Patents by Inventor Koji Hiramatsu
Koji Hiramatsu 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).
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Publication number: 20080029633Abstract: A seatbelt retractor capable of variably setting the limited load applied to the seatbelt depending on the emergency state includes a support shaft portion of a spool, which is provided with a second EA mechanism coaxial with the spool. An energy absorbing pin of a third EA mechanism is inserted to be fit in the axial hole of the spool. In the emergency state, the torsion bar is twisted and the energy absorbing pin is pulled out of the spool to absorb energy. At the same time, in the state where the rotation of the second energy absorber support member is locked by the lever, the first energy absorber support member rotates to deform the energy absorbing plate so as to absorb energy. As the second energy absorber support member rotates when the locked rotation is released, the energy absorbing plate is not deformed, and the energy absorption is finished.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2007Publication date: February 7, 2008Inventor: Koji Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20080017743Abstract: The disclosed seat belt retractor may include a spool for retracting a seat belt, a torsion bar, a pre-tensioner, and a locking device. The torsion bar may disposed inside the spool, wherein one side of the torsion bar is connected to the spool, and configured to absorb energy of movement of an occupant while being deformed under torsion. The pre-tensioner may be positioned at one side of the spool and configured to generate a rotating drive force for rotating the spool in a retracting direction in a condition of rapid deceleration of a motor vehicle. The locking device may be capable of locking another side of the spool such that a rotation of the spool in a withdrawal direction is suppressed at both an operating time of the pre-tensioner and a non-operating time of the pre-tensioner.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Inventors: Koji Hiramatsu, Yasushi Kanamori, Masahiro Shiotani, Miwa Morimoto
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Publication number: 20070262186Abstract: A seat belt device is provided where a pretensioner moves a ball train to the distal end side of a ball guide pipe by means of gas discharged from a gas generating device, and the movement rotates the spool for winding the seat belt in a belt winding direction so as to eliminate slack of the seat belt, while imparting necessary tension to the seat belt by loading rotational resistance on the spool in a belt withdrawing direction with gas pressure exerted on the ball train. The ball stopper stops movement of the ball train before all the balls in the ball train are ejected from the ball guide pipe in a state where the ball train functions to rotate the spool in the belt winding direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2007Publication date: November 15, 2007Inventor: Koji Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20070069647Abstract: An electrodeless discharge lamp comprising: an airtight container bulb made of a transparent material and enclosing a discharge gas; and a coupler (coil assembly body), contained in a cavity formed in the bulb, for generating a high frequency electromagnetic field by conducting a high frequency current in a coil to excite the discharge gas so as to emit light, wherein the coupler comprises: a pipe-shaped cylinder formed of a thermal conductor for heat release; a skeleton-shaped bobbin mounted on an outer surface of the cylinder along an axial direction of the cylinder; a core made of a soft magnetic material provided at an opening formed by the skeleton of the bobbin and being in substantial surface contact with the cylinder; and a coil wound around a surface of the skeleton-shaped bobbin and the core.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2003Publication date: March 29, 2007Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.Inventors: Hidenori Kakehashi, Shohei Yamamoto, Koji Hiramatsu, Shinji Hizuma, Keisuke Harada, Yoshinobu Shibata
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Publication number: 20070051840Abstract: The disclosed seatbelt retractor and seat belt apparatus may comprise a spool for retracting a seatbelt, a torsion bar arranged radially inside of the spool, a pretensioner for generating a rotational drive force for rotating the spool in a seatbelt retracting direction during a state of emergency; and a relay locking mechanism. The relay locking mechanism may be configured for locking the spool so as to restrict the rotation of the spool in the seatbelt withdrawing direction in the normal state and configured for unlocking the spool while locking an axial side of the torsion bar so as to restrict the rotation of the torsion bar in the seatbelt withdrawing direction in the state of emergency.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2006Publication date: March 8, 2007Inventors: Koji Hiramatsu, Miwa Morimoto
