Patents by Inventor Katutada Shirai
Katutada 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: 6971776Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a reflector tiltably supported by an aiming mechanism intervening between the reflector and a lamp body. An aiming fulcrum forming the aiming mechanism is formed with a ball joint including a pivot on the reflector side and a bearing on the lamp body side. The pivot is formed with a shaft portion on the base end side and a ball portion on the front end side. The bearing is formed with a cylindrical ball bearing portion formed on the inner periphery where a ball supporting surface in press-contact with the ball portion opening forward via a ring-like diameter reducing portion. Vertical slits are provided in the open peripheral edge portion of the ball bearing portion. The ball portion is formed into a substantially hemispheric ball portion such that its front side press-fitted into the ball bearing portion has a spherical surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Tomita, Yosiaki Aiso, Ken Matsuoka, Katutada Shirai
-
Patent number: 6871989Abstract: A headlamp includes a lamp housing defining a lamp body and a front lens. A reflector is accommodated in the lamp housing and a light source is attached thereto. An aiming mechanism tiltably supports the reflector relative to the lamp body, and includes an aiming fulcrum, aiming screws, and nut members attached to the reflector. The nut members are guided by sliding guides in the lamp body, and stress releasing devices having a ball-and-socket joint structure are provided in an attachment portion of the nut members and brackets. A ball portion of a ball-and-socket joint is formed in a nut member body itself provided with a female screw portion, a slider supported by the sliding guides is formed integrally with a side of the ball portion, and the ball portion is supported on a ball receiving portion of bearings attached to the brackets.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideaki Nakazawa, Takeyuki Tachiiwa, Norihiro Nishitani, Katutada Shirai
-
Patent number: 6746142Abstract: A headlamp for an automobile includes a lamp body, a light source, a reflector, and an aiming mechanism. The aiming mechanism includes a screw insertion hole and an aiming screw operable to move the reflector by pivoting the aiming screw. The aiming screw includes a supported portion supported by the screw insertion hole, a male screw portion forward from the supported portion, and a pivotal movement operating force transmitted portion rearward from the supported portion. A front end side of the supported portion includes an elastic locking portion operable to pass through the screw insertion hole by being deformed elastically to an inner side in a radial direction, and a rear end side of the supported portion is integrally formed with an elastic rib brought into press contact with a peripheral edge portion on a rear end side of the screw insertion hole to fixedly position the aiming screw.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Katutada Shirai
-
Patent number: 6637919Abstract: A reflector movable type headlamp for an automobile includes a lamp body, a reflector, and an aiming mechanism. The aiming mechanism includes: a screw insertion hole; an aiming fulcrum constituting an inclining fulcrum of the reflector; an aiming screw; a bracket formed at the reflector; a nut member operable to be extracted and retracted in a front and rear direction in cooperation with the pivotal movement of the aiming screw; and a nut sliding guide integrally and extendedly formed with the lamp body. A mounting portion of the nut member and the bracket is provided with stress relieving means. The stress relieving means includes a ball and socket joint structure. The nut sliding guide is provided at a position offset to a side position of a position of arranging the aiming screw on a side opposed to the aiming fulcrum.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2001Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Katutada Shirai
-
Publication number: 20030117810Abstract: A compact reflector movable type headlamp which can reliably prevent the vibration of a reflector, can maintain the smooth rotation of an aiming screw, and furthermore, can prevent the shape of the reflector and the structure of a mold for reflector molding from being complicated. The headlamp includes a lamp body and a front lens which constitute a lamp housing. A reflector is accommodated in the lamp housing to which a light source attaches. An aiming mechanism serves to tiltably support the reflector with respect to the lamp body. The aiming mechanism is constituted by an aiming fulcrum, aiming screws, and nut members attached to the reflector and screwed into the aiming screws. The nut members are guided by sliding guides formed in the lamp body, and stress releasing means having a ball-and-socket joint structure are provided in an attachment portion of the nut members and brackets.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideaki Nakazawa, Takeyuki Tachiiwa, Norihiro Nishitani, Katutada Shirai
