Patents by Inventor Koji Saeki

Koji Saeki 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: 20190176897
    Abstract: In a vehicle front structure including a cowl top side, a front pillar, and a side member outer, an upper wall portion of an inner of the cowl top side is provided with an inclined portion provided continuously with a top face portion extending downward toward the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction from a boundary portion between the side member outer and a base of the front pillar, and a flat portion connected to a front face portion along the vehicle up-down direction in the side member outer in a state where the flat portion is brought into surface contact with the front face portion of the side member outer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji SAEKI, Takanori UEHATA
  • Publication number: 20190144046
    Abstract: An L-shape retainer serving as a reinforcement member is provided at attachment locations of a front seat bracket and a rear seat bracket on a rocker and a floor pan. The L-shape retainer has a second side flange joined to an inner side wall of the rocker at an opposite side from a first side flange with a floor plate portion of the floor pan therebetween, and a first floor side flange connected to the second side flange and joined to the floor plate portion of the floor pan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji SAEKI, Keiichi OKA
  • Publication number: 20190039660
    Abstract: A vehicle underbody provides a simple structure which enhances the strength and rigidity at a joint between a tunnel portion and a cross member. The tunnel portion of a floor member extends rearward from the front of the vehicle to reach the cross member. The cross member includes a shelf board portion on a side towards the front. The shelf board portion is longer than the tunnel portion along the transverse axis of the vehicle. The rear end portion of the top surface of the tunnel portion is overlapped with the shelf board portion such that the top surface of the tunnel portion and the shelf board portion are connected there by spot welding or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji SAEKI
  • Publication number: 20180370469
    Abstract: A bumper reinforcement includes a front wall, a rear wall, and a connection wall. Intermediate portions, in an extending direction, of the front wall and the rear wall are parallel to each other. An end portion, in the extending direction, of the front wall is bent toward the rear wall when viewed from the intermediate portion of the front wall. An end portion, in the extending direction, of the connection wall includes a front part and a rear part, and each of the front and rear parts extends from an inside to an outside in the vehicle width direction. A distance between a front end of the rear part and the rear wall gradually decreases in a direction from a base end of the rear part toward a distal end thereof. The front part is provided so as to extend along the front end of the rear part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN KEIKINZOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunji SHIBATA, Kiyoichi KITA, Jun SHOBO, Kyosuke MATSUI, Tamaki OBAYASHI, Yuta TAKANAMI, Hirofumi SHIBATA, Koji SAEKI
  • Patent number: 10124834
    Abstract: A vehicle lower portion structure includes: a floor panel having a floor tunnel provided along a vehicle longitudinal direction, the floor tunnel being provided at a middle portion of the floor panel in a vehicle width direction including a side wall, and being open to a vehicle lower side; a pair of sub-tunnels, the sub-tunnels being disposed on respective sides of the floor tunnel in the vehicle width direction, each of the sub-tunnels extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction on outer sides of the floor tunnel in the vehicle width direction, and being joined to the side wall; and a reinforcing member coupling to respective sides of the floor panel, the respective sides of the floor panel sandwiching a middle portion of the floor tunnel in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Saeki
  • Publication number: 20180126835
    Abstract: A vehicle lower section structure includes: a pair of rear side-members that is disposed in a vehicle lower section so as to be separated from each other in a vehicle width direction, and that are extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; a first cross-member extending in the vehicle width direction, to which the rear side-members joined; a second cross-member extending in the vehicle width direction at the rear of the first cross-member in the vehicle front-rear direction, to which the rear side-members joined; and a battery that is housed in a housing section surrounded by the rear side-members, the first cross-member, and the second cross-member, at least part of the battery overlapping with the rear side-members when viewed along the vehicle width direction, and at least part of the battery overlapping with the first cross-member and the second cross-member when viewed along the vehicle front-rear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Saeki
  • Patent number: 9963031
    Abstract: A vehicle lower portion structure for a hybrid vehicle has a vehicle drive battery 32 that is mounted on top of the center floor panel 18 and on a vehicle lower side of a rear seat 26, a fuel tank 34 that is formed so as to include a tank main body portion 36 that is disposed on the vehicle lower side of the center floor panel 18 and an in-tunnel extension portion 38A that is disposed inside the floor tunnel 20 and communicates with the tank main body portion 36, and a fuel pump 40 that is provided at a position within the in-tunnel extension portion 38A where the fuel pump 40 is able to be extracted via an extraction hole 20C formed in the floor tunnel 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Saeki
