Patents by Inventor Yoshitaka Sotoyama
Yoshitaka Sotoyama 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).
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Patent number: 11027682Abstract: A front portion structure of a vehicle includes a front bumper R/F, a side member, and a crush box inserted between the front bumper R/F and the side member, the side member having a first region connected to the crush box and a second region extending from a rear end of the first region, in which a vehicle-widthwise outer side surface of the first region is at a position being bent with respect to a vehicle-widthwise outer side surface of the crush box so as to form a protrusion protruding vehicle-widthwise outward, and a vehicle-widthwise outer side surface of the second region is at a position being bent from the vehicle-widthwise outer side surface of the first region so as to form a protrusion protruding vehicle-widthwise inward, and a reinforcement plate is joined to the vehicle-widthwise outer side surface in the first region.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshitaka Sotoyama
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Publication number: 20200070760Abstract: A front portion structure of a vehicle includes a front bumper R/F, a side member, and a crush box inserted between the front bumper R/F and the side member, the side member having a first region connected to the crush box and a second region extending from a rear end of the first region, in which a vehicle-widthwise outer side surface of the first region is at a position being bent with respect to a vehicle-widthwise outer side surface of the crush box so as to form a protrusion protruding vehicle-widthwise outward, and a vehicle-widthwise outer side surface of the second region is at a position being bent from the vehicle-widthwise outer side surface of the first region so as to form a protrusion protruding vehicle-widthwise inward, and a reinforcement plate is joined to the vehicle-widthwise outer side surface in the first region.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventor: Yoshitaka Sotoyama
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Patent number: 9902350Abstract: An upper and lower pair of first beads that extend in a longitudinal direction are formed at an inner side wall of a front side spacer. The first beads project to the vehicle width direction outer side. Therefore, when a collision load diagonally to the rear-left side is inputted to a front end portion of the inner side wall, the first beads act to support the inner side wall adjacent above and below the first beads from the vehicle width direction outer side. Accordingly, tilting deformation of the inner side wall toward the vehicle width direction outer side at the beginning of a micro-wrap collision of a vehicle is suppressed. An overall dimension in the vertical direction of the general portions of the inner side wall is specified to be greater than an overall dimension in the vertical direction of the first beads.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keita Ito, Yuji Takahashi, Yusuke Hayashi, Yoshitaka Sotoyama, Yousuke Matsumoto
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Patent number: 9676353Abstract: A vehicle body end section structure comprising: a first support section that is provided with a first shock absorbing section at a vehicle front-rear direction end portion; a second support section that is provided with a second shock absorbing section at a vehicle front-rear direction end portion, disposed at a vehicle up-down direction lower side of the first shock absorbing section; and a coupling member that couples together a portion at a first shock absorbing section side of the first support section, and a portion at a second shock absorbing section side of the second support section.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yoshitaka Sotoyama
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Publication number: 20170066395Abstract: An upper and lower pair of first beads that extend in a longitudinal direction are formed at an inner side wall of a front side spacer. The first beads project to the vehicle width direction outer side. Therefore, when a collision load diagonally to the rear-left side is inputted to a front end portion of the inner side wall, the first beads act to support the inner side wall adjacent above and below the first beads from the vehicle width direction outer side. Accordingly, tilting deformation of the inner side wall toward the vehicle width direction outer side at the beginning of a micro-wrap collision of a vehicle is suppressed. An overall dimension in the vertical direction of the general portions of the inner side wall is specified to be greater than an overall dimension in the vertical direction of the first beads.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keita ITO, Yuji Takahashi, Yusuke Hayashi, Yoshitaka Sotoyama, Yousuke Matsumoto
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Patent number: 9561825Abstract: This provides a vehicle body structure including: a lower panel made of resin, which has a lower wall that forms a lower portion of a floor portion, an outer front wall that is placed to extend from a vehicle body front end of the lower wall to an upper direction of a vehicle body, and an outer back wall that is placed to extend from a vehicle body backside end of the lower wall to the upper direction of the vehicle body; and an upper panel made of resin, which has upper walls that form an upper portion of the floor portion opposite to the lower wall, an inner front wall that is placed to extend from the vehicle body front ends of the upper walls to the upper direction of the vehicle body and joined to the outer front wall and consequently forms a closed cross-section shape that extends in a vehicle width direction while including both of left and right ends at an upper portion of the outer front wall, and an inner back wall that is placed to extend from the vehicle body backside ends of the upper walls and tType: GrantFiled: November 5, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Sho Maeda, Yoshitaka Sotoyama, Koki Ikeda
