Patents by Inventor Hidetoshi Kaku

Hidetoshi Kaku 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: 8905168
    Abstract: A utility vehicle comprises a driver seat; a passenger seat positioned such that the passenger seat and the driver seat are arranged side by side in a rightward and leftward direction; a console box provided between the driver seat and the passenger seat; a shift lever operated by a driver to perform a shifting operation; and a grab member provided in the vicinity of the passenger seat and secured to the vehicle body frame; wherein the shift lever is provided between the driver seat and the passenger seat and is positioned closer to the driver seat than a center of the console box in the rightward and leftward direction; and the grab member is provided between the driver seat and the passenger seat and is positioned closer to the passenger seat than the center of the console box in the rightward and leftward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaku, Chad Enger, Brian Butler, Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Jun Takagi
  • Patent number: 8864208
    Abstract: A utility vehicle according to the invention includes a cargo bed having a panel locking mechanism. The panel locking mechanism includes a locking lever pivotably supported on a gate-type panel, a substantially U-shaped movable hook made of a spring steel and coupled to a middle of the locking lever, and a stationary hook provided on a panel adjacent to the gate-type panel and with which the movable hook is engageable. When seen from above, the middle portion of the movable hook is pressed onto a surface of the gate-type panel so as to press the gate-type panel inward of the cargo bed by a resilient force upon locking. For example, the movable hook can be formed with a straight portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaku, Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Tyler Furman
  • Patent number: 8833837
    Abstract: A utility vehicle according to the present invention includes a chassis, one or more seat rows arranged on the chassis, a cargo bed arranged behind the seat row(s), the cargo bed turnably supported at a pivot of the chassis so as to be changeable between a normal position in which a front portion of the cargo bed is not raised and a dumping position in which the front portion of the cargo bed is raised, and cargo bed locking mechanisms capable of locking the cargo bed in the normal position to the chassis, the cargo bed locking mechanisms each having a grip of a locking operating lever arranged at a front of the cargo bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaku, Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Tyler Furman, Takashi Hisamura
  • Patent number: 8827357
    Abstract: In a utility vehicle according to the present invention, a ROPS (rollover protective structure) surrounding a riding space includes right and left side frame units, and a plurality of cross members. Each of the side frame units includes a front pipe portion extending upward from near a dashboard, an upper pipe portion extending rearward from the upper end of the front pipe portion, a rear pipe portion extending downward from the rear end of the upper pipe portion, and an intermediate pipe portion extending downward from the middle portion in the front-rear direction of the upper pipe portion. The front pipe portion, the upper pipe portion, and the rear pipe portion are integrally formed by bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaku, Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Tyler Furman, Takashi Hisamura
  • Publication number: 20140183903
    Abstract: A utility vehicle according to the present invention includes a chassis, one or more seat rows arranged on the chassis, a cargo bed arranged behind the seat row(s), the cargo bed turnably supported at a pivot of the chassis so as to be changeable between a normal position in which a front portion of the cargo bed is not raised and a dumping position in which the front portion of the cargo bed is raised, and cargo bed locking mechanisms capable of locking the cargo bed in the normal position to the chassis, the cargo bed locking mechanisms each having a grip of a locking operating lever arranged at a front of the cargo bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidetoshi KAKU, Yoshinori TSUMIYAMA, Tyler FURMAN, Takashi HISAMURA
  • Publication number: 20140183882
    Abstract: A utility vehicle according to the invention includes a cargo bed having a panel locking mechanism. The panel locking mechanism includes a locking lever pivotably supported on a gate-type panel, a substantially U-shaped movable hook made of a spring steel and coupled to a middle of the locking lever, and a stationary hook provided on a panel adjacent to the gate-type panel and with which the movable hook is engageable. When seen from above, the middle portion of the movable hook is pressed onto a surface of the gate-type panel so as to press the gate-type panel inward of the cargo bed by a resilient force upon locking. For example, the movable hook can be formed with a straight portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidetoshi KAKU, Yoshinori TSUMIYAMA, Tyler FURMAN
  • Publication number: 20140183906
