Patents by Inventor HIROKI SAWA

HIROKI SAWA 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).

  • Combination interior trim and reinforcement for exterior resin pane
    Patent number: 11691485
    Abstract: Anchor brackets/tethers may be used to reinforce a vehicle's resin rear door without substantially increasing the mass of the resin rear door. Such anchor brackets hold an interior trim panel(s) in place, and keep the interior trim panel(s) connected to the door structure or portion(s) thereof. The interior trim panel(s) can act as a protective interior shield that eliminates any exposure of the interior cabin/passenger compartment from any outer (and/or interior) door panel cracks/gaps that may be created during an adverse event. Moreover, conventional interior trim panels may, during a collision, break apart, the broken pieces becoming potentially dangerous projectiles. By being attached to the door structure and/or door componentry, the chance that the interior trim panel (or portions thereof) becoming a projectile is negated or at least lessened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Naipaul D. Ramoutar, Valerie Schnabelrauch, Jonathan R. Young, William Brian Deming, Hiroki Sawa, Kelly L. T. Harbison, Jonathan Quijano
  • COMBINATION INTERIOR TRIM AND REINFORCEMENT FOR EXTERIOR RESIN PANE
    Publication number: 20220009326
    Abstract: Anchor brackets/tethers may be used to reinforce a vehicle's resin rear door without substantially increasing the mass of the resin rear door. Such anchor brackets hold an interior trim panel(s) in place, and keep the interior trim panel(s) connected to the door structure or portion(s) thereof. The interior trim panel(s) can act as a protective interior shield that eliminates any exposure of the interior cabin/passenger compartment from any outer (and/or interior) door panel cracks/gaps that may be created during an adverse event. Moreover, conventional interior trim panels may, during a collision, break apart, the broken pieces becoming potentially dangerous projectiles. By being attached to the door structure and/or door componentry, the chance that the interior trim panel (or portions thereof) becoming a projectile is negated or at least lessened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: NAIPAUL D. RAMOUTAR, VALERIE SCHNABELRAUCH, JONATHAN R. YOUNG, WILLIAM BRIAN DEMING, HIROKI SAWA, KELLY L.T. HARBISON, JONATHAN QUIJANO