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Patent number: 9352787Abstract: Rocker portions and a tunnel portion that serve as frame portions extend along a vehicle longitudinal direction respectively at vehicle transverse direction both end portions of an upper floor and a vehicle transverse direction central portion of an upper floor. On the other hand, a dash panel or a back panel is provided erect respectively at a front end portion of a lower floor (22) and a rear end portion of a lower floor. Here, abutment portions are provided at front end portions of the rocker portions and the tunnel portion respectively, and planarly contact an inner surface of the dash panel. Further, abutment portions are provided at rear end portions of the rocker portions and the tunnel portion respectively, and planarly contact an inner surface of the back panel.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2011Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuyuki Hihara, Koki Ikeda, Sho Maeda, Yoshitaka Sotoyama
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Publication number: 20160121935Abstract: This provides a vehicle body structure including: a lower panel made of resin, which has a lower wall that forms a lower portion of a floor portion, an outer front wall that is placed to extend from a vehicle body front end of the lower wall to an upper direction of a vehicle body, and an outer back wall that is placed to extend from a vehicle body backside end of the lower wall to the upper direction of the vehicle body; and an upper panel made of resin, which has upper walls that form an upper portion of the floor portion opposite to the lower wall, an inner front wall that is placed to extend from the vehicle body front ends of the upper walls to the upper direction of the vehicle body and joined to the outer front wall and consequently forms a closed cross-section shape that extends in a vehicle width direction while including both of left and right ends at an upper portion of the outer front wall, and an inner back wall that is placed to extend from the vehicle body backside ends of the upper walls and tType: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Sho MAEDA, Yoshitaka SOTOYAMA, Koki IKEDA
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Publication number: 20160046250Abstract: A vehicle body end section structure comprising: a first support section that is provided with a first shock absorbing section at a vehicle front-rear direction end portion; a second support section that is provided with a second shock absorbing section at a vehicle front-rear direction end portion, disposed at a vehicle up-down direction lower side of the first shock absorbing section; and a coupling member that couples together a portion at a first shock absorbing section side of the first support section, and a portion at a second shock absorbing section side of the second support section.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2013Publication date: February 18, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yoshitaka SOTOYAMA
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Patent number: 9205873Abstract: This provides a vehicle body structure including: a lower panel made of resin, which has a lower wall that forms a lower portion of a floor portion, an outer front wall that is placed to extend from a vehicle body front end of the lower wall to an upper direction of a vehicle body, and an outer back wall that is placed to extend from a vehicle body backside end of the lower wall to the upper direction of the vehicle body; and an upper panel made of resin, which has upper walls that form an upper portion of the floor portion opposite to the lower wall, an inner front wall that is placed to extend from the vehicle body front ends of the upper walls to the upper direction of the vehicle body and joined to the outer front wall and consequently forms a closed cross-section shape that extends in a vehicle width direction while including both of left and right ends at an upper portion of the outer front wall, and an inner back wall that is placed to extend from the vehicle body backside ends of the upper walls to thType: GrantFiled: March 1, 2012Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Sho Maeda, Yoshitaka Sotoyama, Koki Ikeda
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Patent number: 9016767Abstract: A vehicle body front section structure includes a projecting member that is provided at an outside wall of a front side member further to a vehicle width direction inside than a front wheel and at a location separated in the vehicle body front-rear direction from a front bumper reinforcement, such that the projecting member projects out further towards the vehicle width direction outside than the outside wall. The vehicle body front section structure is further provided with an assistance portion that is formed to the outside wall, and that assists movement of the rear end portion of the projecting member towards the vehicle width direction inside upon input of load to the projecting member.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2013Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshitaka Sotoyama, Shintaro Kitakata, Kenjiro Yamada
