Patents by Inventor Tsuneki Shimanaka

Tsuneki Shimanaka 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: 20230182827
    Abstract: To sufficiently improve the distortion stiffness of a vehicle body in a case in which no floor tunnel largely bulging upward from a floor panel is provided. A vehicle-body structure includes a floor panel constituting a floor of an occupant space including a seat on which a passenger is to sit, a cross member provided at a rear portion of the floor panel and extending in a vehicle width direction, a center frame disposed to be higher than and away from the floor panel at a vehicle-width-direction central portion of the occupant space and extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, and a connecting member connecting the cross member and a rear portion of the center frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takuma INAMI, Nobuyuki NAKAYAMA, Hiroyuki BABA, Takashi HIRAKAWA, Hideaki HOSHUYAMA, Tsuneki SHIMANAKA
  • Patent number: 11618399
    Abstract: A shock absorbing member is provided having a sequential destruction capability and protection against electrolytic corrosion on fastening-fixing portions thereof to be fastened to a bumper reinforcement or a vehicle body. Embodiments include a shock absorbing member between a bumper reinforcement and a vehicle body, including a distal end portion fastened to the bumper reinforcement; a base end flange portion fastened to the vehicle body; and an absorbing member body extending in a vehicle front-rear direction and connecting the distal end portion and the base end flange portion. The absorbing member body includes a carbon fiber-glass reinforced plastic layer. Fastening-fixing portions of the distal end portion and the base end flange portion are composed of glass fiber reinforced plastic layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiki Yotsuyanagi, Tsuyoshi Nishihara, Ryo Shimoda, Chikara Kawamura, Tsuneki Shimanaka, Kota Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20230099783
    Abstract: To suppress vibration and noise due to load input from a rear suspension device, a left-side load input portion that is fixed to a left-side rear-side frame and to which a load from a rear suspension device is input, and a right-side load input portion that is fixed to a right-side rear-side frame and to which a load from a rear suspension device is input are provided. A cross member is provided at a position lower than the left-side load input portion and the right-side load input portion to which loads from the rear suspension devices are input. The cross member and the left-side load input portion are connected through a left-side rear connection frame. The cross member and the right-side load input portion are connected through a right-side rear connection frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi HIRAKAWA, Hideaki HOSHUYAMA, Tsuneki SHIMANAKA, Nobuyuki NAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20230096066
    Abstract: To sufficiently improve the distortion stiffness of a vehicle body with minimized influence on comfort in an occupant space. A vehicle-body structure includes a floor panel constituting a floor of an occupant space including a seat on which a passenger sits, and a center frame disposed to be higher than and away from the floor panel at a vehicle-width-direction central portion of the occupant space and extending in a vehicle front-rear direction. The center frame is arranged at a downward tilt toward the vehicle rear side. A rear portion of the center frame is connected to the floor panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takuma INAMI, Nobuyuki NAKAYAMA, Hiroyuki BABA, Takashi HIRAKAWA, Hideaki HOSHUYAMA, Tsuneki SHIMANAKA
  • Patent number: 11571965
    Abstract: A vehicle body side structure is provided where an exhaust apparatus is located on the vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to a side sill without widening the vehicle. Embodiments include an internal combustion engine equipped on the front side of a partition wall defining a front edge of a vehicle cabin space, an exhaust apparatus through which exhaust gas exhausted from the internal combustion engine passes, and a side sill extending along the vehicle front-rear direction on the side of a floor forming a floor surface of the vehicle cabin space. The side sill has a recess having a cross section recessed toward the vehicle-width-direction inner side from the vehicle-width-direction outer side in a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the vehicle front-rear direction and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and an exhaust system member provided in the exhaust apparatus is disposed at the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneki Shimanaka, Kota Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11548565
    Abstract: A side vehicle body structure ensures rigidity and shock absorption performance of the body, avoids widening of the body, and smooths the flow of exhaust gas. Embodiments include an engine, an exhaust apparatus, and a rear pillar extending upward from a rear-side portion of a side sill extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. The exhaust apparatus is disposed along the vehicle front-rear direction on the vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to the side sill. An exhaust system member is located at a going-around portion, with respect to the rear pillar, from the front side to the rear side and from the outer side to the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The rear pillar has a cross section orthogonal to the vehicle up-down direction having a shape in which a portion between front and rear ends is located on the vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to these front and rear ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneki Shimanaka, Yukiko Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11535300
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes: a pair of roof side rails, each of which constitutes at least one each of closed cross sections and extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction; and a roof panel that is stretched between the pair of roof side rails and extends in a vehicle width direction. The roof panel has: a body section that extends in the vehicle width direction; and a flange section that is provided to both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the body section and extends in the vehicle width direction along a lower surface of the closed cross section. The flange section is fixed to a lower surface of the closed cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsuneki Shimanaka
