Patents by Inventor Hideo Nihonmatsu

Hideo Nihonmatsu 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: 8146878
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat sliding apparatus of the type wherein rotating an operating lever causes a lock lever to allow an upper rail to slide along a lower rail, the operating member is supported by a supporting bracket fixed to the upper rail to rotate about a fulcrum which is in the form of a plate of the bracket. The operating lever is provided with a slit into which a spring is fitted for being urged. The bracket also holds the spring. To avoid an engagement between the plate and the slit when the operating lever passes during an assembly of the apparatus, the plate is configured to incline relative to the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Ryousuke Mizuno, Genta Moriyama, Mikihito Nagura, Taku Harada
  • Publication number: 20120032058
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes first and second lower rails, first and second upper rails, first and second lock levers, first and second biasing members, first and second support brackets fixed to the first and second upper rails and including first and second support portions, an operation handle including first and second power transmission portions pressing the first and second lock levers so as to release the restriction of the movement of the upper rails relative to the lower rails against a biasing force of the biasing members, and a release lever rotatably connected to the first upper rail and rotating in association with a forward folding of a seat back of the seat to release the restriction of the movement of the upper rails relative to the lower rails by directly pressing the first power transmission portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo NIHONMATSU, Ryousuke MIZUNO, Genta MORIYAMA
  • Patent number: 8033607
    Abstract: A seat reclining device for a vehicle is disclosed that includes a lock mechanism and a memory mechanism. The seat reclining device is arranged between a seat cushion frame and a seat back frame, and includes a control shaft associated with operation of an unlock operation lever. The lock mechanism includes a rotating body, which is secured to the seat back frame and is supported to be freely rotatable with respect to the base body. The memory mechanism includes a plate portion having an engaging portion, a holding bracket, which is freely rotatable about a rotational axis that is the same as the control shaft, a memory pole, a restricting portion, which restores the holding bracket to a predetermined initial position, a lever member, which is rotated in accordance with operation of the memory operation lever, and an engagement holding portion, which disengages the memory pole from the plate portion as the holding bracket is restored to the initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20110233366
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a first rail, a second rail slidably movable relative to the first rail, a lock member restricting a movement of the second rail relative to the first rail, a memory member movably supported within an inner void between the first rail and the second rail and prevented from moving, a first holding member holding the memory member so that the memory member is movable along with the second rail, a second holding member holding the memory member so as to maintain the engagement between the memory member and the first rail, a support bracket fixed to the second rail in the inner void and supporting one end portion of the second holding member, and a rail-side engagement portion arranged at the second rail, engaged with a holding-member-side engagement portion, and preventing the second holding member from being loosened from the second rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryousuke MIZUNO, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Genta Moriyama, Naonori Hioki
  • Publication number: 20110233367
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a first rail, a second rail, a lock member, a plurality of engagement bores including a rear end engagement bore, a front end portion of the rear end engagement bore being further positioned in a forward direction than a rear end of the second rail in a state where the second rail is positioned at a foremost position, a rear end portion of the rear end engagement bore being exposed to a rear of the rear end of the second rail, a memory member, a holding member holding the memory member to move integrally with the second rail or holding the memory member to engage with one of the engagement bores, and an auxiliary bracket restricting a movement of the memory member that engages with the front end portion of the rear end engagement bore towards the rear end portion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryousuke MIZUNO, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20110233368
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a first rail, a second rail slidably movable relative to the first rail, a lock member restricting a movement of the second rail relative to the first rail, a memory member movably supported within an inner void between the first rail and the second rail and prevented from moving, a holding member fixed to the second rail, holding the memory member so that the memory member is movable along with the second rail, and holding the memory member so as to maintain the engagement between the memory member and the first rail, a first stopper member positioned at one side of the memory member, and a second stopper member positioned at the other side of the memory member and preventing the second rail from moving in a condition where the memory member is sandwiched between the first and second stopper members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo NIHONMATSU, Ryousuke Mizuno, Genta Moriyama
  • Publication number: 20110233369
