Patents by Inventor Kunihiro Kitsu

Kunihiro Kitsu 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: 11851152
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a trolling mode. The outboard motor includes an outboard motor body including a propeller and a drive source, a tiller handle body extending forward from the outboard motor body, a grip handle extending from a front end surface of the tiller handle body and configured to steer the outboard motor body via the tiller handle body, and a trolling switch attached to the tiller handle body and configured to adjust a trolling speed. An operation portion of the trolling switch is attached to a lower front end surface of the tiller handle body, the lower front end surface being located below the grip handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Taiichi Otobe, Kazuyoshi Sato, Yoshiyuki Matsuda, Akifumi Fujima
  • Publication number: 20230029328
    Abstract: An engine cover of an outboard motor includes an upper cover and a lower cover that are vertically separable. A fixing belt capable of fixing the upper cover and the lower cover to each other is attached to the rear end of the engine cover. The upper cover includes a belt holding portion that holds the fixing belt. The belt holding portion includes a holding frame that forms a belt insertion hole. A head portion of the fixing belt includes a pair of contact portions that come into contact with upper surfaces of a pair of first frame portions of the holding frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Kazuyoshi Sato, Haruhiko Komatsu, Masami Okubo
  • Publication number: 20220081094
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes a trolling mode. The outboard motor includes an outboard motor body including a propeller and a drive source, a tiller handle body extending forward from the outboard motor body, a grip handle extending from a front end surface of the tiller handle body and configured to steer the outboard motor body via the tiller handle body, and a trolling switch attached to the tiller handle body and configured to adjust a trolling speed. An operation portion of the trolling switch is attached to a lower front end surface of the tiller handle body, the lower front end surface being located below the grip handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Taiichi Otobe, Kazuyoshi Sato, Yoshiyuki Matsuda, Akifumi Fujima
  • Patent number: 11274620
    Abstract: An engine generator, comprising an engine, a power generator configured to generate electric power based on motive power of the engine, a cooling fan configured to generate a cooling wind for cooling the engine, a control panel configured to accept an operation input by a user, a storage chamber configured to store a constituent part of the control panel, a sensor unit configured to detect a predetermined gas in the storage chamber, and a controller configured to stop the engine based on a detection result of the sensor unit, wherein the storage chamber stores the sensor unit and communicates with outer air such that a gas in the storage chamber can be suctioned by the cooling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamada, Kunihiro Kitsu, Daiki Kamiyama, Kazuya Miwa
  • Publication number: 20200291882
    Abstract: An engine generator, comprising an engine, a power generator configured to generate electric power based on motive power of the engine, a cooling fan configured to generate a cooling wind for cooling the engine, a control panel configured to accept an operation input by a user, a storage chamber configured to store a constituent part of the control panel, a sensor unit configured to detect a predetermined gas in the storage chamber, and a controller configured to stop the engine based on a detection result of the sensor unit, wherein the storage chamber stores the sensor unit and communicates with outer air such that a gas in the storage chamber can be suctioned by the cooling fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Makoto YAMADA, Kunihiro KITSU, Daiki KAMIYAMA, Kazuya MIWA
  • Patent number: 7841600
    Abstract: A seal member seals a gap between upper and lower cover members of an engine cover of an outboard motor. The seal member includes a supporting portion and a sealing portion integral with the supporting portion. The supporting portion has such a high spring modulus that the supporting portion is not plastically deformed with a load is applied to the supporting portion when the upper cover member is locked to the lower cover member. The sealing portion is hollow and has such a small spring modulus that the sealing portion can readily flex into close contact with the upper and lower cover members so as to provide an improved seal between the upper and lower cover members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Makoto Yazaki
  • Patent number: 7621791
    Abstract: In an outboard engine unit, a cover assembly, defining a lower half section of an engine room, is composed of left and right cover members each formed of resin, and a bracket is fixed to a rear portion of the engine or engine support structure. The left and right cover members are fixed at their respective rear portions to the bracket. Centerline of an engine cylinder is offset from a centerline of the engine room toward one of left and right sides of the unit, and an ignition plug is provided on the other side opposite from the one side toward which the engine cylinder centerline is offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yazaki, Kunihiro Kitsu, Toru Kimura, Masanori Tsubouchi
