Patents by Inventor Niro Bando

Niro Bando 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: 5823285
    Abstract: A four wheel drive working vehicle having a hydraulic block for covering one side of a propelling transmission case, an engine, and an HST attached to a side of the hydraulic block remote from the transmission case. The HST includes an input shaft for transmitting drive from the engine, and an output shaft extending through the hydraulic block for transmitting the drive to a transmission line in the transmission case. The vehicle further includes a drive transmission mechanism for selectively transmitting the drive from the transmission line to rear wheels, and a transmission shaft for transmitting the drive between the drive transmission mechanism and the transmission line in the transmission case. The drive transmission mechanism is attached to the side of the hydraulic block where the HST is attached. The transmission shaft extends through the hydraulic block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Tsuchihashi, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Osami Fujiwara, Teruo Shimamura, Akio Matsui, Hideya Umemoto, Kenichi Chujo, Niro Bando
  • Patent number: 5758478
    Abstract: A front-mount mower tractor including a front axle case, a driver's platform disposed above the front axle case and in a front region of the tractor, a platform support frame having one end thereof fixed to the front axle case and extending under the driver's platform longitudinally forwardly of the tractor, and a mower unit raising and lowering link mechanism. The mower unit raising and lowering link mechanism includes lift links pivotally connected to the front axle case for suspending a mower unit from free ends thereof, lift arms pivotally connected to the front axle case above the lift links, at least a portion of each lift arm extending along a side surface of the platform support frame, connecting links each pivotally connected at one end thereof to one of the lift arms, and at the other end to one of the lift links, at least a portion of each connecting link extending along a side surface of the platform support frame, and a cylinder for swinging the right and left lift arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Niro Bando, Teruo Shimamura, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Yoshihiro Kawahara
  • Patent number: 5511631
    Abstract: A running control structure for a lawn tractor switchable between a two-wheel drive mode and a four-wheel drive mode. The control structure includes a first driving device for driving a first pair of wheels, a second driving device for driving a second pair of wheels, and a clutch mechanism for switching the second driving device between a driving state and a non-driving state. The clutch mechanism has a controller for operating a clutch, and a spring for biasing the controller to a position corresponding to the non-driving state of the second driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Tsuchihashi, Osami Fujiwara, Tuyoshi Satou, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Toshihiko Hamada, Yoshihiro Kawahara, Niro Bando
  • Patent number: 4977733
    Abstract: A four wheel steering tractor comprising a grass cutting system vertically movably mounted in a lower space of the tractor between front and rear wheels. The grass cutting system carries gauge wheels disposed at opposite lateral sides in rear regions thereof. An interlocking structure between a steering wheel and the front and rear wheels includes a front drag link extending from a pitman arm toward the left (or right) front wheel, and a rear drag link extending from the pitman arm toward the right (or left) rear wheel. This interlocking structure places the center of tractor turning approximately on a straight line extending through the gauge wheels and adjacent one of the gauge wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Tetsuaki Hayashi, Niro Bando, Kenji Matsuda, Tsuyoshi Sato, Teruo Shimamura, Toshihiko Hamada, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Masatami Fukuda
  • Patent number: 4926624
    Abstract: A lawn mower comprising a cutting unit disposed between front and rear wheels, a grass discharge duct extending rearwardly from the cutting unit, and grass collecting containers each defining a top opening for receiving grass clippings sent through the discharge duct. The containers are supported by an E-shaped frame connected to, and retained by pins in, open rear ends of right and left pipe frames extending rearwardly and then upwardly from a mower body. The E-shaped frame engages the open rear ends of the pipe frames to interconnect the rear ends with a selected spacing therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatake Murakawa, Niro Bando, Masatsugu Tone, Mikio Yuki, Junji Miyata, Tetsuaki Hayashi, Kazuaki Kurohara
  • Patent number: 4903469
    Abstract: A lawn mower comprising a cutting unit disposed between front and rear wheels, a grass discharge duct extending rearwardly from the cutting unit, and a grass collecting container defining a top opening for receiving grass clippings sent through the discharge duct. The grass collecting container includes a mouthpiece extending along peripheries of the top opening to rest on a U-shaped support frame mounted at a rear end of the mower. The mouthpiece is connected to the support frame by a projection and bore engagement. The support frame includes a holder defining an upwardly opening recess, and the container has a cover defining a downwardly opening recess at a position opposed to the holder. The two recesses define an opening for receiving a rear end of the grass discharge duct. The grass discharge duct includes an annular engagement portion extending peripherally of the rear end thereof for engagement with inner edges of the two recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatake Murakawa, Niro Bando, Masatsugu Tone, Mikio Yuki, Junji Miyata, Tetsuaki Hayashi, Kazuaki Kurohara
  • Patent number: 4756208
    Abstract: A mid-mount lawn tractor comprising an engine, front and rear wheels, and a working implement or lawn mower mounted between the front and rear wheels. A transmission is disposed adjacent the rear wheels and includes an upwardly extending input section. The transmission is housed in a transmission case defining an opening at an upper portion thereof for exposing the input section. A hydraulic stepless change speed apparatus is disposed above the transmission. The change speed apparatus includes a downwardly extending input shaft for receiving power of the engine through an endless belt, and a downwardly extending output shaft connected through the opening of the transmission case to the input section of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuaki Hayashi, Hiroyuki Ogasawara, Nobuyuki Yamashita, Niro Bando
  • Patent number: 4731983
    Abstract: A lawn mower comprises a vehicle body, a cutting unit mounted below the vehicle body, a grass catcher mounted rearwardly of the vehicle body, and a discharge duct extending between the cutting unit and the catcher for transmitting grass clippings from the cutting unit to the catcher. The catcher defines an opening at which a lid member is removably mounted, the lid member includes a coupler opening for coupling to a discharge opening of the discharge duct and an air vent around the coupler opening. The catcher is switchable between a sideways turned posture in which the coupler opening is coupled to the discharge opening and an upright posture in which the coupler opening is directed upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Yuki, Niro Bando, Kazuaki Kurohara, Hiroshi Itatani, Fumihiro Ikeda, Hiroyuki Ogasawara, Nobuyuki Yamashita, Masaji Kure
  • Patent number: 4727768
    Abstract: A transmission for an agricultural working vehicle is provided which includes a gear type forward speed changing mechanism and a wrapping connector backward driving mechanism selectively operable to connect an input shaft and an output shaft. The input shaft carries a plurality of change speed gears and a driving sprocket fixed thereto. The output shaft carries a driven sprocket relatively rotatably mounted thereon and operatively connected to the driving sprocket by a wrapping connector, and a shift gear slidably splined thereto and including gear portions selectively engageable with the change speed gears. The shift gear is linked to the driven sprocket by an engagement mechanism to provide a backward drive state when shift gear assumes a position other than change speed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuaki Hayashi, Hiroyuki Ogasawara, Nobuyuki Yamashita, Fumihiro Ikeda, Niro Bando, Kazuaki Kurohara
  • Patent number: 4721494
    Abstract: A drive transmission structure for a tractor comprising a belt drive system for transmitting power from an engine output shaft to a transmission having a brake mechanism. The belt drive system includes a belt type stepless change speed mechanism having a split pulley assembly and a swing device for swinging the split pulley assembly toward the engine output shaft and the transmission, a first belt for transmitting the power from the engine output shaft to the split pulley assembly, and a second belt for transmitting the power from the split pulley assembly to the transmission. The pulley assembly defines two split pulley sections for engaging the first and second belts, respectively. A control device is provided to change power transmission ratios by actuating the swing device. Further, a tension pulley type clutch mechanism is provided to act on the first belt or the second belt. The brake mechanism and the tension pulley type clutch mechanism are controlled by the clutch and brake control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuaki Hayashi, Hiroshi Itatani, Niro Bando, Mikio Yuki, Nobuyuki Yamashita, Hiroyuki Ogasawara, Mitsuaki Miyata, Kazuaki Kurohara, Fumihiro Ikeda, Yutaka Nakata
  • Patent number: 4509614
    Abstract: A working vehicle equipped with engine automatic stop device, having a vertically movable seat and an engine adapted to be stopped when the operator leaves the seat. There is disposed a restraining mechanism for preventing the engine from being stopped even though the operator leaves the seat when a clutch at a power take-out shaft is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Kubota Ltd.
    Inventors: Niro Bando, Kazuaki Kurohara, Yasuo Fujima, Fumihiro Ikeda, Kenzo Usiro, Hiroyuki Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 4341129
    Abstract: A system of changing the travelling speed of a working vehicle in which a stepless speed-change means is operated by a pedal. Said system has a cam mechanism by which the pedal may be fixed at the desired position, and a first manual lever for operating this cam mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1982
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventor: Niro Bando
  • Patent number: 4325452
    Abstract: A work vehicle comprising a stepless hydraulic speed change apparatus, a radiator for cooling hydraulic fluid for the said apparatus, a hydraulic cylinder for actuating a work implement, and a hydraulic pump provided with a suction portion. A return flow path is provided for supplying hydraulic fluid from the radiator to the suction portion of the oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Kubota Ltd.
    Inventors: Niro Bando, Haruo Watanabe, Junji Miyata
  • Patent number: 4323137
    Abstract: A work vehicle having an oil cooling path through which a working oil within the transmission housing for the hydraulically driven transmission means is circulated to the transmission case through the cooler.There is disposed a bypass adapted to return the working oil directly to the transmission case from said transmission housing without passing through the cooler when the pressure in said transmission housing exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Niro Bando, Junji Miyata, Masatsugu Tone, Haruo Watanabe
  • Patent number: D389490
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Teruo Shimamura, Akio Matsui, Yoshihiro Kawahara, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Kenichi Chujo, Hideya Umemoto, Niro Bando