Patents by Inventor Soukichi Kikuchi
Soukichi Kikuchi 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).
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Patent number: 9868472Abstract: A bonnet inner panel includes a central protrusion portion protruding upward in a vehicle elevational view and a rear protrusion portion located in back of the central protrusion portion, which are arranged side by side in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a deep-drawn groove is provided between the both protrusion portions to extend in a vehicle width direction, and a hinge reinforcement is provided to extend from a position beside the rear protrusion portion to a position at a rear end of the central protrusion portion, passing through beside the deep-drawn groove. Thereby, the hinge support rigidity of the rear portion of the bonnet having the central protrusion portion can be increased, so that occurrence of any improper deflection or vibration caused to the bonnet by the traveling vibration, the traveling-air pressure or the like can be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Kohji Takada, Kozo Ishizuka, Hirokazu Yamauchi, Akira Miyake, Yousuke Inamitsu, Hideaki Fujii, Takashi Hamada, Soukichi Kikuchi, Atsushi Koriyama, Tsuyoshi Nishihara, Izumi Sadanaga
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Patent number: 9701345Abstract: A reinforcement is configured to have a corner portion corresponding to a corner portion of a side sill inner. Herein, the corner portion of the reinforcement forms a reinforcement ridgeline extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The reinforcement is provided such that the reinforcement ridgeline and a side-sill-inner upper ridgeline formed at a corner portion of the side sill inner overlap with each other over a range from a specified area where a wheel outward displaced in a vehicle collision is capable of contacting a side sill to a connection portion where a cross member connects to the side sill inner.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2016Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Masahide Kanemori, Nobuyuki Nakayama, Akihiro Kawano, Hideyuki Tsukamoto, Soukichi Kikuchi, Takashi Hamada
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Patent number: 9643652Abstract: A vehicle-body structure of an automotive vehicle comprises a frame which is provided at a side portion of a vehicle body to extend in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a load absorption portion which is provided at a front face of a tip portion of the frame to protrude forward, wherein the load absorption portion includes an inclination face portion which protrudes outward, in a vehicle width direction, relative to the frame and a tip face of which extends obliquely forward and inward.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2016Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Masaya Hiramatsu, Yosuke Sawada, Takashi Hamada, Soukichi Kikuchi
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Patent number: 9623910Abstract: There are provided a hinge pillar comprising an outer panel and an inner panel which form a closed cross section extending vertically, a hinge pillar reinforcement provided in the closed cross section, a front door attached to the hinge pillar via a pair of upper-and-lower door hinges, and a hinge bracket attaching the lower door hinge to the hinge pillar reinforcement, the hinge bracket being provided to face a front wheel in a longitudinal direction. Herein, the hinge bracket has a lower strength than a portion of the hinge pillar reinforcement where the hinge bracket is provided. Accordingly, when receiving a collision load from the front wheel, the hinge bracket changes a contact portion of the front wheel to the hinge pillar so as to guide the retreating front wheel outward in a vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Daisuke Kiyoshita, Masanori Fukuda, Toshiharu Ikeda, Soukichi Kikuchi, Takashi Hamada
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Publication number: 20160244098Abstract: A reinforcement is configured to have a corner portion corresponding to a corner portion of a side sill inner. Herein, the corner portion of the reinforcement forms a reinforcement ridgeline extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The reinforcement is provided such that the reinforcement ridgeline and a side-sill-inner upper ridgeline formed at a corner portion of the side sill inner overlap with each other over a range from a specified area where a wheel outward displaced in a vehicle collision is capable of contacting a side sill to a connection portion where a cross member connects to the side sill inner.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Masahide KANEMORI, Nobuyuki NAKAYAMA, Akihiro KAWANO, Hideyuki TSUKAMOTO, Soukichi KIKUCHI, Takashi HAMADA
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Publication number: 20160221608Abstract: A vehicle-body structure of an automotive vehicle comprises a frame which is provided at a side portion of a vehicle body to extend in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a load absorption portion which is provided at a front face of a tip portion of the frame to protrude forward, wherein the load absorption portion includes an inclination face portion which protrudes outward, in a vehicle width direction, relative to the frame and a tip face of which extends obliquely forward and inward.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Masaya Hiramatsu, Yosuke Sawada, Takashi Hamada, Soukichi Kikuchi
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Publication number: 20160083019Abstract: A bonnet inner panel includes a central protrusion portion protruding upward in a vehicle elevational view and a rear protrusion portion located in back of the central protrusion portion, which are arranged side by side in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a deep-drawn groove is provided between the both protrusion portions to extend in a vehicle width direction, and a hinge reinforcement is provided to extend from a position beside the rear protrusion portion to a position at a rear end of the central protrusion portion, passing through beside the deep-drawn groove. Thereby, the hinge support rigidity of the rear portion of the bonnet having the central protrusion portion can be increased, so that occurrence of any improper deflection or vibration caused to the bonnet by the traveling vibration, the traveling-air pressure or the like can be prevented.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Kohji TAKADA, Kozo ISHIZUKA, Hirokazu YAMAUCHI, Akira MIYAKE, Yousuke INAMITSU, Hideaki FUJII, Takashi HAMADA, Soukichi KIKUCHI, Atsushi KORIYAMA, Tsuyoshi NISHIHARA, Izumi SADANAGA
