Patents by Inventor Kuniaki OZONO

Kuniaki OZONO 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: 9789743
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension structure includes a suspension arm and a ball joint. The suspension arm is connected between a suspension member and a vehicle-widthwise outer side end connected to a vehicle wheel. The ball joint connects the suspension arm and the vehicle wheel. When the vehicle receives an impact in the longitudinal direction, a socket of the ball joint pivots relative to a ball as the suspension arm deforms, and a flange portion on an open side of the socket interferes with a stud shaft of the ball joint. The interference causes the flange portion to deform and the ball to come out of the socket to undo the link with the vehicle wheel by the ball joint. Upon becoming unlinked, the vehicle wheel moves toward the vehicle-widthwise outer side and interference with the rear vehicle body is suppressed to limit deformation of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Shingo Donkai, Akira Yamaguchi, Tomoyuki Nakao, Yoshihiro Konno, Kuniaki Ozono, Naoki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20170015166
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension structure includes a suspension arm and a ball joint. The suspension arm is connected between a suspension member and a vehicle-widthwise outer side end connected to a vehicle wheel. The ball joint connects the suspension arm and the vehicle wheel. When the vehicle receives an impact in the longitudinal direction, a socket of the ball joint pivots relative to a ball as the suspension arm deforms, and a flange portion on an open side of the socket interferes with a stud shaft of the ball joint. The interference causes the flange portion to deform and the ball to come out of the socket to undo the link with the vehicle wheel by the ball joint. Upon becoming unlinked, the vehicle wheel moves toward the vehicle-widthwise outer side and interference with the rear vehicle body is suppressed to limit deformation of the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo DONKAI, Akira YAMAGUCHI, Tomoyuki NAKAO, Yoshihiro KONNO, Kuniaki OZONO, Naoki SHIMIZU