Patents by Inventor Masatoki Kito

Masatoki Kito 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: 11618504
    Abstract: There is provided a bracket which connects an apron reinforcement provided below a bonnet and an upper portion of a fender provided on an outward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the bonnet. The bracket comprises a fender fixing portion fixed to a flange portion of an upper end portion of the fender, a body portion extending downwardly from the fender fixing portion and positioned on the outward side of the apron reinforcement, and an apron-reinforcement fixing portion extending from an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the body portion toward the apron reinforcement and fixed to the apron reinforcement. The body portion is provided with a curved part which is configured to be curved outwardly in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniyoshi Tashiro, Shigeaki Watanabe, Ryuichi Takahashi, Masatoki Kito, Susumu Kuroda, Reiko Yoshiura, Tomohiro Shimada, Kazumichi Takeshige, Qiang Wang, Toshihiro Nakaza, Satoru Eguchi, Hayato Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20210261194
    Abstract: There is provided a bracket which connects an apron reinforcement provided below a bonnet and an upper portion of a fender provided on an outward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the bonnet. The bracket comprises a fender fixing portion fixed to a flange portion of an upper end portion of the fender, a body portion extending downwardly from the fender fixing portion and positioned on the outward side of the apron reinforcement, and an apron-reinforcement fixing portion extending from an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the body portion toward the apron reinforcement and fixed to the apron reinforcement. The body portion is provided with a curved part which is configured to be curved outwardly in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniyoshi TASHIRO, Shigeaki WATANABE, Ryuichi TAKAHASHI, Masatoki KITO, Susumu KURODA, Reiko YOSHIURA, Tomohiro SHIMADA, Kazumichi TAKESHIGE, Qiang WANG, Toshihiro NAKAZA, Satoru EGUCHI, Hayato MIYAZAKI
  • Patent number: 10160418
    Abstract: An impact absorbing member is provided below a fascia upper member (upper-face forming member) which forms an upper face of a front end portion of a vehicle. The impact absorbing member comprises a front side part which includes a front wall portion, a top wall portion, and a rear wall portion so as to have a U-shaped cross section opening downward and a flat-plate shaped rear side part which extends rearward from a lower end of the rear wall portion. A rear end portion of the rear side part is held at a radiator shroud as a vehicle-body-side member, and the rear side part is configured to slant obliquely forward and downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Onishi, Ryo Komuta, Kenji Ohtani, Hiroyuki Yoshimoto, Hiroshi Sogabe, Masatoki Kito, Kazuya Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20170349124
    Abstract: An impact absorbing member is provided below a fascia upper member (upper-face forming member) which forms an upper face of a front end portion of a vehicle. The impact absorbing member comprises a front side part which includes a front wall portion, a top wall portion, and a rear wall portion so as to have a U-shaped cross section opening downward and a flat-plate shaped rear side part which extends rearward from a lower end of the rear wall portion. A rear end portion of the rear side part is held at a radiator shroud as a vehicle-body-side member, and the rear side part is configured to slant obliquely forward and downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki ONISHI, Ryo KOMUTA, Kenji OHTANI, Hiroyuki YOSHIMOTO, Hiroshi SOGABE, Masatoki KITO, Kazuya MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 9327675
    Abstract: A pair of right-and-left brackets which extend obliquely downward and forward from respective front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames are provided. A stiffener which extends in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam is attached to respective front ends of the pair of right-and-left brackets. The stiffener is configured such that its front end portion slants downward and forward and has an open cross section, and its rear end portion thereof has a closed cross section. An obstacle can be prevented from coming in below a vehicle-body front portion, and also the sufficient energy absorption in a collision and the prompt flicking-up of an obstacle can properly achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoki Kito, Hiroshi Sogabe, Hirofumi Takada, Tsutomu Watanabe, Arihiro Furumoto, Ryuma Murakami, Takayuki Nakamae
  • Patent number: 9254801
    Abstract: A protecting member comprises a pair of right-and-left brackets extending obliquely downward and forward from front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames and a stiffener extending in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam and attached to front ends of the brackets. The stiffener has a closed cross section extending in the vehicle width direction, and an upper face of its central portion in the vehicle width direction has a concaved portion. A lower face of the stiffener extends horizontally substantially straightly. It is preferable that the closed cross section of the central portion of the stiffener be configured such that its vertical distance is relatively small and its longitudinal width is relatively large, compared with the other part of the stiffener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sogabe, Masatoki Kito, Hirofumi Takada, Tsutomu Watanabe, Arihiro Furumoto, Ryuma Murakami, Takayuki Nakamae
