Patents by Inventor Katsutada Shirai

Katsutada Shirai 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: 6543916
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp with a movable reflector in which suitable aiming is possible using an aiming screw made from synthetic resin. The headlamp includes a synthetic resin lamp body and synthetic resin front lens that define a lamp compartment is which a reflector carrying a light source is housed. An aiming mechanism is disposed between the lamp body and the reflector and that supports the reflector such that it may be tilted relative to the lamp body. The aiming mechanism includes an aiming fulcrum that forms a tilt fulcrum for the reflector, a synthetic resin screw that extends forward and is rotatably supported in the screw insertion hole of the lamp body, and a synthetic resin nut member attached to a bracket formed on the reflector that meshes with the screw and is moved forward or backward in connection with the rotation of the screw. A nut slide guide carrying the nut member and supporting it so that it can slide forward and backward is integrally formed with the lamp body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsutada Shirai
  • Publication number: 20010036080
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp with a movable reflector in which suitable aiming is possible using an aiming screw made from synthetic resin. The headlamp includes a synthetic resin lamp body and synthetic resin front lens that define a lamp compartment is which a reflector carrying a light source is housed. An aiming mechanism is disposed between the lamp body and the reflector and that supports the reflector such that it may be tilted relative to the lamp body. The aiming mechanism includes an aiming fulcrum that forms a tilt fulcrum for the reflector, a synthetic resin screw that extends forward and is rotatably supported in the screw insertion hole of the lamp body, and a synthetic resin nut member attached to a bracket formed on the reflector that meshes with the screw and is moved forward or backward in connection with the rotation of the screw. A nut slide guide carrying the nut member and supporting it so that it can slide forward and backward is integrally formed with the lamp body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventor: Katsutada Shirai
  • Patent number: 5029051
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp provided with a leveling gauge for determining whether or not the angle of irradiation of the light beam emitted by the headlamp is properly oriented in upward and downward directions which permits easy adjustment of the angle of irradiation of the headlamp beam. In the case of a movable reflector type headlamp, the headlamp is provided with a leveling gauge for measuring the amount of inclination of the irradiating angle of the headlamp in the upward and downward directions having a casing mounted on the upper wall area of the reflector in the front part of the headlamp unit in such a manner as to permit observation thereof through the exterior wall of the headlamp lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutada Shirai, Hideharu Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 5003436
    Abstract: A headlight apparatus including a lamp body having a recess being open in the front direction and a lens covering the front opening of the recess, and a reflective mirror tiltably mounted on the lamp body. Two spaced apart adjust shafts are respectively supported rotatively on the lamp body with the rear end portions thereof projecting from the rear surface of the lamp body, and screw-thread portions are formed respectively on the front portions of the adjust shafts to engage with nuts respectively. The nuts have respectively on the outer side surfaces resilient retaining pieces for snappingly engaging with respective mounting members which are mounted on the reflective mirror. A ball joint connection is formed between the reflective mirror and the lamp body at the position spaced apart respectively from respective adjust shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Koito Menufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Yamada, Yukio Yonezawa, Katsutada Shirai
  • Patent number: 4951178
    Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle which can selectively be used as an ordinary headlight or a fog light. A yellow cover is slidably mounted slidable along the axial direction of the bulb of the headlight so that it can be moved between a position where is surrounds the bulb, in which light emitted by the bulb must pass through the cover before reaching the reflector, and a position where the light from the bulb can proceed directly to the reflector without passing through the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Koito Manfacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutada Shirai, Yasushi Otsuka