Patents by Inventor Yoshiyuki Esaki

Yoshiyuki Esaki 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: 7404282
    Abstract: A riding lawn mower having a front mower unit, comprises a plurality of wheels; a vehicle body supported by the wheels; an engine supported by the vehicle body for driving at least one of the wheels; a lift link supported by the vehicle body; a mower unit adapted to be disposed forwardly of the vehicle body, having at least one cutting blade, and supported to be pivotable about an axis of a first pivot pin relative to the lift link between a generally horizontal position wherein the at least one cutting blade faces the ground, and a generally vertical position wherein the at least one cutting blade is oriented forward; an assisting force exerting device for exerting an assisting force for moving the mower unit to the generally vertical position; a support link connected to an end of the assisting force exerting device, wherein the assisting force exerting device and the support link are disposed between the lift link and the mower unit; a fixing member having a first position for permitting the assisting forc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Yoshiyuki Esaki
  • Publication number: 20080072561
    Abstract: A mower comprising: a cutting blade housing; rotating cutting blades; and a front baffle plate disposed forwardly of a rotation zone of each of the rotating cutting blades; wherein the front baffle plate comprises: an upstream-side cutting blade plate portion and a downstream-side cutting blade plate portion having a concave curved guide surface wherein the front baffle plate is configured such that the distance between a rotation zone of the upstream-side cutting blade and a boundary between the upstream-side cutting blade plate portion and the downstream-side cutting blade plate portion in the baffle plates is greater than the distance between the boundary and a rotation zone of the downstream-side cutting blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Koike, Masatoshi Yamaguchi, Yoshiyuki Esaki
  • Publication number: 20080072558
    Abstract: A riding work vehicle includes an engine hood provided at a rear portion of the vehicle body, an engine cooling air inlet provided at a front end area of the engine hood, and a mower connecting portion for connecting a mower to the vehicle body. A pair of right and left first fenders are supported to the vehicle body so as to be located above the front wheels or rear wheels. Second fenders are provided separately from the first fenders and overlapping at least partially with the first fenders as viewed from above. Second fender support portions support the second fenders to the vehicle body. Each one of the second fenders includes an overlapping portion overlapping with the first fender as viewed from above and a dust cover portion disposed laterally of the engine cooling air inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori Tsuchihashi, Koji Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki
  • Publication number: 20070169456
    Abstract: A riding type mower comprises: a plurality of wheels including at least one driven wheel; a vehicle body supported by the plurality of wheels; a driver's seat supported by the vehicle body; a mower unit located below the vehicle body; a suspension mechanism for vertically movably supporting the mower unit from the vehicle body, the suspension mechanism having a restraint member operatively connected to the suspension mechanism; an operation mechanism for operating the suspension mechanism; a stopper for setting a lower limit for a vertical position of the mower unit to define a cutting height by abutment against the restraint member, the stopper is adapted to be rotated to change the lower limit; a lower limit adjustment element located laterally of the driver's seat and rotatable to rotate the stopper; and a linking mechanism for operatively connecting the lower limit adjustment element with the stopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Komorida, Hideya Umemoto, Yoshiyuki Esaki
  • Publication number: 20070068133
    Abstract: A rear discharge type mower apparatus comprises: a blade housing having a top plate, a front wall and at least one side wall; a support shaft supported by the blade housing and extending vertically; a rotatable blade supported by the support shaft, a tip end of the blade forming a rotation path; a guide plate located rearwardly of the front wall and having a shape extending along the rotation path of a corresponding blade, and forming an opening for ejecting cut grass rearwardly, wherein the guide plate has: a first end located in an upstream position with respect to a rotating direction of the corresponding blade and located rearwardly of a corresponding support shaft and the first end defining one end of the opening, and a second end located in a downstream position with respect to the rotating direction of the corresponding blade and located rearwardly of the corresponding support shaft and the second end defining the other end of the opening; an auxiliary plate extending from an area of the first end into
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Masaji Kure, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Koji Fujiwara, Kazuo Samejima, Masatoshi Yamaguchi, Kazuo Koike, Yoshiyuki Esaki