  • Patent number: 11524727
    Abstract: An exhaust system member is provided on a vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to a vehicle body structure such as a side sill, while avoiding widening of the vehicle, enhancing shock absorption performance during a collision, and maintaining rigidity of the vehicle body. Embodiments include an engine disposed forward of a vehicle cabin, an engine exhaust system, and a hinge pillar extending vertically. The exhaust system includes a first exhaust system member beside the hinge pillar in the vehicle front-rear direction from the vehicle-width-direction outer side of the hinge pillar and extending forward of the hinge pillar, a second exhaust system member rearward of the hinge pillar, and a connection part connecting these exhaust system members. The connection part has a smaller length in the vehicle width direction than at least one of the first and second exhaust system members, and overlaps with the hinge pillar in the vehicle front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneki Shimanaka, Taiki Yotsuyanagi
  • Patent number: 11518445
    Abstract: An exhaust system member is provided on a vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to a vehicle body structure on the side of a floor, while avoiding widening of the vehicle and preserving small overlap collision resistance. Embodiments include an engine disposed forward of a partition wall defining a front edge of a vehicle cabin, an exhaust apparatus, a side sill extending along the vehicle front-rear direction on the side of a floor forming a floor surface of the vehicle cabin, and a hinge pillar extending vertically from the side sill. A frame member extends toward the vehicle front side from the hinge pillar and has a front end, on the rear side of a vehicle wheel, overlapping with a vehicle-width-direction length area of the wheel. The exhaust system member is in an area on the vehicle-width-direction outer side of the frame member and on the front side of the hinge pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneki Shimanaka, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11511809
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes: a first frame that is formed of a first material and has a closed cross section; and a second frame that is formed of a second material and has a closed cross section. The first frame and the second frame are aligned with each other in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The second frame has higher tensile strength and is lighter than the first frame. In a front cross-sectional view of the vehicle, a second center associated with the second frame is located on an outer side in a vehicle width direction from a first center associated with the first frame with respect to vehicle center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsuneki Shimanaka
  • Patent number: 11472486
    Abstract: Upper frames and a lower frame that connect a rear end of a coupled body composed of a side sill and a rear pillar and a rear side housing to each other are spaced apart in a vehicle up-down direction. An inclined angle at which a lower frame is inclined to be closer to a vehicle inner side toward a vehicle rear side is larger than inclined angles at which the upper frames are inclined to be closer to the vehicle inner side toward the rear side. A lower joined portion to which a rear end of the lower frame is joined is on a vehicle-width-direction inner side with respect to an upper joined portion in the rear side housing, which is composed of a single member including at least the lower frame rear-end joined portion, and the first and second upper frame rear-end joined portions, and extending therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyohei Kuwada, Tsuneki Shimanaka
  • Patent number: 11383769
    Abstract: A rear vehicle-body structure for increasing support rigidity for a rear suspension and consequently increase steering stability. The rear vehicle-body structure includes a first frame extending to connect a rear end lower portion of a combined body composed of a side sill and a pillar and a lower arm front support portion of a rear side housing, and having therein a closed cross-sectional space; a second frame extending to connect a rear end lower portion of a floor tunnel located at a vehicle-width-direction center portion of a vehicle-body bottom portion and bulging toward a vehicle upper side in a vehicle front-rear direction and the lower arm front support portion and having therein a closed cross-sectional space; and a third frame extending to connect a rear end upper portion of the floor tunnel and the lower arm front support portion, and having therein a closed cross-sectional space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyohei Kuwada, Tsuneki Shimanaka
  • Patent number: 11358650
    Abstract: A rear vehicle-body structure of a vehicle capable of increasing the support rigidity of a rear suspension and the transmission efficiency of a rear-end collision load to the vehicle front side. A side sill has an upper closed cross-section portion. The upper closed cross-section portion includes a closed cross-sectional space extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. A linear connecting frame connecting a rear end of the upper closed cross-section portion to a rear side housing is between the rear end of the upper closed cross-section portion and the rear side housing. The connecting frame is inclined to be closer to a vehicle lower side as the connecting frame approaches the vehicle front side. The upper closed cross-section portion is inclined to be closer to an upper side as the upper closed cross-section portion approaches a vehicle rear side to correspond to an inclination angle of the connecting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyohei Kuwada, Tsuneki Shimanaka
  • Patent number: 11345295
