Patents by Inventor Taku Hirama

Taku Hirama 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: 11125000
    Abstract: An urging structure for a lid includes a spring member having one spring end linked to a supply-port-forming member and the other spring end linked to a lid, and provided so as to be most elastically deformed at an intermediate position between a closed position and a maximum open position of the lid to urge the lid. The spring member is linked to the lid in such a way so as to vary a distance between the other spring end and a turning center of the lid, and the distance stays constant when the lid is in the closed position and in the intermediate position, increases in a process of moving from the intermediate position to the maximum open position, and becomes maximum when the lid is in the maximum open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Taku Hirama
  • Patent number: 11008792
    Abstract: An urging structure for a lid includes a spring member having one spring end linked to a supply-port-forming member and the other spring end linked to a lid, and provided so as to be most elastically deformed at an intermediate position between a closed position and a maximum open position of the lid to urge the lid. The spring member is linked to the lid in such a way so as to vary a distance between the other spring end and a turning center of the lid, and the distance stays constant when the lid is in the closed position and in the intermediate position, increases in a process of moving from the intermediate position to the maximum open position, and becomes maximum when the lid is in the maximum open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Taku Hirama
  • Publication number: 20200173215
    Abstract: An urging structure for a lid includes a spring member having one spring end linked to a supply-port-forming member and the other spring end linked to a lid, and provided so as to be most elastically deformed at an intermediate position between a closed position and a maximum open position of the lid to urge the lid. The spring member is linked to the lid in such a way so as to vary a distance between the other spring end and a turning center of the lid, and the distance stays constant when the lid is in the closed position and in the intermediate position, increases in a process of moving from the intermediate position to the maximum open position, and becomes maximum when the lid is in the maximum open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Taku HIRAMA
  • Patent number: 9856681
    Abstract: A push lifter includes a body portion; a rod slidably disposed inside the body portion; an urging portion to urge the rod in a direction away from the body portion; and a rotator disposed rotatably about an axial of the rod at the one end of the body portion to lock or unlock the rod. The rod includes a first rib portion, and a second rib portion distanced from the first rib portion in an axial direction of the rod, to rotate the rotator. The rotator includes an inner cam portion so that when the rod is pressed to slide inwardly of the body portion, the first rib portion abuts against the inner cam portion to rotate the rotator, and when the rod is released to project outwardly from the body portion, the second rib portion abuts against the inner cam portion to rotate the rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: NIFCO AMERICA CORP.
    Inventors: Raghu Sridhar, Taku Hirama
  • Publication number: 20170362863
    Abstract: A push lifter includes a body portion; a rod slidably disposed inside the body portion; an urging portion to urge the rod in a direction away from the body portion; and a rotator disposed rotatably about an axial of the rod at the one end of the body portion to lock or unlock the rod. The rod includes a first rib portion, and a second rib portion distanced from the first rib portion in an axial direction of the rod, to rotate the rotator. The rotator includes an inner cam portion so that when the rod is pressed to slide inwardly of the body portion, the first rib portion abuts against the inner cam portion to rotate the rotator, and when the rod is released to project outwardly from the body portion, the second rib portion abuts against the inner cam portion to rotate the rotator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Raghu SRIDHAR, Taku HIRAMA
  • Patent number: 9718389
    Abstract: Provided is a container holder (1, 70) comprising a body member (3) defining a recess (2) with a bottom, a roller (5) supported by the body member such that at least a part of the roller projects into the recess to engage a container (60) received in the recess, and a biasing member (6) for urging the roller into the recess, wherein the roller is supported by the body member in such a manner that a rotational center line (B) of the roller extends in a tangential direction of a circle centered around a central axial line (A) of the recess, and the roller is enabled to slide in a radial direction of the recess and to tilt around an axial line in parallel with the central axial line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Kei Inoue, Kozo Kobayashi, Masamitsu Shiono, Taku Hirama
  • Publication number: 20160304020
    Abstract: Provided is a container holder (1, 70) comprising a body member (3) defining a recess (2) with a bottom, a roller (50) supported by the body member such that at least a part of the roller projects into the recess to engage a container (60) received in the recess, and a biasing member (6) for urging the roller into the recess, wherein the roller is supported by the body member in such a manner that a rotational center line (B) of the roller extends in a tangential direction of a circle centered around a central axial line (A) of the recess, and the roller is enabled to slide in a radial direction of the recess and to tilt around an axial line in parallel with the central axial line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicants: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Kei Inoue, Kozo Kobayashi, Masamitsu Shiono, Taku Hirama