  • Publication number: 20060288682
    Abstract: A riding lawn mower having a front mower unit, comprises a plurality of wheels; a vehicle body supported by the wheels; an engine supported by the vehicle body for driving at least one of the wheels; a lift link supported by the vehicle body; a mower unit adapted to be disposed forwardly of the vehicle body, having at least one cutting blade, and supported to be pivotable about an axis of a first pivot pin relative to the lift link between a generally horizontal position wherein the at least one cutting blade faces the ground, and a generally vertical position wherein the at least one cutting blade is oriented forward; an assisting force exerting device for exerting an assisting force for moving the mower unit to the generally vertical position; a support link connected to an end of the assisting force exerting device, wherein the assisting force exerting device and the support link are disposed between the lift link and the mower unit; a fixing member having a first position for permitting the assisting forc
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Yoshiyuki Esaki
  • Patent number: 7059109
    Abstract: A mid-mount mower having a front frame unit including a pair of right and left front longitudinal frames, a first cross frame interconnecting the front longitudinal frames in forward positions thereof longitudinally of the vehicle body, and a second cross frame interconnecting the front longitudinal frames in rearward positions thereof longitudinally of the vehicle body, the front frame unit supporting the front wheel unit and also supporting a lift mechanism for vertically movably suspending the mower unit; a rear frame unit including a pair of right and left rear longitudinal frames, the rear frame unit being connected to the front frame unit; and a rear wheel drive unit interconnecting the rear longitudinal frames. The second cross frame has a downwardly opening recess disposed adjacent a middle position thereof, the recess allowing entry thereto of an upwardly protruding portion of the mower unit without interference when the mower unit is raised by the lift mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Masato Asahara, Hiroshi Shimada, Akira Minoura, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki
  • Patent number: 6997280
    Abstract: A working vehicle propelled by independently driven right and left running units comprising a body frame with an engine mounted thereon; a front wheel unit for supporting the body frame in cooperation with the right and left running units; a left HST for receiving torque input from the engine; a right HST for receiving torque input from the engine; a left reduction mechanism for decelerating and transmitting torque output from the left HST to the left running unit; a right reduction mechanism for decelerating and transmitting torque output from the right HST to the right running unit; a left base block supported by the body frame, this base block forming a housing base for the left HST and a housing base for the left reduction mechanism; a right base block attached to the body frame, this base block forming a housing base for the right HST and a housing base for the right reduction mechanism. The base blocks are formed as port blocks for the HSTs, and define hydraulic ports in the housing bases for the HSTs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Minoura, Teruo Shimamura, Masahiro Yamada, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki
  • Patent number: 6973768
    Abstract: A mid-mount mower having a body frame supported above the ground by front wheels and rear wheels, the body frame having a front cross frame in a forward portion thereof with respect to a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, and a mower unit disposed between the front wheels and rear wheels. A main jack body is mounted on the front cross frame to be pivotable about a pivot shaft extending longitudinally of the vehicle body. The main jack body is in a storage position extending along the front cross frame when pivoted to a first pivot position about the pivot shaft, and in a substantially vertical position relative to the ground when pivoted to a second pivot position about the pivot shaft. The main jack body has a controlled portion exposed upward when the main jack body is in the vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura
  • Patent number: 6877302
    Abstract: A mid-mount mower including a body frame supported above the ground by front wheels and rear wheels, and a mower unit vertically movably suspended from the body frame between the front wheels and rear wheels. The mower unit includes a mower deck having a top board, and a front wall, side walls and a rear wall depending from the top board. The mower deck has a rearwardly opening recess formed in a sideways middle region at a rear end thereof. A mower input shaft is disposed on the top board for transmitting power to the rotary blades juxtaposed inside the mower deck to be rotatable about three vertical axes arranged sideways. The mower input shaft extends longitudinally of the body frame and has a rear connecting end. A PTO shaft is provided in a rear transmission mechanism that drives the rear wheels. The PTO shaft extends longitudinally of the body frame and has a forward connecting end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Kenichi Chujo, Teruo Shimamura, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Masatoshi Yamaguchi, Yoshihiro Kawahara
