Patents by Inventor Kenzo Shimada

Kenzo Shimada 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: 9480201
    Abstract: In a lawn mower for mowing lawns on a ground having a drive shaft adapted to transmit a rotational driving force of a operating motor (prime mover), three blades and a connecting member having a blade disk adapted to connect the blades with the drive shaft, a fan is integrally formed at the connecting member. The blades are attached to the connecting member at a circumference of the connecting member and to be movable relative to the connecting member in a radial direction of the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Maruyama, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Kenzo Shimada, Ryuichi Kimata
  • Patent number: 8132396
    Abstract: A lawnmower capable of being switched between a bagging mode and a mulching mode is disclosed. The lawnmower includes a shutter mechanism provided on an internal peripheral surface of a housing which opens downward for storing a cutting blade. The shutter mechanism is switched, by the operation of the shutter mechanism, between a bagging mode for delivering cut grass from the housing to a cut grass storage container and a mulching mode for discharging the cut grass out below the housing. The shutter mechanism has a kicker on a shutter body positioned in the interior of the housing. The kicker guides the cut grass to the bottom of the housing during the mulching mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Minami, Kenzo Shimada, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Hiroshi Hojo, Shuhei Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8015786
    Abstract: A lawnmower including a cut grass storage container for storing cut grass. The lawnmower also includes a cutting blade, a downwardly-opening housing, and a cut grass conveyor passage. The cut grass storage container is provided to the cut grass conveyor passage. Grass that has been cut is delivered to the cut grass conveyor passage while revolving about a shaft inside the housing. A guide member is provided inside the housing. The guide member guides the revolving grass to the cut grass conveyor passage while guiding the grass to the outer periphery of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Minami, Hiroshi Hojo, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Kenzo Shimada, Kazuki Shimozono
  • Publication number: 20100307123
    Abstract: A lawnmower capable of being switched between a bagging mode and a mulching mode is disclosed. The lawnmower includes a shutter mechanism provided on an internal peripheral surface of a housing which opens downward for storing a cutting blade. The shutter mechanism is switched, by the operation of the shutter mechanism, between a bagging mode for delivering cut grass from the housing to a cut grass storage container and a mulching mode for discharging the cut grass out below the housing. The shutter mechanism has a kicker on a shutter body positioned in the interior of the housing. The kicker guides the cut grass to the bottom of the housing during the mulching mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumio Minami, Kenzo Shimada, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Hiroshi Hojo, Shuhei Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20100307122
    Abstract: A lawnmower including a cut grass storage container for storing cut grass. The lawnmower also includes a cutting blade, a downwardly-opening housing, and a cut grass conveyor passage. The cut grass storage container is provided to the cut grass conveyor passage. Grass that has been cut is delivered to the cut grass conveyor passage while revolving about a shaft inside the housing. A guide member is provided inside the housing. The guide member guides the revolving grass to the cut grass conveyor passage while guiding the grass to the outer periphery of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumio Minami, Hiroshi Hojo, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Kenzo Shimada, Kazuki Shimozono
  • Patent number: 7744503
    Abstract: An engine-driven work machine having a target engine speed selection unit and a control unit. The target engine speed selection unit selects and specifies an arbitrary target engine speed from among a plurality of target engine speeds that is set in stepwise fashion. The control unit electrically controls the opening and closing of a throttle valve so that the actual engine speed conforms to the specified target engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kobayashi, Masayuki Sasaoka, Toshio Inoue, Kenzo Shimada, Yoshinori Maekawa
  • Patent number: 7540132
    Abstract: In an electric working machine, a scroll portion is provided at one of left and right sides of a machine body, and a relay member functioning as a power switch in which a power on/off key is removably inserted is provided at the other side of the machine body. The relay member is provided between a motor-driving battery and a control section so that the battery and control section can be electrically connected with each other by insertion, in the relay member, of the power on/off key and disconnected from each other by removal, from the relay member, of the power on/off key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenzo Shimada, Takao Kobayashi, Tetsuo Iida, Toshiaki Takizawa, Yasunori Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Hirose
  • Patent number: 7343727