    Abstract: In a utility vehicle according to the present invention, a ROPS (rollover protective structure) surrounding a riding space includes right and left side frame units, and a plurality of cross members. Each of the side frame units includes a front pipe portion extending upward from near a dashboard, an upper pipe portion extending rearward from the upper end of the front pipe portion, a rear pipe portion extending downward from the rear end of the upper pipe portion, and an intermediate pipe portion extending downward from the middle portion in the front-rear direction of the upper pipe portion. The front pipe portion, the upper pipe portion, and the rear pipe portion are integrally formed by bending.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidetoshi KAKU, Yoshinori TSUMIYAMA, Tyler FURMAN, Takashi HISAMURA
  • Patent number: 8672387
    Abstract: A utility vehicle according to the present invention includes a chassis, a ROPS surrounding a space on the chassis, a seat or a seat row arranged in the space, a cargo bed provided in a rear part of the chassis, and one or more resin storage boxes provided between the seat or the seat row and the cargo bed in the front and rear direction in the space, the storage boxes being integrated with parts of vehicle-side covers covering side parts of the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaku, Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Tyler Furman
  • Patent number: 8651525
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body, a seat mounted onto the vehicle body, a seat belt configured to be fastened by a person seated on the seat, a retractor for winding in the seat belt, and a retractor mounting device mounted to the vehicle body. The retractor mounting device includes a retractor bracket, and a cover disposed outward relative to the retractor bracket to cover the retractor bracket from an outward direction, and the retractor is mounted to an inner surface of the retractor bracket in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaku, Tyler Furman, Brian Butler, Yoshinori Tsumiyama
  • Patent number: 8585088
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a mainframe located between one pair of left and right front wheels and at least one pair of left and right rear wheels and forming a framework of a chassis. A ROPS (Roll-Over Protective Structure) is provided in a middle part in the vehicle-body front-rear directions in the mainframe, and thereby surrounds a cabin. Front under guards are provided in spaces on rear sides of the front wheels so as to cover mud guard walls provided for separating the cabin from the spaces on the rear sides of the front wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaku, Yoshinori Tsumiyama
  • Patent number: 8556331
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body; a seat provided on the vehicle body; a pair of right and left entrances through which a user to be seated on the seat gets into and out of the vehicle, the entrances being provided at both sides of the vehicle body in a vehicle width direction; and a pair of right and left doors for opening and closing the pair of right and left entrances, respectively; each of the pair of right and left doors including a door body closing at least a portion of a corresponding entrance and a hinge for coupling the door body to the vehicle body such that the door body is rotatable around the hinge; and the door body including a door component which is substantially symmetric in shape in a rightward and leftward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Hidetoshi Kaku, Chad Enger, Kazuhiro Maeda, Naoki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8544582
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes an engine accommodated in an engine room below a seat; an engine room side wall defining the engine room and covering the engine from rightward or from leftward; and a cooling fan disposed at one of right and left sides of the engine or and configured to supply cooling air to an interior of the engine room via the engine room side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaku, Tyler Furman, Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Kazuhiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 8499882
    Abstract: A utility vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame including a main frame including a floor member and a pair of right and left side members and a sub-frame for reinforcing the main frame, each of the side members includes a side pipe element, a first pillar pipe element, a second pillar pipe element and a third pillar pipe element, the sub-frame includes a first cross member provided between and coupled to second pillar pipe elements, one end portion of the first cross member is detachably coupled to one of the second pillar pipe elements and an opposite end portion of the first cross member is detachably attached to the other second pillar pipe element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Hidetoshi Kaku, Tyler Furman, Kazuhiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 8485303
