Patents by Inventor Miho Kowaki

Miho Kowaki 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: 9944330
    Abstract: An upper face portion of a suspension tower portion of a vehicle comprises an fastening face portion where plural fastening portions to which an upper-side attached portion of a suspension is fixedly fastened are provided and a top face portion which is provided at a higher level than the fastening face portion so as to face the upper-side attached portion of the suspension, the top face portion being connected to a central portion of the fastening face portion via a vertical wall portion. An inner-peripheral-side rib is provided on an inner-peripheral side of the vertical wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miho Kowaki, Sakayu Terada, Ryotaro Hirata
  • Patent number: 9878742
    Abstract: A suspension tower portion structure of a vehicle is configured such that an upper face portion of a suspension tower portion comprises an fastening face portion where plural fastening portions to which an upper-side attached portion of a suspension is fixedly fastened are provided, plural arc-shaped wall portions which are each provided to rise around the fastening portion are provided on the fastening face portion, and the arc-shaped wall portion is configured to be spaced apart from a fastening seat portion of a fastening member to be fastened to the fastening portion 11, having a constant distance therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miho Kowaki, Sakayu Terada, Takehiro Kamei, Ryotaro Hirata
  • Publication number: 20170080982
    Abstract: An upper face portion of a suspension tower portion of a vehicle comprises an fastening face portion where plural fastening portions to which an upper-side attached portion of a suspension is fixedly fastened are provided and a top face portion which is provided at a higher level than the fastening face portion so as to face the upper-side attached portion of the suspension, the top face portion being connected to a central portion of the fastening face portion via a vertical wall portion. An inner-peripheral-side rib is provided on an inner-peripheral side of the vertical wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miho KOWAKI, Sakayu TERADA, Ryotaro HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20170080983
    Abstract: A suspension tower portion structure of a vehicle is configured such that an upper face portion of a suspension tower portion comprises an fastening face portion where plural fastening portions to which an upper-side attached portion of a suspension is fixedly fastened are provided, plural arc-shaped wall portions which are each provided to rise around the fastening portion are provided on the fastening face portion, and the arc-shaped wall portion is configured to be spaced apart from a fastening seat portion of a fastening member to be fastened to the fastening portion 11, having a constant distance therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miho KOWAKI, Sakayu TERADA, Takehiro KAMEI, Ryotaro HIRATA
  • Patent number: 9302720
    Abstract: A floor panel includes: an article storage portion formed to protrude downwardly at a position spaced apart from each of two frame members on vehicle widthwise opposite sides thereof; and a pair of right and left lateral coupling portions each provided between a respective one of the frame members and the article storage portion. A storage bottom of the article storage portion has an upwardly or downwardly convex curved surface, and a storage wall of the article storage portion is configured such that each of right and left upper ends thereof is located below a corresponding one of two joint sections between respective ones of the lateral coupling portions of the floor panel and respective ones of the frame members. At least one of the pair of lateral coupling portions is formed by a downwardly inclined planar or curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Miho Kowaki
  • Patent number: 8967672
    Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle, where suspension forming members are attached to a vehicle body, there are provided a first face portion, through which the suspension forming member extends, a second face portion provided to face to the first face portion, and a support member provided between the first face portion and the second face portion and supporting the suspension forming members, and the support member is joined to said second face portion via a reinforcing member which is formed integrally with the support member or formed separately from the support member. Accordingly, vibrations of the support member can be properly restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kurogi, Tsuyoshi Sugihara, Kohya Nakagawa, Kuniaki Nagao, Sakayu Terada, Miho Kowaki, Akira Iyoshi, Shigeaki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150042128
    Abstract: A floor panel comprises: an article storage portion formed to protrude downwardly at a position spaced apart from each of two frame members on vehicle widthwise opposite sides thereof; and a pair of right and left lateral coupling portions each provided between a respective one of the frame members and the article storage portion. A storage bottom of the article storage portion has an upwardly or downwardly convex curved surface, and a storage wall of the article storage portion is configured such that each of right and left upper ends thereof is located below a corresponding one of two joint sections between respective ones of the lateral coupling portions of the floor panel and respective ones of the frame members. At least one of the pair of lateral coupling portions is formed by a downwardly inclined planar or curved surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Miho Kowaki
