Patents by Inventor Masayuki Hirukawa

Masayuki Hirukawa 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: 11299050
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a pair of left and right batteries (26a); a pair of left and right battery-holding portions (28d) which respectively hold the left and right batteries (26a); and a pair of left and right battery connection terminals (28c1) which are provided on inner sides of the left and right battery-holding portions (28d) in a vehicle width direction and connected respectively to the left and right batteries (26a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirukawa, Masaru Nakayama, Kuniaki Ikui
  • Patent number: 11097607
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a seat on which an occupant is seated; a pair of right and left batteries that are arranged in a distributed manner to a right and a left below the seat; and a pair of right and left battery support parts which are provided on a vehicle body and each of which detachably holds each of the right and left batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirukawa, Naoki Matsumoto, Makoto Hotozuka, Hisao Nishiura
  • Patent number: 11059518
    Abstract: In a vehicle frame structure, upper ends of a front frame and a rear frame, which connect a lower frame and an upper frame vertically, are connected to each other above the upper frame, and a front portion frame assembly is connected to a main frame assembly via the lower frame and the upper ends of the front and rear frames. A bumper includes a front-rear frame portion extending forward from the front frame, and an inclined frame portion arranged between an intermediate portion of the front frame and an end portion of the front-rear frame portion. The bumper includes a sub-bumper, the sub-bumper including a front sub-frame extending upward from a front end of the bumper, and a front-rear sub-frame connected between an end portion of the front sub-frame and an intermediate portion of the front frame above the upper frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyuki Kariyasu, Takeshi Kamiyama, Masayuki Hirukawa, Yuji Maki, Ryota Yamagishi
  • Publication number: 20200231050
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a pair of left and right batteries (26a); a pair of left and right battery-holding portions (28d) which respectively hold the left and right batteries (26a); and a pair of left and right battery connection terminals (28c1) which are provided on inner sides of the left and right battery-holding portions (28d) in a vehicle width direction and connected respectively to the left and right batteries (26a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirukawa, Masaru Nakayama, Kuniaki Ikui
  • Publication number: 20200189379
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a seat on which an occupant is seated; a pair of right and left batteries that are arranged in a distributed manner to a right and a left below the seat; and a pair of right and left battery support parts which are provided on a vehicle body and each of which detachably holds each of the right and left batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirukawa, Naoki Matsumoto, Makoto Hotozuka, Hisao Nishiura
  • Publication number: 20200102015
    Abstract: In a vehicle frame structure, upper ends of a front frame and a rear frame, which connect a lower frame and an upper frame vertically, are connected to each other above the upper frame, and a front portion frame assembly is connected to a main frame assembly via the lower frame and the upper ends of the front and rear frames. A bumper includes a front-rear frame portion extending forward from the front frame, and an inclined frame portion arranged between an intermediate portion of the front frame and an end portion of the front-rear frame portion. The bumper includes a sub-bumper, the sub-bumper including a front sub-frame extending upward from a front end of the bumper, and a front-rear sub-frame connected between an end portion of the front sub-frame and an intermediate portion of the front frame above the upper frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Takeyuki Kariyasu, Takeshi Kamiyama, Masayuki Hirukawa, Yuji Maki, Ryota Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 9470134
    Abstract: An off road type vehicle exhaust system including a muffler, a mounting bracket and a vibration insulator. The vibration insulator connects the muffler to the vehicle. The mounting bracket connects the muffler to the vibration insulator and includes a rod attached to the muffler and configured to mate with the vibration insulator and a heat shield having a first end secured to the muffler and a second end engaging the vibration insulator. The rod has a first portion secured to an outer surface of the muffler, a first bend, a second portion extending away from the muffler, a second bend, and a third portion which is at least generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the muffler. The heat shield includes a muffler engaging section and a vibration insulator engaging section. The vibration insulator engaging section includes a first wall extending from the muffler engaging section, a bend, and a second wall opposed to the first wall. The second wall also includes an opening through which the rod passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirukawa
  • Patent number: 9205733
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, an engine, and a plurality of mount devices. The frame includes a main frame and a sub-frame attached to the main frame. The engine is attached to the sub-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., YUSA Corp
    Inventors: Douglas M. Olsen, Jason W. Grundey, Masayuki Hirukawa, Ross Kleman, Tomofumi Tanahashi, Brian Welch
  • Patent number: 9175505
    Abstract: A door handle assembly for a vehicle includes a mount structure, a door handle, and a latch assembly. The door handle includes an interface portion and a mounting portion. The interface portion includes inner and outer surfaces. The mounting portion is pivotally coupled with the mount structure such that the door handle is pivotable about a first axis between first and second positions. The latch assembly includes a latch body and an actuator arm pivotally coupled with the latch body. The latch body is attached to the mount structure. The actuator arm is pivotable between released and actuated positions. The door handle is configured to contact the actuator arm during at least a portion of the pivotal movement of the door handle from the first position to the second position, forcing the actuator arm to pivot from the released position to the actuated position. Vehicles are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirukawa
  • Patent number: 9169812
    Abstract: A vehicular engine assembly includes an engine, a panel, and a snorkel. The panel is associated with the engine and includes a panel surface, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The first and second side walls extend substantially upwardly from the panel surface and define a channel. The channel is configured to receive an elongated member. The snorkel includes an attachment tab having a leg member and a foot portion. The foot portion is adjacent to and overlies at least a portion of each of the first and second side walls. The foot portion cooperates with the first and second side walls to constrain the elongated member within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirukawa, Eric Douglas Moseley, Yoshiyuki Sato
  • Publication number: 20150300234
    Abstract: An off road type vehicle exhaust system including a muffler, a mounting bracket and a vibration insulator. The vibration insulator connects the muffler to the vehicle. The mounting bracket connects the muffler to the vibration insulator and includes a rod attached to the muffler and configured to mate with the vibration insulator and a heat shield having a first end secured to the muffler and a second end engaging the vibration insulator. The rod has a first portion secured to an outer surface of the muffler, a first bend, a second portion extending away from the muffler, a second bend, and a third portion which is at least generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the muffler. The heat shield includes a muffler engaging section and a vibration insulator engaging section. The vibration insulator engaging section includes a first wall extending from the muffler engaging section, a bend, and a second wall opposed to the first wall. The second wall also includes an opening through which the rod passes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirukawa
  • Patent number: 9022008
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel tank, a canister for temporarily storing vaporized fuel from the fuel tank, a charge pipe that connects the fuel tank and the canister and that introduces vaporized fuel from the fuel tank to the canister, a purge pipe that connects the canister with an intake system of an internal combustion engine, and a vent pipe that connects the canister with ambient air outside of the canister. An opening of the vent pipe is arranged to open upwardly with respect to the vehicle body in a recessed portion that is formed in a hollow shape and opens downwardly in the vehicle body. A space is formed to partially open in an interval to a recessed portion sidewall of the recessed portion, and a locking member is also provided to cover the opening of the recessed portion from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirukawa
  • Patent number: 8935969
    Abstract: A manual operator for a vehicle, wherein the manual operator can be simply operated, has a good appearance, and allows a sufficient space for a manual operator for a parking brake. A first manual operator (13) pivotably mounted on a handlebar (11) has an output section (26) mounted so as to be pivotable about the center of a first support shaft (12). A second manual operator (15) has an input section (44) provided so as to be pivotable about a second support shaft (14) when pushed by the output section (26). The second manual operator (15) is a manual operator adapted for a vehicle parking brake and capable of setting the vehicle to a parked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirukawa, Tetsuyoshi Kikuchi, Masaya Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 8851523
