Patents by Inventor Satoru Kuno

Satoru Kuno 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: 9914370
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a connection mechanism; a seat cushion connected to an interior structure of a vehicle via the connection mechanism and configured to be displaced between a first state and a second state at which the seat cushion is arranged at a position closer to a front part-side of the vehicle than at the first state; and a seat back, wherein a sitting surface of the seat cushion at the first state gradually inclines upwardly from the rear of the seat towards the front of the seat, and wherein the connection mechanism is configured to displace the seat cushion to the second state and move a front part-side of the seat cushion more downwardly than at the first state, whereby the sitting surface of the seat cushion is made more horizontal at the second state than at the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Patent number: 9873356
    Abstract: There is provided a seat back interlocking ottoman device for a vehicle seat configured such that an angle of a seat back relative to a seat cushion can be adjusted and an ottoman is provided to the seat cushion. The ottoman device includes an interlocking mechanism configured to retract the ottoman to a retracted position below the front side of the seat cushion when the seat back is located at a regular usage position and to move the ottoman from the retracted position to an extended position at the front side of the seat cushion to thus support a leg part of a passenger when the seat back is tilted rearwards from the regular usage position. A part of the interlocking mechanism is configured to be operable by an arbitrary operation such that the ottoman can be moved between the retracted position and the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Kuno, Hidetaka Nagayasu
  • Patent number: 9566881
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a connection mechanism; a seat cushion connected to an interior structure of a vehicle via the connection mechanism and displaced between a first state and a second state at which the seat cushion is arranged at a position closer to a front part-side of the vehicle; and a seat back, wherein the connection mechanism includes an arm part and an attaching part, wherein a sitting surface of the seat cushion at the first state gradually inclines upwardly from the rear towards the front of the seat, and wherein, by inclining the arm part more forwards than at the first state, the seat cushion is displaced to the second state and a front part-side of the seat cushion is moved more downwardly than at the first state, whereby the sitting surface is made more horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Patent number: 8960785
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat cushion movable in a front-rear direction, an ottoman provided at a front portion of the seat cushion such that the ottoman can be stored and unfolded to function as a footrest, and a transmitting mechanism which moves the ottoman from a stored position to an unfolded position in association with change of a position of the seat cushion in the front-rear direction from a rear side position which is a normal use position to a front side position which is a comfortable position, and which moves the ottoman from the unfolded position to the stored position in association with return of the position of the seat cushion in the front-rear direction from the comfortable position to the normal use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Publication number: 20140375087
    Abstract: There is provided a seat back interlocking ottoman device for a vehicle seat configured such that an angle of a seat back relative to a seat cushion can be adjusted and an ottoman is provided to the seat cushion. The ottoman device includes an interlocking mechanism configured to retract the ottoman to a retracted position below the front side of the seat cushion when the seat back is located at a regular usage position and to move the ottoman from the retracted position to an extended position at the front side of the seat cushion to thus support a leg part of a passenger when the seat back is tilted rearwards from the regular usage position. A part of the interlocking mechanism is configured to be operable by an arbitrary operation such that the ottoman can be moved between the retracted position and the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Satoru KUNO, Hidetaka NAGAYASU
  • Publication number: 20140361591
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a connection mechanism; a seat cushion connected to an interior structure of a vehicle via the connection mechanism and displaced between a first state and a second state at which the seat cushion is arranged at a position closer to a front part-side of the vehicle; and a seat back, wherein the connection mechanism includes an arm part and an attaching part, wherein a sitting surface of the seat cushion at the first state gradually inclines upwardly from the rear towards the front of the seat, and wherein, by inclining the arm part more forwards than at the first state, the seat cushion is displaced to the second state and a front part-side of the seat cushion is moved more downwardly than at the first state, whereby the sitting surface is made more horizontal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Satoru KUNO
  • Publication number: 20140361592
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a connection mechanism; a seat cushion connected to an interior structure of a vehicle via the connection mechanism and configured to be displaced between a first state and a second state at which the seat cushion is arranged at a position closer to a front part-side of the vehicle than at the first state; and a seat back, wherein a sitting surface of the seat cushion at the first state gradually inclines upwardly from the rear of the seat towards the front of the seat, and wherein the connection mechanism is configured to displace the seat cushion to the second state and move a front part-side of the seat cushion more downwardly than at the first state, whereby the sitting surface of the seat cushion is made more horizontal at the second state than at the first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Satoru KUNO
