Patents by Inventor Yukifumi Yamada

Yukifumi Yamada 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: 9868368
    Abstract: A rotation control apparatus includes an engagement lever configured to restrict a rotation of a pinion gear by engaging with a ratchet wheel and a drive lever driving and rotating the pinion gear in a direction where a seat moves upward by integrally rotating with an operation member in a state where the drive lever engages with the ratchet wheel based on a rotation operation of an operation handle in a first direction. The engagement lever disengages from the ratchet wheel by the rotation of the pinion gear in a case where the seat moves upward. The rotation control apparatus further includes an engagement lever control piece and a drive lever control piece which cause the engagement lever and the drive lever respectively to disengage from the ratchet wheel based on the rotation operation of the operation handle in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9731629
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail, a lock member, a stopper portion, a lever member that rotates in a release direction in association with a forward folding of a seatback, and a memory link being released from the lever member in a state where the lever member rotates in the release direction and rotating to an engageable position at which the memory link is engageable with the stopper portion, the memory link being configured to pass through the stopper portion in a case where the upper rail moves to a front side of the seat, the memory link engaging with the stopper portion to restrict the upper rail from moving to a rear side of the seat in a case where the upper rail moves to the rear side of the seat after the memory link passes through the stopper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Yasuhiro Kojima, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9623774
    Abstract: A vehicle seat reclining device includes a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes first and second members, which are rotational relative each other, first pawls, and a cam, which moves the first pawls in the radial direction and unlocks or locks the same. The vehicle seat reclining device includes a memory ring, which integrally rotates with the first member or the second member through engagement, partial engagement, or disengagement from the first pawls, an engaging projection, which is located in an accommodating recess of the second member and protrudes radially inward, and a rotation permitting section located on the outer circumferential surface of the memory ring. When the rotation permitting section allows the engaging projection to move, relative rotation within a predetermined rotation range is permitted between the second member and the memory ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9457691
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes an upper rail configured to support a seat at an upper portion of the upper rail, a lower rail supporting the upper rail in a manner that the upper rail and the lower rail are movable relative to each other, and a shaft member extended in a lengthwise direction of the upper rail, wherein the upper rail includes a pair of vertical wall portions extended in an upper/lower direction, the upper rail includes a bent portion connecting the vertical wall portions to each other and the shaft member is provided at an inner side of the bent portion, and the shaft member includes a threaded portion provided at each end thereof in an axial direction, the bent portion includes lengthwise-direction-end portions, and the threaded portions of the shaft member face the lengthwise-direction-end portions of the bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9457692
    Abstract: A seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle: a locking mechanism that is interposed between a seat cushion and a seatback and selectively switches inclining of the seatback between a permitted state and a regulated state with respect to the seat cushion; a first operation member that performs a first unlocking operation which allows the seatback to incline with respect to the seat cushion within a angle range with respect to the locking mechanism; a second operation member that performs a second unlocking operation which allows the seatback to incline with respect to the seat cushion to a forward tilt position exceeding the angle range with respect to the locking mechanism; and a stopper mechanism that regulates a rearward tilt of the seatback at a regulation angle position included within the angle range in a state of the second unlocking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto, Yasuhiro Kojima
  • Publication number: 20160229315
    Abstract: A rotation control apparatus includes an engagement lever configured to restrict a rotation of a pinion gear by engaging with a ratchet wheel and a drive lever driving and rotating the pinion gear in a direction where a seat moves upward by integrally rotating with an operation member in a state where the drive lever engages with the ratchet wheel based on a rotation operation of an operation handle in a first direction. The engagement lever disengages from the ratchet wheel by the rotation of the pinion gear in a case where the seat moves upward. The rotation control apparatus further includes an engagement lever control piece and a drive lever control piece which cause the engagement lever and the drive lever respectively to disengage from the ratchet wheel based on the rotation operation of the operation handle in a second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi YAMADA, Naoki GOTO
  • Patent number: 9327615
