Patents by Inventor Yasuyuki Hihara

Yasuyuki Hihara 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: 11760278
    Abstract: A rocker panel molding includes an outer panel including a front integral hinge that is bendable along a first straight line extending along a vehicle length on a lower end of a front portion of the outer panel and a rear integral hinge that is bendable along a second straight line extending along the vehicle length on a lower end of a rear portion of the outer panel, a front foldable panel configured to be folded at the front integral hinge and fixed to a rocker panel, and a rear foldable panel configured to be folded at the rear integral hinge and fixed to the rocker panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Hihara
  • Publication number: 20220416353
    Abstract: A battery supporting structure which supports a battery mounted on a vehicle is provided, which includes a battery tray on which the battery is mounted and to which a lower part of the battery is fixed, an upper support member that surrounds an upper side of the battery, a lower support member that surrounds a lower side of the battery, that is provided at a lower side of the battery tray, and that is fixed to a vehicle body, and a fastening member that fastens the upper support member and the lower support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Hihara
  • Publication number: 20220410820
    Abstract: Provided is a rocker molding composed of a front rocker molding piece to be mounted on the front side of a vehicle in the front-rear direction and a rear rocker molding piece to be mounted on the rear side. The rocker molding may be made of resin. The front rocker molding piece has an extension portion C formed on its rear end portion. The extension portion C extends inward in the vehicle width direction. The rear rocker molding piece has a recessed portion into which the extension portion is to be inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Hihara
  • Publication number: 20220410982
    Abstract: A rocker panel molding includes an outer panel including a front integral hinge that is bendable along a first straight line extending along a vehicle length on a lower end of a front portion of the outer panel and a rear integral hinge that is bendable along a second straight line extending along the vehicle length on a lower end of a rear portion of the outer panel, a front foldable panel configured to be folded at the front integral hinge and fixed to a rocker panel, and a rear foldable panel configured to be folded at the rear integral hinge and fixed to the rocker panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Hihara
  • Publication number: 20220416348
    Abstract: A battery holding structure includes a battery tray, an upper holding member, and a lower holding member. The battery tray includes a right side wall, a left side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall, and is configured to accommodate a battery such that the bottom end of the battery is securely fastened to the battery tray. The upper holding member and the lower holding member are coupled to surround the battery and the battery tray in a vehicle longitudinal direction. A distance in a vehicle lateral direction between the upper holding member and each of the right and left side walls is shorter than the height of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Hihara
  • Publication number: 20190233021
    Abstract: A rear deck post assembly is provided for reinforcing a cargo bed of a utility vehicle. The assembly includes a first deck mount coupled to a vehicle frame, and a first rear deck post coupled to the first deck mount. A second deck mount is provided coupled to the vehicle frame and spaced apart from the first deck mount. A second rear deck post is coupled to the second deck mount. A deck sill component is provided longitudinally extending between the first deck post and the second deck post. Deck bolts may be used to couple the deck sill component, deck mounts, and deck posts to the vehicle frame. The first and second deck mounts and deck posts may be a cast aluminum alloy, a cast magnesium alloy, or a fiber reinforced composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Hihara, Christopher M. Higgins, Scott P. Robison, Scott L. Frederick, Adam D. Holmstrom
  • Patent number: 10343727
    Abstract: A rear deck post assembly is provided for reinforcing a cargo bed of a utility vehicle. The assembly includes a first deck mount coupled to a vehicle frame, and a first rear deck post coupled to the first deck mount. A second deck mount is provided coupled to the vehicle frame and spaced apart from the first deck mount. A second rear deck post is coupled to the second deck mount. A deck sill component is provided longitudinally extending between the first deck post and the second deck post. Deck bolts may be used to couple the deck sill component, deck mounts, and deck posts to the vehicle frame. The first and second deck mounts and deck posts may be a cast aluminum alloy, a cast magnesium alloy, or a fiber reinforced composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Hihara, Christopher M. Higgins, Scott P. Robison, Scott L. Frederick, Adam D. Holmstrom
  • Patent number: 9855970
