Patents by Inventor Toshihiro Ichikawa
Toshihiro Ichikawa 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: 7397170Abstract: Malfunctions caused by dusts such as sands and the like in movement portions of a spark-voltage generation mechanism are reduced. The generation mechanism comprises an outer-box assembly in which a base piece, piezoelectric element, and anvil are disposed in line with the longitudinal axis, an axis-direction cam groove is formed thereon, an inner-box assembly in which a hammer that strikes the piezoelectric element and a hammer spring are housed, a cam hole is formed thereon, and a joint-case assembly that limits the stroke of the outer-box assembly over the inner box-assembly, generates a high-voltage pulse by series of operations where one-way-pressure force is applied with a hammer pin inserted into the hammer, the cam groove, and the cam hole to compress and release the hammer spring. The hammer strikes the piezoelectric element by releasing the compression force of the hammer spring, the operation mechanism is shielded with the joint-case assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2006Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Inventor: Toshihiro Ichikawa
-
Publication number: 20060097607Abstract: Malfunctions caused by dusts such as sands and the like in movement portions of a spark-voltage generation mechanism are reduced. The generation mechanism comprises an outer-box assembly in which a base piece, piezoelectric element, and anvil are disposed in line with the longitudinal axis, an axis-direction cam groove is formed thereon, an inner-box assembly in which a hammer that strikes the piezoelectric element and a hammer spring are housed, a cam hole is formed thereon, and a joint-case assembly that limits the stroke of the outer-box assembly over the inner box-assembly, generates a high-voltage pulse by series of operations where one-way-pressure force is applied with a hammer pin inserted into the hammer, the cam groove, and the cam hole to compress and release the hammer spring. The hammer strikes the piezoelectric element by releasing the compression force of the hammer spring, the operation mechanism is shielded with the joint-case assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2006Publication date: May 11, 2006Inventor: Toshihiro Ichikawa
-
Patent number: 6979190Abstract: The present invention provides an ignition actuation mechanism for the manual actuator of a spark producing device in a fuel gas lighter to increase the actuation force immediately before spark discharge without unreasonably increasing the actuation force at the initial stages of movement of the manual actuator to reduce that chances of inadvertent ignition by small children, but maintaining good operability for adult users. Movement of the manual actuator is always resisted by a first elastic member while a second elastic member is positioned to resist movement of the manual actuator at a maximum of 30N to 50N after 60% or more of the total movement of the manual actuator required to produce a spark has occurred. Preferably the second elastic member is one or more flexible fingers molded from polyacetal resin.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2001Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Toshihiro Ichikawa, Youichi Ozawa
-
Publication number: 20050175947Abstract: A filter structure for an ignitor is provided, in which a flame length is kept uniform by ensuring constant gas permeability and ease of assembly of the filter is achieved. When causing ejection and combustion of fuel gas, which is contained in a tank chamber (24), out of a discharge nozzle (3) via a filter (71) which serves to keep the gas passage rate flowing therethrough constant and a valve mechanism (4) for starting and stopping feeding of the gas, the filter (71) is made of a membrane film (71a), which has pores and serves to keep the passage rate of the gas flowing therethrough constant; and a permeable porous body (71b) placed on the membrane film. A filter component (7) for affixing the filter (71) to the holder (72) is assembled on the upstream side of the valve mechanism (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2003Publication date: August 11, 2005Applicant: Tokai CorporationInventors: Toshihiro Ichikawa, Yuzo Ochiai, Hiroyuki Honma
-
Publication number: 20040096791Abstract: The present invention provides an ignition actuation mechanism for the manual actuator of a spark producing device in a fuel gas lighter to increase the actuation force immediately before spark discharge without unreasonably increasing the actuation force at the initial stages of movement of the manual actuator to reduce that chances of inadvertent ignition by small children, but maintaining good operability for adult users. Movement of the manual actuator is always resisted by a first elastic member while a second elastic member is positioned to resist movement of the manual actuator at a maximum of 30N to 50N after 60% or more of the total movement of the manual actuator required to produce a spark has occurred. Preferably the second elastic member is one or more flexible fingers molded from polyacetal resin.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Toshihiro Ichikawa, Youichi Ozawa
-
Patent number: 6666677Abstract: A piezoelectric gas lighter includes a lighter body. The fuel gas in the lighter body is supplied to a nozzle through a valve mechanism which is opened and closed by an actuator lever and a piezoelectric unit ignites the fuel gas discharged from the nozzle. A depression member actuates the actuator lever and the piezoelectric unit to open the valve mechanism and ignite the fuel gas discharged from the nozzle in response to depression of the depression controller. The depression member includes a control cap operatively connected to a piezoelectric unit, a stopper member which is movable between a locking position where the control cap is prevented from being depressed and a releasing position where the control cap is permitted to be depressed and an urging member which urges the stopper member to the locking position.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2000Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Toshihiro Ichikawa, Masaki Saito
