Patents by Inventor Kenichi Nitsuma

Kenichi Nitsuma 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: 10011201
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat which has a simple structure, prevents the lower back region of an occupant from sinking into the seat back, induces backward rotation of the entire upper body when a rear-end collision occurs, and reduces the degree to which the neck region of the occupant independently tilts backward, and is therefore able to effectively reduce the load on the neck region and so on of the occupant. A vehicle seat is provided with a neck-burden reduction element that, during a rear-end collision, causes a greater amount of backward movement of a connection point between the neck region and a torso region of the occupant than the amount of backward movement of a lower torso region of the occupant, and causes an upper torso region of the occupant to sink into the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nitsuma, Masaya Furuta
  • Publication number: 20160096453
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat which has a simple structure, prevents the lower back region of an occupant from sinking into the seat back, induces backward rotation of the entire upper body when a rear-end collision occurs, and reduces the degree to which the neck region of the occupant independently tilts backward, and is therefore able to effectively reduce the load on the neck region and so on of the occupant. A vehicle seat is provided with a neck-burden reduction element that, during a rear-end collision, causes a greater amount of backward movement of a connection point between the neck region and a torso region of the occupant than the amount of backward movement of a lower torso region of the occupant, and causes an upper torso region of the occupant to sink into the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Kenichi Nitsuma, Masaya Furuta
  • Patent number: 9211819
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat which has a simple structure, prevents the lower back region of an occupant from sinking into the seat back, induces backward rotation of the entire upper body when a rear-end collision occurs, and reduces the degree to which the neck region of the occupant independently tilts backward, and is therefore able to effectively reduce the load on the neck region and so on of the occupant. A vehicle seat is provided with a neck-burden reduction element that, during a rear-end collision, causes a greater amount of backward movement of a connection point between the neck region and a torso region of the occupant than the amount of backward movement of a lower torso region of the occupant, and causes an upper torso region of the occupant to sink into the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nitsuma, Masaya Furuta
  • Publication number: 20150091347
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat which has a simple structure, prevents the lower back region of an occupant from sinking into the seat back, induces backward rotation of the entire upper body when a rear-end collision occurs, and reduces the degree to which the neck region of the occupant independently tilts backward, and is therefore able to effectively reduce the load on the neck region and so on of the occupant. A vehicle seat is provided with a neck-burden reduction element that, during a rear-end collision, causes a greater amount of backward movement of a connection point between the neck region and a torso region of the occupant than the amount of backward movement of a lower torso region of the occupant, and causes an upper torso region of the occupant to sink into the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichi Nitsuma, Masaya Furuta
  • Patent number: 8911014
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat which has a simple structure, prevents the lower back region of an occupant from sinking into the seat back, induces backward rotation of the entire upper body when a rear-end collision occurs, and reduces the degree to which the neck region of the occupant independently tilts backward, and is therefore able to effectively reduce the load on the neck region and so on of the occupant. A vehicle seat is provided with a neck-burden reduction element that, during a rear-end collision, causes a greater amount of backward movement of a connection point between the neck region and a torso region of the occupant than the amount of backward movement of a lower torso region of the occupant, and causes an upper torso region of the occupant to sink into the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nitsuma, Masaya Furuta
  • Patent number: 8727438
    Abstract: A seat back frame and associated vehicle seat are provided for effectively reducing an input load applied onto a reclining mechanism at the time of rear surface collision, the frame and seat having an energy absorbing member fixed to a coupling portion of a lower frame for coupling left and right side frames on the lower side. Since the energy absorbing member is plastically deformable by pressing from the backrest front surface side, the energy absorbing member absorbs shock energy at the time of the rear surface collision to reduce an input load imposed onto a reclining mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nitsuma
  • Patent number: 8714654
