Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Inaoka
Hiroshi Inaoka 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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Publication number: 20120240902Abstract: A charge pipe passage includes a second pipe passage part which is connected to a fuel tank by way of a first pipe passage part and extends toward the other side from one side in the vehicle widthwise direction, and a third pipe passage part which is communicably connected with the second pipe passage part on the other side in the vehicle widthwise direction and has a highest part arranged at a highest position of the charge pipe passage at an intermediate position thereof. A first check valve is interposed on the third pipe passage part downstream of the highest part, an atmospheric air introducing pipe passage is connected to the third pipe passage part upstream of the first check valve, and a second check valve is interposed on the atmospheric air introducing pipe passage at a position higher than the highest part.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2012Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTDInventors: Nobuyuki Kondo, Hiroshi Inaoka, Teruhide Yamanishi, Kazuo Fujihara, Toshinao Takigawa, Toshiyuki Hyodo, Masaaki Ogawa
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Publication number: 20100243354Abstract: Shorter charge and purge lines are provided in a compactly built motorcycle having an engine disposed downwardly of a rider seat, a fuel tank disposed forwardly of the engine and storing fuel to be supplied to the engine, and a canister adsorbing fuel vapor evaporated in the fuel tank. A fuel tank integrates a tank main portion with a tube portion that joins to a front side upper portion of the tank main portion so as to protrude upwardly of an upper wall of the tank main portion and that has a fuel filler port disposed at an upper end portion thereof. Further, a canister is disposed at a position that is lower than an upper end of the tube portion, rearward of the tube portion, and upward of the tank main portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiroshi Inaoka
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Publication number: 20100243353Abstract: A canister is provided which efficiently purges in a saddle-riding type vehicle having an engine disposed downwardly of a rider seat so as to develop a drive power for driving a rear wheel, a fuel tank storing fuel to be supplied to the engine, and a canister adsorbing fuel vapors generated in the fuel tank. An air guide path that guides exhaust air discharged rearwardly from a radiator, which circulates coolant with an engine, is formed inside a vehicle body cover. The canister is disposed in the air guide path.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Takeshi Shimura
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Publication number: 20100243360Abstract: A motorcycle is provided having an engine disposed on a vehicle body frame, a storage box disposed downward of a rider seat, a fuel tank for storing fuel to be supplied to the engine, and a canister for adsorbing fuel vapors generated in the fuel tank. The canister does not restrict the shape of the fuel tank, and the storage box and the fuel tank are disposed longitudinally. A storage box and a fuel tank are disposed in a longitudinally parallel arrangement. A rear cross frame forming part of a vehicle body frame and disposed between the storage box and the fuel tank connects rear frames which form part of the vehicle body frame and are disposed on both lateral sides of the storage box and the fuel tank. Further, a canister is disposed downwardly of the rear cross frame between the storage box and the fuel tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiroshi Inaoka
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Patent number: 7409824Abstract: An exhaust pipe is connected to an engine with a muffler attached to an exhaust pipe. An exhaust valve is provided for controlling the flow rate of an exhaust gas on the side of the exhaust pipe. A recessed portion is directed toward the center of the vehicle body and is formed on the side of the swing arm with the exhaust valve being disposed in front in the vicinity of the recessed portion. Operating wires are laid along an air cleaner case so as to open and close the exhaust valve. A servo motor is disposed at such a position that it can be covered with the seat cowl so as to drive the operating wires. The muffler is provided with a muffler protector and a cover portion that integral extends from the muffler protector with the exhaust valve being covered with the cover portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2004Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Sadamichi Enjyo
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Patent number: 7364001Abstract: A motorcycle has an engine mounting structure in which a rear wheel supporting swing arm is vertically swung together with a rear wheel, and in which both sides in the vehicle body width direction of a vehicle body side bracket provided in a vehicle body frame are clamped between a left-right pair of engine-side brackets provided on an engine and the engine is mounted to the vehicle body side bracket through elastic members. The vehicle body frame includes a left-right pair of auxiliary brackets disposed on both sides of the vehicle body side bracket, with an interval therebetween. The left and right engine-side brackets are clamped by the auxiliary brackets. An engine supporting bolt is made to penetrate through the vehicle body side bracket, the left and right engine-side brackets and the left and right auxiliary brackets, whereby the brackets are connected to each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Satoru Nojiri, Norihiko Sasaki, Hirohisa Takahashi
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Patent number: 7320378Abstract: An exhaust control apparatus for a motorcycle includes an exhaust collection pipe, which collects and combines exhaust gas from a plurality of exhaust pipes, and an exhaust valve. The exhaust valve is operatively attached to the collection pipe and controls flow of exhaust gas within the collection pipe. A pivot shaft of the exhaust valve is situated at an angle and is displaced from the centers of the exhaust pipes, such that the shaft is not aligned with the centers of the exhaust pipes. This arrangement of the pivot shaft provides a smooth, non-turbulent flow of exhaust gas, and reduces impedance to the flow of exhaust gas. The exhaust control apparatus may be mounted to reside within a recess formed in a motorcycle body frame, to reduce vehicle width.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2004Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Norihiko Sasaki, Noritake Takami, Hiroaki Tamai, Yuichi Moriyama
