Patents by Inventor Eisei Higuchi
Eisei Higuchi 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).
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Patent number: 10717468Abstract: In a vehicle body front structure, a sub frame is fixed to front mount brackets and rear mount brackets of a pair of front side frames. A power unit is arranged on the front side of the sub frame in the vehicle body, and the power unit is supported by the pair of front side frames. A tilt surface is formed on the sub frame, and the tilt surface tilts to ascend toward the rear of the vehicle body. A rear portion of the power unit faces the tilt surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yukiyasu Hara, Tetsuhiro Arima, Yasuhito Sato, Tomoya Takeda, Hirokazu Kobayashi, Akihiro Ikeya, Akira Kobayashi, Ken Yasui, Eisei Higuchi
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Publication number: 20190118863Abstract: In a vehicle body front structure, a sub frame is fixed to front mount brackets and rear mount brackets of a pair of front side frames. A power unit is arranged on the front side of the sub frame in the vehicle body, and the power unit is supported by the pair of front side frames. A tilt surface is formed on the sub frame, and the tilt surface tilts to ascend toward the rear of the vehicle body. A rear portion of the power unit faces the tilt surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2017Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yukiyasu HARA, Tetsuhiro ARIMA, Yasuhito SATO, Tomoya TAKEDA, Hirokazu KOBAYASHI, Akihiro IKEYA, Akira KOBAYASHI, Ken YASUI, Eisei HIGUCHI
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Patent number: 9963169Abstract: A vehicle body frame includes a first vertical bead portion (38) adjacent to an inner ridge line (54), a first strain development region (39) defined by an arc (67) of a minimum distance (L1) between the first vertical bead portion (38) and an outer ridge line (55), a second vertical bead portion (41) adjacent to the outer ridge line (55), and a second strain development region (42) defined by an arc (68) of the minimum distance (L1) between the second vertical bead portion (41) and the inner ridge line (54).Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Eisei Higuchi, Hirokazu Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20170259851Abstract: A vehicle body frame includes a first vertical bead portion (38) adjacent to an inner ridge line (54), a first strain development region (39) defined by an arc (67) of a minimum distance (L1) between the first vertical bead portion (38) and an outer ridge line (55), a second vertical bead portion (41) adjacent to the outer ridge line (55), and a second strain development region (42) defined by an arc (68) of the minimum distance (L1) between the second vertical bead portion (41) and the inner ridge line (54).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2017Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Eisei Higuchi, Hirokazu Kobayashi
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Patent number: 9738320Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes left and right front side frames including at least left and right front bending portions, left and right middle bending portions, and left and right rear bending portions. The left and right front bending portions are bent to project inwards in a vehicle's width direction by a collision load exerted on a front end of a vehicle body, whereby the left and right front bending portions restrain a power unit. The left and right middle bending portions are situated spaced apart to the rear from the left and right front bending portions. The left and right rear bending portions are situated spaced apart to the rear from the left and right middle bending portions, are bent outwards in the vehicle's width direction, and absorb collision energy when struck by the power unit moved rearward together with the left and right front bending portions.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroki Miyamoto, Ken Yasui, Eisei Higuchi, Eri Kawamura
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Patent number: 9650076Abstract: A vehicle body includes left and right front side frames extending in a vehicle front-to-rear direction. A power unit is disposed between the front side frames. Each of the left and right front side frames includes an inner frame disposed at a vehicle widthwise center side and an outer frame superposed on a vehicle outer side of the inner frame, and has a closed quadrangular sectional shape that is formed by the inner frame and the outer frame. A front portion of the outer frame has a triangular portion that has a substantially triangular shape whose width decreases from front to rear. Each front side frame has a power unit mount-fastening portion at a location rearward of the triangular portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Eisei Higuchi, Ken Yasui
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Publication number: 20160347374Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes left and right front side frames including at least left and right front bending portions, left and right middle bending portions, and left and right rear bending portions. The left and right front bending portions are bent to project inwards in a vehicle's width direction by a collision load exerted on a front end of a vehicle body, whereby the left and right front bending portions restrain a power unit. The left and right middle bending portions are situated spaced apart to the rear from the left and right front bending portions. The left and right rear bending portions are situated spaced apart to the rear from the left and right middle bending portions, are bent outwards in the vehicle's width direction, and absorb collision energy when struck by the power unit moved rearward together with the left and right front bending portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2015Publication date: December 1, 2016Inventors: Hiroki MIYAMOTO, Ken YASUI, Eisei HIGUCHI, Eri KAWAMURA