-
Patent number: 6648629Abstract: The present invention intends to provides a piezoelectric ignition lighter capable of avoiding misuse by children but maintaining excellent operability for normal users without unreasonably increasing actuation load at the initial ignition operation. For this end, the piezoelectric ignition lighter has a valve mechanism, a nozzle 3 and a piezoelectric mechanism 4 at the top of a lighter body 1 and ignites by actuation of an actuation cap 6 integrally molded of polyacetal resin with torsion plates 7,7. The torsion plates 7,7 are separated from the upper end surface 1a of the lighter body 1 by a gap equal to about 60%˜90% of the actuation stroke in the non-actuated condition to provide a normal (light) actuation load at the initial actuation stage. After engagement of the torsion plates 7,7 with the upper end surface of the lighter body 1, resilient load of the torsion plates is added to normal load, thereby increasing the actuation load.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2002Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Toshihiro Ichikawa, Naoto Adachi
-
Patent number: 6616443Abstract: An igniting rod which ignites by the operation of an operating member comprises a lock member for locking said operating member during a non-use state. The igniting rod automatically returns to a locked state after ignition. The invention improves operability, simplifies assembly and reduces the number of parts by eliminating an urging member. A lock portion of said lock member, which interferes with a part of said operating member, is disposed such that it is displaceable as said lock member is elastically deformed from a fixed portion where the lock member is fixed to a main body portion. The elastic force returns the lock portion to a locked position. A protruding lock release portion is provided for releasing the lock portion, the lock release portion being provided with a smooth curvature on which a finger F for operating an operating portion of the operating member can simultaneously rest.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2001Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa
-
Publication number: 20030096206Abstract: An igniting rod which ignites by the operation of an operating member comprises a lock member for locking said operating member during a non-use state. The igniting rod automatically returns to a locked state after ignition. The invention improves operability, simplifies assembly and reduces the number of parts by eliminating an urging member. A lock portion of said lock member, which interferes with a part of said operating member, is disposed such that it is displaceable as said lock member is elastically deformed from a fixed portion where the lock member is fixed to a main body portion. The elastic force returns the lock portion to a locked position. A protruding lock release portion is provided for releasing the lock portion, the lock release portion being provided with a smooth curvature on which a finger F for operating an operating portion of the operating member can simultaneously rest.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2001Publication date: May 22, 2003Inventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa
-
Patent number: 6551096Abstract: A flint-type ignition mechanism comprising a freely rotatable support member; a spark wheel combined with the supporting member so as to be integrally rotatable with same; an elastic member installed around the support member; a thumb wheel having a gear-type inner face installed around the elastic member so that it can idle, the thumb wheel switching between the concentric and eccentric position; and a disk-shaped engaging member which rotates together with the supporting member and has engagement stoppers on the peripheral surface of the exterior circumference thereof for engaging the gear type inner face of the thumb wheel. When the thumb wheel is switched to the eccentric position by a deformation of the elastic member, the stoppers engage together and the spark wheel rotates together with the thumb wheel, causing it to be in the ignite-state. In the ignite-state, rotation of the thumb wheel rotates the spark wheel for ignition.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa
-
Publication number: 20020136996Abstract: The present invention intends to provides a piezoelectric ignition lighter capable of avoiding misuse by children but maintaining excellent operability for normal users without unreasonably increasing actuation load at the initial ignition operation. For this end, the piezoelectric ignition lighter has a valve mechanism, a nozzle 3 and a piezoelectric mechanism 4 at the top of a lighter body 1 and ignites by actuation of an actuation cap 6 integrally molded of polyacetal resin with torsion plates 7,7. The torsion plates 7,7 are separated from the upper end surface 1a of the lighter body 1 by a gap equal to about 60%˜90% of the actuation stroke in the non-actuated condition to provide a normal (light) actuation load at the initial actuation stage. After engagement of the torsion plates 7,7 with the upper end surface of the lighter body 1, resilient load of the torsion plates is added to normal load, thereby increasing the actuation load.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2002Publication date: September 26, 2002Inventors: Toshihiro Ichikawa, Naoto Adachi
-
