Patents by Inventor Hirotaka Inaba

Hirotaka Inaba 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: 20220161730
    Abstract: A luggage compartment structure of a vehicle includes a base, a support, and a deck board. The base is fixed to a vehicle body. The support is attached to the base so as to be slidable in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The deck board is slidable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body with respect to the support. The deck board includes a board body attached to the support so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and a folded portion connected to a rear end portion of the board body so as to be pivotable about an axis along a vehicle width direction of the vehicle body. The folded portion is folded down with respect to the board body in a state where the deck board is pulled out from a luggage compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Katsuhito FURUSAWA, Hirotaka Inaba
  • Patent number: 11145775
    Abstract: This inter-connector is provided with: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a connecting body which connects the first electrode and the second electrode. The connecting body comprises: a first junction portion connected to the first electrode; a first bypass portion connected with respect to the first junction portion; a first reinforcement portion connected to the first junction portion and the first bypass portion; a second junction portion connected to the second electrode; a second bypass portion connected with respect to the second junction portion; a second reinforcement portion connected to the second junction portion and the second bypass portion; and a connection portion connecting the first bypass portion and the second bypass portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Inaba, Motoya Sakabe, Hiroyuki Ohba
  • Publication number: 20210284000
    Abstract: This vehicle roof panel is formed from a plastic and is configured such that: the vehicle roof panel is disposed between a transparent, plate-shaped roof window and an operating mechanism for operating the roof window; and the vehicle roof panel is affixed to a vehicle body. The vehicle roof panel has a panel body and a front surface layer. The panel body comprises an opaque plastic, has an accommodation section configured to accommodate the roof window, and can shield the operating mechanism. The front surface layer comprises a transparent plastic, is formed integrally with the front surface of the panel body, and is substantially flush with a first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yuichi MIZUTANI, Hirotaka INABA, Kazumasa OKUMURA
  • Patent number: 10818809
    Abstract: A solar cell module includes: a sealing layer in which power generating elements are sealed; a front surface layer formed from resin and joined to a light-receiving surface side of the power generating elements in the sealing layer; and a rear surface layer joined to an opposite side from the light-receiving surface side of the power generating elements in the sealing layer, wherein the front surface layer has a solar cell installation area that forms a portion of a solar cell, and an antenna installation area that extends at a vehicle front side or a vehicle rear side of the solar cell installation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Motoya Sakabe, Kazuyoshi Ogata, Hirotaka Inaba
  • Patent number: 10784390
    Abstract: A solar cell module having curvature in a vehicle front-rear direction which varies from a vehicle front side towards a vehicle rear side, the solar cell module includes: a sealing layer formed from resin and in which power generating elements are sealed; a front surface layer formed from resin and joined to a light-receiving surface side of the power generating elements in the sealing layer; and a rear surface layer formed from resin and joined to an opposite side from the light-receiving surface side of the power generating elements in the sealing layer, wherein a plate thickness of portions where the front surface layer, the sealing layer, and the rear surface layer are laminated together is formed so as to become proportionately thinner as the curvature in the vehicle front-rear direction increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Motoya Sakabe, Kazuyoshi Ogata, Hirotaka Inaba
  • Patent number: 10680128
    Abstract: A solar panel includes conductors each having a first base portion, which is connected to a third base portion with a first connecting portion, and a second base portion, which is connected to the third base portion with a second connecting portion. Output leads include a distal end portion and an extending portion. The distal end portion extends in a first direction along a second front surface of a back cover and is connected to the third base portion from the side opposite from a solar cell. The extending portion is continuous with the distal end portion and extends in a first direction toward the solar cell along a second back surface of the back cover. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are elastically deformable in the first direction and a second direction, which intersects the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Inaba, Motoya Sakabe, Kazuyoshi Ogata
  • Patent number: 10658535
    Abstract: A solar cell module includes: a first cover in the form of a plate having at least a portion transparently; a second cover disposed to face the first cover; at least one solar cell disposed between the first cover and the second cover; a sealing material which fills a space between the first cover and the second cover and joins them together to thus seal the solar cell; and terminals electrically connected to the solar cell, surrounded by the sealing material between the first cover and the second cover, and serving as a conductor. At least one of the first cover and the second cover has a boss as a positioning portion which positions the terminals. The terminal contacts the first cover having the boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Inaba
