Patents Assigned to Nifco Inc.
  • Patent number: 12650175
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve includes a case having an opening and fixed to a surface of a housing, a cover supported by the case rotatably in a rotation direction parallel to the surface of the housing, and a first biasing member biasing the cover such that the cover rotates from a closed position to an open position in the rotation direction. The cover covers an opening of the cover in the closed position and opens the opening of the cover in the open position. The case includes a stopper engaging with the cover in the closed position. The pressure relief valve releases the engagement between the stopper and the cover when internal pressure of the housing exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Shohei Hirota
  • Patent number: 12638342
    Abstract: Provided are a temperature sensor that performs high-speed sensing, whose cost is low, and whose layout is freely designed, the temperature sensor eliminating the need for complicated operations, and a method for manufacturing the temperature sensor. In a temperature sensor 1, terminal portions 9 of a connector portion 7 are exposed to an outside of a pipe section 2, a connector-side embedded portion 8 of the connector portion 7 is embedded in an embedding portion 4 of a side wall portion 3, an exposed portion 12 of a housing portion 11 is disposed in the pipe section 2, and an embedded base 13 of the housing portion 11 is embedded in the embedding portion 4. The housing portion 11 is made of a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakamura, Takuhiko Nakajima, Satoshi Ikeya
  • Publication number: 20260137218
    Abstract: A clip has a base portion embedded in a seat body and two locking portions formed on an upper surface of the base portion. The locking portions are arranged longitudinally in a front-rear direction on the upper surface of the base portion, and each locking portion is composed of a pair of locking piece portions extending upward and facing each other. Each locking piece portion has an extension portion connected to the upper surface of the base portion and a claw portion connected to an upper end of the extension portion. One of the locking piece portions is a one-sided locking piece portion, and the other is an elastic locking piece portion. An elastic force of the elastic locking piece portion is smaller than that of the one-sided locking piece portion, and therefore the elastic locking piece portion is more easily elastically deformed than the one-sided locking piece portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2025
    Publication date: May 21, 2026
    Applicants: NIFCO INC., TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masataka KONDO, Takehiro SATO, Masanobu MUKUTA, Yousuke NOGUCHI, Ryouta TOMIOKA
  • Patent number: 12595817
    Abstract: A fastener includes a fitted portion having an elastic piece that is disposed on a side of a base portion configured to allow insertion of the fitted portion into a through hole by elastic deformation in a direction of approaching a base portion and to engage the through hole at an insertion point of the insertion by elastic return in an end position of the insertion, and that is configured to, if force in a direction of pulling out the fitted portion from the through hole is applied, cause the elastic deformation in the approaching direction. The base portion includes an abutting portion abutting on the elastic piece if the force in the pulling-out direction is applied, and, if the force in the pulling-out direction is equal to or greater than a predetermined magnitude, the elastic piece bends in a direction toward a central axis of the fitted portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Akihiro Yaguchi, Takehiro Sato
  • Patent number: 12589706
    Abstract: A grommet includes: a pair of clamping bodies that clamp a wire harness; a hinge portion that openably and closably couples the pair of clamping bodies; and an engagement portion that is provided at the pair of clamping bodies and that engages with an attachment hole formed in an attachment panel in a state in which the wire harness and the hinge portion clamped by the pair of clamping bodies are inserted into the attachment hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignees: Nifco Inc., Subaru Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei Takahashi, Satoshi Kanou
  • Patent number: 12571449
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of stabilizing the state of assembly of a seal member while allowing movement of a piston member in a direction that reduces one space inside a cylinder member with little resistance. The seal member includes a base portion located towards the one space, which is a first space inside the cylinder member, and an extending portion extending from the base portion toward the other space, which is the second space inside the cylinder member. The piston member is provided with a first holding portion that faces the base portion of the sealing member, a second holding portion that faces an extended edge of the extended portion of the sealing member, and a third holding portion that faces a held part formed on the inside of the extended portion of the seal member. A fluid passage is formed in the second holding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Katsutoshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 12523766
