Patents by Inventor Kenichi Niitsuma
Kenichi Niitsuma 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: 20200215938Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat that is rotatable relative to a vehicle body and can prevent a collision between an object located around a seat body and an occupant by airbags. A vehicle seat includes: a seat body (6) supported by a vehicle body (2b) so as to be rotatable around a substantially vertical axis; a pair of airbags (17) provided on either lateral side edge of the seat body and configured to deploy to respective lateral sides of an occupant seated on the seat body; a rotation angle detecting device (15) provided on the seat body and configured to detect a rotation angle of the seat body relative to the vehicle body; and a control device (22) configured to control deploying operation of the respective airbags independently of each other. The deploying operation includes a deploying amount and/or a deploying timing. The control device is configured to individually control the deploying operation of the pair of airbags according to the rotation angle detected by the rotation angle detecting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2018Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Jinichi Tanabe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Hidetoshi Ozawa
-
Publication number: 20200198465Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat that detects an alertness level of the driver, urges the driver to be alert, and permits the transition from autonomous driving to manual driving when the driver is alert enough for the manual driving.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2018Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Jinichi Tanabe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Hidetoshi Ozawa
-
Patent number: 10471861Abstract: A vehicle seat whose state is changeable when a rear load is input to a conveyance includes a rotary member configured to move from an initial position in association with the state change, and a lock pin configured to restrict movement of the rotary member. Where a load on the vehicle seat from an occupant based on the rear load changes according to the occupant's physique, weight, etc., when the load is less than a predetermined value and the rotary member moves from the initial position to reach a first position, the lock pin holds the rotary member at the first position. When the load is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the rotary member, after having reached the first position, moves toward a second position beyond movement restriction by the lock pin, the second position being apart further from the initial position than the first position.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Niitsuma, Naoki Tamura
-
Publication number: 20190283639Abstract: Provided is to stabilize a fixed state of each bag body provided at a vehicle seat and configured to expand to push a corresponding one of the shoulders of a seated passenger. Of a seat back provided at the vehicle seat, each shoulder support configured to support a corresponding one of the shoulders of the seated passenger includes an air cell configured to expand by injection of air. The air cell includes protrusions extending in a predetermined direction and provided at respective end portions of the air bag in the extending direction thereof. The air cell is attached to the inside of the seat back in such a manner that each of the protrusions provided at respective end portions in the extending direction is fixed to a corresponding one of fixing positions separated from each other in the width direction of the vehicle seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka
-
Publication number: 20190217756Abstract: A seating posture is stabilized for the shoulders of a passenger seated on a vehicle seat. A vehicle seat is provided with a seat back configured to support the seated person from the rear. A shoulder support portion of the seat back configured to support a corresponding one of the shoulders of the seated passenger includes an air cell configured to expand when air is supplied. When the air cell expands, one end portion of the shoulder support portion on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle seat moves more forward than the other end portion of the shoulder support portion on the inside in the width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka, Chihiro Muto, Takeshi Ito, Ai Furuta
-
Publication number: 20190184865Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicle seat is provided, comprising: providing a seat back frame; forwardly movably connecting a headrest for supporting a head of a seat occupant to the seat back frame; mounting a rear-end collision detector to the seat back frame at a position behind the seat occupant, operatively connecting the rear-end collision detector to the headrest; disposing a link member at a position lateral to the rear-end collision detector; forming a front extending portion that inwardly extends in a right-to-left direction at a front end of a lateral face of the side frame; and forming a rear extending portion that inwardly extends in the right-to-left direction; wherein a protruding portion is formed from a portion of the lateral face of the side frame that faces at least the part of the bracket, the link support shaft being disposed at a same height as the protruding portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2019Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Misao Omori, Kenichi Niitsuma
-
Patent number: 10315543Abstract: Provided is to stabilize a fixed state of each bag body provided at a vehicle seat and configured to expand to push a corresponding one of the shoulders of a seated passenger. Of a seat back provided at the vehicle seat, each shoulder support configured to support a corresponding one of the shoulders of the seated passenger includes an air cell configured to expand by injection of air. The air cell includes protrusions extending in a predetermined direction and provided at respective end portions of the air bag in the extending direction thereof. The air cell is attached to the inside of the seat back in such a manner that each of the protrusions provided at respective end portions in the extending direction is fixed to a corresponding one of fixing positions separated from each other in the width direction of the vehicle seat.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka
-
Patent number: 10239429Abstract: A seating posture is stabilized for the shoulders of a passenger seated on a vehicle seat. A vehicle seat is provided with a seat back configured to support the seated person from the rear. A shoulder support portion of the seat back configured to support a corresponding one of the shoulders of the seated passenger includes an air cell configured to expand when air is supplied. When the air cell expands, one end portion of the shoulder support portion on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle seat moves more forward than the other end portion of the shoulder support portion on the inside in the width direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka, Chihiro Muto, Takeshi Ito, Ai Furuta
-
Patent number: 10214123Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicle seat is provided, comprising: providing a seat back frame; forwardly movably connecting a headrest for supporting a head of a seat occupant to the seat back frame; mounting a rear-end collision detector to the seat back frame at a position behind the seat occupant, operatively connecting the rear-end collision detector to the headrest; disposing a link member at a position lateral to the rear-end collision detector; forming a front extending portion that inwardly extends in a right-to-left direction at a front end of a lateral face of the side frame; and forming a rear extending portion that inwardly extends in the right-to-left direction; wherein a protruding portion is formed from a portion of the lateral face of the side frame that faces at least the part of the bracket, the link support shaft being disposed at a same height as the protruding portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.Inventors: Misao Omori, Kenichi Niitsuma
-
Publication number: 20180154811Abstract: A seating posture is stabilized for the shoulders of a passenger seated on a vehicle seat. A vehicle seat is provided with a seat back configured to support the seated person from the rear. A shoulder support portion of the seat back configured to support a corresponding one of the shoulders of the seated passenger includes an air cell configured to expand when air is supplied. When the air cell expands, one end portion of the shoulder support portion on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle seat moves more forward than the other end portion of the shoulder support portion on the inside in the width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2018Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka, Chihiro Muto, Takeshi Ito, Ai Furuta
-
Publication number: 20180141475Abstract: A vehicle seat whose state is changeable when a rear load is input to a conveyance includes a rotary member configured to move from an initial position in association with the state change, and a lock pin configured to restrict movement of the rotary member. Where a load on the vehicle seat from an occupant based on the rear load changes according to the occupant's physique, weight, etc., when the load is less than a predetermined value and the rotary member moves from the initial position to reach a first position, the lock pin holds the rotary member at the first position. When the load is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the rotary member, after having reached the first position, moves toward a second position beyond movement restriction by the lock pin, the second position being apart further from the initial position than the first position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2016Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Kenichi Niitsuma, Naoki Tamura
-
Publication number: 20180134188Abstract: A conveyance seat unit lessens a neck load applied to an occupant based on body shape, sex, or the like of the occupant when a rear load acts on a conveyance. The conveyance seat unit includes: a seat having a support portion that supports the occupant from behind; a state adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a state of a neck load adjustment portion, of the support portion, that affects the neck load applied to the occupant when the rear load acts on the conveyance; and an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the state adjustment mechanism. The ECU acquires occupant information on the body and the sex of the occupant and controls the state adjustment mechanism according to the acquired occupant information to change the state of the neck load adjustment portion, which has been adjusted by the state adjustment mechanism, according to the content of the occupant information.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Kenichi Niitsuma, Naoki Tamura
-
Patent number: 9884574Abstract: A seating posture is stabilized for the shoulders of a passenger seated on a vehicle seat. A vehicle seat is provided with a seat back configured to support the seated person from the rear. A shoulder support portion of the seat back configured to support a corresponding one of the shoulders of the seated passenger includes an air cell configured to expand when air is supplied. When the air cell expands, one end portion of the shoulder support portion on the outside in the width direction of the vehicle seat moves more forward than the other end portion of the shoulder support portion on the inside in the width direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka, Chihiro Muto, Takeshi Ito, Ai Furuta
-
Patent number: 9771008Abstract: A seat back structure for a vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention including a headrest, a seat back frame, a pad disposed in front of a surface of the seat back frame, a backrest surface of the pad, and right and left side supports each provided on either side of the backrest surface in a seat width direction, in which a right slit portion and a left slit portion are provided between the backrest surface and the right and the left side supports, respectively, each of the right slit portion and the left slit portion penetrating the pad in the thickness direction of the pad and extending in a vertical direction of the pad, and the right and the left slit portions are spaced apart from each other in the seat width direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2015Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., TS TECH CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoki Matsumoto, Koji Sano, Yoshitomo Oka, Tatsuya Terauchi, Masayuki Yamaguchi, Kenichi Niitsuma
