Patents by Inventor Masato Kumamoto

Masato Kumamoto 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).

  • Accelerator pedal mechanism for vehicle
    Patent number: 6263758
    Abstract: A pedal rod (12) connected to an accelerator pedal (10) has one end which is a free end. A friction generating device (20) is disposed at the free end of the pedal rod (12). The friction generating device (20) has a cylindrical housing (26) as a fixed friction member, a movable friction member (28) disposed movably in the interior of the housing (26) and kept in contact with the housing, and a friction member return spring (30) for urging the movable friction member (28) in a predetermined direction. When the accelerator pedal (10) is depressed, the free end of the pedal rod (12) pushes both movable friction member (28) and friction member return spring (30), so that there occur friction between the movable friction member (28) and the housing (fixed friction member) and friction induced by the friction member return spling (30). Upon release of the accelerator pedal (10), the movable friction member (28) is returned to its original position by the friction member return spring (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Mikuni Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Kumamoto, Takumi Oikawa, Yuuichirou Toukai, Yoshio Shibuya