-
Publication number: 20030112636Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a reflector tiltably supported by an aiming mechanism intervening between the reflector and a lamp body. An aiming fulcrum forming the aiming mechanism is formed with a ball joint including a pivot on the reflector side and a bearing on the lamp body side. The pivot is formed with a shaft portion on the base end side and a ball portion on the front end side. The bearing is formed with a cylindrical ball bearing portion formed on the inner periphery where a ball supporting surface in press-contact with the ball portion opening forward via a ring-like diameter reducing portion. Vertical slits are provided in the open peripheral edge portion of the ball bearing portion. The ball portion is formed into a substantially hemispheric ball portion such that its front side press-fitted into the ball bearing portion has a spherical surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2002Publication date: June 19, 2003Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kenji Tomita, Yosiaki Aiso, Ken Matsuoka, Katutada Shirai
-
Patent number: 6481879Abstract: A head lamp with a movable reflector. The headlamp includes a lamp body, a reflector with a light source mounted thereon, and an aiming mechanism interposed between the lamp body and the reflector (14) for tiltably supporting the reflector (14) with respect to the lamp body. The reflector tilts by the rotational movement of the aiming screw which is rotatably supported in a screw insertion hole formed on the lamp body. The screw insertion hole is formed by a tubular portion, and the front portion of the tubular portion includes divided swinging strips (53) which are resiliently deformable in the radial direction. The swinging strips engage with an engaging groove formed on the aiming screw to prevent the aiming screw from being detached from the lamp body. The aiming screw includes a rotatably supported portion formed of resin, a male screw portion, and a gear portion behind the rotatably supported portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2000Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katutada Shirai, Kihachiro Uchida
-
Publication number: 20020085386Abstract: A reflector movable type headlamp for an automobile includes a lamp body, a reflector, and an aiming mechanism. The aiming mechanism includes: a screw insertion hole; an aiming fulcrum constituting an inclining fulcrum of the reflector; an aiming screw; a bracket formed at the reflector; a nut member operable to be extracted and retracted in a front and rear direction in cooperation with the pivotal movement of the aiming screw; and a nut sliding guide integrally and extendedly formed with the lamp body. A mounting portion of the nut member and the bracket is provided with stress relieving means. The stress relieving means includes a ball and socket joint structure. The nut sliding guide is provided at a position offset to a side position of a position of arranging the aiming screw on a side opposed to the aiming fulcrum.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2001Publication date: July 4, 2002Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Katutada Shirai
-
Publication number: 20020085385Abstract: A headlamp for an automobile includes a lamp body, a light source, a reflector, and an aiming mechanism. The aiming mechanism includes a screw insertion hole and an aiming screw operable to move the reflector by pivoting the aiming screw. The aiming screw includes a supported portion supported by the screw insertion hole, a male screw portion forward from the supported portion, and a pivotal movement operating force transmitted portion rearward from the supported portion. A front end side of the supported portion includes an elastic locking portion operable to pass through the screw insertion hole by being deformed elastically to an inner side in a radial direction, and a rear end side of the supported portion is integrally formed with an elastic rib brought into press contact with a peripheral edge portion on a rear end side of the screw insertion hole to fixedly position the aiming screw.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2001Publication date: July 4, 2002Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTDInventor: Katutada Shirai
-
Patent number: 6315438Abstract: A vehicle headlamp of a movable reflector type comprising a lamp body, a reflector having a lamp, and an aiming mechanism disposed between the lamp body and the reflector and structured so as to support the reflector and adjust the angle of the reflector with respect to the lamp body when aiming screws mounted in screw insertion holes of the lamp body are turned; and a portion of each of the aiming screws which is installed in and supported by the screw insertion hole is made of plastic, and annular elastic waterproofing ribs are formed on the plastic portion of the aiming screw so as to be brought into a sliding contact with the inner surface of the screw insertion hole, thus securing a waterproofing capability for the vehicle headlamp.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1999Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katutada Shirai, Takashi Matsunaga
