Patents by Inventor Mikihito Nagura

Mikihito Nagura 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: 7963496
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat sliding apparatus wherein rotating an operating lever causes a lock lever to allow a sliding movement of an upper rail along a lower rail, the operating lever is held within a bracket connected to the upper rail via torsion spring. The torsion spring is made from a single piece of wire and formed into a specific shape for easy provision of the operating lever to the bracket during an assembly of the seat sliding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Ryousuke Mizuno, Mikihito Nagura
  • Patent number: 7815159
    Abstract: A vehicle seat sliding apparatus includes a first rail adapted to be fixed to any one of a vehicle floor and a seat; and a second rail adapted to be fixed to the other one of the vehicle floor and the seat. The second rail includes an in-rail functional portion formed at an end portion of the first rail in terms of the longitudinal direction so as to project into an internal space formed by the first rail to achieve a predetermined function; a recessed portion formed around the in-rail functional portion in association with the formation of the in-rail functional portion; and a protector adapted to be mounted on an end portion of the first rail in terms of the longitudinal direction and cover the end portion thereof. The protector is formed with a projection adapted to fit the recessed portion to couple the protector and the first rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Genta Moriyama, Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Yoshihisa Hori, Mikihito Nagura
  • Patent number: 7810886
    Abstract: A lock device capable of suppressing a lack of smoothness in an unlocking operation, and of suppressing, in a case a plurality of lock members are operated by a cam member, unevenness in the timing for the plurality of lock members to become engaged in a locking operation. Guide portions of a lower guide include a plurality of cam guide faces that are arranged away from each other in the circumferential direction. A cam includes a plurality of guided faces that respectively abut against the plurality of cam guide faces in a release phase. The guided face in a direction in which the cam is decentered by a biasing force of the lock spring is extended to the release phase side with respect to the other guided faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikihito Nagura, Yasuhiro Kojima
  • Publication number: 20100243853
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a cushioning member provided at one of an operational lever and a lock lever. The cushioning member is configured to contact the other of the operational lever and the lock lever for restricting a contact of an end portion of the operational lever with the lock lever at an initial stage of the rotational operation of the operational lever and is configured to allow a contact of the end portion of the operational lever with the lock lever when canceling the restriction of the movement of an upper rail relative to a lower rail by the lock lever in response to the rotational operation of the operational lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Genta Moriyama, Mikihito Nagura, Taku Harada
  • Patent number: 7758124
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a seat cushion, a lower arm, a seat back, an upper arm, an intermediate arm, a reclining mechanism, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes a first plate member, a second plate member, and a pawl gear. The first plate member is fixed to one of the upper arm and the intermediate arm to be provided therein with a plurality of internal tooth sections each of which has a plurality of teeth with different widths. The second plate member is fixed to the other one of the upper arm and the intermediate arm so as to be supported by the first plate member to rotate relative thereto. The pawl gear is supported by the second plate member and has an external tooth section each of which has a plurality of teeth with different widths for engaging with the internal tooth sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Patent number: 7758008
    Abstract: A seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail including a base bottom portion, first inner and outer side portions, upper portions, and second inner and outer side portions, an upper rail movably supported relative to the lower rail and including a base top portion, first inner and outer extending portions, connecting portions, and second inner and outer extending portions, a lock mechanism including a lock portion provided at the first inner side portion, a bracket, and a lock member engageable with and disengageable from the lock portion, a cutout portion formed across the base top portion and the first inner extending portion and into which the lock member is inserted, and through-holes provided at the second inner extending portion and the bracket, respectively, the through-holes into which the lock member is inserted while the lock member is engaging with the lock portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Publication number: 20100176265
    Abstract: A seat slide device for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail movable relative to the lower rail and a lock member for restricting the relative movement of the upper and lower rails. The restriction of the relative movement can be released and the lock-released position can be retained. The seat slide device further includes a memory piece detachably engaged with the lower rail and provided in a direction separating from the lower rail and engaging therewith when a seatback is reclined forward, wherein the memory piece is moved in association with the movement of the upper rail by retaining the memory piece at the receiving portion and the shaped portion when the memory piece is separated from the lower rail and wherein the memory piece is engaged with the lower rail at the engaging portion when the memory piece is engaged with the lower rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro KOJIMA, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Patent number: 7717490