  • Publication number: 20070254539
    Abstract: In an outboard engine unit, a cover assembly, defining a lower half section of an engine room, is composed of left and right cover members each formed of resin, and a bracket is fixed to a rear portion of the engine or engine support structure. The left and right cover members are fixed at their respective rear portions to the bracket. Centerline of an engine cylinder is offset from a centerline of the engine room toward one of left and right sides of the unit, and an ignition plug is provided on the other side opposite from the one side toward which the engine cylinder centerline is offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Makoto Yazaki, Kunihiro Kitsu, Toru Kimura, Masanori Tsubouchi
  • Publication number: 20070210531
    Abstract: A seal member seals a gap between upper and lower cover members of an engine cover of an outboard motor. The seal member includes a supporting portion and a sealing portion integral with the supporting portion. The supporting portion has such a high spring modulus that the supporting portion is not plastically deformed with a load is applied to the supporting portion when the upper cover member is locked to the lower cover member. The sealing portion is hollow and has such a small spring modulus that the sealing portion can readily flex into close contact with the upper and lower cover members so as to provide an improved seal between the upper and lower cover members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Makoto Yazaki
  • Patent number: 7210972
    Abstract: An outboard engine with a cover for allowing for an improved outward appearance is disclosed. The engine includes a leg case that houses a drive shaft for transmitting the output from the engine to a propeller. The cover covers the leg case. The cover is formed integrally, and a front part is designed to be opened. The front part is opened and is made to encase and cover a periphery of the leg case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Shoichi Rinzaki
  • Publication number: 20070042652
    Abstract: An outboard engine with a cover for allowing for an improved outward appearance is disclosed. The engine includes a leg case that houses a drive shaft for transmitting the output from the engine to a propeller. The cover covers the leg case. The cover is formed integrally, and a front part is designed to be opened. The front part is opened and is made to encase and cover a periphery of the leg case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Shoichi Rinzaki
  • Patent number: 6824434
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes upper and lower pivot shafts provided respectively in a swivel case and a pair of left and right stern brackets supporting the swivel case via a tilt shaft. Upper and lower end portions of an extendable part of a tilt system are mounted on the upper and lower pivot shafts. First and second mounting parts are provided on the upper pivot shaft so that they are offset in mutually opposite left and right directions from a central position between the pair of stern brackets. The offset of the second mounting part is set smaller than the offset of the first mounting part. Consequently, either a gas-assist type or power type tilt system can be mounted with good balance between the left and right stern brackets, thereby improving the appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Kouichi Oka, Michiharu Ohkawa
  • Publication number: 20040110430
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes upper and lower pivot shafts provided respectively in a swivel case and a pair of left and right stern brackets supporting the swivel case via a tilt shaft. Upper and lower end portions of an extendable part of a tilt system are mounted on the upper and lower pivot shafts. First and second mounting parts are provided on the upper pivot shaft so that they are offset in mutually opposite left and right directions from a central position between the pair of stern brackets. The offset of the second mounting part is set smaller than the offset of the first mounting part. Consequently, either a gas-assist type or power type tilt system can be mounted with good balance between the left and right stern brackets, thereby improving the appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Kouichi Oka, Michiharu Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 6729919
    Abstract: In a steering handle device including a tilting switch, an overhang portion is formed on a switch case detachably secured to a lower surface of a steering handle, and protrudes from a side of the steering handle toward a side where a steersman is in position. A tilting switch is mounted in a switch-mounting bore which is open at a rear slant wall of the overhang portion. Thus, the steering handle can be also used commonly in an outboard engine system including no tilting switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Kouichi Oka
  • Patent number: 6656003