-
Patent number: 6299335Abstract: In a vehicular head lamp wherein a synthetic resin reflector having a light source is tiltably supported in a synthetic resin lamp body by an aiming mechanism interposed between the reflector and the lamp body, an elastic engagement strip which projects forwards and has a side surface provided with an engagement concave portion, is formed integrally with an interior of the lamp body, and an engagement convex portion that can engage the engagement concave portion of the lamp body is formed integrally with a back face of the reflector. The engagement convex portion is brought to engage the engagement concave portion so that the engaged engagement convex and concave portions constitute an aiming fulcrum.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 1999Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katutada Shirai, Yoshio Suehiro
-
Patent number: 6234655Abstract: A reflector 20 installed in a lamp body 10 of a headlamp is supported by an aiming mechanism E1 in such a way as to adjustably tilt the reflector 20. The aiming mechanism E1 includes one ball joint 13 which is held between the reflector 20 and the lamp body 10, two aiming screws 16 and 18 which are each rotatably supported by the lamp body 10, and nut members 17 and 19 which are each screwed onto the aiming screws 16 and 18 and integrally fitted to the reflector 20. The reflector 20 is fitted with a light-distribution switching mechanism F1 for alternatively switching between light distribution for a low beam and light distribution for a high beam. Each of the nut members 17 and 19 is carried by a pair of vertically opposed horizontal ribs 52 and 52 extendedly formed in the lamp body 10 so that a reflector-side load (weight) acting on the aiming mechanism E1 is reduced to ensure smooth aiming and the formation of adequate light distribution.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1999Date of Patent: May 22, 2001Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshio Suehiro, Katutada Shirai
-
Patent number: 6017137Abstract: An automobile headlamp is equipped with a lamp body that can deal with different aiming specifications. An automobile headlamp such that a light source unit in a lamp body is made tiltable vertically and horizontally by an aiming mechanism, and rotatable portions of a vertical and a horizontal aiming screw as members of the aiming mechanism, are provided outside the lamp body, so that these rotatable portions are turned to adjust the light source unit by tilting the light source vertically and horizontally. A cap can be fitted to the rotatable portion of at least the horizontal adjustable aiming screw in order to cover the rotatable portion thereof where horizontal aiming is unnecessary according to specifications applicable to the headlamp. Thus, horizontal aiming is made ineffective by not allowing a rotatable tool to engage with the rotatable portion of the horizontal aiming screw.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1998Date of Patent: January 25, 2000Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshio Suehiro, Masahiro Kusagaya, Katutada Shirai
-
Patent number: 5951157Abstract: In an automobile headlamp, a light source unit in a lamp body is inclined vertically and horizontally with an aiming mechanism, the rotating operation sections of a vertical aiming screw and a horizontal aiming screw which form the aiming mechanism are provided outside of the lamp body, and the rotating operation sections are turned to incline the light source unit vertically and horizontally. In the automobile headlamp, a protruding wall is extended at least at the horizontal aiming screw in such a manner as to surround the rotating operation section of the horizontal aiming screw, and a part of the protruding wall extending end portion is integrated through a thin hinge with a lid, namely, a tongue-shaped plate in such a manner that the latter is extended in the same direction as the protruding wall.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1997Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katutada Shirai, Yoshio Suehiro
-
Patent number: 5765942Abstract: An outer lens attachment structure in which a lamp body is integrally formed with an engagement device having an engagement piece member which is bent inwardly of an opening part of the lamp body to be engaged therewith, and when the engagement piece member is depressed to be bent inwardly, the engagement piece member urges the peripheral part of the outer lens against the opening periphery of the lamp body so that the peripheral part of the outer lens is securely held between the engagement piece member and the opening periphery of the lamp body.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1996Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katutada Shirai, Takashi Matsunaga, Hironori Tsukamoto