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Patent number: 7152824Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a spool for winding a seat belt; a locking mechanism having a locking member rotating with the spool in a normal state and being locked not to rotate in a direction of unwinding the seat belt in an emergency state; and an energy absorbing mechanism provided between the spool and the locking member for absorbing impact energy applied on an occupant when the spool rotates in the direction of unwinding the seat belt relative to the locking member in the emergency state. The energy absorbing mechanism includes an energy absorbing member provided in one of the spool and the locking member, and a deforming device provided in the other of the spool and the locking member for deforming the energy absorbing member. The energy absorbing member has a width partially varied.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Masahiro Shiotani, Tetsuya Hamaue, Koji Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20060278748Abstract: A seat belt retractor including a tension reducer which is compact in the axial and radial directions. The retractor includes a reducer spring that always biases a bush shaft, which rotates together with a spool, to rotate in the belt winding direction, and a main spring can selectively bias the spool in the belt winding direction. A lever of the bush shaft and a Geneva wheel form an assembly for memorizing the rotational amount of the spool in the belt winding direction relative to the ratchet gear when the main spring does not bias the spool in the belt winding direction. The assembly is arranged in the ratchet gear so that the retractor with the tension reducer is formed to be compact in the axial direction and the radial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2006Publication date: December 14, 2006Inventors: Keigo Shinya, Koji Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20060243844Abstract: In an emergency situation, a pretensioner is activated so that a spool and a locking base are quickly rotated together in a belt-retracting direction. Subsequently, a stopper is guided along a guide groove so as to move (rotate) counterclockwise relatively with respect to the locking base, thereby reaching an active position. Accordingly, the stopper is released from a latching claw, and a quick-lock pawl is rotated clockwise with a biasing force of a spring, whereby the latching claw becomes engaged with internal teeth. Thus, the locking base becomes locked so that the locking base is prevented from rotating in the belt-withdrawing direction, and the EA operation by the torsion bar is quickly performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2006Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventors: Noriyuki Kosugi, Koji Hiramatsu, Masahiro Shiotani, Yasushi Kanamori, Miwa Morimoto
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Publication number: 20060237112Abstract: A sidewall rubber disposed outside of a carcass layer, reinforcing a portion between beads, in a widthwise direction of the tire is configured from a wide rubber ribbon having a width of 20 to 100 mm wound spirally along a circumferential direction of the tire outward of the tire such that the rubber ribbon is deviated radially outward of the tire.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2006Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventors: Kazuma Nishitani, Shigeru Ohno, Hiroshi Ikegami, Koji Hiramatsu, Katsuhiro Nakatani
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Publication number: 20060237569Abstract: A seatbelt retractor including a spool including a first spool component for retracting the seatbelt and a second spool component to which a driving force of a pretensioner is transmitted. When the relative rotational torque reaches a predetermined value or more, a member linking the spool components is subject to bending deformation and tensile deformation so that the first spool component rotates relatively with respect to the second spool component in a belt-withdrawing direction. As a result, the spool rotates in a belt-retracting direction so that a torsion bar becomes twisted, whereby impact energy is absorbed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2006Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventors: Noriyuki Kosugi, Koji Hiramatsu, Masahiro Shiotani, Yasushi Kanamori
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Publication number: 20060237572Abstract: A seatbelt retractor including a spool for retracting a seatbelt. The retractor also includes first and second energy absorbing mechanisms. The second energy absorbing mechanism is disposed concentrically relative to the spool.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2006Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventor: Koji Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20060208126Abstract: A seatbelt retractor system allowing optimization of energy absorbing characteristics, includes a spool for retracting a seatbelt; a torsion bar made of a twistable material; a locking mechanism for stopping the rotation of the spool at least in a seatbelt withdrawing direction; a substantially disk shaped ring disposed in the inner periphery of an axial end of the spool; and a plastically deformable energy absorbing member. The energy absorbing member may have a substantially circular cross section. A first end of the energy absorbing member may be fixed to an outer periphery of the substantially disc-shaped ring, while a second end of the energy absorbing member may be detachably engaged with an inner periphery of the spool.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2006Publication date: September 21, 2006Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATIONInventor: Koji Hiramatsu
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Patent number: 7029068Abstract: A child seat for a vehicle which can be firmly secured to a vehicle seat even with a shoulder belt of a three-point seat belt and which can wind up the seat belt to securely apply a predetermined tension to the seat belt. The child seat includes a child seat and a shaft attached to the child seat. The shaft is rotatable about an axis of the shaft. Additionally, a first end of the shaft is disposed at a higher elevation than a second end of the shaft. The shaft further includes at least one slit configured to accept a seat belt.