Patents by Inventor Kazumi Nagayama

Kazumi Nagayama 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: 11220284
    Abstract: A steering wheel heater includes: a base material that is wound around a steering wheel; a heater wire that generates heat by an electric current flowing through the heater wire; and a sewing thread that is used to sew the heater wire to one surface of the base material. A plurality of through holes that have a diameter smaller than a sewing pitch of stitches of the sewing thread used to sew the heater wire are formed in the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Hyoudou, Tomohisa Hayakawa, Kazumi Nagayama, Yuki Sonoda, Hiroshi Isono
  • Publication number: 20200239060
    Abstract: A steering wheel heater includes: a base material that is wound around a steering wheel; a heater wire that generates heat by an electric current flowing through the heater wire; and a sewing thread that is used to sew the heater wire to one surface of the base material. A plurality of through holes that have a diameter smaller than a sewing pitch of stitches of the sewing thread used to sew the heater wire are formed in the base material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki HYOUDOU, Tomohisa HAYAKAWA, Kazumi NAGAYAMA, Yuki SONODA, Hiroshi ISONO
  • Patent number: 9497801
    Abstract: The seat heater of the present invention comprises: a warming heater provided in a seat section of a seat; a warming heater provided in a back section; an overheating-prevention unit; and a heating unit that heats the overheating-prevention unit, the overheating-prevention unit being configured by a non-return type temperature switch. This configuration allows activating the non-return type overheating-prevention unit prior to reaching an unsafe event, and turns the warming heaters OFF reliably, whereby a seat heater with an aim of implementing both high output and safety can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Nishikawa, Norio Abe, Kazuaki Hioki, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 9457701
    Abstract: A seat heater includes: a base material; and a heater wire disposed on the base material. The base material has a fold-back portion projecting from an edge of the base material where a cutout portion is formed. The heater wire is disposed on the fold-back portion. In a state where the fold-back portion is folded back toward a base material side, a proximal portion of the fold-back portion is positioned inside the edge of the base material. With such a configuration, the seat heater whose temperature elevation performance is not deteriorated can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Yoshimoto, Takaaki Hyoudou, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama, Masaki Hanada
  • Patent number: 9204493
    Abstract: A seat heater includes a seat-warming heater which is connected to a power source and warms a person sitting on a seat, an over-temperature-preventing part which disconnects the connection between the seat-warming heater and the power source when the over-temperature-preventing part is heated to a predetermined temperature so as to prevent over-temperature of the seat-warming heater, and a heater which heats the over-temperature-preventing part, wherein the over-temperature-preventing part is non-return type, and the heater for the over-temperature-preventing part is arranged to cover opposite portions of the over-temperature-preventing part, thereby realizing both higher output and improved safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Yoshimoto, Norio Abe, Masanori Nishikawa, Kazuaki Hioki, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Publication number: 20150298591
    Abstract: A seat heater includes: a base material; and a heater wire disposed on the base material. The base material has a fold-back portion projecting from an edge of the base material where a cutout portion is formed. The heater wire is disposed on the fold-back portion. In a state where the fold-back portion is folded back toward a base material side, a proximal portion of the fold-back portion is positioned inside the edge of the base material. With such a configuration, the seat heater whose temperature elevation performance is not deteriorated can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: KOJI YOSHIMOTO, TAKAAKI HYOUDOU, YOSHIMITSU FUJIWARA, KAZUMI NAGAYAMA, MASAKI HANADA
  • Publication number: 20150108115
    Abstract: A seat heater includes a seat-warming heater which is connected to a power source and warms a person sitting on a seat, an over-temperature-preventing part which disconnects the connection between the seat-warming heater and the power source when the over-temperature-preventing part is heated to a predetermined temperature so as to prevent over-temperature of the seat-warming heater, and a heater which heats the over-temperature-preventing part, wherein the over-temperature-preventing part is non-return type, and the heater for the over-temperature-preventing part is arranged to cover opposite portions of the over-temperature-preventing part, thereby realizing both higher output and improved safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Koji Yoshimoto, Norio Abe, Masanori Nishikawa, Kazuaki Hioki, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 8814262
