Patents by Inventor Kotaro Kitai

Kotaro Kitai 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: 5718020
    Abstract: A buckle for a seat belt of a motor vehicle includes a lockbar 18 engagable in an aperture 26 in a latch plate 24, which is inserted into the buckle. A slider 16 connected with the lockbar 18 is retained under a lockpin 12 to prevent the lockbar 18 from disengaging the aperture 26 in the latch plate 24, except when a release button 20 is depressed. The surface of the lockpin 12 confronting the slider 16, when the lockbar 18 is engaged in an aperture 26 in a latch plate 24, is provided with one or more protuberances 28 such that when under high load the lockpin 12 becomes embedded in the slider 16 to prevent the slider 16. from sliding with respect to the lockpin 12 and inadvertently releasing the latch plate 24 from the buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: European Components Co. Limited
    Inventors: Mark John Harrison, Michael John Jackson, Kotaro Kitai