Patents by Inventor Hironobu Nishihara
Hironobu Nishihara 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).
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Patent number: 10687467Abstract: A grass mower includes a mower unit (8) provided on the traveling machine body (10), a grass container (4) provided on a rear portion of the traveling machine body (10) for storing cut grass from the mower unit (8), a rod lever unit (6) capable of undergoing displacement between a first operation position and a second operation position, and a swing mechanism (5) for swinging the grass container (4) between a cut grass storage position and a cut grass discharge position by utilizing operational displacement of the rod lever unit (6). The rod lever unit (6) includes a base rod (61) coupled to the swing mechanism (5), a grip rod (62) extending in a direction offset from an extending direction of the base rod (61), and a coupling portion (63) through which the base rod (61) and the grip rod (62) are coupled so as not to be capable of being rotated relative to each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Tada, Hironobu Nishihara, Taylor Clark, Fahmid Sharkar, Benjamin A. Morris
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Publication number: 20190116732Abstract: A grass mower includes a mower unit (8) provided on the traveling machine body (10), a grass container (4) provided on a rear portion of the traveling machine body (10) for storing cut grass from the mower unit (8), a rod lever unit (6) capable of undergoing displacement between a first operation position and a second operation position, and a swing mechanism (5) for swinging the grass container (4) between a cut grass storage position and a cut grass discharge position by utilizing operational displacement of the rod lever unit (6). The rod lever unit (6) includes a base rod (61) coupled to the swing mechanism (5), a grip rod (62) extending in a direction offset from an extending direction of the base rod (61), and a coupling portion (63) through which the base rod (61) and the grip rod (62) are coupled so as not to be capable of being rotated relative to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2017Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Hiroyuki Tada, Hironobu Nishihara, Taylor Clark, Fahmid Sharkar, Benjamin A. Morris
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Patent number: 9872431Abstract: A cutter blade for a mower is driven to rotate about a vertical axis inside a housing. The cutter blade includes a blade body, a blade portion formed in the blade body and a wind generating portion formed in the blade body on its side opposite in a width direction thereof to the side where the blade portion is formed, the wind generating portion being formed by being raised and bent from the blade body over a predetermined area from an end in a longitudinal direction thereof. At an outer end portion of the wind generating portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade body, there is formed at least one recessed portion recessed more inwards than the remaining portion of the outer end portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Hironobu Nishihara, Masayuki Akita
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Publication number: 20160192586Abstract: A cutter blade for a mower is driven to rotate about a vertical axis inside a housing. The cutter blade includes a blade body, a blade portion formed in the blade body and a wind generating portion formed in the blade body on its side opposite in a width direction thereof to the side where the blade portion is formed, the wind generating portion being formed by being raised and bent from the blade body over a predetermined area from an end in a longitudinal direction thereof. At an outer end portion of the wind generating portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade body, there is formed at least one recessed portion recessed more inwards than the remaining portion of the outer end portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2016Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: Hironobu Nishihara, Masayuki Akita
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Patent number: 9307695Abstract: A cutter blade for a mower is driven to rotate about a vertical axis inside a housing. The cutter blade includes a blade body, a blade portion formed in the blade body and a wind generating portion formed in the blade body on its side opposite in a width direction thereof to the side where the blade portion is formed, the wind generating portion being formed by being raised and bent from the blade body over a predetermined area from an end in a longitudinal direction thereof. At an outer end portion of the wind generating portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade body, there is formed at least one recessed portion recessed more inwards than the remaining portion of the outer end portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Hironobu Nishihara, Masayuki Akita
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Publication number: 20150082763Abstract: A cutter blade for a mower is driven to rotate about a vertical axis inside a housing. The cutter blade includes a blade body, a blade portion formed in the blade body and a wind generating portion formed in the blade body on its side opposite in a width direction thereof to the side where the blade portion is formed, the wind generating portion being formed by being raised and bent from the blade body over a predetermined area from an end in a longitudinal direction thereof. At an outer end portion of the wind generating portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade body, there is formed at least one recessed portion recessed more inwards than the remaining portion of the outer end portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: Kubota CorporationInventors: Hironobu Nishihara, Masayuki Akita
