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).

  • Publication number: 20050103968
    Abstract: A seat sliding device comprises a lower rail fixed at a stationary part and extending in a seat longitudinal direction, an upper rail fixed at a seat and slidably guided by the lower rail, a lock mechanism for locking and unlocking a slidable movement of the upper rail to the lower rail in order to adjust a position of the seat relative to the stationary part, the lock mechanism being attached at the upper rail, and a memory mechanism for returning the seat, which has moved to a forefront seat position from an occupant's seated position during a walk-in operation, to the occupant's seated position, the memory mechanism having a memory rail positioned at a distance from at least one of the lower rail and the upper rail and a memory slide configured to be fixed to the memory rail and to be slidably movable relative to the memory rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20050082892
    Abstract: A seat device for a vehicle comprises a reclining mechanism including a fixed member and a movable member and supporting the movable member rotatably relative to the fixed member, an operation lever moved from an initial position thereof to an operating position thereof, a base member, a latch member, a memory member being engageable with the latch member and rotatably supported by the base member so as to be rotated relative to the base member integrally with the latch member when the memory member is engaged with the latch member, an actuating member coupled to the movable member so as to be rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the movable member relative to the fixed member at the outside of the regular angle range, and an engaging member coupled to the actuating member, held at a disengaged position relative to the operation lever when the movable member is within the regular angle range and moved to an engaging position relative to the operation lever when the movable member is outside of the regu
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 6880887
    Abstract: A seat reclining device includes a lower arm, an upper arm, and a locking mechanism including a cam rotatable relative to either the lower arm or the upper arm and restricting a relative rotation between the lower arm and the upper arm. The seat reclining device further includes a spring disposed in a space formed between the cam and either one of the lower arm or the upper arm for biasing the cam in a direction in which the locking mechanism restricts the relative rotation between the lower arm and the upper arm. The spring is wound around a rotational axis of the cam and disposed in an opening hole formed at either one of the lower arm or the upper arm. The spring includes an inner engaging portion to be engaged with the cam and an outer engaging portion to be engaged with the opening hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoaki Hoshihara, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20050071053
    Abstract: A seat device for a vehicle includes a seat body having a base portion adapted to be mounted on the vehicle and a moving portion movable relative to the base portion and an actuator configured to operate at a first operational speed and at a second operational speed faster than the first operational speed. The actuator moves the moving portion relative to the base portion. The seat device for the vehicle further includes a control device for controlling the actuator to operate at the second operational speed upon detection of approach of an obstacle relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Sadao Ito, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 6814406
    Abstract: A seat vertical position adjusting device includes a driving mechanism equipped to a base plate portion of a seat cushion for driving a cushion frame to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the base plate portion. The driving mechanism includes a shaft having a first axial portion and a second axial portion which is positioned on the first axial portion, and eccentrically rotated relative to the first axial portion, a first internal gear, a second internal gear, and a pinion gear is mounted on the second axial portion. The number of gear teeth of the first internal gear is less than the number of gear teeth of the second internal gear at least by one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sadao Ito, Genta Moriyama, Naoaki Hoshihara, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 6755471
    Abstract: A seat device which includes a seat cushion frame provided in a seat cushion, a seatback frame provided in a seatback, an upper arm connected to the seatback frame, a lower arm rotatably connected to the upper arm and connected to the seat cushion frame, a lock mechanism for locking a rotation of the upper arm relative to the lower arm, a reclining device for adjusting an angle of the seatback frame relative to the seat cushion frame, a locking portion provided either one of the upper arm and the lower arm, a reinforcement member provided either on the seatback frame or the seat cushion frame opposing to said either one of the upper arm or the lower arm provided with the locking portion, and a portion to be locked provided on the reinforcement member. The portion to be locked and the locking portion are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoaki Hoshihara, Yukifumi Yamada, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20040036337
