Patents by Inventor Arihiro Furumoto
Arihiro Furumoto 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: 9327675Abstract: A pair of right-and-left brackets which extend obliquely downward and forward from respective front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames are provided. A stiffener which extends in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam is attached to respective front ends of the pair of right-and-left brackets. The stiffener is configured such that its front end portion slants downward and forward and has an open cross section, and its rear end portion thereof has a closed cross section. An obstacle can be prevented from coming in below a vehicle-body front portion, and also the sufficient energy absorption in a collision and the prompt flicking-up of an obstacle can properly achieved.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Masatoki Kito, Hiroshi Sogabe, Hirofumi Takada, Tsutomu Watanabe, Arihiro Furumoto, Ryuma Murakami, Takayuki Nakamae
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Patent number: 9254812Abstract: A vehicle comprises a bumper reinforcement extending in a vehicle width direction and a shock absorbing member fixed to a front face of the bumper reinforcement and extending in the vehicle width direction along the bumper reinforcement. The shock absorbing member comprises a base portion extending vertically along the front face of the bumper reinforcement and a projection portion extending forward from a lower end portion of the base portion and being resiliently-downward deformable relative to the base portion. Thus, the vehicle comprising the shock absorbing member provided in front of the bumper reinforcement with the leg-flicking function for the pedestrian protection can be provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Kuniyoshi Tashiro, Arihiro Furumoto, Ryo Ando, Masayuki Furutani, Masaru Chikita, Koji Miyamoto
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Patent number: 9254801Abstract: A protecting member comprises a pair of right-and-left brackets extending obliquely downward and forward from front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames and a stiffener extending in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam and attached to front ends of the brackets. The stiffener has a closed cross section extending in the vehicle width direction, and an upper face of its central portion in the vehicle width direction has a concaved portion. A lower face of the stiffener extends horizontally substantially straightly. It is preferable that the closed cross section of the central portion of the stiffener be configured such that its vertical distance is relatively small and its longitudinal width is relatively large, compared with the other part of the stiffener.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Sogabe, Masatoki Kito, Hirofumi Takada, Tsutomu Watanabe, Arihiro Furumoto, Ryuma Murakami, Takayuki Nakamae
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Patent number: 9233662Abstract: A protecting member includes a pair of right-and-left brackets which extend obliquely downward and forward from front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames and a stiffener which extends in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam and attached to front ends of the pair of right-and-left brackets. The protecting member has a load/deformation characteristic including a first stage from a collision start, a second stage after the first stage, and a third stage after the second stage. Herein, the first stage is set so as to restrain the obstacle from coming in below a vehicle-body front portion, the second stage is set so as to absorb collision energy to restrain a local deformation of the obstacle, and the third stage is set so as to flick the obstacle up.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Masatoki Kito, Hiroshi Sogabe, Hirofumi Takada, Tsutomu Watanabe, Arihiro Furumoto, Ryuma Murakami, Takayuki Nakamae
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Publication number: 20150158445Abstract: A protecting member comprises a pair of right-and-left brackets extending obliquely downward and forward from front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames and a stiffener extending in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam and attached to front ends of the brackets. The stiffener has a closed cross section extending in the vehicle width direction, and an upper face of its central portion in the vehicle width direction has a concaved portion. A lower face of the stiffener extends horizontally substantially straightly. It is preferable that the closed cross section of the central portion of the stiffener be configured such that its vertical distance is relatively small and its longitudinal width is relatively large, compared with the other part of the stiffener.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi SOGABE, Masatoki KITO, Hirofumi TAKADA, Tsutomu WATANABE, Arihiro FURUMOTO, Ryuma MURAKAMI, Takayuki NAKAMAE
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Publication number: 20150136512Abstract: A vehicle comprises a bumper reinforcement extending in a vehicle width direction and a shock absorbing member fixed to a front face of the bumper reinforcement and extending in the vehicle width direction along the bumper reinforcement. The shock absorbing member comprises a base portion extending vertically along the front face of the bumper reinforcement and a projection portion extending forward from a lower end portion of the base portion and being resiliently-downward deformable relative to the base portion. Thus, the vehicle comprising the shock absorbing member provided in front of the bumper reinforcement with the leg-flicking function for the pedestrian protection can be provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Kuniyoshi TASHIRO, Arihiro FURUMOTO, Ryo ANDO, Masayuki FURUTANI, Masaru CHIKITA, Koji MIYAMOTO
