Patents by Inventor Shotaro Tani

Shotaro Tani 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).

  • Vehicle separating panel assembly with access to trunk release
    Patent number: 8608220
    Abstract: Disclosed is a separating panel assembly for a vehicle with a rear trunk. An opening is defined in a portion of a separating panel and an access chute is located adjacent to the opening and leads into the trunk. A trunk release handle is located relative to the access chute such that the access chute guides a hand inserted from the passenger compartment through the opening to the trunk release handle. The opening is further located behind a foldable armrest when the armrest is folded up. A movable cover may be provided to cover the opening and reduce air flow between the trunk and the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Donovan, Michael A. Zielinski, Shotaro Tani, Charles P. Patterson
  • VEHICLE SEPARATING PANEL ASSEMBLY WITH ACCESS TO TRUNK RELEASE
    Publication number: 20130257079
    Abstract: Disclosed is a separating panel assembly for a vehicle with a rear trunk. An opening is defined in a portion of a separating panel and an access chute is located adjacent to the opening and leads into the trunk. A trunk release handle is located relative to the access chute such that the access chute guides a hand inserted from the passenger compartment through the opening to the trunk release handle. The opening is further located behind a foldable armrest when the armrest is folded up. A movable cover may be provided to cover the opening and reduce air flow between the trunk and the passenger compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Gregory T. Donovan, Michael A. Zielinski, Shotaro Tani, Charles P. Patterson
  • Vehicle seat
    Patent number: 8141945
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a first sensor that is disposed inside a seat back and is capable of detecting a back-side collision of a vehicle when pressed by a body of a sitting passenger, and a second sensor that is capable of detecting the back-side collision of the vehicle based on a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle. A head rest is constructed to be moved forwardly based on detection signals when both of the sensors detect the back-side collision of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Akaike, Shotaro Tani
  • VEHICLE SEAT
    Publication number: 20100117410
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a first sensor that is disposed inside a seat back and is capable of detecting a back-side collision of a vehicle when pressed by a body of a sitting passenger, and a second sensor that is capable of detecting the back-side collision of the vehicle based on a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle. A head rest is constructed to be moved forwardly based on detection signals when both of the sensors detect the back-side collision of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicants: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Akaike, Shotaro Tani