Patents by Inventor Takaomi MAKINO

Takaomi MAKINO 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: 9180913
    Abstract: A vehicle front end structure includes an engine cradle including an engine mounting structure and a force receiving member. The force receiving member is fixedly attached to the engine cradle. The force receiving member includes a force receiving surface extending rearward from a front corner of the engine cradle in a laterally outbound direction at an inclined angle with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction. The force receiving member is arranged with respect to the engine cradle to receive a longitudinally directed rearward force on the force receiving surface. The force receiving member is configured with respect to the engine cradle to redirect at least a portion of the longitudinally directed rearward force laterally to the engine cradle at the engine mounting structure which is located rearward of the front corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Ameloot, Ramkrishna Jayaram Chunduri, Takaomi Makino, Takuya Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9016768
    Abstract: A vehicle front end structure includes an engine cradle, an engine assembly and a lateral energy transfer member. The engine cradle includes a side engine cradle member with an engine mounting structure, which is located rearward of a front corner of the engine cradle. The engine assembly is fixedly attached to the engine mounting structure of the side engine cradle member. The lateral energy transfer member is fixedly attached to the side engine cradle member between the front corner and the engine mounting structure. The lateral energy transfer member has an engine contact surface positioned adjacent an engine structure of the engine assembly with a prescribed lateral gap between the engine contact surface and the engine structure. The prescribed lateral gap is dimensioned to transfer lateral energy to the engine assembly from a lateral force applied to the side engine cradle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Takaomi Makino, Takuya Yamashita, Ramkrishna Jayaram Chunduri, Kenneth Ameloot, Ryan Corby
  • Publication number: 20140265442
    Abstract: A vehicle front end structure includes an engine cradle, an engine assembly and a lateral energy transfer member. The engine cradle includes a side engine cradle member with an engine mounting structure, which is located rearward of a front corner of the engine cradle. The engine assembly is fixedly attached to the engine mounting structure of the side engine cradle member. The lateral energy transfer member is fixedly attached to the side engine cradle member between the front corner and the engine mounting structure. The lateral energy transfer member has an engine contact surface positioned adjacent an engine structure of the engine assembly with a prescribed lateral gap between the engine contact surface and the engine structure. The prescribed lateral gap is dimensioned to transfer lateral energy to the engine assembly from a lateral force applied to the side engine cradle member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Takaomi MAKINO, Takuya YAMASHITA, Ramkrishna Jayaram CHUNDURI, Kenneth AMELOOT, Ryan CORBY
  • Publication number: 20140265441
    Abstract: A vehicle front end structure includes an engine cradle including an engine mounting structure and a force receiving member. The force receiving member is fixedly attached to the engine cradle. The force receiving member includes a force receiving surface extending rearward from a front corner of the engine cradle in a laterally outbound direction at an inclined angle with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction. The force receiving member is arranged with respect to the engine cradle to receive a longitudinally directed rearward force on the force receiving surface. The force receiving member is configured with respect to the engine cradle to redirect at least a portion of the longitudinally directed rearward force laterally to the engine cradle at the engine mounting structure which is located rearward of the front corner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicants: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth AMELOOT, Ramkrishna Jayaram CHUNDURI, Takaomi MAKINO, Takuya YAMASHITA