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seatback frame forming a seatback of a vehicle seat that comprises a pair of side frame sections composed of pipe shaped members at least in part, separated from each other in a lateral direction, and extended in a vertical direction, and comprises an upper frame for interconnecting upper sides of the pair of side frame sections. Flat sections each deformed outward in the lateral direction to reduce the lateral thickness thereof are formed in portions of the pair of side frame sections where their respective pipe shaped members are opposed to each other. Thus, the distance between the pair of side frame sections can be increased without changing lateral dimensions of the seatback frame, allowing an occupant to more smoothly sink into the seatback from the backrest front surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nitsuma
  • Patent number: 8708409
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided that includes a seat back frame, a headrest, a pressure receiving member that moves independently from the headrest, and pivoting members that are disposed in at least one of both side portions of the seat back frame, are linked to the pressure receiving member, and move independently from the headrest under a predetermined impact load. The pivoting members are linked via coupling members to a biasing element that biases the pressure receiving member toward the front of the seat back frame. The force that restores the pivoting members into an initial state is greatest during normal seating, and covers a range in which the force decreases when the pivoting members move due to a rear-end collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nitsuma
  • Patent number: 8678494
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat that includes a seat back frame having a pair of side frames disposed in a spaced manner in the right and left direction, a plate-like support body disposed between the pair of side frames to receive a load placed by the rearward movement of a passenger, a transmission section connecting the plate-like support body to a headrest via a link mechanism, and a holding member disposed in the link mechanism. The holding member is disposed at a position separating from a rotating shaft of a lower link by a predetermined distance to connect the lower link to the side frame, and keeps the distance between the lower link and the side frame at a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nitsuma
  • Patent number: 8632126
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided that includes a seat back frame, a headrest, a pressure receiving member that supports the body of the occupant and moves independently from the headrest, and pivoting members that are disposed in at least one of side portions of the seat back frame, are linked to the pressure receiving member, and can move independently from the headrest under a predetermined impact load. The entirety of the pressure receiving member moves toward the rear of the vehicle under a predetermined impact load that is greater than a normal seating load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nitsuma
  • Patent number: 8616634
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a mechanism for moving a headrest upon rear-end collision, comprising: a pressure receiving member for receiving a load of a rearward movement of an occupant; a transmitting element for transmitting the load received by the pressure receiving member to a headrest side; right and left headrest supporting members for supporting right and left pillars of the headrest; and a biasing member that biases the headrest; wherein the biasing member is disposed between the right and left pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanari Yasuda, Kenichi Nitsuma, Takamasa Adachi
  • Patent number: 8550552
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided where an urging element(s) is engaged with a shock reducing member in an optimum state under a normal seating load or in a rear-end collision, a number of parts can be reduced without using a separate member to mount the urging element(s), and at the same time, a high degree of design freedom is created. The seat comprises a seat back frame, a headrest, a pressure receiving member connected to the seat back frame via a connecting member to move independently from the headrest, a rotating member that is disposed on a side part on each side and is connected to the connecting member to rotate independently from the headrest, and a spring mounted to the rotating member and the seat back frame. At least one of mounting parts is formed integrally with the rotating member or the seat back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nitsuma
  • Patent number: 8544948
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided in which a shock reducing member provides an optimum state both under a usual (normal) seating load and in a rear-end collision load, the sinking (moving) amount of the passenger's body to the vehicle rear at the time of rear-end collision can be increased, and a shock applied to a passenger at the time of rear-end collision can be reduced effectively, independently from a headrest. A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame, a headrest, a pressure receiving member connected to the seat back frame via wires, and a rotating member disposed at least on one side of side parts on both sides of the seat back frame. The rotating member is rotated by a predetermined impact load applied to the pressure receiving member, and comes into contact with the seat back frame, whereby the rotating is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nitsuma
  • Publication number: 20130119723
