Patents by Inventor Yasuhiko Sono

Yasuhiko Sono 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: 8438888
    Abstract: A door lock device includes a lever mechanism which carries out lock/unlock operation in response to turn operation of a key cylinder. The lever mechanism includes a key rotor which includes a coupling hole to which an inner end of a rod is coupled in a torque transmittable manner and is rotatably assembled to a housing, and a key lever which includes a hub which is coupled to the key rotor in a torque transmittable manner and is arranged in the housing. The key lever includes a first arm which extends to radial outward direction from the hub and is capable of engaging with a first engagement portion of the active lever, and a second arm which extends to radial outward direction from the hub and is capable of engaging with a second engagement portion of the active lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryujiro Akizuki, Takashi Nishio, Nobuko Watanabe, Kazunori Kojima, Sho Sannohe, Yusuke Yamada, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Publication number: 20130056996
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes a housing including: an outer housing body including a covering portion covering an outer side of an electric motor and an outer side of a worm, an outer shaft-supporting portion supporting an active lever, and an outer shaft-supporting portion supporting a worm wheel; and an inner housing body including an inner shaft-supporting portion supporting an active lever, and an inner shaft-supporting portion supporting the worm wheel. An outer surface of the covering portion of the outer housing body and an outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion, which is provided in the outer housing body, for supporting the active lever, are formed in the same flat surface, and an outer surface of the outer shaft-supporting portion, which is provided in the outer housing body, for supporting the worm wheel, is formed in a dented surface dented inwardly with respect to the flat surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryujiro Akizuki, Takashi Nishio, Nobuko Watanabe, Yasuhiko Sono, Kazunori Kojima
  • Publication number: 20130036779
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes an active lever configured to bring an open link into a locked or unlocked state, and a child safety lock mechanism built into an inside open lever, and configured to enable pushing force transfer from the inside open lever to the open link in an unset state, and to disable the pushing force transfer in a set state. An engagement portion is set on the active lever, and a pushing portion is set on an intermediate member of the child safety lock mechanism. When the intermediate member is situated at an unset position, the inside door handle is operated to open a door, and a child safety protector lever moves the intermediate member to a set position, the pushing portion of the intermediate member engages the engagement portion of the active lever so that the active lever is moved to a locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryujiro Akizuki, Takashi Nishio, Nobuko Watanabe, Yasuhiko Sono, Kazunori Kojima
  • Publication number: 20130015673
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes a latch mechanism, a lever mechanism, a link mechanism, and an electric actuator, assembled to a housing. The housing includes a housing body and a housing cover joined to each other, and is arranged so that a joining surface between the housing body and the housing cover extends along an up-and-down direction. A sealing portion is formed along a joining portion between the housing body and the housing cover to surround an upper part of an inner space of the housing accommodating the link mechanism and the electric actuator. The sealing portion includes a communication path including one open end, and inner and outer welded portions formed continuously along the communication path on an inner side of the housing and an outer side of the housing with respect to the communication path, respectively. This achieves waterproofing for the electric actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: ASIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryujiro Akizuki, Takashi Nishio, Nobuko Watanabe, Yasuhiko Sono, Kazunori Kojima
  • Publication number: 20130000363
    Abstract: Provided is a child lock mechanism which provides satisfactory operability at the time of operation of opening/closing a door while maintaining satisfactory operability at the time of setting/unsetting operation. The child lock mechanism includes: a base member; a first lever; a second lever; and an intermediate member assembled to the first lever and not assembled to the second lever. In a state in which the intermediate member is retained at an unset position, the intermediate member is rotatable relative to the base member, and a rotation center of the first lever relative to the base member and a rotation center of the intermediate member relative to the base member are arranged coaxially with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHI
    Inventors: Ryujiro Akizuki, Takashi Nishio, Nobuko Watanabe, Yasuhiko Sono, Kazunori Kojima
  • Publication number: 20120313385
    Abstract: Provided is an automotive door latch device, including: a latch pushed to rotate by a striker; a latch return spring for biasing the latch toward a return position thereof; a pawl engageable with the latch to inhibit the latch to pivot in a door opening direction (return position); and a pawl return spring for biasing the pawl toward a return position thereof. A housing part of a body, which houses the latch and the pawl, is opened downward at a position below the pawl on one side of the body. The pawl return spring is assembled to a spring mounting part formed on another side of the body at a position spaced downward from a rotational support part of the pawl, and includes a pawl-side end part that engages with the pawl through a through hole provided in the body. Thus, dust or the like entering the housing part of the body, which houses the latch and the pawl, can be discharged out of the body with higher efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Ryujiro Akizuki, Takashi Nishio, Nobuko Watanabe, Yasuhiko Sono, Kazunori Kojima
  • Publication number: 20120247160