    Abstract: A front side member 16 is arranged in a front part of a vehicle body 14 on an Outer side in a vehicle width direction along a vehicle front-rear direction, and an apron upper member 32 is further arranged on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and an upper side thereof. A gusset 28 is attached to an outer side of a front end of the front side member 16 in a projected manner. Furthermore, a front end of the apron upper member 32 is connected to the gusset 28 via an apron brace 34. A rear section 34A of the apron brace 34 is provided with a first lateral flange section 60C and a second lateral flange section 60D toward the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shintaro Kitakata, Yasuyuki Hihara, Kenjiro Yamada
  • Publication number: 20160207573
    Abstract: A front side member 16 is arranged in a front part of a vehicle body 14 on an Outer side in a vehicle width direction along a vehicle front-rear direction, and an apron upper member 32 is further arranged on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and an upper side thereof. A gusset 28 is attached to an outer side of a front end of the front side member 16 in a projected manner. Furthermore, a front end of the apron upper member 32 is connected to the gusset 28 via an apron brace 34. A rear section 34A of the apron brace 34 is provided with a first lateral flange section 60C and a second lateral flange section 60D toward the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shintaro KITAKATA, Yasuyuki HIHARA, Kenjiro YAMADA
  • Patent number: 9352787
    Abstract: Rocker portions and a tunnel portion that serve as frame portions extend along a vehicle longitudinal direction respectively at vehicle transverse direction both end portions of an upper floor and a vehicle transverse direction central portion of an upper floor. On the other hand, a dash panel or a back panel is provided erect respectively at a front end portion of a lower floor (22) and a rear end portion of a lower floor. Here, abutment portions are provided at front end portions of the rocker portions and the tunnel portion respectively, and planarly contact an inner surface of the dash panel. Further, abutment portions are provided at rear end portions of the rocker portions and the tunnel portion respectively, and planarly contact an inner surface of the back panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Hihara, Koki Ikeda, Sho Maeda, Yoshitaka Sotoyama
  • Patent number: 9281505
    Abstract: A battery mounting structure for a vehicle includes a battery frame upper fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin, a battery frame lower fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin, and an intermediate member fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin. A battery that is disposed at a vehicle body lower side of a floor panel is attached at the battery frame upper. With the battery frame upper the battery frame lower structures a closed cross section structure. The intermediate member is interposed between the battery frame upper and the battery frame lower. The intermediate member is provided with a plural number of upper end portions that abut against or are disposed close to a lower face of the battery frame upper and a plural number of lower end portions that abut against or are disposed close to an upper face of the battery frame lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Hihara, Hiroaki Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20150249240
    Abstract: A battery mounting structure for a vehicle includes a battery frame upper fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin, a battery frame lower fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin, and an intermediate member fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin. A battery that is disposed at a vehicle body lower side of a floor panel is attached at the battery frame upper. With the battery frame upper the battery frame lower structures a closed cross section structure. The intermediate member is interposed between the battery frame upper and the battery frame lower. The intermediate member is provided with a plural number of upper end portions that abut against or are disposed close to a lower face of the battery frame upper and a plural number of lower end portions that abut against or are disposed close to an upper face of the battery frame lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Hihara, Hiroaki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 9004576
    Abstract: When a collision load is transmitted to a gusset, the load is transmitted to an inner side in a vehicle width direction via an inclined wall. Accordingly, moment that causes a front side member to be projected and bent inward to the inner side in the vehicle width direction with an intersection being a starting point acts on the front side member. Then, the front side member, which has been projected and bent inward, collides with a power unit that is disposed in an engine compartment from an outer side in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, a lateral force to the inner side in the vehicle width direction can be obtained for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kosuke Sakakibara, Tomoyuki Kuriyama, Akihiro Tamaoki, Kenjiro Yamada, Shintaro Kitakata, Yasuyuki Hihara, Yasutaka Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20150069785
