Patents by Inventor Masato Yokoi

Masato Yokoi 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: 8403100
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, can include an exhaust pipe connected to a back or rear side of an engine of the vehicle. An intermediate portion of the exhaust pipe can extend along a side of the engine from a rear portion connected to the rear side of the engine. A front portion of the exhaust pipe can extend from the intermediate portion along a front of the engine, and an exhaust portion can extend from the intermediate portion along a side of the engine opposite to the intermediate portion side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Yokoi, Shidehiko Miyashiro, Hisashi Tajima
  • Patent number: 8256564
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, can include an exhaust pipe connected to a back or rear side of an engine of the vehicle. A rear cushioning member can be provided between the engine and a rear wheel of the vehicle. The exhaust pipe can include a front portion that extends from the engine backward on one side of the rear cushioning member, with respect to a widthwise direction of the vehicle, and a transverse portion that extends, in a direction substantially transverse to a lengthwise direction of the vehicle, from the one side to another side, between the rear cushioning member and the rear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyohiko Oguri, Masato Yokoi, Makoto Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8245672
    Abstract: A single-cylinder or in-line multi-cylinder engine is provided. The engine includes a crankshaft, a piston, a cylinder body, a cylinder head, and a gear change mechanism. The piston is connected to the crankshaft. A cylinder is formed in the cylinder body. The piston is housed in the cylinder. The cylinder head is attached to an end of the cylinder body. The gear change mechanism is disposed to the rear of the crankshaft. An axis of the cylinder extends upward obliquely to the rear from the crankshaft side. The axis of the cylinder passes in front of an axis of the crankshaft when viewed from a direction in which the crankshaft extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Yokoi, Shidehiko Miyashiro
  • Publication number: 20110192669
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, can include an exhaust pipe connected to a back or rear side of an engine of the vehicle. An intermediate portion of the exhaust pipe can extend along a side of the engine from a rear portion connected to the rear side of the engine. A front portion of the exhaust pipe can extend from the intermediate portion along a front of the engine, and an exhaust portion can extend from the intermediate portion along a side of the engine opposite to the intermediate portion side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA (YAMAHA MOTOR CO., LTD.)
    Inventors: Masato YOKOI, Shidehiko Miyashiro, Hisashi Tajima
  • Patent number: 7766119
    Abstract: A motorcycle has a head pipe and an engine disposed with its cylinder axis inclined rearward. An intake pipe located between a down tube and the engine is connected to a front part of the engine and includes an engine connecting part connected to a front part of the engine. The engine connecting part is inclined upward to the front to define an acute angle with respect to the cylinder axis of the engine. A funnel is connected to a throttle body and extends upward to the front in a more vertically upward direction than an axis of the throttle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Yokoi, Shidehiko Miyashiro
  • Patent number: 7730865
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, having an arrangement that inhibits the reduction of the fuel tank volume disposed to the rear of a moveable funnel that forms a portion of a variable length air intake. The vehicle includes an engine having an intake port. A fixed funnel introduces air to the intake port of the engine and a moveable funnel is position on the inlet side of the fixed funnel to selectively cooperate with the fixed funnel to deliver air to the intake port of the engine along with the fixed funnel. A parallel linkage moveably supports the moveable funnel. A fuel tank is disposed to the rear side of the moveable funnel and a motor that drives the parallel linkage is disposed on the opposite side to the fuel tank from the moveable funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20100032226
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, can include an exhaust pipe connected to a back or rear side of an engine of the vehicle. An intermediate portion of the exhaust pipe can extend along a side of the engine from a rear portion connected to the rear side of the engine. A front portion of the exhaust pipe can extend from the intermediate portion along a front of the engine, and an exhaust portion can extend from the intermediate portion along a side of the engine opposite to the intermediate portion side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20100032227
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, can include an exhaust pipe connected to a back or rear side of an engine of the vehicle. A rear cushioning member can be provided between the engine and a rear wheel of the vehicle. The exhaust pipe can include a front portion that extends from the engine backward on one side of the rear cushioning member, with respect to a widthwise direction of the vehicle, and a transverse portion that extends, in a direction substantially transverse to a lengthwise direction of the vehicle, from the one side to another side, between the rear cushioning member and the rear wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyohiko Oguri, Masato Yokoi, Makoto Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20090320785
    Abstract: A single-cylinder or in-line multi-cylinder engine is provided. The engine includes a crankshaft, a piston, a cylinder body, a cylinder head, and a gear change mechanism. The piston is connected to the crankshaft. A cylinder is formed in the cylinder body. The piston is housed in the cylinder. The cylinder head is attached to an end of the cylinder body. The gear change mechanism is disposed to the rear of the crankshaft. An axis of the cylinder extends upward obliquely to the rear from the crankshaft side. The axis of the cylinder passes in front of an axis of the crankshaft when viewed from a direction in which the crankshaft extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Yokoi, Shidehiko Miyashiro
  • Patent number: 7594495
    Abstract: An electronic throttle valve control system prevents rapid rotation of a throttle valve when the control system has a failure. A throttle valve controls the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine, an electric motor drives the throttle valve, and a control section controls the electric motor. The throttle valve has an urging mechanism for urging the throttle valve in the closing direction. The control section shifts the electric motor to a regenerative mode when the control system has a failure to control the speed at which the throttle valve is rotated in the closing direction by the urging force of the urging mechanism. The throttle valve is therefore rotated slowly in the closing direction by the urging force of the urging mechanism and then held in a predetermined opening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Maruo, Tomoaki Kishi, Takeshi Matsuda, Masato Yokoi, Naoya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7461630
