Patents by Inventor Toshio Machida

Toshio Machida 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).

  • Publication number: 20220381068
    Abstract: A powered latch assembly for a vehicle tailgate includes a latch structured to engage a striker mounted on a vehicle and to be rotatable into a latching position when engaged with the striker, so as to maintain the tailgate in a closed position associated with the latching position of the latch. The latch assembly also includes a latch control member rotationally connected to the latch and structured to be engageable by a pawl of the latch assembly to maintain the latch control member in a position associated with the latching position of the latch. A rotational position of the latch is thus controlled by engagement between the pawl and the latch control member rotationally connected to the latch. A wall may be provided between the latch and the latch control member to environmentally isolate the latch control member and components of the latch assembly from the vehicle exterior environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan Heins, Nicholas Ozog, Takashi Nishio, Toshio Machida, Shinsuke Takayanagi
  • Publication number: 20220381071
    Abstract: A powered latch assembly for a vehicle tailgate includes a latch having a slot structured to receive a striker therein during closing of a tailgate. The latch is structured to be rotatable about a rotational axis into a latched position of the latch when the striker is received in the slot so as to maintain the tailgate in at least one closed position of the tailgate associated with the latched position. The latch is also structured so that, with respect to a vertical plane extending through the rotational axis, a centroid of a cross-section of the striker taken through a portion of the striker residing inside the slot resides along a first side of the plane when the latch is in a fully-latched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan Heins, Nicholas Ozog, Takashi Nishio, Toshio Machida, Shinsuke Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 11299918
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening/closing device includes: door lock devices each installed in a door and including a latch mechanism and an open lever capable of transmitting a releasing operation force to the latch mechanism; a fully closing lock releasing member rotatably provided in the door and rotating based on the releasing operation force; cables whose both terminals are connected to the open levers and the fully closing lock releasing member and causing the open levers to rotate to a releasing operation positions from an initial positions; and lost motion mechanisms at least one of which is disposed on the fully closing lock releasing member side of the cables and that, when one of the open levers is bound at the releasing operation position, allow the remainder of the open levers to return to the initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryohei Yamane, Toshio Machida, Junji Yamaguchi, Keisuke Matsumoto, Satoshi Takeno, Yasuhiro Nagaya
  • Publication number: 20210277701
    Abstract: An opening and closing body drive device for a vehicle opening and closing an opening and closing body of the vehicle includes a belt frame extending in a moving direction of the opening and closing body, a drive unit including an output shaft, a drive pulley connected to the output shaft of the drive unit, plural driven pulleys arranged spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the belt frame, a belt wounded around the drive pulley and the plural driven pulleys and fixed with a connector with respect to the opening and closing body, and a biasing member supported at the belt frame and pressing the belt from inward thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taishi ISONO, Toshio MACHIDA, Akinori SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 10557292
    Abstract: A door closer device for a vehicle includes a latch, a drive force transmission mechanism and a cancellation mechanism cancelling a closing operation of the drive force transmission mechanism. The drive force transmission mechanism includes a drive force transmission portion rotatable between a transmission position where the latch is configured to receive a drive force of an actuator and a non-transmission position where the latch is configured not to receive the drive force of the actuator. The cancellation mechanism includes a first operation portion and a second operation portion, the first operation portion engaged with the drive force transmission portion to be rotated irrespective of the second operation portion, the second operation portion engaged with the drive force transmission portion to be rotated irrespective of the first operation portion, the first and second operation portions rotating the drive force transmission portion from the transmission position to the non-transmission position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Machida, Satoshi Shibayama
  • Patent number: 10385593
    Abstract: A remote control device for a vehicle includes an interior handle coupling lever that rotates in accordance with manipulation of an interior manipulating handle, an exterior handle coupling lever that rotates in accordance with manipulation of an exterior manipulating handle, and a switch device. The switch device includes an interior manipulation detector for detecting rotation of the interior manipulating handle, an exterior manipulation detector for detecting rotation of the exterior manipulating handle, and wiring members each having a detector connection terminal and an external connection terminal connected to the interior manipulation detector or the exterior manipulation detector. The remote control device further includes a body and a housing. The body accommodates the interior manipulation detector, the exterior manipulation detector, and the wiring members and has a connector portion enclosing all of the exterior connection terminals for the wiring members. The housing covers the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Machida, Yasutaka Shinoda, Shinsuke Takayanagi, Satoshi Takeno, Takeshi Nishikibe, Kohei Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20190186176
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening/closing device includes: door lock devices each installed in a door and including a latch mechanism and an open lever capable of transmitting a releasing operation force to the latch mechanism; a fully closing lock releasing member rotatably provided in the door and rotating based on the releasing operation force; cables whose both terminals are connected to the open levers and the fully closing lock releasing member and causing the open levers to rotate to a releasing operation positions from an initial positions; and lost motion mechanisms at least one of which is disposed on the fully closing lock releasing member side of the cables and that, when one of the open levers is bound at the releasing operation position, allow the remainder of the open levers to return to the initial position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryohei Yamane, Toshio Machida, Junji Yamaguchi, Keisuke Matsumoto, Satoshi Takeno, Yasuhiro Nagaya