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2003Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Ryoichi Yoshida, Junichi Yoshida, Koji Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20060022077Abstract: A compact brake system configured so that when a drive member of the brake system is inoperative, an operation control member is held in an inoperative position. In this state, rotation stop portions of the operation control member are held in positions opposed to the flat surfaces of an energy-absorbing-member support member, and the energy-absorbing-member support member is braked by the operation control member, whereby the rotation is stopped. When the drive member is activated, the operation control member is moved downward, so that the rotation allowable portion of the operation control member is located on the cylinder of the energy-absorbing-member support member. Then the brake applied to the energy-absorbing-member support member is released to allow the rotation of the energy-absorbing-member support member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2005Publication date: February 2, 2006Inventor: Koji Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20060022078Abstract: A seatbelt retractor that sets the limit load applied to seatbelts more flexibly and variably depending on the situation of an emergency. The retractor includes a limit-load setting mechanism for setting a limit load for the seatbelt and limit-load control mechanism for controlling the limit-load setting mechanism so as to vary the limit load of the seatbelt in an emergency depending on information on emergency situation such as occupant's physique information, seat-slide position information, crash-speed information, crash acceleration or deceleration information, and crash situation information.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2005Publication date: February 2, 2006Inventors: Kenji Kitazawa, Koji Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20050134101Abstract: A seat belt system includes a retractor and a seat belt. The retractor includes a motor that drives a pressure rod into a seat belt such that the seat belt is nipped between the pressure rod and belt receiving portions. The driving force of the motor that controls the movement of the pressure rod is set based on the situation at the time of a collision. Thus, the load limit to be exerted on the seat belt is set flexibly and widely according to the situation in an emergency. Further, the motor and the pressure piston rod can be activated repeatedly and, therefore, can be reused.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2004Publication date: June 23, 2005Inventors: Koji Hiramatsu, Kenji Kitazawa
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Publication number: 20040262441Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a spool for winding a seat belt; a lock mechanism having a locking member for rotation with the spool in a normal state and for stop-rotation in a seat belt withdrawal direction in an emergency state; a torsion bar disposed between the spool and the locking member for absorbing energy of a passenger when the spool rotates in the seat belt withdrawal direction relative to the locking member in the emergency state; a stopper screwed in a shaft of the locking member to be movable in an axial direction along the shaft of the locking member when the spool rotates relative to the locking member; and an energy-absorption member disposed on one of the stopper and the locking member for deforming in a shear mode when the stopper moves in the axial direction along the shaft of the locking member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATIONInventor: Koji Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20040206844Abstract: A seat belt retractor includes a spool for winding a seat belt; a locking mechanism having a locking member rotating with the spool in a normal state and being locked not to rotate in a direction of unwinding the seat belt in an emergency state; and an energy absorbing mechanism provided between the spool and the locking member for absorbing impact energy applied on an occupant when the spool rotates in the direction of unwinding the seat belt relative to the locking member in the emergency state. The energy absorbing mechanism includes an energy absorbing member provided in one of the spool and the locking member, and a deforming device provided in the other of the spool and the locking member for deforming the energy absorbing member. The energy absorbing member has a width partially varied.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATIONInventors: Masahiro Shiotani, Tetsuya Hamaue, Koji Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20040075317Abstract: A child seat for a vehicle which can be firmly secured to a vehicle seat even with a shoulder belt of a three-point seat belt and which can wind up the seat belt to securely apply a predetermined tension to the seat belt. The child seat includes a child seat and a shaft attached to the child seat. The shaft is rotatable about an axis of the shaft. Additionally, a first end of the shaft is disposed at a higher elevation than a second end of the shaft. The shaft further includes at least one slit configured to accept a seat belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2003Publication date: April 22, 2004Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATIONInventors: Ryoichi Yoshida, Junichi Yoshida, Koji Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20030142348Abstract: An image forming system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network, the plurality of image forming apparatuses including a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus. The image forming system includes a distributor which distributes an executing or waiting job registered in the first image forming apparatus into a first distributed job to be executed by the first image forming apparatus and a second distributed job to be executed by the second image forming apparatus, and a controller which makes the first and second image forming apparatuses execute the first and second distributed jobs distributed by the distributor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Applicant: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Hiramatsu, Tatsuya Eguchi