Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha

Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Masumi Nishikawa

Masanobu Ishikawa

Shoji Okada

Hakumi Ishii

Hidekazu Kogita

Hiroshi Watanabe

Sumio Takizawa

Shuhei Toyoda

Hiroki Sato

Kenichi Kazaoka

Ryoichi Fukumoto

Masahiro Kojima

Tetsushi Hiramitsu

Kenji Hori

Yuji Yokoya

Atsuo Hirano

Hiroshi Nakashima

Yoshimasa Asano

Satoshi Ono

Yasuhisa Inaba

Kenichi Kikuchi

Teiji Okuyama

Hirotsugu Sugiura

Katsuaki Kadoike

Chiaki Yamada

Satoshi Isobe

Mamoru Marutani

Hideyuki Nagai

A movable grille shutter for a vehicle includes a fin adapted to be provided at a grille opening portion and being operated so as to freely open or close the grille opening portion through which ambient air is taken in, a drive source for driving the fin, a driving force transmitting mechanism for transmitting a driving force from the drive source to the fin and a flexible member being linked to the driving force transmitting mechanism and being deformed for operating the fin to open the grille opening portion in a case where a load that is equal to or more than a predetermined value is acted thereon.

Movable grille shutter for vehicle

An opening and closing apparatus for vehicle lid includes a lower base adapted to be mounted on a body panel of the vehicle and arranged to an opening of an inner space of the vehicle, first and second hinge links rotatably connected to the lower base at each one end of the respective first and second hinge links, an upper base attached to the vehicle lid formed for closing the opening of the inner space and connected to each the other end of the respective first and second hinge links, a motor for providing a drive to the first hinge link, a drive transmitting member provided between the motor and the first hinge link for transmitting the drive from the motor to the first hinge link, a normally section torque transmitting mechanism provided between the drive transmitting member and the first hinge link for transmitting the drive to the first hinge link at a point of force reaction through the normally section torque transmitting mechanism after the drive transmitting member is rotated with a predetermined angle while the vehicle lid in a fully-opened state is under closing operation and a close-start section torque transmitting mechanism provided between the drive transmitting member and the upper base for directly pressing the upper base at a point of force reaction through the close-start section torque transmitting mechanism that a distance from a center point of the rotation of the upper base is longer than a distance of the point of force reaction through the normally section torque transmitting mechanism from the center point of the rotation of the upper base before the drive transmitting member is rotated with the predetermined angle while the vehicle lid in the fully-opened state is under closing operation.

Opening and closing apparatus for a lid of a vehicle

An opening and closing device for moving a movable member which includes a drive gear connected to a power source, a driven gear geared with the drive gear, an immovable portion supporting the drive gear and the driven gear, and a dynamic transmission mechanism connected to the driven gear so that the driven gear and the dynamic transmission mechanism rotate together as a unit. The dynamic transmission mechanism transmits a drive force of the power source from the driven gear to the movable member. A direction of a rotational force affecting the driven gear via the dynamic transmission mechanism in accordance with a state of the movable member fluctuates. The opening and closing device further includes a friction member located at least at one position between relatively movable facing surfaces of the immovable portion, the drive gear, the driven gear, and the dynamic power transmission mechanism.

Opening and closing device

The present invention provides a rear under view mirror device having a driving arm and a follower link which are compact in structure. The first driving arm is coupled to a power source and rotatably supported on a mirror assembly and the follower link is coupled to a deflector and the mirror housing. The first driving arm is lockated in parallel with the follower link.