  • Patent number: 9233662
    Abstract: A protecting member includes a pair of right-and-left brackets which extend obliquely downward and forward from front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames and a stiffener which extends in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam and attached to front ends of the pair of right-and-left brackets. The protecting member has a load/deformation characteristic including a first stage from a collision start, a second stage after the first stage, and a third stage after the second stage. Herein, the first stage is set so as to restrain the obstacle from coming in below a vehicle-body front portion, the second stage is set so as to absorb collision energy to restrain a local deformation of the obstacle, and the third stage is set so as to flick the obstacle up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoki Kito, Hiroshi Sogabe, Hirofumi Takada, Tsutomu Watanabe, Arihiro Furumoto, Ryuma Murakami, Takayuki Nakamae
  • Publication number: 20150158445
    Abstract: A protecting member comprises a pair of right-and-left brackets extending obliquely downward and forward from front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames and a stiffener extending in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam and attached to front ends of the brackets. The stiffener has a closed cross section extending in the vehicle width direction, and an upper face of its central portion in the vehicle width direction has a concaved portion. A lower face of the stiffener extends horizontally substantially straightly. It is preferable that the closed cross section of the central portion of the stiffener be configured such that its vertical distance is relatively small and its longitudinal width is relatively large, compared with the other part of the stiffener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi SOGABE, Masatoki KITO, Hirofumi TAKADA, Tsutomu WATANABE, Arihiro FURUMOTO, Ryuma MURAKAMI, Takayuki NAKAMAE
  • Publication number: 20150054306
    Abstract: A pair of right-and-left brackets which extend obliquely downward and forward from respective front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames are provided. A stiffener which extends in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam is attached to respective front ends of the pair of right-and-left brackets. The stiffener is configured such that its front end portion slants downward and forward and has an open cross section, and its rear end portion thereof has a closed cross section. An obstacle can be prevented from coming in below a vehicle-body front portion, and also the sufficient energy absorption in a collision and the prompt flicking-up of an obstacle can properly achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoki KITO, Hiroshi SOGABE, Hirofumi TAKADA, Tsutomu WATANABE, Arihiro FURUMOTO, Ryuma MURAKAMI, Takayuki NAKAMAE
  • Publication number: 20150054307
    Abstract: A protecting member includes a pair of right-and-left brackets which extend obliquely downward and forward from front portions of a pair of right-and-left side frames and a stiffener which extends in a vehicle width direction below a bumper beam and attached to front ends of the pair of right-and-left brackets. The protecting member has a load/deformation characteristic including a first stage from a collision start, a second stage after the first stage, and a third stage after the second stage. Herein, the first stage is set so as to restrain the obstacle from coming in below a vehicle-body front portion, the second stage is set so as to absorb collision energy to restrain a local deformation of the obstacle, and the third stage is set so as to flick the obstacle up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoki KITO, Hiroshi SOGABE, Hirofumi TAKADA, Tsutomu WATANABE, Arihiro FURUMOTO, Ryuma MURAKAMI, Takayuki NAKAMAE
  • Patent number: 8403403
    Abstract: A pair of sub frames is provided on the outside of a heat exchanger in a vehicle width direction, there is provided a stiffener which interconnects front ends of the sub frames and projects forward, and the stiffener is connected to lower portions of the sub frames. Accordingly, the sufficient attachment rigidity of the stiffener can be secured in the normal state, whereas in the vehicle collision state the stiffener can be easily separated off the sub frames without resisting improperly, so that the safety of pedestrian can be secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kuniyoshi Tashiro, Nobuyuki Nakayama, Yamato Matsuda, Hirofumi Miyamoto, Hiroshi Sogabe, Masatoki Kito
  • Publication number: 20120019027
    Abstract: A pair of sub frames is provided on the outside of a heat exchanger in a vehicle width direction, there is provided a stiffener which interconnects front ends of the sub frames and projects forward, and the stiffener is connected to lower portions of the sub frames. Accordingly, the sufficient attachment rigidity of the stiffener can be secured in the normal state, whereas in the vehicle collision state the stiffener can be easily separated off the sub frames without resisting improperly, so that the safety of pedestrian can be secured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kuniyoshi TASHIRO, Nobuyuki NAKAYAMA, Yamato MATSUDA, Hirofumi MIYAMOTO, Hiroshi SOGABE, Masatoki KITO