Patents by Inventor Shigenori Hiramoto

Shigenori Hiramoto 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: 12060735
    Abstract: A vehicle door operation device includes an inside handle, a full open unlocking lever for transmitting a closing operation of the inside handle to a full open door latch device, and a full closure unlocking lever for transmitting an opening operation of the inside handle to a full closure door latch device. The inside handle has first and projecting portions, and when the inside handle rotates in a first direction by the closing operation, the first projecting portion is brought into abutment with the full open unlocking lever to enable the full open unlocking lever to operate, whereas when the inside handle rotates in a second direction by the opening operation, the second projecting portion is brought into abutment with the full closure unlocking lever to enable the full closure unlocking lever to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventor: Shigenori Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 11891841
    Abstract: An opening and closing device of a vehicle sliding door includes: a fully closed latch mechanism; a fully opened latch mechanism; a power releaser; a power closer; a canceler; a lock mechanism; and a relay control mechanism that includes an inner handle. The lock mechanism, the power releaser, and the canceler are disposed in the fully closed latch mechanism. The relay control mechanism includes a handle lever configured to, when a door opening operation is performed on the inner handle, rotate in a first direction to unlatch the fully closed latch mechanism and activate the cancel mechanism, and when a door closing operation is performed on the inner handle, rotate in a second direction to unlatch the fully opened latch mechanism. The inner handle is pivotally supported by the handle case of the relay control mechanism so as to be rotatable in two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigenori Hiramoto, Naoki Hanaki
  • Patent number: 11414898
    Abstract: An automobile door latch device includes: a mesh mechanism; a body; a base; and an operation mechanism disposed on the base, the operation mechanism including: an outside lever configured to receive an operating force of an outside handle to perform open actuation; a first open lever configured to perform open actuation in conjunction with open actuation of the outside lever; a locking/unlocking mechanism; a second open lever configured to perform open actuation in conjunction with open actuation of the first open lever output from the locking/unlocking mechanism; and a fully open release lever configured to perform open actuation in conjunction with open actuation of the first open lever, wherein the fully open release lever is connected to an operating force transmission member configured to transmit the open actuation of the fully open release lever to a fully opening latch device for holding the slide door in a fully open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichiro Okuyama, Toshitaka Matsuoka, Naoki Hanaki, Shigenori Hiramoto, Shintaro Okawa
  • Publication number: 20220034128
    Abstract: A vehicle door operation device includes an inside handle, a full open unlocking lever for transmitting a closing operation of the inside handle to a full open door latch device, and a full closure unlocking lever for transmitting an opening operation of the inside handle to a full closure door latch device. The inside handle has first and projecting portions, and when the inside handle rotates in a first direction by the closing operation, the first projecting portion is brought into abutment with the full open unlocking lever to enable the full open unlocking lever to operate, whereas when the inside handle rotates in a second direction by the opening operation, the second projecting portion is brought into abutment with the full closure unlocking lever to enable the full closure unlocking lever to operate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigenori HIRAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20210214976
    Abstract: An opening and closing device of a vehicle sliding door includes: a fully closed latch mechanism; a fully opened latch mechanism; a power releaser; a power closer; a canceler; a lock mechanism; and a relay control mechanism that includes an inner handle. The lock mechanism, the power releaser, and the canceler are disposed in the fully closed latch mechanism. The relay control mechanism includes a handle lever configured to, when a door opening operation is performed on the inner handle, rotate in a first direction to unlatch the fully closed latch mechanism and activate the cancel mechanism, and when a door closing operation is performed on the inner handle, rotate in a second direction to unlatch the fully opened latch mechanism. The inner handle is pivotally supported by the handle case of the relay control mechanism so as to be rotatable in two directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigenori HIRAMOTO, Naoki HANAKI
  • Publication number: 20200248486
    Abstract: An automobile door latch device includes: a mesh mechanism; a body; a base; and an operation mechanism disposed on the base, the operation mechanism including: an outside lever configured to receive an operating force of an outside handle to perform open actuation; a first open lever configured to perform open actuation in conjunction with open actuation of the outside lever; a locking/unlocking mechanism; a second open lever configured to perform open actuation in conjunction with open actuation of the first open lever output from the locking/unlocking mechanism; and a fully open release lever configured to perform open actuation in conjunction with open actuation of the first open lever, wherein the fully open release lever is connected to an operating force transmission member configured to transmit the open actuation of the fully open release lever to a fully opening latch device for holding the slide door in a fully open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Keiichiro Okuyama, Toshitaka MATSUOKA, Naoki HANAKI, Shigenori HIRAMOTO, Shintaro OKAWA
  • Patent number: 10697210
