Patents by Inventor Saburo Kato

Saburo Kato 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: 11953087
    Abstract: A shift lever device for an electric vehicle that provides the feeling of operating an MT shift lever. The device includes a retainer with a spherical bearing, a lever body that can swing in a shift direction and a select direction about a ball held in the spherical bearing, and a position sensor unit placed at a lower portion of the retainer. The position sensor unit includes a slider that can slide in a case in the select direction, a magnet that can slide on the slider in the shift direction, a sensor board placed on a bottom of the case and configured to detect a position of the magnet, and a detent plate with an MT shift pattern on a top surface of the case. The magnet is engaged with a lower end of the lever body that penetrates the detent plate and extends into the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Mannoh Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Saburo Kato
  • Patent number: 10378647
    Abstract: A shift lever device includes: a lever main-body; a hollow knob provided at a lever main-body distal end portion; a shift-button rotatably mounted to the knob; and a rod that is inserted-through interior of the lever main-body. The shift-button has a contact surface extending in direction of being away from a rotating-shaft of the shift-button, and that, when the shift-button rotates with respect to the knob, contacts an upper end portion of the rod and lowers the rod. Given that direction orthogonal to axial-direction of the rotating-shaft on plane orthogonal to axis of the rod is reference-direction, and that, among tangent-lines at contact points of the contact surface and the rod, tangent-line on plane orthogonal to the rotating-shaft is reference tangent-line, rotation range of the shift-button is set such that, partway through rotation, the reference tangent-line passes position at which the reference tangent-line becomes parallel to the reference-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Shori Kato, Etsuo Shimizu, Takayoshi Kitahara, Hironori Mizuno, Saburo Kato, Takaaki Fukushima, Hideaki Ito, Takayoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 10184557
    Abstract: Shift device for vehicle includes housing and shift lever. Shift lever includes cylindrical shaft portion which proximal end is pivotably supported inside housing, cylindrical shaft portion having elongated holes extending through peripheral wall of cylindrical shaft portion and are elongated in longitudinal direction of cylindrical shaft portion, shift knob fixed to distal end of cylindrical shaft portion, detent pin inserted through elongated holes in state where both ends of detent pin protrude from corresponding elongated holes, detent rod inserted in cylindrical shaft portion, detent rod being configured to transmit operating force of operating button in shift knob to detent pin, and shift lock member. Detent pin is fitted to detent rod. When operating button has been operated in state where brake depression operation is not performed, shift lock member contacts with one end of detent pin to block movement of detent pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TSUDA INDUSTRIES CO., LTD., KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO, MANNOH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shori Kato, Etsuo Shimizu, Takayoshi Kitahara, Saburo Kato, Hironori Mizuno, Takayoshi Masuda, Hideaki Ito
  • Patent number: 10094467
    Abstract: A shift device includes a housing and a shift lever having a cylindrical shaft portion with a proximal end pivotably supported inside the housing, shaft portion elongated holes extending through a shaft portion peripheral wall and elongated in a shaft portion longitudinal direction, a shift knob fixed to a shaft portion distal end, a detent pin inserted through the elongated holes where both ends of the pin protrude from the elongated holes, and a detent rod inserted in the shaft portion, the rod transmitting operating force of an operating button in the knob to the pin. The pin has a fitting protrusion protruded toward the rod. The rod has a fitting hole at its end. The protrusion is fitted in the fitting hole. A retaining pawl engaged with an engaging recess provided in the pin or engaged with one of the elongated holes is provided at the rod end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TSUDA INDUSTRIES CO., LTD., KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO, MANNOH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shori Kato, Etsuo Shimizu, Takayoshi Kitahara, Saburo Kato, Hironori Mizuno, Takayoshi Masuda, Hideaki Ito
  • Publication number: 20170184195