  • Patent number: 8720984
    Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which comprises at least one vehicle-body forming member forming a closed-section portion continuously in a specified direction, a partition member extending in the specified direction and partitioning an inside of the closed-section portion, and a bulkhead provided in the closed-section portion and joined to the vehicle-body forming member, the bulkhead is joined to an inner face of the vehicle-body forming member at specified positions which are located on both sides of the partition member, and the bulkhead is joined to a specified portion of the partition member which is located in the vicinity of opening portions formed at the partition member or to an end portion of the partition member in the specified direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kurogi, Tsuyoshi Sugihara, Kohya Nakagawa, Kuniaki Nagao, Sakayu Terada, Miho Kowaki, Akira Iyoshi, Shigeaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8708390
    Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which comprises vehicle-body forming members forming a closed-section portion and having a dent portion which dents toward an inside of the closed-section portion, and a reinforcing member provided in the closed-section portion and joined to the vehicle-body forming members, a joint portion of the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member includes a rigid joint portion where the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member are joined with a direct contact thereof and a flexible joint portion where the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member are joined via a damping member provided therebetween, and this joint portion is provided at or in the vicinity of the dent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kurogi, Tsuyoshi Sugihara, Kohya Nakagawa, Kuniaki Nagao, Sakayu Terada, Miho Kowaki, Akira Iyoshi, Shigeaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8702160
    Abstract: In a frame having a closed-section portion which is formed by joining a first member having a U-shaped section and a second member having a flat-plate shape, a bulkhead is provided in the closed-section portion as a reinforcing member, flanges of the bulkhead and the first and second members are joined with a rigid joint portion where they are joined by a spot welding and a flexible joint portion where they are joined via a damping member. Thereby, transmission of vibrations can be properly restrained, improving the rigidity of the portion having the closed-section portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kurogi, Tsuyoshi Sugihara, Kohya Nakagawa, Kuniaki Nagao, Sakayu Terada, Miho Kowaki, Akira Iyoshi, Shigeaki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130049393
    Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle, where suspension forming members are attached to a vehicle body, there are provided a first face portion, through which the suspension forming member extends, a second face portion provided to face to the first face portion, and a support member provided between the first face portion and the second face portion and supporting the suspension forming members, and the support member is joined to said second face portion via a reinforcing member which is formed integrally with the support member or formed separately from the support member. Accordingly, vibrations of the support member can be properly restrained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu KUROGI, Tsuyoshi SUGIHARA, Kohya NAKAGAWA, Kuniaki NAGAO, Sakayu TERADA, Miho KOWAKI, Akira IYOSHI, Shigeaki WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20130049391
    Abstract: In a frame having a closed-section portion which is formed by joining a first member having a U-shaped section and a second member having a flat-plate shape, a bulkhead is provided in the closed-section portion as a reinforcing member, flanges of the bulkhead and the first and second members are joined with a rigid joint portion where they are joined by a spot welding and a flexible joint portion where they are joined via a damping member. Thereby, transmission of vibrations can be properly restrained, improving the rigidity of the portion having the closed-section portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu KUROGI, Tsuyoshi SUGIHARA, Kohya NAKAGAWA, Kuniaki NAGAO, Sakayu TERADA, Miho KOWAKI, Akira IYOSHI, Shigeaki WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20130049408
    Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which comprises at least one vehicle-body forming member forming a closed-section portion continuously in a specified direction, a partition member extending in the specified direction and partitioning an inside of the closed-section portion, and a bulkhead provided in the closed-section portion and joined to the vehicle-body forming member, the bulkhead is joined to an inner face of the vehicle-body forming member at specified positions which are located on both sides of the partition member, and the bulkhead is joined to a specified portion of the partition member which is located in the vicinity of opening portions formed at the partition member or to an end portion of the partition member in the specified direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu KUROGI, Tsuyoshi SUGIHARA, Kohya NAKAGAWA, Kuniaki NAGAO, Sakayu TERADA, Miho KOWAKI, Akira IYOSHI, Shigeaki WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20130049405
    Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which comprises a frame comprised of vehicle-body forming members forming a closed-section portion, a reinforcing member provided in the closed-section portion and joined to the frame, and another vehicle-body forming member joined to an outer face of the frame, which is different from the vehicle-body forming members of the frame, a joint portion of the frame and the reinforcing member includes a rigid joint portion where the frame and the reinforcing member are joined with a direct contact thereof and a flexible joint portion where the frame and the reinforcing member are joined via a damping member provided therebetween, and the joint portion is provided at a specified position on an inner face of the frame located in the vicinity of a portion where the forming member is joined to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu KUROGI, Tsuyoshi SUGIHARA, Kohya NAKAGAWA, Kuniaki NAGAO, Sakayu TERADA, Miho KOWAKI, Akira IYOSHI, Shigeaki WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20130049392
    Abstract: In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which comprises vehicle-body forming members forming a closed-section portion and having a dent portion which dents toward an inside of the closed-section portion, and a reinforcing member provided in the closed-section portion and joined to the vehicle-body forming members, a joint portion of the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member includes a rigid joint portion where the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member are joined with a direct contact thereof and a flexible joint portion where the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member are joined via a damping member provided therebetween, and this joint portion is provided at or in the vicinity of the dent portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu KUROGI, Tsuyoshi SUGIHARA, Kohya NAKAGAWA, Kuniaki NAGAO, Sakayu TERADA, Miho KOWAKI, Akira IYOSHI, Shigeaki WATANABE
  • Patent number: 8210601
    Abstract: A crash can with a cross-shaped cross section is provided between a side frame and a bumper beam. The crash can connects to an end portion of the side frame in a state where its four projecting portions are directed respectively in upper, lower, right and left directions. The bumper beam comprises a protruding portion which extends in the vehicle width direction. The right and left projecting portions are joined to a top face of the protruding portion and that the upper and lower projecting portions are joined to upper and lower faces of the protruding portion respectively. Plural beads are formed at the crash can at positions which avoid spot-joint positions. Accordingly, the impact energy can absorbed effectively by the crash can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Sakayu Terada, Miho Kowaki
  • Patent number: 7926865
    Abstract: A vehicle structure for an automobile includes: a bumper beam extending in a car width direction; a crash box extending in a longitudinal direction of the automobile and connected at a distal end thereof to a side part in the car width direction of the bumper beam; and a mounting plate having a face to which a base end of the crash box is connected and another face mounted to a distal end of a vehicle frame extending in the longitudinal direction of the automobile by means of fasteners. The crash box is in a substantially cross shape in closed section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Sakayu Terada, Miho Kowaki, Nobuyuki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20100066124
    Abstract: A crash can with a cross-shaped cross section is provided between a side frame and a bumper beam. The crash can connects to an end portion of the side frame in a state where its four projecting portions are directed respectively in upper, lower, right and left directions. The bumper beam comprises a protruding portion which extends in the vehicle width direction. The right and left projecting portions are joined to a top face of the protruding portion and that the upper and lower projecting portions are joined to upper and lower faces of the protruding portion respectively. Plural beads are formed at the crash can at positions which avoid spot-joint positions. Accordingly, the impact energy can absorbed effectively by the crash can.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sakayu TERADA, Miho KOWAKI
  • Publication number: 20090236166
    Abstract: A centroid of bend portions of a front side frame (frame member) is offset to a specified direction of a vehicle width direction (a bending direction of the front side frame) from a centroid of a different portion from the bend portions. Accordingly, a frame structure which can properly provide the bend portion without causing any improper increase of the number of members can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miho KOWAKI, Sakayu TERADA, Yosuke SAWADA, Isamu KIZAKI
  • Publication number: 20090085362
    Abstract: A vehicle structure for an automobile includes: a bumper beam extending in a car width direction; a crash box extending in a longitudinal direction of the automobile and connected at a distal end thereof to a side part in the car width direction of the bumper beam; and a mounting plate having a face to which a base end of the crash box is connected and another face mounted to a distal end of a vehicle frame extending in the longitudinal direction of the automobile by means of fasteners. The crash box is in a substantially cross shape in closed section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sakayu TERADA, Miho KOWAKI, Nobuyuki NAKAYAMA