    Abstract: A seat slide device for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail movable relative to the lower rail and a lock member for restricting the relative movement of the upper and lower rails. The restriction of the relative movement can be released and the lock-released position can be retained. The seat slide device further includes a memory piece detachably engaged with the lower rail and provided in a direction separating from the lower rail and engaging therewith when a seatback is reclined forward, wherein the memory piece is moved in association with the movement of the upper rail by retaining the memory piece at the receiving portion and the shaped portion when the memory piece is separated from the lower rail and wherein the memory piece is engaged with the lower rail at the engaging portion when the memory piece is engaged with the lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Publication number: 20100090084
    Abstract: A vehicle seat sliding apparatus includes: a first rail adapted to be fixed to any one of a vehicle floor and a seat; and a second rail adapted to be fixed to the other one of the vehicle floor and the seat and adapted to be connected to the first rail so as to be capable of relative movement with respect to the first rail. The first rail includes: a pair of side wall portions juxtaposed on both sides in terms of the widthwise direction; a connecting wall portion connecting proximal ends of the both side wall portions; and first folded-back wall portions protruded from distal ends of the both side wall portions in the widthwise direction and then folded back toward proximal end sides of the side wall portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Genta MORIYAMA, Yasuhiro KOJIMA, Hideo NIHONMATSU, Yoshihisa HORI, Mikihito NAGURA
  • Publication number: 20100090080
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat sliding apparatus wherein rotating an operating lever causes a lock lever to allow a sliding movement of an upper rail along a lower rail, the operating lever is held within a bracket connected to the upper rail via torsion spring. The torsion spring is made from a single piece of wire and formed into a specific shape for easy provision of the operating lever to the bracket during an assembly of the seat sliding apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Ryousuke Mizuno, Mikihito Nagura
  • Publication number: 20100090082
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat sliding apparatus of the type wherein rotating an operating lever causes a lock lever to allow an upper rail to slide along a lower rail, the operating member is supported by a supporting bracket fixed to the upper rail to rotate about a fulcrum which is in the form of a plate of the bracket. The operating lever is provided with a slit into which a spring is fitted for being urged. The bracket also holds the spring. To avoid an engagement between the plate and the slit when the operating lever passes during an assembly of the apparatus, the plate is configured to incline relative to the slit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Ryousuke Mizuno, Genta Moriyama, Mikihito Nagura, Taku Harada
  • Patent number: 7651165
    Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle includes: a first plate adapted to be mounted on one of a seat cushion and a seat back and having inner teeth; a second plate adapted to be mounted on the other one of the seat cushion and the seat back and supporting the first plate to be rotatable; a pole directly and movably supported by the second plate and having outer teeth engageable and disengageable with the inner teeth of the first plate; a pair of guides formed at the second plate and interposing therebetween the pole from both sides, the guide including a pole sliding surface adjusted to slidably come in contact with a side surface of the pole; and a recess formed at the pole sliding surface of the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Patent number: 7604214
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes a lock portion provided at the lower rail, a lock member which is engageable with and disengageable from the lock portion and a first biasing member for biasing the lock member in a direction to be engaged with the lock portion. The seat slide apparatus for a vehicle further includes a releasing lever for releasing the lock member from being engaged with the lock portion and a second biasing member for maintaining the releasing lever at a neutral position. According to the seat slide apparatus for the vehicle, the first biasing member and the second biasing member are integrally formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Patent number: 7594635
    Abstract: A seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail, a block, and a raised portion. The lower rail is adapted to be fixed to a vehicle floor. The lower rail with a U-shaped cross section has an end and a bottom wall. The upper rail is adapted to be fixed to a seat and supported in the lower rail to be movable relative to the lower rail. The block is fixed to the lower rail and includes an inclined face extending away from the bottom wall of the lower rail as the inclined face approaches the end of the lower rail. The raised portion is formed by cutting the bottom wall of the lower rail and folding the cut wall inward the lower rail to fix the block to the lower rail. Accordingly, a foreign object within the lower rail can be removed without blocking the movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Publication number: 20090224583
