Patents by Inventor Minoru Takakusaki

Minoru Takakusaki 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: 10654512
    Abstract: A steering device includes an inner column and an outer column which has a guide cylinder portion supporting the inner column to be movable in an axial direction and a holding cylinder portion located at a rear side in the axial direction in relation to the guide cylinder portion and having a slit extending in the axial direction. The guide cylinder portion has a support face which slidably supports an outer circumferential face of the inner column and a regulation face which is located at a front side in the axial direction in relation to the support face and regulates a movement of the inner column in a radial direction. The guide cylinder portion is formed so that a distance from an axis to the regulation face in the radial direction is longer than a distance from the axis to the support face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihito Osawa, Minoru Takakusaki, Eric M. Heitkamp, Robert A. Salemme, Cameron R. Titus, Joshua D. Pritchard, Toshihiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10501110
    Abstract: A steering system includes an inner column; an outer column including a guide tube part that supports the inner column to be movable in an axial direction and a holding tube part in which a slit extending in the axial direction is formed; and a telescopic adjustment mechanism that switches between a locked state in which an interval of the slit is reduced and movement of the inner column is regulated and an unlocked state in which the interval of the slit is increased and the movement of the inner column is allowed. An inner circumferential surface of the guide tube part has support surfaces that slidably support an outer circumferential surface of the inner column, and flanks located on the same circumference as the support surfaces and are separated from the outer circumferential surface of the inner column in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihito Osawa, Minoru Takakusaki
  • Publication number: 20180251148
    Abstract: A steering device includes an inner column and an outer column which has a guide cylinder portion supporting the inner column to be movable in an axial direction and a holding cylinder portion located at a rear side in the axial direction in relation to the guide cylinder portion and having a slit extending in the axial direction. The guide cylinder portion has a support face which slidably supports an outer circumferential face of the inner column and a regulation face which is located at a front side in the axial direction in relation to the support face and regulates a movement of the inner column in a radial direction. The guide cylinder portion is formed so that a distance from an axis to the regulation face in the radial direction is longer than a distance from the axis to the support face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Toshihito Osawa, Minoru Takakusaki, Eric M. Heitkamp, Robert A. Salemme, Cameron R. Titus, Joshua D. Pritchard, Toshihiro Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20180251149
    Abstract: A steering system includes an inner column; an outer column including a guide tube part that supports the inner column to be movable in an axial direction and a holding tube part in which a slit extending in the axial direction is formed; and a telescopic adjustment mechanism that switches between a locked state in which an interval of the slit is reduced and movement of the inner column is regulated and an unlocked state in which the interval of the slit is increased and the movement of the inner column is allowed. An inner circumferential surface of the guide tube part has support surfaces that slidably support an outer circumferential surface of the inner column, and flanks located on the same circumference as the support surfaces and are separated from the outer circumferential surface of the inner column in a radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Toshihito Osawa, Minoru Takakusaki
  • Patent number: 7954852
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to markedly increase the tilt holding force of a tilt telescopic column. A tilt telescopic steering device includes: a fixed bracket 1 fixed to a vehicle; a movable bracket 2 capable of moving relative to the fixed bracket 1; an intermediate bracket 3 which movably supports the movable bracket 2 in an axial direction, is rotatably pivoted on the fixed bracket 1 and is provided with a bearing 301 for rotatably supporting a steering shaft 101; a lock shaft 4 for tiltably and telescopicably fixing the fixed bracket 1 and the movable bracket 2 at a predetermined position; and a connecting shaft 5 for telescopicably fixing the movable bracket 2 and the intermediate bracket 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Ueno, Takahiro Furuhashi, Naoyuki Takezawa, Minoru Takakusaki, Toshihito Osawa
  • Publication number: 20090066070
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to markedly increase the tilt holding force of a tilt telescopic column. A tilt telescopic steering device includes: a fixed bracket 1 fixed to a vehicle; a movable bracket 2 capable of moving relative to the fixed bracket 1; an intermediate bracket 3 which movably supports the movable bracket 2 in an axial direction, is rotatably pivoted on the fixed bracket 1 and is provided with a bearing 301 for rotatably supporting a steering shaft 101; a lock shaft 4 for tiltably and telescopicably fixing the fixed bracket 1 and the movable bracket 2 at a predetermined position; and a connecting shaft 5 for telescopicably fixing the movable bracket 2 and the intermediate bracket 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Yamada Manufacturing, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Ueno, Takahiro Furuhashi, Naoyuki Takezawa, Minoru Takakusaki, Toshihito Osawa
  • Patent number: 7469616
    Abstract: A steering wheel position adjustment device in a steering device includes a tilt telescopic adjustment mechanism. A column housing, through which a column pipe passes and is fixed thereto, is fitted to a fixed bracket so that the column housing can either freely move or be fixed in the axial direction. The column pipe is inserted slidably in an insertion hole of a pivot housing that is fitted to be able to swing freely and be fixed to the front of the column housing in the axial direction. An upper shaft is provided, within the column pipe, that moves together with the column pipe in the axial direction. A lower shaft is provided in the pivot housing. The upper shaft transmits rotation to the lower shaft, and the upper shaft and the lower shaft are connected to be able to slide freely relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Fujiu, Minoru Takakusaki
  • Publication number: 20060219043
    Abstract: To provide a steering wheel position adjustment device in a steering device comprising a tilt telescopic adjustment mechanism, in which there is almost no change in operation feeling, particularly prior or posterior to telescopic adjustments, and that can maintain good operation feeling. A column housing, through which a column pipe passes and is fixed thereto, is fitted to a fixed bracket so that the column housing can either freely move or be fixed in the axial direction. The column pipe is inserted slidably in an insertion hole of a pivot housing that is fitted to be able to swing freely and be fixed freely to the front of the column housing in the axial direction. An upper shaft is provided, within the column pipe, that moves together with the column pipe in the axial direction. A lower shaft is provided in the pivot housing. The upper shaft transmits rotation to the lower shaft, and the upper shaft and the lower shaft are connected to be able to slide freely relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Applicant: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Isao Fujiu, Minoru Takakusaki