  • Publication number: 20130313867
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat cushion movable in a front-rear direction, an ottoman provided at a front portion of the seat cushion such that the ottoman can be stored and unfolded to function as a footrest, and a transmitting mechanism which moves the ottoman from a stored position to an unfolded position in association with change of a position of the seat cushion in the front-rear direction from a rear side position which is a normal use position to a front side position which is a comfortable position, and which moves the ottoman from the unfolded position to the stored position in association with return of the position of the seat cushion in the front-rear direction from the comfortable position to the normal use position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru KUNO
  • Patent number: 8587749
    Abstract: The present invention can include a display device for use in a vehicle having a screen with a polarizing member disposed in the front of a display surface of a liquid crystal display, the polarizing member having a light transmittance of less than 50%, a surface of the screen is coplanar with a surface of the cover member. Also, the polarizing member is not provided on the display surface of the liquid crystal display, and when the liquid crystal display is not used, the screen is inconspicuous, and when the liquid crystal display is used, information can be viewed from the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Patent number: 8573696
    Abstract: An ottoman device includes a first mechanism that has an operating portion operable to adjust a longitudinal position of a front end portion of a seat cushion corresponding to the inner sides of knees of a seated person, and is operable to vary a cushion length by adjusting the longitudinal position of the front end portion of the seat cushion by means of the operating portion, an ottoman body that extends from the front end portion of the seat cushion toward toes of the seated person, and a second mechanism operable to lift the ottoman body by reducing a flexion angle of the ottoman body at the front end portion of the seat cushion, so as to bring the ottoman body into a lifted condition. The ottoman body is provided as a unit with the operating portion, and the first and second mechanisms operate independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Patent number: 8567868
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, an ottoman portion that includes a shaft member that attaches to the sitting portion, a first frame member that rotates about the shaft member, and a second frame member that is fixed to a cushion. One side of the first frame member is attached to one side of the second frame member, and the other side of the first frame member is attached to the shaft member. From a position in which the other side of the second frame member that faces the cushion is close to the other side of the first frame member to a second position in which the ottoman portion is extended in front of the seat from the sitting portion so as to support a calf of the occupant, the other side of the second frame member and the other side of the first frame member spread apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Patent number: 8523280
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat having a seat back and a seat cushion that are placed in one of a normal position and a reclining position that is more reclined than the normal position, a link mechanism is operable to change the positions of the seat back and the seat cushion by moving the seat back and the seat cushion in relation to each other, so that a back contact point of the seat back, where a predetermined portion of the back of the seated person contacts the seat back, contacts the predetermined portion of the back of the seated person in both the normal position and the reclining position, and so that an ischial contact point of the seat cushion, where a tuber-of-ischium of the seated person contacts the seat cushion, contacts the tuber-of-ischium of the seated person in both the normal position and the reclining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Patent number: 8410379
    Abstract: An electric operating device includes an operation member for operating to activate a plurality of electric functions provided at a vehicle seat. An operating structure for switching a pivoting position of the operation member is configured as a switching structure for selecting the electric function that is an operational object. Further, an operating structure for switching a slide position in a diametrical direction of the operation member is configured as an operation control structure by which the electric function selected as the operational object is operated to activate. Further, a pushing operation structure of the operation portion is configured as a switching structure for switching a category of an electric function group. The pushing operating structure of the operation member is provided with a return mechanism for returning the operation member operated to be pushed to an initial position taken before the pushing operation by urging the operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kuno, Toshihide Azuma, Hisato Shimomura, Jun Yashiro, Yukio Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 8388061
    Abstract: A display device includes: a display; and a slide mechanism including: a motor that is configured to move the display between a stored position and a use position, the display being stored in a case member of the display device in the stored position, the display being ejected outside of the case in the use position; and a grappling member, which is configured to engage with a member to be grappled, in the use position, wherein the display is tilted when the grappling member is engaged with the member to be grappled in the use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuko Saito, Satoru Kuno