    Abstract: A lock device capable of suppressing a lack of smoothness in an unlocking operation, and of suppressing, in a case a plurality of lock members are operated by a cam member, unevenness in the timing for the plurality of lock members to become engaged in a locking operation. Guide portions of a lower guide include a plurality of cam guide faces that are arranged away from each other in the circumferential direction. A cam includes a plurality of guided faces that respectively abut against the plurality of cam guide faces in a release phase. The guided face in a direction in which the cam is decentered by a biasing force of the lock spring is extended to the release phase side with respect to the other guided faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mikihito Nagura, Yasuhiro Kojima
  • Patent number: 7527296
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle rotation angle restriction mechanism includes a shaft portion fixed to one of the seat support member and the buckle support member, a bearing portion provided at the other one of the seat support member and the buckle support member, the bearing portion accommodating the shaft portion in such a manner that the shaft portion is rotatable, at least two rotational side surfaces provided at one of outer contact surfaces of the shaft portion and inner contact surfaces of the bearing portion, the two rotational side surfaces being symmetric about a rotational center of the buckle support member, and at least two block side surfaces provided at the other one of the outer contact surfaces and the inner contact surfaces, the two block side surfaces being symmetric about the rotational center, each block side surface forming a predetermined angle with each rotational side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Publication number: 20090096269
    Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus includes a pair of first arms, a pair of second arms, a pair of hinge pins, a pair of reclining mechanisms including a pair of lock mechanisms, each of which includes a cam, the lock mechanism restricting a rotational movement of the seat back relative to the seat cushion and releasing a restriction of the rotational movement, by means of a rotational movement of the hinge pins and the cams, and a connecting member provided between the reclining mechanisms and connected to the hinge pins, wherein each of the hinge pins is structured so as to be inserted into each of the reclining mechanisms from an inward of the seat, and a connecting portion is provided at an inner end of at least one of the hinge pins facing the other one of the hinge pins and is connected to the connecting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Patent number: 7490907
    Abstract: Right and left side reclining apparatuses adjust a rotational position of a seat back frame relative to a seat cushion frame of a seat for a vehicle. Each of the reclining apparatuses includes an upper arm which rotates with the seat back frame, a lower arm to which the upper arm is rotatably attached, and a lock member for locking rotation of the upper arm relative to the lower arm or releasing the lock. At least one of the reclining apparatuses includes a rotating member for forward-tilting which enables the seat back frame to rotate relative to the seat cushion frame while the lock is exerted, and an engaging member for locking rotation of the rotating member for forward-tilting. The right and left side reclining apparatuses are connected by a connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikihito Nagura, Takayuki Ogasawara
  • Publication number: 20080309136
    Abstract: A seat device for a vehicle includes a lower frame, a slide mechanism, a reclining mechanism for supporting a seatback relative to a seat cushion with a reclined angle and holding the seatback to a predetermined position, a slide lock mechanism for restricting the movement of the lower frame and holding a seat to a predetermined position relative to a vehicle floor and a walk-in mechanism disposed between the reclining mechanism and the slide lock mechanism for releasing the restriction of the movement of the lower frame by operating the slide lock mechanism in association with the reclining movement of the seat. The walk-in mechanism includes a first link rotatably supported by the shaft member and operatively connected to the reclining mechanism and the slide lock mechanism to transmit a power from the reclining operation of the seatback to the slide lock operation of the slide lock mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura
  • Publication number: 20080238171
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a seat cushion, a lower arm, a seat back, an upper arm, an intermediate arm, a reclining mechanism, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes a first plate member, a second plate member, and a pawl gear. The first plate member is fixed to one of the upper arm and the intermediate arm to be provided therein with a plurality of internal tooth sections each of which has a plurality of teeth with different widths. The second plate member is fixed to the other one of the upper arm and the intermediate arm so as to be supported by the first plate member to rotate relative thereto. The pawl gear is supported by the second plate member and has an external tooth section each of which has a plurality of teeth with different widths for engaging with the internal tooth sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kojima, Hideo Nihonmatsu, Mikihito Nagura