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a first rail, a second rail, a lock member, a memory member, a first holding member holding the memory member to move integrally with the second rail in a state where a restriction of the relative movement between the first rail and the second rail is released on a basis of an operation handle, and a second holding member holding the memory member so that the engagement of the memory member with the first rail is maintained in a state where the restriction of the relative movement is released in association with a forward folding operation of a seat back. The first holding member integrally includes a body portion and a memory member holding portion so as to sandwich the memory member in a state where the body portion engages with the front end portion of the memory member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo NIHONMATSU, Ryousuke Mizuno, Genta Moriyama
  • Patent number: 7992938
    Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus includes a pair of first arms, a pair of second arms, a pair of hinge pins, a pair of reclining mechanisms including a pair of lock mechanisms, each of which includes a cam, the lock mechanism restricting a rotational movement of the seat back relative to the seat cushion and releasing a restriction of the rotational movement, by means of a rotational movement of the hinge pins and the cams, and a connecting member provided between the reclining mechanisms and connected to the hinge pins, wherein each of the hinge pins is structured so as to be inserted into each of the reclining mechanisms from an inward of the seat, and a connecting portion is provided at an inner end of at least one of the hinge pins facing the other one of the hinge pins and is connected to the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Patent number: 7992834
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat sliding apparatus including first and second rails, one of which is movable relative to the other within a range restricted by engagement between raised tabs of the first and second rails, a cover member is provided at an end of the upper rail. The cover extends into the upper rail along its lengthwise direction to reach a portion at which the raised tab of the upper rail. The cover is provided with an extension extending to the raised tab of the upper rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Ryousuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7993060
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a first rail adapted to be securely mounted on one of a vehicle floor and a seat, a second rail adapted to be securely mounted on the other of the vehicle floor and the seat and movably assembled relative to the first rail, a first bent portion formed at the first rail, a pair of second bent portions respectively formed at the second rail at longitudinal sides of the first bent portion of the first rail so as to contact the first bent portion to restrict further relative movement of the first and second rail, and a relief portion provided at one of the first and second rails so as to face one of the second and first bent portions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 7963496
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat sliding apparatus wherein rotating an operating lever causes a lock lever to allow a sliding movement of an upper rail along a lower rail, the operating lever is held within a bracket connected to the upper rail via torsion spring. The torsion spring is made from a single piece of wire and formed into a specific shape for easy provision of the operating lever to the bracket during an assembly of the seat sliding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Ryousuke Mizuno, Mikihito Nagura
  • Publication number: 20110115272
    Abstract: A vehicle seat operating device is disclosed in which a lock mechanism is switched from a lock state to an unlock state by operating a memory operation lever, and the lock mechanism is held in the unlock state of when the vehicle seat is in a state moved to a predetermined limit position. The vehicle seat operating device includes a lever member and a movement member. The lever member includes an unlock holding guide having a contact surface. The contact surface is formed so that rotational force generates a component force in a direction for switching the lock mechanism to the unlock state. The movement member cooperates with the guide member in a relatively movable manner. The movement member contacts the contact surface when the lock mechanism is in the unlock state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20110109142
    Abstract: A seat reclining device for a vehicle is disclosed that includes a lock mechanism and a memory mechanism. The seat reclining device is arranged between a seat cushion frame and a seat back frame, and includes a control shaft associated with operation of an unlock operation lever. The lock mechanism includes a rotating body, which is secured to the seat back frame and is supported to be freely rotatable with respect to the base body. The memory mechanism includes a plate portion having an engaging portion, a holding bracket, which is freely rotatable about a rotational axis that is the same as the control shaft, a memory pole, a restricting portion, which restores the holding bracket to a predetermined initial position, a lever member, which is rotated in accordance with operation of the memory operation lever, and an engagement holding portion, which disengages the memory pole from the plate portion as the holding bracket is restored to the initial position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20100320353