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Publication number: 20160185392Abstract: A vehicle body includes left and right front side frames extending in a vehicle front-to-rear direction. A power unit is disposed between the front side frames. Each of the left and right front side frames includes an inner frame disposed at a vehicle widthwise center side and an outer frame superposed on a vehicle outer side of the inner frame, and has a closed quadrangular sectional shape that is formed by the inner frame and the outer frame. A front portion of the outer frame has a triangular portion that has a substantially triangular shape whose width decreases from front to rear. Each front side frame has a power unit mount-fastening portion at a location rearward of the triangular portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2015Publication date: June 30, 2016Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTDInventors: Eisei Higuchi, Ken Yasui
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Patent number: 9150252Abstract: A front-end structure for a vehicle is provided with: front side frames, a subframe extending across a vehicle body floor front portion to support a suspension component and an electric power steering device, the subframe being supported at least at the front end portion and at the rear end portion and being formed in a subframe main body from a light alloy casting, and a pair of left and right extension arms that are fixed to the subframe main body and extend forward of the subframe main body, and that are formed from a light alloy or steel by press-molding. In the rear portion of the extension arms in the vicinity the subframe main body, provided is a recessed portion that serves as a point at which downward bending starts midway along the lengthwise direction of the subframe with an input load in the event of a vehicle frontal collision.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken Yasui, Eisei Higuchi, Tomoyuki Imanishi, Tetsuya Miyahara, Hiroyuki Yoshida
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Patent number: 9096275Abstract: A vehicle body includes: left and right floor frames for supporting a floor panel; left and right side-frames extending from the vicinities of ends of the left and right floor frames in the front-rear direction so as to be separated in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body from the left and right floor frames; and a subframe provided below the left and right side-frames. Left and right bulkheads and left and right collar sections of a hollow shape, which are provided to the left and right bulkheads, are provided within the left and right floor frames. The subframe has left and right subframe end sections extending toward end sections of the left and right floor frames. The left and right subframe end sections are connected to the left and right collar sections by left and right connection members so as to be able to swing vertically.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2011Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Ken Yasui, Hitoshi Mizohata, Eisei Higuchi
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Publication number: 20140326526Abstract: A front-end structure for a vehicle is provided with: front side frames, a subframe extending across a vehicle body floor front portion to support a suspension component and an electric power steering device, the subframe being supported at least at the front end portion and at the rear end portion and being formed in a subframe main body from a light alloy casting, and a pair of left and right extension arms that are fixed to the subframe main body and extend forward of the subframe main body, and that are formed from a light alloy or steel by press-molding. In the rear portion of the extension arms in the vicinity the subframe main body, provided is a recessed portion that serves as a point at which downward bending starts midway along the lengthwise direction of the subframe with an input load in the event of a vehicle frontal collision.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2012Publication date: November 6, 2014Inventors: Ken Yasui, Eisei Higuchi, Tomoyuki Imanishi, Tetsuya Miyahara, Hiroyuki Yoshida
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Patent number: 8596711Abstract: A vehicle front part structure efficiently absorbs collision energy upon a narrow offset collision in which a collision object, such as an oncoming vehicle, makes a front collision with a vehicle outer side outer than a front side frame, and thereby inhibits the vehicle body front part from moving rearward to the vehicle interior side. The vehicle front part includes a pair of left/right front side frames extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a power unit disposed at the longitudinal center between the left/right front side frames. The left/right front side frames beside the power unit include branch frames extending toward the vehicle laterally outer side. The rear end portions of the branch frames penetrate the outer surface of the left/right front side frames and extend along an inner wall. Connection members are provided at the front portions of the left/right front side frames.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken Yasui, Eisei Higuchi
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Publication number: 20130200653Abstract: A vehicle body body includes: left and right floor frames for supporting a floor panel; left and right side-frames extending from the vicinities of ends of the left and right floor frames in the front-rear direction so as to be separated in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body from the left and right floor frames; and a subframe provided below the left and right side-frames. Left and right bulkheads and left and right collar sections of a hollow shape, which are provided to the left and right bulkheads, are provided within the left and right floor frames. The subframe has left and right subframe end sections extending toward end sections of the left and right floor frames. The left and right subframe end sections are connected to the left and right collar sections by left and right connection members so as to be able to swing vertically.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2011Publication date: August 8, 2013Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Ken Yasui, Hitoshi Mizohata, Eisei Higuchi
