Patents by Inventor Tsutomu Tozuka

Tsutomu Tozuka 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: 8763746
    Abstract: A mounting structure of a handle switch device with which a panel can be replaced by manipulating fasteners for fastening two outer casings of the handle switch device together. A rear casing is temporarily mounted to an inner casing that is mounted to a handle pipe, engagement pieces of a design panel are inserted through through holes of a front casing, and the front and rear casings are fastened together by mounting screws, thereby completing assemblage of the handle switch device. To replace the design panel, the mounting screws are loosened to bring them into a half-engagement state and the front casing is displaced toward a driver side to disengage projection ribs of the inner casing from the through holes. Next, the design panel is dismounted from the front casing, a new design panel is mounted to the front casing, and the mounting screws are tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyo Denso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tozuka, Shigeharu Nazu, Keisuke Hojo
  • Patent number: 7663477
    Abstract: In a turn signal control device for a vehicle having an automatic canceling function, a switch operating element is carried on a pivot shaft mounted in a fixed switch case so that the switch operating element can be returned and pushed-in between a returned position and a pushed-in position. The switch operating element is swingable at the returned position between a neutral position and a left-turn indicating position and a right-turn indicating position. The switch operating element is pushed-in to the pushed-in position by push-in operation at the returned position. The switch operating element is resiliently urged toward the neutral position and there turned position. A winker switch is operatively connected to the switch operating element so as to break the connection of a left-turn indicating means or a right-turn indicating means to a flasher unit in response to push-in of the switch operating element to the pushed-in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignees: Toyo Denso Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuma Shimizu, Takashi Nakamura, Tsutomu Tozuka, Yoshiaki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7402767
    Abstract: In a handle switch device of a vehicle, a switch casing which surrounds a bar handle and accommodates a switch in the inside thereof is mounted on the bar handle, and a manipulation knob which manipulate the switch is mounted on a rear wall of the switch casing. The manipulation knob is arranged substantially at the same height as the bar handle and is tiltably supported on the switch casing by way of a pivot shaft, the switch is formed of a slide-type switch in which a movable contact holder slides, the switch is arranged in the inside of the switch casing above or below the bar handle, and the manipulation knob and the movable contact holder are connected with each other by way of moving direction conversion means which converts a tilting of the manipulation knob to a linear movement and transmits the linear movement to the movable contact holder. Thus, it is possible to provide a handle switch device of a vehicle which exhibits favorable manipulability of a manipulation knob and has a compact shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignees: Toyo Denso Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tozuka, Takashi Nakamura, Hirokazu Nakata, Koichi Hikichi, Shigeru Kodaira, Masaru Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20080164991
    Abstract: In a turn signal control device for a vehicle having an automatic canceling function, a switch operating element is carried on a pivot shaft mounted in a fixed switch case so that the switch operating element can be returned and pushed-in between a returned position and a pushed-in position. The switch operating element is swingable at the returned position between a neutral position and a left-turn indicating position and a right-turn indicating position. The switch operating element is pushed-in to the pushed-in position by push-in operation at the returned position. The switch operating element is resiliently urged toward the neutral position and there turned position. A winker switch is operatively connected to the switch operating element so as to break the connection of a left-turn indicating means or a right-turn indicating means to a flasher unit in response to push-in of the switch operating element to the pushed-in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuma Shimizu, Takashi Nakamura, Tsutomu Tozuka, Yoshiaki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7332684
    Abstract: A turn signal switch for a vehicle includes: a resiliently urging means provided between a switch operating element and a switch case so as to urge the switch operating element toward a neutral position and a returned position. The resiliently urging means includes: a return plate having a guide recess which is provided at one end and against which abuts a first pin provided on the switch operating element, the return plate being slidably supported on the switch case; a pair of return springs exhibiting spring forces for urging the return plate in a direction to bring the pin into abutment against the guide recess. The guide recess is curved into a substantially triangular shape, and includes a valley and return cam faces on opposite sides of the valley. The return springs are provided on opposite sides of the valley and between the return plate and the switch case. Thus, it is possible to reduce the length of the turn signal switch in the direction of push-in/return of the switch operating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Toyo Denso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tozuka, Takashi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20070278072
    Abstract: A turn signal switch for a vehicle includes: a resiliently urging means provided between a switch operating element and a switch case so as to urge the switch operating element toward a neutral position and a returned position. The resiliently urging means includes: a return plate having a guide recess which is provided at one end and against which abuts a first pin provided on the switch operating element, the return plate being slidably supported on the switch case; a pair of return springs exhibiting spring forces for urging the return plate in a direction to bring the pin into abutment against the guide recess. The guide recess is curved into a substantially triangular shape, and includes a valley and return cam faces on opposite sides of the valley. The return springs are provided on opposite sides of the valley and between the return plate and the switch case. Thus, it is possible to reduce the length of the turn signal switch in the direction of push-in/return of the switch operating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tozuka, Takashi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20070235315
    Abstract: In a handle switch device of a vehicle, a switch casing which surrounds a bar handle and accommodates a switch in the inside thereof is mounted on the bar handle, and a manipulation knob which manipulate the switch is mounted on a rear wall of the switch casing. The manipulation knob is arranged substantially at the same height as the bar handle and is tiltably supported on the switch casing by way of a pivot shaft, the switch is formed of a slide-type switch in which a movable contact holder slides, the switch is arranged in the inside of the switch casing above or below the bar handle, and the manipulation knob and the movable contact holder are connected with each other by way of moving direction conversion means which converts a tilting of the manipulation knob to a linear movement and transmits the linear movement to the movable contact holder. Thus, it is possible to provide a handle switch device of a vehicle which exhibits favorable manipulability of a manipulation knob and has a compact shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tozuka, Takashi Nakamura, Hirokazu Nakata, Koichi Hikichi, Shigeru Kodaira, Masaru Nakayama