Retractable rear under view mirror device for an automotive vehicle

An under view mirror apparatus for a vehicle comprises a mirror structure mountable on a rear portion of a vehicle and selectively positionable in either a first condition in which the mirror structure is stored in the rear portion of the vehicle or a second condition in which the mirror structure projects out from the rear portion of the vehicle. The first operating mechanism is adapted to be disposed between one side of the minor structure and the rear portion of the vehicle, while the second operating mechanism is adapted to be disposed between the other side of the mirror structure and the rear portion of the vehicle. A driving mechanism which is adapted to be disposed in the rear portion of the vehicle is connected to the first operating mechanism, a driven mechanism which is adapted to be disposed in the rear portion of the vehicle is connected to the second operating mechanism, and a connecting member which is adapted to be disposed in the rear portion of the vehicle is connected to the driving mechanism and the driven mechanism.

Under view mirror apparatus for a vehicle

An outer rear view mirror for a vehicle includes a casing for being connected to a side portion of the vehicle, a mirror member having an outer surface and accommodated within the casing such that the outer surface extends substantially perpendicular to a road surface, and a generator positioned at an upper portion of the outer surface of the mirror member and generating surface acoustic waves which travel along the outer surface of the mirror member towards a lower portion thereof. Water drops on the outer surface of the mirror member are expected to be urged to the lower portion of the mirror member, which results in that the resultant water drops are expelled by the gravity. Thus, the water drops can be removed from the outer surface of the mirror member.

Mirror apparatus

An under view mirror apparatus for a vehicle comprises a mirror structure mountable on a rear portion of a vehicle and selectively positionable in either a first condition in which the mirror structure is stored in the rear portion of the vehicle and a second condition in which the mirror structure projects out from the rear portion of the vehicle, an operating mechanism which is adapted to be disposed between the rear portion of the vehicle and the mirror structure and which supports the mirror structure and moves the mirror structure between the first condition and the second condition. The operating mechanism includes a guide rail for being fixed on the rear portion of the vehicle, a first link slidably supported on the guide rail and connected with the mirror structure, and a second link connected to one of the mirror structure and the first link. The apparatus also includes a driving device connected to the operating mechanism for driving the operating mechanism.

The invention is directed to a retractable rear under view mirror system for an automotive vehicle having a rear door mounted on a vehicle body and hinged at a rear upper portion thereof. There is provided rearward of the automotive vehicle, a deflector which is mounted on the rear door at its upper portion and on which a recess is formed. A mirror assembly is movably supported by the deflector, and selectively positionable from a retracted position to an extended position. A motor is provided for actuating the mirror assembly to be positioned in the retracted position or the extended position. The motor is controlled by an controller in response to an output of a detector for detecting a state of the rear door which is positionable in its open state and its closed state. Consequently, the mirror assembly is moved to a position responsive to the state of the rear door, such that the mirror assembly is automatically retracted when the rear door is closed.

Retractabel rear under view mirror system for an automotive vehicle

The invention is directed to a retractable rear under view mirror system for an automotive vehicle, mounted rearward thereof for ensuring a rear under field of view from a driver's seat. There is provided a base member rearward of the automotive vehicle. A mirror assembly is movably supported by the base member, and selectively positionable from a stored position to a use position. An actuator is provided for actuating the mirror assembly to be positioned in the stored position or the use position. A detector is provided for detecting at least an operating condition of a component out of the components of the automotive vehicle. The actuator is controlled by a controller in response to an output of a detector to move the mirror assembly to a position responsive to the operating condition of the component. The controller is arranged to determine an output state of the detector, and determine a relative position of the mirror assembly to the base member, and arranged to control the actuator in response to the relative position and the output state.

Retractable rear under view mirror system for an automotive vehicle

A shock detecting device having a housing, a weight disposed within the housing and rotatably slidable in response to an external shock. A cam is formed on the weight for engaging or disengaging the firing lever by the rotational sliding of the weight. A spring is interposed between the housing and firing lever for urging constantly the firing lever in the rotatable direction.

