Patents by Inventor Minoru Takakura
Minoru Takakura 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).
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Patent number: 7650957Abstract: The actuator mechanism of the present embodiment comprises the first cylinder, a rod protruding from the first cylinder to lift a hood and lock balls arranged along the outer periphery of the rod and digging into the rod when the rod is pushed back. The diameter of the lock balls and the lapping amount of the lock balls are within specific ranges.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignees: NHK Spring Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Takakura, Shinji Uehara, Eiji Shimizu, Toshihiro Yoshitake
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Patent number: 7520363Abstract: A vehicle safety device (13) includes an actuator (17) which thrusts a hood (11) upward from underside at a point close to a rear end of the hood (11) to raise the same by a specific amount when an obstacle is detected, and a mechanical connector (21) which connects the rear end of the hood (11) to the vehicle body (12), the mechanical connector (21) being structured such that, when the actuator (17) raises the rear end of the hood (11), the mechanical connector (21) extends while swinging about a pivot (P) by which the mechanical connector (21) is joined to the vehicle body (12). The mechanical connector (21) includes a rod (24), and a locking part (26) having a through hole (32a) in which the rod (24) is inserted. The locking part (26) engages with the rod (24) in such a manner that the rod (24) can move in only one direction in which the rod (24) is extracted from the locking part (26), and the rod (24) is disengaged from the locking part (26) when turned about a longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2006Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi, Minoru Takakura, Eiji Shimizu, Yorimitsu Hirata, Mitsuru Wakiie, Arihiro Furumoto, Takashi Ebisugi
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Publication number: 20070251750Abstract: The actuator mechanism of the present embodiment comprises the first cylinder, a rod protruding from the first cylinder to lift a hood and lock balls arranged along the outer periphery of the rod and digging into the rod when the rod is pushed back. The diameter of the lock balls and the lapping amount of the lock balls are within specific ranges.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2007Publication date: November 1, 2007Inventors: Minoru Takakura, Shinji Uehara, Eiji Shimizu, Toshihiro Yoshitake
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Patent number: 7246491Abstract: An actuator includes a hollow cylinder which has a first portion and a second portion. The inner diameter of the first portion is larger than that of the second portion. A piston is inserted in the cylinder. The actuator has a gas generator which supplies a gas into the cylinder to move the piston toward the first portion. The seal member keeps airtightness between the piston and the cylinder when the piston stays in the second portion and flows the gas when the piston stays in the first portion. A hollow stopper is arranged in the first portion and stops the piston. The stopper has a vent groove which is provided on the inner surface and connects the interior of the cylinder to the open end. A piston rod is jointed to the piston and housed in the cylinder. The piston rod moves along the axis with the piston.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2004Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi, Minoru Takakura
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Publication number: 20060213709Abstract: A vehicle safety device (13) includes an actuator (17) which thrusts a hood (11) upward from underside at a point close to a rear end of the hood (11) to raise the same by a specific amount when an obstacle is detected, and a mechanical connector (21) which connects the rear end of the hood (11) to the vehicle body (12), the mechanical connector (21) being structured such that, when the actuator (17) raises the rear end of the hood (11), the mechanical connector (21) extends while swinging about a pivot (P) by which the mechanical connector (21) is joined to the vehicle body (12). The mechanical connector (21) includes a rod (24), and a locking part (26) having a through hole (32a) in which the rod (24) is inserted. The locking part (26) engages with the rod (24) in such a manner that the rod (24) can move in only one direction in which the rod (24) is extracted from the locking part (26), and the rod (24) is disengaged from the locking part (26) when turned about a longitudinal axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2006Publication date: September 28, 2006Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi, Minoru Takakura, Eiji Shimizu, Yorimitsu Hirata, Mitsuru Wakiie, Arihiro Furumoto, Takashi Ebisugi
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Publication number: 20050000352Abstract: An actuator includes a hollow cylinder which has a first portion and a second portion. The inner diameter of the first portion is larger than that of the second portion. A piston is inserted in the cylinder. The actuator has a gas generator which supplies a gas into the cylinder to move the piston toward the first portion. The seal member keeps airtightness between the piston and the cylinder when the piston stays in the second portion and flows the gas when the piston stays in the first portion. A hollow stopper is arranged in the first portion and stops the piston. The stopper has a vent groove which is provided on the inner surface and connects the interior of the cylinder to the open end. A piston rod is jointed to the piston and housed in the cylinder. The piston rod moves along the axis with the piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2004Publication date: January 6, 2005Inventors: Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi, Minoru Takakura
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Patent number: 6386631Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat assembly which can prevent a submarine phenomenon in a reliable manner, and which is simple in structure so as to allow a high level of flexibility in layout. A slip preventing member for preventing the vehicle occupant from slipping forward under the seat belt in case of an impact is supported by a fixed part of a seat so as to be pivotable between a retracted position and a raised position, and an actuator is interposed between a fixed part of said seat and a part of said slip preventing member. To retain the slip preventing member at its raised position even after the power of the power unit is all used up, the assembly further includes a lock mechanism for retaining said slip preventing member at said raised position.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1999Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kou Masuda, Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi, Tomoharu Ohi, Minoru Takakura