Patents by Inventor Yoshiharu Furukawa

Yoshiharu Furukawa 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: 20010040360
    Abstract: A guide plate 45 is placed at a guiding and holding member 42 which is fixed to a region of an inner panel 34 adjacent to the upper end portion 49A of a B pillar garnish. The guide plate 45 has a base end portion 45A which extends from the vehicle interior side to the vehicle exterior side. The base end portion 45A is fixed to the guiding and holding member 42. The cross sectional configuration of the guide plate 45 when viewed from the vehicle front is formed in a substantial U shape which surrounds the folded air bag body and whose opening portion faces the outer side of the vehicle interior. When the air bag body is expanded, the guide plate 45 is extended as well so as to cover the upper end portion 49A of the center pillar garnish 49. As a result, the air bag body can expand more smoothly, and the displacement of the center pillar garnish from the vehicle body can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha
    Inventors: HIROSHI ISHIYAMA, YOSHIHARU FURUKAWA, CHIHARU TOTANI, TOSHINORI TANASE
  • Patent number: 6305707
    Abstract: A guide plate 45 is placed at a guiding and holding member 42 which is fixed to a region of an inner panel 34 adjacent to the upper end portion 49A of a B pillar garnish. The guide plate 45 has a base end portion 45A which extends from the vehicle interior side to the vehicle exterior side. The base end portion 45A is fixed to the guiding and holding member 42. The cross sectional configuration of the guide plate 45 when viewed from the vehicle front is formed in a substantial U shape which surrounds the folded air bag body and whose opening portion faces the outer side of the vehicle interior. When the air bag body is expanded, the guide plate 45 is extended as well so as to cover the upper end portion 49A of the center pillar garnish 49. As a result, the air bag body can expand more smoothly, and the displacement of the center pillar garnish from the vehicle body can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishiyama, Yoshiharu Furukawa, Chiharu Totani, Toshinori Tanase
  • Patent number: 6254123
    Abstract: A structure for mounting a head-protecting airbag body which inflates in the form of a curtain at least along a roof side rail across a B pillar is provided with an airbag body expansion direction restricting member which is disposed on the roof side rail in the vicinity of a upper end portion of a B pillar garnish covering the B pillar and has a guide wall extending toward the upper end portion of the B pillar garnish, and moving restricting portions which are disposed on the upper end portion of the B pillar garnish and the airbag body expansion direction restricting member and engage each other when a side collision occurs so as to restrict movement of the upper end portion of the B pillar garnish. When a vehicle body is deformed upon a slide collision, the upper end portion of the B pillar garnish attempts to move in a vehicle occupant compartment inner direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norio Urushi, Yoshiharu Furukawa, Hiroshi Ishiyama, Minoru Chida, Etsuji Saito, Kenichi Nakajima