Patents by Inventor Katsutoshi Fukunaga

Katsutoshi Fukunaga 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: 20090212577
    Abstract: A door lock device for a vehicle has a latch mechanism (3) configured to be fixed to a mounting surface (1a) of an end portion of a vehicle door for maintaining the vehicle door in a closed position relative to a vehicle body, said latch mechanism (3) having a latch (32) defining a latch plane; and an operational lever (56) operatively linked to an operational handle (12) provided to the vehicle door and being operatively linked to the latch mechanism for operating the latch mechanism for releasing the vehicle door from the vehicle body; characterized by a locking lever (72) arranged perpendicular to the latch plane such that a side surface of the locking lever (72) faces toward the side panel of the vehicle door, the locking lever operable to allow and disallow operable linkage between the operational lever and the latch mechanism; an emergency operational member (76) arranged to face toward the side panel of the vehicle door and operatively linked to the locking lever; an active lever (71) arranged perpendi
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Takashi Nishio, Akira Muramatsu, Shigeru Tanabe
  • Patent number: 7559586
    Abstract: A door lock apparatus includes: a link member interposed between a latch mechanism and an open lever and selectively operated between an unlock position and a lock position, the unlock position in which an operation of the open lever is transmitted to the latch mechanism, and the lock position in which the operation is not transmitted to the latch mechanism; and a lock operation lever including an active lever and a sub lever, the sub lever configured to operate integrally with the active lever when the link member is switched to the lock position and to cooperate with the active lever via a biasing member when the link member is switched to the unlock position. The lock operation lever is an assembly containing the active lever, the sub lever and the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Sigeru Tanabe, Yukinobu Kunimatsu, Kazuhisa Hidaka
  • Patent number: 7402043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector holding structure in which a connector is held in a door frame, the connector being mated with a mating connector attached to a fulcrum end of a door handle and pivotally held in the door frame. The connector holding structure according to the present invention allows the connector to be smoothly mated with the mating connector while permitting a change in the orientation of the connector caused by a pivoting motion of the door handle. The connector has two projections arranged on each side in a horizontal direction. A door frame has a guide groove extending along a horizontal direction in association with a direction in which the two projections are arranged, and two grooves extending downward from the guide groove in association with the two projections to permit pivoting motion of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP K.K.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Komiyama, Yoshinori Hitomi, Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Yukinobu Kunimatsu
  • Publication number: 20080023971
    Abstract: A door-lock child protecting device capable of preventing a child in a vehicle from opening a door is reduced in size. This device includes an open member (1) being movable in a direction of releasing a door lock, an inside lever (2) for being actuated by an input from an inside handle, a movable operating member (3) for moving the open member (1) in the direction of releasing the door lock, a child protecting member (4) capable of being switched by an operation of an operating portion (41) between a set position to execute child protection and an unset position not to execute child protection, and a base (5). The child protecting member (4) is rectilinearly movable between the set position (S1) and the unset position (S2) and inhibited from being rotated with respect to the base (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN KIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryujiro Akizuki, Satoshi Suzuki, Eiji Torii, Yasuhiko Sono, Atsushi Katsurayama, Shigeru Hayakawa, Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Toshihiro Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7243961
    Abstract: A door lock device for vehicle includes a latch mechanism adapted to be a vehicle door at an inner space of the vehicle door for holding the vehicle door in closing condition against a vehicle body and sifted between an engaging condition and a disengaging condition, a link mechanism for shifts the latch mechanism from the engaging condition to the disengaging condition by an operation of a door handle mechanism which includes a handle member and a frame member arranged in the inner space of the vehicle door for supports the handle member to the vehicle door and connection means for detachably connected with the frame member of the door handle mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Shigehiro Oya, Akira Muramatsu, Yukinobu Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 7210715
    Abstract: A door handle device includes a frame fixed to the inside of an outer panel of a vehicle door and a grip provided on the frame from the outside of a vehicle and including an electrical component. The frame is integrally provided with a circuit electrically connected to the electrical component. The door handle device further includes a chassis integrally formed with the frame, and the circuit is provided within the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norikazu Kobayashi, Yuichi Murakami, Koji Aoki, Katsutoshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7192016