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat that reliably enables effective reduction of the impact on the body, the cervical region, and the like of an occupant upon rear end collision, by causing the body to sink toward the vehicle rear side by an increased amount upon rear end collision. A vehicle seat S includes: a seat back frame including side frames, a pressure receiving member coupled to the seat back frame via coupling members to support an occupant, and an impact reduction member disposed on at least one of the side frames and coupled to the coupling members to cause the pressure receiving member to move rearward by a predetermined amount of impact load applied to the pressure receiving member; in which the seat back frame further includes a lumbar-sinking preventing member which prevents the movement such that the lumber of the occupant sinks rearward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nitsuma
  • Patent number: 8419126
    Abstract: A seat-back frame of a seat-back comprises at least a pair of right and left side frames, a pressure receiving member disposed between the side frames, and wires for connecting the pressure receiving member to the side frames, respectively; wherein the wire is connected to the side frames through link members which are operable relative to the side frames, respectively, and wherein the link members are so configured that the wire is urged toward a forward side of the seat-back frame by tension springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Nitsuma
  • Publication number: 20120299343
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a mechanism for moving a headrest upon rear-end collision, comprising: a pressure receiving member for receiving a load of a rearward movement of an occupant; a transmitting element for transmitting the load received by the pressure receiving member to a headrest side; right and left headrest supporting members for supporting right and left pillars of the headrest; and a biasing member that biases the headrest; wherein the biasing member is disposed between the right and left pillars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanari Yasuda, Kenichi Nitsuma, Takamasa Adachi
  • Publication number: 20120292961
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat which has a simple structure, prevents the lower back region of an occupant from sinking into the seat back, induces backward rotation of the entire upper body when a rear-end collision occurs, and reduces the degree to which the neck region of the occupant independently tilts backward, and is therefore able to effectively reduce the load on the neck region and so on of the occupant. A vehicle seat is provided with a neck-burden reduction element that, during a rear-end collision, causes a greater amount of backward movement of a connection point between the neck region and a torso region of the occupant than the amount of backward movement of a lower torso region of the occupant, and causes an upper torso region of the occupant to sink into the seat back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nitsuma, Masaya Furuta
  • Patent number: 8246112
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a mechanism for moving a headrest upon a rear-end collision, wherein the vehicle seat comprises a plate-like support body for receiving a load of a rearward movement of an occupant; a link mechanism for transmitting the load received by the plate-like support body to the headrest side, and comprising a lower link, an upper link, and a connecting link; and a load retaining member for blocking the load received by the plate-like support body from being transmitted to the link mechanism, until the load reaches a predetermined level; wherein the load retaining member is held by one of the lower link and the connecting link, and is configured to urge the lower link and the connecting link in a separating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanari Yasuda, Kenichi Nitsuma, Takamasa Adachi
  • Patent number: 8162394
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle seat that includes a seat back frame having a pair of side frames disposed in a spaced manner in the right and left direction, a plate-like support body disposed between the pair of side frames to receive a load placed by the rearward movement of a passenger, a transmission section disposed on one side frame side to connect the plate-like support body to the headrest and transmit the load received by the plate-like support body to the headrest side, and an engagement section disposed on the other side frame side, engaging the plate-like support body with the other side frame, and not connected to the headrest. The load received by the plate-like support body is transmitted to the headrest side via the transmission section, thereby moving the headrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanari Yasuda, Kenichi Nitsuma
  • Patent number: 8136878
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a seat frame comprising a lower frame connected to side frames, and a seating frame connected to the lower frame. A connecting structure is formed at a position remote from a rotate center as a connecting portion of an end side of the side frame to the lower frame; the connecting structure comprises an elongated hole formed in the applicable side frame and extending in an up-and-down direction, a convex portion formed on the lower frame, an energy absorbing plate, and a guide member for guiding the energy absorbing plate; and the convex portion and the elongated hole are configured to be relatively movable, while plastically deforming the energy absorbing plate which is supported in an abutting manner by a seating frame side of the convex portion and which is disposed in a clamped manner between the convex portion and the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nitsuma, Takeshi Akutsu