Patents by Inventor Toshio Tanahashi

Toshio Tanahashi 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: 20240260163
    Abstract: A vehicle static eliminator comprises a flannel fabric that indirectly contacts a back frame mounted on a vehicle body and has zero triboelectric potential, and a PTFE sheet that is layered on the flannel fabric so as to frictionally slide with the flannel fabric and charged with negative static electricity generated by sliding friction with the flannel fabric, to thereby neutralize and eliminate positive static electricity charged on the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Yuya SEKIGAWA, Toshio TANAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20240090107
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cover member provided in a trunk compartment of a vehicle body, and a flannel cloth arranged between an outer surface of the cover member and a rear floor panel. The flannel cloth is arranged so as to cover an entire region of the rear floor panel that faces the outer surface of the cover member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Yuya SEKIGAWA, Toshio TANAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20240083375
    Abstract: During traveling of a vehicle body, a vehicle is provided with a vehicular static eliminator including a self-discharge static eliminating device that is attached to an outer surface of a lid of a fuse box mounted to a front compartment with a front grill, and a coversheet overlapped with an external surface of the self-discharge static eliminating device, in which the fuse box is disposed close to a hood and the coversheet includes Japanese paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Yuya SEKIGAWA, Toshio TANAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11912217
    Abstract: A vehicle is positively charged with static electricity due to an external factor. The vehicle includes a battery, a static eliminator sheet, and a holding member. The battery includes at least one cell, an electrolyte, a resin case, and negative and positive terminals. The resin case accommodates the components and electrolyte of each cell. The negative terminal is grounded to the vehicle body. The positive terminal is supplied with electric power from a charger. The static eliminator sheet is made of a material on a positive side of a triboelectric series with respect to a material of the resin case. The holding member holds the static eliminator sheet and the resin case in contact with each other. The holding member holds the battery at a predetermined location of the vehicle body in a state where the resin case and the static eliminator sheet are slidable due to vehicle body vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koushi Yamada, Junichi Sudo, Kenichiro Sakurai, Kazuhiro Maeda, Toshio Tanahashi
  • Publication number: 20230356679
    Abstract: A vehicle is positively charged with static electricity due to an external factor. The vehicle includes a battery, a static eliminator sheet, and a holding member. The battery includes at least one cell, an electrolyte, a resin case, and negative and positive terminals. The resin case accommodates the components and electrolyte of each cell. The negative terminal is grounded to the vehicle body. The positive terminal is supplied with electric power from a charger. The static eliminator sheet is made of a material on a positive side of a triboelectric series with respect to a material of the resin case. The holding member holds the static eliminator sheet and the resin case in contact with each other. The holding member holds the battery at a predetermined location of the vehicle body in a state where the resin case and the static eliminator sheet are slidable due to vehicle body vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koushi YAMADA, Junichi SUDO, Kenichiro SAKURAI, Kazuhiro MAEDA, Toshio TANAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20230304632
    Abstract: In a vehicle having a microscopic dynamics friction mechanism formed of at least two parts and charged to a positive potential due to traveling, a lubricant in which first additive fine particles made of a resin that generates a negative potential are uniformly mixed with an electrically insulating base oil is disposed in a clearance between members of the friction mechanism. While the first additive fine particles are in frictional contact with the member, neutralization and elimination of the positive potential of the member are started. The first additive fine particles are attracted by a Coulomb force to the positive potential of the surface of the member other than a frictional contact part of the member when floating in the electrically insulating base oil and moving and circulating. The neutralization and elimination of the positive potential of the member are continued.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Junichi SUDO, Youji KANEHARA, Koushi YAMADA, Kenichiro SAKURAI, Toshio TANAHASHI, Ko TANIMURA, Tomonobu KOMORIYA
  • Publication number: 20230174015
    Abstract: A key system for an automobile according to the present disclosure includes an on-vehicle device configured to transmit and receive a radio signal to and from an electronic key, and a resin panel through which the on-vehicle device is fixed to and held by a body of the automobile. The on-vehicle device includes a transmitter configured to transmit a search signal to the electronic key, a receiver configured to receive a response signal transmitted from the electronic key in response to the search signal, a control unit configured to control the transmission of the search signal, and a resin case. The smart key system for the automobile according to the present disclosure removes electrostatic charging generated by the search signal transmitted from the transmitter in either or both of the resin case and the resin panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koushi YAMADA, Junichi SUDO, Kenichiro SAKURAI, Toshio TANAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20220274562
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle with a smart key system that can suppress damage to vehicles original driving performance. The vehicle includes a driving control unit for controlling driving of the vehicle. An in-vehicle device includes: an in-vehicle communication unit including an in-vehicle transmitter for transmitting a search signal for searching a mobile device at a predetermined field strength; and a communication control unit for controlling communication of the in-vehicle communication unit. The in-vehicle device or the mobile device includes a control switch for starting or stopping a main power supply of the driving control unit. After the main power supply of the driving control unit is started by the control switch and at least before the vehicle starts driving, the communication control unit controls the in-vehicle transmitter to implement a limitation to set a low or zero field strength of the search signal transmitted from the in-vehicle transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koushi YAMADA, Junichi SUDO, Toshio TANAHASHI
  • Patent number: 11192406
    Abstract: A neutralization device that neutralizes static electricity on a portion of a vehicle exposed to outside. The neutralization device causes corona discharge according to a positive potential thereof. The neutralization device is attached to a surface exposed outwardly widthwise of the vehicle in at least one of an inner circumferential portion of a tire and a predetermined point of an outer surface of tire wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshi Yamada, Yoji Kanehara, Toshio Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 10718299
    Abstract: An intake system of a vehicle, includes an air cleaner case, an air filter that is arranged inside the air cleaner case and positively charged, and a self discharge type static eliminator that decreases an amount of electrification charge on a wall surface of the air cleaner case within a limited range about a location where the self discharge type static eliminator is installed, when the self discharge type static eliminator is installed on the wall surface of the air cleaner case. An peripheral edge part of the air filter is held by an air filter holding part of the air cleaner case. The self discharge type static eliminator is installed on an outer wall surface of the air filter holding part of the air cleaner case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10501034