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Publication number: 20160083015Abstract: There are provided a hinge pillar comprising an outer panel and an inner panel which form a closed cross section extending vertically, a hinge pillar reinforcement provided in the closed cross section, a front door attached to the hinge pillar via a pair of upper-and-lower door hinges, and a hinge bracket attaching the lower door hinge to the hinge pillar reinforcement, the hinge bracket being provided to face a front wheel in a longitudinal direction. Herein, the hinge bracket has a lower strength than a portion of the hinge pillar reinforcement where the hinge bracket is provided. Accordingly, when receiving a collision load from the front wheel, the hinge bracket changes a contact portion of the front wheel to the hinge pillar so as to guide the retreating front wheel outward in a vehicle width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Daisuke KIYOSHITA, Masanori FUKUDA, Toshiharu IKEDA, Soukichi KIKUCHI, Takashi HAMADA
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Patent number: 8882150Abstract: In a bump stopper (115) attached to a main frame (10) of a chassis frame (9) of a vehicle (1), a stopper body (116) is a panel which is, as viewed in a cross section along a horizontal direction, formed in a bag shape having an opening on an inner side in a vehicle width direction and formed so as to have openings at upper and lower ends. The stopper body (116) is attached to an outer surface of the main frame (10) at front and rear attachment parts (116c, 116d) which are end parts of the panel positioned at sides of the opening on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. A contact member (118) contacting an arm (92) is attached to the stopper body (116) so as to be positioned in the vicinity of a lower opening (116) of the stopper body (116).Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2010Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hideto Yamada, Hiroyuki Akaki, Soukichi Kikuchi
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Patent number: 8807597Abstract: In a frontal collision energy absorption structure for a vehicle (1) including a chassis frame (9), an engine mount bracket (27) is attached to a main frame (10) of the chassis frame (9) extending in a vehicle length direction, and is, in the vehicle length direction, apart from a connection part of the main frame (10) and a suspension tower (101), a connection part of the main frame (10) and a second cross-member (12) arranged apart from the suspension tower (101) in front thereof, and a connection part of the main frame (10) and a third cross-member (13) arranged apart from the suspension tower (101) in rear thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2010Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Akaki, Hideto Yamada, Soukichi Kikuchi, Osami Ohno
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Patent number: 8727380Abstract: In a suspension tower structure for a vehicle (1) including a chassis frame (9) to which suspension towers (101) are attached, a front leg part (101a) and a rear leg part (101b) branched to be separated from each other in a vehicle length direction are provided in a lower part of the suspension tower (101), and lower parts of the front leg part (101a) and the rear leg part (101b) are attached to a main frame (10) of the chassis frame (9) extending in the vehicle length direction so as to be separated from each other in the vehicle length direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2010Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Akaki, Hideto Yamada, Soukichi Kikuchi
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Patent number: 8657059Abstract: An attachment structure of a propeller shaft to a cross-member in a vehicle includes a pair of main frames (10) extending in a vehicle length direction; the cross-member (15) connecting the main frames (10) together; the propeller shaft (37) arranged between the main frames (10) and including a front shaft (37a) and a rear shaft (37b) connected together through a joint (65); a center bearing (67) fixed to the cross-member (15) and configured to rotatably support the front shaft (37a); a fuel tank (83) arranged between the center bearing (67) and one of the main frames (10); and a flexible connection body (170) configured to connect the center bearing (67) and part of the cross-member (15) on a side opposite to the fuel tank (83) and having a length which is substantially non-extendable.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2010Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hideto Yamada, Hiroyuki Akaki, Soukichi Kikuchi
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Publication number: 20130011092Abstract: An attachment structure of a propeller shaft to a cross-member in a vehicle includes a pair of main frames (10) extending in a vehicle length direction; the cross-member (15) connecting the main frames (10) together; the propeller shaft (37) arranged between the main frames (10) and including a front shaft (37a) and a rear shaft (37b) connected together through a joint (65); a center bearing (67) fixed to the cross-member (15) and configured to rotatably support the front shaft (37a); a fuel tank (83) arranged between the center bearing (67) and one of the main frames (10); and a flexible connection body (170) configured to connect the center bearing (67) and part of the cross-member (15) on a side opposite to the fuel tank (83) and having a length which is substantially non-extendable.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2010Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicants: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Hideto Yamada, Hiroyuki Akaki, Soukichi Kikuchi