    Abstract: A vehicle seat heater, which is to be fitted to a vehicle seat, includes a base sheet and a heater wire laid in the base sheet. The heater wire is laid in the base sheet so as not to orthogonally intersect its predicted wrinkle lines R. As a result, disconnections of the heater wire caused by repeated deformations of the vehicle seat heater can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Abe, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazuaki Hioki, Masanori Nishikawa, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Publication number: 20130319991
    Abstract: The seat heater of the present invention comprises: a warming heater provided in a seat section of a seat; a warming heater provided in a back section; an overheating-prevention unit; and a heating unit that heats the overheating-prevention unit, the overheating-prevention unit being configured by a non-return type temperature switch. This configuration allows activating the non-return type overheating-prevention unit prior to reaching an unsafe event, and turns the warming heaters OFF reliably, whereby a seat heater with an aim of implementing both high output and safety can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Nishikawa, Norio Abe, Kazuaki Hioki, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 8450662
    Abstract: A sheet heater structured so that heating wire is fixed to air-passing base material by sewing. This structure can provide a sheet heater that has improved durability of heating wire 2 against the load imposed on the seat during sitting, comfortable feeling of sitting in the seat, and high air-passing capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Yoneyama, Naohito Asami, Akira Shiratake, Norio Abe, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 8439437
    Abstract: A seat with a heating device is provided which realizes a configuration in which the arm, palms and finger tips of a user can easily be warmed when the user uses the seat with the heating device. When the user is seated in a seat with a heating device and feels cold due to it being winter, the user controls a switch to heat the seat, whereby energization of heating elements 3a, 3b, 3c is started which are connected to a power supply via electric wires. When the energization of the heating elements 3a, 3b, 3c is started, heat generated thereby is conducted to skin materials 2a, 2b, 2c and surfaces of the skin materials are warmed. When the user places his or her arm on an armrest portion 5, the arm is warmed via the skin material 2c, whereby the user can feel the sensation of comfortableness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naruaki Akai, Norio Abe, Naohito Asami, Kazuaki Hioki, Koji Yoshimoto, Kazumi Nagayama, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Satoshi Arima, Hideaki Konishi, Hiroyuki Ogino, Ryuta Kondou
  • Patent number: 8278602
    Abstract: A heating element includes a base material and a heater disposed on the base material, which can be deformed to accommodate a part of the heater. A steering wheel equipped with the heating element is free from surface protrusions caused by the heater. Employment of a linear heater reduces connections between the heater and power supply lines, and a high connecting reliability is obtained. The steering wheel includes the heating element and the power lines, and connections between the heating element and the power lines are disposed in the boss portion of the steering wheel. The steering wheel is further provided with a temperature detector, a temperature detector heater and a temperature controller, and the detector and the detector heater are disposed in the boss portion. Thus, a steering wheel with a good grip and a good appearance can be provided at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Yoneyama, Naohito Asami, Akira Shiratake, Norio Abe, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Publication number: 20120228277
    Abstract: A vehicle seat heater 10, which is to be fitted to a vehicle seat 50 and which includes a base seat 12 and a heater wire 14 laid in the base seat 12, has a reinforcing seat 18 attached in a side portion 10b placed in a seat side portion 50c of the vehicle seat 50. Edges of the reinforcing seat 18 have portions 18a extending in back-and-forth directions of the side portion 10b and opposing each other at least on a front side of the side portion 10b, where a laying area for the heater wire 14 is provided between the opposing portions 18a. Thus, disconnections of the heater wire 14 can be suppressed in the side portions 10b of the vehicle seat heater 10 placed in the seat side portions 50c of the vehicle seat 50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norio Abe, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazuaki Hioki, Masanori Nishikawa, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Publication number: 20120228903
    Abstract: A vehicle seat heater 10, which is to be fitted to a vehicle seat 50, includes a base seat 12 and a heater wire 14 laid in the base seat 12. The heater wire 14 is laid in the base seat 12 so as not to orthogonally intersect its predicted wrinkle lines R. As a result, disconnections of the heater wire 14 caused by repeated deformations of the vehicle seat heater 10 can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norio Abe, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazuaki Hioki, Masanori Nishikawa, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Publication number: 20110163576