    Abstract: A center frame 64 fixed to a lower end of a swivel shaft 62 of an outboard engine system by a bolt 79 includes a swivel shaft extension 641 extending downwards from the lower end of the swivel shaft 62, and a core metal 642 which extends laterally from a lower end of the swivel shaft extension 641 and has a lower mount rubber 80 integrally baked thereto. The lower mount rubber 80 is restrained on a rear surface of the extension case 42. Thus, the distance between an upper mount rubber mounted at an upper portion of the swivel shaft 62 and the lower mount rubber 80 mounted at a lower portion of the swivel shaft 62 can be increased without downward extension of the swivel shaft 62 itself to enhance the anti-vibration effect, while avoiding an increase in extra weight and an increase in cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Tetsuro Ikeno, Hiroshi Mizuguchi, Kazuyuki Shiomi, Taiichi Otobe
  • Patent number: 6645019
    Abstract: In an outboard engine system, an inertia force a generated longitudinally by a piston 14 is countervailed by an inertia force b generated by a crankshaft 15, and inertia forces c and d subsidiarily laterally generated vibrate a body of the outboard engine system laterally about a phantom center point C of vibration. At this time, an elastomeric member 74 resiliently supporting the system body on a hull has a rigidity in a tangent direction (in the direction of L3) about the phantom center point C of vibration, which is set to be lower than a rigidity in a radial direction (in the direction of L2) about the phantom center point C of vibration. Therefore, the lateral vibration is reduced effectively due to the lower rigidity of the elastomeric member 74. Thrusts e and f generated by a propeller and acting in a longitudinal direction (in the direction of L1) are transmitted to the hull through the elastomeric member 74.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiomi, Tetsuro Ikeno, Taiichi Otobe, Kunihiro Kitsu, Hiroshi Mizuguchi
  • Publication number: 20030176121
    Abstract: In a steering handle device including a tilting switch, an overhang portion is formed on a switch case detachably secured to a lower surface of a steering handle, and protrudes from a side of the steering handle toward a side where a steersman is in position. A tilting switch is mounted in a switch-mounting bore which is open at a rear slant wall of the overhang portion. Thus, the steering handle can be also used commonly in an outboard engine system including no tilting switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Kouichi Oka
  • Patent number: 6491555
    Abstract: In an outboard engine system, a throttle grip position maintaining device includes a retained portion integrally formed on a throttle grip, a friction member axially superposed on the retained portion, a support member mounted to a steering bar handle to abut against an inner end face of the retained portion, a regulating member threadedly fitted over the support member and having an urging portion abutting against an outer end face of the friction member, and an anti-loosening means provided between the support member and the regulating member for inhibiting the disorderly movement of the regulating member. With such arrangement, even when a retaining force on the throttle grip is regulated, a thrust load is not applied to the throttle grip, and the retaining force can be maintained stably after the regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Kouichi Oka, Hideki Nemoto
  • Patent number: 6488552
    Abstract: An outboard engine comprises: a power unit including a body structure, an engine (10) disposed in an upper portion of the body structure, a propeller shaft (25) supported for rotation on a lower portion of the body structure so as to be driven by the engine (10), and a cowling (5) detachably attached to the body structure so as to cover the engine (10) from above and to defining a part of an engine room (6). A tilt bracket (35) connected to the body structure of the power unit is connected pivotally to a stern bracket (36) clamped to a boat by a tilt shaft (37). The cowling (5) is provided integrally with a tilt handle (80) to be gripped by hand when tilting the power unit, and an air inlet structure (70) through which air is introduced into the engine room (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Hideki Nemoto, Nobuo Haga
  • Publication number: 20020028616
    Abstract: In an outboard engine system, a throttle grip position maintaining device includes a retained portion integrally formed on a throttle grip, a friction member axially superposed on the retained portion, a support member mounted to a steering bar handle to abut against an inner end face of the retained portion, a regulating member threadedly fitted over the support member and having an urging portion abutting against an outer end face of the friction member, and an anti-loosening means provided between the support member and the regulating member for inhibiting the disorderly movement of the regulating member. With such arrangement, even when a retaining force on the throttle grip is regulated, a thrust load is not applied to the throttle grip, and the retaining force can be maintained stably after the regulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kitsu, Kouichi Oka, Hideki Nemoto