    Abstract: An outside locking lever of a lever mechanism section in a lock mechanism of a vehicle door lock apparatus includes a hub portion being rotatable relative to a housing and having a connection subportion to which an inner end portion of a rod is connected in a torque transmittable manner; an arm portion extending radially outward from the hub portion and linked to an active lever; a hub-side engagement subportion provided on the hub portion and engaged in the vehicle interior-exterior direction with a first support portion of the housing; an arm-side engagement subportion provided on the arm portion and engaged in the vehicle interior-exterior direction with a second support portion of the housing; and a fragile portion provided between the two engagement portions and being breakable with a force of a predetermined value or greater. A space for allowing breakage at the fragile portion is provided within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto SUZUMURA, Takashi Nishio, Nobuko Watanabe, Masayuki Tomochika, Masanari Iwata, Yasuhiko Sono, Ryujiro Akizuki
  • Patent number: 8276949
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes a latch mechanism having a lift lever and further includes an inside open lever, an outside open lever, an open link and an active lever. A spring is interposed between the outside open lever and the open link. In the housing, provided is an unlocked state holding guide for holding the open link in an unlocked state when the active lever is in an unlock position and when the outside open lever rotates. In the active lever, provided is a locked state holding guide for holding the open link in a locked state when the active lever is in a lock position and when the outside open lever rotates. This construction enables reduction of the number of components and construction of the device in a simple and inexpensive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryujiro Akizuki, Takashi Nishio, Nobuko Watanabe, Yasuhiko Sono, Kazunori Kojima
  • Publication number: 20120118029
    Abstract: A door lock device includes a lever mechanism which carries out lock/unlock operation in response to turn operation of a key cylinder. The lever mechanism includes a key rotor which includes a coupling hole to which an inner end of a rod is coupled in a torque transmittable manner and is rotatably assembled to a housing, and a key lever which includes a hub which is coupled to the key rotor in a torque transmittable manner and is arranged in the housing. The key lever includes a first arm which extends to radial outward direction from the hub and is capable of engaging with a first engagement portion of the active lever, and a second arm which extends to radial outward direction from the hub and is capable of engaging with a second engagement portion of the active lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryujiro Akizuki, Takashi Nishio, Nobuko Watanabe, Kazunori Kojima, Sho Sannohe, Yusuke Yamada, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Publication number: 20120119520
    Abstract: A door lock device for a vehicle, provided with an opening lever driven as a door handle is operated, an opening link interposed between the opening lever and a lift lever of a latch mechanism, a lock operation unit for switching the opening link to an unlock position or a lock position, and a locking lever for driving the lock operation unit. A holding section is provided to the opening lever. The holding section holds the opening link at a holding position between the lock position and the unlock position when the opening link becomes switched by the locking lever through the lock operation unit from the lock position to the unlock position with the opening link driven by the opening lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryujiro Akizuki, Takashi Nishio, Nobuko Watanabe, Kazunori Kojima, Sho Sannohe, Yusuke Yamada, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Publication number: 20110254287
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock device includes a latch mechanism having a lift lever and further includes an inside open lever, an outside open lever, an open link and an active lever. A spring is interposed between the outside open lever and the open link. In the housing, provided is an unlocked state holding guide for holding the open link in an unlocked state when the active lever is in an unlock position and when the outside open lever rotates. In the active lever, provided is a locked state holding guide for holding the open link in a locked state when the active lever is in a lock position and when the outside open lever rotates. This construction enables reduction of the number of components and construction of the device in a simple and inexpensive manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryujiro AKIZUKI, Takashi Nishio, Nobuko Watanabe, Yasuhiko Sono, Kazunori Kojima
  • Patent number: 7798539
    Abstract: A door lock device for a vehicle includes an operating mechanism being selectable of a locked state where a latched state, between a latching member and a latched member, being unreleasable and an unlocked state where the latched state being releasable, an active lever being rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position thereof, and an open link disabling a transmission of an operational force of a handle to the latched member under the locked state and allowing a transmission of the operational force of the handle to the latched member under the unlocked state. The active lever, provided with an elongated bore, is supported by a housing which houses the operating mechanism to be rotatable. The open link is operatively connected to the handle to be slidably supported by the housing and is provided with an engaging portion which engages with the elongated bore to be slidable therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayakawa, Ryujiro Akizuki, Atsushi Katsurayama, Yasuhiko Sono, Satoshi Suzuki, Eiji Torii, Toshihiro Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20080023971
