Patents by Inventor Yoshifumi Taoka

Yoshifumi Taoka 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: 7740311
    Abstract: In a front part inside a seat cushion are arranged a catching member extending in a widthwise direction of the seat cushion and movable up and down, and inertial force transmission means for moving the catching member upward by the inertial force that acts on an inertial mass at the time of rapid deceleration. When a passenger sits on the seat cushion, the catching member moves down so as not to deteriorate the seat comfort, and at the time of rapid deceleration, the catching member moves up and stops the passenger's hips from moving forward. Thus it is reliably prevented that the passenger moves forward, without deteriorating the seat comfort, and the design is simple, lightweight, and low-cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Taoka, Tetsurou Ushijima
  • Patent number: 7367587
    Abstract: An instrument panel construction for a vehicle capable of receiving and stopping the driver's/passenger's knee regions when a great impact acts on a vehicle to control the impact exerted on the driver's/passenger's knee regions while restraining the driver's/passenger's waist from moving forward along a seating portion of a seat. The construction includes an instrument panel (2) made of synthetic resin, a receiving portion (7) provided in a lower portion of the instrument panel (2) to be separable from the instrument panel, and a moving device (13, 14) for separating the receiving portion (7) from the instrument panel (2) to move the receiving portion rapidly toward a seat (1) positioned rearward when a great impact acts on the vehicle. An absorbing member (8) made of plastically deformable metal or reinforced synthetic resin is attached to the back surface of the receiving portion (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Taoka
  • Publication number: 20070132286
    Abstract: In a front part inside a seat cushion are arranged a catching member extending in a widthwise direction of the seat cushion and movable up and down, and inertial force transmission means for moving the catching member upward by the inertial force that acts on an inertial mass at the time of rapid deceleration. When a passenger sits on the seat cushion, the catching member moves down so as not to deteriorate the seat comfort, and at the time of rapid deceleration, the catching member moves up and stops the passenger's hips from moving forward. Thus it is reliably prevented that the passenger moves forward, without deteriorating the seat comfort, and the design is simple, lightweight, and low-cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Taoka, Tetsurou Ushijima
  • Publication number: 20050253369
    Abstract: An instrument panel construction for a vehicle capable of receiving and stopping the driver's/passenger's knee regions when a great impact acts on a vehicle to control the impact exerted on the driver's/passenger's knee regions while restraining the driver's/passenger's waist from moving forward along a seating portion of a seat. The construction includes an instrument panel (2) made of synthetic resin, a receiving portion (7) provided in a lower portion of the instrument panel (2) to be separable from the instrument panel, and a moving device (13, 14) for separating the receiving portion (7) from the instrument panel (2) to move the receiving portion rapidly toward a seat (1) positioned rearward when a great impact acts on the vehicle. An absorbing member (8) made of plastically deformable metal or reinforced synthetic resin is attached to the back surface of the receiving portion (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Taoka
  • Patent number: 6921133
    Abstract: A catch member (14) extending in the width direction of a seat cushion (1) is arranged inside a front portion of the seat cushion (1) and is supported so as to be vertically movable. There are also provided a torsion spring (16) for urging the catch member (14) to move upward and a pendulum member (18) for operating with an inertial force upon an abrupt deceleration to inhibit vertical movement of the catch part. When a passenger sits on the seat cushion (1), the catch member (14) moves downward to preclude deterioration in seating comfort. When the passenger's rear end (22) starts to move forward upon an abrupt deceleration, the catch member (14) is locked and the rear end (22) is caught by the catch member (14). This makes it possible to suppressed the forward movement of the passenger with reliability, and allow lightweight and low-cost configuration with simple configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Taoka, Tetsurou Ushijima
  • Publication number: 20040075313
    Abstract: A catch member (14) extending in the width direction of a seat cushion (1) is arranged inside a front portion of the seat cushion (1) and is supported so as to be vertically movable. There are also provided a torsion spring (16) for urging the catch member (14) to move upward and a pendulum member (18) for operating with an inertial force upon an abrupt deceleration to inhibit vertical movement of the catch part. When a passenger sits on the seat cushion (1), the catch member (14) moves downward to preclude deterioration in seating comfort. When the passenger's rear end (22) starts to move forward upon an abrupt deceleration, the catch member (14) is locked and the rear end (22) is caught by the catch member (14). This makes it possible to suppressed the forward movement of the passenger with reliability, and allow lightweight and low-cost configuration with simple configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Taoka, Tetsurou Ushijima
  • Patent number: 6692017
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus for an automobile includes a fracture-opening section of an instrument panel cover; a frame member having edge portions in contact with a peripheral region around the fracture-opening section to thereby reinforce the instrument panel cover from inside; reinforcement plate members connected to the edge portions of the frame member by means of hinge portions and adapted to reinforce the fracture-opening section; and an airbag case which is located opposite to the instrument panel cover with respect to the frame member while being removably connected to the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignees: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd., Sanko Gosei K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Taoka, Akihito Hayashi, Mitsuo Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20020079675
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus for an automobile includes a fracture-opening section of an instrument panel cover; a frame member having edge portions in contact with a peripheral region around the fracture-opening section to thereby reinforce the instrument panel cover from inside; reinforcement plate members connected to the edge portions of the frame member by means of hinge portions and adapted to reinforce the fracture-opening section; and an airbag case which is located opposite to the instrument panel cover with respect to the frame member while being removably connected to the frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: DAIHATSU MOTOR Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Taoka, Akihito Hayashi, Mitsuo Yasuda