-
Patent number: 5758943Abstract: The headlamp is structured such that a reflector 4 is supported within a lamp body 2 so as to be inclinable with respect to the lamp body 2 and, by rotatively operating an aiming screw 20 which extends through and forwardly of the lamp body 2 and is supported rotatable in the extend-through portion thereof, the reflector 4 is inclined right and left with respect to the lamp body 2 by an amount equivalent to the amount of rotation of the aiming screw 20 to thereby be able to adjusted the right and left illumination angle of the headlamp.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1995Date of Patent: June 2, 1998Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katutada Shirai, Hironori Tsukamoto
-
Patent number: 5746559Abstract: A self-locking nut fitted into a fitting hole of a reflector with which an aiming screw engages for adjusting an inclination angle of a reflector of a vehicular lamp, the self-locking nut comprising: a nut leading portion having slits extending in radius direction; a flange arranged below said nut leading portion; a fitting portion formed below said flange, said fitting portion having slits extending in radius direction and a pair of legs for fitting into the fitting hole of the reflector, said pair of legs being elastically expandable and having a wedge shape; a shaft hole having an inner surface, said shaft hole passing through the nut leading portion, the flange and the fitting portion in vertical direction; and a threaded portion formed on the inner surface of said shaft hole engageable with the aiming screw, the threaded portion comprising: first grooves extending from said slit of said fitting portion; second grooves positioned perpendicular to said slit of said fitting portion; a divided circumferentiaType: GrantFiled: June 18, 1996Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Katutada Shirai
-
Patent number: 5678915Abstract: A reflector with an electric lighting bulb mounted thereto is coupled to a lamp body via a ball-and-socket connection and a vertical and a horizontal aiming screw. Each aiming screw comprises a threaded shank engaged with a nut on the back of the reflector, a journal joined to the threaded shank and rotatably received in a bearing sleeve formed on the lamp body, and a head portion joined to the journal and projecting rearwardly from the bearing sleeve. The aiming screw is formed to include two collars for engaging the bearing sleeve therebetween and so the aiming screw is restrained from axial displacement relative to the sleeve. The diameters of the various parts of the aiming screw and of the bearing sleeve are so determined in relation to one another that, in the assemblage of the headlamp, the aiming screw can be inserted, with its head portion foremost, into and through the bearing sleeve from inside the lamp body, either before or after coupling the aiming screw to the reflector via the nut.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1995Date of Patent: October 21, 1997Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katutada Shirai, Yoshio Suehiro, Hironori Tsukamoto
-
Patent number: 5660455Abstract: An automotive headlamp having a tilt measuring device for measuring an amount of horizontal tilt of a reflector is mounted between an aiming screw and a guide member extending parallel to the aiming screw. The aiming screw is supported by a lamp body. By turning (or moving back and forth) the aiming screw, the reflector is tilted in the horizontal direction. The tilt measuring device includes a slide member loosely coupled to the aiming screw and slidable along a guide member, a screw holding member functioning such that when the screw holding member grasps the aiming screw in proximity to the slide member, the sliding motion of the slide member is associated with the rotation (or the back and forth movement) of the aiming screw, and when the screw holding member is retracted to the side of the aiming screw, the coupling of the slide member with the aiming screw is released, a cursor provided on the slide member, and a scale provided on the guide member.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 1995Date of Patent: August 26, 1997Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hironori Tsukamoto, Katutada Shirai
-
Patent number: 5546283Abstract: In vehicular headlamp an adjusting shaft is provided in a lamp housing for adjusting the irradiating angle of the headlamp. The adjusting shaft is threadedly joined to a nut formed with a threaded hole and a notch which opens the threaded hole into a side surface. The threaded shaft portion of the adjusting shaft is engaged with the threaded hole through the notch.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1994Date of Patent: August 13, 1996Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasushi Ohtsuka, Katutada Shirai, Ken Matsuoka, Yoshio Suehiro, Hideki Ohashi