Patents by Inventor Tomofumi Tochigi

Tomofumi Tochigi 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: 11865988
    Abstract: PROBLEM: To provide a side airbag device that can be stored compactly. RESOLUTION MEANS The present invention is an airbag device to be stowed in a vehicle seat, comprising: an airbag cushion that restrains an occupant by expanding and deploying; an inflator arranged on the inner side of the seat frame which supplies expansion gas to the airbag cushion; and a cover member made of a ductile material that melts and shrinks under heat and pressure to retain the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion includes a rear chamber section where the inflator is stowed, and a front chamber section that extends forward from the rear chamber section that is arranged outside of the seat frame when stowed. The cover member is then configured to heat and pressurize the region corresponding to the front chamber section of the airbag cushion, thereby pressurizing and retaining the relevant section of the airbag cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Yuto Kobayashi, Tsutomu Sakurai, Tomofumi Tochigi
  • Publication number: 20230182673
    Abstract: PROBLEM: To provide a side airbag device that can be stored compactly. RESOLUTION MEANS The present invention is an airbag device to be stowed in a vehicle seat, comprising: an airbag cushion that restrains an occupant by expanding and deploying; an inflator arranged on the inner side of the seat frame which supplies expansion gas to the airbag cushion; and a cover member made of a ductile material that melts and shrinks under heat and pressure to retain the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion includes a rear chamber section where the inflator is stowed, and a front chamber section that extends forward from the rear chamber section that is arranged outside of the seat frame when stowed. The cover member is then configured to heat and pressurize the region corresponding to the front chamber section of the airbag cushion, thereby pressurizing and retaining the relevant section of the airbag cushion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Yuto Kobayashi, Tsutomu Sakurai, Tomofumi Tochigi