Patents by Inventor Sotaro Kumazawa

Sotaro Kumazawa 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: 6203096
    Abstract: An energy absorbing structure of a vehicular door has an energy absorbing member that is disposed on a compartment side of an inner panel, at such a position as to substantially face a hip of an occupant sitting on a seat. The energy absorbing member has a block or container shape. A generally rectangular protruded portion is formed together with the energy absorbing member. The protruded portion is protruded from a front-to-rear middle portion of an upper end portion of a bottom wall of the energy absorbing member that faces the inner panel when the energy absorbing member is mounted. The bottom wall has an increased wall thickness and therefore resists bending deformation. The protruded portion is designed so that the protruded portion is substantially prevented from undergoing compression deformation at the time of impact. In a door assembly, the protruded portion protrudes from a service hole formed in the inner panel toward to an outer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Noda, Sotaro Kumazawa