Patents by Inventor Fumitaka Andou
Fumitaka Andou 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: 11633996Abstract: A double-wishbone type of suspension device for a vehicle comprises a forked-shaped upper arm, a forked-shaped lower arm, and a connecting rod which connects a front-side arm portion of the upper arm and a rear-side arm portion of the lower arm, wherein the connecting rod comprises an upper rod which is rotatably connected to the upper arm, a lower rod which is rotatably connected to said lower arm, and a resilient bush which connects the upper rod and the lower rod in an expandable manner in an axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Fumitaka Andou, Norio Asano, Masaya Hiramatsu, Koji Takahashi
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Publication number: 20210300137Abstract: A double-wishbone type of suspension device for a vehicle comprises a forked-shaped upper arm, a forked-shaped lower arm, and a connecting rod which connects a front-side arm portion of the upper arm and a rear-side arm portion of the lower arm, wherein the connecting rod comprises an upper rod which is rotatably connected to the upper arm, a lower rod which is rotatably connected to said lower arm, and a resilient bush which connects the upper rod and the lower rod in an expandable manner in an axial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Fumitaka ANDOU, Norio ASANO, Masaya HIRAMATSU, Koji TAKAHASHI
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Patent number: 10661624Abstract: A suspension device for a vehicle of the present invention comprises a knuckle supporting a wheel, an upper arm vertically rotatably connected to a vehicle body and pivotally supporting an upper portion of the knuckle, a lower arm provided below the upper arm and vertically rotatably connected to the vehicle body, and a coupling rod coupling the upper arm and the lower arm, wherein the coupling rod is configured to slant in a vehicle longitudinal direction and be rotatably connected to the upper arm and the lower arm, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Fumitaka Andou, Norio Asano, Hiroshi Tanaka
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Patent number: 10556474Abstract: In a double-wishbone type front suspension structure, upper and lower arms are pivotally supported at a vehicle-body side via front-and-rear pivotal portions, axial lines of resilient bushes of the front and rear pivotal portions of the arms extend in a longitudinal direction, a knuckle-side pivotal portion of the upper arm is positioned in back of a knuckle-side pivotal portion of the lower arm, and a lower end portion of a damper unit provided between a vehicle body and the lower arm is connected to the lower arm such that the damper unit is positioned perpendicularly to the axial lines of the lower arm in a side view and an upper end portion is pivotally supported at the vehicle body via a rotational axis extending in the longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2017Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Fumitaka Andou, Norio Asano, Koji Takahashi
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Publication number: 20190070919Abstract: A suspension device for a vehicle of the present invention comprises a knuckle supporting a wheel, an upper arm vertically rotatably connected to a vehicle body and pivotally supporting an upper portion of the knuckle, a lower arm provided below the upper arm and vertically rotatably connected to the vehicle body, and a coupling rod coupling the upper arm and the lower arm, wherein the coupling rod is configured to slant in a vehicle longitudinal direction and be rotatably connected to the upper arm and the lower arm, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Fumitaka ANDOU, Norio ASANO, Hiroshi TANAKA
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Patent number: 10106006Abstract: In a rear suspension device of an automotive vehicle, a shock absorber is provided perpendicularly to a H-shaped lower arm in a side view, respective axis of resilient bushes of pivotal portions which pivotally support upper and lower arms at a vehicle-body side are configured to be parallel to a standard line which extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction in a plan view, and an imaginary axial line which interconnects respective centers of front and rear connection portions, via which the lower arm is connected to a wheel side, is configured to extend obliquely forward and inward relatively to the vehicle longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Fumitaka Andou, Norio Asano, Koji Takahashi
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Publication number: 20180001725Abstract: In a rear suspension device of an automotive vehicle, a shock absorber is provided perpendicularly to a H-shaped lower arm in a side view, respective axis of resilient bushes of pivotal portions which pivotally support upper and lower arms at a vehicle-body side are configured to be parallel to a standard line which extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction in a plan view, and an imaginary axial line which interconnects respective centers of front and rear connection portions, via which the lower arm is connected to a wheel side, is configured to extend obliquely forward and inward relatively to the vehicle longitudinal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Fumitaka ANDOU, Norio ASANO, Koji TAKAHASHI