    Abstract: A torsion spring assembling construction includes a base member including an engaging hole, a movable member rotatably supported at the base member and rotatable about an axis for defining a first position and a second position, a long hole formed at the movable member, a torsion spring, and a fixed guide for setting a second end of the torsion spring at the second hole by moving the second end of the torsion spring from the first hole to the second hole upon rotation of the movable member. A first end of the torsion spring is inserted into the engaging hole and a second end of the torsion spring is inserted into the long hole. The long hole includes a first hole extended diagonally radial direction relative to the axis and a second hole in communication with the first hole relative to the radially external direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Takashi Nishio, Sigeru Tanabe, Akira Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 7140653
    Abstract: A vehicle door outside handle apparatus includes a handle frame fixed to a vehicle door, a handle portion supported on the handle frame, at least one electrical component housed in the handle portion, a handle-side connected portion provided at the handle portion and electrically connected to the at least one electrical component housed in the handle portion, and a frame-side connected portion provided at the handle frame. The frame-side connected portion is adapted to be engaged with the handle-side connected portion. The frame-side connected portion can be then electrically connected with the handle-side connected portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norikazu Kobayashi, Koji Aoki, Koichi Hirota, Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Yoshimi Nakatani, Masayuki Ohtsugu, Megumi Nakakura
  • Publication number: 20060186676
    Abstract: A door lock apparatus includes: a link member interposed between a latch mechanism and an open lever and selectively operated between an unlock position and a lock position, the unlock position in which an operation of the open lever is transmitted to the latch mechanism, and the lock position in which the operation is not transmitted to the latch mechanism; and a lock operation lever including an active lever and a sub lever, the sub lever configured to operate integrally with the active lever when the link member is switched to the lock position and to cooperate with the active lever via a biasing member when the link member is switched to the unlock position. The lock operation lever is an assembly containing the active lever, the sub lever and the biasing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Sigeru Tanabe, Yukinobu Kunimatsu, Kazuhisa Hidaka
  • Patent number: 7063360
    Abstract: A door lock device includes a latch mechanism selectively engaging with a striker, an open unit operating at a plane surface perpendicular to one direction for transmitting an opening operational force from a vehicle inside and from a vehicle outside to operate the latch mechanism from an engaged state with the striker to the disengaged state from the striker, and a lock unit operating at a plane surface perpendicular to said one direction for transmitting an operational force to the open unit for operating the open unit to be an unlocked state for transmitting the opening operational force to the latch mechanism and a locked state not for transmitting the opening operational force to the latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Shigehiro Oya, Akira Muramatsu, Yukinobu Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 7048313
    Abstract: A latch mechanism includes a first base plate, a second base plate facing to the first base plate and having a first base portion, a second base portion, and a recess provided between the first base portion and the second base portion. The latch mechanism further includes a latch rotating relative to a first shaft supported by the first base plate and the first base portion and including an arm portion extending from the first base portion side toward the second base portion side when positioned in a predetermined rotating position thereof, a pawl rotating relative to a second shaft supported by the first base plate and the second base plate, and engaging with the arm portion when the latch is in the predetermined rotating position, and a connecting member connecting the first base plate with the second base plate, and provided at the second shaft side relative to a base line extending along the arm portion when the latch is in the predetermined rotating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Shigehiro Oya, Akira Muramatsu, Yukinobu Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 7021681
    Abstract: A door lock device includes a latch mechanism, a lift lever, an open lever, a lock lever including a main lever and a sub lever mounted on the main lever so as to relatively rotate thereto, a biasing member disposed between the main lever and the sub lever, and an open member. When the open member is in the unlocked position, the open member engages with the lift lever by an operation of the open lever in one direction thereby allowing the lift lever operable. When the open member is in the locked position, the open member idly engages with the lift lever by the operation of the open lever and then becomes engaged with the lift lever in the other direction thereby prohibiting the lift lever operable when the open member is switched to the unlocked position from the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayakawa, Ryujiro Akizuki, Norio Konomoto, Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Akira Muramatsu, Makoto Suzumura, Takeshi Yasuda, Kan Ichihara
  • Patent number: 7018214
    Abstract: A handle device includes a handle grip member including a front arm portion, a transmitting connector fixed to the front arm portion, a receiving connector to be connected to the transmitting connector, a handle frame member to be assembled to the handle grip member, the front arm portion to be positioned inside the handle frame member, a position-determining projection portion formed on a side of a front end portion of the front arm portion, a fixing groove formed on each of top and bottom surfaces of a front end of the front arm portion, a direction determining projection portion formed on each of top and bottom surfaces of the handle frame member, a slot formed on the handle frame member, a guide formed inside the slot, a guide projection portion formed inside the handle frame member, and a fixing projection portion to be fixed to the fixing groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Yukinobu Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 6951355
