Patents by Inventor Yoshihito Yoshihara

Yoshihito Yoshihara 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: 10518799
    Abstract: There is provided a steering system that can absorb an increased total amount of shock at a time of a secondary collision. A steering member is connected to one end of an upper jacket in a column axial direction. A lower jacket is externally fitted with the other end of the upper jacket in the column axial direction so as to be slidable with respect to the upper jacket. The lower jacket is supported by a support member fixed to a vehicle body. At the time of a secondary collision, a first sliding member generates a first resistive force by performing first relative sliding with respect to the upper jacket, and a second sliding member which is moved together with the first sliding member in the column axial direction generates a second resistive force by performing second relative sliding with respect to the support member and the lower jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsumune Nagatani, Shigeru Morita, Yu Myohoji, Masayoshi Sakuda, Michiaki Yamaoka, Yoshihito Yoshihara, Satoki Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 10479395
    Abstract: Provided is a steering system that is configured to absorb a secondary collision shock load and achieves high vibration rigidity with a simple structure. A lower jacket is externally fitted to an upper jacket in a slidable manner. A support member that supports the lower jacket includes a fixed portion that is fixed to a vehicle body. A shock of a secondary collision is absorbed by a shock absorbing mechanism. The shock absorbing mechanism includes second slide members configured to move together with the upper jacket, and to frictionally slide relative to the support member upon a secondary collision. The second slide member includes a sandwiched portion that is sandwiched between the support member and the lower jacket, and a transmitting portion that is brought into contact with both of the lower jacket and the support member at a position closer to the fixed portion than the sandwiched portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiaki Yamaoka, Masayoshi Sakuda, Yoshihito Yoshihara, Atsumune Nagatani, Satoki Yoshimura, Yu Myohoji
  • Patent number: 10457315
    Abstract: A first sliding member is held by an upper jacket. A second sliding member includes a fixed portion fixed to the first sliding member, and an extension portion that extends in a column axis direction and that has a coupled portion coupled to the fixed portion at a predetermined location in the column axis direction. The second sliding member being clamped by the clamping mechanism slides relative to a supporting member and a lower jacket during a secondary impact. The second sliding member includes a slit that reduces coupling stiffness between the fixed portion and the coupled portion of the extension portion so as to facilitate, in a clamping state of the clamping mechanism, deflection of the coupled portion of the extension portion relative to the fixed portion in a lateral direction as seen from the column axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sakuda, Atsumune Nagatani, Michiaki Yamaoka, Yoshihito Yoshihara, Satoki Yoshimura, Yu Myohoji
  • Patent number: 10220872
    Abstract: A steering system includes a fastening mechanism that makes an upper jacket fastened to be held by a lower jacket. In a fastened state of the fastening mechanism, a first tooth member on the upper jacket side is meshed with a second tooth member on the lower jacket side. The second tooth member is connected to the lower jacket via a guide shaft (connecting member) that is fracturable during a secondary collision. During the secondary collision in an unfastened state of the fastening mechanism, a second engagement portion (driving member) that moves in a column axial direction integrally with the upper jacket abuts on the second tooth member in an unmeshed state to fracture the guide shaft, and deforms an impact absorbing member via the second tooth member to absorb an impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihito Yoshihara, Yu Myohoji, Atsumune Nagatani, Masayuki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 10202139
    Abstract: A steering system includes a movable member and a tooth member. The movable member includes first tooth arrangements. The movable member is movable together with a column jacket in a tilt direction. The movable member is movable in a right-left direction. The tooth member is supported by a lateral plate of an upper bracket so that the tooth member is located between the movable member and the lateral plate in the right-left direction. The tooth member includes: second tooth arrangements engageable with the first tooth arrangements; and curved elastic portions supporting the second tooth arrangements, with the second tooth arrangements inclined toward the upper bracket such that the second tooth arrangements are away from the first tooth arrangements. When the elastic portions are sandwiched between the movable member and the lateral plate and elastically deformed, the second tooth arrangements come into engagement with the first tooth arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenobu Tanaka, Yoshihito Yoshihara
  • Publication number: 20180229757
    Abstract: Provided is a steering system that is configured to absorb a secondary collision shock load and achieves high vibration rigidity with a simple structure. A lower jacket is externally fitted to an upper jacket in a slidable manner. A support member that supports the lower jacket includes a fixed portion that is fixed to a vehicle body. A shock of a secondary collision is absorbed by a shock absorbing mechanism. The shock absorbing mechanism includes second slide members configured to move together with the upper jacket, and to frictionally slide relative to the support member upon a secondary collision. The second slide member includes a sandwiched portion that is sandwiched between the support member and the lower jacket, and a transmitting portion that is brought into contact with both of the lower jacket and the support member at a position closer to the fixed portion than the sandwiched portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiaki YAMAOKA, Masayoshi SAKUDA, Yoshihito YOSHIHARA, Atsumune NAGATANI, Satoki YOSHIMURA, Yu MYOHOJI
  • Publication number: 20180229758