    Abstract: A vehicle-door opening and closing device includes: a latch unit configured to keep a vehicle door in a half latched state or a fully latched state; a power close mechanism configured to displace the vehicle door from the half latched state to the fully latched state; a power release mechanism configured to release the fully latched state to bring the vehicle door to an openable state; and a drive gear configured to be driven by a motor. The power release mechanism is configured to be actuated with a drive force of the drive gear. A return switch configured to be switched upon driving in a predetermined drive range sufficient to complete actuation of the power release mechanism is placed near the drive gear. The motor is configured to return the drive gear based on a signal from the return switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigenori Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 10618385
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus includes: an input lever configured to rotate when door opening operation is performed on an inside door handle arranged inside a vehicle; and an output lever rotatably arranged on a base plate. By transmission of rotation of the input lever to the output lever when the input lever rotates along with the door opening operation on the inside door handle, a latch unit provided between a vehicle body and a door performs release operation to allow opening movement of the door with respect to the vehicle body. A sub plate is arranged on the base plate in a form of covering the baseplate, an input support shaft for supporting the inside door handle is rotatably arranged on the sub plate, and the input lever is arranged on the input support shaft so as to integrally rotate with the input support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventor: Shigenori Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 10597907
    Abstract: A vehicle door operating device includes an opening inside lever connected to an inside handle in a door inside a vehicle, a childproof lock lever that moves between a childproof unlock position and a childproof lock position; a switch lever, a childproof sensor and a single engagement pin. When the childproof lock lever is in the childproof lock position, opening action of the inside handle cannot be transmitted to a door latch device, but can be transmitted to the switch lever. When the childproof lock lever is in the childproof unlock position, releasing action of the opening inside lever can be transmitted to door latch devices for holding a door closed via a single engagement pin, but cannot be transmitted to the switch lever. When the childproof lock lever is in the childproof lock position, the releasing action of the opening inside lever cannot be transmitted to the door latch device via the engagement pin, but can be transmitted to the switch lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Yamashita, Shigenori Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 9970220
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch device includes: a latch unit configured to keep a vehicle door in a door-closed state by engaging with a striker of a vehicle body; a power release mechanism configured to make the vehicle door openable by releasing engagement between the latch unit and the striker; a disengagement mechanism installed in a path coupling the power release mechanism with the latch unit, the disengagement mechanism being configured to be switched between a connected state and a disconnected state; and a lever configured to switch the disengagement mechanism from the connected state to the disconnected state. The lever is configured to be connectable to both of a full-open position holder, operating when the vehicle door reaches a full-open position by door-opening slide, and a disengagement operating unit for manual operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigenori Hiramoto, Naoki Hanaki, Kohei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9903143
    Abstract: A switch assembly of a vehicle door latch device, the switch assembly includes: a latch switch detecting a position of a latch, the latch being pivotally supported by a latch shaft to be engaged with a striker; a ratchet switch that detecting a position of a ratchet, the ratchet being pivotally supported by a ratchet shaft to be engaged with the latch and prevented reverse rotation of the latch; and a one common switch case that the latch switch and the ratchet switch are installed in the one common switch case. The latch shaft and the ratchet shaft are arranged to be isolated across a striker moving trajectory of the striker. The one common switch case is arranged on a latch body on one side of a striker moving trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigenori Hiramoto
  • Publication number: 20170268265
    Abstract: A vehicle-door opening and closing device includes: a latch unit configured to keep a vehicle door in a half latched state or a fully latched state; a power close mechanism configured to displace the vehicle door from the half latched state to the fully latched state; a power release mechanism configured to release the fully latched state to bring the vehicle door to an openable state; and a drive gear configured to be driven by a motor. The power release mechanism is configured to be actuated with a drive force of the drive gear. A return switch configured to be switched upon driving in a predetermined drive range sufficient to complete actuation of the power release mechanism is placed near the drive gear. The motor is configured to return the drive gear based on a signal from the return switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventor: Shigenori HIRAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170183893
    Abstract: A vehicle door operating device includes an opening inside lever connected to an inside handle in a door inside a vehicle, a childproof lock lever that moves between a childproof unlock position and a childproof lock position; a switch lever, a childproof sensor and a single engagement pin. When the childproof lock lever is in the childproof lock position, opening action of the inside handle cannot be transmitted to a door latch device, but can be transmitted to the switch lever. When the childproof lock lever is in the childproof unlock position, releasing action of the opening inside lever can be transmitted to door latch devices for holding a door closed via a single engagement pin, but cannot be transmitted to the switch lever. When the childproof lock lever is in the childproof lock position, the releasing action of the opening inside lever cannot be transmitted to the door latch device via the engagement pin, but can be transmitted to the switch lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Mitsui Kinzoku Act Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Yamashita, Shigenori Hiramoto