    Abstract: A lawn mower has a machine body, a grass bag detachably attached to the machine body for collecting therein grass clippings, a driving power source mounted on the machine body, a cutter blade driven by the driving power source for rotation to cut grass, and a cutter housing covering the cutter blade. The cutter blade has air lifting sections disposed at opposite end portions thereof for producing carrier air during rotation of the cutter blade. The cutter housing has a grass clipping delivery passage for directing grass clippings to the grass bag with the carrier air produced by the air lifting sections of the cutter blade, and an exhaust air return passage for returning only the carrier air, as exhaust air, from the grass bag to the cutter housing. The grass clipping delivery passage extends in a front-and-rear direction of the cutter housing. The exhaust air return passage is disposed adjacent to and extends substantially perpendicular to the grass clipping delivery passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Iida, Kenzo Shimada, Shoji Hasei, Yoshio Yoshihara, Ai Amano
  • Patent number: 7249450
    Abstract: A lawn mower comprises a power source for rotatably driving an output shaft, a housing having an interior space having a generally spiral-shaped portion, and a cutting blade disposed in the interior space of the housing and connected to the output shaft for rotation therewith to cut grass. The rotating cutting blade coacts with the spiral-shaped portion of the interior space to generate a swirling air flow that causes the cut grass to swirl within the interior space. A grass discharge passage communicates with the interior space of the housing and discharges therethrough grass cut by the cutting blade and swirling within the interior space of the housing. A pivotal shutter is pivoted about a generally vertical axis by manual operation of a control member to open and close the grass discharge passage. The pivotal shutter comprises a pivotal shaft and a unitary shutter member mounted on the pivotal shaft to undergo pivotal movement therewith for opening and closing the grass discharge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Iida, Takao Kobayashi, Hiromitsu Sasaki, Kenzo Shimada, Masanori Shin
  • Publication number: 20070169743
    Abstract: An engine-driven work machine having a target engine speed selection unit and a control unit. The target engine speed selection unit selects and specifies an arbitrary target engine speed from among a plurality of target engine speeds that is set in stepwise fashion. The control unit electrically controls the opening and closing of a throttle valve so that the actual engine speed conforms to the specified target engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kobayashi, Masayuki Sasaoka, Toshio Inoue, Kenzo Shimada, Yoshinori Maekawa
  • Publication number: 20050284121
    Abstract: Lawn mower includes a cutter housing covering a grass-cutting cutter blade, and a grass bag, detachably attachable to a rear portion of the cutter housing, for collecting therein grass clippings. The cutter housing includes a grass clipping delivery passage for directing grass clippings to the grass bag with carrier air produced by rotation of the cutter blade, and an exhaust air return passage for returning only the carrier air, as exhaust air, from the grass bag to the cutter housing. The exhaust air is caused to flow, through a netted member provided on an upper surface of the grass bag, back into the cutter housing via the exhaust air return passage provided adjacent to, and extending substantially perpendicularly to, the grass clipping delivery passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Tetsuo Iida, Kenzo Shimada, Shoji Hasei, Yoshio Yoshihara, Ai Amano
  • Publication number: 20050076629
    Abstract: A lawn mower comprises a power source for rotatably driving an output shaft, a housing having an interior space having a generally spiral-shaped portion, and a cutting blade disposed in the interior space of the housing and connected to the output shaft for rotation therewith to cut grass. The rotating cutting blade coacts with the spiral-shaped portion of the interior space to generate a swirling air flow that causes the cut grass to swirl within the interior space. A grass discharge passage communicates with the interior space of the housing and discharges therethrough grass cut by the cutting blade and swirling within the interior space of the housing. A pivotal shutter is pivoted about a generally vertical axis by manual operation of a control member to open and close the grass discharge passage. The pivotal shutter comprises a pivotal shaft and a unitary shutter member mounted on the pivotal shaft to undergo pivotal movement therewith for opening and closing the grass discharge passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: Tetsuo Iida, Takao Kobayashi, Hiromitsu Sasaki, Kenzo Shimada, Masanori Shin
  • Patent number: 6862875
    Abstract: A lawn mower has a power source for rotationally driving an output shaft. A housing has an interior space having a generally spiral-shaped portion. A cutting blade is disposed in the interior space of the housing and is connected to the output shaft for rotation therewith to cut grass while the spiral-shaped portion of the interior space generates a swirling airflow allowing the cut grass to swirl within the interior space. An enclosure is connected to the housing and has a grass discharge passage having an inlet opening disposed in communication with the interior space of the housing for discharging grass cut by the cutting blade and swirling within the interior space of the housing. A guiding member is disposed in the interior space of the housing for gradually changing a direction of the swirling airflow and the swirling cut grass and for guiding the swirling airflow and the swirling cut grass toward the grass discharge passage of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Iida, Takao Kobayashi, Hiromitsu Sasaki, Kenzo Shimada, Masanori Shin