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Publication number: 20120248820Abstract: A vehicle front part structure efficiently absorbs collision energy upon a narrow offset collision in which a collision object, such as an oncoming vehicle, makes a front collision with a vehicle outer side outer than a front side frame, and thereby inhibits the vehicle body front part from moving rearward to the vehicle interior side. The vehicle front part includes a pair of left/right front side frames extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a power unit disposed at the longitudinal center between the left/right front side frames. The left/right front side frames beside the power unit include branch frames extending toward the vehicle laterally outer side. The rear end portions of the branch frames penetrate the outer surface of the left/right front side frames and extend along an inner wall. Connection members are provided at the front portions of the left/right front side frames.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Ken Yasui, Eisei Higuchi
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Patent number: 6286895Abstract: A control device for controller rigidity of a car body has a device for adjusting rigidity of a right side frame and a left side frame extending in the longitudinal direction of a car. The device is attached to the side frames. The control device has a controller for controlling operation of the device for adjusting rigidity of the right and left side frames according to a form of collision judged by an output of a collision detector such as an acceleration sensor. Further, a control device for controlling deformation of a frame has an actuator for generating a force in a direction of restricting or facilitating deformation of a frame, an external force detection sensor for detecting an external force inputted into the frame, and a controller for controlling operation of the actuator according to an output signal of the external force detection sensor. The actuator is arranged in a portion of the frame in which deformation of the frame greater than that of the periphery is predicted.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuta Urushiyama, Eisei Higuchi
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Patent number: 6193303Abstract: A control device for controlling rigidity of a car body has device for adjusting rigidity of a right side frame and a left side frame extending in the longitudinal direction of a car. The device is attached to the side frames. The control device has a controller for controlling operation of the device for adjusting rigidity of the right and left side frames according to a form of collision judged by an output of a collision detector such as an acceleration sensor. Further, a control device for controlling deformation of a frame has an actuator for generating a force in a direction of restricting or facilitating deformation of a frame, an external force detection sensor for detecting an external force inputted into the frame, and a controller for controlling operation of the actuator according to an output signal of the external force detection sensor. The actuator is arranged in a portion of the frame in which deformation of the frame greater than that of the periphery is predicted.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1999Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuta Urushiyama, Eisei Higuchi
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Patent number: 5794979Abstract: To mount a fuel tank storing a compressed fuel gas on an automobile, the tank is placed on a tank supporting frame and tightened to the frame by a belt, pipes neighboring with the tank and leak preventing seals are assembled with the tank, the tank supporting frame installed with the fuel tank is mounted and fixed on a car body, and then the pipes neighboring with the tank are connected to pipes of the car body side.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1995Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuo Kasuga, Eisei Higuchi
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Patent number: 5611593Abstract: Disclosed is an automotive floor panel assembly, in which the floor panel assembly is stamp formed into a prescribed shape from at least one piece of sheet metal blank which consists of a first panel section made of sheet metal stock of a first thickness, and a second panel section made of sheet metal stock of a second thickness which are butt welded to each other along opposing edges thereof by using a high energy beam. Because the butt welding is carried out on flat panels, welding quality can be maintained at a high level without any substantial difficulty, and the resulting blank can have a highly uniform finish even though it includes a plurality of parts having different thicknesses. By suitably arranging the various parts having different thicknesses to different parts of the floor panel assembly in an optimum fashion, it is possible to achieve a maximum mechanical strength and a maximum rigidity with a minimum amount of material or involving a minimum weight.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1995Date of Patent: March 18, 1997Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masami Fukagawa, Hidenori Matsumoto, Eisei Higuchi, Masuyuki Kakizaki
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Patent number: 5518272Abstract: A bomb supporting frame for supporting fuel bombs which store pressurized gaseous fuel in an automobile. The bomb supporting frame is fixed on a floor provided on right and left rear side frames of a vehicular body, and simultaneously it is fixed on damper strut mounting portions of right and left rear wheel houses.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1994Date of Patent: May 21, 1996Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masami Fukagawa, Tatsuo Kasuga, Eisei Higuchi