Patents by Inventor Hideaki Kawai

Hideaki Kawai 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).

  • Patent number: 8413754
    Abstract: A straddle vehicle includes an engine; an air cleaner including an air cleaner box forming a passage through which air is supplied to the engine and an air filter for cleaning the air flowing through the passage; and a first electric component positioned laterally relative to the air cleaner box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Matsuda, Takafumi Matsumoto, Hideaki Kawai, Masato Kogirima
  • Patent number: 8408575
    Abstract: A vehicle body frame of a motorcycle comprises a front frame portion extending rearward from a head pipe, and a rear frame portion extending downward or rearward from a rear end of the front frame portion. The front frame portion includes at least a pair of right and left frame members. A front end of the rear frame portion is welded to a center cross member coupling rear ends of the frame members. The center cross member has a closed cross-section structure in which plate members are joined together in a forward and rearward direction. Thus, a fuel tank and devices can be laid out more flexibly from a location above the center cross member to a location behind the center cross member more flexibly and mounted more easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Publication number: 20120187654
    Abstract: In a vehicle body frame including a front frame portion extending rearward from a head pipe, and a rear frame portion extending downward or rearward from a rear end of the front frame portion, a forward portion of the rear frame portion, for example, a lumbar frame, includes a reduced-width portion overlapping with a vehicle body center line extending in a forward and rearward direction when viewed from above, and having a shape in which a width in a rightward and leftward direction is smaller than a length in an upward and downward direction. Devices incorporated into the motorcycle, such as a canister, a battery, an ABS unit, and a suspension unit, are laid out in spaces lateral relative to the reduced-width portion. Thus, the devices can be mounted to the vehicle body frame easily and efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Publication number: 20120161418
    Abstract: A vehicle body frame of a motorcycle comprises a front frame portion extending rearward from a head pipe, and a rear frame portion extending downward or rearward from a rear end of the front frame portion. The front frame portion includes at least a pair of right and left frame members. A front end of the rear frame portion is welded to a center cross member coupling rear ends of the frame members. The center cross member has a closed cross-section structure in which plate members are joined together in a forward and rearward direction. Thus, a fuel tank and devices can be laid out more flexibly from a location above the center cross member to a location behind the center cross more flexibly and mounted more easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Publication number: 20120160054
    Abstract: A handlebar support structure for sandwiching a steering handlebar (12) between a lower holder (25) and an upper holder (28) includes an instrument mounting area (30) for supporting an instrument panel unit (14) fitted removably thereto and a shield mounting area (32) for supporting a windshield (16) fitted removably thereto. The instrument mounting area (30) and the shield mounting area (32) are formed integrally with each other. The instrument mounting area (30) and the shield mounting area (32) altogether represent a forwardly pursed shape along a direction conforming to a forwardly tilted direction (D).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Hideaki Kawai, Mitsuru Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120161417
    Abstract: A vehicle body frame of a motorcycle comprises a front frame portion extending rearward from a head pipe; and a rear frame portion extending downward or rearward from a rear end of the front frame portion. The front frame portion includes at least a pair of right and left frame members. A forward portion of the rear frame portion is a lumbar frame having a closed cross-section structure portion in which a pair of right and left steel plates and are joined together. Devices such as a canister, and an ABS unit, are easily mounted in spaces lateral relative to the lumbar frame having a reduced width, while ensuring a sufficient stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Patent number: 8141539
    Abstract: An ECU controls an adjusting mechanism adjusting an output of an engine, such as a throttle valve, a swirl control valve, an ignition plug, an intake valve, and an ACIS (Acoustic Control Induction System) changing the length of an intake manifold, in accordance with a ratio between a maximum value KL(MAX) of load factor and the load factor required of the engine by the driver and by the system mounted on the vehicle at current engine speed NE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Kawai, Hideaki Kawai
  • Publication number: 20110155495
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle includes an engine; an air cleaner including an air cleaner box forming a passage through which air is supplied to the engine and an air filter for cleaning the air flowing through the passage; and a first electric component positioned laterally relative to the air cleaner box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Matsuda, Takafumi Matsumoto, Hideaki Kawai, Masato Kogirima
  • Patent number: 7734232
    Abstract: In a toner cartridge, a cover member is attached to an outer surface of a case main body so as to cover a filling hole through which a toner is filled in a toner chamber. The cover member is detachably attached to the case main body by a lock mechanism disposed between the case main body and the cover member. The lock mechanism includes two or more lock structures which lock the cover member to the case main body and a release tool which carries out a release operation of the lock structures. Each of the lock structures includes an elastic engagement claw and an engagement recess which are provided on opposite surfaces of the case main body and the cover member, respectively. The release tool is configured to allow all of the elastic engagement claws to be simultaneously displaced in a lock release direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Murata Machinery Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Publication number: 20100116248
    Abstract: An ECU controls an adjusting mechanism adjusting an output of an engine, such as a throttle valve, a swirl control valve, an ignition plug, an intake valve, and an ACIS (Acoustic Control Induction System) changing the length of an intake manifold, in accordance with a ratio between a maximum value KL(MAX) of load factor and the load factor required of the engine by the driver and by the system mounted on the vehicle at current engine speed NE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Kawai, Hideaki Kawai
  • Patent number: 7668481
    Abstract: A regulating member includes a protrusion protruding from a supporting member toward a developing roller. The length of the supporting member in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length of the protrusion in the longitudinal direction. A seal member includes an extending portion extending from a space for carrying developing agent. The extending portion is turned backward along an end of the regulating member with respect to the longitudinal direction thereof toward the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Patent number: 7657211
