Patents by Inventor Susumu Imagaki

Susumu Imagaki 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: 11383754
    Abstract: A steering system includes an upper jacket, a lower jacket, a support, a lock mechanism, and a shock absorber. The support supports the lower jacket. The lock mechanism switches a restriction of a telescopic adjustment and a termination of the restriction. The upper jacket includes a protruding stopper configured to regulate a position of the upper jacket at one end of a telescopic stroke range. The lock mechanism includes an opening and closing portion configured to enter a path of the stopper while the restriction of the telescopic adjustment is terminated, and configured to open the path of the stopper while the telescopic adjustment is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu Imagaki, Masayoshi Sakuda, Kota Higuchi, Kazuki Fujiwara, Kenji Utsunomiya, Takuya Adachi
  • Patent number: 11325636
    Abstract: A steering column device includes an inner tube, a housing, and a lock mechanism configured. The lock mechanism includes a first engagement member, a second engagement member, a first urging member, a second urging member, a cam member configured to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a direction in which the first urging member and the second urging member are arranged such that the second urging member serving as a follower is moved in the direction in which the first urging member and the second urging member are arranged to change a magnitude relationship between an urging force of the first urging member and an urging force of the second urging member, and an operation lever configured to operate the cam member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu Imagaki, Masayoshi Sakuda, Takahiro Baito, Takuya Adachi, Kota Higuchi, So Tanaka, Kazuki Fujiwara, Kenji Utsunomiya
  • Publication number: 20210253156
    Abstract: A steering system includes an upper jacket, a lower jacket, a support, a lock mechanism, and a shock absorber. The support supports the lower jacket. The lock mechanism switches a restriction of a telescopic adjustment and a termination of the restriction. The upper jacket includes a protruding stopper configured to regulate a position of the upper jacket at one end of a telescopic stroke range. The lock mechanism includes an opening and closing portion configured to enter a path of the stopper while the restriction of the telescopic adjustment is terminated, and configured to open the path of the stopper while the telescopic adjustment is restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu IMAGAKI, Masayoshi SAKUDA, Kota HIGUCHI, Kazuki FUJIWARA, Kenji UTSUNOMIYA, Takuya ADACHI
  • Publication number: 20210253155
    Abstract: A steering column device includes an inner tube, a housing, and a lock mechanism configured. The lock mechanism includes a first engagement member, a second engagement member, a first urging member, a second urging member, a cam member configured to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a direction in which the first urging member and the second urging member are arranged such that the second urging member serving as a follower is moved in the direction in which the first urging member and the second urging member are arranged to change a magnitude relationship between an urging force of the first urging member and an urging force of the second urging member, and an operation lever configured to operate the cam member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu IMAGAKI, Masayoshi SAKUDA, Takahiro BAITO, Takuya ADACHI, Kota HIGUCHI, So TANAKA, Kazuki FUJIWARA, Kenji UTSUNOMIYA
  • Patent number: 10625767
    Abstract: A steering device includes: an inner tube; an outer tube that fixes the inner tube by fastening the inner tube from an outer side, and has a first slit extending in an axial direction; a pair of clamp brackets that is disposed so that the clamp brackets face each other with the first slit therebetween; and a reinforcing member that is connected to one of the clamp brackets and also connected to a connection region that is a region of an outer circumferential surface of the outer tube and located farther on one side in the axial direction than an end of the first slit on the one side in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, HIRUTA-KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Suzuki, Daiki Goto, Susumu Imagaki, Takahiro Fujii
  • Patent number: 10202140
    Abstract: A pin assembly includes: a resin pin; and a collar fitted to a round shaft portion of the resin pin and having higher hardness than the resin pin. The round shaft portion is sheared to cancel connection between a first plate and a second plate upon secondary collision of a vehicle. The collar includes an end face received by a reception surface of the second plate, and shears the round shaft portion in a shear plane along the end face upon the secondary collision. The round shaft portion includes a hollow hole. An inner circumference of the hollow hole includes a straight portion which has a generating line parallel to an axial direction of the round shaft portion and which is traversed by a plane including the end face of the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DAIWA PLASTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Tanaka, Susumu Imagaki, Hiroyuki Yao, Kenji Imamura, Kentaro Okuno, Eiji Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20180327017
    Abstract: A steering device includes: an inner tube; an outer tube that fixes the inner tube by fastening the inner tube from an outer side, and has a first slit extending in an axial direction; a pair of clamp brackets that is disposed so that the clamp brackets face each other with the first slit therebetween; and a reinforcing member that is connected to one of the clamp brackets and also connected to a connection region that is a region of an outer circumferential surface of the outer tube and located farther on one side in the axial direction than an end of the first slit on the one side in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicants: JTEKT CORPORATION, HIRUTA-KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya SUZUKI, Daiki GOTO, Susumu IMAGAKI, Takahiro FUJII