  • Publication number: 20180118277
    Abstract: A vehicle framework structure includes a tunnel disposed in a central part of a floor panel of a vehicle in a vehicle width direction so as to extend in a vehicle front-rear direction, a pair of rockers, a floor lower cross structure, and a floor frame. A front end of the floor frame in the vehicle front-rear direction is connected to a front side structure provided in a vehicle front part so as to be disposed between one of the rockers and the tunnel in the vehicle width direction and to extend along the vehicle front-rear direction, and a rear end of the floor frame is connected to the one of the rockers and the floor lower cross structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Saeki
  • Patent number: 9884657
    Abstract: A vehicle framework structure includes a tunnel disposed in a central part of a floor panel of a vehicle in a vehicle width direction so as to extend in a vehicle front-rear direction, a pair of rockers, a floor lower cross structure, and a floor frame. A front end of the floor frame in the vehicle front-rear direction is connected to a front side structure provided in a vehicle front part so as to be disposed between one of the rockers and the tunnel in the vehicle width direction and to extend along the vehicle front-rear direction, and a rear end of the floor frame is connected to the one of the rockers and the floor lower cross structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Saeki
  • Publication number: 20170166048
    Abstract: A vehicle lower portion structure for a hybrid vehicle has a vehicle drive battery 32 that is mounted on top of the center floor panel 18 and on a vehicle lower side of a rear seat 26, a fuel tank 34 that is formed so as to include a tank main body portion 36 that is disposed on the vehicle lower side of the center floor panel 18 and an in-tunnel extension portion 38A that is disposed inside the floor tunnel 20 and communicates with the tank main body portion 36, and a fuel pump 40 that is provided at a position within the in-tunnel extension portion 38A where the fuel pump 40 is able to be extracted via an extraction hole 20C formed in the floor tunnel 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji SAEKI
  • Patent number: 9676268
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicle front section structure including: a front side member that extends along a vehicle front-rear direction; a radiator support that is formed in a rectangular frame shape as viewed from a front of the vehicle and is joined to the front side member at a side radiator support configuring a side portion of the radiator support extending along a vehicle up-down direction; and a lower member that extends along the vehicle front-rear direction, that is joined to a vehicle lower side end portion of the radiator support, and that, at a join portion joined with the radiator support, is provided with a deformation origin portion that lets the join portion undergo bending deformation toward a top of the vehicle in a case in which load is input from the front of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Saeki
  • Publication number: 20170088189
    Abstract: A vehicle framework structure includes a tunnel disposed in a central part of a floor panel of a vehicle in a vehicle width direction so as to extend in a vehicle front-rear direction, a pair of rockers, a floor lower cross structure, and a floor frame. A front end of the floor frame in the vehicle front-rear direction is connected to a front side structure provided in a vehicle front part so as to be disposed between one of the rockers and the tunnel in the vehicle width direction and to extend along the vehicle front-rear direction, and a rear end of the floor frame is connected to the one of the rockers and the floor lower cross structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji SAEKI
  • Publication number: 20170057549
    Abstract: A vehicle lower portion structure includes: a floor panel having a floor tunnel provided along a vehicle longitudinal direction, the floor tunnel being provided at a middle portion of the floor panel in a vehicle width direction including a side wall, and being open to a vehicle lower side; a pair of sub-tunnels, the sub-tunnels being disposed on respective sides of the floor tunnel in the vehicle width direction, each of the sub-tunnels extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction on outer sides of the floor tunnel in the vehicle width direction, and being joined to the side wall; and a reinforcing member coupling to respective sides of the floor panel, the respective sides of the floor panel sandwiching a middle portion of the floor tunnel in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji SAEKI
  • Patent number: 9440680
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle cowl structure including: a cowl main body section that forms an S-shaped cross-section configured from an upper side curved portion a lower side curved portion curving, and in which an upper portion extending from the upper side curved portion toward the vehicle front-rear direction rear side is joined to a lower face of a lower end portion of a front windshield, and a lower portion is joined to a dash panel; and a front side reinforcement member that curves to as to bulge out toward the vehicle front-rear direction front side, in which an upper end portion is joined to a location between the upper side curved portion and the lower side curved portion, and a lower end portion is joined to a location between the lower side curved portion and the lower portion joined to the dash panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Saeki