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Publication number: 20050205328Abstract: A motorcycle has an engine mounting structure in which a rear wheel supporting swing arm is vertically swung together with a rear wheel, and in which both sides in the vehicle body width direction of a vehicle body side bracket provided in a vehicle body frame are clamped between a left-right pair of engine-side brackets provided on an engine and the engine is mounted to the vehicle body side bracket through elastic members. The vehicle body frame includes a left-right pair of auxiliary brackets disposed on both sides of the vehicle body side bracket, with an interval therebetween. The left and right engine-side brackets are clamped by the auxiliary brackets. An engine supporting bolt is made to penetrate through the vehicle body side bracket, the left and right engine-side brackets and the left and right auxiliary brackets, whereby the brackets are connected to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2005Publication date: September 22, 2005Inventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Satoru Nojiri, Norihiko Sasaki, Hirohisa Takahashi
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Publication number: 20050081516Abstract: An exhaust pipe is connected to an engine with a muffler attached to an exhaust pipe. An exhaust valve is provided for controlling the flow rate of an exhaust gas on the side of the exhaust pipe. A recessed portion is directed toward the center of the vehicle body and is formed on the side of the swing arm with the exhaust valve being disposed in front in the vicinity of the recessed portion. Operating wires are laid along an air cleaner case so as to open and close the exhaust valve. A servo motor is disposed at such a position that it can be covered with the seat cowl so as to drive the operating wires. The muffler is provided with a muffler protector and a cover portion that integral extends from the muffler protector with the exhaust valve being covered with the cover portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2004Publication date: April 21, 2005Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Sadamichi Enjyo
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Publication number: 20050067211Abstract: An exhaust control apparatus for a motorcycle includes an exhaust collection pipe, which collects and combines exhaust gas from a plurality of exhaust pipes, and an exhaust valve. The exhaust valve is operatively attached to the collection pipe and controls flow of exhaust gas within the collection pipe. A pivot shaft of the exhaust valve is situated at an angle and is displaced from the centers of the exhaust pipes, such that the shaft is not aligned with the centers of the exhaust pipes. This arrangement of the pivot shaft provides a smooth, non-turbulent flow of exhaust gas, and reduces impedance to the flow of exhaust gas. The exhaust control apparatus may be mounted to reside within a recess formed in a motorcycle body frame, to reduce vehicle width.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2004Publication date: March 31, 2005Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Norihiko Sasaki, Noritake Takami, Hiroaki Tamai, Yuichi Moriyama
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Patent number: 6851499Abstract: A pair of arms extend from the lid for the oil filler port, and these arms are rotatably mounted on the vehicle body cover via the hinges. The hinge for supporting one of the arms is provided with a torsion spring for urging the lid in the opening direction, and the hinge for supporting the other arm is provided with a rotary damper for damping a speed of rotation of the lid. Since the hinged lid for a vehicle rotates smoothly in natural motion, which gives an upscale image, a hinged lid for a vehicle providing, for example, a feeling of operation suitable for the large scooter may be realized.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2002Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuichi Yagisawa, Akira Komaki, Kengo Yano, Hiroshi Inaoka
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Patent number: 6845836Abstract: An engine mounting structure for a motorcycle including a plurality of resilient members for connecting the engine to the vehicle body frame. The resilient member located at the position nearest to the rear wheel is given a resilient property being uniform in the vertical and fore-and-aft directions, and remaining resilient members are given a non-uniform resilient property being hard in the vertical direction and flexible in the fore-and-aft direction. With this configuration, even when the rear wheel moves horizontally in the lateral direction, the influence is attenuated while being transferred to the vehicle body frame. When a resilient member being hard in the vertical direction is used, the behavior of the rear wheel such as the vertical swinging motion or lateral turn can immediately be transferred to the vehicle body frame. Therefore, drivability of the motorcycle during high-speed driving is improved.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2002Date of Patent: January 25, 2005Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Kazutaka Minami, Tetsuaki Maeda, Hirohisa Takahashi, Atsushi Ishida
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Patent number: 6758296Abstract: A scooter type motorcycle includes a rear fork for supporting a rear wheel of the motorcycle. A front portion of the rear fork is attached to a crankcase of an engine in a vertically swingable manner. The engine is mounted to a body frame through elastic members. The mounting arrangement enhances the comfort of the ride of the motorcycle by reducing vibrations from being transmitted from the rear wheel to the rider.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2001Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Tsutomu Takeuchi, Atsushi Ishida, Kazuo Satoh