  • Patent number: 10651328
    Abstract: A solar cell module includes: a first cover in the form of an at least partially transparent plate; a second cover disposed opposite the first cover; at least one solar cell disposed between the first cover and the second cover; a sealing material which fills a space between the first cover and the second cover to join them together to thus seal the solar cell; and a terminal as conductors electrically connected to the solar cell and enclosed by the sealing material between the first cover and the second cover, at least one of the first cover and the second cover having a boss as a positioning unit to position the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Inaba, Kenichiro Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 10644182
    Abstract: A solar cell module includes: an at least one solar cell disposed between a first cover and a second cover; a sealing material that fills a gap between the first cover and the second cover to join them together, and seals the solar cell; and a tab line as a conductor electrically connected to the solar cell and enclosed by the sealing material between the first cover and the second cover, the tab line having a plurality of bases, and an expansion and contraction portion that can expand and contract in a longitudinal direction and connects the plurality of bases, the plurality of bases each being provided with a through hole and a connection base electrically connected to the solar cell, at least one of the first cover and the second cover having a boss as a positioning unit that positions the tab line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Inaba
  • Patent number: 10615300
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solar panel includes preparing a laminated body including a plastic protection cover that is light-transmissive and is curved in a convex manner, a flat plastic back cover, a photovoltaic battery cell, and an encapsulant that holds the photovoltaic battery cell in an encapsulated state, mounting the laminated body on a laminating jig such that the back cover abuts the laminating jig, and heating the laminated body with the laminating jig and compression-bonding the laminated body by holding the laminated body between a diaphragm and the laminating jig, thereby obtaining a solar panel from the laminated body. The laminating jig is curved in a convex manner toward the laminated body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Inaba, Kazumasa Okumura, Koki Ikeda, Motoya Sakabe, Kazuyoshi Ogata
  • Patent number: 10566481
    Abstract: A solar battery module includes: a front face protective sheet at a first side; a sheet-shaped solar battery cell disposed at a second side, the second side being an opposite side from the first side with respect to the front face protective sheet; a backing sheet disposed at the second side with respect to the solar battery cell; and an encapsulation layer provided between the front face protective sheet and the backing sheet, and encapsulating the solar battery cell. A convexly-curved portion is provided at the backing sheet to overlap the solar battery cell, and curves convexly toward a solar battery cell side, the solar battery cell curves in accordance with the convexly-curved portion, and a rigidity of the convexly-curved portion with respect to a load acting in the sheet thickness direction of the solar battery cell is higher than a rigidity of the solar battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Shoichi Iwamoto, Kazutaka Kimura, Hirotaka Inaba
  • Publication number: 20200039335
    Abstract: An opening and closing structure for a vehicle includes a pair of guide rails and an opening and closing unit. The opening and closing unit includes a plurality of slats, a reinforcement, a first joint portion, and second joint portions. The plurality of slats are made of resin and arranged side by side in an extending direction of the guide rails. The reinforcement reinforces two of the slats that are adjacent to each other. The first joint portion is made of a flexible material which is more flexible than the resin forming the slats. The first joint portion joins the two adjacent slats. The second joint portions each join the two adjacent slats to the reinforcement. The reinforcement is configured to cover the second joint portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Taishi MOCHIZUKI, Hirotaka INABA
  • Patent number: 10483418
    Abstract: Provided is a primer for a solar cell module which makes it possible to prevent peeling of a surface protective material from a sealing material over a long time, and a solar cell module manufactured using this primer. The primer includes 40 to 95 parts by mass of a polymerizable ester, 5 to 60 parts by mass of an adhesion promoter, and a polymerization initiator. The polymerizable ester includes at least one of an acryloyl group and a methacryloyl group. The adhesion promoter includes a functional group improvable is adhesion to an acrylic resin or a methacrylic resin, and an alkoxysilyl group. The polymerization initiator is configured to be able to initiate polymerization of the polymerizable ester. The content of the polymerization initiator is 0.1 to 10 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass as a total of the polymerizable ester and the adhesion promoter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuya Maruyama, Hirotaka Inaba, Motoya Sakabe
  • Patent number: 10453982
