Patents by Inventor Takahiro Minamigata
Takahiro Minamigata 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: 9566997Abstract: Construction is achieved that makes it possible to stably and sufficiently increase support rigidity of a column-side bracket with respect to a vehicle-side bracket. The vehicle-side bracket and a locking capsule that is fastened to the column-side bracket are connected with synthetic resin locking pins so as to be able to break away during a secondary collision. Concave sections are formed on the bottom surface of the vehicle-side bracket, and together with one end being connected to small through holes in which the locking pins are located, the other end is open to the external space side. Part of the synthetic resin of the locking pins is exposed to the external space side through these concave sections.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2012Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: NSK, Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Kiyoshi Sadakata, Toru Segawa, Takahiro Minamigata
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Patent number: 9550513Abstract: Provided is steering column support construction that together with eliminating strong rubbing between the bottom surface of a vehicle-side bracket 23a and the top surface of a column-side bracket 22a, and keeping the absolute value and fluctuation in the break away load small, more completely protects the driver during a collision accident without lowering the freedom of design of the steering apparatus. An adjustment rod 27 for adjusting the position of a steering wheel is provided on the top side of a steering column 6b. During a secondary collision, a moment that is applied to the column-side bracket 22a is kept small, friction at the area of rubbing between the column-side bracket 22a and the vehicle-side bracket 23a is reduced, and the break away load is kept low. Moreover, the driver's knees are protected by eliminating the portion that protrudes further downward than the steering column 6b.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2012Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: NSK LTD.Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Toru Segawa, Takahiro Minamigata, Kiyoshi Sadakata
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Patent number: 9114828Abstract: When adjusting the forward-backward position of a steering wheel, together with reducing any uncomfortable feeling experienced by the driver, a support bracket is prevented from breaking away toward the front due to an extremely large force applied during the adjustment operation. Elastic sleeves 35 are mounted inside the long holes 25a in the forward-backward direction, and an adjustment rod 19a is inserted through the inside of the elastic sleeves 35. Gaps 36 located between the outer circumferential surface of both end portions in the forward-backward direction of the elastic sleeves 35 and the inner circumferential surface of the both end portions in the forward-backward direction of the long holes 25a in the forward-backward direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: NSK. Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Toru Segawa, Takahiro Minamigata, Kiyoshi Sadakata
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Patent number: 9004534Abstract: Provided is construction of a steering apparatus for an automobile that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement in the forward direction of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, and preventing damage to the component members of the section that supports a bracket 12b on the column side with respect to the bracket 11 on the vehicle side. In construction where the bracket on the vehicle side 11 and the bracket 12b on the column side are connected at only one location in the center section in the width direction of the both brackets by a locking capsule, the top edges of a pair of protruding sections 63 that protrude to both the left and right sides of the bracket 12b on the column side closely face the bottom edge of a bent section 56 of the bracket 11 on the vehicle side.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2011Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Takeshi Fujiwara, Osamu Tatewaki, Kiyoshi Sadakata
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Publication number: 20140331811Abstract: When adjusting the forward-backward position of a steering wheel, together with reducing any uncomfortable feeling experienced by the driver, a support bracket is prevented from breaking away toward the front due to an extremely large force applied during the adjustment operation. Elastic sleeves 35 are mounted inside the long holes 25a in the forward-backward direction, and an adjustment rod 19a is inserted through the inside of the elastic sleeves 35. Gaps 36 located between the outer circumferential surface of both end portions in the forward-backward direction of the elastic sleeves 35 and the inner circumferential surface of the both end portions in the forward-backward direction of the long holes 25a in the forward-backward direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2012Publication date: November 13, 2014Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Toru Segawa, Takahiro Minamigata, Kiyoshi Sadakata
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Publication number: 20140197293Abstract: Provided is steering column support construction that together with eliminating strong rubbing between the bottom surface of a vehicle-side bracket 23a and the top surface of a column-side bracket 22a, and keeping the absolute value and fluctuation in the break away load small, more completely protects the driver during a collision accident without lowering the freedom of design of the steering apparatus. An adjustment rod 27 for adjusting the position of a steering wheel is provided on the top side of a steering column 6b. During a secondary collision, a moment that is applied to the column-side bracket 22a is kept small, friction at the area of rubbing between the column-side bracket 22a and the vehicle-side bracket 23a is reduced, and the break away load is kept low. Moreover, the driver's knees are protected by eliminating the portion that protrudes further downward than the steering column 6b.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2012Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: NSK LTD.Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Toru Segawa, Takahiro Minamigata, Kiyoshi Sadakata
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Patent number: 8733793Abstract: The present invention provides construction that keeps the load required for a locking capsule 50d that is supported by the steering column to come out in the forward direction from a locking hole 48b that is formed in a fastening bracket 11e on the vehicle side low. Small through holes 52e are formed in a flange section 51d of the locking capsule 50d. Small notch sections 62a that are each open toward the inside of the locking hole 48b are formed in portions of the fastening bracket 11e on the vehicle side around the locking hole 48b that are aligned with each of the small through holes 52e. Injection molding is performed to inject synthetic resin 72 such that the synthetic resin 72 spans between these small through holes 48b and small notch sections 62a, and connects the locking capsule 50d and the fastening bracket 11e on the vehicle side.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: NSK, Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Takeshi Fujiwara, Osamu Tatewaki, Kiyoshi Sadakata, Toru Segawa
