Patents by Inventor Chiharu Totani

Chiharu Totani 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).

  • Publication number: 20130019437
    Abstract: An assist grip includes hinges, spring cases, and coil springs. The hinges are provided with a rotary axis that a shaft-shaped protrusion and a pin make. The shaft-shaped protrusion is formed integrally with the hinges. The pin is formed independently of the hinges. The spring cases are held in a depression with which the hinges are provided, respectively. The coil springs urge the hinges by way of the spring cases in a direction for accommodating the hinges into hinge-holding depressions with which the assist grip is provided. The setup enables the resulting assist grip to offer better assemblage workability for assembly workers or robots, to show a better appearance, and to exhibit higher strength in service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Takai, Chiharu Totani, Kazuhiro Kawamura, Shoji Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8100431
    Abstract: A split-opening portion is formed by two transverse breakable portions that extend substantially along the transverse direction of a vehicle, two front-rear breakable portions that extend substantially along the front-rear direction of the vehicle and are connected to the transverse breakable portions, and a middle breakable portion that is located between the two transverse breakable portions and extends substantially along the transverse direction of the vehicle. The middle breakable portion is connected to the front-rear breakable portions. In a front passenger seat airbag apparatus, the split-opening portion is broken by pressing force of an inflated airbag so that door portions are separated from the door adjacent portion, and the door support portions are pivoted together with the door portions about hinge portions serving as fulcrums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiharu Totani, Masayuki Kitashiba, Junichi Fujita, Hikaru Ando
  • Patent number: 8091286
    Abstract: A front door 20 includes a first door component 22 and a second door component 34. The first door component 22 forms an inner side portion of a door main body 21, and the second door component forms an inner side portion of the door main body 21 and has functional parts located inside the vehicle. The first and second door components 22, 34 have honeycomb structural bodies 23, 41, respectively. The honeycomb structural bodies 23, 41 are entirely formed of synthetic resin. The honeycomb structural bodies 23, 41 include honeycomb portions 24, 42, which are composed of numerous tubular cells 26, 44, 45 separated by partition walls 25, 43, and sealing plate portions 27, 28, 46, 47 that are located on the outer side and the inner side of the honeycomb portions 24, 42 and seal the cells 26, 44. The door components 22, 34 are joined to each other at least at a part of the adjacent sealing plate portions 28, 46 of the honeycomb structural bodies 23, 41.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiharu Totani, Katsuhiro Katagiri, Toshiro Shibagaki, Masayuki Kitashiba, Chie Ito
  • Patent number: 7967495
    Abstract: Luminous surfaces 25 of a concave-convex shape are formed on a light guide member 2 of a scuff plate, and a screen member 4 made of a non-transparent material is disposed between the light guide member 2 and a wire harness 31 of the scuff plate. The light guide member 2 luminously displays a design in a three-dimensional manner, and also the wire harness 31 will not be visually recognized through the light guide member 2, and therefore the design is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kamiya, Yasuyuki Higuchi, Kazuo Takeda, Chiharu Totani, Tatsuya Oba, Shuji Inui
  • Patent number: 7939180
    Abstract: A resin product (e.g., a millimeter-wave radar device cover) comprises a plate-like resin substrate, a base film formed on the resin substrate, and a metallic gloss film having a discontinuous structure formed on the base film, a top coat, a block coat, or the like being formed as a protective film on the metal film. The metal film contains a first film having a discontinuous structure obtainable by vacuum deposition of a first metal, a modified surface obtainable by modification of the surface of the first film by bringing the surface into contact with air, and a second film having a discontinuous structure obtainable by vacuum deposition of a second metal on the modified surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujii, Chiharu Totani, Hiroshi Watarai, Takayasu Ido
  • Patent number: 7883249
    Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle includes: a light source; a light guide member that has a light-introducing part provided in a back surface side through which the light of the light source is introduced and finally emits the light from a front surface side; a part near the light-introducing part being thicker than an edge part of the light guide member, a plurality of reflecting parts and connecting parts being alternately formed continuously toward a direction separate from the light-introducing part in the back surface side, the reflecting parts respectively reflecting on interfaces the introduced light reaching there to form the light in the direction of the front surface of the light guide member; and a housing that is connected to a position between the edge part of the back surface of the light guide member and the light-introducing part and attached to the back surface side of the light guide member to house the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiharu Totani, Akihiro Misawa, Tatsuya Oba, Tetsuya Arakawa, Shinya Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110024250
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shock absorbing member which includes a pair of opposing plates and a plurality of resin tubes internally filled with a viscous body. Both end surfaces of the resin tubes are closed by the pair of the plates. The each resin tube is disposed between the pair of the plates and is surrounded by a space not filled with the viscous body. When a shock in a direction of bringing the pair of the plates closer to each other is applied, the resin tube is buckled toward the surrounding space and the viscous body leaks out from a crack generated in the resin tube by the buckling to absorb the shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kitashiba, Chiharu Totani, Katsushi Ito, Katsutoshi Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20100300824