  • Publication number: 20050039430
    Abstract: A lawn mower comprises a blade drive shaft with a blade rotatably mounted inside a mower deck supported by a vehicle body, a blower unit including a cylindrical blower housing connected to a grass clippings discharging section provided in a side end region of the mower deck, a vertical drive shaft having a shaft portion with vanes attached thereto inside the blower housing and a shaft portion extending upward through the blower housing, and a discharging sleeve projecting rearwardly along an outer tangent line of the blower housing, a grass collecting apparatus mounted rearwardly of the vehicle body, a duct for allowing the discharging sleeve to communicate with the grass collecting apparatus, and a belt-type blower driving mechanism for driving the vertical drive shaft of the blower unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Masato Asahara, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura, Osami Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 6854249
    Abstract: A lawn mower comprises a blade drive shaft with a blade rotatably mounted inside a mower deck supported by a vehicle body, a blower unit including a cylindrical blower housing connected to a grass clippings discharging section provided in a side end region of the mower deck, a vertical drive shaft having a shaft portion with vanes attached thereto inside the blower housing and a shaft portion extending upward through the blower housing, and a discharging sleeve projecting rearwardly along an outer tangent line of the blower housing, a grass collecting apparatus mounted rearwardly of the vehicle body, a duct for allowing the discharging sleeve to communicate with the grass collecting apparatus, and a belt-type blower driving mechanism for driving the vertical drive shaft of the blower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Masato Asahara, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura, Osami Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 6848246
    Abstract: A mower unit attachable to a vehicle body includes a mower deck. The mower deck defines a grass discharge opening at an opposite side of one side wall, and has a plurality of rotary blades juxtaposed inside the mower deck to be rotatable about vertical axes. All of the rotary blades are rotatable in the same direction so that a front half, with respect to a traveling direction, of a track of rotation of each rotary blade points toward the side having the grass discharge opening. A rear baffle depends from a top board of the mower deck for enclosing the rotary blades in combination with a front wall, and surrounds, in form of a concentric part circle, a rear portion of the track of rotation of each rotary blade. A front baffle and a mulching baffle are provided to be selectively attached to the mower deck to be located forwardly of the tracks of rotation of the rotary blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Teruo Shimamura, Masatoshi Yamaguchi, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Kenichi Chujo, Yoshihiro Kawahara
  • Publication number: 20040154274
    Abstract: A mid-mount mower having a body frame supported above the ground by front wheels and rear wheels, the body frame having a front cross frame in a forward portion thereof with respect to a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, and a mower unit disposed between the front wheels and rear wheels. A main jack body is mounted on the front cross frame to be pivotable about a pivot shaft extending longitudinally of the vehicle body. The main jack body is in a storage position extending along the front cross frame when pivoted to a first pivot position about the pivot shaft, and in a substantially vertical position relative to the ground when pivoted to a second pivot position about the pivot shaft. The main jack body has a controlled portion exposed upward when the main jack body is in the vertical position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Akira Minoura
  • Publication number: 20040154278
    Abstract: A mid-mount mower having a front frame unit including a pair of right and left front longitudinal frames, a first cross frame interconnecting the front longitudinal frames in forward positions thereof longitudinally of the vehicle body, and a second cross frame interconnecting the front longitudinal frames in rearward positions thereof longitudinally of the vehicle body, the front frame unit supporting the front wheel unit and also supporting a lift mechanism for vertically movably suspending the mower unit; a rear frame unit including a pair of right and left rear longitudinal frames, the rear frame unit being connected to the front frame unit; and a rear wheel drive unit interconnecting the rear longitudinal frames. The second cross frame has a downwardly opening recess disposed adjacent a middle position thereof, the recess allowing entry thereto of an upwardly protruding portion of the mower unit without interference when the mower unit is raised by the lift mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Masato Asahara, Hiroshi Shimada, Akira Minoura, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki