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Patent number: 8297386Abstract: A work vehicle including: a body frame; an engine supported by the body frame through an elastic body; a belt transmission mechanism connected to an output shaft of the engine in a power transmissive manner; and a power takeoff (PTO) mechanism connected to the belt transmission mechanism in a power transmissive manner to take out power from the engine. A PTO support bracket configured to support the PTO mechanism is attached to the engine.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2009Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Masashi Osuga, Shoko Koda, Hironobu Nishihara, Takashi Kuramoto, Satoshi Ogata, Hiroshi Kawabata
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Patent number: 8205701Abstract: An operating system for a tractor to which an implement is attachable, the operating system comprises: a steering wheel provided rearwardly of a hood that houses an engine located in a forward region of the tractor; a control panel provided rearwardly of the hood and adjacent the steering wheel; a center cover extending generally vertically below the steering wheel; an operation lever provided at a position laterally of the control panel; a valve unit with a pair of spools, the valve unit being located at a lower position with respect to the steering wheel and being covered by the center cover; a link mechanism that links the operation lever and the pair of spools, the link mechanism being covered by the center cover.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2009Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Takashi Kuramoto, Masashi Osuga, Hiroshi Shimada, Yoshio Tomiyama, Takeshi Komorida, Hironobu Nishihara, Kenji Nishihara, Takashi Shibata
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Patent number: 8056306Abstract: A rear discharge mower comprising: a first shaft; a first blade that is rotated in unison with the first shaft; a second shaft that is configured to be rotated in a direction opposite from a rotational direction of the first shaft; a second blade that is rotated in unison with the second shaft, wherein a grass-clippings discharge path is formed through which grass clippings are discharged in a rearward direction from the area between the first shaft and second shaft; an enclosing casing that supports the blade shafts; and a power train that is accommodated in the enclosing casing and that transmits power to the first and second blade shafts.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Kenji Nishihara, Takashi Kuramoto, Masashi Osuga, Takashi Shibata, Satoshi Ogata, Hironobu Nishihara, Hiroshi Kawabata
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Patent number: 8051631Abstract: A rear discharge mower comprising: a first shaft; a first blade that is rotated in unison with the first shaft; a second shaft that is configured to be rotated in a direction opposite from a rotational direction of the first shaft; a second blade that is rotated in unison with the second shaft, wherein a grass-clippings discharge path is formed through which grass clippings are discharged in a rearward direction from the area between the first shaft and second shaft; an enclosing casing that supports the blade shafts; and a power train that is accommodated in the enclosing casing and that transmits power to the first and second blade shafts.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2008Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Kenji Nishihara, Takashi Kuramoto, Masashi Osuga, Takashi Shibata, Satoshi Ogata, Hironobu Nishihara, Hiroshi Kawabata
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Patent number: 8006473Abstract: A mowed grass amount detecting apparatus for a grass collection container of a grass mowing includes a pivotal sensor plate (62) constituting a portion of a boundary wall for holding the mowed grass charged into the grass collection container. The pivotal sensor plate has a receiving face which receives the weight of mowed grass. The apparatus also includes a detecting unit (66) for detecting an amount of pivotal movement of the sensor plate (62) from a home position. The receiving face of the pivotal sensor plate (62) is configured so as to close a sensor opening portion formed downwardly of a mowed grass charging portion of the grass collection container communicated and connected with the conveying duct, so that the receiving face of the pivotal sensor plate receives the weight of mowed grass held within the grass collection container (32) through the sensor opening portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Takashi Kuramoto, Nobuyuki Yamashita, Hironobu Nishihara
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Patent number: 7730706Abstract: A lawn mower, comprising a vehicle body that is supported by a plurality of wheels; a support frame that is connected to a rear part of the vehicle body; a grass collector that is supported on the support frame so as to be pivoted between a grass collecting position and a discharge position about an axis oriented in the transverse direction of the vehicle body, the grass collector having a bottom surface; a swiveling body that is connected to a rotating shaft of the grass collector to be rotated in unison so as to switch the grass collector between the grass collecting position and the discharge position; and a cylinder connected to the swiveling body and to the support frame; wherein the swiveling body and the cylinder are disposed below the grass collector in the grass collecting position, and the cylinder extends along the bottom surface of the grass collector.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2008Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Satoshi Ogata, Masashi Osuga, Takashi Shibata, Takashi Kuramoto, Hironobu Nishihara
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Publication number: 20090320433Abstract: A mowed grass amount detecting apparatus for a grass collection container of a grass mowing machine is disclosed, into which container mowed grass mowed by a mower unit is charged through a conveying duct. The apparatus includes a pivotal sensor plate (62) constituting a portion of a boundary wall for holding the mowed grass charged into the grass collection container, the pivotal sensor plate having a receiving face which receives the weight of mowed grass, a spring (65) disposed in a space on the outer side of the receiving face for urging the sensor plate (62) in a direction toward its home-position, a detecting unit (66) for detecting an amount of pivotal movement of the sensor plate (62) from the home position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: Kubota CorporationInventors: Takashi Kuramoto, Nobuyuki Yamashita, Hironobu Nishihara