    Abstract: While comprising filled minor compartments being filled with an inclusion in which a liquid makes the major component, and vacant minor compartments being filled with the air, at least one of the vacant minor compartments adjoins the filled minor compartments, and a fragile section is formed in at least one of ribs that demarcate the filled minor compartments and the adjoining vacant minor compartments. After the fragile section has fractured, shock energy can be absorbed furthermore by means of circulation resistance to the inclusion that flows from the filled minor compartments to the vacant minor compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Chiharu Totani, Muneo Furutani, Kiyoshi Suenaga, Takehiko Shiraki, Shigeru Yabuya, Katsuhiro Katagiri, Katsushi Ito
  • Publication number: 20100194082
    Abstract: A split-opening portion is formed by two transverse breakable portions that extend substantially along the transverse direction of a vehicle, two front-rear breakable portions that extend substantially along the front-rear direction of the vehicle and are connected to the transverse breakable portions, and a middle breakable portion that is located between the two transverse breakable portions and extends substantially along the transverse direction of the vehicle. The middle breakable portion is connected to the front-rear breakable portions. In a front passenger seat airbag apparatus, the split-opening portion is broken by pressing force of an inflated airbag so that door portions are separated from the door adjacent portion, and the door support portions are pivoted together with the door portions about hinge portions serving as fulcrums.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chiharu Totani, Masayuki Kitashiba, Junichi Fujita, Hikaru Ando
  • Patent number: 7722963
    Abstract: The present invention provides a metallic coating having a sheen and having a discontinuous structure at high productivity and low cost by using sputtering. A resin product includes a resin base material, and a metallic coating having a sheen and a discontinuous structure that is deposited on the resin base material so as to include a portion in which a high-formation metal that relatively readily forms a discontinuous structure when using vacuum vapor deposition is sputtered, and thereafter, a low-formation metal that does not relatively readily form a discontinuous structure when using vacuum vapor deposition is sputtered. The high-formation metal and the low-formation metal are selected from at least two species of metals whose crystal structures are identical and whose lattice constant difference is within 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignees: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Shinko Nameplate Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayasu Ido, Hiroshi Watarai, Chiharu Totani, Tetsuya Fujii, Mitsuo Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20100078920
    Abstract: A resin made air bag door includes a main portion having a welding face to be attached to an inner surface of a dashboard having a thickness of 2.0 mm or less at a welding area, by vibration welding, a plurality of welding ribs formed on the welding face in a vibrating direction of the vibration welding, and at least one bridging rib formed on the welding face of the main portion and extending in a direction crossing across the welding ribs. The plurality of welding ribs includes a welding portion to be melted at the time of vibration welding and a bonding portion to be bonded to the inner surface of the dashboard, remaining at the time of vibration welding. A width of a tip end of the bonding portion is equal to or less than 3 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Terai, Chiharu Totani, Takahiko Sato, Masaya Kometani
  • Publication number: 20100028610
    Abstract: A decorative member includes a transparent layer, a first decorated layer, and a second decorated layer. The first decorated layer is disposed on the transparent layer's rear surface. The second decorated layer is disposed on the transparent layer's rear surface. The transparent layer's rear surface has an irregular configuration that includes indented portions and indent-free portions. The indented portions dent toward the transparent layer's front surface. The indent-free portions protrude toward the transparent layer's rear surface. The first decorated layer is disposed directly on the rear surface of the transparent layer partially. The second decorated layer is made of a film that includes resin, and is laminated on the first decorated layer and on the transparent layer's rear surface entirely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujii, Chiharu Totani, Takayasu Ido
  • Publication number: 20090165392
    Abstract: A front door 20 includes a first door component 22 and a second door component 34. The first door component 22 forms an inner side portion of a door main body 21, and the second door component forms an inner side portion of the door main body 21 and has functional parts located inside the vehicle. The first and second door components 22, 34 have honeycomb structural bodies 23, 41, respectively. The honeycomb structural bodies 23, 41 are entirely formed of synthetic resin. The honeycomb structural bodies 23, 41 include honeycomb portions 24, 42, which are composed of numerous tubular cells 26, 44, 45 separated by partition walls 25, 43, and sealing plate portions 27, 28, 46, 47 that are located on the outer side and the inner side of the honeycomb portions 24, 42 and seal the cells 26, 44. The door components 22, 34 are joined to each other at least at a part of the adjacent sealing plate portions 28, 46 of the honeycomb structural bodies 23, 41.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chiharu Totani, Katsuhiro Katagiri, Toshiro Shibagaki, Masayuki Kitashiba, Chie Ito