  • Publication number: 20190169885
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes: a latch mechanism engaged with a striker provided on a vehicle body; and a bracket supporting the latch mechanism on a door of a vehicle. The bracket includes a base plate including a latch holding portion holding the latch mechanism and fixed to the door, and an extension plate extending in a direction intersecting the latch holding portion. The extension plate includes a fastening hole for fastening the extension plate to the door in a thickness direction of the door, a first bead-shaped portion extending in a direction in which the extension plate extends, and a second bead-shaped portion extending in a direction intersecting the first bead-shaped portion. A plurality of the first bead-shaped portions and a plurality of the second bead-shaped portions are arranged in a lattice pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Machida, Junji Yamaguchi, Yasuhiro Nagaya
  • Patent number: 10100559
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes: an actuating lever linked to an electric motor, rotatable in a rotation regulating range, rotating in one direction toward a closing position on one end side of the rotation regulating range, thereby holding, in a complete-closing state, a door having been in a half-closed state, and rotating in the other direction toward a release position on the other end side, thereby releasing the holding of the door in the complete-closing state; a first neutrality detecting switch generating a first neutrality detection signal having logic switched at a first neutral position; and a second neutrality detecting switch generating a second neutrality detection signal having logics switched at a second neutral position and a release start position which are a boundary position of the neutral region on the closing position side, and a boundary position of the neutral region on the release position side, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Machida, Shinsuke Takayanagi, Yasuhiro Nagaya
  • Publication number: 20170130492
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes: an actuating lever linked to an electric motor, rotatable in a rotation regulating range, rotating in one direction toward a closing position on one end side of the rotation regulating range, thereby holding, in a complete-closing state, a door having been in a half-closed state, and rotating in the other direction toward a release position on the other end side, thereby releasing the holding of the door in the complete-closing state; a first neutrality detecting switch generating a first neutrality detection signal having logic switched at a first neutral position; and a second neutrality detecting switch generating a second neutrality detection signal having logics switched at a second neutral position and a release start position which are a boundary position of the neutral region on the closing position side, and a boundary position of the neutral region on the release position side, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio MACHIDA, Shinsuke TAKAYANAGI, Yasuhiro NAGAYA
  • Patent number: 9556656
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes: a latching mechanism maintaining a vehicle door in a closing-stop state; an active lever having a support swiveling around a first support shaft, a link section disposed on the outer side from the support in a radial direction with the first support shaft as the center and having an outer circumferential section linked to and driven by an electric motor, a connection section connecting the support and the link section, and a first engagement section formed in one of an outer circumferential section of the support and an inner circumferential section of the link section; a release lever swiveling around a second support shaft disposed in the recessed portion to be parallel to the first support shaft, interconnected with the latching mechanism, and having a second engagement section engageable with the first engagement section so as to integrally swivel with the active lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Machida, Shinsuke Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 9366681
    Abstract: Disclosed are: a polypeptide marker for diagnosing arteriosclerosis; a gene marker for diagnosing arteriosclerosis; an antibody; a probe for detecting an arteriosclerosis marker gene; a DNA microarray or a DNA chip for detecting an arteriosclerosis marker gene; a method for detecting arteriosclerosis; and a kit for diagnosing arteriosclerosis; with which an arteriosclerotic lesion can be detected with much improved accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd., National University Corporation Chiba University
    Inventors: Rika Nakamura, Hideyuki Kuroda, Go Tomiyoshi, Takaki Hiwasa, Masaki Takiguchi, Naokatsu Saeki, Toshio Machida
  • Publication number: 20160145913
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes: a latching mechanism maintaining a vehicle door in a closing-stop state; an active lever having a support swiveling around a first support shaft, a link section disposed on the outer side from the support in a radial direction with the first support shaft as the center and having an outer circumferential section linked to and driven by an electric motor, a connection section connecting the support and the link section, and a first engagement section formed in one of an outer circumferential section of the support and an inner circumferential section of the link section; a release lever swiveling around a second support shaft disposed in the recessed portion to be parallel to the first support shaft, interconnected with the latching mechanism, and having a second engagement section engageable with the first engagement section so as to integrally swivel with the active lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio MACHIDA, Shinsuke TAKAYANAGI
  • Patent number: 9347253
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening/closing device, which enhances the operation feeling during opening and closing of a vehicle door, includes: an outside door handle provided to a power sliding door for opening and closing a door opening, the outside door handle being supported to move between an initial position and a maximum movement position relative to the power sliding door, and being operated to open and close the power sliding door; a spring unit urging the outside door handle to move from the maximum movement position to the initial position; an opening/closing operation detection unit for detecting movement of the outside door handle from the maximum movement position to the initial position; a door drive mechanism for driving the opening and closing of the power sliding door; and a control unit for actuating the door drive mechanism on the basis of a detection signal outputted from the opening/closing operation detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Shibayama, Takeshi Nishikibe, Toshio Machida