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided in which separation of positively charged airflow from a positively charged surface of a vehicle body can be prevented. A vehicle body is insulated from a road surface, and positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion. The vehicle comprises a self-discharge device adapted to decrease a positive potential of a window pane at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates therefrom during propulsion by discharging the static electricity through the airflow to produce negative ions according to the positive potential of the window pane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10384663
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle electrification charge reducing apparatus, including: a steering operating device, a steering actuator; and a displacement transmitting system configured to transmit a displacement of the steering operating device to the steering actuator. At least one of the steering operating device, the steering actuator, or the displacement transmitting system includes two members that are engaged with each other through intermediation of a viscous lubricant agent so as to move relatively when the steering operating device is operated. A self-discharge type charge eliminator is fixed to a surface of a specific member forming the displacement transmitting system and the like, and the self-discharge type charge eliminator diselectrifies the specific member through self-discharge so as to decrease a charge amount of the specific member, to thereby decrease a difference in charge amount between the two members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshi Yamada, Toshio Tanahashi, Hisashi Yabuki, Kazuhiko Omasa, Yoji Kanehara, Nagataka Sassa
  • Patent number: 10336270
    Abstract: A vehicle and a manufacturing method thereof is provided in which separation of positively charged airflow from a positively charged surface of a vehicle body can be prevented. A vehicle body is insulated from a road surface, and positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion. The vehicle comprises a self-discharge device that is adapted to decrease a positive potential of at least any one of specific points at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates therefrom, during propulsion of the vehicle, by discharging static electricity to produce negative ions according to the positive potential of the specific point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshi Yamada, Toshio Tanahashi, Hisashi Yabuki, Kazuhiko Omasa, Yoji Kanehara, Nagataka Sassa, Naohiko Saito, Narito Fujii, Tsuyoshi Ohkita, Masaaki Morimoto, Kazuhiro Maeda, Taro Yamashita, Fumiatsu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10315477
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension in which joint devices are interposed in coupling parts between a vehicle body and links serving as suspension components and coupling parts between the links and a wheel support component. Self-discharge type charge eliminators are provided on a surface of a specific component, which is at least one of the vehicle body, the links, the wheel support component, or the joint devices. The charge eliminator is configured to diselectrify the specific component by changing air around the charge eliminator to a negative air ion and attracting the air ion to positive electric charge of the specific component to neutralize the specific component, to thereby decrease a charge amount of the specific component and decrease charge amounts of rubber bushes and grease in the joint devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10260565
    Abstract: A wheel support device for a vehicle includes a bearing that rotatably supports a wheel, and is lubricated by a lubricant, a bearing support member, and a self-discharge type charge eliminator provided on a surface of a particular member. The self-discharge type charge eliminator is configured to change air around the self-discharge type charge eliminator into negative air ions, and eliminate charge by causing the air ions to attract positive charges of the particular member for neutralization, so as to reduce the quantity of charge of the particular member, and thereby reduce the quantity of charge of the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10259408
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a tire held by the vehicle body, an electric power control unit including at least one of an inverter and a converter, a case housing the electric power control unit, a first predetermined member connected to the vehicle body in an insulated state, a self-discharge static eliminator configured to reduce the positive potential of the first predetermined member by elimination of static electricity, and a transfer member electrically connecting a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion to each other. Accordingly, static electricity charged to the electric power control unit is transferred to a portion, where static elimination is performed by the self-discharge static eliminator, of the first predetermined member via the case and the transfer member so as to be neutralized and eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10207750
    Abstract: A vehicle in which separation of airflow from a vehicle surface can be prevented without causing disfigurement is provided. A vehicle body is insulated from a road surface, and positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion. The vehicle comprises a charge control device adapted to decrease the positive potential of a separation point at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates from the vehicle surface during propulsion by applying negative ions to an inner surface of the separation point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10207664
    Abstract: A vehicle which can neutralize static electricity accumulating on a vehicle body, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The vehicle comprises: a vehicle body sustained by tires; a battery; an earth cable electrically connecting a negative terminal of the battery to the vehicle body; a predetermined member connected to the vehicle body while being insulted to the vehicle body; a main self-discharge device that neutralizes the predetermined member; and a conducting member that connects a neutralizing area of the predetermined member that is neutralized by the main self-discharge device to the negative terminal of the battery or the earth cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10196959
    Abstract: A vehicle engine exhaust system includes an exhaust component and a non-conductive support member. The exhaust component is supported by a vehicle body via the non-conductive support member. The vehicle body and the exhaust component are positively charged. The vehicle engine exhaust system further includes a self discharge type static electricity eliminator that reduces, in a state where the self discharge type static electricity eliminator is installed on a non-conductive wall surface, an amount of electrification charge on the non-conductive wall surface within a limited area around a location where the self discharge type static electricity eliminator is installed. The self discharge type static electricity eliminator is installed on the non-conductive support member such that static electricity elimination is performed for the exhaust component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20180297420
    Abstract: A neutralization device that neutralizes static electricity on a portion of a vehicle exposed to outside. The neutralization device causes corona discharge according to a positive potential thereof. The neutralization device is attached to a surface exposed outwardly widthwise of the vehicle in at least one of an inner circumferential portion of a tire and a predetermined point of an outer surface of tire wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshi YAMADA, Yoji KANEHARA, Toshio TANAHASHI