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Publication number: 20150054306Abstract: A pair of right-and-left brackets which extend obliquely downward and forward from respective front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames are provided. A stiffener which extends in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam is attached to respective front ends of the pair of right-and-left brackets. The stiffener is configured such that its front end portion slants downward and forward and has an open cross section, and its rear end portion thereof has a closed cross section. An obstacle can be prevented from coming in below a vehicle-body front portion, and also the sufficient energy absorption in a collision and the prompt flicking-up of an obstacle can properly achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Masatoki KITO, Hiroshi SOGABE, Hirofumi TAKADA, Tsutomu WATANABE, Arihiro FURUMOTO, Ryuma MURAKAMI, Takayuki NAKAMAE
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Publication number: 20150054307Abstract: A protecting member includes a pair of right-and-left brackets which extend obliquely downward and forward from front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames and a stiffener which extends in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam and attached to front ends of the pair of right-and-left brackets. The protecting member has a load/deformation characteristic including a first stage from a collision start, a second stage after the first stage, and a third stage after the second stage. Herein, the first stage is set so as to restrain the obstacle from coming in below a vehicle-body front portion, the second stage is set so as to absorb collision energy to restrain a local deformation of the obstacle, and the third stage is set so as to flick the obstacle up.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Masatoki KITO, Hiroshi SOGABE, Hirofumi TAKADA, Tsutomu WATANABE, Arihiro FURUMOTO, Ryuma MURAKAMI, Takayuki NAKAMAE
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Patent number: 7520363Abstract: A vehicle safety device (13) includes an actuator (17) which thrusts a hood (11) upward from underside at a point close to a rear end of the hood (11) to raise the same by a specific amount when an obstacle is detected, and a mechanical connector (21) which connects the rear end of the hood (11) to the vehicle body (12), the mechanical connector (21) being structured such that, when the actuator (17) raises the rear end of the hood (11), the mechanical connector (21) extends while swinging about a pivot (P) by which the mechanical connector (21) is joined to the vehicle body (12). The mechanical connector (21) includes a rod (24), and a locking part (26) having a through hole (32a) in which the rod (24) is inserted. The locking part (26) engages with the rod (24) in such a manner that the rod (24) can move in only one direction in which the rod (24) is extracted from the locking part (26), and the rod (24) is disengaged from the locking part (26) when turned about a longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2006Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi, Minoru Takakura, Eiji Shimizu, Yorimitsu Hirata, Mitsuru Wakiie, Arihiro Furumoto, Takashi Ebisugi
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Publication number: 20060213709Abstract: A vehicle safety device (13) includes an actuator (17) which thrusts a hood (11) upward from underside at a point close to a rear end of the hood (11) to raise the same by a specific amount when an obstacle is detected, and a mechanical connector (21) which connects the rear end of the hood (11) to the vehicle body (12), the mechanical connector (21) being structured such that, when the actuator (17) raises the rear end of the hood (11), the mechanical connector (21) extends while swinging about a pivot (P) by which the mechanical connector (21) is joined to the vehicle body (12). The mechanical connector (21) includes a rod (24), and a locking part (26) having a through hole (32a) in which the rod (24) is inserted. The locking part (26) engages with the rod (24) in such a manner that the rod (24) can move in only one direction in which the rod (24) is extracted from the locking part (26), and the rod (24) is disengaged from the locking part (26) when turned about a longitudinal axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2006Publication date: September 28, 2006Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi, Minoru Takakura, Eiji Shimizu, Yorimitsu Hirata, Mitsuru Wakiie, Arihiro Furumoto, Takashi Ebisugi
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Publication number: 20060064845Abstract: Disclosed is an automobile hood stopper structure wherein a stopper serving as a cushioning member during closing of a hood attached to a front potion of an automobile body is disposed between the hood and an automobile body member, which comprises a support bracket formed with a support portion supporting the stopper, and attached to the automobile body member. The automobile hood stopper structure is designed such that, when the stopper supported by the support bracket is subjected to the action of a load having a given value or more which is greater than a load acting thereon during closing of the hood, the support bracket is deformed to thereby facilitate a downward movement of the stopper. The automobile hood stopper structure of the present invention can effectively absorb an impact energy during closing of a hood, and effectively cushion an impact load acting in the event of a collision, for example, a collision of a pedestrian's head against a top surface of the hood, in a simplified structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2005Publication date: March 30, 2006Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Terumasa Fujii, Kouji Emoto, Arihiro Furumoto, Yorimitsu Hirata
