Patents by Inventor Kozo Kusumoto

Kozo Kusumoto 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: 10232688
    Abstract: A door latch reinforcement assembly includes a base member including a main wall portion extending laterally from an inboard side of an associated vehicle door to an outboard side of the associated vehicle door and an outboard flange portion extending from an outboard end of the main wall portion along the outboard side of the associated vehicle door. The door latch reinforcement assembly can include a stiffener overlaid onto the main wall portion to reinforce the base member. The assembly can include at least one notch extending into the main wall portion from an inboard end of the main wall portion to define the main wall portion into at least two fingers having distal ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Schmitt, Nathan D. Roy, Robert H. Bator, Kozo Kusumoto, Christopher J. Mampe
  • Publication number: 20180272844
    Abstract: A door latch reinforcement assembly includes a base member including a main wall portion extending laterally from an inboard side of an associated vehicle door to an outboard side of the associated vehicle door and an outboard flange portion extending from an outboard end of the main wall portion along the outboard side of the associated vehicle door. The door latch reinforcement assembly can include a stiffener overlaid onto the main wall portion to reinforce the base member. The assembly can include at least one notch extending into the main wall portion from an inboard end of the main wall portion to define the main wall portion into at least two fingers having distal ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew W. Schmitt, Nathan D. Roy, Robert H. Bator, Kozo Kusumoto, Christopher J. Mampe
  • Patent number: 8864193
    Abstract: A vehicle door handle device for attaching to a door panel for operating a door latching device and a door locking device comprises an operation handle and a lock knob. The operation handle operates the latching device to unlatch and open the door. The lock knob operates the locking device to lock and unlock the door. An open cable links the operation handle to the latching device. A lock cable links the lock knob to the locking device. An inner handle housing houses the operation handle and the lock knob. The handle housing includes a cable support part defining a first space for receiving an end portion of the open cable, and a second space for receiving an end portion of the lock cable. The cable support part is configured to prevent one of the end portion of the open cable and the end portion of the lock cable from being received in one of the first space and the second space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Mori, Charles Griever, Jr., Robert Bator, Benjamin Huttsell, Kozo Kusumoto
  • Patent number: 8752332
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly comprises a motorized door movable between an open position and a closed position and a pressure-activated sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a switch component, a flexible component and an engagement component. The switch component actuates upon pressure contact with an associated obstructing object. The flexible component substantially surrounds the switch component. The engagement component is connected with the door and extends from the flexible component towards the door. An exterior garnish member is connected to the door and laterally offset from the flexible component. The garnish member is configured to at least partially inhibit contact of the flexible component by an occupant during occupant ingress and egress of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven R. Thiele, Kozo Kusumoto, Jeremy B. Josefovsky
  • Patent number: 8661738
    Abstract: A door frame for a vehicle includes a door frame, a window regulator mounted to the door frame for opening and closing a window pane, and a door lining mounted to the door frame. A plurality of mounting apertures is defined in the door frame, including at least one first mounting aperture for mounting the window regulator and at least one second mounting aperture for mounting the door lining. An isolating aperture is defined in the door frame between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture for isolating the at least one second aperture from the at least one first aperture to thereby reduce lateral forces imparted to the door frame from the window regulator from transferring to the door lining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Trent Bozzo, Kozo Kusumoto, Kenichi Kitayama
  • Patent number: 8453291
    Abstract: A wiper lifter assembly includes a wiper ramp that lifts a wiper away from a wiper surface on a vehicle and a wiper contact member that is attached to an upper surface of the wiper ramp. The wiper contact member may act as a sound damper to greatly reduce the undesirable noise otherwise caused when the wiper contacts the wiper lifter assembly. The assembly may also include an isolation pad for attaching the assembly to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael A. Schrader, Anthony J. Ferrito, Michael T. Binfet, Takuji Ohara, James A. Loftus, Jr., Kozo Kusumoto, Joshua L. Morrow
  • Publication number: 20130038074
    Abstract: A vehicle door handle device for attaching to a door panel for operating a door latching device and a door locking device comprises an operation handle and a lock knob. The operation handle operates the latching device to unlatch and open the door. The lock knob operates the locking device to lock and unlock the door. An open cable links the operation handle to the latching device. A lock cable links the lock knob to the locking device. An inner handle housing houses the operation handle and the lock knob. The handle housing includes a cable support part defining a first space for receiving an end portion of the open cable, and a second space for receiving an end portion of the lock cable. The cable support part is configured to prevent one of the end portion of the open cable and the end portion of the lock cable from being received in one of the first space and the second space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Mori, Charles Griever, JR., Robert Bator, Benjamin Huttsell, Kozo Kusumoto
  • Publication number: 20120267914
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly comprises a motorized door movable between an open position and a closed position and a pressure-activated sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a switch component, a flexible component and an engagement component. The switch component actuates upon pressure contact with an associated obstructing object. The flexible component substantially surrounds the switch component. The engagement component is connected with the door and extends from the flexible component towards the door. An exterior garnish member is connected to the door and laterally offset from the flexible component. The garnish member is configured to at least partially inhibit contact of the flexible component by an occupant during occupant ingress and egress of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Steven R. Thiele, Kozo Kusumoto, Jeremy B. Josefovsky