  • Patent number: 9714048
    Abstract: A fastening mechanism fastens a first side plate to a second side plate by a fastening member. A boss with a rhombic cross-section of the fastening member is inserted into a telescopic-adjust long groove of the second side plate. An outer periphery of the boss includes a first corner part and a third corner part each forming an obtuse angle and facing each other. The first corner part is disposed on an upper side in an axial direction, on a lower side in a tilt direction, while the third corner part is disposed on a lower side in the axial direction, on an upper side in the tilt direction. A width across the first corner part and the third corner part is shorter than a groove width W of the telescopic-adjust long groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Susumu Imagaki, Atsushi Tano, Kentaro Kikuiri, Shunsuke Nunomura, Yuuji Ishii, Hiroshi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9694842
    Abstract: A first plate of a stationary bracket has long holes which extend parallel to a column movement direction, and through which large-diameter portions of suspension bolts are passed. The inner circumferences of the long holes include: recessed curved surface portions of end portions in a direction opposite to the column movement direction; first inner edge portions which are on the side of a middle position between the long holes; and second inner edge portions. In a secondary collision, when the one suspension bolt slides over the first inner edge portion of the long hole, for example, a gap is formed between the other suspension bolt and the second inner edge portion of the long hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Tanaka, Susumu Imagaki, Atsushi Tano, Hiroshi Kawakami, Kenji Imamura
  • Patent number: 9663134
    Abstract: A steering system includes an upper jacket that is movable in an axial direction, a first stopper member fixed to the upper jacket, and a second stopper member on a vehicle body. When a lock and unlock mechanism unlocks the upper jacket, the second stopper member moves to an advanced position where the second stopper member faces the first stopper member in the axial direction. When the lock and unlock mechanism locks the upper jacket, the second stopper member moves to a retracted position where the second stopper member retracts from the advanced position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu Imagaki, Ryota Okano, Masayoshi Sakuda, Yuji Takahashi, Tomonori Sugiura, Shoji Ishimura, Tatsuro Kubota
  • Patent number: 9656684
    Abstract: Elongated holes are formed in a first plate of a fixed bracket so as to extend parallel to a column moving direction. An elongated hole inserted portion of a suspending bolt of a suspending mechanism is disposed in an initial assembling position in one of the elongated holes. An inner circumference of the elongated hole includes a pair of flat surface portions which are parallel to the column moving direction, an arc-shaped surface portion and tapered surface portions which connect a pair of end portions of the arc-shaped surface portion to the corresponding flat surface portion. Tapered angles which the tapered surfaces form relative to the column moving direction are equal to or greater than a friction angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Tanaka, Fumio Kishida, Susumu Imagaki, Hiroshi Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20160332657
    Abstract: A pin assembly includes: a resin pin; and a collar fitted to a round shaft portion of the resin pin and having higher hardness than the resin pin. The round shaft portion is sheared to cancel connection between a first plate and a second plate upon secondary collision of a vehicle. The collar includes an end face received by a reception surface of the second plate, and shears the round shaft portion in a shear plane along the end face upon the secondary collision. The round shaft portion includes a hollow hole. An inner circumference of the hollow hole includes a straight portion which has a generating line parallel to an axial direction of the round shaft portion and which is traversed by a plane including the end face of the collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicants: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DAIWA PLASTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji TANAKA, Susumu IMAGAKI, Hiroyuki YAO, Kenji IMAMURA, Kentaro OKUNO, Eiji HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20160311460
    Abstract: A fastening mechanism fastens a first side plate to a second side plate by a fastening member. A boss with a rhombic cross-section of the fastening member is inserted into a telescopic-adjust long groove of the second side plate. An outer periphery of the boss includes a first corner part and a third corner part each forming an obtuse angle and facing each other. The first corner part is disposed on an upper side in an axial direction, on a lower side in a tilt direction, while the third corner part is disposed on a lower side in the axial direction, on an upper side in the tilt direction. A width across the first corner part and the third corner part is shorter than a groove width W of the telescopic-adjust long groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicants: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Susumu IMAGAKI, Atsushi TANO, Kentaro KIKUIRI, Shunsuke NUNOMURA, Yuuji ISHII, Hiroshi KAWAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20160297467