    Abstract: A shift lever device includes: a lever main-body; a hollow knob provided at a lever main-body distal end portion; a shift-button rotatably mounted to the knob; and a rod that is inserted-through interior of the lever main-body. The shift-button has a contact surface extending in direction of being away from a rotating-shaft of the shift-button, and that, when the shift-button rotates with respect to the knob, contacts an upper end portion of the rod and lowers the rod. Given that direction orthogonal to axial-direction of the rotating-shaft on plane orthogonal to axis of the rod is reference-direction, and that, among tangent-lines at contact points of the contact surface and the rod, tangent-line on plane orthogonal to the rotating-shaft is reference tangent-line, rotation range of the shift-button is set such that, partway through rotation, the reference tangent-line passes position at which the reference tangent-line becomes parallel to the reference-direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Shori KATO, Etsuo SHIMIZU, Takayoshi KITAHARA, Hironori MIZUNO, Saburo KATO, Takaaki FUKUSHIMA, Hideaki ITO, Takayoshi MASUDA
  • Publication number: 20160348784
    Abstract: Shift device for vehicle includes housing and shift lever. Shift lever includes cylindrical shaft portion which proximal end is pivotably supported inside housing, cylindrical shaft portion having elongated holes extending through peripheral wall of cylindrical shaft portion and are elongated in longitudinal direction of cylindrical shaft portion, shift knob fixed to distal end of cylindrical shaft portion, detent pin inserted through elongated holes in state where both ends of detent pin protrude from corresponding elongated holes, detent rod inserted in cylindrical shaft portion, detent rod being configured to transmit operating force of operating button in shift knob to detent pin, and shift lock member. Detent pin is fitted to detent rod. When operating button has been operated in state where brake depression operation is not performed, shift lock member contacts with one end of detent pin to block movement of detent pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TSUDA INDUSTRIES CO., LTD., KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO, MANNOH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shori KATO, Etsuo SHIMIZU, Takayoshi KITAHARA, Saburo KATO, Hironori MIZUNO, Takayoshi MASUDA, Ito HIDEAKI
  • Publication number: 20160341305
    Abstract: A shift device includes a housing and a shift lever having a cylindrical shaft portion with a proximal end pivotably supported inside the housing, shaft portion elongated holes extending through a shaft portion peripheral wall and elongated in a shaft portion longitudinal direction, a shift knob fixed to a shaft portion distal end, a detent pin inserted through the elongated holes where both ends of the pin protrude from the elongated holes, and a detent rod inserted in the shaft portion, the rod transmitting operating force of an operating button in the knob to the pin. The pin has a fitting protrusion protruded toward the rod. The rod has a fitting hole at its end. The protrusion is fitted in the fitting hole. A retaining pawl engaged with an engaging recess provided in the pin or engaged with one of the elongated holes is provided at the rod end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TSUDA INDUSTRIES CO., LTD., KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO, MANNOH INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shori KATO, Etsuo SHIMIZU, Takayoshi KITAHARA, Saburo KATO, Hironori MIZUNO, Takayoshi MASUDA, Hideaki ITO
  • Patent number: 6270731
    Abstract: A CO2 fixation system for fixing Co2 gas existing in the atmosphere or in an exhaust gas emitted from factories and other burning sites. The system includes a fermenting tank for anaerobically fermenting organic wastes, whereby methane gas is produced. The methane gas is decomposed and hydrogen gas is produced. The hydrogen gas is reacted with the CO2 gas to produce carbon powder and water, whereby the CO2 gas is fixed to become harmless to the global warming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Saburo Kato, Hiroyuki Oshima, Masaaki Oota
  • Patent number: 6180396
    Abstract: An anaerobic fermentation part generates gas containing methane and carbon dioxide by anaerobically fermenting biomass. The gas is passed to a methane.carbon dioxide separation part to be separated into methane and carbon dioxide, and part of the separated methane is fed to a methane reforming part to be decomposed into carbon and hydrogen under the presence of a catalyst. The carbon dioxide separated in the methane.carbon dioxide separation part and the hydrogen formed in the methane reforming part are fed to a carbon dioxide fixing part, which in turn reacts the carbon dioxide with the hydrogen under the presence of a catalyst for continuously forming carbon and hydrogen and fixing the carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignees: Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Ono, Saburo Kato
