Patents by Inventor Nobutaka Ban

Nobutaka Ban 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: 9573465
    Abstract: A transmission includes a drive force transmission/interruption mechanism that restricts the rotation of a propeller shaft. By operating a shift lever, the shift operation of the transmission and the operation of the drive force transmission/interruption mechanism can be performed, and a lock operation and an unlock operation of a differential lock mechanism can be performed. When a driver wants to bring a vehicle into a parking state, by operating a shift lever, a state is provided where a drive force transmission/interruption mechanism is locked so that the rotation of a propeller shaft is restricted, and the vehicle can be held in a stopped state by bringing a differential lock mechanism into a locked state. Since the vehicle can be brought into a parking state using the shift lever, a so-called parking lever becomes unnecessary so that the number of operation elements can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nishida, Tadashi Oshima, Nobutaka Ban
  • Publication number: 20140296018
    Abstract: A transmission includes a drive force transmission/interruption mechanism that restricts the rotation of a propeller shaft. By operating a shift lever, the shift operation of the transmission and the operation of the drive force transmission/interruption mechanism can be performed, and a lock operation and an unlock operation of a differential lock mechanism can be performed. When a driver wants to bring a vehicle into a parking state, by operating a shift lever, a state is provided where a drive force transmission/interruption mechanism is locked so that the rotation of a propeller shaft is restricted, and the vehicle can be held in a stopped state by bringing a differential lock mechanism into a locked state. Since the vehicle can be brought into a parking state using the shift lever, a so-called parking lever becomes unnecessary so that the number of operation elements can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nishida, Tadashi Oshima, Nobutaka Ban
  • Patent number: 8631888
    Abstract: A cowling structure for a saddle-ride type vehicle for cooling an engine and providing a windshield for a rider. The cowling structure includes a seat for a rider to sit thereon, the seat is arranged behind and above an engine suspended from a vehicle body frame. An under cowl covers at least part of a lower portion of the engine. The under cowl is formed to cover at least part of a side surface of the engine. A guide portion is provided in an upper portion of the under cowl, the guide portion extending inward in a vehicle width direction and toward the side surface of the engine. An opening is provided in front of the guide portion, the opening introducing a flow of air into the under cowl. The guide portion has a slope surface which slopes downward from the front to the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Omi Iida, Jun Hirose, Shigeto Inami, Nobutaka Ban
  • Patent number: 8517648
    Abstract: To provide a load-carrying platform structure which allows loading irrespective of the kind or shape of a load, reliably secures the load onto the load-carrying platform, and does not cause a decrease in the full load capacity. In a structure in which a frame includes a load-carrying platform, and wall portions are provided in the outer periphery of the loading portion of the load-carrying platform with recesses being provided in the inner wall surfaces of the wall portions. Hooks for securing the load in place are provided in the respective recesses so as to fit within the inner wall surfaces of the wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kobayashi, Nobutaka Ban, Yukinori Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110180345
    Abstract: A cowling structure for a saddle-ride type vehicle for cooling an engine and providing a windshield for a rider. The cowling structure includes a seat for a rider to sit thereon, the seat is arranged behind and above an engine suspended from a vehicle body frame. An under cowl covers at least part of a lower portion of the engine. The under cowl is formed to cover at least part of a side surface of the engine. A guide portion is provided in an upper portion of the under cowl, the guide portion extending inward in a vehicle width direction and toward the side surface of the engine. An opening is provided in front of the guide portion, the opening introducing a flow of air into the under cowl. The guide portion has a slope surface which slopes downward from the front to the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Omi IIDA, Jun Hirose, Shigeto Inami, Nobutaka Ban
  • Publication number: 20070231101
    Abstract: To provide a load-carrying platform structure which allows loading irrespective of the kind or shape of a load, reliably secures the load onto the load-carrying platform, and does not cause a decrease in the full load capacity. In a structure in which a frame includes a load-carrying platform, and wall portions are provided in the outer periphery of the loading portion of the load-carrying platform with recesses being provided in the inner wall surfaces of the wall portions. Hooks for securing the load in place are provided in the respective recesses so as to fit within the inner wall surfaces of the wall portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Takeshi Kobayashi, Nobutaka Ban, Yukinori Kawaguchi