Patents by Inventor Youhei Nakazato

Youhei Nakazato 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: 11097767
    Abstract: A steering system includes a steering column, a column bracket, a distance bracket, a rod, and an elastic member. The steering column supports an input shaft coupled to the steering wheel. The column bracket has a long hole therethrough and supports the steering column. The distance bracket includes: two vertical plates provided on an outer circumferential surface of the steering column and extending along the column bracket; and a horizontal plate coupling together the two vertical plates. The rod penetrates the long hole and the vertical plates. The elastic member is positioned between the horizontal plate and the rod and presses the rod toward the steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Youhei Nakazato
  • Publication number: 20210129893
    Abstract: A steering system includes a steering column, a column bracket, a distance bracket, a rod, and an elastic member. The steering column supports an input shaft coupled to the steering wheel. The column bracket has a long hole therethrough and supports the steering column. The distance bracket includes: two vertical plates provided on an outer circumferential surface of the steering column and extending along the column bracket; and a horizontal plate coupling together the two vertical plates. The rod penetrates the long hole and the vertical plates. The elastic member is positioned between the horizontal plate and the rod and presses the rod toward the steering column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Youhei NAKAZATO
  • Patent number: 9150241
    Abstract: Construction of a tilt steering apparatus is provided that is capable of preventing the occurrence of unpleasant noise during height adjustment of a steering wheel 1, and maintains sufficient durability and smooth operation. The tilt steering apparatus of the present invention is provided with stoppers 65 in at least two locations in a buffer member 21 c that are rotationally symmetric about the center axis of an adjustment rod 14, and that when a driven-side cam 15b is rotated as the axial dimension of a cam apparatus 47 is expanded or contracted, controls rotation of the driven-side cam 15b so that a convex engaging portion 39c does not collide with the front-side edge or rear-side edge of a vertically long hole 35b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Youhei Nakazato, Kou Yamamoto, Noritomo Narita
  • Patent number: 9073567
    Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein the front-end section of an outer column 18a can be assembled in the rear-end section of a housing 11a that houses an electric power steering apparatus 10a from below. At least the front-end section of the outer column 18a is formed into a U shape that is open on the top end. A connection and fastening section 36 that can be inserted inside the front-end section of the outer column 18a through an opening on the top end of the front-end section is provided on the rear-end section of the housing 11a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kou Yamamoto, Noritomo Narita, Youhei Nakazato
  • Patent number: 8997600
    Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein the front-end section of an outer column 18a is assembled in the rear-end section of a housing 11a that houses an electric power steering apparatus 10a from below. A block shaped connection and fastening section 36 is provided on the rear-end section of the housing 11a. A pair of slits 37 is formed in portions of the connection and fastening section 36 near the left and right ends, and are open on the bottom end surface and rear end surface of the connection and fastening section 36. At least the front-end section of the outer column 18a has a pair of side plate sections 30 and a bottom plate section 31 that is formed in a U shape that is open at the top. The side plate sections 30 are inserted inside the slits 37 from below. In this state, the connection and fastening section 36 and the front-end section of the outer column 18a are connected and fastened by a bolt 39.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kou Yamamoto, Noritomo Narita, Youhei Nakazato
  • Publication number: 20140284909
    Abstract: Construction of a tilt steering apparatus is provided that is capable of preventing the occurrence of unpleasant noise during height adjustment of a steering wheel 1, and maintains sufficient durability and smooth operation. The tilt steering apparatus of the present invention is provided with stoppers 65 in at least two locations in a buffer member 21 c that are rotationally symmetric about the center axis of an adjustment rod 14, and that when a driven-side cam 15b is rotated as the axial dimension of a cam apparatus 47 is expanded or contracted, controls rotation of the driven-side cam 15b so that a convex engaging portion 39c does not collide with the front-side edge or rear-side edge of a vertically long hole 35b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Youhei Nakazato, Kou Yamamoto, Noritomo Narita
  • Patent number: 8657339
    Abstract: In a steering apparatus configured by including: a steering shaft to which a steering wheel can be fitted; a steering column supported on a vehicle body and supporting the steering shaft rotatably; and a combination switch fixedly fitted to the steering column and constructed by combining a plurality of switches having different functions into one integral unit, the improvement comprises: a spacer having an inner peripheral surface that is fixedly fitted onto an outer peripheral surface of an end portion of the steering column on a rear side with respect to a vehicle body and an outer peripheral surface that is formed to have a dimension of an outer diameter enabling an inner peripheral surface of a fitting portion provided in the combination switch to be fitted onto the outer peripheral surface; and a rotation preventive mechanism preventing the spacer from rotating about the steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kou Yamamoto, Noritomo Narita, Youhei Nakazato
  • Publication number: 20130199328
    Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein the front-end section of an outer column 18a is assembled in the rear-end section of a housing 11a that houses an electric power steering apparatus 10a from below. A block shaped connection and fastening section 36 is provided on the rear-end section of the housing 11a. A pair of slits 37 is formed in portions of the connection and fastening section 36 near the left and right ends, and are open on the bottom end surface and rear end surface of the connection and fastening section 36. At least the front-end section of the outer column 18a has a pair of side plate sections 30 and a bottom plate section 31 that is formed in a U shape that is open at the top. The side plate sections 30 are inserted inside the slits 37 from below. In this state, the connection and fastening section 36 and the front-end section of the outer column 18a are connected and fastened by a bolt 39.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kou Yamamoto, Noritomo Narita, Youhei Nakazato
  • Publication number: 20130199866
    Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein the front-end section of an outer column 18a can be assembled in the rear-end section of a housing 11a that houses an electric power steering apparatus 10a from below. At least the front-end section of the outer column 18a is formed into a U shape that is open on the top end. A connection and fastening section 36 that can be inserted inside the front-end section of the outer column 18a through an opening on the top end of the front-end section is provided on the rear-end section of the housing 11a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kou Yamamoto, Noritomo Narita, Youhei Nakazato
  • Publication number: 20120324965
    Abstract: In a steering apparatus configured by including: a steering shaft to which a steering wheel can be fitted; a steering column supported on a vehicle body and supporting the steering shaft rotatably; and a combination switch fixedly fitted to the steering column and constructed by combining a plurality of switches having different functions into one integral unit, the improvement comprises: a spacer having an inner peripheral surface that is fixedly fitted onto an outer peripheral surface of an end portion of the steering column on a rear side with respect to a vehicle body and an outer peripheral surface that is formed to have a dimension of an outer diameter enabling an inner peripheral surface of a fitting portion provided in the combination switch to be fitted onto the outer peripheral surface; and a rotation preventive mechanism preventing the spacer from rotating about the steering column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Kou Yamamoto, Noritomo Narita, Youhei Nakazato