  • Patent number: 8224532
    Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a master control device. The master control device is configured to facilitate selection by a driver of a vehicle from among multiple operational modes. In a first operational mode, the control system prevents a door control device from effecting operation of a power door actuator. In a second operational mode, the control system facilitates operation of a power door actuator in response to a door control signal. Vehicles including the control system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew Weyand Schmitt, Steven Ray Thiele, Kozo Kusumoto
  • Publication number: 20110138693
    Abstract: A door frame for a vehicle includes a door frame, a window regulator mounted to the door frame for opening and closing a window pane, and a door lining mounted to the door frame. A plurality of mounting apertures is defined in the door frame, including at least one first mounting aperture for mounting the window regulator and at least one second mounting aperture for mounting the door lining. An isolating aperture is defined in the door frame between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture for isolating the at least one second aperture from the at least one first aperture to thereby reduce lateral forces imparted to the door frame from the window regulator from transferring to the door lining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Trent Bozzo, Kozo Kusumoto, Kenichi Kitayama
  • Publication number: 20100154157
    Abstract: A wiper lifter assembly includes a wiper ramp that lifts a wiper away from a wiper surface on a vehicle and a wiper contact member that is attached to an upper surface of the wiper ramp. The wiper contact member may act as a sound damper to greatly reduce the undesirable noise otherwise caused when the wiper contacts the wiper lifter assembly. The assembly may also include an isolation pad for attaching the assembly to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Michael A. Schrader, Anthony J. Ferrito, Michael T. Binfet, Takuji Ohara, James A. Loftus, JR., Kozo Kusumoto, Joshua L. Morrow
  • Publication number: 20100070143
    Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a master control device. The master control device is configured to facilitate selection by a driver of a vehicle from among multiple operational modes. In a first operational mode, the control system prevents a door control device from effecting operation of a power door actuator. In a second operational mode, the control system facilitates operation of a power door actuator in response to a door control signal. Vehicles including the control system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Matthew Weyand Schmitt, Steven Ray Thiele, Kozo Kusumoto
  • Patent number: 7226114
    Abstract: A body structure for a vehicle having a sliding door. The structure has a slide rail, provided in a side face of the vehicle, for guiding the sliding door; and a rail cover, having a cover portion and an extension, for covering the slide rail. The cover portion extends along a lower edge of a rear side glass of the vehicle, and the extension extends from a rear end portion of the cover portion along a rear pillar of the vehicle. The rail cover is positioned for the vehicle's body in a front-rear direction and a vertical direction via the rear end portion of the cover portion. The rail cover may be further positioned in the vertical direction via a front end portion of the cover portion. A screening member may be provided between a rear edge of the extension and a panel of the vehicle's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kozo Kusumoto
  • Publication number: 20050253421
    Abstract: A body structure for a vehicle having a sliding door. The structure has a slide rail, provided in a side face of the vehicle, for guiding the sliding door; and a rail cover, having a cover portion and an extension, for covering the slide rail. The cover portion extends along a lower edge of a rear side glass of the vehicle, and the extension extends from a rear end portion of the cover portion along a rear pillar of the vehicle. The rail cover is positioned for the vehicle's body in a front-rear direction and a vertical direction via the rear end portion of the cover portion. The rail cover may be further positioned in the vertical direction via a front end portion of the cover portion. A screening member may be provided between a rear edge of the extension and a panel of the vehicle's body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kozo Kusumoto
  • Patent number: 6659702
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bolting structure for a magnesium alloy member, having a non-magnesium alloy and conventional member 12 disposed on the magnesium alloy member 15, the magnesium alloy member 15 being covered with an insulator 14, and a bolt 18 initially inserted through the magnesium alloy member 15 and then into the conventional member 12, thereby permitting the conventional member 12 and the magnesium alloy member 15 to be bolted together, comprising: a washer 17 disposed between a head 18a of the bolt 18 and the magnesium alloy member 15, the washer 17 having a boss 16 disposed thereon, wherein the magnesium alloy member 15 is formed with a through-hole 13 that is greater in diameter than a bolthole 19 of the washer 17. The above boss 16 and through-hole 13 eliminate a chance that the bolt 18 contacts the through-hole 13. The insulator 14 remains intact because of non-contact of the bolt 18 with the through-hole 13 so that no stray current corrosion occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Katsutoshi Ando, Yoichiro Inaba, Kozo Kusumoto, Eiji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20010022926
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bolting structure for a magnesium alloy member, having a non-magnesium alloy and conventional member 12 disposed on the magnesium alloy member 15, the magnesium alloy member 15 being covered with an insulator 14, and a bolt 18 initially inserted through the magnesium alloy member 15 and then into the conventional member 12, thereby permitting the conventional member 12 and the magnesium alloy member 15 to be bolted together, comprising: a washer 17 disposed between a head 18a of the bolt 18 and the magnesium alloy member 15, the washer 17 having a boss 16 disposed thereon, wherein the magnesium alloy member 15 is formed with a through-hole 13 that is greater in diameter than a bolthole 19 of the washer 17. The above boss 16 and through-hole 13 eliminate a chance that the bolt 18 contacts the through-hole 13. The insulator 14 remains intact because of non-contact of the bolt 18 with the through-hole 13 so that no stray current corrosion occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Katsutoshi Ando, Yoichiro Inaba, Kozo Kusumoto, Eiji Suzuki