Patents by Inventor Shinobu Tanaka
Shinobu Tanaka 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: 10967722Abstract: A battery pack comprises a lower-stage battery stack and an upper-stage battery stack. The upper-stage battery stack is separated from the lower-stage battery stack in a vehicle height direction. A middle frame that is a reinforcing member is arranged at a height position that matches a height position of a separation space between the upper-stage battery stack and the lower-stage battery stack in terms of a position in the vehicle height direction. Longitudinal frames of the middle frame project outward from the upper-stage battery stack in a vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2020Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shinobu Tanaka
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Patent number: 10940892Abstract: A vehicle substructure, comprising a pair of side members arranged apart in the vehicle width direction, and extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a cross member that extends in the vehicle width direction and connects the pair of side members, wherein the cross member include a pairs of cross member low-strength sections that are of weaker strength than a center portion, on both sides in the vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2019Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuma Otoguro, Shinobu Tanaka
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Patent number: 10899389Abstract: A vehicle substructure, comprising a pair of rockers arranged apart in a vehicle width direction, and extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a floor cross member that extends in the vehicle width direction and connects to the pairs of rockers, wherein the floor cross member includes a pair of floor cross member low-strength sections that are of weaker strength than a center portion, on both sides in the vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi Kasai, Shinobu Tanaka
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Patent number: 10829156Abstract: A vehicle lower structure includes: a battery pack provided under a floor of a vehicle cabin; a framework member fixed to a bottom surface of the case, the framework member extending across the case in a vehicle width direction; a first extension framework member detachably attached to one end of the framework member in the vehicle width direction such that at least one of distal ends of the first extension framework member in the vehicle width direction is located outward of one end of the case in the vehicle width direction; and a second extension framework member detachably attached to the other end of the framework member in the vehicle width direction such that at least one of distal ends of the second extension framework member in the vehicle width direction is located outward of the other end of the case in the vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuma Otoguro, Yuya Saruwatari, Toshiharu Shinya, Shinobu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20200215895Abstract: A battery pack comprises a lower-stage battery stack and an upper-stage battery stack. The upper-stage battery stack is separated from the lower-stage battery stack in a vehicle height direction. A middle frame that is a reinforcing member is arranged at a height position that matches a height position of a separation space between the upper-stage battery stack and the lower-stage battery stack in terms of a position in the vehicle height direction. Longitudinal frames of the middle frame project outward from the upper-stage battery stack in a vehicle width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventor: Shinobu TANAKA
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Patent number: 10688856Abstract: A floor structure has a floor panel, a battery pack, and floor cross members. The battery pack is disposed under the floor panel. The floor cross members are disposed on the floor panel and extend from one end to the other end of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction. The floor cross members include deformation starting portions in which bases are raised. Dimensions in a vehicle height direction of the deformation starting portions are shorter than dimensions of areas of the floor cross members in a vehicle width direction other than the deformation starting portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi Kasai, Shinobu Tanaka
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Patent number: 10589603Abstract: A vehicle side door internally includes an impact beam which extends along a longitudinal axis of a door. The impact beam is attached to a door inner panel via an outer extension. An inner extension is attached inside the outer extension. A distance along thickness of the door between the inner extension and the impact beam is shorter in a close proximity section than in a longitudinally neighboring area. Because the load received by the inner extension via the close proximity section is transferred to joint portions connecting to the outer extension, the load received by the outer extension from the impact beam is dispersed.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shinobu Tanaka