    Abstract: A utility vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame, a first pair of pivot arms provided at right and left sides, respectively, at a front end portion of the vehicle body frame such that the pivot arms extend in a rightward and leftward direction from the front end portion and are vertically pivotable, the first pair of pivot arms being attached to front wheels at tip ends thereof, respectively, and a stabilizer having one end mounted to one of the first pair of pivot arms and an opposite end mounted to the other of the first pair of pivot arms. The stabilizer extends through a front side of the vehicle body frame, outside the vehicle body frame, from the one end thereof to the opposite end thereof, and has an intermediate portion located in front of the vehicle body frame and mounted to the front end portion of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruaki Yamamoto, Kazuhiro Maeda, Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Hidetoshi Kaku
  • Publication number: 20130087402
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes an engine accommodated in an engine room below a seat; an engine room side wall defining the engine room and covering the engine from rightward or from leftward; and a cooling fan disposed at one of right and left sides of the engine or and configured to supply cooling air to an interior of the engine room via the engine room side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaku, Tyler Furman, Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Kazuhiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20130088003
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body, a seat mounted onto the vehicle body, a seat belt configured to be fastened by a person seated on the seat, a retractor for winding in the seat belt, and a retractor mounting device mounted to the vehicle body. The retractor mounting device includes a retractor bracket, and a cover disposed outward relative to the retractor bracket to cover the retractor bracket from an outward direction, and the retractor is mounted to an inner surface of the retractor bracket in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaku, Tyler Furman, Brian Butler, Yoshinori Tsumiyama
  • Publication number: 20130087397
    Abstract: A utility vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame, a first pair of pivot arms provided at right and left sides, respectively, at a front end portion of the vehicle body frame such that the pivot arms extend in a rightward and leftward direction from the front end portion and are vertically pivotable, the first pair of pivot arms being attached to front wheels at tip ends thereof, respectively, and a stabilizer having one end mounted to one of the first pair of pivot arms and an opposite end mounted to the other of the first pair of pivot arms. The stabilizer extends through a front side of the vehicle body frame, outside the vehicle body frame, from the one end thereof to the opposite end thereof, and has an intermediate portion located in front of the vehicle body frame and mounted to the front end portion of the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Teruaki Yamamoto, Kazuhiro Maeda, Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Hidetoshi Kaku
  • Publication number: 20130087395
    Abstract: A utility vehicle comprises a driver seat; a passenger seat positioned such that the passenger seat and the driver seat are arranged side by side in a rightward and leftward direction; a console box provided between the driver seat and the passenger seat; a shift lever operated by a driver to perform a shifting operation; and a grab member provided in the vicinity of the passenger seat and secured to the vehicle body frame; wherein the shift lever is provided between the driver seat and the passenger seat and is positioned closer to the driver seat than a center of the console box in the rightward and leftward direction; and the grab member is provided between the driver seat and the passenger seat and is positioned closer to the passenger seat than the center of the console box in the rightward and leftward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kaku, Chad Enger, Brian Butler, Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Jun Takagi
  • Patent number: 8397843
    Abstract: An output control unit of a vehicle, having a front riding space and a rear riding space, includes a riding detection device for detecting the presence of a passenger in the rear riding space. When the riding detection device detects the passenger, the output control unit regulates the output of the engine as compared with the output when the riding detection device does not detect a passenger in the rear riding space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Hidetoshi Kaku, Tyler Furman, Kazuma Waida
  • Patent number: 8393428
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a front seat and a rear seat that is changeable between an installed state in which the passenger can be seated and a retracted state in which the passenger is not seated and the rear seat is retracted. The vehicle includes an output control unit controlling the output of an engine, and a detection device for detecting the installed state of the rear seat. When the detection device detects the installed state of the rear seat, the output control unit regulates the output of the engine as compared with the output when the detection device does not detect the installed state of the rear seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoji Onishi, Yoshinori Tsumiyama, Hidetoshi Kaku, Tyler Furman, Kazuma Waida, Hiroyuki Iwai, Hirokazu Morita, Kazuhiro Maeda