Patents by Inventor Norihiko Yokota
Norihiko Yokota 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: 10000228Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: a fixed bracket; an outer column; an arm portion; a column pipe; a steering shaft A including an upper shaft rotatably attached to the column pipe and a lower shaft which is connected by an universal joint and in which a male shaft and a female shaft engage with each other so as to freely extend and contract; and a fastening tool. The arm portion includes: bifurcated arm-shaped portions that extend from a front side in the axial direction of the outer column toward an outer side in the axial direction; a first linking portion formed between the arm-shaped portions so as to protrude upward from upper edges of the arm-shaped portions; and a second linking portion that protrudes downward from lower edges of the arm-shaped portions, and the second linking portion protrudes from the arm-shaped portions by a larger amount than the first linking portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Norihiko Yokota, Naohiro Tagaya, Toru Ito
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Patent number: 9868457Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: a fixing bracket fixed by being suspended to a vehicle body and having fixed side portions on both sides in a width direction of the vehicle body; and an outer column formed of aluminum by die-casting and sandwiched between the fixed side portions, wherein protrusion portions protruding toward both sides in the width direction are integrally formed on a rear end of the outer column.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2016Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Ryosuke Takahashi, Norihiko Yokota
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Publication number: 20170106896Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: a fixing bracket fixed by being suspended to a vehicle body and having fixed side portions on both sides in a width direction of the vehicle body; and an outer column formed of aluminum by die-casting and sandwiched between the fixed side portions, wherein protrusion portions protruding toward both sides in the width direction are integrally formed on a rear end of the outer column.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2016Publication date: April 20, 2017Inventors: Ryosuke TAKAHASHI, Norihiko YOKOTA
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Patent number: 9540034Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: an outer column and an inner pipe retained by the outer column for movement in a front-rear direction of a vehicle, an inner-pipe retaining section with opposed leg sections interconnected via a fastening mechanism. The apparatus further includes an impact energy absorbing member provided on the inner pipe and having a generally U sectional shape along the axis line of the inner pipe. The absorbing member includes: a base section mounted to the inner pipe; an abuttable section bent from the rear end of the base section such that it is abuttable against the fastening mechanism; and an energy absorbing section bent forward from one end of the abuttable section such that, when an impact is input to the inner pipe, the absorbing section absorbs energy of the impact while deforming by abutting against the fastening mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Ryosuke Takahashi, Katsutoshi Tsuji, Norihiko Yokota, Toru Ito, Noriyuki Watanabe
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Publication number: 20160272235Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: an outer column and an inner pipe retained by the outer column for movement in a front-rear direction of a vehicle, an inner-pipe retaining section with opposed leg sections interconnected via a fastening mechanism. The apparatus further includes an impact energy absorbing member provided on the inner pipe and having a generally U sectional shape along the axis line of the inner pipe. The absorbing member includes: a base section mounted to the inner pipe; an abuttable section bent from the rear end of the base section such that it is abuttable against the fastening mechanism; and an energy absorbing section bent forward from one end of the abuttable section such that, when an impact is input to the inner pipe, the absorbing section absorbs energy of the impact while deforming by abutting against the fastening mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Ryosuke Takahashi, Katsutoshi Tsuji, Norihiko Yokota, Toru Ito, Noriyuki Watanabe
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Publication number: 20160214639Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: a fixed bracket; an outer column; an arm portion; a column pipe; a steering shaft A including an upper shaft rotatably attached to the column pipe and a lower shaft which is connected by an universal joint and in which a male shaft and a female shaft engage with each other so as to freely extend and contract; and a fastening tool. The arm portion includes: bifurcated arm-shaped portions that extend from a front side in the axial direction of the outer column toward an outer side in the axial direction; a first linking portion formed between the arm-shaped portions so as to protrude upward from upper edges of the arm-shaped portions; and a second linking portion that protrudes downward from lower edges of the arm-shaped portions, and the second linking portion protrudes from the arm-shaped portions by a larger amount than the first linking portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Norihiko YOKOTA, Naohiro TAGAYA, Toru ITO
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Patent number: 9283981Abstract: A steering device includes: a column pipe; an outer housing having a clamping portion; a pair of stopper plates; a fastener having a bolt shaft that is mounted on the clamping portion so as to fasten the clamping portion to thereby fix the column pipe; and a buffer member. The buffer member is mounted on any one of the pair of facing stopper plates and the bolt shaft and makes contact with the other by mutual displacement, and a plurality of projection ribs having a triangular cross-sectional shape is formed on a contacting surface of the buffer member.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Norihiko Yokota, Yoshiyuki Satou, Noriyuki Watanabe
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Patent number: 9187116Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: a column pipe; an outer column having an embracing main body portion that allows the column pipe to freely move in a front-rear direction and fixes the column pipe; and clamping portions that extend and contract the embracing main body portion in a diametric direction; a fixing bracket having a fixing side portion that holds widthwise opposite sides of the outer column in a sandwiching manner; a stopper bracket having an telescopic slot secured to the column pipe and an impact absorbing slot and having a collapse portion, the telescopic slot and the impact absorbing slot being contiguously formed along an axial direction; and a clamper having a bolt shaft inserted through the clamping portions, the fixing side portion, and the stopper bracket and collapsing the collapse portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2015Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Norihiko Yokota, Toru Ito, Noriyuki Watanabe
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Publication number: 20150232116Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: a column pipe; an outer column having an embracing main body portion that allows the column pipe to freely move in a front-rear direction and fixes the column pipe; and clamping portions that extend and contract the embracing main body portion in a diametric direction; a fixing bracket having a fixing side portion that holds widthwise opposite sides of the outer column in a sandwiching manner; a stopper bracket having an telescopic slot secured to the column pipe and an impact absorbing slot and having a collapse portion, the telescopic slot and the impact absorbing slot being contiguously formed along an axial direction; and a clamper having a bolt shaft inserted through the clamping portions, the fixing side portion, and the stopper bracket and collapsing the collapse portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Norihiko Yokota, Toru Ito, Noriyuki Watanabe
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Patent number: 8984984Abstract: The steering apparatus includes an inner column, a left-right pair of outer column half bodies, a fixing bracket having fixing side portions, and a clamping tool. In a condition where the inner column is clamped fixedly via the clamping tool, the inner column is held by the holding surface portions of the two outer column half bodies, and an upper recessed indentation portion and a lower recessed indentation portion that do not contact the inner column are formed on the respective holding surface portions of the two outer column half bodies. Strip-form contact portions that contact the inner column are formed in locations on either circumferential direction side of the upper recessed indentation portion and the lower recessed indentation portion, the strip-form contact portions being formed in at least four locations on the two outer column half bodies.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norihiko Yokota, Takahiro Maniwa
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Publication number: 20150068354Abstract: A steering device includes an inner column, an outer column that includes a left-right pair of outer column half bodies having holding surface portions formed on respective inner surface sides thereof, the two holding surface portions constituting a holding inner peripheral surface for holding an outer peripheral surface of the inner column; a pivot bracket in which hanging side portions are formed on either width direction side of a pivot upper portion; a fixing bracket provided with fixing side portions on either width direction side; and a clamping tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventors: Takahiro MANIWA, Norihiko YOKOTA
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Patent number: 8899128Abstract: A steering device includes: an inner column; an outer column that includes a left-right pair of outer column half bodies having holding surface portions formed on respective inner surface sides thereof, the two holding surface portions together constituting a holding inner peripheral surface for holding an outer peripheral surface of the inner column; a pivot bracket in which hanging side portions are formed on either width direction side of a pivot upper portion; a fixing bracket provided with fixing side portions on either width direction side; and a clamping tool. Respective width direction outside surfaces of the two outer column half bodies are sandwiched between the two hanging side portions of the pivot bracket, and the two fixing side portions of the fixing bracket are connected such that the two width direction outside surfaces of the two outer column half bodies can be clamped and released by the clamping tool.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Maniwa, Norihiko Yokota
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Publication number: 20140076091Abstract: The steering apparatus includes an inner column, a left-right pair of outer column half bodies, a fixing bracket having fixing side portions, and a clamping tool. In a condition where the inner column is clamped fixedly via the clamping tool, the inner column is held by the holding surface portions of the two outer column half bodies, and an upper recessed indentation portion and a lower recessed indentation portion that do not contact the inner column are formed on the respective holding surface portions of the two outer column half bodies. Strip-form contact portions that contact the inner column are formed in locations on either circumferential direction side of the upper recessed indentation portion and the lower recessed indentation portion, the strip-form contact portions being formed in at least four locations on the two outer column half bodies.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norihiko Yokota, Takahiro Maniwa
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Publication number: 20140026707Abstract: A steering device includes: a column pipe; an outer housing having a clamping portion; a pair of stopper plates; a fastener having a bolt shaft that is mounted on the clamping portion so as to fasten the clamping portion to thereby fix the column pipe; and a buffer member. The buffer member is mounted on any one of the pair of facing stopper plates and the bolt shaft and makes contact with the other by mutual displacement, and a plurality of projection ribs having a triangular cross-sectional shape is formed on a contacting surface of the buffer member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTDInventors: Norihiko YOKOTA, Yoshiyuki Satou, Noriyuki Watanabe
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Patent number: 8616580Abstract: A steering apparatus has a steering shaft 7, an inner column 2 that supports the steering shaft 7 via a bearing 81, an outer column A that embraces the inner column 2, a fixing bracket 1 that sandwiches the outer column A from both sides in a width direction, and a tightener 6 that tightens and releases the outer column A together with the fixing bracket 1. The inner column 2 has an embraced cylindrical section 21 that is embraced by the outer column A. A relief section 212 having an outer diameter that is formed smaller than other portions of the embraced cylindrical section 21 is formed in a middle region of the embraced cylindrical section 21 in an axial direction, and the bearing 81 that pivotally supports the steering shaft 7 is fixed to an inner circumferential side of the relief section 212.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2012Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Maniwa, Norihiko Yokota
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Publication number: 20120247258Abstract: A steering device includes: an inner column; an outer column that includes a left-right pair of outer column half bodies having holding surface portions formed on respective inner surface sides thereof, the two holding surface portions together constituting a holding inner peripheral surface for holding an outer peripheral surface of the inner column; a pivot bracket in which hanging side portions are formed on either width direction side of a pivot upper portion; a fixing bracket provided with fixing side portions on either width direction side; and a clamping tool. Respective width direction outside surfaces of the two outer column half bodies are sandwiched between the two hanging side portions of the pivot bracket, and the two fixing side portions of the fixing bracket are connected such that the two width direction outside surfaces of the two outer column half bodies can be clamped and released by the clamping tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro MANIWA, Norihiko YOKOTA
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Publication number: 20120248752Abstract: A steering apparatus has a steering shaft 7, an inner column 2 that supports the steering shaft 7 via a bearing 81, an outer column A that embraces the inner column 2, a fixing bracket 1 that sandwiches the outer column A from both sides in a width direction, and a tightener 6 that tightens and releases the outer column A together with the fixing bracket 1. The inner column 2 has an embraced cylindrical section 21 that is embraced by the outer column A.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro MANIWA, Norihiko Yokota
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Patent number: 6378903Abstract: A shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column includes: a sliding capsule having a collar portion fixed immovably to a vehicle body; and a column bracket having a shock absorbing hole which is elongated in a longitudinal direction of a steering column and in which a fixing through-hole portion on one end side of the elongated hole, a first shock absorbing portion having a shaft-like member in a vicinity of the fixing through-hole portion, and a second shock absorbing portion having a crushable inner peripheral edge at a side edge of the elongated hole are substantially continuously formed in the longitudinal direction. During a collision, the collar portion bends the shaft-like member and crushes the second shock absorbing portion to thereby absorb colliding energy.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yamada SeisakushoInventors: Mitsuo Yabutsuka, Isao Fujiu, Norihiko Yokota, Koji Hirooka