  • Patent number: 5585032
    Abstract: Ferromagnetic fine powder for magnetic recording, characterized by comprising platelet like ferrite crystal particles which have such a metallic element composition that the Ba/Fe molar ratio is 1/50 to 1/8 and that the total amount of Ni and Zn is less than 0.5 mole and not less than 0.07 mole per mole of Fe, a crystal phase of magnetoplumbite phase, spinel phase or composite phase thereof and a saturation magnetization of 60 emu/g or more; and a process for producing said ferromagnetic fine powder for magnetic record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Nakata, Masaharu Hirai, Nobusuke Takumi, Saburo Kato
  • Patent number: 5246609
    Abstract: A process for producing ferromagnetic fine particles for magnetic recording which comprises preparing a starting material solution containing Ba, Fe and Me (Me representing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Ti, Ni, Mn, Zr, Zn, Ge, Nb and V, the amount of which is 0.2 mol or less per mol of Fe) selected such that the molar ratio of Ba/(Fe+Me) is (1+m)/12 (m being a number of 0.1 to 2), mixing this starting material solution with an alkaline solution to form a coprecipitate-containing alkaline suspension, collecting and using the coprecipitate as precursor, or subjecting the coprecipitate-containing alkaline suspension to a heat treatment at a temperature below 250.degree. C. to form a precursor, and calcining such precursor at 650.degree.-950.degree. C. to produce the hexagonal platelet Ba-ferrite particles. The process is further characterized in that a boron compound is contained in the precursor in an amount of (0.01 to 1) mmol (calculated as B.sub.2 O.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Nakata, Masaharu Hirai, Nobusuke Takumi, Saburo Kato
  • Patent number: 4057256
    Abstract: A device for the accurate placement of a record sheet having a plurality of positioning holes, and recording area on a recorder-player having a recording-playing head and placement pins engageable with the placement holes of the record sheet, comprises a bottom placement plate having an indented area substantially corresponding to the shape of the record sheet, an opening in the indented area corresponding to the shape of the recording surface of the record sheet, and a plurality of apertures corresponding to the placement holes of the record sheet and a covering retainer plate having a plurality of apertures corresponding to the holes of the record sheet and the apertures of the placement plate. The placement plate and retainer plate form a pocket into which a record sheet is insertable for coarse alignment with the placement pins of the recorder-player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Muranaka, Saburo Kato
  • Patent number: 4046334
    Abstract: The mechanism is for use with a tape recorder of the cassette type in which the direction of rotation of tape reels within a cassette is automatically reversed at the end of taking up the tape. A drive gear is movably supported between a pair of driven gears engageable with the respective reels, so as to be able to engage with either one of the driven gears, and the drive gear is spring biased toward a line connecting the rotating axes of the driven gears. The rotation of the drive gear in one direction causes its engagement with the corresponding driven gear and, at the end of taking up the tape, a substantial displacement of the drive gear against, the spring bias occurs through an increase in load, thereby changing over the direction of rotation of a motor for driving the drive gear. A mechanism is provided for resetting or maintaining the drive mechanism in a given condition which enables the reels to start to rotate in a given direction whenever a tape cassette is removed from the recorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1977
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Saburo Kato, Takeshi Takemoto
  • Patent number: 4010918
    Abstract: The mechanism is primarily for use in the tape drive of a tape recorder for automatically reversing direction of rotation of a pair of rotating members and/or stopping such members through mechanical detection of a sudden variation of load which may occur at the end of taking-up of a tape. A drive roller is supported on a swingable arm for swinging motion to be brought into peripheral engagement with a selected one of the pair of rotating members. Mechanism is provided for causing the swinging motion of the drive roller upon the reversal of rotation of the latter to change its engagement with the rotating members from one to the other. An engaging member is supported concentrically with, and for relative rotation by a predetermined angle to, each rotating member and a coil spring is connected therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1977
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Saburo Kato