    Abstract: A fulcrum formation member forming a fulcrum and a first spring engagement portion are provided in a bracket. A lever link that swings about the fulcrum includes a second spring engagement portion forming a point of load, and an elongated hole in which a fastening shaft is fitted so as to be movable in a longitudinal direction in association with tilt adjustment. A point of effort is located at the edge of the elongated hole. One end of a spring member (biasing member) engages with the first spring engagement portion, and the other end thereof engages with the second spring engagement portion. The spring member biases a column jacket toward the upper side in a tilt direction via the lever link and the fastening shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu IMAGAKI, Masayoshi SAKUDA, Ryota OKANO, Michiaki YAMAOKA
  • Patent number: 9381936
    Abstract: A steering column device is provided with a pair of suspension shafts which connects a first plate of a fixed bracket and a second plate of a movable bracket, thereby suspending a movable jacket through the movable bracket. A pair of first holes, each of which is an elongated hole, into which the pair of suspension shafts is inserted, is formed in the first plate. A connection and separation mechanism which separates, at the time of a secondary collision, the second plate from a predetermined position of the first plate in a column movement direction includes a resin pin disposed only between the pair of first holes in relation to a direction orthogonal to the column movement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Tanaka, Takeshi Matsuda, Susumu Imagaki, Hiroyuki Yao, Shigeru Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20160167691
    Abstract: A steering system includes an upper jacket that is movable in an axial direction, a first stopper member fixed to the upper jacket, and a second stopper member on a vehicle body. When a lock and unlock mechanism unlocks the upper jacket, the second stopper member moves to an advanced position where the second stopper member faces the first stopper member in the axial direction. When the lock and unlock mechanism locks the upper jacket, the second stopper member moves to a retracted position where the second stopper member retracts from the advanced position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu IMAGAKI, Ryota OKANO, Masayoshi SAKUDA, Yuji TAKAHASHI, Tomonori SUGIURA, Shoji ISHIMURA, Tatsuro KUBOTA
  • Publication number: 20160159387
    Abstract: Provided is a steering device including a hollow upper jacket that accommodates a steering shaft, a first engagement member, a rotary shaft that extends in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the steering shaft, and a second engagement member that is a component independent from the rotary shaft. The first engagement member has an engagement hole and is attached to the upper jacket. The second engagement member has an engagement projection which is engageable with the engagement hole. The second engagement member is movable between a lock position where the engagement projection engages with the engagement hole and a release position where the engagement projection is disengaged from the engagement hole, in accordance with a rotation of the rotary shaft. A vertical direction of the second engagement member between the lock position and the release position is different from a rotating direction of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Ryota OKANO, Masayuki NAGAOKA, Susumu IMAGAKI, Michiaki YAMAOKA, Yota UESAKA
  • Publication number: 20160144887
    Abstract: A first plate of a stationary bracket has long holes which extend parallel to a column movement direction, and through which large-diameter portions of suspension bolts are passed. The inner circumferences of the long holes include: recessed curved surface portions of end portions in a direction opposite to the column movement direction; first inner edge portions which are on the side of a middle position between the long holes; and second inner edge portions. In a secondary collision, when the one suspension bolt slides over the first inner edge portion of the long hole, for example, a gap is formed between the other suspension bolt and the second inner edge portion of the long hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicants: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji TANAKA, Susumu IMAGAKI, Atsushi TANO, Hiroshi KAWAKAMI, Kenji IMAMURA
  • Patent number: 9346482
    Abstract: A steering column device is provided with a suspension mechanism which is supported on a fixed bracket, suspends a movable jacket through a movable bracket, and can move in a column movement direction at the time of a secondary collision. The suspension mechanism includes a suspension bolt which is inserted into a first plate of the fixed bracket and a second plate of a tilt bracket and is screwed into a nut. A leaf spring which is interposed between a head portion of the suspension bolt and the second plate in a state of bringing a stepped portion of the suspension bolt into contact with the second plate biases the first plate to the second plate side. Further, the second plate is pinched between the stepped portion and the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Tanaka, Susumu Imagaki, Takeshi Matsuda, Hiroyuki Yao, Shigeru Hoshino
  • Publication number: 20160114828
    Abstract: Elongated holes are formed in a first plate of a fixed bracket so as to extend parallel to a column moving direction. An elongated hole inserted portion of a suspending bolt of a suspending mechanism is disposed in an initial assembling position in one of the elongated holes. An inner circumference of the elongated hole includes a pair of flat surface portions which are parallel to the column moving direction, an arc-shaped surface portion and tapered surface portions which connect a pair of end portions of the arc-shaped surface portion to the corresponding flat surface portion. Tapered angles which the tapered surfaces form relative to the column moving direction are equal to or greater than a friction angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Eiji TANAKA, Fumio KISHIDA, Susumu IMAGAKI, Hiroshi KAWAKAMI