    Abstract: A sensor bracket (1) for mounting a sensor (2) to a vehicle body, comprising: a base wall (10) opposing a back surface of the sensor; a pair of first positioning portions (25) projecting from the base wall and abutting a side edge of the sensor from a first direction extending along the base wall; a pair of first pressing portions (26) projecting from the base wall and pressing the sensor against the first positioning portion in the first direction; and a first engaging portion (27) projecting from the base wall and engaging the sensor against a movement thereof away from the base wall, the first engaging portion being positioned between the first positioning portions and the first pressing portions along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Assignees: NIFCO INC., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Mori, Shingo Nakayama
  • Patent number: 12523070
    Abstract: A lock apparatus includes a lid configured to turn to open and close an opening of a box; a rod switchable between a locked position where a tip of the rod projects to outside of the lid and an unlocked position where the tip is retracted to inside of the lid; and a guide member attached to the inside of the lid and configured to slidably support the rod. The lid includes one of an engaging portion and an engaged portion, and the guide member includes the other of the engaging portion and the engaged portion. The engaging portion and the engaged portion are configured to move the guide member in a direction intersecting a lid opening and closing direction to thereby fix and press-fit to each other without rattle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Koji Kondo
  • Patent number: 12491821
    Abstract: A support device includes a movable body provided movably between an advanced position for forming a projection on an object, and a retracted position for forming a recess on the object. The multi-purpose support device includes a casing body movably supporting the movable body, a biasing body exerting a biasing force to the movable body, and a control mechanism for the movable body. The control mechanism performs a cycle of controlling the movable body including: temporal holding of the movable body at a reference position; first pushing of the movable body at the reference position toward a retracted position against the biasing force; causing the biasing force to move the movable body after the first pushing, to an advanced position; second pushing of the movable body at the advanced position against the biasing force; and causing the biasing force to move the movable body to the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2025
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Takahiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 12479139
    Abstract: The display device includes a display, a resin member, and a transparent layer. The display includes a first surface on which an image is displayed, a second surface located oppositely to the first surface, and a side surface extending from the first surface to reach the second surface. The resin member includes an inner wall surface at least partially opposed to the side surface of the display, a first surface connected to the inner wall surface and located on the same side as the first surface of the display, and a second surface connected to the inner wall surface and located on the same side as the second surface of the display. The transparent layer includes a second surface spreading in contact with the first surface of the display and the first surface of the resin member, and a first surface located oppositely to the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Doi, Tsuyoshi Fukuda, Keisuke Fukushima, Eiichiro Nishio
  • Patent number: 12427931
    Abstract: An article supporting device includes a main receptacle having a receptive opening for an article to be supported; and a bolt assembly having a bolt shaft and a bolt head, the bolt shaft being configured to be fixed to a vehicle body, the bolt head being combined with the main receptacle so as to be positioned in the main receptacle. The main receptacle is configured to include a receptive space between the receptive opening and the bolt head of the bolt assembly. The bolt head of the bolt assembly has an open portion disposed so as to face the receptive space, the bolt head having a sub-receptive space formed therein so as to be continuous with the receptive space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2025
    Assignees: SUBARU CORPORATION, NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Akihiko Sato, Kanenori Susaki, Yuhei Chinomi
  • Patent number: 12409767
    Abstract: Provided is a drinking container holding device that is configured to heat the drinking container. The drinking container holding device includes a plastic holder configured to hold a drinking container on the inner side of the holder, a sheet-like heat transfer element located on the outer side of the holder and having a higher thermal conductivity than the holder, a sheet heating element located on the outer side of the heat transfer element and smaller than the heat transfer element, and an insulating element covering the sheet heating element on the outer side of the sheet heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Assignees: NIFCO INC., KYOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaya Ogawa, Masataka Saotome, Masao Toda, Kazuhiko Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 12397481
    Abstract: This insert-molded filter is obtained by insert-molding a cylindrically-shaped mesh into a resin body. This insert-molded filter is provided with: a body which is equipped with a first annular part, a second annular part, and multiple columnar parts connected to the first and second annular parts, and which has multiple openings formed so as to be separated by the multiple columnar parts between the first and second annular parts; and a mesh which is integrally molded with the body so as to cover the multiple openings separated by the multiple columnar parts. The body is provided with a resin introduction part that is disposed outside of the mesh in the radial direction of the first annular part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Norio Saito