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Patent number: 10549610Abstract: A vehicle door includes an outer panel, an inner panel including an inner wall portion, a side wall portion, and a flange portion, an impact beam provided so to extend between the outer panel and the inner wall portion on a surface parallel to inner wall portion, and a bracket including a fixed portion, a joint portion, and a recessed portion. The recessed portion recesses toward an inner-panel side such that a tip end of the impact beam is distanced from the bracket. In an extending direction of the impact beam, a yield strength of a region from the fixed portion to a tip end position of the impact beam for a load applied from the outer panel-side is lower than a yield strength of a region from the tip end position of the impact beam to the joint portion for the load applied from the outer-panel side.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shinobu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20190276081Abstract: A vehicle lower structure includes: a battery pack provided under a floor of a vehicle cabin; a framework member fixed to a bottom surface of the case, the framework member extending across the case in a vehicle width direction; a first extension framework member detachably attached to one end of the framework member in the vehicle width direction such that at least one of distal ends of the first extension framework member in the vehicle width direction is located outward of one end of the case in the vehicle width direction; and a second extension framework member detachably attached to the other end of the framework member in the vehicle width direction such that at least one of distal ends of the second extension framework member in the vehicle width direction is located outward of the other end of the case in the vehicle width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Kazuma OTOGURO, Yuya SARUWATARI, Toshiharu SHINYA, Shinobu TANAKA
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Publication number: 20190232773Abstract: A floor structure has a floor panel, a battery pack, and floor cross members. The battery pack is disposed under the floor panel. The floor cross members are disposed on the floor panel and extend from one end to the other end of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction. The floor cross members include deformation starting portions in which bases are raised. Dimensions in a vehicle height direction of the deformation starting portions are shorter than dimensions of areas of the floor cross members in a vehicle width direction other than the deformation starting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Satoshi KASAI, Shinobu TANAKA
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Publication number: 20190217895Abstract: A vehicle substructure, comprising a pair of rockers arranged apart in a vehicle width direction, and extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a floor cross member that extends in the vehicle width direction and connects to the pairs of rockers, wherein the floor cross member includes a pair of floor cross member low-strength sections that are of weaker strength than a center portion, on both sides in the vehicle width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi Kasai, Shinobu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20190217896Abstract: A vehicle substructure, comprising a pair of side members arranged apart in the vehicle width direction, and extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a cross member that extends in the vehicle width direction and connects the pair of side members, wherein the cross member include a pairs of cross member low-strength sections that are of weaker strength than a center portion, on both sides in the vehicle width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuma OTOGURO, Shinobu TANAKA
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Publication number: 20190084386Abstract: A vehicle side door internally includes an impact beam which extends along a longitudinal axis of a door. The impact beam is attached to a door inner panel via an outer extension. An inner extension is attached inside the outer extension. A distance along thickness of the door between the inner extension and the impact beam is shorter in a close proximity section than in a longitudinally neighboring area. Because the load received by the inner extension via the close proximity section is transferred to joint portions connecting to the outer extension, the load received by the outer extension from the impact beam is dispersed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shinobu TANAKA
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Publication number: 20180208029Abstract: A vehicle door includes an outer panel, an inner panel including an inner wall portion, a side wall portion, and a flange portion, an impact beam provided so to extend between the outer panel and the inner wall portion on a surface parallel to inner wall portion, and a bracket including a fixed portion, a joint portion, and a recessed portion. The recessed portion recesses toward an inner-panel side such that a tip end of the impact beam is distanced from the bracket. In an extending direction of the impact beam, a yield strength of a region from the fixed portion to a tip end position of the impact beam for a load applied from the outer panel-side is lower than a yield strength of a region from the tip end position of the impact beam to the joint portion for the load applied from the outer-panel side.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shinobu TANAKA