    Abstract: A seat reclining device includes a lower arm, an upper arm, and a locking mechanism including a cam rotatable relative to either the lower arm or the upper arm and restricting a relative rotation between the lower arm and the upper arm. The seat reclining device further includes a spring disposed in a space formed between the cam and either one of the lower arm or the upper arm for biasing the cam in a direction in which the locking mechanism restricts the relative rotation between the lower arm and the upper arm. The spring is wound around a rotational axis of the cam and disposed in an opening hole formed at either one of the lower arm or the upper arm. The spring includes an inner engaging portion to be engaged with the cam and an outer engaging portion to be engaged with the opening hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoaki Hoshihara, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 6688574
    Abstract: A vehicle seat sliding device includes a lower rail adapted to be fixed to the floor of the vehicle, an upper rail adapted to be fixed to the vehicle seat and mounted on the lower rail for forward and rearward movement, and a releasable lock mechanism disposed between the lower rail and the upper rail for locking the upper rail. The lock mechanism has a lock lever disposed within sections of the upper and lower rails and extending forward and rearward, with the lock lever being movably mounted on the upper rail. A nail portion is formed on the lock lever and is adapted to be selectively fitted into engaging holes formed on the upper and lower rails from inside the upper and lower rails toward outside. An urging mechanism is positioned within the sections of the lower and upper rails for urging the lock lever toward its locking condition, and an operating mechanism operates the lock lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Gifu Shatai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okazaki, Yukifumi Yamada, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Yasuhiko Mori, Takuo Yanagihara
  • Patent number: 6641217
    Abstract: A seat recliner for a vehicle includes a lower arm adapted to be fixed to a seat cushion, an upper arm adapted to be fixed to a seat back and rotatably supported by the lower arm, a pawl slidably supported by the lower arm, an inner gear portion formed at the upper arm for engagement by the pawl, and a pressure member rotatably supported by the lower arm to urge the pawl into engagement with the inner gear portion. The back surface of the pawl includes a projecting portion for engaging the pressure member, and the pressure member includes a cam surface for engaging the projecting portion. First and second contact portions are formed on opposite sides of the cam surface for being contacted by the back surface of the pawl upon application of an excessive force to the upper arm which causes the pawl to be inclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoaki Hoshihara, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 6626495
    Abstract: A seat reclining device has a first arm member adapted to be secured to the seat cushion frame or the seat back frame, a second arm member rotatably supported by the first arm member and adapted to be secured to the other of the seat cushion frame and the seat back frame, and a plurality of pawls for locking an adjusted angle of the seat back. The pawls are disposed on the first arm member and include at least a first pawl and a second pawl. Only one of the first and second pawls is provided with an engaging portion. The second arm member is provided with a receiving portion for preventing the engagement of the outer gear with the inner gear when the engaging portion contacts the receiving portion during relative rotational movement of the first and second arm members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okazaki, Yukifumi Yamada, Naoaki Hoshihara, Sadao Ito, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20030178875
    Abstract: A seat vertical position adjusting device includes a driving mechanism equipped to a base plate portion of a seat cushion for driving a cushion frame to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the base plate portion. The driving mechanism includes a shaft having a first axial portion and a second axial portion which is positioned on the first axial portion, and eccentrically rotated relative to the first axial portion, a first internal gear, a second internal gear, and a pinion gear is mounted on the second axial portion. The number of gear teeth of the first internal gear is less than the number of gear teeth of the second internal gear at least by one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sadao Ito, Genta Moriyama, Naoaki Hoshihara, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20030178878
    Abstract: A seat device which includes a seat cushion frame provided in a seat cushion, a seatback frame provided in a seatback, an upper arm connected to the seatback frame, a lower arm rotatably connected to the upper arm and connected to the seat cushion frame, a lock mechanism for locking a rotation of the upper arm relative to the lower arm, a reclining device for adjusting an angle of the seatback frame relative to the seat cushion frame, a locking portion provided either one of the upper arm and the lower arm, a reinforcement member provided either on the seatback frame or the seat cushion frame opposing to said either one of the upper arm or the lower arm provided with the locking portion, and a portion to be locked provided on the reinforcement member. The portion to be locked and the locking portion are connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoaki Hoshihara, Yukifumi Yamada, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20030052246