    Abstract: A vehicle seat slide device includes a lower rail, an upper rail, retainers arranged between both rails, and a plurality of rolling members rollably carried by the retainer and rolled in contact with the both rails. Each retainer is composed of a retainer body and protrusions protruding from the retainer body. These protrusions and the retainer body are bodily formed with a resin material. By providing the retainer with the protrusions, it results that the protrusions necessarily contact the both rails whenever the retainer and the both rails contact each other, so that a strange sound is deterred from being generated when the upper rail is slidden relative to the lower rail with the retainer being in contact with one or both of the rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20100314523
    Abstract: A lower rail 3 has a first cut-and-raised piece 22, and an upper rail 4 has a second cut-and-raised piece 23. The first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 each have a facing surface 22a, 23a that faces and is contactable with the facing surface of the other cut-and-raised piece along the moving direction of the upper rail 4. The first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 are engaged with each other so as to limit the movement range of the upper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 3. On the facing surface 22a and the facing surface 23a, inclination angles ? and ? are provided that generate a force causing the first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 to be more deeply engaged with each other, respectively. This prevents the first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 from being easily disengaged from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 7815159
    Abstract: A vehicle seat sliding apparatus includes a first rail adapted to be fixed to any one of a vehicle floor and a seat; and a second rail adapted to be fixed to the other one of the vehicle floor and the seat. The second rail includes an in-rail functional portion formed at an end portion of the first rail in terms of the longitudinal direction so as to project into an internal space formed by the first rail to achieve a predetermined function; a recessed portion formed around the in-rail functional portion in association with the formation of the in-rail functional portion; and a protector adapted to be mounted on an end portion of the first rail in terms of the longitudinal direction and cover the end portion thereof. The protector is formed with a projection adapted to fit the recessed portion to couple the protector and the first rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Genta Moriyama, Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Yoshihisa Hori, Mikihito Nagura
  • Publication number: 20100207419
    Abstract: A stopper includes an attachment portion and a pair of flanges. The attachment portion contacts an outer surface of a bottom wall portion of a lower rail and is attached to the bottom wall portion. The flanges extend from the attachment portion to be passed through insertion holes in the bottom wall portion. The flanges are located in an inner space of the lower rail. The flanges are engaged with second cut-and-raised pieces formed in an upper rail, thereby limiting the range of movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Yoshihisa Hori
  • Patent number: 7758124
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a seat cushion, a lower arm, a seat back, an upper arm, an intermediate arm, a reclining mechanism, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes a first plate member, a second plate member, and a pawl gear. The first plate member is fixed to one of the upper arm and the intermediate arm to be provided therein with a plurality of internal tooth sections each of which has a plurality of teeth with different widths. The second plate member is fixed to the other one of the upper arm and the intermediate arm so as to be supported by the first plate member to rotate relative thereto. The pawl gear is supported by the second plate member and has an external tooth section each of which has a plurality of teeth with different widths for engaging with the internal tooth sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Patent number: 7758008
    Abstract: A seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail including a base bottom portion, first inner and outer side portions, upper portions, and second inner and outer side portions, an upper rail movably supported relative to the lower rail and including a base top portion, first inner and outer extending portions, connecting portions, and second inner and outer extending portions, a lock mechanism including a lock portion provided at the first inner side portion, a bracket, and a lock member engageable with and disengageable from the lock portion, a cutout portion formed across the base top portion and the first inner extending portion and into which the lock member is inserted, and through-holes provided at the second inner extending portion and the bracket, respectively, the through-holes into which the lock member is inserted while the lock member is engaging with the lock portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Publication number: 20100176265
    Abstract: A seat slide device for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail movable relative to the lower rail and a lock member for restricting the relative movement of the upper and lower rails. The restriction of the relative movement can be released and the lock-released position can be retained. The seat slide device further includes a memory piece detachably engaged with the lower rail and provided in a direction separating from the lower rail and engaging therewith when a seatback is reclined forward, wherein the memory piece is moved in association with the movement of the upper rail by retaining the memory piece at the receiving portion and the shaped portion when the memory piece is separated from the lower rail and wherein the memory piece is engaged with the lower rail at the engaging portion when the memory piece is engaged with the lower rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro KOJIMA, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura