Patents by Inventor Kentaro Nagai

Kentaro Nagai 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: 20050083700
    Abstract: The invention is to offer a room lamp which may simplify a structure and cost down. A room lamp has a design part and a function part, said design part being secured with a lens in a housing attachable to an opening defined in a interior finish material of a vehicle, and said function part being disposed at a side of a rear face of the interior finish material in that the function part is supported by the design part, and having a light source. Clips are provided in the housing for temporarily securing the design part at predetermined positions, said clips being able to engage the edge part of the opening, and the projections project from the edge part of the opening along the rear face of the interior finish material and are provided to the function main body of the function part, and the housing and the projections hold the interior finish material for providing self-preservation in that the function part is supported by the design part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Toshiaki Okabe, Kentaro Nagai, Kenji Oishi, Masahiro Sawayanagi
  • Publication number: 20050068691
    Abstract: A magnetic head has less variations in the resistance of a magneto-resistive device before and after the magnetic head is left in a high temperature environment so as to have higher stability of the characteristics of the magnetic head against a high temperature environment. A TMR device includes a tunnel barrier layer made of an oxide layer. A DLC film serving as a protection film and an underlying layer therefor are formed on an end face of the TMR device on an air bearing surface side. A layer made of an oxide of a metal or an oxide of a semiconductor is formed between the underlying layer and the end face of the tunnel barrier layer on the air bearing surface side to be in contact with the end face of the tunnel barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeo Kagami, Tetsuya Kuwashima, Kentaro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20040256914
    Abstract: In a circuit configuration provided in a vehicle, a first circuit is directly connected to an electric junction box to supply a notification signal indicating a condition of a part of the vehicle. A second circuit is adapted to transmit the notification signal. A first lamp module is disposed at a first part of the vehicle, and provided with a switch, and a junction circuit at which the first circuit and the second circuit are connected or disconnected in accordance with a state of the switch. A second lamp module is disposed at a second part of the vehicle and connected to the first lamp module via the second circuit. A light emitter which emits light when the notification signal is supplied thereto is provided in each of the first lamp module and the second lamp module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Haruyuki Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20040252514
    Abstract: A lamp unit mounting structure includes a mounting panel having a mounting portion, a lamp unit, an elastic fixing member and a restricting member. The elastic fixing member is provided on the lamp unit, and includes a first portion which is extended from the lamp unit, a second portion which has a substantially U-shape, and has a first end being integrally connected to the first portion, a third portion which is extended from a second end of the second portion toward the lamp unit. The engagement portion engages the mounting portion of the mounting panel. The restricting member is provided on the lamp unit, and restricts a movement of the elastic fixing member in a mounting and dismounting direction of the engagement portion relative to the mounting panel. The restricting member has an escape portion which allows a movement of the elastic fixing member toward the lamp unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Okabe, Yasunobu Goto, Kentaro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20040179370
    Abstract: A switch structure of a lamp unit mounted at an interior wall member, includes a switch member and a switch knob. The switch member includes a switch lever which slides in a first direction for turning on or off the lamp unit. The switch knob includes an engagement portion for engaging with the switch lever of the switch member, and the switch knob being slidably retained on a design member. The switch lever is inserted in the engagement portion of the switch knob in the first direction and in a second direction in which the design member is mounted to the interior wall member while the engagement portion is elastically deformed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Mitsuyoshi Ohno
  • Patent number: 6749324
    Abstract: A first retainer engages with an exterior side of an interior wall member to retain a lamp unit on an interior side of the interior wall member. A second retainer engages with an exterior side of a panel body to retain the interior wall member, on which the lamp unit is mounted, on an interior side of the panel body. The second retainer includes a flexible arm having a free end portion which is flexible in a first direction parallel with the panel body and a second direction perpendicular to the panel body. The free end portion is abutted against the exterior side of the panel body when the interior wall member is mounted on the panel body. A regulator prevents the free end portion of the flexible arm from being flexed more than a predetermined amount in the second direction when the flexible arm is not flexed in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Kenji Oishi
  • Patent number: 6634775
    Abstract: When an interior lamp (10) is mounted in a lamp mounting window (41) in a roof trim (40), press-connecting terminals (25a) of bus bars (25), mounted on a lower surface of a switch unit (20), are disposed on a lower surface of an insulating housing (24), and the electrically-connecting portions, electrically connected to an FFC (30), are disposed on the interior-side of the switch unit (20) directed toward the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Nagai
  • Patent number: 6621023
    Abstract: A lamp unit (21) for mounting in a lamp mounting window in an interior wall member includes a bulb (27), mounted on an insulating housing (25), a wire connecting conductor (29), having a wire connecting terminal portion (29) for connection to an FFC (28), installed on a vehicle body panel-side of the interior wall member, and a power supply-side bulb contact portion (29b) electrically connected to one electrode (27a) of the bulb (27), and a switch connecting conductor (33) having a switch contact portion, connected to a switch unit (31), and a grounding-side bulb contact portion (33a) electrically connected the other electrode (27b) of the bulb (27). The relative positional relation between the electrodes (27a, 27b) of the bulb (27) on the insulating housing (25) is so determined that the one electrode (27a) of the bulb (27) is disposed remote from the wire connecting terminal portion (29a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Nagai
  • Patent number: 6619963
    Abstract: A switch accommodating recess (13) capable of accommodating a switch assembly (30) and a wire accommodating recess (15) capable of positioning an FFC (20) which is electrically connected to a room lamp are provided in a vehicle compartment-side surface of an insulating housing 11 in the room lamp which is fitted in a lamp fitting window having an opening in a roof trim covering a vehicle body panel. At the same time as bus bars (21) are mounted on the vehicle compartment-side surface of the insulating housing (11), press-connecting terminals (21b) are subjected topress fitting connection to the FFC (20) positioned in the wire accommodating recess (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Nagai
  • Patent number: 6616475
    Abstract: A lamp unit attached to a lamp-attaching window provided in a roof trim for covering a vehicle body panel comprises a lamp functional portion composed of a reflector (31), a switch unit (33) and a bulb, and a design portion that is a cover lens. For each of bus bars (50, 60, 70) of the switch unit (33), there are provided each of round conductor connecting portions (52, 62, 72) according to a FFC (40) having round conductors fixed to the respective bus bars (50, 60, 70), and each of flat conductor connecting portions (55, 65, 75) according to a FFC having flat conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20030147249
    Abstract: A connection portion (13) of an FFC (12) to be preliminarily arranged on a roof trim (10) is weld-fixed to cable connecting portions (25a, 26a) of a bus bar (25) and a spring terminal (26) of a room lamp (20). Simultaneously with the arrangement of the FFC (12) on a vehicle-body-panel-side portion of the roof trim, the room lamp (20) is mounted in the lamp mounting window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Hatagishi, Toshiaki Okabe, Kentaro Nagai, Kenji Oishi, Kazuyuki Shiraki, Isao Yoneyama, Goro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6595668
    Abstract: A connection portion (13) of an FFC (12) to be preliminarily arranged on a roof trim (10) is weld-fixed to cable connecting portions (25a, 26a) of a bus bar (25) and a spring terminal (26) of a room lamp (20). Simultaneously with the arrangement of the FFC (12) on a vehicle-body-panel-side portion of the roof trim, the room lamp (20) is mounted in the lamp mounting window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Hatagishi, Toshiaki Okabe, Kentaro Nagai, Kenji Oishi, Kazuyuki Shiraki, Isao Yoneyama, Goro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6575779
    Abstract: A pressure-contact terminal includes: a contact portion (21); and a pressure-contact portion (32) which has a bottom plate, a pair of side plates formed by bending from the bottom plate in the same direction, and at least a pair of pressure-contact plates (34, 35) formed to stand from the pair of side plates above the bottom plate and to face each other. In the construction, the pressure-contact plates (34, 35) include: electric wire contact portions (34A, 35A) formed by bending which have contact faces (34G, 35G) to be in contact with a core of a covered electric wire; and cover cutting-off portions (34B, 35B ) formed on upper portions of the electric wire contact portions (34A, 35A ) to cut and remove the cover portion of the covered electric wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Junko Ishida
  • Patent number: 6572391
    Abstract: A first connector (3) includes: a first housing (12); and a pair of rotary members (13) supported on the first housing (12) for rotating in opposite directions to each other. Rotary members (13) each include: a first engagement member (21, 22); and a second connector (4) configured to be mated with the first connector (3). The second connector (4) includes a second housing (27) configured to be mated with the first housing (12). The second housing (27) includes a pair of first mating engagement members (36). First mating engagement members (36) are each configured to be abutted on the first engagement member for rotating a rotary member (13) and to be locked with the first engagement member (21, 22). The second housing (27) includes a pair of cuts (35). Cuts (35) each are for inserting the rotary member (13) thereinto when the rotary member (13) rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Mochizuki, Kentaro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20030099069
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head manufactures a magnetic head having a base, and a laminate stacked on the base and including a magneto-resistive device. The method mechanically polishes a surface of a structure including the base and the laminate close to a magnetic recording medium, wherein the surface of the structure includes an end face of the laminate including an end face of the magneto-resistive device and a surface of the base. Next, the method selectively etches a first region on the surface of the structure close to the magnetic recording medium, wherein the first region includes the surface of the base but does not include the end face of the magneto-resistive device. Subsequently, the method entirely etches the surface of the structure close to the magnetic recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Kagami, Kunihiro Ueda, Kentaro Nagai, Shunji Saruki
  • Patent number: 6554656
    Abstract: A primary compact is formed as a resin article by using a single die to thereby integrally mold a connector housing, a rear holder, and a lock spacer so that the attaching directions of such parts are the same direction. In an assembling process, the connector housing is detached from the primary compact. Subsequently, the rear holder adjoining the connector housing is detached from a sub-runner. Then, a terminal slipping-off preventing piece of the rear holder is inserted into a terminal insertion opening of the connector housing from above the terminal insertion opening. Thereafter, the lock spacer adjoining the rear holder is detached from the sub-runner and inserted into a latching concave portion of the connector housing from above in such a manner as to be in a temporarily caught state. Thus, the parts are assembled into a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Hatagishi, Kentaro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20030072105
    Abstract: As a protective film of an element and a slider in a magnetic head, a film is provided which is excellent in adhesiveness to a film forming surface and which shows sufficient corrosion-resistance property with a thinner thickness. To provided this film, according to the present invention, a DLC film as a protective film is formed onto an element portion end surface and a surface of a slider of a magnetic head core. A film deposition step is conducted plural times to obtain the DLC film with a predetermined thickness when the DLC film is formed using an electric discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiro Ueda, Kentaro Nagai, Hiroki Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 6532652
    Abstract: In a method for fabricating a wire harness with branch terminals, a flexible flat cable (FFC) (11) is first prepared by arranging multiple conductive strips (12) in parallel to each other at a predetermined interval, and by laminating a pair of base films (13) with the conductive strips between them. Then, a row of slots (14A) are formed between any two adjacent conductive strips at a predetermined distance from an end of the FFC, thereby defining a connection area (A) between the end of the FFC and the row of slots. Then, multiple connection terminals (16), each having a contact (17) and a plurality of projections (19), are fixed to the connection area of the FFC by causing the projections of each connection terminal to pierce through one of the conductive strips. Finally, slits (14B) are formed from the end of the FFC so that the slits extend between any two adjacent conductive strips and communicate with the associated slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20030026104
    Abstract: A first retainer engages with an exterior side of an interior wall member to retain a lamp unit on an interior side of the interior wall member. A second retainer engages with an exterior side of a panel body to retain the interior wall member, on which the lamp unit is mounted, on an interior side of the panel body. The second retainer includes a flexible arm having a free end portion which is flexible in a first direction parallel with the panel body and a second direction perpendicular to the panel body. The free end portion is abutted against the exterior side of the panel body when the interior wall member is mounted on the panel body. A regulator prevents the free end portion of the flexible arm from being flexed more than a predetermined amount in the second direction when the flexible arm is not flexed in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Kenji Oishi
  • Patent number: 6513961
    Abstract: A lamp unit for mounting in a lamp mounting window formed in an interior wall member covering a vehicle body panel, the lamp unit includes: a wire connection terminal; a wire fastened to the wire connection terminal and installed on the interior wall member; and bent portions formed respectively at portions of the wire adjacent to the lamp unit so that the bent portions are engaged respectively with predetermined positioning projections formed on a fastening stand for positioning the wire to a wire connection portion of the wire connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Yuji Hatagishi