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Patent number: 8622427Abstract: Provided is a steering column support apparatus that simplifies tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, and suppresses the absolute value and variation of the break away load without strong rubbing between the bracket 11 on the vehicle side and the bracket 33 on the column side. By forming an extending section 57 on the top plate section 55 of the bracket 33 on the column side, and a convex curved surface 58 on the top surface of the front end section of that extending section 57, a rise in contact pressure at the area of contact that occurs when the edge on the front end of the top surface of the top plate section 55 is pressed against the bottom surface of the bracket 11 on the vehicle side by a moment that is applied from the steering column 6c to the bracket 33 on the column side during a secondary collision is suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Takeshi Fujiwara, Osamu Tatewaki, Toru Segawa, Kiyoshi Sadakata
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Patent number: 8585089Abstract: An assembly method for a steering column support apparatus is achieved that simplifies tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, eliminates space in the engagement section between a bracket 11 on the vehicle side and a locking capsule 47a, and suppresses rocking displacement of the steering column due to that space. Of a plurality of small through holes 49a, 49b on the capsule side and a plurality of small notch sections 55a, 55b, part of the small through holes 49a and the small notch sections 55a are aligned, and pin shaped members 58 are formed so as to span these small through holes and small notch sections. After that, the locking capsule 47a and bracket 11 on the vehicle side are put into the final assembled position, shearing the pin shaped members 58 in the process.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: NSK, Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Takeshi Fujiwara, Osamu Tatewaki, Kiyoshi Sadakata
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Patent number: 8578812Abstract: A structure is realized that is capable of preventing interference of respective friction plates (39, 40a, 40b) with other members existing therearound or with the body of a driver, and furthermore that facilitates, when assembling, insertion of a tension rod (17a) through a circular hole (47) and longitudinal elongated holes (18a, 18b) formed in the respective friction plates (39, 40a, 40b). The respective friction plates (39, 40a, 40b) are arranged between both of the side faces of a displacement bracket section (36) and the inner face of supporting plate sections (22a) that constitute a fixed side bracket (15a). Moreover, the end edges of the respective friction plates (39, 40a, 40b) symmetrically present in pairs are connected by connecting sections (45, 46a, 46b), to thereby integrate the left and right friction plates (39, 40a, 40b) so that the respective holes (45, 18a, 18b), through which the tension rod (17a) is to be inserted, can be easily aligned.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2007Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: NSK, Ltd.Inventor: Takahiro Minamigata
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Patent number: 8544887Abstract: Construction of a steering column support apparatus is achieved that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel 1 during a secondary collision, and lowering and stabilizing the break away load of the steering column 6c. A connecting bracket 30 is used that comprises an installation plate section 31 that connects and fastens to the portion on the top surface of the top plate section 23 of a bracket 12b on the column side which is exposed on the inside of a locking notch 28, a raised section 32 that rises upward from the installation plate section 31, and a restraining plate section 33 that is bent and extends outward from the edge on the top end of the raised section 32.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Kiyoshi Sadakata, Toru Segawa, Takahiro Minamigata
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Patent number: 8534705Abstract: Construction of a steering column support apparatus is achieved that simplifies tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, lowers and stabilizes the break away load, and when necessary, prevents the steering wheel from dropping excessively after a secondary collision. A locking cutout section 27 that extends in the forward/backward direction is formed in a bracket 11a on the vehicle side, top and bottom sliding plate sections 31a, 31b that are formed on outside and inside sliding plates 51, 52 of a sliding member 28 are located on both the top and bottom surfaces of the portions on both sides of the locking cutout section 27. A bolt that is inserted from the top through these sliding plate sections 31a, 31b and a nut 30 connect the top plate section 23 of a bracket 12b on the column side to the bracket 11a on the vehicle side.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Kiyoshi Sadakata, Toru Segawa, Takahiro Minamigata
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Patent number: 8528937Abstract: A steering column support apparatus that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, keeping material costs, processing costs and assembly costs of an energy absorbing member low, and when necessary, preventing the steering wheel from dropping down excessively during a secondary collision. A locking capsule 47 that is fastened to a bracket 3 on the column side is held inside a locking hole 45 of a bracket 11b on the vehicle side that is fastened to the vehicle body by a plurality of connecting members that shear during a secondary collision. An energy absorbing member 53 is placed between the locking capsule 47 and the bracket 11b on the vehicle side. This energy absorbing member 53 is formed by bending a plastically deformable wire, and allows forward displacement of the locking capsule while absorbing impact energy that is applied to the locking capsule by plastically deforming during a secondary collision.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2011Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Takeshi Fujiwara, Osamu Tatewaki, Kiyoshi Sadakata, Toru Segawa, Nobuyuki Nishimura
