Patents Assigned to NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 11346859
    Abstract: A contact probe is conductive and capable of expanding/contracting along an axial line direction. The contact probe includes: a first contact member configured to contact one contact target; a second contact member configured to contact another contact target, and to house at least a portion of the first contact member; and a spring member configured to couple the first contact member and the second contact member in a manner capable of expansion/contraction with both end parts of the spring member. The spring member is wound in a helical shape, and at least a diameter of an outer circumference in one of the end parts held by the second contact member is larger than diameters of other portions. A diameter of an inner circumference of an end part of the second contact member on a side housing the first contact member is equal to or larger than a maximum diameter of the first contact member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Souma, Tsukasa Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 11339844
    Abstract: A seat member has a seat portion, a receiving surface of which comes into contact with a bearing surface of an end turn portion, a mounting shaft portion protruded from the receiving surface of the seat portion, and an enlarged diameter portion formed at the front end of the mounting shaft portion for guiding press-fitting, in a cross section along an axial direction of a coil spring, an outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion is set larger than an inner diameter of the end turn portion and an axial length of the enlarged diameter portion is set so that at least a maximum diagonal length of the seat member is larger than an inter-element wire distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuteru Mimura, Norihiro Tajima, Yosuke Kawai, Shuji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20220146552
    Abstract: A contact probe includes a first plunger, a second plunger, a coil spring, and a pipe; the first plunger includes a first slide portion that slides along the inner periphery of the pipe; the second plunger includes a second slide portion that slides along the inner periphery of the pipe; and the coil spring includes: a first attachment portion that is attached to the first plunger and tightly wound; a second attachment portion that is attached to the second plunger and tightly wound; a coarsely wound portion; a first contact portion including one end connected to the first attachment portion and another end connected to the coarsely wound portion and contacting the pipe; and a second contact portion including one end connected to the coarsely wound portion and another end connected to the second attachment portion and contacting to the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Soma, Masahiro Takahashi, Shuji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20220145956
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible member having excellent load resistance and flexibility while achieving a reduction in size. This flexible member is provided with: a main body part which includes multiple wave washers that are stacked in an axial direction and are joined to one another by multiple joint parts, and which is capable of bending relative to the axial direction by elastic deformation of the wave washers; and easily deformable parts formed between the joint parts that are adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction in each wave washer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke KAWAI, Shimpei KUROKAWA, Yuki HAYAKAWA
  • Patent number: 11320461
    Abstract: A probe unit includes: a plurality of contact probes each of which has one end that is brought into contact with a contacting electrode, the one end being an end in a longitudinal direction; a first ground member connected to an external ground; a second ground member provided around each of the contact probes; a connecting member electrically connected to the first ground member, and electrically connected to one end of the second ground member; and a probe holder configured to hold the contact probes, the first ground member, the second ground member and the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Tsuyoshi Inuma, Shuji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11318863
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a seat body configured to seat an occupant; a pressing mechanism that is provided at the seat body and is switchable between a pressing state, in which the pressing mechanism presses against the pelvis of a seated occupant, and a non-pressing state, in which the pressing mechanism does not press against the pelvis of a seated occupant; and a control section configured to control the pressing mechanism, in a state in which an occupant is sitting on the seat body, so as to alternate repeatedly between the pressing state and the non-pressing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Donghyoun Kim, Katsutoshi Imanari
  • Patent number: 11308983
    Abstract: A plate material has a first portion, a second portion, and a fracture portion connecting the first portion and the second portion, and is separated into the first portion and the second portion by tearing the fracture portion. The first portion and the second portion are arranged in a first direction. The fracture portion has thin portions arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction. Widths in the second direction of the thin portions are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru Inoue
  • Patent number: 11299068
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided including a base section fixed to a floor of a vehicle, a pair of seat sections that are disposed opposing each other as viewed along a seat width direction, that are each supported by the base section so as to be capable of tilting between a horizontal position and an upright position, and that each include plural cushion sections disposed in series and configured to support the body of an occupant, and a hinge mechanism that attaches the pair of seat sections to the base section such that the seat sections are capable of tilting, and that couples the plural cushion sections together such that the cushion sections are capable of swinging about an axis running along the seat width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tanaka, Kenichi Katsube, Donghyoun Kim, Takuma Oki
  • Patent number: 11293946
    Abstract: A conductive contactor unit includes: a signal conductive contactor configured to input or output a signal to or from a predetermined circuit structure, the signal conductive contactor including a first plunger, a second plunger, and a spring member; and a conductive contactor holder configured to house the signal conductive contactor used for inputting and outputting the signal to and from the predetermined circuit structure, the conductive contactor holder having a coaxial structure with the signal conductive contactor, and including a holder substrate including an opening configured to allow the signal conductive contactor to be inserted therethrough, a holding member housed in the opening, and including a holding hole configured to hold one or more of the signal conductive contactors, and a stab configured to form a hollow space extending from the holding hole in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the holding hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Tsuyoshi Inuma
  • Publication number: 20220097357
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disk drive suspension includes applying an adhesive to an actuator mounting portion, increasing viscosity of the adhesive by emitting light to the adhesive applied to the actuator mounting portion, arranging the piezoelectric element on the adhesive having the increased viscosity, detecting a height of the piezoelectric element arranged on the actuator mounting portion, and correcting an irradiation condition of the light in accordance with the detected height of the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichiro NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20220101876
