Patents by Inventor Kei Ambo

Kei Ambo 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: 11964618
    Abstract: In an undercover structure according to the present invention, a first cover part that is a lowermost part of an undercover has a first rear end positioned ahead of a front wheel axle. Further, a curved part with a predetermined curvature is formed at the first rear end of the first cover part in a side view. This generates a strong negative pressure in a region ahead of the front wheel axle 21. Accordingly, the flow rate of air flowing to each wheelhouse 23 decreases (the flow rate of the airflow between a road and a vehicle generated along the bottom surface of the first cover part 15a of the undercover 15 increases). This causes an attraction force that attracts the vehicle to a road surface to act on a vehicle body of the vehicle, thereby making traveling stability more excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Ambo, Kenichi Ando, Yoshiteru Hoshida, Yuki Nakamura, Yoji Suwa, Takumi Sobue
  • Publication number: 20240109608
    Abstract: A movable spoiler device includes: a fixed part, fixed on a body of a vehicle; a movable part, configured to be movable between a storage position connected to the fixed part and a deployed position protruding from the fixed part toward rear of the vehicle; an actuator, disposed on the fixed part and drives the movable part to move in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; a link mechanism, connected to the actuator and the movable part, in which the link mechanism includes: a fixed link, rotatably supported on the fixed part with a first axis, and connected to the actuator; a movable link, rotatably supported on the fixed link with a second axis different from the first axis and connected to the movable part. The fixed link is driven to rotate by the actuator, and the movable link drives the movable part to move relative to the fixed part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyuki MOMII, Kei AMBO
  • Publication number: 20240109609
    Abstract: A movable spoiler device is provided in the disclosure. The movable spoiler device includes: a fixed part, fixed on a body of a vehicle; a movable part, configured to be movable between a storage position connected to the fixed part and a deployed position protruding from the fixed part toward rear of the vehicle; an actuator, disposed on the fixed part and drives the movable part to move in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; and a cover member, disposed on the fixed part and connected to the movable part so as to be linked with the movable part, in which there is a gap between the movable part and the fixed part due to the movement of the movable part, when the movable part moves from the storage position to the deployed position, the cover member is driven by the movable part to move and cover the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyuki MOMII, Kei AMBO
  • Publication number: 20240109610
    Abstract: A movable spoiler device is provided. The movable spoiler device includes: a fixed part, fixed on a body of a vehicle; a movable part, movable between a storage position and a deployed position; an actuator, disposed on the fixed part and drives the movable part to move in a front-rear direction; a rotating frame, connected to the actuator and rotates synchronously with the actuator; a connecting member, connected to the rotating frame and the movable part; and a locking member, disposed between the actuator and the rotating frame, applies force to the actuator through an elastic member, and is locked on the rotating frame, wherein, when the movable part is in the deployed position and is subjected to a load applied from the rear, the rotating frame is rotated by pushing the locking member against the elastic member to release the fitting of the locking member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyuki MOMII, Kei AMBO
  • Patent number: 11820167
    Abstract: There is provided a wheel device for a vehicle including: a wheel having an opening formed between adjacent spokes; a brake mechanism located inside the wheel in a vehicle width direction and having a brake caliper and a brake rotor; and an arc portion extending in a circular direction in the opening and suspended between the adjacent spokes. The arc portion has a recessed portion recessed outward in the vehicle width direction inside thereof in the vehicle width direction, and the arc portion and the brake caliper are located at such positions that they overlap with each other in a state viewed in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Kawamura, Naoshi Kuratani, Kei Ambo, Kenichi Nagatomi, Shota Takigawa
  • Patent number: 11794825
    Abstract: In an undercover structure according to the present invention, a first cover part that is a lowermost part of an undercover has a first rear end positioned ahead of a front wheel axle. This generates a strong negative pressure in a region ahead of the front wheel axle. Accordingly, a flow rate of air flowing to a wheelhouse decreases (a flow rate of airflow between a road and a vehicle generated along a bottom surface of the first cover part of the undercover increases). This causes an attraction force that attracts the vehicle to a road surface to act on a vehicle body of the vehicle, thereby making traveling stability more excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Ambo, Kenichi Ando, Yuki Nakamura, Yoji Suwa, Mohd Syafiq
  • Patent number: 11753088
    Abstract: A bumper spoiler structure includes: a bumper panel provided in a bumper of a vehicle; a bumper spoiler capable of advancing and retreating relative to the bumper panel by being moved in an inside-outside direction of the vehicle; a first actuator movable in the inside-outside direction and configured to move the bumper spoiler in the inside-outside direction; a first controller configured to control the first actuator; a second actuator configured to move the bumper spoiler and the first actuator in the inside-outside direction; and a second controller configured to control the second actuator. When at least one of the first actuator and the first controller is lost in a deployed state in which the bumper spoiler protrudes with respect to the bumper panel, the second controller moves the bumper spoiler and the first actuator toward an inner side of the vehicle by using the second actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Nakamura, Kei Ambo, Kenichi Ando