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a device main body having a developer receiving port, and a developer discharge unit having a developer discharge port. When the developer discharge unit is attached to the device main body, the developer receiving port and the developer discharge port overlap each other. As the developer discharge unit is attached to the device main body, a shutter opens in a direction that is different from an attaching direction of the developer discharge unit. The developer discharge port of the developer discharge unit is opened accompanying an opening movement of the shutter, and an opening portion of the developer discharge port and an opening portion of the developer receiving port overlap each other at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Patent number: 7653333
    Abstract: A paddle includes a plurality of axially divided components that are connected together, each component including axially extending blades, wherein the blades overlap with blades provided on a component adjacent to the corresponding component in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Patent number: 7551860
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for recognizing compatibility of an image forming process unit to be removably mounted at a given position within a main body of the apparatus, includes an engaging member mounting portion arranged to mount a recognition engaging member thereon, and a projecting member mounting portion arranged to mount thereon a recognition projecting member engageable with a recessed portion provided in the recognition engaging member. The projecting member mounting portion and the recognition engaging member mounting portion are respectively capable of mounting the recognition projecting member and recognition engaging member in two or more mounting states. The recognition projecting member and the recognition engaging member are mounted so as to be capable of being engaged with each other in the two or more mounting states so as to achieve compatibility recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Patent number: 7536131
    Abstract: A developing device includes a sealing member for sealing an end of a developing roller to prevent developer from leaking from the interior of a casing. The casing includes a first plane and a second plane. A blade is mounted to the first plane and the blade regulates the amount of developer on the developing roller. The second plane is positioned upwardly of the first plane. The sealing member is positioned so that an end surface is located between the first plane and the second plane, and is mounted to the casing. The blade is mounted so as to press the end surface of the sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Patent number: 7515854
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a second shutter is caused to slide in conjunction with a first shutter which slides in the mounting direction in association with a mounting operation of a developing device to an apparatus body. Accordingly, in association with a separating movement of the developing device from the apparatus body, the first shutter is caused to slide in association with the second shutter which slides in the separating direction, which is the opposite direction from the mounting direction. The direction that the second shutter opens a discharge port is the same direction as the mounting direction. An urging force that a first urging member applies to the first shutter which closes an inlet port is smaller than an urging force that the second urging member is applied to the second shutter which closes the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Patent number: 7463843
    Abstract: A developing device includes toner, a casing accommodating the toner, a developing roller rotatably fixed on the casing, an elastic blade making contact with a circumferential surface of the developing roller, a seal member, and a cutout portion in the seal member. The seal member is arranged to make contact with a circumferential surface of end portions of the developing roller between the developing roller and a wall surface of the casing and to make contact with an end surface of a tip end of the elastic blade. The cutout portion is arranged on the seal member and is cut out at a potion at a side making contact with a side surface of the tip end of the elastic blade in an axial direction of the developing roller and a side located closer to the wall surface of the casing than the elastic blade in a radial direction of the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Kawai
  • Publication number: 20080199227
    Abstract: In a toner cartridge, a cover member is attached to an outer surface of a case main body so as to cover a filling hole through which a toner is filled in a toner chamber. The cover member is detachably attached to the case main body by a lock mechanism disposed between the case main body and the cover member. The lock mechanism includes two or more lock structures which lock the cover member to the case main body and a release tool which carries out a release operation of the lock structures. Each of the lock structures includes an elastic engagement claw and an engagement recess which are provided on opposite surfaces of the case main body and the cover member, respectively. The release tool is configured to allow all of the elastic engagement claws to be simultaneously displaced in a lock release direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki KAWAI
  • Publication number: 20080118254
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for recognizing compatibility of an image forming process unit to be removably mounted at a given position within a main body of the apparatus, includes an engaging member mounting portion arranged to mount a recognition engaging member thereon, and a projecting member mounting portion arranged to mount thereon a recognition projecting member engageable with a recessed portion provided in the recognition engaging member. The projecting member mounting portion and the recognition engaging member mounting portion are respectively capable of mounting the recognition projecting member and recognition engaging member in two or more mounting states. The recognition projecting member and the recognition engaging member are mounted so as to be capable of being engaged with each other in the two or more mounting states so as to achieve compatibility recognition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki KAWAI
  • Publication number: 20080063427
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a process unit, a toner containing portion, and a trapping member. The toner containing portion is arranged in relation to the process unit and connected to the process unit so as to define a toner transporting mechanism. The toner transporting mechanism includes a toner receiving/supplying portion having a toner receiving port and a toner supplying port such that the toner receiving port and the toner supplying port can be removably connected to each other. The trapping member is attached to a surface of a portion adjacent to the toner receiving/supplying portion and traps leaked toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaharu IKADO, Hideaki KAWAI