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Patent number: 9796425Abstract: A step portion that is farther toward a vehicle width direction outside than a cabin inside vertical wall portion, is set on a door inner panel. A portion of the step portion is a first overlapping portion that is arranged in a position overlapping with an outside vertical wall portion of a center pillar in a vehicle side view. A portion of the outside vertical wall portion of the center pillar is a second overlapping portion that faces the first overlapping portion at a distance that is narrower than a distance between the step portion and the cabin inside vertical wall portion. A third overlapping portion that is connected to the first overlapping portion in a position overlapping with the second overlapping portion of the center pillar in the vehicle side view, is set on an end portion of a beltline reinforcement in a length direction thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinobu Tanaka, Takuya Oshima, Kenjiro Yamada, Tatsunori Mori, Yasuhiko Fukuzumi, Shuuitsu Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20160152119Abstract: A step portion that is farther toward a vehicle width direction outside than a cabin inside vertical wall portion, is set on a door inner panel. A portion of the step portion is a first overlapping portion that is arranged in a position overlapping with an outside vertical wall portion of a center pillar in a vehicle side view. A portion of the outside vertical wall portion of the center pillar is a second overlapping portion that faces the first overlapping portion at a distance that is narrower than a distance between the step portion and the cabin inside vertical wall portion. A third overlapping portion that is connected to the first overlapping portion in a position overlapping with the second overlapping portion of the center pillar in the vehicle side view, is set on an end portion of a beltline reinforcement in a length direction thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2015Publication date: June 2, 2016Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinobu TANAKA, Takuya OSHIMA, Kenjiro YAMADA, Tatsunori MORI, Yasuhiko FUKUZUMI, Shuuitsu YAMAMOTO
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Patent number: 9254811Abstract: In an inflated and deployed state of a side-airbag, a shoulder bag section is disposed to extend from the side of a shoulder of a seated occupant toward the vehicle front side, above a main bag section. The vehicle width direction dimension of the shoulder bag section is set smaller than that of the main bag section, and a vehicle width direction inner side face at an upper end side of the main bag section slopes or curves so as to rise on progression toward the vehicle width direction outer side. An upper arm is pushed upward by making sliding contact with this face. Moreover, the shoulder can be restrained by the shoulder bag section, even when the seated occupant moves under inertia obliquely toward the vehicle front.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2012Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shigeki Hayashi, Satoshi Fukushima, Shinobu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20150239423Abstract: In an inflated and deployed state of a side-airbag, a shoulder bag section is disposed to extend from the side of a shoulder of a seated occupant toward the vehicle front side, above a main bag section. The vehicle width direction dimension of the shoulder bag section is set smaller than that of the main bag section, and a vehicle width direction inner side face at an upper end side of the main bag section slopes or curves so as to rise on progression toward the vehicle width direction outer side. An upper arm is pushed upward by making sliding contact with this face. Moreover, the shoulder can be restrained by the shoulder bag section, even when the seated occupant moves under inertia obliquely toward the vehicle front.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2012Publication date: August 27, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shigeki Hayashi, Satoshi Fukushima, Shinobu Tanaka
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Patent number: 9039037Abstract: In an inflated and expanded state of a side airbag, a forwardly extending portion, provided at an upper portion of a rear side bag portion, extends from a side of a shoulder portion of a seated passenger toward a vehicle front side and is disposed above a front side bag portion. A dimension in a vehicle transverse direction of this forwardly extending portion is set to be smaller than that of the front side bag portion, and a vehicle transverse direction inner side surface at an upper end side of the front side bag portion is inclined or curved so as to rise-up while heading toward a vehicle transverse direction outer side. An upper arm portion is pushed-up due to sliding contact with this surface. Even when the seated passenger inertially toward an oblique front of a vehicle, the shoulder portion can be restrained by the forwardly extending portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Fukushima, Shigeki Hayashi, Shinobu Tanaka
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Publication number: 20150035262Abstract: In an inflated and expanded state of a side airbag, a forwardly extending portion, provided at an upper portion of a rear side bag portion, extends from a side of a shoulder portion of a seated passenger toward a vehicle front side and is disposed above a front side bag portion. A dimension in a vehicle transverse direction of this forwardly extending portion is set to be smaller than that of the front side bag portion, and a vehicle transverse direction inner side surface at an upper end side of the front side bag portion is inclined or curved so as to rise-up while heading toward a vehicle transverse direction outer side. An upper arm portion is pushed-up due to sliding contact with this surface. Even when the seated passenger inertially toward an oblique front of a vehicle, the shoulder portion can be restrained by the forwardly extending portion .Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2012Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi Fukushima, Shigeki Hayashi, Shinobu Tanaka