    Abstract: A seat slide device for a vehicle includes a first rail, which includes a first horizontal wall, a first vertical wall, and a first flange, and a second rail, which includes a second vertical wall and a second flange. A joining was connects the second vertical wall with the second flange. The coupling portion between the first horizontal and vertical walls includes a first ball guide. The basal end portion of the second flange includes a second ball guide. A first ball is arranged between the first and second ball guides. A restricting member that projects on the first horizontal wall functions to reduce a vertical space between the joining wall and the first horizontal wall and is contactable to the joining wall when the second vertical wall is deformed due to a load that is applied to produce pushing force between the first ball and the second rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9315119
    Abstract: A seat sliding device for a vehicle includes a first rail and a second rail coupled to the first rail to make relative movement with respect to the first rail. A lever is coupled to the second rail to rotate about an axis extending in the widthwise direction, and a lock plate which is fixed to the rear end part of the lever part and arranged between first side wall parts to extend in the widthwise direction astride side wall part through holes and folded wall part through holes. At both edge parts of the lock plate in the widthwise direction, there is formed a latching part which engages with a latched part of the first rail when the lever part rotationally moves in one direction and is released from the latched part when the lever part rotationally moves in the other direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9283870
    Abstract: A seat sliding device for a vehicle includes a first rail, which is adapted to be fixed to one of a vehicle floor and a seat and a second rail, which is adapted to be fixed to the other one of the vehicle floor and the seat and coupled to the first rail to make relative movement with respect to the first rail. An urging member is provided with a latch part, which is latched to a second coupling wall part and a latch end part, which is latched to a lock lever. The urging member generates in association with bending deformation an urging force which urges the lock lever in a vertical direction toward a direction in which the lock lever engages with the first rail. The urging member has a coil part wound about a rotating shaft between the latch part and the latch end part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Publication number: 20160023577
    Abstract: A vehicle seat reclining device includes a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes first and second members, which are rotational relative each other, first pawls, and a cam, which moves the first pawls in the radial direction and unlocks or locks the same. The vehicle seat reclining device includes a memory ring, which integrally rotates with the first member or the second member through engagement, partial engagement, or disengagement from the first pawls, an engaging projection, which is located in an accommodating recess of the second member and protrudes radially inward, and a rotation permitting section located on the outer circumferential surface of the memory ring. When the rotation permitting section allows the engaging projection to move, relative rotation within a predetermined rotation range is permitted between the second member and the memory ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi YAMADA, Naoki GOTO
  • Patent number: 9238422
    Abstract: A vehicle seat sliding apparatus includes: an upper rail configured to freely support a seat thereabove; a lower rail supporting the upper rail in a relatively movable manner; a locking mechanism capable of switching between a lock state where the relative movement of the upper rail with respect to the lower rail is regulated and an unlock state where the relative movement is allowed; and an unlock operation prevention mechanism regulating an unlock operation of the locking mechanism based on a deployment pressure of an airbag which is disposed in a seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9227528
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a tower rail, an upper rail, a memory base arranged above a bottom wall portion of the lower rail, a restriction piece holding the memory base so that the memory base is restricted from moving, a memory pin attached to the memory base in a manner that advance and retract of the memory pin relative to the memory base is allowed, the memory pin engages with the lower rail in a protruding state, the memory pin disengages in a retracted state, an interlocking mechanism pushing a lock member and the memory pin in a forward-folded state of a seatback, and a holding member holding the protruding state of the memory pin and allowing the memory base to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto, Mikihito Nagura
  • Patent number: 9205766
    Abstract: A vehicle seat operating device includes: an input side member that performs an operation input; an output side member that is moved based on an operation of the input side member to operate a seat adjustment mechanism; and a speed change mechanism that changes a rate of change of a movement amount of the output side member with respect to an operation amount of the input side member according to an operation position of the input side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9198516
