Patents by Inventor Masuo Matsuki

Masuo Matsuki 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: 11148635
    Abstract: An inclination controlling mechanism of a seatbelt device is provided with: a pulley that converts an advancing/retracting movement of a cable of the cable advancing/retracting mechanism; a drive gear mounted around a pivot shaft of the pulley and synchronized with rotation of the pulley; and a driven gear mounted around a pivot shaft of a sensor housing so as to move in conjunction with a rotation of the sensor housing. The drive gear and driven gear engage with each other in a condition where a rotational track surface of the drive gear and rotational track surface of the driven gear intersect at a predetermined angle. As a result, an inertial body supporting surface serving as a sensor reference plane can be accurately maintained horizontally even at an arbitrary seatback recline angle, and thus the accuracy of the acceleration sensor can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Ito, Masuo Matsuki, Ganta Hibata
  • Publication number: 20200361411
    Abstract: An inclination controlling mechanism of a seatbelt device is provided with: a pulley that converts an advancing/retracting movement of a cable of the cable advancing/retracting mechanism; a drive gear mounted around a pivot shaft of the pulley and synchronized with rotation of the pulley; and a driven gear mounted around a pivot shaft of a sensor housing so as to move in conjunction with a rotation of the sensor housing. The drive gear and driven gear engage with each other in a condition where a rotational track surface of the drive gear and rotational track surface of the driven gear intersect at a predetermined angle. As a result, an inertial body supporting surface serving as a sensor reference plane can be accurately maintained horizontally even at an arbitrary seatback recline angle, and thus the accuracy of the acceleration sensor can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Katsuhiro ITO, Masuo MATSUKI, Ganta HIBATA
  • Patent number: 10099653
    Abstract: A seat belt device includes a spindle (11) for retracting a seat belt (13), an electric actuator (55), a pre-tensioner (14) and a power transmission mechanism (20), wherein the power transmission mechanism (20) can reversibly switch the connection and disconnection between the electric actuator (55) and the spindle (11) before the pre-tensioner (14) is activated, while when the pre-tensioner (14) is activated. The power transmission mechanism (20) non-reversibly interrupts the connection between the electric actuator (55) and the spindle (11) via an elastic piece (60) when a torque difference between an actuator-side gear (80) and a spindle-side gear (82) becomes larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Eiji Maemura, Yukinori Midorikawa, Masuo Matsuki
  • Publication number: 20170021797
    Abstract: A seat belt device includes a spindle (11) for retracting a seat belt (13), an electric actuator (55), a pre-tensioner (14) and a power transmission mechanism (20), wherein the power transmission mechanism (20) can reversibly switch the connection and disconnection between the electric actuator (55) and the spindle (11) before the pre-tensioner (14) is activated, while when the pre-tensioner (14) is activated. The power transmission mechanism (20) non-reversibly interrupts the connection between the electric actuator (55) and the spindle (11) via an elastic piece (60) when a torque difference between an actuator-side gear (80) and a spindle-side gear (82) becomes larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Eiji Maemura, Yukinori Midorikawa, Masuo Matsuki
  • Patent number: 9446737
    Abstract: A seat belt device includes a spindle (11) for retracting a seat belt (13), an electric actuator (55), a pre-tensioner (14) and a power transmission mechanism (20), wherein the power transmission mechanism (20) can reversibly switch the connection and disconnection between the electric actuator (55) and the spindle (11) before the pre-tensioner (14) is activated, while when the pre-tensioner (14) is activated. The power transmission mechanism (20) non-reversibly interrupts the connection between the electric actuator (55) and the spindle (11) via an elastic piece (60) when a torque difference between an actuator-side gear (80) and a spindle-side gear (82) becomes larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVLEOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Eiji Maemura, Yukinori Midorikawa, Masuo Matsuki
  • Patent number: 9358951
    Abstract: A counterweight that biases a ratchet lever toward an unlocking side, in addition to a self weight of the ratchet lever, is provided in a mechanism that locks pull-out operation of a seatbelt according to operation of an acceleration sensor. The counterweight is provided with a moment transmission projection that allows the ratchet lever to turn freely as a result of non-engagement between the counterweight and the ratchet lever when a tilt angle of a seat back is less than 60°, and that transmits rotational moment by a self weight of the counterweight (rotational moment in the direction of an arrow R3) to the ratchet lever as a rotary bias force toward the unlocking side as a result of engagement between the counterweight and an engagement wall of the ratchet lever when the tilt angle of the seat back is 60° or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Masuo Matsuki, Katsuhiro Ito, Takashi Kageyama
