Patents by Inventor Mikio Horimoto

Mikio Horimoto 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: 5199639
    Abstract: A hand-held shower unit (12; 250; 504; 540) is disclosed which comprises a rotatable shower head (94) provided with a plurality of spray heads (132; 134; 136; 138) having different spray or water delivery characteristics. The rotatable head (94) is mounted on a shaft (122) driven by a micromotor (190) received in an inner cavity (64) which is formed in a handle casing (52; 252) by offsetting a water conduit (58). Upon pressing a control button (200), the rotatable head (94) is rotated such that water is delivered through selected one of the spray heads (132; 134; 136; 138). To establish a fluid tight seal between the rotary head (94) and the water conduit (58) while avoiding frictional contact therebetween in order to reduce the torque required for the micromotor (190) to rotate the head (94), a water pressure-responsive movable sealing member (104; 260) is arranged. Also disclosed is a shower bath system (10; 500) including in combination the hand-held shower unit ( 12; 250; 504; 540).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Toto, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kobayashi, Masahito Hitotsumatsu, Ryosuke Hayashi, Mikio Horimoto, Yasuhide Kimura