  • Patent number: 6751937
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a grass discharge passage extending rearward from a housing 11. A grass receptacle is removably mounted to the discharge passage via a receptacle mounted portion. A shutter is provided at a passage opening of the grass discharge passage facing the housing. The shutter is rotatably provided within the housing to adjust the degree of opening of the passage opening. The lawn mower is switched between a bagging mode, a mulching mode and an intermediate mode by the opening control with the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Kobayashi, Tetsuo Iida, Hiromitsu Sasaki, Kenzo Shimada
  • Patent number: 6705068
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a mower body and a grass bag provided at the rear of the mower body. The mower body has a cutter deck rotatably accommodating a cutter blade, a carrying passage for guiding grass clippings into the grass bag, and an air return passage for guiding only air from the grass bag into the cutter deck. Cutter deck-facing openings of the air return passage are opened in line with the rotating track of airlifts provided at the opposite ends of the cutter blade. A swirling airflow inside the cutter deck induced by the rotation of the cutter blade is in the same direction as that of air returned via the air return passage, resulting in a smooth airflow inside the cutter deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Iida, Takao Kobayashi, Shoji Hasei, Kenzo Shimada
  • Patent number: 6666008
    Abstract: An electric lawn mower includes a cutter blade, an electric motor disposed above the cutter blade, and a battery unit for driving the electric motor. The battery unit is positioned above the electric motor to thereby achieve weight balance of the lawn mower. This arrangement allows air to flow smoothly between the electric motor and the battery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Iida, Takao Kobyashi, Kenzo Shimada, Toshiaki Takizawa
  • Patent number: 6655119
    Abstract: A cutter blade for lawn mowers having an airlift curved from a cutting edge formed on a rotationally leading edge toward a rotationally trailing edge. The trailing edge of the airlift is shaped in a waveform comprising a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of depressions. The protrusion closest to an outer end where the centrifugal force is greatest during the rotation of the cutter blade, is greatest in width so as to improve the discharging capability of grass clippings. The depressions limit negative pressure generated rotationally behind the airlift. A plurality of vent holes formed in the airlift is arranged radially in lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Hasei, Naoki Matsumoto, Yasutomo Abe, Tetsuo Iida, Masanori Shin, Hiromitsu Sasaki, Kenzo Shimada
  • Publication number: 20030182916
    Abstract: A lawn mower has a scroll portion for allowing grass clippings to swirl within a housing while guiding them to a grass discharge passage. A guide provided beneath a top plate of the housing is placed along the scroll portion. A rear guide end of the guide is opposed to a passage opening facing the housing of the grass discharge passage. The direction of a swirling flow is gradually changed and guided toward the passage opening by the guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Tetsuo Iida, Takao Kobayashi, Hiromitsu Sasaki, Kenzo Shimada, Masanori Shin
  • Publication number: 20030182915
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a grass discharge passage extending rearward from a housing 11. A grass receptacle is removably mounted to the discharge passage via a receptacle mounted portion. A shutter is provided at a passage opening of the grass discharge passage facing the housing. The shutter is rotatably provided within the housing to adjust the degree of opening of the passage opening. The lawn mower is switched between a bagging mode, a mulching mode and an intermediate mode by the opening control with the shutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Takao Kobayashi, Tetsuo Iida, Hiromitsu Sasaki, Kenzo Shimada
  • Publication number: 20030066280
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a mower body and a grass bag provided at the rear of the mower body. The mower body has a cutter deck rotatably accommodating a cutter blade, a carrying passage for guiding grass clippings into the grass bag, and an air return passage for guiding only air from the grass bag into the cutter deck. Cutter deck-facing openings of the air return passage are opened in line with the rotating track of airlifts provided at the opposite ends of the cutter blade. A swirling airflow inside the cutter deck induced by the rotation of the cutter blade is in the same direction as that of air returned via the air return passage, resulting in a smooth airflow inside the cutter deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Tetsuo Iida, Takao Kobayashi, Shoji Hasei, Kenzo Shimada