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Patent number: 6886872Abstract: An automobile bumper structure is provided which is capable of keeping down an increase in weight, strongly supporting a reinforcement member with a vehicle structure body behind it, preventing a pedestrian or the like from getting caught under a vehicle when the vehicle has hit the pedestrian or the like. In this automobile bumper structure, a bumper face 2 includes an opening portion 4, and a reinforcement member 20 is disposed behind and inside of a bumper lower face 2b which extends downward from this opening portion 4. Side-plane portions 22, an upper-plane portion 24, a front-plane portion 26 and a lower-plane portion 28 are formed in the reinforcement member 20. A vertical rib 32 is provided across the upper-plane portion 24, the front-plane portion 26 and the lower-plane portion 28.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2003Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Takao Matsumoto, Arihiro Furumoto
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Publication number: 20040124643Abstract: An automobile bumper structure is provided which is capable of keeping down an increase in weight, strongly supporting a reinforcement member with a vehicle structure body behind it, preventing a pedestrian or the like from getting caught under a vehicle when the vehicle has hit the pedestrian or the like. In this automobile bumper structure, a bumper face 2 includes an opening portion 4, and a reinforcement member 20 is disposed behind and inside of a bumper lower face 2b which extends downward from this opening portion 4. Side-plane portions 22, an upper-plane portion 24, a front-plane portion 26 and a lower-plane portion 28 are formed in the reinforcement member 20. A vertical rib 32 is provided across the upper-plane portion 24, the front-plane portion 26 and the lower-plane portion 28.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2003Publication date: July 1, 2004Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Takao Matsumoto, Arihiro Furumoto
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Patent number: 6540275Abstract: The invention provides a structure of a front part of a vehicle body that is simple and free from the risk of maloperation. In the event of a collision between the vehicle and a pedestrian, a projecting part sweeps the pedestrian by parts of his or her legs lower than the knees in the event of a collision between the vehicle and the pedestrian, causing the pedestrian to be thrown over toward the vehicle, and after an energy-absorbing member has absorbed impact energy exerted on the legs, the pedestrian is caused to drop onto the top of a hood and protected from secondary damage.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Tatsuhiko Iwamoto, Arihiro Furumoto, Yutaka Tsukiji, Masao Hara, Yushi Matsuda, Daisaburou Adachi, Masanori Ogawa, Takayuki Nakamae, Sakayu Terada, Kazuma Kondou
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Patent number: 6450676Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle lamp device capable of relieving the impact acting from the vehicle lamp device to an obstacle, and thereby achieving a simple and relatively spaceless structure. The vehicle lamp device comprises a thin grooved portion 17 (a displacement allowing structure) for allowing the housing 3 to be displaced. The displacement allowing structure is provided in an interfering portion of the housing 3 interfering with a front side frame 16 (a vehicle body member) which locates in the displacement area where the housing 3 is displaced and interrupts the housing 3 to be displaced when the vehicle lamp device collides with an obstacle.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2001Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Tarou Maeda, Arihiro Furumoto, Kazuma Kondou
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Publication number: 20010017778Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle lamp device capable of relieving the impact acting from the vehicle lamp device to an obstacle, and thereby achieving a simple and relatively spaceless structure. The vehicle lamp device comprises a thin grooved portion 17 (a displacement allowing structure) for allowing the housing 3 to be displaced. The displacement allowing structure is provided in an interfering portion of the housing 3 interfering with a front side frame 16 (a vehicle body member) which locates in the displacement area where the housing 3 is displaced and interrupts the housing 3 to be displaced when the vehicle lamp device collides with an obstacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2001Publication date: August 30, 2001Inventors: Tarou Maeda, Arihiro Furumoto, Kazuma Kondou
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Patent number: D514992Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2003Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Koichiro Yamaguchi, Arihiro Furumoto, Junichi Kashiwada