    Abstract: A frame for a vehicle to accommodate a large-sized accessory, such as a fuel tank, to be mounted downwardly of a rear pipe without having to lower a rear sub-pipe. A large-sized accessory, such as a fuel tank, can be inserted into a space under a rear pipe by removing a second rear sub-pipe from a main frame and the rear pipe. The second rear sub-pipe can be fixed to the main frame and the rear pipe by simply tightening bolts. Similarly, by simply loosening the bolts the second rear sub-pipe can be removed from the main frame and the rear pipe and the large-sized accessory can be removed onto an outside in a vehicle width direction. This facilitates mounting and helps reduce the number of man-hours involved in mounting the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Shiina, Akihiro Yamashita, Masayuki Hirukawa
  • Publication number: 20140216832
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, an engine, and a plurality of mount devices. The frame includes a main frame and a sub-frame attached to the main frame. The engine is attached to the sub-frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: YUSA CORP, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Douglas M. Olsen, Jason W. Grundey, Masayuki Hirukawa, Ross Kleman, Tomofumi Tanahashi, Brian Welch
  • Publication number: 20140217770
    Abstract: A door handle assembly for a vehicle includes a mount structure, a door handle, and a latch assembly. The door handle includes an interface portion and a mounting portion. The interface portion includes inner and outer surfaces. The mounting portion is pivotally coupled with the mount structure such that the door handle is pivotable about a first axis between first and second positions. The latch assembly includes a latch body and an actuator arm pivotally coupled with the latch body. The latch body is attached to the mount structure. The actuator arm is pivotable between released and actuated positions. The door handle is configured to contact the actuator arm during at least a portion of the pivotal movement of the door handle from the first position to the second position, forcing the actuator arm to pivot from the released position to the actuated position. Vehicles are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirukawa
  • Patent number: 8783400
    Abstract: A fan cover structure for a radiator assembly having a radiator and a cooling fan having a fan motor is provided. The fan cover structure includes a fan cover for surrounding the cooling fan and a support stay releasably mounted to the fan cover and secured to the radiator. The support stay securely holds the fan cover to the radiator. The support stay includes an arm and the fan cover includes a body having channel defined therein and an engagement member. The channel is dimensioned to receive a portion of the arm and the engagement member is configured to engage the arm portion and retain the arm portion in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirukawa
  • Patent number: 8727381
    Abstract: A fuel tank assembly includes a hinge assembly, a fuel tank, and at least one hinge bolt. The hinge assembly includes a hinge pin and a hinge stay. The hinge pin pivotally couples the hinge stay to a vehicular frame and defines a hinge axis about which the hinge stay is pivotable with respect to a frame. The at least one hinge bolt releasably couples the hinge stay to the fuel tank such that the fuel tank is pivotable about the hinge axis. The at least one hinge bolt intersects the hinge axis and obstructs the hinge pin from being removed from the hinge stay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirukawa
  • Publication number: 20140102818
    Abstract: A vehicular engine assembly includes an engine, a panel, and a snorkel. The panel is associated with the engine and includes a panel surface, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The first and second side walls extend substantially upwardly from the panel surface and define a channel. The channel is configured to receive an elongated member. The snorkel includes an attachment tab having a leg member and a foot portion. The foot portion is adjacent to and overlies at least a portion of each of the first and second side walls. The foot portion cooperates with the first and second side walls to constrain the elongated member within the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirukawa, Eric Douglas Moseley, Yoshiyuki Sato
  • Publication number: 20130334804
    Abstract: A fuel tank assembly includes a hinge assembly, a fuel tank, and at least one hinge bolt. The hinge assembly includes a hinge pin and a hinge stay. The hinge pin pivotally couples the hinge stay to a vehicular frame and defines a hinge axis about which the hinge stay is pivotable with respect to a frame. The at least one hinge bolt releasably couples the hinge stay to the fuel tank such that the fuel tank is pivotable about the hinge axis. The at least one hinge bolt intersects the hinge axis and obstructs the hinge pin from being removed from the hinge stay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Masayuki HIRUKAWA