    Abstract: A door lock system for a vehicle includes a latch mechanism, a link mechanism and a housing. The latch mechanism is adapted to a vehicle door and latches the vehicle door to a vehicle body. The link mechanism includes an electric driving source and a plurality of lever members for selectively locking and unlocking the latch mechanism. The housing accommodates the latch mechanism and the link mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayakawa, Hiroshi Ban, Norio Konomoto, Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Patent number: 6945574
    Abstract: A door lock system for a vehicle includes a) a latch mechanism which is adapted to a vehicle door and which holds the vehicle door to a vehicle body, b) an open link which is engagable and disengagable with the latch mechanism, c) a swing lever which is connected to the open link, d) an electric driving source having a gear member, and e) a rotary gear member which is arranged between the swing lever and the electric driving source so as to be meshed with the gear member of the electric driving source. The rotary gear member is directly and engagably connected to the swing lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayakawa, Hiroshi Ban, Norio Konomoto, Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Patent number: 6938446
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock apparatus includes a lever mechanism directly connected with a key cylinder provided at the outside door handle for locking and unlocking the vehicle door in response to rotation operation of the key cylinder. The lever mechanism is provided with a key rotor directly connected with the key cylinder, and a key lever directly connected with the key rotor. An input shaft of the lever mechanism formed by the key rotor is inclinable relative to an output shaft of the lever mechanism formed by the key lever, and this inclination is absorbed through the connection between the key rotor and the key lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Ryujiro Akizuki, Norio Konomoto, Akira Muramatsu, Shigeru Hayakawa, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Publication number: 20050136697
    Abstract: A handle device includes a handle grip member including a front arm portion, a transmitting connector fixed to the front arm portion, a receiving connector to be connected to the transmitting connector, a handle frame member to be assembled to the handle grip member, the front arm portion to be positioned inside the handle frame member, a position-determining projection portion formed on a side of a front end portion of the front arm portion, a fixing groove formed on each of top and bottom surfaces of a front end of the front arm portion, a direction determining projection portion formed on each of top and bottom surfaces of the handle frame member, a slot formed on the handle frame member, a guide formed inside the slot, a guide projection portion formed inside the handle frame member, and a fixing projection portion to be fixed to the fixing groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Yukinobu Kunimatsu
  • Publication number: 20050093215
    Abstract: A torsion spring assembling construction includes a base member including an engaging hole, a movable member rotatably supported at the base member and rotatable about an axis for defining a first position and a second position, a long hole formed at the movable member, a torsion spring, and a fixed guide for setting a second end of the torsion spring at the second hole by moving the second end of the torsion spring from the first hole to the second hole upon rotation of the movable member. A first end of the torsion spring is inserted into the engaging hole and a second end of the torsion spring is inserted into the long hole. The long hole includes a first hole extended diagonally radial direction relative to the axis and a second hole in communication with the first hole relative to the radially external direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Takashi Nishio, Sigeru Tanabe, Akira Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20050077737
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector attached to a fulcrum end of a pivotal door handle and into which wiring extending from a sensor is introduced, the sensor being built into the door handle to detect a predetermined signal from surroundings, the connector having a contact connected to the wiring. The present invention reliably prevents water from infiltrating into the connector and eliminates the necessity to also replace the door handle when the connector is replaced. The connector includes paired latch arms provided on respective sides of the door handle and which can be installed in and removed from the door handle; and a seal member provided at a port through which wiring is introduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: Ryuichi Komiyama, Yoshinori Hitomi, Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Yukinobu Kunimatsu
  • Publication number: 20050050842
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector holding structure in which a connector is held in a door frame, the connector being mated with a mating connector attached to a fulcrum end of a door handle and pivotally held in the door frame. The connector holding structure according to the present invention allows the connector to be smoothly mated with the mating connector while permitting a change in the orientation of the connector caused by a pivoting motion of the door handle. The connector has two projections arranged on each side in a horizontal direction. A door frame has a guide groove extending along a horizontal direction in association with a direction in which the two projections are arranged, and two grooves extending downward from the guide groove in association with the two projections to permit pivoting motion of the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Ryuichi Komiyama, Yoshinori Hitomi, Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Yukinobu Kunimatsu