  • Publication number: 20230264761
    Abstract: A movable spoiler device includes a fixed plate fixed on a vehicle body of a vehicle; a movable plate arranged to be movable between a storing position and an unfolding position closer to the rear than the storing position; a link mechanism provided with one end pivotally supported on the fixed plate and the other end pivotally supported on the movable plate; an electrical component arranged in the vicinity of the movable plate; and a wire harness configured for connecting the electrical component to a battery arranged on the vehicle body. A first portion of the wire harness is fixed at the other end of the link mechanism corresponding to the movable plate, and a second portion of the wire harness is bent on the one end of the link mechanism corresponding to the fixed plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki NAKAMURA, Kei AMBO, Kenichi ANDO
  • Publication number: 20230257037
    Abstract: A vehicle rear structure includes a spoiler device at a rear bumper of a vehicle; a floor panel; left and right side frames at two sides of the floor panel and extending along a front-rear direction of the vehicle; and an impact beam extending along a left-right direction of the vehicle and connected to rear ends of the left and right side frames through a connecting portion. The spoiler device includes a movable portion movable between a storage position connected to the rear bumper and an expansion position protruding from the rear bumper toward a rear side of the vehicle; and at least one fixed portion including a driving component for driving the movable portion to move in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, at a further rear side of the floor panel, and at the connecting portion connected between the left and right side frames and the impact beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki NAKAMURA, Kei AMBO, Kenichi ANDO
  • Publication number: 20230257038
    Abstract: A vehicle rear structure is provided, including a spoiler device disposed at a rear bumper of a vehicle. The spoiler device includes a movable portion and at least one fixed portion. The movable portion is disposed movable between a storage position connected to the rear bumper and an expansion position protruding from the rear bumper toward a rear side of the vehicle. The at least one fixed portion includes a driving component for driving the movable portion to move in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. A gap exists between the movable portion and the rear bumper. An upper surface of a rear side portion of the movable portion has a protrusive portion formed into a protrusive shape protruding toward an upper side of the vehicle, such that the movable portion shields the gap at the storage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki NAKAMURA, Kei AMBO, Kenichi ANDO, Yasunari MIYAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20230242193
    Abstract: A vehicle lower structure includes a deflector panel provided on a vehicle body of a vehicle and movable between a stored position covering a lower portion of the vehicle body and an unfolded position protruding downwards. The deflector panel includes a front deflector panel and a rear deflector panel. The front deflector panel is rotatably arranged on the vehicle body along a first rotation axis with a front end thereof. The rear deflector panel is rotatably arranged on a rear end of the front deflector panel along a second rotation axis with a front end thereof and is rotatably and slidably arranged on the vehicle body along a third rotation axis in a vehicle front-rear direction with a rear end thereof. The rear deflector panel is provided with a guide member protruding upwards. The guide member is covered from above by a covering portion formed on the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi ANDO, Kei AMBO, Yoshiteru HOSHIDA, Yuki NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20230202587
    Abstract: The invention provides a movable spoiler device, which may be easily stored and operated stably. The movable spoiler device includes a fixed plate fixed on a body of a vehicle; a movable plate disposed to be movable between a storage position connected to the fixed plate and an unfolding position closer to the rear position than the storage position; a linkage mechanism that is pivotally supported on the fixed plate at one end and pivotally supported on the movable plate at the other end; a sliding mechanism including a track portion disposed on one of the fixed plate and the movable plate, and a sliding portion disposed on the other of the fixed plate and the movable plate; and an actuator driving the linkage mechanism or the sliding mechanism to drive the movable plate to move relative to the fixed plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki NAKAMURA, Kei AMBO, Kenichi ANDO
  • Publication number: 20230166801
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle body lower structure. The vehicle body lower structure includes: a deflector, disposed on a vehicle body and movable between a stowed position covering a lower part of the vehicle body and a deployed position protruding downward; and a shaft member, extending in a vehicle left-right direction and rotatably connecting a front end of the deflector to the vehicle body. The deflector is maintained in the deployed position protruding downward by its own weight, and receiving an impact load from below, the deflector moves from the deployed position to the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi ANDO, Kei AMBO, Yuki NAKAMURA, Yoshiteru HOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20230099045
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle body lower structure. The vehicle body lower structure includes an airflow guiding plate that is arranged on the vehicle body of a vehicle and is movable between a receiving position covering the lower part of the vehicle body and a deploying position protruding downward. Specifically, the airflow guiding plate includes a front airflow guiding plate and a rear airflow guiding plate. The front airflow guiding plate is rotatably arranged on the vehicle body with its front end, and the rear airflow guiding plate is rotatably arranged with its front end on the rear end of the front airflow guiding plate, and its rear end is slidably arranged on the vehicle body in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Moreover, the orientation of the front airflow guiding plate is different from the orientation of the rear airflow guiding plate in the deploying position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi ANDO, Yoshiteru HOSHIDA, Kei AMBO, Yuki NAKAMURA, Hidefumi NIHEI