  • Patent number: 7553552
    Abstract: A radiator grille, or ornament, includes a base material which transmits visible light and is made of an acrylic resin, a first ornamental layer coating the front surface of the base material, and a second ornamental layer coating the rear surface of the base material. The first and second ornamental layers each transmit visible light and have a thickness that is less than the wavelength of the visible light. It is preferred that the first ornamental layer and the second ornamental layer differ from each other in at least one of material, number of layers, thickness, refractive index of visible light, reflectance of visible light, absorptivity of visible light, and transmittance of visible light. The first ornamental layer is a hard coating layer, and the second ornamental layer is a hard coating layer or vapor deposition layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Oba, Tetsuya Fujii, Chiharu Totani
  • Patent number: 7538734
    Abstract: A radar device is placed rearward of a vehicle decorative component in a vehicle. The decorative component is located in the path of radar waves emitted from the radar device, and has a two-layer structure with a back layer and a protective layer. The protective layer is made of a transparent resin material, and the back surface of the protective layer contacts the front surface of the back layer. The back layer is made of a resin material. The front surface of the back layer includes a front contact surface on which ground pattern is formed. The protective layer and the back layer have the same refractive index. Thus, the decorative component has an improved transparency of radar waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujii, Chiharu Totani, Tatsuya Oba
  • Publication number: 20090079170
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus for protecting knees is provided. A breakable portion is provided in a wall of a glove compartment door for opening and closing an opening of a glove compartment. The wall faces a vehicle passenger compartment. An airbag case for housing an airbag, which is inflated by inflation fluid, is installed inside the wall. A front part of the airbag case is caused to function as a pressure receiving portion for receiving a pressure of the inflation fluid through the inflating airbag, thereby generating a reaction force advancing toward the rear side of the vehicle, so that the breakable portion is broken by the airbag inflating toward the rear side of the vehicle. The airbag is caused to protrude from the glove compartment door to the rear side of the vehicle through the breakable portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kazuaki Bito, Yasuhiro Sakakibara, Chiharu Totani, Takahiko Sato
  • Patent number: 7482990
    Abstract: A radar device for a mobile body, such as a vehicle, having a high degree of installation freedom. The radar device comprises a sensor body transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves, and path changing means placed in an electromagnetic wave path through which the electromagnetic waves pass and changing the propagation direction of the electromagnetic waves by refraction and/or reflection. Even when the installation site of the sensor body is restricted by requirements on a mobile body on which this radar device is to be mounted, the sensor body can be installed at the restricted site by changing the propagation direction of electromagnetic waves appropriately, while maintaining the functions of the sensor body appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujii, Chiharu Totani
  • Publication number: 20080180967
    Abstract: A lighting device for a vehicle includes: a light source; a light guide member that has a light-introducing part provided in a back surface side through which the light of the light source is introduced and finally emits the light from a front surface side; a part near the light-introducing part being thicker than an edge part of the light guide member, a plurality of reflecting parts and connecting parts being alternately formed continuously toward a direction separate from the light-introducing part in the back surface side, the reflecting parts respectively reflecting on interfaces the introduced light reaching there to form the light in the direction of the front surface of the light guide member; and a housing that is connected to a position between the edge part of the back surface of the light guide member and the light-introducing part and attached to the back surface side of the light guide member to house the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chiharu Totani, Akihiro Misawa, Tatsuya Oba, Tetsuya Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20080170405
    Abstract: Luminous surfaces 25 of a concave-convex shape are formed on a light guide member 2 of a scuff plate, and a screen member 4 made of a non-transparent material is disposed between the light guide member 2 and a wire harness 31 of the scuff plate. The light guide member 2 luminously displays a design in a three-dimensional manner, and also the wire harness 31 will not be visually recognized through the light guide member 2, and therefore the design is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kamiya, Yasuyuki Higuchi, Kazuo Takeda, Chiharu Totani, Tatsuya Oba, Shuji Inui
  • Publication number: 20080165548
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle lighting assembly, which includes a plurality of light sources, and a light guiding body having a light incident portion and a reflecting portion corresponding to the light sources on a back surface side, for emitting a light generated when a light being incident from the light incident portion is reflected by the reflecting portion from a front portion, wherein the light guiding body is divided into a plurality of blocks whose emergent light modes are different, and a reflection and diffusion area is formed on a boundary portion between two adjacent blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Misawa, Chiharu Totani, Tatsuya Oba