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Publication number: 20090308038Abstract: A rear discharge mower comprising: a first shaft; a first blade that is rotated in unison with the first shaft; a second shaft that is configured to be rotated in a direction opposite from a rotational direction of the first shaft; a second blade that is rotated in unison with the second shaft, wherein a grass-clippings discharge path is formed through which grass clippings are discharged in a rearward direction from the area between the first shaft and second shaft; an enclosing casing that supports the blade shafts; and a power train that is accommodated in the enclosing casing and that transmits power to the first and second blade shafts.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Kenji Nishihara, Takashi Kuramoto, Masashi Osuga, Takashi Shibata, Satoshi Ogata, Hironobu Nishihara, Hiroshi Kawabata
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Publication number: 20090266639Abstract: An operating system for a tractor to which an implement is attachable, the operating system comprises: a steering wheel provided rearwardly of a hood that houses an engine located in a forward region of the tractor; a control panel provided rearwardly of the hood and adjacent the steering wheel; a center cover extending generally vertically below the steering wheel; an operation lever provided at a position laterally of the control panel; a valve unit with a pair of spools, the valve unit being located at a lower position with respect to the steering wheel and being covered by the center cover; a link mechanism that links the operation lever and the pair of spools, the link mechanism being covered by the center cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Takashi Kuramoto, Masashi Osuga, Hiroshi Shimada, Yoshio Tomiyama, Takeshi Komorida, Hironobu Nishihara, Kenji Nishihara, Takashi Shibata
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Publication number: 20090241702Abstract: A work vehicle including: a body frame; an engine supported by the body frame through an elastic body; a belt transmission mechanism connected to an output shaft of the engine in a power transmissive manner; and a power takeoff (PTO) mechanism connected to the belt transmission mechanism in a power transmissive manner to take out power from the engine. A PTO support bracket configured to support the PTO mechanism is attached to the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: Kubota CorporationInventors: Masashi Osuga, Shoko Koda, Hironobu Nishihara, Takashi Kuramoto, Satoshi Ogata, Hiroshi Kawabata
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Patent number: 7558658Abstract: An operating system for a tractor to which an implement is attachable, the operating system comprises: a steering wheel provided rearwardly of a hood that houses an engine located in a forward region of the tractor; a control panel provided rearwardly of the hood and adjacent the steering wheel; a center cover extending generally vertically below the steering wheel; an operation lever provided at a position laterally of the control panel; a valve unit with a pair of spools, the valve unit being located at a lower position with respect to the steering wheel and being covered by the center cover; a link mechanism that links the operation lever and the pair of spools, the link mechanism being covered by the center cover.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2006Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Takashi Kuramoto, Masashi Osuga, Hiroshi Shimada, Yoshio Tomiyama, Takeshi Komorida, Hironobu Nishihara, Kenji Nishihara, Takashi Shibata
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Publication number: 20080276589Abstract: A lawn mower, comprising a vehicle body that is supported by a plurality of wheels; a support frame that is connected to a rear part of the vehicle body; a grass collector that is supported on the support frame so as to be pivoted between a grass collecting position and a discharge position about an axis oriented in the transverse direction of the vehicle body, the grass collector having a bottom surface; a swiveling body that is connected to a rotating shaft of the grass collector to be rotated in unison so as to switch the grass collector between the grass collecting position and the discharge position; and a cylinder connected to the swiveling body and to the support frame; wherein the swiveling body and the cylinder are disposed below the grass collector in the grass collecting position, and the cylinder extends along the bottom surface of the grass collector.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2008Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: Kubota CorporationInventors: Satoshi Ogata, Masashi Osuga, Takashi Shibata, Takashi Kuramoto, Hironobu Nishihara
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Publication number: 20080276588Abstract: A rear discharge mower comprising: a first shaft; a first blade that is rotated in unison with the first shaft; a second shaft that is configured to be rotated in a direction opposite from a rotational direction of the first shaft; a second blade that is rotated in unison with the second shaft, wherein a grass-clippings discharge path is formed through which grass clippings are discharged in a rearward direction from the area between the first shaft and second shaft; an enclosing casing that supports the blade shafts; and a power train that is accommodated in the enclosing casing and that transmits power to the first and second blade shafts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2008Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: Kubota CorporationInventors: Kenji Nishihara, Takashi Kuramoto, Masashi Osuga, Takashi Shibata, Satoshi Ogata, Hironobu Nishihara, Hiroshi Kawabata
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Patent number: D723589Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2014Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Hironobu Nishihara, Masayuki Akita