  • Publication number: 20230094610
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle body lower structure, which can improve aerodynamic performance and improve driving stability. The vehicle body lower structure includes an airflow guiding plate that is arranged on the vehicle body of a vehicle and is movable between a receiving position covering the lower part of the vehicle body and a deploying position protruding downward. The airflow guiding plate includes a first airflow guiding plate and a second airflow guiding plate. The first airflow guiding plate is arranged in front of the left and right front wheels of the vehicle, and the second airflow guiding plate is arranged under the center of the vehicle body. Moreover, the protruding amount of the first airflow guiding plate is different from the protruding amount of the second airflow guiding plate in the deploying position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi ANDO, Yoshiteru HOSHIDA, Kei AMBO, Yuki NAKAMURA, Hidefumi NIHEI, Yasunari MIYAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20230094082
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle body lower structure, which may improve aerodynamic performance and inhibit the airflow guiding plate from being over-expanded or detached. The vehicle body lower structure includes an airflow guiding plate that is arranged on the vehicle body of a vehicle and is movable between a receiving position covering the lower part of the vehicle body and a deploying position protruding downward. The vehicle body lower structure further includes: a hook member, which is provided on the upper surface of the airflow guiding plate. When the airflow guiding plate is in the deploying position, the hook member is locked onto the buckle part of the vehicle body. When the airflow guiding plate is located at the receiving position, the hook member is separated from the buckle part of the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi ANDO, Kei AMBO, Yuki NAKAMURA, Yoshiteru HOSHIDA, Hidefumi NIHEI, Yasunari MIYAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20230094537
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle body lower structure. The vehicle body lower structure includes an airflow guiding plate that is arranged on the vehicle body of a vehicle and is movable between a receiving position covering the lower part of the vehicle body and a deploying position protruding downward. The vehicle body lower structure further includes: a shaft member, which extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle, thereby rotatably connecting the front end of the airflow guiding plate to the vehicle body; a belt member, one end of which is connected to the airflow guiding plate and the other end thereof is connected the vehicle body; and an actuator, which is used to wind the belt member. In addition, the belt member is bent when the airflow guiding plate moves from the deploying position to the receiving position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi ANDO, Kei AMBO, Yoshiteru HOSHIDA, Yasunari MIYAUCHI, Yuki NAKAMURA, Hidefumi NIHEI
  • Publication number: 20220289314
    Abstract: A bumper spoiler structure includes: a bumper panel provided in a bumper of a vehicle; a bumper spoiler capable of advancing and retreating relative to the bumper panel by being moved in an inside-outside direction of the vehicle; a first actuator movable in the inside-outside direction and configured to move the bumper spoiler in the inside-outside direction; a first controller configured to control the first actuator; a second actuator configured to move the bumper spoiler and the first actuator in the inside-outside direction; and a second controller configured to control the second actuator. When at least one of the first actuator and the first controller is lost in a deployed state in which the bumper spoiler protrudes with respect to the bumper panel, the second controller moves the bumper spoiler and the first actuator toward an inner side of the vehicle by using the second actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Yuki NAKAMURA, Kei AMBO, Kenichi ANDO
  • Publication number: 20220258813
    Abstract: A spoiler structure includes a base portion that is attached to a vehicle body and a movable flow adjustment portion that is moved relative to the base portion from a front position on a vehicle front side to a rear position on a vehicle rear side via an intermediate position. A rear end of the movable flow adjustment portion is moved upward with movement of the movable flow adjustment portion from the front position to the intermediate position. The rear end of the movable flow adjustment portion is moved downward with movement of the movable flow adjustment portion from the intermediate position to the rear position. A height position of the rear end of the movable flow adjustment portion at the rear position is lower than a height position of the rear end of the movable flow adjustment portion at the front position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Yuki NAKAMURA, Kei AMBO, Kenichi ANDO
  • Publication number: 20220033015
    Abstract: In an undercover structure according to the present invention, a first cover part that is a lowermost part of an undercover has a first rear end positioned ahead of a front wheel axle. This generates a strong negative pressure in a region ahead of the front wheel axle. Accordingly, a flow rate of air flowing to a wheelhouse decreases (a flow rate of airflow between a road and a vehicle generated along a bottom surface of the first cover part of the undercover increases). This causes an attraction force that attracts the vehicle to a road surface to act on a vehicle body of the vehicle, thereby making traveling stability more excellent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Kei AMBO, Kenichi ANDO, Yuki NAKAMURA, Yoji SUWA, Mohd SYAFIQ