    Abstract: An impact absorbing structure for a vehicle according to the present invention includes: a resin frame member extending in a vehicle front-rear direction and having an opening portion in a surface thereof on one side in a vehicle width direction; and a strut member disposed in the opening portion of the frame member. The frame member includes a frame body having the opening portion, and a rib protruding at least either upward or downward from the frame body and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. The strut member is disposed between a pair of opening edges for defining an upper edge and a lower edge of the opening portion and at a position abuttable against the paired opening edges, when the frame member is deformed by input of a load at a time of oblique collision from upward or oblique collision from downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikara Kawamura, Tsuyoshi Nishihara, Kazutaka Ishikura, Hiroaki Takeshita, Tsuneki Shimanaka, Taiki Yotsuyanagi, Yoshiaki Murakami
  • Publication number: 20220001933
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes: a pair of roof side rails, each of which constitutes at least one each of closed cross sections and extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction; and a roof panel that is stretched between the pair of roof side rails and extends in a vehicle width direction. The roof panel has: a body section that extends in the vehicle width direction; and a flange section that is provided to both end portions in the vehicle width direction of the body section and extends in the vehicle width direction along a lower surface of the closed cross section. The flange section is fixed to a lower surface of the closed cross section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneki SHIMANAKA
  • Publication number: 20220001931
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes: a first frame that is formed of a first material and has a closed cross section; and a second frame that is formed of a second material and has a closed cross section. The first frame and the second frame are aligned with each other in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The second frame has higher tensile strength and is lighter than the first frame. In a front cross-sectional view of the vehicle, a second center associated with the second frame is located on an outer side in a vehicle width direction from a first center associated with the first frame with respect to vehicle center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneki SHIMANAKA
  • Publication number: 20210276627
    Abstract: A side vehicle body structure ensures rigidity and shock absorption performance of the body, avoids widening of the body, and smooths the flow of exhaust gas. Embodiments include an engine, an exhaust apparatus, and a rear pillar extending upward from a rear-side portion of a side sill extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. The exhaust apparatus is disposed along the vehicle front-rear direction on the vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to the side sill. An exhaust system member is located at a going-around portion, with respect to the rear pillar, from the front side to the rear side and from the outer side to the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The rear pillar has a cross section orthogonal to the vehicle up-down direction having a shape in which a portion between front and rear ends is located on the vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to these front and rear ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneki SHIMANAKA, Yukiko YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210276413
    Abstract: A vehicle body side structure is provided where an exhaust apparatus is located on the vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to a side sill without widening the vehicle. Embodiments include an internal combustion engine equipped on the front side of a partition wall defining a front edge of a vehicle cabin space, an exhaust apparatus through which exhaust gas exhausted from the internal combustion engine passes, and a side sill extending along the vehicle front-rear direction on the side of a floor forming a floor surface of the vehicle cabin space. The side sill has a recess having a cross section recessed toward the vehicle-width-direction inner side from the vehicle-width-direction outer side in a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the vehicle front-rear direction and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and an exhaust system member provided in the exhaust apparatus is disposed at the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneki SHIMANAKA, Kota YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20210276625
    Abstract: An exhaust system member is provided on a vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to a vehicle body structure on the side of a floor, while avoiding widening of the vehicle and preserving small overlap collision resistance. Embodiments include an engine disposed forward of a partition wall defining a front edge of a vehicle cabin, an exhaust apparatus, a side sill extending along the vehicle front-rear direction on the side of a floor forming a floor surface of the vehicle cabin, and a hinge pillar extending vertically from the side sill. A frame member extends toward the vehicle front side from the hinge pillar and has a front end, on the rear side of a vehicle wheel, overlapping with a vehicle-width-direction length area of the wheel. The exhaust system member is in an area on the vehicle-width-direction outer side of the frame member and on the front side of the hinge pillar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneki SHIMANAKA, Hiroshi TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20210276626
    Abstract: An exhaust system member is provided on a vehicle-width-direction outer side relative to a vehicle body structure such as a side sill, while avoiding widening of the vehicle, enhancing shock absorption performance during a collision, and maintaining rigidity of the vehicle body. Embodiments include an engine disposed forward of a vehicle cabin, an engine exhaust system, and a hinge pillar extending vertically. The exhaust system includes a first exhaust system member beside the hinge pillar in the vehicle front-rear direction from the vehicle-width-direction outer side of the hinge pillar and extending forward of the hinge pillar, a second exhaust system member rearward of the hinge pillar, and a connection part connecting these exhaust system members. The connection part has a smaller length in the vehicle width direction than at least one of the first and second exhaust system members, and overlaps with the hinge pillar in the vehicle front-rear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuneki SHIMANAKA, Taiki YOTSUYANAGI