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Patent number: 8960773Abstract: A vehicle body front section structure includes a projecting member that is provided at an outside wall of a front side member further to a vehicle width direction inside than a front wheel and at a location separated in the vehicle body front-rear direction from a front bumper reinforcement, such that the projecting member projects out further towards the vehicle width direction outside than the outside wall. The vehicle body front section structure is further provided with an assistance portion that is formed to the outside wall, and that assists movement of the rear end portion of the projecting member towards the vehicle width direction inside upon input of load to the projecting member.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshitaka Sotoyama, Shintaro Kitakata, Kenjiro Yamada
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Publication number: 20150048652Abstract: This provides a vehicle body structure including: a lower panel made of resin, which has a lower wall that forms a lower portion of a floor portion, an outer front wall that is placed to extend from a vehicle body front end of the lower wall to an upper direction of a vehicle body, and an outer back wall that is placed to extend from a vehicle body backside end of the lower wall to the upper direction of the vehicle body; and an upper panel made of resin, which has upper walls that form an upper portion of the floor portion opposite to the lower wall, an inner front wall that is placed to extend from the vehicle body front ends of the upper walls to the upper direction of the vehicle body and joined to the outer front wall and consequently forms a closed cross-section shape that extends in a vehicle width direction while including both of left and right ends at an upper portion of the outer front wall, and an inner back wall that is placed to extend from the vehicle body backside ends of the upper walls to thType: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2012Publication date: February 19, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Sho Maeda, Yoshitaka Sotoyama, Koki Ikeda
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Publication number: 20140300141Abstract: Rocker portions and a tunnel portion that serve as frame portions extend along a vehicle longitudinal direction respectively at vehicle transverse direction both end portions of an upper floor and a vehicle transverse direction central portion of an upper floor. On the other hand, a dash panel or a back panel is provided erect respectively at a front end portion of a lower floor (22) and a rear end portion of a lower floor. Here, abutment portions are provided at front end portions of the rocker portions and the tunnel portion respectively, and planarly contact an inner surface of the dash panel. Further, abutment portions are provided at rear end portions of the rocker portions and the tunnel portion respectively, and planarly contact an inner surface of the back panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2011Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuyuki Hihara, Koki Ikeda, Sho Maeda, Yoshitaka Sotoyama
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Publication number: 20140167450Abstract: A vehicle body front section structure includes a projecting member that is provided at an outside wall of a front side member further to a vehicle width direction inside than a front wheel and at a location separated in the vehicle body front-rear direction from a front bumper reinforcement, such that the projecting member projects out further towards the vehicle width direction outside than the outside wall. The vehicle body front section structure is further provided with an assistance portion that is formed to the outside wall, and that assists movement of the rear end portion of the projecting member towards the vehicle width direction inside upon input of load to the projecting member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshitaka SOTOYAMA, Shintaro Kitakata, Kenjiro Yamada
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Patent number: 8636093Abstract: To obtain a vehicle body lower portion structure that can efficiently absorb and disperse load of a front or rear collision including an offset collision or an oblique collision, and transmit the load to an underbody. A vehicle body lower portion structure has an underbody at which a dash lower portion and a lower back portion are provided to stand from both ends in a vehicle front-rear direction at a floor portion, a suspension member the length direction thereof is along a vehicle transverse direction and is joined to the underbody in a state of planarly-contacting a front surface of the dash lower portion, and a front EA member a length direction thereof is along the vehicle transverse direction and is joined to a front wall of the suspension member.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2010Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshitaka Sotoyama, Koki Ikeda, Shigeru Inamori, Kazuhiro Seki, Hiroaki Iwamoto, Masahiro Ono, Sho Maeda
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Publication number: 20130154308Abstract: To obtain a vehicle body lower portion structure that can efficiently absorb and disperse load of a front or rear collision including an offset collision or an oblique collision, and transmit the load to an underbody. A vehicle body lower portion structure has an underbody at which a dash lower portion and a lower back portion are provided to stand from both ends in a vehicle front-rear direction at a floor portion, a suspension member the length direction thereof is along a vehicle transverse direction and is joined to the underbody in a state of planarly-contacting a front surface of the dash lower portion, and a front EA member a length direction thereof is along the vehicle transverse direction and is joined to a front wall of the suspension member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshitaka Sotoyama, Koki Ikeda, Shigeru Inamori, Kazuhiro Seki, Hiroaki Iwamoto, Masahiro Ono, Sho Maeda