    Abstract: A seat with a heating device is provided which realizes a configuration in which the arm, palms and finger tips of a user can easily be warmed when the user uses the seat with the heating device. When the user is seated in a seat with a heating device and feels cold due to it being winter, the user controls a switch to heat the seat, whereby energization of heating elements 3a, 3b, 3c is started which are connected to a power supply via electric wires. When the energization of the heating elements 3a, 3b, 3c is started, heat generated thereby is conducted to skin materials 2a, 2b, 2c and surfaces of the skin materials are warmed. When the user places his or her arm on an armrest portion 5, the arm is warmed via the skin material 2c, whereby the user can feel the sensation of comfortableness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naruaki Akai, Norio Abe, Naohito Asami, Kazuaki Hioki, Koji Yoshimoto, Kazumi Nagayama, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Satoshi Arima, Hideaki Konishi, Hiroyuki Ogino, Ryuta Kondou
  • Publication number: 20100224612
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a highly durable sheet-heating element that has flexibility for making a seat more comfortable, that alleviates load stress for a heater wire while being seated, and that prevents the heater wire from being disconnected. Since a sheet-heating element related to the invention has a configuration in which a base member (11) of a sheet-heating element (10) is made of a flexible non-woven, it is possible to obtain flexibility for making the seat more comfortable. Also, since a surface of the base member (11) is subjected to a calender process so as to harden the surface, it is possible to stably obtain a hardness of for preventing a heater wire (12) from being disconnected when the load stress occurs while being seated. Accordingly, it is possible to make the seat more comfortable and to obtain high durability for preventing the heater wire (12) from being disconnected when the load stress occurs while being seated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naohito Asami, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama, Norio Abe
  • Publication number: 20080210048
    Abstract: A heating element includes a base material and a heater disposed on the base material, which can be deformed to accommodate a part of the heater. A steering wheel equipped with the heating element is free from surface protrusions caused by the heater. Employment of a linear heater reduces connections between the heater and power supply lines, and a high connecting reliability is obtained. The steering wheel includes the heating element and the power lines, and connections between the heating element and the power lines are disposed in the boss portion of the steering wheel. The steering wheel is further provided with a temperature detector, a temperature detector heater and a temperature controller, and the detector and the detector heater are disposed in the boss portion. Thus, a steering wheel with a good grip and a good appearance can be provided at a low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Mitsuru YONEYAMA, Naohito Asami, Akira Shiratake, Norio Abe, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Publication number: 20070246456
    Abstract: A sheet heater structured so that heating wire is fixed to air-passing base material by sewing. This structure can provide a sheet heater that has improved durability of heating wire 2 against the load imposed on the seat during sitting, comfortable feeling of sitting in the seat, and high air-passing capability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Yoneyama, Naohito Asami, Akira Shiratake, Norio Abe, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 7244914
    Abstract: A sheet heater structured so that heating wire is fixed to air-passing base material by sewing. This structure can provide a sheet heater that has improved durability of heating wire 2 against the load imposed on the seat during sitting, comfortable feeling of sitting in the seat, and high air-passing capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Yoneyama, Naohito Asami, Akira Shiratake, Norio Abe, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 6969827
    Abstract: A heating element used for a heated seat assembly of the present invention comprises a base material made of hotmelt material, and a linear heater disposed at a predetermined pattern on the base material. The linear heater is fixed by adhesion or sewing onto the base material. In one example of the present invention, the linear heater is characterized in that a plurality of conductors and threads are braided into the linear heater. In another example, a number of threads comprising the linear heater is at least the same with a number of conductors. According to the heating element of the present invention and the method of manufacturing the heated seat assembly according to the present invention, a heated seat assembly with excellent seating comfort and even seat temperature can be obtained, and the heating element is durable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Yoneyama, Naohito Asami, Akira Shiratake, Norio Abe, Kazumi Nagayama