Patents by Inventor Isao Tohda

Isao Tohda 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).

  • Patent number: 7658440
    Abstract: An arrangement structure for an auxiliary component of a vehicle includes a floor panel defining the bottom surface of the passenger compartment. The floor panel includes a first kick-up portion and a second kick-up portion disposed in side-by-side relation to the first kick-up portion in a lateral direction of a vehicle body. The second kick-up portion is formed to have a height greater than that of the first kick-up portion. A first seat is disposed on the first kick-up portion, a second seat is formed to have a smaller size than that of the first seat and disposed on the second kick-up portion, and a cross member is joined along the second kick-up portion in the lateral direction to form a closed section therebetween. The arrangement structure of the present invention allows a vehicle to have a low overall-height compact body while achieving enhanced layout flexibility and assuring a passenger compartment space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Tohda, Kouji Iwasaka, Katsumasa Sogame, Shigeyuki Mori
  • Publication number: 20090224567
    Abstract: A trunk lid is provided so as to rotate around a front end portion thereof in such a manner that its back face in an open state faces substantially upward, and there is provided a support mechanism to support the trunk lid in the open state. Accordingly, there can be provided a baggage compartment structure of a vehicle which comprises a trunk room which is provided at a rear portion of a vehicle body so that an opening formed at an upper face thereof can be closed with the trunk lid, which can properly load various types of large-sized baggage without having the large and complex structure and damaging the vehicle design improperly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao TOHDA, Kenji ASADA, Shigeyuki MORI
  • Patent number: 7281971
    Abstract: In an air conditioner for a vehicle including a vehicle roof capable of opening, there are provided a driver seat and a passenger seat which are provided at right and left sides in a vehicle compartment, plural conditioned-air blowoff ports provided for the driver seat and the passenger seat respectively, and an air conditioning control device operative to adjust respective characteristics of conditioned air for the driver seat and the passenger seat, separately. Accordingly, needs of each passenger on the driver seat and the passenger seat during a vehicle driving with the vehicle roof open can be attained, thereby improving comfortableness of air conditioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Tohda, Kouji Iwasaka
  • Patent number: 7185725
    Abstract: In a vehicle, a cowl portion for supporting a front end of a windshield is disposed above the dash panel so as to extend in a width direction of the vehicle, an instrument panel member is located backward away from the cowl portion so as to extend in the width direction of the vehicle above the dash panel, a recess portion is formed in such manner that a central portion of the dash panel in the width direction of the vehicle is recessed backward from the cowl portion to the instrument panel member, and the driving device for the vehicle is disposed in the recess portion such that the driving device is located in front of and close to the instrument panel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Iwasaka, Isao Tohda, Yukio Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20060238000
    Abstract: Disclosed is an arrangement structure for an auxiliary component of a vehicle, which comprises a floor panel defining the bottom surface of the passenger compartment and having a first kick-up portion and a second kick-up portion disposed in side-by-side relation to the first kick-up portion in a lateral direction of a vehicle body and formed to have a height greater than that of the first kick-up portion, a first seat disposed on the first kick-up portion, a second seat formed to have a smaller size than that of the first seat and disposed on the second kick-up portion, and a cross member joined along the second kick-up portion in the lateral direction to form a closed section therebetween. The auxiliary component includes a first fuel tank arranged below the first kick-up portion, and a second fuel tank formed to have a height greater than that of the first fuel tank and arranged below the second kick-up portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Tohda, Kouji Iwasaka, Katsumasa Sogame, Shigeyuki Mori
  • Patent number: 7097233
    Abstract: A roll bar is provided behind seats of an open car, and there is provided a wind deflector to deflect air flow coming from the vehicle rear during the open-state driving on the roll bar. The wind deflector is configured so as to have air permeability in such a manner that an air permeability rate of its upper section is greater than that of its lower section. Part of air flow passes through the wind deflector. Since the amount of the air flow passing through the lower section of the deflector directed to the neck portion is suppressed compared to the air flow passing through the upper section, both the reducing of the air flow beyond the wind deflector and the suppressing of the passenger feeling displeasure with the air flow (against the neck portion) can be attained, and thereby the passenger can be prevented effectively from feeling displeasure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumasa Sogame, Isao Tohda, Hiroki Ohira, Takaki Nakamura, Yoko Kyubun, Haruo Ohe