    Abstract: A powered seat sliding apparatus includes a sliding mechanism having a lower rail and an upper rail being movable in a lengthwise direction relative to the lower rail, a feed screw fixedly supported by the upper rail to be rotated around a rotational axis in the lengthwise direction in response to a rotational force of a motor, a slit train provided at both side portions of the lower rail in the lengthwise direction and being engaged with the feed screw, and a feeding mechanism defined between the feed screw and the slit train so as to slidably move the upper rail relative to the lower rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Naoaki Hoshihara, Sadao Ito, Genta Moriyama, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20020171280
    Abstract: A seat reclining device has a first arm member adapted to be secured to the seat cushion frame or the seat back frame, a second arm member rotatably supported by the first arm member and adapted to be secured to the other of the seat cushion frame and the seat back frame, and a plurality of pawls for locking an adjusted angle of the seat back. The pawls are disposed on the first arm member and include at least a first pawl and a second pawl. Only one of the first and second pawls is provided with an engaging portion. The second arm member is provided with a receiving portion for preventing the engagement of the outer gear with the inner gear when the engaging portion contacts the receiving portion during relative rotational movement of the first and second arm members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okazaki, Yukifumi Yamada, Naoaki Hoshihara, Sadao Ito, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Publication number: 20020060281
    Abstract: A vehicle seat sliding device includes a lower rail adapted to be fixed to the floor of the vehicle, an upper rail adapted to be fixed to the vehicle seat and mounted on the lower rail for forward and rearward movement, and a releasable lock mechanism disposed between the lower rail and the upper rail for locking the upper rail. The lock mechanism has a lock lever disposed within sections of the upper and lower rails and extending forward and rearward, with the lock lever being movably mounted on the upper rail. A nail portion is formed on the lock lever and is adapted to be selectively fitted into engaging holes formed on the upper and lower rails from inside the upper and lower rails toward outside An urging mechanism is positioned within the sections of the lower and upper rails for urging the lock lever toward its locking condition, and an operating mechanism operates the lock lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okazaki, Yukifumi Yamada, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Yasuhiko Mori, Takuo Yanagihara
  • Publication number: 20020024246
    Abstract: A seat recliner for a vehicle includes a lower arm adapted to be fixed to a seat cushion, an upper arm adapted to be fixed to a seat back and rotatably supported by the lower arm, a pawl slidably supported by the lower arm, an inner gear portion formed at the upper arm for engagement by the pawl, and a pressure member rotatably supported by the lower arm to urge the pawl into engagement with the inner gear portion. The back surface of the pawl includes a projecting portion for engaging the pressure member, and the pressure member includes a cam surface for engaging the projecting portion. First and second contact portions are formed on opposite sides of the cam surface for being contacted by the back surface of the pawl upon application of an excessive force to the upper arm which causes the pawl to be inclined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoaki Hoshihara, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 5918940
    Abstract: A seat having an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the height of a head rest includes a seat cushion, a seat back connected to the seat cushion and rotatable relative to the seat cushion, a head rest disposed on the seat back and movable in the vertical direction relative to the seat back, and a mechanism for moving the head rest in the vertical direction according to the pivoting of the seat back relative to the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumio Wakamatsu, Nobuhiko Takeda, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Satoshi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 5895094
    Abstract: A headrest apparatus for a vehicle seat. The seat has a seat cushion and a seat-back to support the back of a user of the seat. The headrest apparatus has a holder on a top portion of the seat-back; a stay having first and second supporting portions in parallel, the holder holding the stay so that the stay can slide relative to the seat back along the direction of the seat back; and a headrest body attached to the stay. The first stay includes a plurality of first notches for maintaining the position of the headrest body, the plurality of first notches defining an adjusting area of the headrest body. The second stay includes at least one second notch, the second notch defining a storage area of the headrest body different from the adjusting area. The operator can lower the headrest into the storage area even if the vehicle seat is a rear seat. This improves the operator's field of vision when necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Mori, Hideo Nihonmatsu
  • Patent number: 5683141
    Abstract: A seat head rest for a vehicle includes a stay member for being mounted on a seat back, a rigid frame pivotably mounted on the stay member and a pad member fixed to the rigid frame forming a head rest body with the rigid frame, wherein the rigid frame further includes a frictional portion which is integrally formed with the rigid frame and which frictionally engages the stay member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Aisin Seki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumio Wakamatsu, Nobuhiko Takeda, Hideo Nihonmatsu