Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Osafune
Hitoshi Osafune 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: 11203892Abstract: An extensible or contractible driving device that reduces failure caused by water intrusion. A motor (13) is provided in an outer cylinder (7). An inner cylinder (9) is provided on an inner side of the outer cylinder (7), a tip of the inner cylinder has a closing structure, and the inner cylinder relatively moves in an axial direction with respect to the outer cylinder (7). A screw (11) is rotationally driven by a driving force of the motor (13). A guide nut (15) is driven by the screw (11) and moved in a rotation axis direction of the screw (11). A coil spring (17) is disposed on an outer periphery of the screw (11), comes into contact with a tip of the inner cylinder (9), and applies force to the guide nut (15). The screw (11), the guide nut, and the coil spring (17) are housed in an inner space (25) formed by the outer cylinder (7) and the inner cylinder (9). A fluid intake/outlet port (29) is provided at the tip of the inner cylinder (9).Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2015Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: HI-LEX CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki Inagaki, Hitoshi Osafune
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Patent number: 10407967Abstract: An operable and closable body-opening and closing apparatus includes: a rotary drive member configured to be rotationally driven by a driving force of a drive section; a driving-force transmission member configured to be driven by the rotary drive member and thereby move in a rotation axis direction of the rotary drive member; a biasing member disposed on an outer periphery of the driving-force transmission member and configured to give a biasing force to the driving-force transmission member in the rotation axis direction; and a guide member disposed on an outer periphery of the biasing member and configured to guide the driving-force transmission member. The guide member includes a guide portion configured to guide the driving-force transmission member in the rotation axis direction while restricting rotation of the driving-force transmission member, and the driving-force transmission member includes a guided portion configured to be guided by the guide portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2015Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: HI-LEX CORPORATIONInventors: Hitoshi Osafune, Hiroyuki Inagaki
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Patent number: 10227811Abstract: This extensible/contractible driving device includes a rotatable driving member configured to be rotated by drive force of a driving unit; a drive force-transmitting member connected to a leading end of the internal cylinder, configured to be driven by the rotatable driving member so as to move along a rotary shaft direction of the rotatable driving member; and an elastic member disposed in the periphery of the drive force-transmitting member, connected to the leading end of the internal cylinder, and configured to apply biasing force in the rotary shaft direction to the drive force-transmitting member. The rotatable driving member, the drive force-transmitting member, and the elastic member include an intervening member (24) stored in an inner space between external and internal cylinders, disposed in the periphery of the internal cylinder, and intervening between the internal cylinder and the external cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: HI-LEX CORPORATIONInventors: Hitoshi Osafune, Hiroyuki Inagaki
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Publication number: 20180283075Abstract: A motor 13 is provided in an outer cylinder 7. An inner cylinder 9 is provided on an inner side of the outer cylinder 7, a tip of the inner cylinder has a closing structure, and the inner cylinder relatively moves in an axial direction with respect to the outer cylinder 7. A screw 11 is rotationally driven by a driving force of the motor 13. A guide nut 15 is driven by the screw 11 and moved in a rotation axis direction of the screw 11. A coil spring 17 is disposed on an outer periphery of the screw 11, comes into contact with a tip of the inner cylinder 9, and applies an biasing force to the guide nut 15 in a rotation axis direction. The screw 11, the guide nut 15, and the coil spring 17 are housed in an inner space 25 formed by the outer cylinder 7 and the inner cylinder 9. A fluid intake/outlet port 29 is provided at a tip of the inner cylinder 9. With such structures, a failure due to water intrusion in an extensible/contractible driving device is reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2015Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: HI-LEX CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki INAGAKI, Hitoshi OSAFUNE
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Publication number: 20170328114Abstract: This extensible/contractible driving device includes a rotatable driving member configured to be rotated by drive force of a driving unit; a drive force-transmitting member connected to a leading end of the internal cylinder, configured to be driven by the rotatable driving member so as to move along a rotary shaft direction of the rotatable driving member; and an elastic member disposed in the periphery of the drive force-transmitting member, connected to the leading end of the internal cylinder, and configured to apply biasing force in the rotary shaft direction to the drive force-transmitting member. The rotatable driving member, the drive force-transmitting member, and the elastic member include an intervening member (24) stored in an inner space between external and internal cylinders, disposed in the periphery of the internal cylinder, and intervening between the internal cylinder and the external cylinder.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2015Publication date: November 16, 2017Applicant: HI-LEX CORPORATIONInventors: Hitoshi OSAFUNE, Hiroyuki INAGAKI
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Publication number: 20170081895Abstract: An operable and closable body-opening and closing apparatus includes: a rotary drive member configured to be rotationally driven by a driving force of a drive section; a driving-force transmission member configured to be driven by the rotary drive member and thereby move in a rotation axis direction of the rotary drive member; a biasing member disposed on an outer periphery of the driving-force transmission member and configured to give a biasing force to the driving-force transmission member in the rotation axis direction; and a guide member disposed on an outer periphery of the biasing member and configured to guide the driving-force transmission member. The guide member includes a guide portion configured to guide the driving-force transmission member in the rotation axis direction while restricting rotation of the driving-force transmission member, and the driving-force transmission member includes a guided portion configured to be guided by the guide portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2015Publication date: March 23, 2017Applicant: HI-LEX CORPORATIONInventors: Hitoshi OSAFUNE, Hiroyuki INAGAKI