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Publication number: 20180001723Abstract: In a double-wishbone type front suspension structure, upper and lower arms are pivotally supported at a vehicle-body side via front-and-rear pivotal portions, axial lines of resilient bushes of the front and rear pivotal portions of the arms extend in a longitudinal direction, a knuckle-side pivotal portion of the upper arm is positioned in back of a knuckle-side pivotal portion of the lower arm, and a lower end portion of a damper unit provided between a vehicle body and the lower arm is connected to the lower arm such that the damper unit is positioned perpendicularly to the axial lines of the lower arm in a side view and an upper end portion is pivotally supported at the vehicle body via a rotational axis extending in the longitudinal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Fumitaka ANDOU, Norio ASANO, Koji TAKAHASHI
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Patent number: 9567009Abstract: A vehicle-body front structure includes a tower portion comprising a pole portion which extends substantially vertically and a tower top portion which is positioned at an upper portion of the pole portion and projects from the pole portion longitudinally along a front side frame, constituting attachment portions of an upper arm of a front-wheel suspension. A stabilizer-support pedestal for supporting a stabilizer is provided to be connected to the pole portion and the tower top portion. Thus, the pole portion of the sub frame can be properly reinforced by using the stabilizer-support pedestal, so that the rigidity of the upper portion of the pole portion can be properly increased.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Norio Asano, Shohei Yoshida, Fumitaka Andou
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Patent number: 9260134Abstract: A pair of right-and-left extension members which deform and absorb an impact at a vehicle frontal collision, in cooperation with a pair of front side frames, are provided. The extension members are configured to be joined to respective middle portions, in a height direction, of a pair of tower portions of a sub frame at their rear end portions, to project forward, bending outward at a level below the front side frames, and to be comprised of a pair of members having a closed cross section, respectively. The rear end portions of the extension members joined to the tower portions are positioned so that a center line of a longitudinal direction of each of the extension members at the rear end portion is located at an inward position relative to a center line of a standing-vertical direction of each of the tower portions.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Norio Asano, Shohei Yoshida, Fumitaka Andou, Hiroaki Takeshita, Ippei Kuroda, Shun Teshigahara
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Patent number: 9254725Abstract: Suspension arms comprise five arms of a trailing arm, a leading arm, an upper arm, a lower arm, and a control arm. A lower-arm connection portion of a knuckle to the lower arm is positioned in front of a trailing-arm connection portion of the knuckle to the trailing arm as well as a wheel axis. Accordingly, the anti-swing rigidity of a wheel can be increased sufficiently.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Okuyama, Fumitaka Andou
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Patent number: 9227664Abstract: A rear sub frame comprising a pair of side members, a front cross member, and a rear cross member. The front cross member is configured in substantially a V shape in a front view such that the front cross member slants continuously from both end portions thereof toward a central portion, in a vehicle width direction, thereof which is located below a rear differential, and that a center position, in the vehicle width direction, of a bottom portion of the front cross member which corresponds to an apex portion of the V shape is offset from a center of a vehicle body in the vehicle width direction toward a specified side which matches an offset-arrangement side of a ring gear arranged in the rear differential.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2015Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuhiro Okuyama, Fumitaka Andou, Masaya Hiramatsu, Makoto Nishino
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Publication number: 20150232126Abstract: A rear sub frame comprising a pair of side members, a front cross member, and a rear cross member. The front cross member is configured in substantially a V shape in a front view such that the front cross member slants continuously from both end portions thereof toward a central portion, in a vehicle width direction, thereof which is located below a rear differential, and that a center position, in the vehicle width direction, of a bottom portion of the front cross member which corresponds to an apex portion of the V shape is offset from a center of a vehicle body in the vehicle width direction toward a specified side which matches an offset-arrangement side of a ring gear arranged in the rear differential.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuhiro OKUYAMA, Fumitaka ANDOU, Masaya HIRAMATSU, Makoto NISHINO