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Publication number: 20030159873Abstract: An engine mounting structure for a motorcycle including a plurality of resilient members for connecting the engine to the vehicle body frame. The resilient member located at the position nearest to the rear wheel is given a resilient property being uniform in the vertical and fore-and-aft directions, and remaining resilient members are given a non-uniform resilient property being hard in the vertical direction and flexible in the fore-and-aft direction. With this configuration, even when the rear wheel moves horizontally in the lateral direction, the influence is attenuated while being transferred to the vehicle body frame. When a resilient member being hard in the vertical direction is used, the behavior of the rear wheel such as the vertical swinging motion or lateral turn can immediately be transferred to the vehicle body frame. Therefore, drivability of the motorcycle during high-speed driving is improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2002Publication date: August 28, 2003Inventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Kazutaka Minami, Tetsuaki Maeda, Hirohisa Takahasi, Atsushi Ishida
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Patent number: 6523628Abstract: To provide a small-sized vehicle in which a convenient pocket is provided in a single driver's seat portion. Furthermore, a brake master cylinder is disposed by making effective use of space without reduction of the capacity of the pocket, and the maintenance of a reservoir tank of the brake master cylinder thus disposed is ensured. A meter cover portion is disposed in a pocket of an inner panel at a position offset rightwardly from the center in the width direction of the vehicular body to form small and large capacity pocket parts on the right and left sides of the vehicle. A brake pedal is disposed on the right side of a steering column extending in an approximate center line in the width direction of the vehicular body, and a brake master cylinder connected to the brake pedal is disposed behind the meter cover portion. Such a layout is advantageous since it allows a driver to easily operate the pedals while ensuring the pocket capacity.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2001Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Masao Ogawa
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Publication number: 20020148665Abstract: A pair of arms extend from the lid for the oil filler port, and these arms are rotatably mounted on the vehicle body cover via the hinges. The hinge for supporting one of the arms is provided with a torsion spring for urging the lid in the opening direction, and the hinge for supporting the other arm is provided with a rotary damper for damping a speed of rotation of the lid. Since the hinged lid for a vehicle rotates smoothly in natural motion, which gives an upscale image, a hinged lid for a vehicle providing, for example, a feeling of operation suitable for the large scooter may be realized.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2002Publication date: October 17, 2002Inventors: Katsuichi Yagisawa, Akira Komaki, Kengo Yano, Hiroshi Inaoka
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Publication number: 20020029916Abstract: A scooter type motorcycle includes a rear fork for supporting a rear wheel of the motorcycle. A front portion of the rear fork is attached to a crankcase of an engine in a vertically swingable manner. The engine is mounted to a body frame through elastic members. The mounting arrangement enhances the comfort of the ride of the motorcycle by reducing vibrations from being transmitted from the rear wheel to the rider.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Inventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Tsutomu Takeuchi, Atsushi Ishida, Kazuo Satoh
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Publication number: 20010017228Abstract: To provide a small-sized vehicle in which a convenient pocket is provided in a single driver's seat portion. Furthermore, a brake master cylinder is disposed by making effective use of space without reduction of the capacity of the pocket, and the maintenance of a reservoir tank of the brake master cylinder thus disposed is ensured. A meter cover portion is disposed in a pocket of an inner panel at a position offset rightwardly from the center in the width direction of the vehicular body to form small and large capacity pocket parts on the right and left sides of the vehicle. A brake pedal is disposed on the right side of a steering column extending in an approximate center line in the width direction of the vehicular body, and a brake master cylinder connected to the brake pedal is disposed behind the meter cover portion. Such a layout is advantageous since it allows a driver to easily operate the pedals while ensuring the pocket capacity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2001Publication date: August 30, 2001Inventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Masao Ogawa
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Patent number: 6145691Abstract: A fuel tank has a superior outer appearance. A body and a bottom are aligned to each other in a vertical direction to form a sealed closed space for storing fuel between both members. The body is formed as a container having an opening in a downward direction. A connected end part is bent inward in a continuous manner from a lower end of its outer surface. The opening is covered from below with the bottom and its circumferential edge is overlapped on the connected end while its position is set and connected at its entire circumference by brazing.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1999Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Ryuta Itou, Teiji Watanabe, Joji Fujinami
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Patent number: 5944216Abstract: A fuel tank has a superior outer appearance. A body and a bottom are aligned to each other in a vertical direction to form a sealed closed space for storing fuel between both members. The body is formed as a container having an opening in a downward direction. A connected end part is bent inward in a continuous manner from a lower end of its outer surface. The opening is covered from below with the bottom and its circumferential edge is overlapped on the connected end while its position is set and connected at its entire circumference by brazing.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1998Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Inaoka, Ryuta Itou, Teiji Watanabe, Joji Fujinami