    Abstract: An adhesive reactive to ultraviolet rays is applied to an actuator mounting portion of a suspension. An electrical conducting material is applied to a conductor and the like of the actuator mounting portion. When the adhesive is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the viscosity of the adhesive is increased. A piezoelectric element is placed on the adhesive the viscosity of which is increased. Thereafter, the adhesive and the electrical conducting material are heated, whereby the adhesive and the electrical conducting material are cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shogo OGAKI
  • Patent number: 11285776
    Abstract: A terminal sealed portion is formed on an end portion of a hollow rod made of steel. An enclosed space is formed on an inner side of the hollow rod. At an end of the enclosed space, a terminal gap is formed. A volatile powdered rust inhibitor is supplied in the enclosed space. As the volatile powdered rust inhibitor is vaporized, the enclosed space is turned into a rust-inhibiting atmosphere. As the vaporized component of the volatile powdered rust inhibitor is adsorbed to an inner surface of the enclosed space, an inner surface rust-inhibiting film is formed. The vaporized component also enters inside the terminal gap, and forms a terminal rust-inhibiting film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Tange, Masato Sugawara, Yutaka Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 11286972
    Abstract: A fastening member includes a screw thread formed therein. A portion including a crest portion of the screw thread is formed of a first alloy material and includes: a thick portion where the portion is maximized in thickness in a circumferential direction; and a thin portion where the portion is minimized in thickness in the circumferential direction. A portion including a root of the screw thread is formed of a second alloy material having a tensile strength higher than that of the first alloy material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Kaneda, Takeshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11279990
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy contains 0.7% to 1.8% of silicon, 0.5% to 2.1% of copper, 0.4% to 1.8% of manganese, 0.6% to 1.6% of magnesium, and 0.1% to 0.7% of zinc in terms of mass ratio and the balance aluminum with inevitable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: NHK SPRING CO., LTD., TOPURA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Kaneda, Takeshi Suzuki, Kouhei Miyamoto, Naoki Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 11280807
    Abstract: An insulation resistance measurement device includes a jig unit, a control unit and a transfer mechanism. The jig unit includes a lower jig having a reference surface, an upper jig having an abutting surface, a probe unit and a servomotor. When the upper jig is lowered toward the lower jig by the servomotor, the probe contacts a portion to be measured. When the upper jig is lowered further and the abutting surface of the upper jig abuts the reference surface, a torque of the servomotor increases. When the torque reaches a predetermined value, an insulation resistance is measured by the probe in a state where the torque is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Nagano
  • Patent number: 11267381
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat including: a seat back frame standing from a seat rear end side of a seat cushion, a left and right pair of cushion frames, the seat back frame being supported to be tiltable in a seat front-and-rear direction, and the seat back frame structuring a framework of a seat back; and a seat back panel that is provided at the seat rear side of the seat back frame, an upper frame structuring an upper end portion at the seat rear side of the seat back frame, an upper end portion of the seat back panel being disposed at the seat upper side relative to the upper frame, and the seat back panel displacing toward the seat lower side when an impact load is applied from the upper side of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Watanabe, Tomoharu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20220065713
    Abstract: A stress detection device includes: a first detector including a first magnetostrictive member configured to be deformed by tensile stress or compression stress in accordance with a load from outside, and a first wound portion made of a conductive material and configured to be wound around the first magnetostrictive member; and a second detector including a second magnetostrictive member having a magnetostrictive constant different from a magnetostrictive constant of the first magnetostrictive member, the second agnetostrictive member being configured to be deformed by tensile stress or compression stress in accordance with a load from outside, and a second wound portion made of a conductive material and configured to be wound around the second magnetostrictive member, wherein the first detector and the second detector are configured to electrically detect strength of magnetic permeability due to compression stress or tensile stress, and output detection signals having opposite signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taneda, Kenichiro Tami, Minoru Komiya
  • Patent number: 11255351
    Abstract: An accumulator includes a pressure vessel including a first section and a second section joined to each other via a joint portion and a partition portion separating an interior space of the pressure vessel into a liquid chamber and a gas chamber so that a volume ratio between the liquid chamber and the gas chamber in the pressure vessel is variable. The first section includes a thread portion for fastening the accumulator to a support member. The second section includes an abutting portion disposed opposite to the thread portion across the joint portion in an axial direction of the thread portion and configured to abut on the support member when the accumulator is fastened to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mizukami, Mieko Yanagida, Ippei Iwai
  • Patent number: 11254177
    Abstract: A hollow coil spring is made of a hollow wire in which a terminal sealed portion is formed on an end portion of the wire. The terminal sealed portion has a rotationally symmetric shape in which an axis passing through the center of the wire is the symmetric axis. The hollow coil spring includes an end wall portion, and an end face arc-shaped curved surface. The end wall portion includes an end face perpendicular to the axis. A distal-end-center closure portion is formed on the axis at the center of the end wall portion. A spring seat includes a base member and a sheet member. An end turn portion of the hollow coil spring is in contact with the sheet member. The end face of the end turn portion is opposed to a stopper wall of the spring seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Umezawa, Daisuke Takeda
  • Publication number: 20220041027
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hollow coil spring which is made of a hollow wire in which a terminal sealed portion is formed on an end portion of the wire. The terminal sealed portion has a rotationally symmetric shape in which an axis passing through the center of the wire is the symmetric axis. The hollow coil spring includes an end wall portion, and an end face arc-shaped curved surface. The end wall portion includes an end face perpendicular to the axis. A distal-end-center closure portion is formed on the axis at the center of the end wall portion. A spring seat includes a base member and a sheet member. An end turn portion of the hollow coil spring is in contact with the sheet member. The end face of the end turn portion is opposed to a stopper wall of the spring seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro UMEZAWA, Daisuke TAKEDA