Patents by Inventor Morimasa Asai

Morimasa Asai 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: 8286766
    Abstract: A slider 24 is supported on a holder 19 of a steering wheel 11 via a coil spring 25 so as to be movable in a direction of an axis while an air bag module 20 is supported on a slider 24 via a damper spring 26 so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Since the coil spring 25 does not affect vibration of the air bag module 20 in the direction perpendicular to the axis, it is possible to set a spring constant of the coil spring 25 at a value appropriate for the operation of a horn switch 37, and to set a spring constant of the damper spring 26 at a value appropriate for the operation of the dynamic damper. As a result, it is possible to effectively reduce the vibration of the steering wheel 11 in the direction perpendicular to the axis with the dynamic damper without affecting the operability of the horn switch 37.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Terada, Takashi Kondou, Takahiro Uesaka, Yukihiro Kunitake, Morimasa Asai, Hideaki Saitou
  • Publication number: 20090218739
    Abstract: A slider 24 is supported on a holder 19 of a steering wheel 11 via a coil spring 25 so as to be movable in a direction of an axis while an air bag module 20 is supported on a slider 24 via a damper spring 26 so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Since the coil spring 25 does not affect vibration of the air bag module 20 in the direction perpendicular to the axis, it is possible to set a spring constant of the coil spring 25 at a value appropriate for the operation of a horn switch 37, and to set a spring constant of the damper spring 26 at a value appropriate for the operation of the dynamic damper. As a result, it is possible to effectively reduce the vibration of the steering wheel 11 in the direction perpendicular to the axis with the dynamic damper without affecting the operability of the horn switch 37.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Terada, Takashi Kondou, Takahiro Uesaka, Yukihiro Kunitake, Morimasa Asai, Hideaki Saitou
  • Patent number: 6719323
    Abstract: For improving horn switch operability, an air bag apparatus 4 supports the side wall 26b of the cover body 26 and is movable back and forth on the outer periphery of the surrounding wall 24 of the base plate 24. Hook 24h protrudes from the surrounding wall 24b and is locked onto lock receiving portion 26h of the side wall 26b, thereby regulating the moving range of the cover body 26. Bracket 35 is mounted on the under surface of the covering portion 26a and is positioned at each of the spokes 7. A movable first contact 36e, 136e is mounted on the bracket 35. A fixed contact support portion 31 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall 24b of the base plate 24 to protrude therefrom or support 131 in the shape of a pillar is provided integrally to protrude from the core metal 7a of the spoke 7. A fixed second contact 31d, 131d that is opposed to the movable contact 36e, 136e is provided to oppose the movable contact 36e, 136e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kai, Morimasa Asai, Masami Tonooka, Katsuhiro Tokita
  • Publication number: 20020113419
    Abstract: For improving horn switch operability, an air bag apparatus 4 supports the side wall 26b of the cover body 26 and is movable back and forth on the outer periphery of the surrounding wall 24 of the base plate 24. Hook 24h protrudes from the surrounding wall 24b and is locked onto lock receiving portion 26h of the side wall 26b, thereby regulating the moving range of the cover body 26. Bracket 35 is mounted on the under surface of the covering portion 26a and is positioned at each of the spokes 7. A movable first contact 36e, 136e is mounted on or from the bracket 35. A fixed contact support portion 31 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall 24b of the base plate 24 to protrude therefrom or support 131 in the shape of a pillar is provided integrally to protrude from the core metal 7a of the spoke 7. A fixed second contact 31d, 131d that is opposed to the movable contact 36e, 136e is provided to oppose the movable contact 36e, 136e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA and NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kai, Morimasa Asai, Masami Tonooka, Katsuhiro Tokita