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Patent number: 9534436Abstract: A driving device for opening and closing an opening/closing body of a vehicle. The driving device comprises a nut member that moves linearly by way of rotation of a rod member and is threadably engaged with the rod member, and an engaging member that can be engaged with an engagement-receiving member provided on the rod member that is moved by way of a link arm linked to actuation of a solenoid such that rotation of the rod member can be stopped. The link arm has a mechanical structure that limits vibrations that change the vibration status of the engaging member. By using this driving device, impact noise during actuation of the driving device can be mitigated, or the pitch of the noise can be altered, so as not to discomfort passengers.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: HI-LEX CORPORATIONInventor: Hitoshi Osafune
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Publication number: 20150300071Abstract: A driving device for opening and closing an opening/closing body of a vehicle. The driving device comprises a nut member that moves linearly by way of rotation of a rod member and is threadably engaged with the rod member, and an engaging member that can be engaged with an engagement-receiving member provided on the rod member that is moved by way of a link arm linked to actuation of a solenoid such that rotation of the rod member can be stopped. The link arm has a mechanical structure that limits vibrations that change the vibration status of the engaging member. By using this driving device, impact noise during actuation of the driving device can be mitigated, or the pitch of the noise can be altered, so as not to discomfort passengers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: HI-LEX CORPORATIONInventor: Hitoshi OSAFUNE
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Publication number: 20150256048Abstract: An opening/closing body operation device for operating an opening/closing body, which swings up and down, so as to open and close, has a driving unit, a slider which is moved up and down by the driving force from the driving unit and is linked to the opening/closing body and a guide member having the slider slidably disposed in the interior. The slider includes a main slider body, a sliding member that slides on the guide member, and an elastic member between the main slider body and the sliding member to support the load applied to the slider when the opening/closing body is opened or closed. The slider has a deformation allowance space for allowing elastic deformation of the elastic member caused when the slider is pressed into the guide member. Thus, the load applied to the slider to open or close the opening/closing body is reliably supported.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2013Publication date: September 10, 2015Inventors: Yuki Ohta, Masakazu Karaki, Hitoshi Osafune
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Patent number: 8636451Abstract: A wheelchair securing device of the present invention is configured such that in a condition in which a plurality of cord-like retaining members having hooks are respectively drawn from reels and in which the hooks are hooked on a wheelchair, the retaining members are taken up by the reels to secure the wheelchair to a vehicle. The device includes a rotation restraining mechanism that is configured to restrict rotation of the reels using tensions of the retaining members when the retaining members are forced to be drawn from the reels due to an external force applied to the wheelchair.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2010Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Makoto Yamashita, Hitoshi Osafune
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Patent number: 8400033Abstract: An unlocking actuator for automatic unlocking of vehicle seat and manual unlocking of vehicle seat. Rotary torque generated by an electric motor in order to unlock a vehicle seat is transmitted to a rotary gear which is thereby rotated. A substantially sectorial insertion hole is formed in a pulley along the rotational direction and an abutting surface is formed on one end side of the insertion hole. A first inner cable has one end fixed to a first groove for winding formed in the outer circumferential part of the pulley and wound in the first groove for winding, and the other end connected with an unlocking mechanism. A second inner cable has one end fitted idly in a second groove for winding formed in the outer circumferential part of the pulley and wound in the second groove for winding, and the other end connected with an unlocking operation rod.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Hi-Lex CorporationInventors: Masakazu Karaki, Hitoshi Osafune, Akihiko Inaoka
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Publication number: 20120288344Abstract: A wheelchair securing device of the present invention is configured such that in a condition in which a plurality of cord-like retaining members having hooks are respectively drawn from reels and in which the hooks are hooked on a wheelchair, the retaining members are taken up by the reels to secure the wheelchair to a vehicle. The device includes a rotation restraining mechanism that is configured to restrict rotation of the reels using tensions of the retaining members when the retaining members are forced to be drawn from the reels due to an external force applied to the wheelchair.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2010Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Makoto Yamashita, Hitoshi Osafune
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Publication number: 20100259120Abstract: An unlocking actuator for automatic unlocking of vehicle seat and manual unlocking of vehicle seat. Rotary torque generated by an electric motor in order to unlock a vehicle seat is transmitted to a rotary gear which is thereby rotated. A substantially sectorial insertion hole is formed in a pulley along the rotational direction and an abutting surface is formed on one end side of the insertion hole. A first inner cable has one end fixed to a first groove for winding formed in the outer circumferential part of the pulley and wound in the first groove for winding, and the other end connected with an unlocking mechanism. A second inner cable has one end fitted idly in a second groove for winding formed in the outer circumferential part of the pulley and wound in the second groove for winding, and the other end connected with an unlocking operation rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2008Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: HI-LEX CorporationInventors: Masakazu Karaki, Hitoshi Osafune, Akihiko Inaoka