  • Patent number: 7000726
    Abstract: An engine positioning structure is used for a rear wheel drive automobile, with an engine mounted in an engine compartment driving the rear wheels. In the automobile having a passenger compartment and the engine compartment, where the two compartments are separated by a dash panel, the engine is positioned so that a rotation axis of the engine is at a position higher than the height of a floor panel of the passenger compartment, and a rear end part of the engine is positioned behind a general plane defined by a position corresponding to the position of a passenger relative to a dash panel. The engine positioning structure enables a retreated layout of the engine to be obtained. It also reduces Yaw moment of inertia, and improves the steering stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Taichi Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Kouhara, Osamu Kishi, Yukio Nakamura, Isao Tohda, Katsumasa Sogame, Masayoshi Sannomiya
  • Publication number: 20050280285
    Abstract: A roll bar is provided behind seats of an open car, and there is provided a wind deflector to deflect air flow coming from the vehicle rear during the open-state driving on the roll bar. The wind deflector is configured so as to have air permeability in such a manner that an air permeability rate of its upper section is greater than that of its lower section. Part of air flow passes through the wind deflector. Since the amount of the air flow passing through the lower section of the deflector directed to the neck portion is suppressed compared to the air flow passing through the upper section, both the reducing of the air flow beyond the wind deflector and the suppressing of the passenger feeling displeasure with the air flow (against the neck portion) can be attained, and thereby the passenger can be prevented effectively from feeling displeasure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsumasa Sogame, Isao Tohda, Hiroki Ohira, Takaki Nakamura, Yoko Kyubun, Haruo Ohe
  • Publication number: 20050140172
    Abstract: A roll bar is provided behind seats of an open car, and there is provided a wind deflector to deflect air flow coming from the vehicle rear during the open-state driving on the roll bar. The wind deflector is configured so as to have air permeability in such a manner that an air permeability rate of its upper section is greater than that of its lower section. Part of air flow passes through the wind deflector, and the passing speed of the air flow passing through its upper section becomes greater than that the air flow passing through its lower section. Accordingly, the air pressure decrease of the upper part of air flow becomes greater, and the whole air flow passing through the wind deflector tends to be directed upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsumasa Sogame, Isao Tohda, Hiroki Ohira, Takaki Nakamura, Yoko Kyubun, Haruo Ohe
  • Publication number: 20050061498
    Abstract: In an air conditioner for a vehicle including a vehicle roof capable of opening, there are provided a driver seat and a passenger seat which are provided at right and left sides in a vehicle compartment, plural conditioned-air blowoff ports provided for the driver seat and the passenger seat respectively, and an air conditioning control device operative to adjust respective characteristics of conditioned air for the driver seat and the passenger seat, separately. Accordingly, needs of each passenger on the driver seat and the passenger seat during a vehicle driving with the vehicle roof open can be attained, thereby improving comfortableness of air conditioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Tohda, Kouji Iwasaka
  • Publication number: 20050011640
    Abstract: A rear air conditioning unit is disposed behind a rear bulkhead separating a rear portion of a passenger compartment. The rear air conditioning unit takes in inside-and-outside air for air conditioning via a rear cowl portion disposed above the rear bulkhead head and blows off conditioned air into the passenger compartment. Accordingly, since a layout of an air conditioning unit disposed at the front side of the vehicle is omitted, an engine as a heavy article can be located at the center side of the vehicle and a yaw inertia moment of the vehicle can be reduced, thereby improving maneuverability and stability of the vehicle and dynamic performance of the vehicle. Further, a layout of the rear air conditioning unit and induction of the inside-and-outside air can be made compatible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Tohda, Kouji Iwasaka, Yukio Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20050006168
    Abstract: In a vehicle, a cowl portion for supporting a front end of a windshield is disposed above the dash panel so as to extend in a width direction of the vehicle, an instrument panel member is located backward away from the cowl portion so as to extend in the width direction of the vehicle above the dash panel, a recess portion is formed in such manner that a central portion of the dash panel in the width direction of the vehicle is recessed backward from the cowl portion to the instrument panel member, and the driving device for the vehicle is disposed in the recess portion such that the driving device is located in front of and close to the instrument panel member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Iwasaka, Isao Tohda, Yukio Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6767044
