Patents by Inventor Mikio Masaki

Mikio Masaki 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: 5092147
    Abstract: A steering lock device includes a housing and a key cylinder rotatably disposed in the housing. A generally cylindrical member is rotatably disposed within the housing coaxially with the key cylinder. The cylindrical member includes an outer wall with a groove having a first circumferential groove section, a second circumferential groove section axially spaced from the first circumferential groove section, and a junction section connecting the first and second circumferential groove sections. A first surface is disposed at one end of the first groove section at the junction section and inclined at a predetermined angle to the first groove section, and a second surface is disposed at the end of the second groove section at the junction section and arranged generally perpendicular to the second groove section. A latch is slidably disposed within the housing and includes a first end projecting outwardly from the housing and a second end projecting within the groove in the outer wall of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Kokusan Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nissan Shatai Company, Limited
    Inventors: Haruo Mochida, Yoshio Watanuki, Etsuo Nara, Mikio Masaki, Mitsuo Kamata, Taizo Wada
  • Patent number: 4982584
    Abstract: A steering lock system for locking a steering system of an automotive vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission. The steering lock system is comprised of a selector position sensor for detecting a selected position of a selector lever for the automatic transmission. The selector position sensor is adapted to produce a parking position signal when the selector lever is at a park position. A key cylinder is rotatable to take a LOCK position by an ignition key insertable into the key cylinder. The ignition key is enabled to be pulled out of the key cylinder at the LOCK position, upon which a steering shaft is locked. The ignition key is disabled from being pulled out of the key cylinder upon absence of the parking position signal from the selector position sensor while is enabled to be pulled out of the key cylinder only in response to the parking position signal from the selector position sensor, thereby improving reliability of operation of the steering lock system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Company, Ltd., Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Takeda, Haruo Mochida, Toshio Kanai, Mikio Masaki
  • Patent number: 4981026
    Abstract: A steering column shaft locking device is disclosed in which a lever is rotatably mounted in a key cylinder when a key is inserted into the key cylinder, producing reaction force on a front wall of a housing, thereby causing the key cylinder to move backward against resilient force of a spring in order to certainly operate a key detecting switch provided in an ignition switch device. A guard plate is provided between the key cylinder and the front end of the housing so as to rotate it together with the key cylinder and guard plate when the key is rotated. Forward movement of the key cylinder is controlled by a retainer placed at the proximity thereof and a detent placed therein. The spring urges the key cylinder and the retainer in the forward direction and the detent radially inwardly. The guard plate serves to prevent abrasion of the lever and unauthorized insertion of tools into the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Kokusan Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Sakuno, Mikio Masaki, Toshikazu Kobayashi, Hidekazu Sato
  • Patent number: 4972695
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cylinder lock which is proof against lock pickers. The cylinder lock comprises a case having a cylindrical bore formed therein and an axially extending lock groove exposed to the cylindrical bore; a rotor rotatably disposed in the cylindrical bore; a plurality of tumblers slidably received in slits formed in the rotor, each tumbler having a head which is projectable into the lock groove when the rotor assumes a given angular position relative to the case; springs for biasing the tumblers radially outward from the slits of the rotor; and a structure for making the distances by which the heads of the tumblers are projected into the lock groove of the case different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Kokusan Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruo Mochida, Toshikazu Kobayashi, Hidekazu Sato, Mikio Masaki
  • Patent number: 4671090
    Abstract: A cylinder lock includes a rotor rotatably mounted in a bore of a stationary casing. A key passage in the rotor is blocked by a biased shutter which is caused to pivot against the action of a spring when a key is introduced into the key passage. The rotor includes a plurality of separated, spring-urged tumblers which engage with the key in the key passage. A soft-elastic wiper for removing water from the key is positioned in a lateral slot between the entrance of the key passage and a first tumbler. Flaps of the wiper form a normally closed slit which is openable by the force of the key when the key is advanced towards an operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Kokusan Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikio Masaki, Toshikazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4516415
    Abstract: A steering lock for an automobile includes a key cylinder, rotatable and axially movable upon rotation of a key inserted in the key cylinder, into locking engagement with a locking bar to lift the latter clear of engagement with a steering shaft. When the key cylinder is turned back and the key is pulled out, the key cylinder is moved back out of locking engagement with the locking bar, which then locks the steering shaft. The returning movement of the key cylinder depresses a spring-loaded control member into a key slot in the key cylinder. When the key cylinder is fully moved back, the spring-loaded control member is pulled out of the key slot. With such an arrangement, the key cylinder can directly engage the locking bar to displace the latter into a retracted position or allow the same to move to a locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Kokusan Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kobayashi, Mikio Masaki, Hideaki Sakuno, Keiichi Shimizu, Takeshi Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 4495786
    Abstract: A steering lock for automobiles includes a check lever movable upon rotation of a key-actuated cylinder into locking engagement with a locking rod to lift the latter clear of engagement with a steering shaft. When the key-actuated cylinder is turned back and the key is pulled out, the check lever is pulled back out of locking engagement with the locking rod, which then locks the steering shaft. As the check lever is thus retracted, it depresses a spring-loaded control member into a key slot in the key-actuated cylinder. When the check lever is fully moved back, the spring-loaded control member is pulled out of the key slot. Thus, the key can be inserted smoothly into the key slot for releasing the steering lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Kokusan Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikio Masaki, Etuo Nara, Keiichi Shimizu, Takeshi Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 4487042
    Abstract: A steering lock assembly to lock and unlock a steering shaft by use of a key. The rotation of the rotor through key manipulation is controlled by a knob provided back of the steering lock assembly with a spacing to make impossible one-hand operation. Only when the knob is depressed, control means permits the rotor to rotate from an unlock position to a lock position with the result that car accidents due to inadvertent pulling out of the key on a down-hill ride is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Company, Limited, Kokusan Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruo Mochida, Yoshimitsu Takeda, Takeshi Fukasawa, Mikio Masaki, Kiichi Shimizu, Satoru Kobayashi