    Abstract: A door-lock child protecting device capable of preventing a child in a vehicle from opening a door is reduced in size. This device includes an open member (1) being movable in a direction of releasing a door lock, an inside lever (2) for being actuated by an input from an inside handle, a movable operating member (3) for moving the open member (1) in the direction of releasing the door lock, a child protecting member (4) capable of being switched by an operation of an operating portion (41) between a set position to execute child protection and an unset position not to execute child protection, and a base (5). The child protecting member (4) is rectilinearly movable between the set position (S1) and the unset position (S2) and inhibited from being rotated with respect to the base (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN KIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryujiro Akizuki, Satoshi Suzuki, Eiji Torii, Yasuhiko Sono, Atsushi Katsurayama, Shigeru Hayakawa, Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Toshihiro Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20070075552
    Abstract: A door lock device for a vehicle includes an operating mechanism being selectable of a locked state where a latched state, between a latching member and a latched member, being unreleasable and an unlocked state where the latched state being releasable, an active lever being rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position thereof, and an open link disabling a transmission of an operational force of a handle to the latched member under the locked state and allowing a transmission of the operational force of the handle to the latched member under the unlocked state. The active lever, provided with an elongated bore, is supported by a housing which houses the operating mechanism to be rotatable. The open link is operatively connected to the handle to be slidably supported by the housing and is provided with an engaging portion which engages with the elongated bore to be slidable therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN KIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayakawa, Ryujiro Akizuki, Atsushi Katsurayama, Yasuhiko Sono, Satoshi Suzuki, Eiji Torii, Toshihiro Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6951355
    Abstract: A door lock system for a vehicle includes a latch mechanism, a link mechanism and a housing. The latch mechanism is adapted to a vehicle door and latches the vehicle door to a vehicle body. The link mechanism includes an electric driving source and a plurality of lever members for selectively locking and unlocking the latch mechanism. The housing accommodates the latch mechanism and the link mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayakawa, Hiroshi Ban, Norio Konomoto, Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Patent number: 6945574
    Abstract: A door lock system for a vehicle includes a) a latch mechanism which is adapted to a vehicle door and which holds the vehicle door to a vehicle body, b) an open link which is engagable and disengagable with the latch mechanism, c) a swing lever which is connected to the open link, d) an electric driving source having a gear member, and e) a rotary gear member which is arranged between the swing lever and the electric driving source so as to be meshed with the gear member of the electric driving source. The rotary gear member is directly and engagably connected to the swing lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayakawa, Hiroshi Ban, Norio Konomoto, Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Patent number: 6938446
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock apparatus includes a lever mechanism directly connected with a key cylinder provided at the outside door handle for locking and unlocking the vehicle door in response to rotation operation of the key cylinder. The lever mechanism is provided with a key rotor directly connected with the key cylinder, and a key lever directly connected with the key rotor. An input shaft of the lever mechanism formed by the key rotor is inclinable relative to an output shaft of the lever mechanism formed by the key lever, and this inclination is absorbed through the connection between the key rotor and the key lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Ryujiro Akizuki, Norio Konomoto, Akira Muramatsu, Shigeru Hayakawa, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Patent number: 6634682
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock apparatus includes a first body and a second body integrated so as to be adapted to be integrally assembled to the door. The vehicle door lock apparatus further includes guide projections formed at one of the first and second bodies, and guide grooves formed at the other of the first and second bodies. In addition, a stopper is provided for preventing the separation of integrated first and second bodies by the engagement between the guide projections and the guide grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Ryujiro Akizuki, Norio Konomoto, Akira Muramatsu, Shigeru Hayakawa, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Patent number: 6575506
    Abstract: A door lock system for a vehicle includes a latch mechanism, an open link, an inside lever and a cancel lever. The latch mechanism is adapted to a vehicle door and latches the vehicle door to a vehicle body. The open link is engagable and disengagable with the latch mechanism. The inside lever is adapted to an inside handle of the vehicle door and is engagable with the open link. The cancel lever is connected to the open link and is arranged between the inside lever and the open link so as to be engagable with the inside lever when the open link is disengaged from the latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayakawa, Hiroshi Ban, Norio Konomoto, Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Akira Muramatsu, Yasuhiko Sono
  • Publication number: 20020056996
    Abstract: A vehicle door lock apparatus includes a first body and a second body integrated so as to be adapted to be integrally assembled to the door. The vehicle door lock apparatus further includes guide projections formed at one of the first and second bodies, and guide grooves formed at the other of the first and second bodies. In addition, a stopper is provided for preventing the separation of integrated first and second bodies by the engagement between the guide projections and the guide grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Fukunaga, Makoto Suzumura, Ryujiro Akizuki, Norio Konomoto, Akira Muramatsu, Shigeru Hayakawa, Yasuhiko Sono