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Publication number: 20120319336Abstract: In a bump stopper (115) attached to a main frame (10) of a chassis frame (9) of a vehicle (1), a stopper body (116) is a panel which is, as viewed in a cross section along a horizontal direction, formed in a bag shape having an opening on an inner side in a vehicle width direction and formed so as to have openings at upper and lower ends. The stopper body (116) is attached to an outer surface of the main frame (10) at front and rear attachment parts (116c, 116d) which are end parts of the panel positioned at sides of the opening on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. A contact member (118) contacting an arm (92) is attached to the stopper body (116) so as to be positioned in the vicinity of a lower opening (116) of the stopper body (116).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2010Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicants: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Hideto Yamada, Hiroyuki Akaki, Soukichi Kikuchi
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Publication number: 20120313360Abstract: In a frontal collision energy absorption structure for a vehicle (1) including a chassis frame (9), an engine mount bracket (27) is attached to a main frame (10) of the chassis frame (9) extending in a vehicle length direction, and is, in the vehicle length direction, apart from a connection part of the main frame (10) and a suspension tower (101), a connection part of the main frame (10) and a second cross-member (12) arranged apart from the suspension tower (101) in front thereof, and a connection part of the main frame (10) and a third cross-member (13) arranged apart from the suspension tower (101) in rear thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2010Publication date: December 13, 2012Applicants: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Hiroyuki Akaki, Hideto Yamada, Soukichi Kikuchi, Osami Ohno
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Publication number: 20120306234Abstract: In a suspension tower structure for a vehicle (1) including a chassis frame (9) to which suspension towers (101) are attached, a front leg part (101a) and a rear leg part (101b) branched to be separated from each other in a vehicle length direction are provided in a lower part of the suspension tower (101), and lower parts of the front leg part (101a) and the rear leg part (101b) are attached to a main frame (10) of the chassis frame (9) extending in the vehicle length direction so as to be separated from each other in the vehicle length direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2010Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicants: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Hiroyuki Akaki, Hideto Yamada, Soukichi Kikuchi
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Patent number: 8141904Abstract: A frontal collision energy absorbing structure includes a pair of left and right main frames. A front cross member and a rear cross member each connect the left and right main frames. A suspension tower and an engine mount bracket may each be attached to each main frame. Each front suspension tower is spaced out from the joint between the front cross member and the main frame. Each rear suspension tower is spaced out from the joint between the rear cross member and the main frame. Each of engine mount bracket is longitudinally spaced apart from the following joints: the front cross member and the main frame; the rear cross member and the main frame, and the suspension tower and the main frame.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2010Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hiroyuki Akaki, Hideto Yamada, Soukichi Kikuchi, Osami Ohno
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Publication number: 20100194145Abstract: A frontal collision energy absorbing structure includes a pair of left and right main frames. A front cross member and a rear cross member each connect the left and right main frames. A suspension tower and an engine mount bracket may each be attached to each main frame. Each front suspension tower is spaced out from the joint between the front cross member and the main frame. Each rear suspension tower is spaced out from the joint between the rear cross member and the main frame. Each of engine mount bracket is longitudinally spaced apart from the following joints: the front cross member and the main frame; the rear cross member and the main frame, and the suspension tower and the main frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Inventors: Hiroyuki Akaki, Hideto Yamada, Soukichi Kikuchi, Osami Ohno
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Patent number: 7488016Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle front structure, which comprises a synthetic resin shroud 3 formed to support a heat exchanger and mounted to a vehicle body in a front of an engine compartment, a bumper fascia disposed in a front end of the vehicle body, a plate member 20 which has a front end located adjacent to a rear surface of the bumper fascia and a rear end attached to a lower shroud section 5, and a connection member 30 which connects a lower end region of a lateral surface of a side shroud section 6 to a non-abutted portion 13c formed in a flange 13 of a bumper reinforcement 10. The vehicle front structure of the present invention can suppress displacement of the shroud during a frontal impact with a pedestrian or an obstacle such as a curb.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2007Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Takayuki Nakamae, Toshio Sakamoto, Yasunori Kageyama, Naoaki Yamamoto, Soukichi Kikuchi, Hiroshi Sogabe
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Publication number: 20080012363Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle front structure, which comprises a synthetic resin shroud 3 formed to support a heat exchanger and mounted to a vehicle body in a front of an engine compartment, a bumper fascia disposed in a front end of the vehicle body, a plate member 20 which has a front end located adjacent to a rear surface of the bumper fascia and a rear end attached to a lower shroud section 5, and a connection member 30 which connects a lower end region of a lateral surface of a side shroud section 6 to a non-abutted portion 13c formed in a flange 13 of a bumper reinforcement 10. The vehicle front structure of the present invention can suppress displacement of the shroud during a frontal impact with a pedestrian or an obstacle such as a curb.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2007Publication date: January 17, 2008Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Takayuki Nakamae, Toshio Sakamoto, Yasunori Kageyama, Naoaki Yamamoto, Soukichi Kikuchi, Hiroshi Sogabe