    Abstract: A first sliding member is held by an upper jacket. A second sliding member includes a fixed portion fixed to the first sliding member, and an extension portion that extends in a column axis direction and that has a coupled portion coupled to the fixed portion at a predetermined location in the column axis direction. The second sliding member being clamped by the clamping mechanism slides relative to a supporting member and a lower jacket during a secondary impact. The second sliding member includes a slit that reduces coupling stiffness between the fixed portion and the coupled portion of the extension portion so as to facilitate, in a clamping state of the clamping mechanism, deflection of the coupled portion of the extension portion relative to the fixed portion in a lateral direction as seen from the column axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi SAKUDA, Atsumune NAGATANI, Michiaki YAMAOKA, Yoshihito YOSHIHARA, Satoki YOSHIMURA, Yu MYOHOJI
  • Publication number: 20180222520
    Abstract: There is provided a steering system that can absorb an increased total amount of shock at a time of a secondary collision. A steering member is connected to one end of an upper jacket in a column axial direction. A lower jacket is externally fitted with the other end of the upper jacket in the column axial direction so as to be slidable with respect to the upper jacket. The lower jacket is supported by a support member fixed to a vehicle body. At the time of a secondary collision, a first sliding member generates a first resistive force by performing first relative sliding with respect to the upper jacket, and a second sliding member which is moved together with the first sliding member in the column axial direction generates a second resistive force by performing second relative sliding with respect to the support member and the lower jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsumune NAGATANI, Shigeru MORITA, Yu MYOHOJI, Masayoshi SAKUDA, Michiaki YAMAOKA, Yoshihito YOSHIHARA, Satoki YOSHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20180009463
    Abstract: A steering system includes a fastening mechanism that makes an upper jacket fastened to be held by a lower jacket. In a fastened state of the fastening mechanism, a first tooth member on the upper jacket side is meshed with a second tooth member on the lower jacket side. The second tooth member is connected to the lower jacket via a guide shaft (connecting member) that is fracturable during a secondary collision. During the secondary collision in an unfastened state of the fastening mechanism, a second engagement portion (driving member) that moves in a column axial direction integrally with the upper jacket abuts on the second tooth member in an unmeshed state to fracture the guide shaft, and deforms an impact absorbing member via the second tooth member to absorb an impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihito YOSHIHARA, Yu MYOHOJI, Atsumune NAGATANI, Masayuki NAGAOKA
  • Patent number: 9840269
    Abstract: A steering system includes an insertion shaft that is movable in a tilt direction C along with a column jacket, a first tooth member including a plurality of first teeth aligned along a first linear direction, and a second tooth member including a plurality of second teeth aligned along the first linear direction. A first restriction portion restricts movement of the first tooth member in the first linear direction with respect to an upper bracket. A second restriction portion is movable in the first linear direction and immovable in a second linear direction, with respect to a linear slot in the first tooth member that extends along the first linear direction. The second restriction portion restricts movement of the second tooth member in the second linear direction with respect to the first tooth member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenobu Tanaka, Hiromitsu Tomiyama, Masayuki Nagaoka, Yoshihito Yoshihara
  • Publication number: 20170253262
    Abstract: A steering system includes a movable member and a tooth member. The movable member includes first tooth arrangements. The movable member is movable together with a column jacket in a tilt direction. The movable member is movable in a right-left direction. The tooth member is supported by a lateral plate of an upper bracket so that the tooth member is located between the movable member and the lateral plate in the right-left direction. The tooth member includes: second tooth arrangements engageable with the first tooth arrangements; and curved elastic portions supporting the second tooth arrangements, with the second tooth arrangements inclined toward the upper bracket such that the second tooth arrangements are away from the first tooth arrangements. When the elastic portions are sandwiched between the movable member and the lateral plate and elastically deformed, the second tooth arrangements come into engagement with the first tooth arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenobu TANAKA, Yoshihito YOSHIHARA
  • Publication number: 20170008546
    Abstract: A steering system includes an insertion shaft that is movable in a tilt direction C along with a column jacket, a first tooth member including a plurality of first teeth aligned along a first linear direction, and a second tooth member including a plurality of second teeth aligned along the first linear direction. A first restriction portion restricts movement of the first tooth member in the first linear direction with respect to an upper bracket. A second restriction portion is movable in the first linear direction and immovable in a second linear direction, with respect to a linear slot in the first tooth member that extends along the first linear direction. The second restriction portion restricts movement of the second tooth member in the second linear direction with respect to the first tooth member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenobu TANAKA, Hiromitsu TOMIYAMA, Masayuki NAGAOKA, Yoshihito YOSHIHARA
  • Patent number: 9469330
    Abstract: A lock device of a steering system includes a tongue piece unit and a frame plate held on a first side plate. The tongue piece unit includes elastic tongue pieces supported in a cantilever manner by a vertical frame provided along at least one of longitudinal edge portions of at least one of first side plates to form a row that extends in a tilt direction. The frame plate includes partitioning portions, between which a plurality of grooves are formed to house the elastic tongue pieces so as to be projectable. When a steering column is locked, some of the elastic tongue pieces are pressed by a pressing surface of a tightening member to be retracted into grooves. Consequently, the tightening member is interposed between the elastic tongue pieces projecting from the grooves in the tilt direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenobu Tanaka, Yoshihito Yoshihara, Atsumune Nagatani