Shock detecting device

A tilt steering apparatus includes a fixed bracket, a movable bracket pivotably mounted to the fixed bracket by a center pin, a ratchet provided to the movable bracket, a pawl mounted rotatably to the fixed bracket and meshed with the ratchet for regulating the position thereof, a tilt-operating lever mounted rotatably on the center pin for engaging or disengaging between the ratchet and the pawl, a first biasing device disposed between the fixed bracket and the movable bracket so as to urge the movable bracket to its away-position, a stopper provided to the fixed bracket and engaged with the ratchet for regulating the movable bracket positioned at its away position, a pawl lever mounted rotatably on the center pin and mounting pivotally the pawl, a second biasing device disposed between the tilt-operating lever and the pawl lever for rotating the pawl lever in one direction, a hook lever mounted pivotally to the fixed bracket and engaged with the pawl lever for preventing the rotation in one direction thereof, a driving mechanism associated with the fixed bracket for driving an away-operating gear so that the away-operating gear may rotate the hook lever upon actuation of the driving mechanism for separating the hook lever from the pawl lever wherein the movable bracket is transferred to its away-position by the first biasing device, a lock lever mounted rotatably on the fixed bracket and rotated after rotation of the pawl lever upon rotation of the away-operating-gear; and a lock shaft mounted to the fixed bracket to be rotated by the lock lever upon rotation thereof and holding the ratchet with the stopper means for preventing the movement of the movable bracket at its away-position.

Tilt steering apparatus

A tilting steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a fixed bracket secured to the vehicle chassis, a movable bracket pivotally supported on the fixed bracket, a ratchet provided on the movable bracket and having ratchet teeth, a pawl having pawl teeth meshing with the ratchet teeth and constraining the ratchet position, a tilt operating lever causing the pawl teeth and ratchet teeth to mesh and unmesh, means for biasing the movable bracket to a lifted position with respect to the fixed bracket, a main lever pivotally supporting the pawl and rotatably supported by a first pin about which the movable bracket is turned, a second pin secured to the fixed bracket so as to abut against the other end of the main lever to inhibit turning of the main lever in one direction, a hook lever supported by the fixed bracket so as to clamp the main lever in the inhibit position in cooperation with the second pin, a lifted-position lock member provided on the fixed bracket so as to engage at a lifted position a projection on the ratchet, a lifting lever pivotally mounted on the fixed bracket and adapted to unclamp the main lever by the turning of the hook lever, and a return lever pivotally supported on the fixed bracket for disengaging the lifted position lock member and the ratchet member from each other.

Tilting steering apparatus

A tilt steering apparatus for vehicles has a fixed bracket member fixed on a vehicle body and a rotatable bracket member pivoted on the fixed bracket member. A ratchet member and a pawl are disposed on the opposite bracket members. A lever for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet is rotatably disposed around the pivoting point between the fixed bracket and the rotatable bracket at one end thereof.

Tilt steering apparatus for vehicles

A tiltable and telescopically extensible steering shaft assembly includes a lower main shaft journalled by a stationary bracket and an upper main shaft assembly including a first shaft portion telescopically connected with the lower main shaft through splines and a second shaft portion connected with the first shaft portion for pivotable movements with respect thereto through a universal joint. The stationary bracket carries a first screw shaft and one or more second screw shafts for rotation and engaged with first and second nuts, respectively. An upper bracket is provided on the second shaft portion of the upper shaft assembly and connected with the second nuts for pivotable movements about a transverse tilting axis passing through the pivot point of the universal joint. The first nut is carried by the upper bracket so that a rotation of the first screw shaft produces a tilting movement of the second shaft portion of the upper shaft assembly and rotations of the first and second screw shafts produce a telescopic movement of the upper shaft assembly.

Vehicle steering mechanism

A screw-nut type driving mechanism having a rotatable screw shaft, a nut engaged with the screw shaft and a driven member secured to the nut. The nut has an axially tapered outer surface which is formed with external threads. The driven member has an internally threaded, axially tapered hole with which the nut is threadably engaged. A retaining plate is provided to hold the nut on the driven member to prevent rotation of the nut.

Growing community of inventors

Toyoake, Japan

Masumi Nishikawa