  • Patent number: 9233785
    Abstract: A lid opening/closing mechanism switches a lid between a closed position closing an opening portion of a box-like base body, and an open position opening the opening portion. A distinct point is to include an arm allowing a tip side to turn to a front of the base body as a support point on a base end side pivotally supported at the base body by a first axis support portion, and connected to the lid turnably by a second axis support portion. The lid is turned in an opening direction or a closing direction in association with a turn of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: NIFCO INC., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taku Hirama, Taku Kamiya, Hiroyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 9133964
    Abstract: A vibration-proof clamp includes a clamp main body with a holding portion for holding a pipe material, and having a mounting hole therein; a vibration-proof member mounted in the mounting hole, and having therein a fitting hole with a hole shaft corresponding to the mounting hole, and a concave groove provided by notching a peripheral edge of the fitting hole; and a clip including a cylindrical neck portion inserted into the fitting hole, a fixation rib inserted through the concave groove, and an elastic claw projected on an outer peripheral face of the neck portion and retractable inward in a radial direction. The neck portion is inserted into the fitting hole, the elastic claw retracts in a radial direction, and the fixation rib passes through the concave groove, then, the clip is relatively rotated relative to the vibration-proof member, so that the elastic claw fits into the concave groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Taku Hirama
  • Patent number: 9080697
    Abstract: A vibration-proof clamp includes a clamp main body with a holding portion for holding a pipe material, and having a mounting hole therein; a vibration-proof member mounted in the mounting hole, and having therein a fitting hole with a hole shaft corresponding to the mounting hole, and a concave groove provided by notching a peripheral edge of the fitting hole; and a clip including a cylindrical neck portion inserted into the fitting hole, a fixation rib inserted through the concave groove, and an elastic claw projected on an outer peripheral face of the neck portion and retractable inward in a radial direction. The neck portion is inserted into the fitting hole, the elastic claw retracts in a radial direction, and the fixation rib passes through the concave groove, then, the clip is relatively rotated relative to the vibration-proof member, so that the elastic claw fits into the concave groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Taku Hirama
  • Patent number: 8882072
    Abstract: A shaft support structure includes a base body having an attachment device for fixing an attached member, a bearing portion provided at an end portion of the base body and having an opening portion, a swinging shaft rotatably disposed inside the opening portion of the bearing portion, and a lid body having the swinging shaft and rotated by the swinging shaft. The lid body is integrally formed with the base body. A clip includes the shaft support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Hattori, Taku Hirama
  • Publication number: 20140259565
    Abstract: A vibration-proof clamp includes a clamp main body with a holding portion for holding a pipe material, and having a mounting hole therein; a vibration-proof member mounted in the mounting hole, and having therein a fitting hole with a hole shaft corresponding to the mounting hole, and a concave groove provided by notching a peripheral edge of the fitting hole; and a clip including a cylindrical neck portion inserted into the fitting hole, a fixation rib inserted through the concave groove, and an elastic claw projected on an outer peripheral face of the neck portion and retractable inward in a radial direction. The neck portion is inserted into the fitting hole, the elastic claw retracts in a radial direction, and the fixation rib passes through the concave groove, then, the clip is relatively rotated relative to the vibration-proof member, so that the elastic claw fits into the concave groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Taku Hirama
  • Publication number: 20140131357
    Abstract: A lid opening/closing mechanism switches a lid between a closed position closing an opening portion of a box-like base body, and an open position opening the opening portion. A distinct point is to include an arm allowing a tip side to turn to a front of the base body as a support point on a base end side pivotally supported at the base body by a first axis support portion, and connected to the lid turnably by a second axis support portion. The lid is turned in an opening direction or a closing direction in association with a turn of the arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicants: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Taku Hirama, Taku Kamiya, Hiroyuki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20120223207
    Abstract: A clip can fix a linear member, and is integrally molded by a base body, a bearing portion, and a locking lid. In the base body, the locking lid is integrally molded on one end to be freely rotatable. The bearing portion extends from one side of the base body, and includes an opening portion wherein a rotating shaft rotatably enters. In the locking lid, there are integrally molded a locking portion which can lock in the base body on the other side; the rotating shaft which can freely rotate in the bearing portion including the opening portion on one side; and a planar member covering the holding portion between the locking portion and the rotating shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Hattori, Taku Hirama