Patents by Inventor Toshiyasu Santo

Toshiyasu Santo 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: 6022034
    Abstract: A twist beam suspension includes a twist beam which is disposed so that the longitudinal direction thereof runs along with the transverse direction of a vehicle, and a pair of trailing arms being connected to a body of the vehicle and each of which is disposed at a respectively different longitudinal end of the twist beam and is disposed such that the longitudinal direction thereof runs along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The twist beam suspension further includes a restricting apparatus which restricts inward displacement of the pair of trailing arms relative to the body of the vehicle in the transverse direction of the vehicle prior to restricting outward displacement of the pair of trailing arms relative to the body of the vehicle in the transverse direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Bridgestone Corporation, Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Santo, Takeshi Noguchi, Michio Kasahara
  • Patent number: 5954350
    Abstract: A twist beam suspension includes a twist beam which is disposed so that the longitudinal direction thereof runs along with the transverse direction of a vehicle, and a pair of trailing arms being connected to a body of the vehicle and each of which is disposed at a respectively different longitudinal end of the twist beam and is disposed such that the longitudinal direction thereof runs along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The twist beam suspension further includes a restricting apparatus which restricts inward displacement of the pair of trailing arms relative to the body of the vehicle in the transverse direction of the vehicle prior to restricting outward displacement of the pair of trailing arms relative to the body of the vehicle in the transverse direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Bridgestone Corporation, Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Santo, Takeshi Noguchi, Michio Kasahara
  • Patent number: 5813691
    Abstract: A twist beam type suspension has a twist beam having an increased rigidity. Each of a pair of trailing arms has a front end pivotally mounted on a body of the vehicle and a rear end rotatably supporting a wheel. A twist beam extends between the trailing arms in a side-to-side direction of the vehicle. Opposite ends of the twist beam are connected to the respective trailing arms. The twist beam has a bent portion projecting upwardly in the center of the twist beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Aoki, Yoji Uchida, Mamoru Sakamoto, Toshiyasu Santo, Tatsuzo Komiya, Masaharu Ohba
  • Patent number: 5215329
    Abstract: A twist beam type rear suspension having a pair of trailing arms disposed to extend along opposite sides of a vehicle as pivotably supported from a vehicle body at front ends and supporting at rear ends rear vehicle wheels to be rotatable about respective axes of rotation, a twist beam connected between the pair of trailing arms and twistable about an axis of twisting, an assist link having a central portion disposed substantially transversely in the vehicle as supported from the vehicle body and opposite end portions movable relative to the vehicle body, and a pair of control links each having a first end pivotably connected with each trailing arms at its portion adjacent its front end and a second end pivotably connected with each end portion of the assist link, wherein the opposite end portions of the assist link are either movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the vehicle body in the same phase but unmovable in the longitudinal direction relative to the vehicle body in the phases opposite to o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiyasu Santo
  • Patent number: 5048859
    Abstract: A suspension for a steerable driving wheel in a vehicle, in which a wheel supported by a wheel carrier rotatable around a steering axis is driven by a drive shaft and braked by a brake caliper, includes a hub and a brake disk. The hub has a supported portion rotatably supported by the wheel carrier through a bearing and is unrotatably connected to the drive shaft. The hub attaches the wheel to a portion located more laterally outward of a vehicle body than the supported portion. On the other hand, the brake disk for generating a braking force in cooperation with the brake caliper is provided on the hub and disposed more laterally inward of the vehicle body than said supported portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Nishikuma, Seiho Kawakami, Kazukiyo Itoga, Shigenori Mae, Toshiyasu Santo
  • Patent number: 4995633
    Abstract: A strut type suspension, in which a strut has an upper strut portion swingably connected to a vehicle body and a lower strut portion swingably connected to a suspension arm, includes a wheel carrier and a control link. The wheel carrier has an upper portion located above a rotary axis of a wheel and swingably connected to the lower strut portion through a ball joint and a lower portion located below the rotary axis. The control link has one end swingably connected to the suspension arm and the other end swingably connected to the lower portion of the wheel carrier. The connection point of the control link and the suspension arm is provided in a such a position as to be displaced outward in a lateral direction of the vehicle body as the suspension arm is swung in a bounding direction from a reference condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiyasu Santo