  • Publication number: 20170136857
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening and closing apparatus includes: an input lever configured to rotate when door opening operation is performed on an inside door handle arranged inside a vehicle; and an output lever rotatably arranged on a base plate. By transmission of rotation of the input lever to the output lever when the input lever rotates along with the door opening operation on the inside door handle, a latch unit provided between a vehicle body and a door performs release operation to allow opening movement of the door with respect to the vehicle body. A sub plate is arranged on the base plate in a form of covering the baseplate, an input support shaft for supporting the inside door handle is rotatably arranged on the sub plate, and the input lever is arranged on the input support shaft so as to integrally rotate with the input support shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventor: Shigenori HIRAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160312500
    Abstract: A vehicle door latch device includes: a latch unit configured to keep a vehicle door in a door-closed state by engaging with a striker of a vehicle body; a power release mechanism configured to make the vehicle door openable by releasing engagement between the latch unit and the striker; a disengagement mechanism installed in a path coupling the power release mechanism with the latch unit, the disengagement mechanism being configured to be switched between a connected state and a disconnected state; and a lever configured to switch the disengagement mechanism from the connected state to the disconnected state. The lever is configured to be connectable to both of a full-open position holder, operating when the vehicle door reaches a full-open position by door-opening slide, and a disengagement operating unit for manual operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Shigenori HIRAMOTO, Naoki HANAKI, Kohei YAMASHITA
  • Publication number: 20160060914
    Abstract: A switch assembly of a vehicle door latch device, the switch assembly includes: a latch switch detecting a position of a latch, the latch being pivotally supported by a latch shaft to be engaged with a striker; a ratchet switch that detecting a position of a ratchet, the ratchet being pivotally supported by a ratchet shaft to be engaged with the latch and prevented reverse rotation of the latch; and a one common switch case that the latch switch and the ratchet switch are installed in the one common switch case. The latch shaft and the ratchet shaft are arranged to be isolated across a striker moving trajectory of the striker. The one common switch case is arranged on a latch body on one side of a striker moving trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventor: Shigenori HIRAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7472944
    Abstract: A drive unit which operates in a first direction based on operation of a door opening and closing control unit so as to unfasten a latch of a full-opening latch unit is connected to a half-opening stopping unit being displaced from a state where the half-opening stopping unit is made unable to abut with a half-opening striker provided on a vehicle body side to a state where the half-opening stopping unit is made abut with the halt-opening striker when a window glass provided in a sliding door, so as to abut with the half-opening striker when the sliding door is opened to a predetermined half-opened position to thereby stop the sliding door at the half-opened position in such a manner that the half-opening stopping unit is displaced to the state where the half-opening stopping unit abuts with the half-opening striker when the drive unit is operated in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masazumi Miyagawa, Shigenori Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 7469943
    Abstract: A door operating device is provided in a door of a vehicle and connected to a door latch allowing a striker of the vehicle to engage with or disengage from the door latch. The door operating device comprises an outside lever, a release lever under the outside lever and a locking lever connected to an actuator. In a locking position, only the outside lever rotates, while both the outside and release levers rotates in an unlocking position. The locking lever comprises first and second lever portions which separately move. If malfunction occurs, the second lever portion is moved by an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smeling Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigenori Hiramoto
  • Publication number: 20070138801
    Abstract: A door operating device is provided in a door of a vehicle and connected to a door latch allowing a striker of the vehicle to engage with or disengage from the door latch. The door operating device comprises an outside lever, a release lever under the outside lever and a locking lever connected to an actuator. In a locking position, only the outside lever rotates, while both the outside and release levers rotates in an unlocking position. The locking lever comprises first and second lever portions which separately move. If malfunction occurs, the second lever portion is moved by an actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventor: Shigenori HIRAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20060202507
    Abstract: A drive unit which operates in a first direction based on operation of a door opening and closing control unit so as to unfasten a latch of a full-opening latch unit is connected to a half-opening stopping unit being displaced from a state where the half-opening stopping unit is made unable to abut with a half-opening striker provided on a vehicle body side to a state where the half-opening stopping unit is made abut with the halt-opening striker when a window glass provided in a sliding door, so as to abut with the half-opening striker when the sliding door is opened to a predetermined half-opened position to thereby stop the sliding door at the half-opened position in such a manner that the half-opening stopping unit is displaced to the state where the half-opening stopping unit abuts with the half-opening striker when the drive unit is operated in a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Masazumi MIYAGAWA, Shigenori HIRAMOTO