Publication number: 20020039712Abstract: A flint-type ignition mechanism comprising a freely rotatable support member; a spark wheel combined with the supporting member so as to be integrally rotatable with same; an elastic member installed around the support member; a thumb wheel having a gear-type inner face installed around the elastic member so that it can idle, the thumb wheel switching between the concentric and eccentric position; and a disk-shaped engaging member which rotates together with the supporting member and has engagement stoppers on the peripheral surface of the exterior circumference thereof for engaging the gear type inner face of the thumb wheel. When the thumb wheel is switched to the eccentric position by a deformation of the elastic member, the stoppers engage together and the spark wheel rotates together with the thumb wheel, causing it to be in the ignite-state. In the ignite-state, rotation of the thumb wheel rotates the spark wheel for ignition.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2001Publication date: April 4, 2002Inventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa
-
Patent number: 6093017Abstract: A lighting rod is provided with a rod-like top end portion and a main body, the rod-like top end portion being provided with a jetting nozzle for jetting out a gas, the main body being provided with a gas tank, a valve mechanism for opening and closing a path through which the gas is supplied from the gas tank to the jetting nozzle, a piezo-electric unit for generating a discharge voltage for lighting the gas, and an operation member which drives the valve mechanism and the piezo-electric unit in order to carry out a lighting operation. A safety device for the lighting rod includes a locking member which is supported for rotation on the main body to be rotatable between a locking position where it prevents the lighting operation of the operation member and a lock release position where it permits the lighting operation of the operation member, and a spring which urges the locking means toward the locking position.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1999Date of Patent: July 25, 2000Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa
-
Patent number: 6042367Abstract: A safety device in a lighting rod comprises a locking member having an engagement section, which interferes with a portion of an operation member and thereby locks the lighting operation of the operation member. The locking member can move in a direction, that intersects with the direction along which the operation member moves. An urging member urges the locking member to a locking direction. The locking member is provided with a lock releasing section, which can be operated in order to move the locking member in a direction, that acts against the urging force of the urging member. The lock releasing section is projected to a position, which stands facing the operating section of the operation member. The lock of the lighting operation is released by operating the lock releasing section of the locking member, and the lighting operation is carried out in this state by operating the operating section of the operation member.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa
-
Patent number: 6022212Abstract: A safety device in a lighting rod comprises a locking member having an engagement section, which interferes with a portion of an operation member and thereby locks the lighting operation of the operation member. The locking member can move in a direction, that intersects with the direction along which the operation member moves. An urging member urges the locking member to a locking direction. The locking member is provided with a lock releasing section, which can be operated in order to move the locking member in a direction, that acts against the urging force of the urging member. The lock releasing section is projected to a position, which stands facing the operating section of the operation member. The lock of the lighting operation is released by operating the lock releasing section of the locking member, and the lighting operation is carried out in this state by operating the operating section of the operation member.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1998Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Inventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa
-
Patent number: 5967768Abstract: A lighting device comprises a valve mechanism for opening and closing a path, through which a gas is supplied from a gas tank to a jetting nozzle, a piezo-electric unit for generating a discharge voltage for lighting the gas, and an operation member, which can slide and drives the valve mechanism and the piezo-electric unit in order to carry out a lighting operation. A locking member capable of moving between a position for locking and a position for lock release works such that, when the locking member is set at the position for the locking, the locking member may lock the lighting operation of the operation member, and such that, when the locking member is set at the position for the lock release, the locking member may allow a single lighting operation of the operation member. A restraining member allows successive lighting operations of the operation member when the locking member is moved to the position for the lock release.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 1998Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa
-
Patent number: D468586Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa, Toshinori Morishita
-
Patent number: D469305Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Masaki Saito, Toshihiro Ichikawa, Toshinori Morishita
-
Patent number: D686879Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Toshihiro Ichikawa, Hideto Usui
-
Patent number: D759298Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Tokai CorporationInventors: Toshihiro Ichikawa, Yuzo Ochiai