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Publication number: 20150083514Abstract: A vehicle-body front structure includes a tower portion comprising a pole portion which extends substantially vertically and a tower top portion which is positioned at an upper portion of the pole portion and projects from the pole portion longitudinally along a front side frame, constituting attachment portions of an upper arm of a front-wheel suspension. A stabilizer-support pedestal for supporting a stabilizer is provided to be connected to the pole portion and the tower top portion. Thus, the pole portion of the sub frame can be properly reinforced by using the stabilizer-support pedestal, so that the rigidity of the upper portion of the pole portion can be properly increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Norio ASANO, Shohei YOSHIDA, Fumitaka ANDOU
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Publication number: 20150084375Abstract: A pair of right-and-left extension members which deform and absorb an impact at a vehicle frontal collision, in cooperation with a pair of front side frames, are provided. The extension members are configured to be joined to respective middle portions, in a height direction, of a pair of tower portions of a sub frame at their rear end portions, to project forward, bending outward at a level below the front side frames, and to be comprised of a pair of members having a closed cross section, respectively. The rear end portions of the extension members joined to the tower portions are positioned so that a center line of a longitudinal direction of each of the extension members at the rear end portion is located at an inward position relative to a center line of a standing-vertical direction of each of the tower portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Norio ASANO, Shohei YOSHIDA, Fumitaka ANDOU, Hiroaki TAKESHITA, Ippei KURODA, Shun TESHIGAHARA
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Publication number: 20150061254Abstract: Suspension arms comprise five arms of a trailing arm, a leading arm, an upper arm, a lower arm, and a control arm. A lower-arm connection portion of a knuckle to the lower arm is positioned in front of a trailing-arm connection portion of the knuckle to the trailing arm as well as a wheel axis. Accordingly, the anti-swing rigidity of a wheel can be increased sufficiently.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuhiro OKUYAMA, Fumitaka ANDOU
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Patent number: 8905415Abstract: Front side frames 1 of a vehicle are each vertically connected through a corresponding one of joint members 7 to a cross member 2 configured to support a suspension arm below the front side frame 1. The joint members 7 are each coupled to a back end of a corresponding one of extension frames 4. This allows the front side frames 1 and the cross member 2 to share the load experienced by the extension frames 4 in a frontal collision of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Takeshita, Ippei Kuroda, Shun Teshigahara, Fumitaka Andou, Norio Asano, Shohei Yoshida, Kazuki Yamauchi
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Patent number: 8857836Abstract: A sub frame attached to a vehicle-body rear portion from below comprises a pair of right-and-left side members and a front cross member which interconnects substantially respective central portions, in a vehicle longitudinal direction, of the side members. As attachment portions for attaching lower links, there are provided a central attachment portion which is provided at an interconnection portion between the side member and the front cross member, a front attachment portion which is provided at the side member at a position located in front of the interconnection portion, and a rear attachment portion which is provided at the side member at a position located in back of the interconnection portion. Thereby, a sub frame structure of an automotive can be superior in the light weight, ensuring the support rigidity of the suspension links.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Okuyama, Fumitaka Andou, Masaya Hiramatsu
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Patent number: 8794370Abstract: A powertrain system for a motor vehicle comprises a power unit (2), a differential module (3) and a propeller shaft (4) provided to extend in a frontward-rearward direction of a vehicle body to transmit drive power of the power unit (2) to the differential module (3). The propeller shaft (4) is divided into a front shaft segment (4a) a rear shaft segment (4b) through the intermediary of a third universal joint (43), and adapted to be contracted in such a manner that the front shaft segment (4a) is fitted into an end of the rear shaft segment (4b) over a contractable range D1, together with a part of the third universal joint (43). The differential module (3) has a module body (31), and a rear support section (33) which supports the module body (31) to allow a front portion of the module body (31) to be swingably moved downwardly.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Masaya Hiramatsu, Fumitaka Andou, Toshihide Koyama, Hiroaki Takeshita
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Publication number: 20140183833Abstract: Front side frames 1 of a vehicle are each vertically connected through a corresponding one of joint members 7 to a cross member 2 configured to support a suspension arm below the front side frame 1. The joint members 7 are each coupled to a back end of a corresponding one of extension frames 4. This allows the front side frames 1 and the cross member 2 to share the load experienced by the extension frames 4 in a frontal collision of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroaki TAKESHITA, Ippei KURODA, Shun TESHIGAHARA, Fumitaka ANDOU, Norio ASANO, Shohei YOSHIDA, Kazuki YAMAUCHI