  • Publication number: 20150001329
    Abstract: A counterweight that biases a ratchet lever toward an unlocking side, in addition to a self weight of the ratchet lever, is provided in a mechanism that locks pull-out operation of a seatbelt according to operation of an acceleration sensor. The counterweight is provided with a moment transmission projection that allows the ratchet lever to turn freely as a result of non-engagement between the counterweight and the ratchet lever when a tilt angle of a seat back is less than 60°, and that transmits rotational moment by a self weight of the counterweight (rotational moment in the direction of an arrow R3) to the ratchet lever as a rotary bias force toward the unlocking side as a result of engagement between the counterweight and an engagement wall of the ratchet lever when the tilt angle of the seat back is 60° or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Masuo Matsuki, Katsuhiro Ito, Takashi Kageyama
  • Patent number: 8893998
    Abstract: A spindle (2) of a seat belt retractor is rotationally driven when required by a motor (5) to the webbing take-up direction side through a power transmission mechanism section (6). Further, the spindle (2) is always connected to a take-up spring (7) and is always subjected to rotational power acting to the webbing take-up side. The structure enables a user wearing a seat belt to be restrained even in failure, realizing a safer and more reliable restraining device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Yukinori Midorikawa, Hiroshi Yamada, Masuo Matsuki, Kiyoshi Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20140319262
    Abstract: A seat belt device includes a spindle (11) for retracting a seat belt (13), an electric actuator (55), a pre-tensioner (14) and a power transmission mechanism (20), wherein the power transmission mechanism (20) can reversibly switch the connection and disconnection between the electric actuator (55) and the spindle (11) before the pre-tensioner (14) is activated, while when the pre-tensioner (14) is activated. The power transmission mechanism (20) non-reversibly interrupts the connection between the electric actuator (55) and the spindle (11) via an elastic piece (60) when a torque difference between an actuator-side gear (80) and a spindle-side gear (82) becomes larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Eiji Maemura, Yukinori Midorikawa, Masuo Matsuki
  • Patent number: 8777147
    Abstract: A seat belt device includes a spindle 11 for retracting a seat belt 13, an electric actuator 55, a pre-tensioner 14 and a power transmission mechanism 20, wherein the power transmission mechanism 20 can reversibly switch the connection and disconnection between the electric actuator 55 and the spindle 11 before the pre-tensioner 14 is activated, while when the pre-tensioner 14 is activated, the power transmission mechanism 20 non-reversibly interrupts the connection between the electric actuator 55 and the spindle 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Eiji Maemura, Yukinori Midorikawa, Masuo Matsuki
  • Patent number: 8286903
    Abstract: A retractor includes a slide nut that is caused to slide toward a tread head while rotating by a mesh between a first male screw groove and a female screw groove when the tread head is locked and a spindle rotates in a direction for unreeling a webbing, and a slider that is caused to slide toward the slide nut by a mesh between the female screw groove and a second male screw groove. A torsional rigidity of a second shaft part of a torsion bar is larger than that of a first shaft part, and a play is eliminated before a gap such that the slide nut and the slider are integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Ogawa, Masuo Matsuki
  • Publication number: 20110121120
    Abstract: A retractor includes a slide nut that is caused to slide toward a tread head while rotating by a mesh between a first male screw groove and a female screw groove when the tread head is locked and a spindle rotates in a direction for unreeling a webbing, and a slider that is caused to slide toward the slide nut by a mesh between the female screw groove and a second male screw groove. A torsional rigidity of a second shaft part of a torsion bar is larger than that of a first shaft part, and a play is eliminated before a gap such that the slide nut and the slider are integrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Kiyoshi OGAWA, Masuo Matsuki
  • Publication number: 20110101145
    Abstract: A seat belt device includes a spindle 11 for retracting a seat belt 13, an electric actuator 55, a pre-tensioner 14 and a power transmission mechanism 20, wherein the power transmission mechanism 20 can reversibly switch the connection and disconnection between the electric actuator 55 and the spindle 11 before the pre-tensioner 14 is activated, while when the pre-tensioner 14 is activated, the power transmission mechanism 20 non-reversibly interrupts the connection between the electric actuator 55 and the spindle 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Eiji Maemura, Yukinori Midorikawa, Masuo Matsuki
  • Patent number: 7500632