  • Publication number: 20160082900
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle cowl structure including: a cowl main body section that forms an S-shaped cross-section configured from an upper side curved portion a lower side curved portion curving, and in which an upper portion extending from the upper side curved portion toward the vehicle front-rear direction rear side is joined to a lower face of a lower end portion of a front windshield, and a lower portion is joined to a dash panel; and a front side reinforcement member that curves to as to bulge out toward the vehicle front-rear direction front side, in which an upper end portion is joined to a location between the upper side curved portion and the lower side curved portion, and a lower end portion is joined to a location between the lower side curved portion and the lower portion joined to the dash panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISA
    Inventor: Koji SAEKI
  • Publication number: 20160068196
    Abstract: There is provide a vehicle lower section structure, the structure including a rocker disposed at a vehicle width direction outside of a floor panel, and extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, a floor cross member disposed above the floor panel, and extending in a vehicle width direction, and a sub-rocker that is disposed above the floor panel between the rocker and the floor cross member, that couples the rocker to a vehicle width direction outside end portion of the floor cross member, and that is formed with a longer length than the floor cross member in the vehicle front-rear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji SAEKI
  • Publication number: 20160068057
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicle front section structure including: a front side member that extends along a vehicle front-rear direction; a radiator support that is formed in a rectangular frame shape as viewed from a front of the vehicle and is joined to the front side member at a side radiator support configuring a side portion of the radiator support extending along a vehicle up-down direction; and a lower member that extends along the vehicle front-rear direction, that is joined to a vehicle lower side end portion of the radiator support, and that, at a join portion joined with the radiator support, is provided with a deformation origin portion that lets the join portion undergo bending deformation toward a top of the vehicle in a case in which load is input from the front of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji SAEKI
  • Patent number: 9137859
    Abstract: An LED module includes a light-emitting unit composed of a plurality of LEDs connected in series to one another, a sensor unit, a power interrupt circuit inserted into a power supply path through which the light-emitting unit is supplied with power from an external power source, and a control circuit that controls the power interrupt circuit according to output of the sensor unit. The LED module further includes a secondary battery and a voltage supply circuit. The voltage supply circuit supplies the control circuit with voltage equivalent to voltage drop between the ends of a group of LEDs included in the plurality of LEDs that constitute the light-emitting unit while the external power source is supplying power to the light-emitting unit, and supplies the control circuit with voltage output from the secondary battery while power interrupt circuit is interrupting the power from the external power source to the light-emitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Mituyasu, Katunobu Hamamoto, Koji Saeki
  • Patent number: 9061709
    Abstract: A structural body part and a method of assembling a structural body part are provided. The structural body part includes an inner wall surface defining an enclosed space. A nut is disposed within the enclosed space. The structural body part includes an aperture for receiving a fastener so as to accommodate the addition of additional structure. The body structure includes a spacer. The nut is attached to the spacer. The spacer is configured to suspend the nut above the inner wall surface of the structural body part. Thus, the inner wall surface of the structural body part is exposed and covered with a solution when submersed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Naipaul D. Ramoutar, Taichi Yamashita, Koji Saeki
  • Patent number: 8910737
    Abstract: A service hole cover has a housing recessed portion that has been brought from above the vehicle floor toward the battery unit through the service hole through a service hole formed in a floor panel from inside a vehicle cabin, and that covers an upper portion of a power supply circuit interrupting device from the floor panel side. An extended portion that extends toward an outside of the housing recessed portion is provided on a lower end portion of an inner peripheral wall portion of this housing recessed portion. Also, a bent-back portion that is bent back toward the floor panel side is provided on an outer peripheral side end portion of the extended portion. This bent-back portion will easily deform toward the inner peripheral wall portion side of the housing recessed portion with the outer peripheral side end portion of the extended portion as the fulcrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Saeki