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Patent number: 8523228Abstract: Provided is construction of a steering column support apparatus that simplifies tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, makes the apparatus more compact and low cost, and lowers and stabilizes the break away load. A bracket 12b on the column and a locking capsule 53 that are both made of metal plate are connected and fastened together by welding. A pair of left and right eave sections 56 are formed on both the left and right end sections of the locking capsule 53 by way of raised sections 55. The portion of the metal plate of a bracket 11 on the vehicle side on both sides of a locking hole 45 fits between the bottom surfaces of the eave sections 56 and the top surface of the bracket 12b on the column side so as to be able to break away during a secondary collision.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Osamu Tatewaki, Kiyoshi Sadakata, Toru Segawa, Takeshi Fujiwara, Nobuyuki Nishimura
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Publication number: 20120299281Abstract: Construction of a steering column support apparatus is achieved that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel 1 during a secondary collision, and lowering and stabilizing the break away load of the steering column 6c. A connecting bracket 30 is used that comprises an installation plate section 31 that connects and fastens to the portion on the top surface of the top plate section 23 of a bracket 12b on the column side which is exposed on the inside of a locking notch 28, a raised section 32 that rises upward from the installation plate section 31, and a restraining plate section 33 that is bent and extends outward from the edge on the top end of the raised section 32.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Kiyoshi Sadakata, Toru Segawa, Takahiro Minamigata
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Publication number: 20120291585Abstract: An assembly method for a steering column support apparatus is achieved that simplifies tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, eliminates space in the engagement section between a bracket 11 on the vehicle side and a locking capsule 47a, and suppresses rocking displacement of the steering column due to that space. Of a plurality of small through holes 49a, 49b on the capsule side and a plurality of small notch sections 55a, 55b, part of the small through holes 49a and the small notch sections 55a are aligned, and pin shaped members 58 are formed so as to span these small through holes and small notch sections. After that, the locking capsule 47a and bracket 11 on the vehicle side are put into the final assembled position, shearing the pin shaped members 58 in the process.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: NSK, LTD.Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Takeshi Fujiwara, Osamu Tatewaki, Kiyoshi Sadakata
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Publication number: 20120267884Abstract: Construction of a steering column support apparatus is achieved that simplifies tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, lowers and stabilizes the break away load, and when necessary, prevents the steering wheel from dropping excessively after a secondary collision. A locking cutout section 27 that extends in the forward/backward direction is formed in a bracket 11a on the vehicle side, top and bottom sliding plate sections 31a, 31b that are formed on outside and inside sliding plates 51, 52 of a sliding member 28 are located on both the top and bottom surfaces of the portions on both sides of the locking cutout section 27. A bolt that is inserted from the top through these sliding plate sections 31a, 31b and a nut 30 connect the top plate section 23 of a bracket 12b on the column side to the bracket 11a on the vehicle side.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Kiyoshi Sadakata, Toru Segawa, Takahiro Minamigata
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Publication number: 20120240711Abstract: The present invention provides construction that keeps the load required for a locking capsule 50d that is supported by the steering column to come out in the forward direction from a locking hole 48b that is formed in a fastening bracket 11e on the vehicle side low. Small through holes 52e are formed in a flange section 51d of the locking capsule 50d. Small notch sections 62a that are each open toward the inside of the locking hole 48b are formed in portions of the fastening bracket 11e on the vehicle side around the locking hole 48b that are aligned with each of the small through holes 52e. Injection molding is performed to inject synthetic resin 72 such that the synthetic resin 72 spans between these small through holes 48b and small notch sections 62a, and connects the locking capsule 50d and the fastening bracket 11e on the vehicle side.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: NSK, LTD.Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Takeshi Fujiwara, Osamu Tatewaki, Kiyoshi Sadakata, Toru Segawa
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Publication number: 20120186384Abstract: Provided is construction of a steering apparatus for an automobile that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement in the forward direction of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, and preventing damage to the component members of the section that supports a bracket 12b on the column side with respect to the bracket 11 on the vehicle side. In construction where the bracket on the vehicle side 11 and the bracket 12b on the column side are connected at only one location in the center section in the width direction of the both brackets by a locking capsule, the top edges of a pair of protruding sections 63 that protrude to both the left and right sides of the bracket 12b on the column side closely face the bottom edge of a bent section 56 of the bracket 11 on the vehicle side.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2011Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: NSK, LTD.Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Takeshi Fujiwara, Osamu Tatewaki, Kiyoshi Sadakata
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Publication number: 20120187669Abstract: Provided is a steering column support apparatus that simplifies tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, and suppresses the absolute value and variation of the break away load without strong rubbing between the bracket 11 on the vehicle side and the bracket 33 on the column side. By forming an extending section 57 on the top plate section 55 of the bracket 33 on the column side, and a convex curved surface 58 on the top surface of the front end section of that extending section 57, a rise in contact pressure at the area of contact that occurs when the edge on the front end of the top surface of the top plate section 55 is pressed against the bottom surface of the bracket 11 on the vehicle side by a moment that is applied from the steering column 6c to the bracket 33 on the column side during a secondary collision is suppressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2011Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: NSK LTD.Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Takeshi Fujiwara, Osamu Tatewaki, Toru Segawa, Kiyoshi Sadakata