    Abstract: An electronic throttle valve control system prevents rapid rotation of a throttle valve reliably when the control system has a failure. A throttle valve controls the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine, an electric motor drives the throttle valve, and a rotational speed reduction mechanism reduces the rotation of the electric motor to control the rotation of the throttle valve. An urging mechanism urges the throttle valve in the closing direction. An attenuation mechanism attenuates the speed at which the throttle valve is rotated in the closing direction by the urging mechanism when the control system has a failure. The attenuation mechanism is the electric motor in a regenerative mode or an air damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Maruo, Tomoaki Kishi, Takeshi Matsuda, Masato Yokoi, Naoya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7418937
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, includes one or more stationary funnels through which air is delivered to an intake port of an engine. One or more movable funnels are arranged on an inlet side of the one or more stationary funnels and cooperating with the stationary funnels to deliver air to the intake port of the engine. A parallel linkage rotatably supports the stationary funnels and includes an upper linkage member and a lower linkage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20080184954
    Abstract: A motorcycle has a head pipe and an engine disposed with its cylinder axis inclined rearward. An intake pipe located between a down tube and the engine is connected to a front part of the engine and includes an engine connecting part connected to a front part of the engine. The engine connecting part is inclined upward to the front to define an acute angle with respect to the cylinder axis of the engine. A funnel is connected to a throttle body and extends upward to the front in a more vertically upward direction than an axis of the throttle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato YOKOI, Shidehiko MIYASHIRO
  • Patent number: 7389758
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, that includes an engine air intake arrangement with a variable length intake passage. The motorcycle includes an engine having an intake port. A fixed funnel delivers air to the intake port of the engine. A moveable funnel is positioned on the intake side of the fixed funnel and selectively cooperates with the fixed funnel to deliver air to the intake port of the engine. A parallel linkage moveably supports the moveable funnel relative to the fixed funnel. An air cleaner box, in which the fixed funnel and the moveable funnel are disposed, includes a protrusion at a portion that covers the moveable funnel and that prevents the occurrence of contact with the moveable funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20080022970
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an electronic throttle valve control system which can prevent rapid rotation of a throttle valve reliably when the control system has a failure. [Solution] A throttle valve 10 for controlling the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine, an electric motor 20 for driving the throttle valve 10, and a rotational speed reduction mechanism 30 for reducing the rotation of the electric motor 20 to control the rotation of the throttle valve 10 are provided. The rotational speed reduction mechanism 30 has an urging mechanism 31 for urging the throttle valve 10 in the closing direction. The rotational speed reduction mechanism 30 is connected to an attenuation mechanism 38(20) for attenuating the speed at which the throttle valve 10 is rotated in the closing direction by the urging force of the urging mechanism 31 when the control system has a failure. The attenuation mechanism 38 is constituted of the electric motor 20 in a regenerative mode or an air damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Keisuke Maruo, Tomoaki Kishi, Takeshi Matsuda, Masato Yokoi, Naoya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7318410
    Abstract: An electronic throttle valve system more suitable for use in straddle type vehicles. A straddle type vehicle has an electronic throttle valve system for adjusting the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine. The electronic throttle valve system includes a throttle valve, an electric motor and a control unit. A guard mechanism is provided on a valve shaft of the throttle valve. The guard mechanism includes a pulley with which the throttle cable is engaged and a lever pulley which rotates in conjunction with the opening of the pulley. A cushion spring is provided on an edge face of a notched portion of the lever pulley, the edge face generally coming into contact with a protrusion that extends from the valve shaft of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Yokoi
  • Patent number: 7311082
    Abstract: An electronic throttle valve system more suitable for use in straddle type vehicles. A straddle type vehicle has an electronic throttle valve system for adjusting the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine. The electronic throttle valve system includes a throttle valve for adjusting the amount of intake air to the internal combustion engine, an electric motor for actuating the throttle valve, and a control unit for controlling the electric motor. The throttle valve is fixed to a valve shaft. The electric motor is connected to the valve shaft. The valve shaft is provided with a throttle opening sensor on the right end, and a mechanical, throttle valve actuating mechanism on the left end. A throttle cable is engaged with the mechanism, while being coupled to a throttle grip (acceleration controller) provided on a right one of a pair of handlebars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20070193804
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, includes one or more stationary funnels through which air is delivered to an intake port of an engine. One or more movable funnels are arranged on an inlet side of the one or more stationary funnels and cooperating with the stationary funnels to deliver air to the intake port of the engine. A parallel linkage rotatably supports the stationary funnels and includes an upper linkage member and a lower linkage member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20070175431
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, having an arrangement that inhibits the reduction of the fuel tank volume disposed to the rear of a moveable funnel that forms a portion of a variable length air intake. The vehicle includes an engine having an intake port. A fixed funnel introduces air to the intake port of the engine and a moveable funnel is position on the inlet side of the fixed funnel to selectively cooperate with the fixed funnel to deliver air to the intake port of the engine along with the fixed funnel. A parallel linkage moveably supports the moveable funnel. A fuel tank is disposed to the rear side of the moveable funnel and a motor that drives the parallel linkage is disposed on the opposite side to the fuel tank from the moveable funnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Yokoi
  • Patent number: PP18408
    Abstract: A new cultivar of Hypericum patulum, ‘Stardust’, characterized by its unique foliage coloration with new foliage emerging creamy white tinged with pink, changing to creamy white foliage heavily mottled with dark green, and turning dark green as the leaf matures. The vigorous growth habit and pendant stems of ‘Stardust’ make it suitable for both containers and use as a landscape plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Its Aul Plants, LLC
    Inventor: Masato Yokoi