  • Patent number: 8367949
    Abstract: An electric operating device includes an operation member for operating to activate a plurality of electric functions provided at a vehicle seat. The operation member is disposed at a position outside of the vehicle seat allowing operation by a seated person seated on the vehicle seat. The operation member is constructed to be capable of operating to pivot about an axis and operating to move to slide in a diametrical direction. Further, an operation structure for pivoting about the axis for switching a pivoting position of the operation member is configured as an electric function mode switching structure for selecting the electric function as an operational object from the plurality of electric functions. Further, a slide moving operating structure for switching a slide position in the diametrical direction of the operation member is configured as an activation control structure for operating to activate the electric function selected as the operational object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kuno, Toshihide Azuma, Hisato Shimomura, Jun Yashiro, Yukio Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 8177282
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided. The vehicle seat includes: a seat cushion including a seating part, a front leg which is rotatably attached to the seating part at a front side, and rear legs which support a rear side of the seating part; and a seatback is provided rotatably to the rear side of the seat cushion. The front leg is rotatably attached to a vehicle floor, the rear legs are detachably attached to the vehicle floor, and the vehicle seat is adapted to be arranged into a seating mode and a storage mode. In the seating mode, the seatback is locked on the seat cushion in an upright state, and the rear legs are locked on the vehicle floor, and in the storage mode, the seat cushion is turned forward by unlocking the lock on the seatback and the locks on both of the rear legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Kuno
  • Publication number: 20120041350
    Abstract: A massage apparatus includes a main frame and an air-bag for massage. The air-bag includes an air-bag front section and an air-bag main body fixed to the dorsal side of the air-bag front section. The air-bag is arranged that the dorsal side of the air-bag main body is disposed toward the main frame so that the front side of the air-bag front section makes up a contact side with a human body. The dorsal surface of the air-bag main body is configured to be able to expand and shrink, and the air-bag front section is configured so as to remain flat even when the air-bag main body is expanded or shrunken.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Noboru Nishiguchi, Mitsuru Tomita, Satoru Kuno
  • Publication number: 20110298249
    Abstract: An ottoman device includes a first mechanism that has an operating portion operable to adjust a longitudinal position of a front end portion of a seat cushion corresponding to the inner sides of knees of a seated person, and is operable to vary a cushion length by adjusting the longitudinal position of the front end portion of the seat cushion by means of the operating portion, an ottoman body that extends from the front end portion of the seat cushion toward toes of the seated person, and a second mechanism operable to lift the ottoman body by reducing a flexion angle of the ottoman body at the front end portion of the seat cushion, so as to bring the ottoman body into a lifted condition. The ottoman body is provided as a unit with the operating portion, and the first and second mechanisms operate independently of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru KUNO
  • Publication number: 20110260506
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, an ottoman portion that includes a shaft member that attaches to the sitting portion, a first frame member that rotates about the shaft member, and a second frame member that is fixed to a cushion. One side of the first frame member is attached to one side of the second frame member, and the other side of the first frame member is attached to the shaft member. From a position in which the other side of the second frame member that faces the cushion is close to the other side of the first frame member to a second position in which the ottoman portion is extended in front of the seat from the sitting portion so as to support a calf of the occupant, the other side of the second frame member and the other side of the first frame member spread apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru KUNO
  • Patent number: 8020778
    Abstract: An environmental apparatus control system for a comfortable residential environment based upon demands from the residents. The system includes a project composer which relies upon a first reference (R1) and a second reference (R2) to determine a control project based upon the demands. The references are each determined by a first proportion of the count of the temperature lowering demands in the total number of the residents, and a second proportion of the count of the temperature raising demands in the total number of the resident. A first proportion of the count of the first demands in the number of the residents, and a second proportion of the count of the second demands in the number of the residents are obtained to give a current demand ratio which is compared with first and second references for determination of the control project. The first and second references and are defined respectively as different ratios of the first proportion to the second proportion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignees: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd., National University Corporation Nagoya University
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Murakami, Masaaki Terano, Fumiaki Oobayashi, Toshiyuki Miyake, Satoru Kuno, Masayuki Harada