    Abstract: An ottoman device includes a base bracket, a link mechanism supporting an ottoman and including a rotation link, engagement portions formed at facing surfaces that are provided at the rotation link and the base bracket respectively and engaging with each other to restrict a rotation of the rotation link, at least one of the engagement portions including an inclined surface serving as an engagement surface, a restriction portion restricting a relative axial movement between the rotation link and the base bracket in a direction in which the rotation link is separated from the base bracket in a load range where an engagement state between the engagement portions is maintainable, and an operation portion configured to change a relative position between the rotation link and the base bracket by moving the restriction portion in an axial direction of the rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9176518
    Abstract: A handle returning apparatus includes an input member rotating in conjunction with an operation handle operated to rotate in first and second directions including a neutral position, and a spring member including a plurality of spring portions integrally formed and including different spring forces, each of the spring portions including first and second spring end portions separating from each other in a circumferential direction and being configured to generate a returning force for returning the operation handle to the neutral position by being resiliently deformed on a basis of the rotation operation of the operation handle to bias the input member in a state where one of the first and second spring end portions engages with the input member and the other engages with a fixation member. The plurality of spring portions is selectively switchable therebetween to generate the returning force depending on a condition of the rotation operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9162588
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes an upper rail retaining a seat above the upper rail, a lower rail retaining the upper rail in a state where the upper rail moves relative to the lower rail, a rolling element arranged between the lower rail and the upper rail and a retaining member configured to retain the rolling element between the lower rail and the upper rail, the retaining member including a protruding portion having a top portion arranged to slidably contact with a rolling surface at which the rolling element rolls. The protruding portion includes a spreading portion extending from the top portion in an elongating direction, the elongating direction conforming to a path of the rolling element formed on the rolling surface, the spreading portion tapering to a sharp end form with an increasing distance from the top portion in the elongating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Publication number: 20150291062
    Abstract: A seat slide device for a vehicle includes a first rail, which includes a first horizontal wall, a first vertical wall, and a first flange, and a second rail, which includes a second vertical wall and a second flange. A joining was connects the second vertical wall with the second flange. The coupling portion between the first horizontal and vertical walls includes a first ball guide. The basal end portion of the second flange includes a second ball guide. A first ball is arranged between the first and second ball guides. A restricting member that projects on the first horizontal wall functions to reduce a vertical space between the joining wall and the first horizontal wall and is contactable to the joining wall when the second vertical wall is deformed due to a load that is applied to produce pushing force between the first ball and the second rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9156376
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes: a lower rail freely fixed to a vehicle floor and having a pair of first vertical wall portions, a bottom wall portion, and a pair of first flanges; an upper rail fixed to a seat having a seat cushion and a seatback, and having a pair of second vertical wall portions, a lid wall portion, and a pair of second flanges; a locking member connected to the upper rail; a memory piece placed on the bottom wall portion, engages with the upper rail due to an upward urging force by a memory piece urging member; a memory link connected to the upper rail; a lever member connected to an upper portion of the upper rail; and a stopper member fixed to the inside of the upper rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Yasuhiro Kojima, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9145069
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes: a lower rail freely fixed to a vehicle floor; an upper rail freely fixed to a seat having a seat cushion forming a seating surface and a seatback; and a memory member engaging with the upper rail, wherein the memory member includes: a memory base provided to be movable in a forward-rearward direction of the seat; a memory pin mounted to be movable back and forth in a vertical direction with respect to the memory base; a first urging member urging the memory pin; a locking plate mounted to be movable in the forward-rearward direction of the seat with respect to the memory base; and a second urging member urging the locking plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukifumi Yamada, Naoki Goto
  • Patent number: 9038981
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a first rail, a second rail, a lock member, a biasing member, the lock member being rotatably connected to the second rail in a state where a support shaft fixed to one of the second rail and the lock member is positioned within an elongated hole formed at the other of the second rail and the lock member to be movable in first and second directions of the relative movement and is biased by a support shaft biasing member in a direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, and a restriction portion restricting the support shaft from moving within the elongated hole in the first and second directions in a case where a load applied in one of the first and second directions is smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoaki Hoshihara, Eiichiro Tsuji, Mikihito Nagura, Yukifumi Yamada