  • Publication number: 20160032630
    Abstract: A door closer device for a vehicle includes a latch, a drive force transmission mechanism and a cancellation mechanism cancelling a closing operation of the drive force transmission mechanism. The drive force transmission mechanism includes a drive force transmission portion rotatable between a transmission position where the latch is configured to receive a drive force of an actuator and a non-transmission position where the latch is configured not to receive the drive force of the actuator. The cancellation mechanism includes a first operation portion and a second operation portion, the first operation portion engaged with the drive force transmission portion to be rotated irrespective of the second operation portion, the second operation portion engaged with the drive force transmission portion to be rotated irrespective of the first operation portion, the first and second operation portions rotating the drive force transmission portion from the transmission position to the non-transmission position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio MACHIDA, Satoshi Shibayama
  • Publication number: 20150204113
    Abstract: A remote control device for a vehicle includes an interior handle coupling lever that rotates in accordance with manipulation of an interior manipulating handle, an exterior handle coupling lever that rotates in accordance with manipulation of an exterior manipulating handle, and a switch device. The switch device includes an interior manipulation detector for detecting rotation of the interior manipulating handle, an exterior manipulation detector for detecting rotation of the exterior manipulating handle, and wiring members each having a detector connection terminal and an external connection terminal connected to the interior manipulation detector or the exterior manipulation detector. The remote control device further includes a body and a housing. The body accommodates the interior manipulation detector, the exterior manipulation detector, and the wiring members and has a connector portion enclosing all of the exterior connection terminals for the wiring members. The housing covers the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Machida, Yasutaka Shinoda, Shinsuke Takayanagi, Satoshi Takeno, Takeshi Nishikibe, Kohei Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20150020450
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening/closing device, which enhances the operation feeling during opening and closing of a vehicle door, includes: an outside door handle provided to a power sliding door for opening and closing a door opening, the outside door handle being supported to move between an initial position and a maximum movement position relative to the power sliding door, and being operated to open and close the power sliding door; a spring unit urging the outside door handle to move from the maximum movement position to the initial position; an opening/closing operation detection unit for detecting movement of the outside door handle from the maximum movement position to the initial position; a door drive mechanism for driving the opening and closing of the power sliding door; and a control unit for actuating the door drive mechanism on the basis of a detection signal outputted from the opening/closing operation detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Satoshi Shibayama, Takeshi Nishikibe, Toshio Machida
  • Patent number: 8894103
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening/closing device includes: an inside handle mounted to a vehicle door and operated from a vehicle interior to perform a door opening/closing operation; an outside handle mounted to the door and operated from a vehicle exterior to perform the door opening/closing operation; a locking mechanism actuated to lock the door at a predetermined position; an open mechanism; a release mechanism; and a cancel mechanism. The open mechanism is actuated according to operation of the inside and outside handles to release the lock by the locking mechanism. The release mechanism includes an electric motor and a power-transmission member transmitting electric motor power to the open mechanism, and actuates the open mechanism to release the lock of the door. Further, the cancel mechanism is actuated by operating the inside and outside handles to interrupt transmission of the electric motor driving force to the open mechanism by the power-transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shibayama, Toshio Machida, Satoshi Takeno, Emiko Okuma
  • Patent number: 8789861
    Abstract: A vehicle door operating mechanism includes a ratchet interlocking lever, a handle interlocking lever, a motor power transmitting lever, and a force relaying member movable between a normal unlocking position, at which a force is transmittable from the handle interlocking lever and the motor power transmitting lever to the ratchet interlocking lever, and a locking position, at which the force is not transmittable from the handle interlocking lever and the motor power transmitting lever to the ratchet interlocking lever, wherein an emergency unlocking position, at which the force is transmittable from the handle interlocking lever to the ratchet interlocking lever and the force is not transmittable from the motor power transmitting lever to the ratchet interlocking lever, is set within a moving range of the force relaying member, and the motor power transmitting lever includes a guide portion for retaining the force relaying member at the emergency unlocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinsuke Takayanagi, Toshio Machida, Keisuke Matsumoto, Yasutaka Shinoda
  • Publication number: 20140001771
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening/closing device includes: an inside handle mounted to a vehicle door and operated from a vehicle Interior to perform a door opening/closing operation; an outside handle mounted to the door and operated from a vehicle exterior to perform the door opening/closing operation; a locking mechanism actuated to lock the door at a predetermined position; an open mechanism; a release mechanism; and a cancel mechanism. The open mechanism is actuated according to operation of the inside and outside handles to release the lock by the locking mechanism. The release mechanism includes an and a power-transmission member transmitting electric motor power to the open mechanism, and actuates the open mechanism to release the lock. Further, the cancel mechanism Is actuated in accordance with operation of the inside and outside handles to interrupt transmission of the electric motor driving force to the open mechanism by the power-transmission member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicants: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC., AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi SHIBAYAMA, Toshio MACHIDA, Satoshi TAKENO, Emiko OKUMA