    Abstract: A roof construction for a vehicle that uncovers a roof space above a passenger compartment of a vehicle body and covers the roof space, partly or fully, comprises a roof assembly, e.g. front, intermediate and rear roof panels, that is movable relatively to the vehicle body in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body so as to selectively shift between three positions, namely a closed position where the roof space is fully closed, a partly open position where the roof space is partly open and a fully open position where the roof space is fully open and a prop link mechanism operative to shift the roof assembly into a selected one of the three positions and to fixedly support the roof assembly in the selected position. During shifting the roof assembly into a selected position, the front and intermediate roof panels are superposed and held horizontally in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Tohda, Haruo Ohe, Kouji Iwasaka
  • Patent number: 6764124
    Abstract: A car body structure for a convertible car that has a folding roof and a transparent windshield covering an front window opening comprises a door opening and closing a door opening in a side body section and a pillar member extending almost vertically from the side body section so as to support each side of the transparent windshield. The pillar member is positioned behind the front window opening so that the transparent windshield extends near besides occupants sitting on a seat of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Tohda, Haruo Ohe, Naohiro Imaoka
  • Patent number: 6702363
    Abstract: A vehicle with a folding hard roof is provided with a rear passenger space between front and rear seats that is suitably expanded by turning a rear seatback forward down and then moving the rear seatback backward so as to receive the folding hard roof retracted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Tohda, Haruo Ohe, Kouji Iwasaka
  • Publication number: 20030201133
    Abstract: An engine positioning structure is used for a rear wheel drive automobile, with an engine mounted in an engine compartment driving the rear wheels. In the automobile having a passenger compartment and the engine compartment, where the two compartments being separated by a dash panel, the engine is positioned so that a rotation axis of the engine is at a position higher than the height of a floor panel of the passenger compartment, and a rear end part of the engine is positioned behind a general plane defined by a position corresponding to the position of a passenger relative to a dash panel. The engine positioning structure enables to obtain retreated layout of the engine. It also reduces Yaw moment of inertia, and improves the steering stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Taichi Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Kouhara, Osamu Kishi, Yukio Nakamura, Isao Tohda, Katsumasa Sogame, Masayoshi Sannomiya
  • Publication number: 20030160475
    Abstract: A vehicle with a folding hard roof is provided with a rear passenger space between front and rear seats that is suitably expanded by turning a rear seatback forward down and then moving the rear seatback backward so as to receive the folding hard roof retracted therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Tohda, Haruo Ohe, Kouji Iwasaka
  • Publication number: 20030057727
    Abstract: A roof construction for a vehicle that uncovers a roof space above a passenger compartment of a vehicle body and covers the roof space, partly or fully, comprises a roof assembly, e.g. front, intermediate and rear roof panels, that is movable relatively to the vehicle body in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body so as to selectively shift between three positions, namely a closed position where the roof space is fully closed, a partly open position where the roof space is partly open and a fully open position where the roof space is fully open and a prop link mechanism operative to shift the roof assembly into a selected one of the three positions and to fixedly support the roof assembly in the selected position. During shifting the roof assembly into a selected position, the front and intermediate roof panels are superposed and held horizontally in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Tohda, Haruo Ohe, Kouji Iwasaka
  • Publication number: 20030030297
    Abstract: A car body structure for a convertible car that has a folding roof and a transparent windshield covering an front window opening comprises a door opening and closing a door opening in a side body section and a pillar member extending almost vertically from the side body section so as to support each side of the transparent windshield. The pillar member is positioned behind the front window opening so that the transparent windshield extends near besides occupants sitting on a seat of the car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isao Tohda, Haruo Ohe, Naohiro Imaoka
  • Patent number: 6447049
    Abstract: A pedestrian protective front body structure for a vehicle includes a front spoiler provided with desired aerodynamic characteristics and disposed with a separation above from a nose front end of the vehicle body and is provided with a buffer which buffers an impact against the front spoiler from above upon an occurrence of a frontal clash with a pedestrian.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Tohda, Yukio Nakamura