  • Patent number: 9415793
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a first member which rotates together with an operation lever which is operated to rotate and a third member which is supported rotatably via a friction reducing mechanism by a second member which is restricted from rotating. A cam mechanism which brings a fixed side plate into press contact with a column side plate includes an axially facing surface which is provided on the first member and on which a cam surface is formed, an axially facing surface which is provided on the third member, rolling elements which are interposed between both the axially facing surfaces, and a retainer which holds the rolling elements and which is restricted from rotating by the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuro Kubota, Yoshihito Yoshihara, Eiji Tanaka, Tomonori Sugiura, Ryota Okano, Masayuki Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 9376137
    Abstract: A steering device includes: a steering shaft and a column jacket that are telescopically adjustable in an axial direction; a lock plate provided with a plurality of holes; a lock mechanism that moves a tooth such that the tooth advances to the lock plate to be engaged with one of the holes, and retreats from the lock plate to be disengaged from the hole. The lock plate includes a bent portion as a stopper at an end portion of the lock plate in the axial direction, and the stopper restricts a movement of an upper jacket relative to a lower jacket in the axial direction by abutting on the lock mechanism in the axial direction when the steering shaft and the column jacket is telescopically adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihito Yoshihara, Tomonori Sugiura, Yuji Takahashi, Atsumune Nagatani, Tatsuro Kubota, Shigeru Hoshino, Yota Uesaka
  • Patent number: 9376136
    Abstract: A steering device includes: a steering shaft a column jacket that are telescopically adjustable in an axial direction; a lock plate provided with a plurality of holes and a plurality of partition portions arranged in the axial direction; and a tooth that advances to and retreats from the lock plate, and that is engaged with one of the holes of the lock plate. The steering shaft includes a first end to which a steering member is mounted and a second end. The partition portions are provided such that a height of a first end-side partition portion in a direction toward the tooth retreated from the lock plate is greater than that of a second end-side partition portion positioned on a second end side of the first end-side partition portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, FUJI KIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihito Yoshihara, Tomonori Sugiura, Yuji Takahashi, Atsumune Nagatani, Tatsuro Kubota, Shigeru Hoshino, Yota Uesaka
  • Patent number: 9327755
    Abstract: A steering device includes: a steering shaft and a column jacket that are telescopically adjustable in an axial direction; a lock member that advances to an advance position at which the lock member is engaged with one of holes of a lock plate and that retreats to a retreat position at which the lock member is disengaged from the hole of the lock plate; an operation member that is mechanically separated from the lock member; a biasing member that constantly biases the lock member toward the advance position; and a transmission member that moves the lock member to the retreat position against a biasing force of the biasing member in accordance with operation of the operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, FUJI KIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihito Yoshihara, Tomonori Sugiura, Yuji Takahashi, Atsumune Nagatani, Tatsuro Kubota, Shigeru Hoshino, Yota Uesaka
  • Publication number: 20160107676
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a first member which rotates together with an operation lever which is operated to rotate and a third member which is supported rotatably via a friction reducing mechanism by a second member which is restricted from rotating. A cam mechanism which brings a fixed side plate into press contact with a column side plate includes an axially facing surface which is provided on the first member and on which a cam surface is formed, an axially facing surface which is provided on the third member, rolling elements which are interposed between both the axially facing surfaces, and a retainer which holds the rolling elements and which is restricted from rotating by the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuro KUBOTA, Yoshihito YOSHIHARA, Eiji TANAKA, Tomonori SUGIURA, Ryota OKANO, Masayuki NAGAOKA
  • Patent number: 9242667
    Abstract: A steering device includes: a steering shaft and a column jacket that are telescopically adjustable in an axial direction; a lock plate provided with a plurality of holes; a support shaft that extends in a cross direction crossing the axial direction and includes a low-strength portion to be broken when a load acts on the steering shaft and the column jacket; and a lock member that advances to the lock plate to be engaged with one of the holes. The lock member is disengaged from the one of holes when the support shaft is broken in a state in which the lock member is engaged with the one of the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, FUJI KIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihito Yoshihara, Tomonori Sugiura, Yuji Takahashi, Atsumune Nagatani, Tatsuro Kubota, Shigeru Hoshino, Yota Uesaka
  • Publication number: 20150367878
    Abstract: A lock device of a steering system includes a tongue piece unit and a frame plate held on a first side plate. The tongue piece unit includes elastic tongue pieces supported in a cantilever manner by a vertical frame provided along at least one of longitudinal edge portions of at least one of first side plates to form a row that extends in a tilt direction. The frame plate includes partitioning portions, between which a plurality of grooves are formed to house the elastic tongue pieces so as to be projectable. When a steering column is locked, some of the elastic tongue pieces are pressed by a pressing surface of a tightening member to be retracted into grooves. Consequently, the tightening member is interposed between the elastic tongue pieces projecting from the grooves in the tilt direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Hidenobu TANAKA, Yoshihito YOSHIHARA, Atsumune NAGATANI