    Abstract: A solar battery module is provided that includes plural solar battery cells, plural interconnectors each having a shock absorber, a sealing layer, a back face layer, and a front face layer having optical transparency. The plural solar battery cells each include an electrode on a peripheral edge portion at a back face that does not receive sunlight. The plural interconnectors extend along the peripheral edge portions, and connect the electrodes of the plural solar battery cells to each other. The sealing layer seals each of the solar battery cells and each of the interconnectors. The shock absorber is disposed in a region between corner portions of adjacent or diagonally opposing solar battery cells, and permits movement of the solar battery cells accompanying expansion or contraction of at least one out of the back face layer or the front face layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yuki Kudo, Shoichi Iwamoto, Hiroyuki Ohba, Hirotaka Inaba
  • Patent number: 10454416
    Abstract: Provided is a solar battery module easy to assemble. A solar battery module includes a connecting member, the connecting member includes a conductor disposed along an end of a first solar battery string and connected to the first solar battery string and a conductor disposed along an end of a second solar battery string and connected to the second solar battery string, and the first solar battery string and the second solar battery string are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Inaba, Kazumasa Okumura, Motoya Sakabe
  • Publication number: 20190189821
    Abstract: A solar cell module includes: a sealing layer in which power generating elements are sealed; a front surface layer formed from resin and joined to a light-receiving surface side of the power generating elements in the sealing layer; and a rear surface layer joined to an opposite side from the light-receiving surface side of the power generating elements in the sealing layer, wherein the front surface layer has a solar cell installation area that forms a portion of a solar cell, and an antenna installation area that extends at a vehicle front side or a vehicle rear side of the solar cell installation area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Motoya SAKABE, Kazuyoshi OGATA, Hirotaka INABA
  • Publication number: 20190189820
    Abstract: A solar cell module having curvature in a vehicle front-rear direction which varies from a vehicle front side towards a vehicle rear side, the solar cell module includes: a sealing layer formed from resin and in which power generating elements are sealed; a front surface layer formed from resin and joined to a light-receiving surface side of the power generating elements in the sealing layer; and a rear surface layer formed from resin and joined to an opposite side from the light-receiving surface side of the power generating elements in the sealing layer, wherein a plate thickness of portions where the front surface layer, the sealing layer, and the rear surface layer are laminated together is formed so as to become proportionately thinner as the curvature in the vehicle front-rear direction increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Motoya SAKABE, Kazuyoshi OGATA, Hirotaka INABA
  • Publication number: 20190181283
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solar panel includes preparing a laminated body including a plastic protection cover that is light-transmissive and is curved in a convex manner, a flat plastic back cover, a photovoltaic battery cell, and an encapsulant that holds the photovoltaic battery cell in an encapsulated state, mounting the laminated body on a laminating jig such that the back cover abuts the laminating jig, and heating the laminated body with the laminating jig and compression-bonding the laminated body by holding the laminated body between a diaphragm and the laminating jig, thereby obtaining a solar panel from the laminated body. The laminating jig is curved in a convex manner toward the laminated body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka INABA, Kazumasa OKUMURA, Koki IKEDA, Motoya SAKABE, Kazuyoshi OGATA
  • Publication number: 20190165194
    Abstract: A solar panel includes conductors each having a first base portion, which is connected to a third base portion with a first connecting portion, and a second base portion, which is connected to the third base portion with a second connecting portion. Output leads include a distal end portion and an extending portion. The distal end portion extends in a first direction along a second front surface of a back cover and is connected to the third base portion from the side opposite from a solar cell. The extending portion is continuous with the distal end portion and extends in a first direction toward the solar cell along a second back surface of the back cover. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are elastically deformable in the first direction and a second direction, which intersects the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka INABA, Motoya SAKABE, Kazuyoshi OGATA
  • Patent number: 10293867
    Abstract: A vehicle body upper structure includes a roof support portion constituting a skeleton of an outer peripheral portion of a vehicle body upper portion and a roof which is made of resin, and which supported by the roof support portion. The roof has a bonded portion on a lower surface of the outer peripheral portion of the roof and the bonded portion is joined to an upper surface of the roof support portion via an adhesive. The roof has an extending portion on a lower surface side of a part of the outer peripheral portion of the roof, and the part is closer to a terminal side than the bonded portion and the extending portion extends downwards in a vehicle-height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Motoya Sakabe, Takuya Yabe, Hirotaka Inaba