  • Publication number: 20040112667
    Abstract: A working vehicle propelled by independently driven right and left running units comprising a body frame with an engine mounted thereon; a front wheel unit for supporting the body frame in cooperation with the right and left running units; a left HST for receiving torque input from the engine; a right HST for receiving torque input from the engine; a left reduction mechanism for decelerating and transmitting torque output from the left HST to the left running unit; a right reduction mechanism for decelerating and transmitting torque output from the right HST to the right running unit; a left base block supported by the body frame, this base block forming a housing base for the left HST and a housing base for the left reduction mechanism; a right base block attached to the body frame, this base block forming a housing base for the right HST and a housing base for the right reduction mechanism. The base blocks are formed as port blocks for the HSTs, and define hydraulic ports in the housing bases for the HSTs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Minoura, Teruo Shimamura, Masahiro Yamada, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki
  • Publication number: 20040006959
    Abstract: A mid-mount mower including a body frame supported above the ground by front wheels and rear wheels, and a mower unit vertically movably suspended from the body frame between the front wheels and rear wheels. The mower unit includes a mower deck having a top board, and a front wall, side walls and a rear wall depending from the top board. The mower deck has a rearwardly opening recess formed in a sideways middle region at a rear end thereof. A mower input shaft is disposed on the top board for transmitting power to the rotary blades juxtaposed inside the mower deck to be rotatable about three vertical axes arranged sideways. The mower input shaft extends longitudinally of the body frame and has a rear connecting end. A PTO shaft is provided in a rear transmission mechanism that drives the rear wheels. The PTO shaft extends longitudinally of the body frame and has a forward connecting end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Kenichi Chujo, Teruo Shimamura, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Masatoshi Yamaguchi, Yoshihiro Kawahara
  • Publication number: 20040006960
    Abstract: A mower unit attachable to a vehicle body includes a mower deck. The mower deck defines a grass discharge opening at an opposite side of one side wall, and has a plurality of rotary blades juxtaposed inside the mower deck to be rotatable about vertical axes. All of the rotary blades are rotatable in the same direction so that a front half, with respect to a traveling direction, of a track of rotation of each rotary blade points toward the side having the grass discharge opening. A rear baffle depends from a top board of the mower deck for enclosing the rotary blades in combination with a front wall, and surrounds, in form of a concentric part circle, a rear portion of the track of rotation of each rotary blade. A front baffle and a mulching baffle are provided to be selectively attached to the mower deck to be located forwardly of the tracks of rotation of the rotary blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Teruo Shimamura, Masatoshi Yamaguchi, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Kenichi Chujo, Yoshihiro Kawahara
  • Patent number: 6675567
    Abstract: A mid-mount type lawn tractor having idle wheels disposed at one end in a fore and aft direction of a vehicle body, drive wheels disposed at the other end in the fore and aft direction of the vehicle body, a mower unit connected to the vehicle body between the idle wheels and drive wheels. The lawn tractor includes a wheel support frame supporting the idle wheels and pivotably connected to the vehicle body. A pivotal movement of the wheel support frame relative to the vehicle body displaces the idle wheels relative to the vehicle body, to produce a running posture or a jack-up posture lifting at least part of the vehicle body. The pivotal movement of the wheel support frame is caused by a jack device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Yoshihiro Kawahara, Osami Fujiwara, Teruo Shimamura
  • Patent number: 6578656
    Abstract: A riding mower includes a pair of right and left propelling wheels, an engine disposed rearwardly of axles of the propelling wheels, a pair of right and left transmission cases corresponding to the propelling wheels and supporting the propelling wheels, respectively, a pair of right and left HSTs coupled to the transmission cases for outputting power thereto, respectively, a center case housing a power distributor for transmitting power from the engine to the pair of right and left HSTs, and a mower unit disposed forwardly of the propelling wheels. The center case is disposed forwardly of the axles of the propelling wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Yoshihiro Kawahara, Teruo Shimamura, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki