Patents Assigned to Nifco Inc.
  • Patent number: 12781864
    Abstract: A pressure-regulating valve for escaping a fluid inside an enclosure from an opening of the enclosure when internal pressure of the fluid rises. The pressure-regulating valve includes a cover part that includes a circumferential edge surrounding the opening in a plan view and that covers the opening, a seal part positioned between the circumferential edge of the cover part and a surface of the enclosure, an elastic member configured to generate urging force urging the cover part toward the enclosure in a first direction, and a base part that is fixed to the enclosure and that supports the elastic member such that the elastic member expands and contracts in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Shohei Hirota, Norio Saito
  • Patent number: 12774501
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sintered mesh includes a step of preparing a mesh made of austenite stainless steel and including a plurality of wires extending respectively in intersecting directions, and a step of heat treatment for controlling an ambient temperature of the mesh. The step of heat treatment includes a temperature rising process for raising the ambient temperature to a treatment temperature, a holding process for holding the ambient temperature at the treatment temperature, and a temperature lowing process for lowing the ambient temperature. The treatment temperature is more than an austenitic temperature. The temperature lowering step includes an quenching process, where the ambient temperature is lowered under an argon gas ambient at a temperature lowering speed more than 3° C./min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Shuichi Hiratsuka, Norio Saito
  • Publication number: 20260312086
    Abstract: A fluid connector structure includes: a first connection portion configured to be connectable to either an outer side or an inner side of a second connection portion; and a sealing member configured to seal between the first connection portion and the second connection portion in a connected state. The first connection portion includes a groove extending around a central axis of the first connection portion on a connection surface. The sealing member is disposed in the groove so as to be in contact with a bottom surface of the groove. The bottom surface and a contact surface of the sealing member in contact with the bottom surface each have a shape along the central axis. The sealing member includes a protruding portion. The thickness in a direction along the central axis at a tip of the protruding portion is smaller than the thickness at the contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2026
    Publication date: October 8, 2026
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Naoya TSUTSUI, Yusuke MIYAZAWA
  • Patent number: 12744326
    Abstract: Provided is a radio wave absorber for a high-frequency communication apparatus that can improve mass productivity, reduce costs, and further achieve weight reduction. For this purpose, a radio wave absorber includes a side part surrounding a semiconductor element fixed to a base part provided in a high-frequency communication apparatus and a top part closing an open face surrounded by the side part. An inner face of the top part is provided with a plurality of protruding parts protruding toward the semiconductor element positioned inside the radio wave absorber, positioned spaced apart from the semiconductor element, and periodically arranged. The protruding parts are formed to be tapered toward the semiconductor element and are integrally molded of a synthetic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Makoto Muranaka, Tatsuro Fujiu
  • Patent number: 12727680
    Abstract: A cover fastening clip includes a plate-shaped base portion configured to be embedded in a foam body and held in the foam body; a pair of extension portions provided at interval in a width direction of the base portion and extending in a thickness direction of the base portion; fastening portions, each being provided at each tip of the pair of extension portions, configured to fasten a fastened portion provided at a cover for covering the foam body; and support portions, each extending from each of the extension portions outward in the width direction of the base portion, contacting the base portion to support the extension portions when the extension portions are bent outward in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Yuhei Chinomi
  • Patent number: 12728803
    Abstract: A cover for a bumper opening, for closing the bumper opening formed in a bumper of a vehicle includes a cover main body, a first protrusion provided on one side of the cover main body and configured to be introduced into the opening, and a second protrusion provided on another side opposing the one side of the cover main body and configured to be introduced into the opening. The first protrusion includes a deformable portion which is deformably made, and a support portion for the deformable portion, and by an elastic deformation of the deformable portion to the another side by contacting the deformable portion to a hole edge of the opening, the second protrusion is closely contacted to the hole edge of the opening, and the cover main body is contacted to the bumper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Jemin Hwang
  • Patent number: 12722580
    Abstract: A camera bracket made of a resin containing reinforcing fibers includes: a plate-shaped base portion disposed along a vehicle inner side face of a window panel; a lens hood portion recessed from the base portion in a direction opposite to the window panel, forming a view space between the lens hood portion and the window panel; and a lens hole formed in the base portion to communicate with the view space. A plurality of first protruding portions are provided on an inner face, which is oriented to the view space, of the lens hood portion. A plurality of second protruding portions are provided on an outer face, which is opposite to the inner face, of the lens hood portion. The lens hood portion may expand, toward a first direction to which the lens hole is oriented, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Pascal Makito Chartrand, Shinzo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 12679296
    Abstract: A shock absorbing device according to one embodiment includes an elastic member and an attenuation device. The elastic member is compressed by a force transmitted from the exterior of a vehicle through a front grill which is a vehicle exterior component, and returns the front grill to the vehicle exterior by means of the restoration force against the compression. The attenuation device attenuates the speed of the front grill when the front grill is being returned by the restoration force of the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Watanabe, Shigeki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 12680565
    Abstract: The present invention provides a clip including: a first member including a base, a pin portion projecting from the base, and an insertion receiving part that is a recess or a through-hole provided in the base; and a second member including a tube which is inserted into and mounted to a mounting hole formed in a mounting member, internally receives the insertion of the pin portion, and is rotatably mounted to the pin portion, and an inserted portion to be inserted into the insertion receiving part when the pin portion is inserted into the tube, wherein a guide is provided in a peripheral part of the insertion receiving part in the base, the guide contacting the inserted part and guiding the inserted part to the insertion receiving part when the pin portion is inserted into the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Souhei Miura
  • 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: D1132713
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2025
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Katsutoshi Uchida