-
Publication number: 20170088029Abstract: Provided is to stabilize a fixed state of each bag body provided at a vehicle seat and configured to expand to push a corresponding one of the shoulders of a seated passenger. Of a seat back provided at the vehicle seat, each shoulder support configured to support a corresponding one of the shoulders of the seated passenger includes an air cell configured to expand by injection of air. The air cell includes protrusions extending in a predetermined direction and provided at respective end portions of the air bag in the extending direction thereof. The air cell is attached to the inside of the seat back in such a manner that each of the protrusions provided at respective end portions in the extending direction is fixed to a corresponding one of fixing positions separated from each other in the width direction of the vehicle seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2015Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka
-
Patent number: 9522617Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat capable of efficiently absorbing impact energy generated upon a rear end collision in a manner such that the vehicle seat is stably deformed at a specific position with respect to a complex input load generated upon a rear end collision. A vehicle seat includes: frame side portions that are located at the right and left sides of a seat back frame and extend in the up to down direction; and frame extension portions that extend from the frame side portions toward the inside in the right and left direction. A connection portion that connects the frame side portions to the frame extension portions is provided with a deformation portion that is deformed when an impact load is applied thereto. The deformation portion is formed adjacent to other deformation portions having deformation characteristics different from that of the deformation portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuichiro Seki, Takaya Kurisu, Kenichi Niitsuma
-
Publication number: 20160250950Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicle seat is provided, comprising: providing a seat back frame; forwardly movably connecting a headrest for supporting a head of a seat occupant to the seat back frame; mounting a rear-end collision detector to the seat back frame at a position behind the seat occupant, operatively connecting the rear-end collision detector to the headrest; disposing a link member at a position lateral to the rear-end collision detector; forming a front extending portion that inwardly extends in a right-to-left direction at a front end of a lateral face of the side frame; and forming a rear extending portion that inwardly extends in the right-to-left direction; wherein a protruding portion is formed from a portion of the lateral face of the side frame that faces at least the part of the bracket, the link support shaft being disposed at a same height as the protruding portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Inventors: Misao Omori, Kenichi Niitsuma
-
Patent number: 9428087Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat bottom frame 2 as a frame of a seat bottom allowing an occupant to sit thereon, and a seat back frame 1 supported by the seat bottom frame 2. The seat back frame 1 includes right and left side frames SF laterally spaced apart from each other, and a lower connecting member 30 disposed and extending between lower portions of the right and left side frames SF and configured to connect the right and left side frames SF, and the lower connecting member 30 includes a rear wall portion connected to and supported by the side frames SF, and a front wall portion 31 disposed frontward of the rear wall portion and extending downward from an upper end of the rear wall portion, and a front surface 31A of the front wall portion 31 has an upper portion and a lower portion which is located frontward of the upper portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.Inventors: Takamasa Adachi, Satoshi Fujita, Kenichi Niitsuma
-
Patent number: 9333886Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicle seat is provided, comprising: providing a seat back frame; forwardly movably connecting a headrest for supporting a head of a seat occupant to the seat back frame; mounting a rear-end collision detector to the seat back frame at a position behind the seat occupant, operatively connecting the rear-end collision detector to the headrest; disposing a link member at a position lateral to the rear-end collision detector; forming a front extending portion that inwardly extends in a right-to-left direction at a front end of a lateral face of the side frame; and forming a rear extending portion that inwardly extends in the right-to-left direction; wherein a protruding portion is formed from a portion of the lateral face of the side frame that faces at least the part of the bracket, the link support shaft being disposed at a same height as the protruding portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.Inventors: Misao Omori, Kenichi Niitsuma
-
Publication number: 20150352985Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat having a high absorbing efficiency of impact energy upon rear end collision. The vehicle seat includes a pair of side frames that are arranged on the side, and lower frames and that connect lower portions of the pair of side frames to each other, in which a narrow portion including: a horizontal portion formed inside the pair of side frames along a longitudinal direction with a flexibility against a load equal to or more than a predetermined impact load, and an inclined portion extending from the horizontal portion via a bent portion inside the pair of side frames is formed on the lower frames.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Yuichiro Seki, Takaya Kurisu, Kenichi Niitsuma