Patents by Inventor Sigeru Tanabe

Sigeru Tanabe 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: 7637542
    Abstract: A door lock apparatus includes a housing for accommodating a latch mechanism for holding a vehicle door to a vehicle body, a lever mechanism actuated when a door handle is operated, a link mechanism for connecting the lever mechanism to the latch mechanism, the link mechanism having a first position for transmitting operational force from the lever mechanism to the latch mechanism and a second position for preventing transmission of the operational force from the lever mechanism to the latch mechanism, and a motor drive mechanism for changing the first and second positions of the link mechanism. The housing includes a first accommodating space for accommodating the motor drive mechanism and a second accommodating space adjacently provided to the first accommodating space for accommodating the latch mechanism and a water preventing portion is provided for preventing water from entering the first accommodating space from outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Sigeru Tanabe, Yukinobu Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 7559586
    Abstract: A door lock apparatus includes: a link member interposed between a latch mechanism and an open lever and selectively operated between an unlock position and a lock position, the unlock position in which an operation of the open lever is transmitted to the latch mechanism, and the lock position in which the operation is not transmitted to the latch mechanism; and a lock operation lever including an active lever and a sub lever, the sub lever configured to operate integrally with the active lever when the link member is switched to the lock position and to cooperate with the active lever via a biasing member when the link member is switched to the unlock position. The lock operation lever is an assembly containing the active lever, the sub lever and the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Sigeru Tanabe, Yukinobu Kunimatsu, Kazuhisa Hidaka
  • Patent number: 7380845
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes a base member on which a pivot shaft is supported, a first lever rotatably supported on the pivot shaft, a second lever rotatably supported on the pivot shaft and operated in association with a door handle, an engaging member including an engaging pin for engaging the first lever and the second lever with each other in a predetermined engaging position and disengaging from each other in a predetermined release position, and an operating bringing the engaging pin to operate between the engaging position and the release position. The first lever, the second lever, the engaging member, and the operating member are arranged on one side of the base member. The base member includes a restricting projection portion on the one side for restricting a movement of the engaging pin as in the release position in a peripheral direction relative to the pivot shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Sigeru Tanabe, Yukinobu Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 7192016
    Abstract: A torsion spring assembling construction includes a base member including an engaging hole, a movable member rotatably supported at the base member and rotatable about an axis for defining a first position and a second position, a long hole formed at the movable member, a torsion spring, and a fixed guide for setting a second end of the torsion spring at the second hole by moving the second end of the torsion spring from the first hole to the second hole upon rotation of the movable member. A first end of the torsion spring is inserted into the engaging hole and a second end of the torsion spring is inserted into the long hole. The long hole includes a first hole extended diagonally radial direction relative to the axis and a second hole in communication with the first hole relative to the radially external direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Takashi Nishio, Sigeru Tanabe, Akira Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20060186674
    Abstract: A door lock apparatus includes a housing for accommodating a latch mechanism for holding a vehicle door to a vehicle body, a lever mechanism actuated when a door handle is operated, a link mechanism for connecting the lever mechanism to the latch mechanism, the link mechanism having a first position for transmitting operational force from the lever mechanism to the latch mechanism and a second position for preventing transmission of the operational force from the lever mechanism to the latch mechanism, and a motor drive mechanism for changing the first and second positions of the link mechanism. The housing includes a first accommodating space for accommodating the motor drive mechanism and a second accommodating space adjacently provided to the first accommodating space for accommodating the latch mechanism and a water preventing portion is provided for preventing water from entering the first accommodating space from outside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Sigeru Tanabe, Yukinobu Kunimatsu
  • Publication number: 20060186676
    Abstract: A door lock apparatus includes: a link member interposed between a latch mechanism and an open lever and selectively operated between an unlock position and a lock position, the unlock position in which an operation of the open lever is transmitted to the latch mechanism, and the lock position in which the operation is not transmitted to the latch mechanism; and a lock operation lever including an active lever and a sub lever, the sub lever configured to operate integrally with the active lever when the link member is switched to the lock position and to cooperate with the active lever via a biasing member when the link member is switched to the unlock position. The lock operation lever is an assembly containing the active lever, the sub lever and the biasing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Sigeru Tanabe, Yukinobu Kunimatsu, Kazuhisa Hidaka
  • Publication number: 20060186675
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes a base member on which a pivot shaft is supported, a first lever rotatably supported on the pivot shaft, a second lever rotatably supported on the pivot shaft and operated in association with a door handle, an engaging member including an engaging pin for engaging the first lever and the second lever with each other in a predetermined engaging position and disengaging from each other in a predetermined release position, and an operating bringing the engaging pin to operate between the engaging position and the release position. The first lever, the second lever, the engaging member, and the operating member are arranged on one side of the base member. The base member includes a restricting projection portion on the one side for restricting a movement of the engaging pin as in the release position in a peripheral direction relative to the pivot shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Sigeru Tanabe, Yukinobu Kunimatsu
  • Publication number: 20050093215
    Abstract: A torsion spring assembling construction includes a base member including an engaging hole, a movable member rotatably supported at the base member and rotatable about an axis for defining a first position and a second position, a long hole formed at the movable member, a torsion spring, and a fixed guide for setting a second end of the torsion spring at the second hole by moving the second end of the torsion spring from the first hole to the second hole upon rotation of the movable member. A first end of the torsion spring is inserted into the engaging hole and a second end of the torsion spring is inserted into the long hole. The long hole includes a first hole extended diagonally radial direction relative to the axis and a second hole in communication with the first hole relative to the radially external direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Takashi Nishio, Sigeru Tanabe, Akira Muramatsu