    Abstract: A seat belt device has a gas generator for generating a high pressure gas when the vehicle is in emergency, a cylinder for conducting the high pressure gas from the gas generator, a piston received movably within the cylinder and pressed and moved by the high pressure gas, and a drive unit for rotating a winding shaft of a seat belt retractor in a direction of removing the slack of a belt, using the movement of the piston, wherein the pretensioner is employed with the energy absorbing mechanism, for reversely rotating the winding shaft if a tension acting on the belt exceeds a predetermined value after removing the slack of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyasu Ono, Sadanori Ohsumi, Masuo Matsuki, Kiyoshi Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20070095963
    Abstract: A spindle (2) of a seat belt retractor is rotationally driven when required by a motor (5) to the webbing take-up direction side through a power transmission mechanism section (6). Further, the spindle (2) is always connected to a take-up spring (7) and is always subjected to rotational power acting to the webbing take-up side. The structure enables a user wearing a seat belt to be restrained even in failure, realizing a safer and more reliable restraining device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Midorikawa Yukinori, Hiroshi Yamada, Masuo Matsuki, Kiyoshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6729650
    Abstract: An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus prevents damage to a seatbelt. An electric retractor having a motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt includes the automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus. The motor is controlled by a CPU. The CPU detects whether the seatbelt is attached to, or disconnected from, the occupant, and whether the seatbelt has been retracted to a limit thereof. The motor is controlled by the CPU such that when the CPU detects that the seatbelt is retracted and when the CPU subsequently detects that the seatbelt has been fully retracted to the limit thereof, the seatbelt is prevented from being further retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinori Midorikawa, Osamu Kawai, Kiyoshi Ogawa, Masuo Matsuki
  • Patent number: 6726141
    Abstract: There is provided a seat belt apparatus which not only can reduce the possibility that an end lock phenomenon can occur when removing the mounting of a webbing but also, even in case where the end lock phenomenon occurs, can remove the end lock phenomenon easily. That is, in a seat belt apparatus including a seat belt retractor having a lock mechanism structured such that, when the acceleration of a vehicle body or the pay-out acceleration of a webbing is a predetermined value or more, a pawl member (15) is engaged with a pawl wheel (13) to lock the rotation of a bobbin (2) with the webbing wound thereon in the webbing pay-out direction, the pawl wheel (13) is structured such that two or more kinds of ratchet teeth (T1) and (T2) differing in addendum circle diameter are mixedly arranged in the peripheral direction of the pawl wheel according to a predetermined manner, thereby being able to lower the probability of the webbing end lock occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shu Ichikawa, Masuo Matsuki
  • Patent number: 6554092
    Abstract: Provided is a seatbelt device capable of realizing a comfortable seatbelt-wearing environment as well as appropriately securing and protecting a passenger. The seatbelt device is further capable of realizing an immediate escape or rescue of a passenger after a vehicle accident, thereby providing extra safety and a swift escape by protracting the webbing in accordance with the state of the vehicle accident. This seatbelt device is provided with a retractor which uses a motor for retracting and protracting the webbing that secures a passenger to his/her seat, and a controller for rotating the motor and at least retracting the webbing. The controller is capable of altering the protraction mode of the webbing in accordance with the state of the webbing fastened by the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinori Midorikawa, Katsuyasu Ono, Masuo Matsuki
  • Publication number: 20030015864
    Abstract: An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle has a seatbelt and operates to restrain an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant. An electric retractor has a DC motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt. An MPU controls the DC motor. Protraction of the seatbelt by the occupant is detected. When the protraction of said belt is detected, the MPU controls the DC motor so as to protract the seatbelt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: NSK AUTOLIV CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukinori Midorikawa, Osamu Kawai, Kiyoshi Ogawa, Masuo Matsuki
  • Patent number: 6485057
    Abstract: An automotive passenger restraint and protection apparatus for an automotive vehicle has a seatbelt and operates to restrain an occupant of the automotive vehicle by the seatbelt to protect the occupant. An electric retractor has a DC motor for retracting and protracting the seatbelt. An MPU controls the DC motor. Protraction of the seatbelt by the occupant is detected. When the protraction of said belt is detected, the MPU controls the DC motor so as to protract the seatbelt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: NSK Autoliv Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinori Midorikawa, Osamu Kawai, Kiyoshi Ogawa, Masuo Matsuki