    Abstract: When a collision load is transmitted to a gusset, the load is transmitted to an inner side in a vehicle width direction via an inclined wall. Accordingly, moment that causes a front side member to be projected and bent inward to the inner side in the vehicle width direction with an intersection being a starting point acts on the front side member. Then, the front side member, which has been projected and bent inward, collides with a power unit that is disposed in an engine compartment from an outer side in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, a lateral force to the inner side in the vehicle width direction can be obtained for a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke SAKAKIBARA, Tomoyuki Kuriyama, Akihiro Tamaoki, Kenjiro Yamada, Shintaro Kitakata, Yasuyuki Hihara, Yasutaka Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8899663
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure is obtained that can ensure ease of ingress/egress in a structure in which an energy absorbing member is disposed at a vehicle width direction outer side with respect to a skeleton member that forms a lower edge of an opening for ingress/egress. A vehicle body structure (10) has a rocker (20) that is long in a front-rear direction and at which a cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is a closed cross-sectional portion (20C); an outer panel (55) that covers the rocker (20) from a transverse direction outer side; and an EA member (54) for a side collision that is disposed between the rocker (20) and the outer panel (55). An opening flange (80) is formed by joining of a standing flange (60), that is disposed at a vehicle width direction outer side with respect to the closed cross-sectional portion (20C) at the rocker (20), and a standing flange (62) of the outer panel (55).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Hihara
  • Patent number: 8894130
    Abstract: A vehicle lower section structure is obtained that has a simple structure and is capable of increasing the rigidity and strength of a framework structure that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction. A vehicle lower section structure includes: an upper panel including a pair of respectively vehicle-downwards facing joining faces that are separated from each other in the vehicle width direction; a lower panel that with the upper panel configures a framework structure that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction and has a closed cross-section by the joining faces of the upper panel being joined to vehicle-upwards facing joining faces of the lower panel; and a seat rail that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction and is fixed to a portion of the upper panel that configures an upper wall of the closed cross-section of the framework structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Iwamoto, Koki Ikeda, Yasuyuki Hihara
  • Publication number: 20140300141
    Abstract: Rocker portions and a tunnel portion that serve as frame portions extend along a vehicle longitudinal direction respectively at vehicle transverse direction both end portions of an upper floor and a vehicle transverse direction central portion of an upper floor. On the other hand, a dash panel or a back panel is provided erect respectively at a front end portion of a lower floor (22) and a rear end portion of a lower floor. Here, abutment portions are provided at front end portions of the rocker portions and the tunnel portion respectively, and planarly contact an inner surface of the dash panel. Further, abutment portions are provided at rear end portions of the rocker portions and the tunnel portion respectively, and planarly contact an inner surface of the back panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Hihara, Koki Ikeda, Sho Maeda, Yoshitaka Sotoyama
  • Publication number: 20140028053
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure is obtained that can ensure ease of ingress/egress in a structure in which an energy absorbing member is disposed at a vehicle width direction outer side with respect to a skeleton member that forms a lower edge of an opening for ingress/egress. A vehicle body structure (10) has a rocker (20) that is long in a front-rear direction and at which a cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is a closed cross-sectional portion (20C); an outer panel (55) that covers the rocker (20) from a transverse direction outer side; and an EA member (54) for a side collision that is disposed between the rocker (20) and the outer panel (55). An opening flange (80) is formed by joining of a standing flange (60), that is disposed at a vehicle width direction outer side with respect to the closed cross-sectional portion (20C) at the rocker (20), and a standing flange (62) of the outer panel (55).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Hihara
  • Publication number: 20130320713
    Abstract: A vehicle lower section structure is obtained that has a simple structure and is capable of increasing the rigidity and strength of a framework structure that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction. A vehicle lower section structure includes: an upper panel including a pair of respectively vehicle-downwards facing joining faces that are separated from each other in the vehicle width direction; a lower panel that with the upper panel configures a framework structure that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction and has a closed cross-section by the joining faces of the upper panel being joined to vehicle-upwards facing joining faces of the lower panel; and a seat rail that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction and is fixed to a portion of the upper panel that configures an upper wall of the closed cross-section of the framework structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Iwamoto, Koki Ikeda, Yasuyuki Hihara