  • Patent number: 12391186
    Abstract: Provided are a storage device and a cover member for the storage device with which a gap that exposes an internal structure can be shielded without degrading design. In the cover body for the storage device, a gap is formed between an end section of a shutter and upper left and right surface decoration sections, the end section of the shutter on the gap side is formed by a shielding member, and the shielding member extends toward between the upper left or right surface decoration section and a frame-side rail and reaches a lower side of each of the upper left and right surface decoration sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2025
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Taniguchi, Atsushi Doi
  • Patent number: 12385520
    Abstract: A ball joint includes a ball stud and a socket having a base portion that is annular about an axis extending in an insertion direction, multiple first protruding parts, and second protruding parts positioned between the first protruding parts. The second protruding parts rotatably hold the ball in cooperation with tips of the first protruding parts. The first protruding parts are each provided with an extension part that extends out sideways. An outer surface of the extension part is provided with an engagement part that engages with an edge part of the opening. The first protruding parts and the second protruding parts are each capable of deforming to bend in a radial direction with respect to the axis, and tips of the second protruding parts are positioned more in the insertion direction than edge parts of the extension part on a side of the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Yoichi Hirano
  • Patent number: 12292672
    Abstract: A supporting apparatus for an imaging device, for supporting the imaging device includes a heating device having a heat generating portion, and a supporting portion for supporting the heating device, wherein the heating device is provided on a surface of a heating subject side in the supporting portion, and the surface of the supporting portion includes one or a plurality of non-contact portions which do not contact the heat generating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Takahiro Saito
  • Patent number: 12275340
    Abstract: A cup holder includes a holder main body having a retaining portion, the retaining portion being configured to receive and hold a beverage container on a bottom wall. The retaining portion includes an upper opening for receiving the beverage container, the bottom wall for supporting a bottom of the beverage container, and a side wall formed between the upper opening and the bottom wall, and has a cylindrical shape. An inner diameter at the upper opening is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Soma
  • Patent number: 12269395
    Abstract: A device attachment structure is attached to a vehicle inner side face of a window panel and includes a base member supporting a device, a bracket attached to a roof, and a first cover attached to the base member and the bracket. A fourth engagement portion is restrained by a first engagement portion from moving in a first direction and toward a first side in a third direction, and is allowed to move in a second direction and toward a second side in the third direction. A sixth engagement portion is restrained by a third engagement portion from moving in the first and third directions, and is allowed to move in the second direction. A fifth engagement portion is restrained by a second engagement portion from moving in the first and third directions, and is butted against the second engagement portion in the second direction by an urging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Kazuki Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 12202420
    Abstract: A bumper attachment retainer including: a support portion configured to support, from a back face of a bumper, an upper face section of the bumper at which an upper face of the bumper is formed; a first upper restricting portion configured to make contact with the upper face section of the bumper, which is disposed at a reference position with the upper face section supported by the support portion, to restrict a position of the bumper in an attachment direction, and to release positional restriction of the bumper in a case in which a motive force in the attachment direction acting on the bumper disposed at the reference position is a predetermined force or greater; and a second upper restricting portion configured to make contact with the upper face section of the bumper disposed at the reference position and to restrict a position of the bumper in a detachment direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Kota Sawano
  • Patent number: 12194929
    Abstract: An imaging device for a mounting device includes a bracket supporting a camera unit having a light receiving unit, and configured to be mounted on an attachment subject, and a hood having a surface expanding in a direction away from the light receiving unit in front of the light receiving unit, and mounted on the bracket so that the surface faces the attachment subject, wherein the hood can be removed from the bracket along the attachment subject while the camera unit is being supported by the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Daisuke Mori, Takahiro Saito