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: 20200215938
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Jinichi Tanabe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Hidetoshi Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20200198465
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Jinichi Tanabe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Hidetoshi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 10471861
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Niitsuma, Naoki Tamura
  • Publication number: 20190283639
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20190217756
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka, Chihiro Muto, Takeshi Ito, Ai Furuta
  • Publication number: 20190184865
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Misao Omori, Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 10315543
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10239429
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka, Chihiro Muto, Takeshi Ito, Ai Furuta
  • Patent number: 10214123
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Misao Omori, Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Publication number: 20180154811
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka, Chihiro Muto, Takeshi Ito, Ai Furuta
  • Publication number: 20180141475
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Kenichi Niitsuma, Naoki Tamura
  • Publication number: 20180134188
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Kenichi Niitsuma, Naoki Tamura
  • Patent number: 9884574
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka, Chihiro Muto, Takeshi Ito, Ai Furuta
  • Patent number: 9771008
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Matsumoto, Koji Sano, Yoshitomo Oka, Tatsuya Terauchi, Masayuki Yamaguchi, Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Publication number: 20170088029
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Kensuke Mizoi, Ryuzaburo Abe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Soichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9522617
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Seki, Takaya Kurisu, Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Publication number: 20160250950
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Misao Omori, Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 9428087
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takamasa Adachi, Satoshi Fujita, Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 9333886
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Misao Omori, Kenichi Niitsuma
  • Publication number: 20150352985
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Yuichiro Seki, Takaya Kurisu, Kenichi Niitsuma