number: 5365802Abstract: An operation device for an accelerator composed of an output pulley, having an engaging latch and two engaging projections, for winding an output cable; a first pulley having a "C" shaped first engaging hole, for winding a first cable; a second pulley having a "C" shaped second engaging hole, for winding a second cable; and an accelerator lever having an engaging piece. The first engaging projection is moved within the first engaging hole and the second engaging projection is moved within the second engaging hole. The engaging projection is engaging with the engaging piece when the output pulley is rotated.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 1993Date of Patent: November 22, 1994Assignees: Nippon Cable System Inc., Kubota Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Suzuki, Eriya Harada, Akira Minoura