Patents by Inventor Akira Fukai

Akira Fukai 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: 11702043
    Abstract: A heating apparatus for a washer fluid according to an embodiment includes a container having an accommodation space in which a washer fluid is accommodated, an inlet part configured to charge the washer fluid into the accommodation space, an outlet part configured to discharge the washer fluid from the accommodation space, a heater provided in the accommodation space, the heater being configured to heat the washer fluid, and coils wound around the heater. The coils are in a spiral shape extending about the axis of the coils and are formed of wires in contact with the heater. The coils have close contact parts at which a plurality of wires is in close contact to each other in an extending direction of an axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoga Miki, Akira Fukai, Noriaki Masuda, Toshihiro Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20210061231
    Abstract: A heating apparatus for a washer fluid according to an embodiment includes a container having an accommodation space in which a washer fluid is accommodated, an inlet part configured to charge the washer fluid into the accommodation space, an outlet part configured to discharge the washer fluid from the accommodation space, a heater provided in the accommodation space, the heater being configured to heat the washer fluid, and coils wound around the heater. The coils are in a spiral shape extending about the axis of the coils and are formed of wires in contact with the heater. The coils have close contact parts at which a plurality of wires is in close contact to each other in an extending direction of an axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoga MIKI, Akira FUKAI, Noriaki MASUDA, Toshihiro MOCHIZUKI
  • Patent number: 10931160
    Abstract: An actuator is provided that is smaller in size and has a simpler structure, as compared with a conventional one. The actuator is composed of a driving mechanism that includes an electric motor, and a housing that houses the driving mechanism. The housing includes an air hole that communicates the inside of the housing with the outside thereof, a filter that covers the air hole, and a motor box that surrounds the electric motor. At least one of members of the motor box acts as a scattering prevention wall that prevents lubricant from scattering to the electric motor. The air hole is formed in a member of the motor box other than said at least one of members of the motor box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroya Miwa, Akira Fukai, Fumitaka Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 10665992
    Abstract: An actuator capable of enhancing versatility is provided. The actuator prevents a charging connector from coming off a power receiving connector, and includes: a hollow housing; and a driving mechanism that is housed in the housing. The driving mechanism includes: an electric motor; a cam member that is driven by the electric motor; and a lock pin that interlocks with the cam member and moves from an initial position to a restricting position where the charging connector is prevented from coming off. A rotation axis of the cam member is arranged substantially perpendicular to a reference plane defined by a line segment running in the direction of plugging the charging connector and a line segment extending from the housing toward the power receiving connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroya Miwa, Akira Fukai, Fumitaka Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 10461471
    Abstract: Provided is a structure for installing an actuator capable of preventing mischief to a connector. The structure for installing the actuator has an installing surface provided on a power receiving connector, and the actuator. The actuator includes a lower housing to be installed over the installing surface, and an upper housing to be attached to the first housing, and the connector for connecting the lower housing and the upper housing. The installing surface has a step surface for hiding a tip of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroya Miwa, Akira Fukai, Fumitaka Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20190263322
    Abstract: A monitor inner minor for a vehicle includes a liquid-crystal shutter and a display device disposed behind the liquid-crystal shutter. The liquid-crystal shutter is switched between a mirror state and a transmissive state by electrical driving. An entire front shape of the monitor inner mirror for a vehicle is a horizontally-long shape. A power supply section that supplies a drive voltage to the liquid-crystal shutter is disposed at one short side of left and right short sides of the liquid-crystal shutter. Liquid-crystal encapsulation section is disposed on the other short side of the left and right short sides of the liquid-crystal shutter. The liquid-crystal encapsulation section is formed by sealing an injection port used for injecting liquid crystal to the liquid-crystal shutter with a seal material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daiki HAYASHI, Akira FUKAI, Fumitaka KITAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20180269628
    Abstract: Provided is a structure for installing an actuator capable of preventing mischief to a connector. The structure for installing the actuator has an installing surface provided on a power receiving connector, and the actuator. The actuator includes a lower housing to be installed over the installing surface, and an upper housing to be attached to the first housing, and the connector for connecting the lower housing and the upper housing. The installing surface has a step surface for hiding a tip of the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroya MIWA, Akira FUKAI, Fumitaka KITAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20180269627
    Abstract: An actuator capable of enhancing versatility is provided. The actuator prevents a charging connector from coming off a power receiving connector, and includes: a hollow housing; and a driving mechanism that is housed in the housing. The driving mechanism includes: an electric motor; a cam member that is driven by the electric motor; and a lock pin that interlocks with the cam member and moves from an initial position to a restricting position where the charging connector is prevented from coming off. A rotation axis of the cam member is arranged substantially perpendicular to a reference plane defined by a line segment running in the direction of plugging the charging connector and a line segment extending from the housing toward the power receiving connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroya MIWA, Akira FUKAI, Fumitaka KITAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20180269745
    Abstract: An actuator is provided that is smaller in size and has a simpler structure, as compared with a conventional one. The actuator is composed of a driving mechanism that includes an electric motor, and a housing that houses the driving mechanism. The housing includes an air hole that communicates the inside of the housing with the outside thereof, a filter that covers the air hole, and a motor box that surrounds the electric motor. At least one of members of the motor box acts as a scattering prevention wall that prevents lubricant from scattering to the electric motor. The air hole is formed in a member of the motor box other than said at least one of members of the motor box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroya MIWA, Akira FUKAI, Fumitaka KITAGAWA
  • Patent number: 9457675
    Abstract: An actuator containing a drive mechanism that moves a locking pin forward and backward. Said drive mechanism is provided with the following: a holder that holds the locking pin; a cam member that has a cam gear; and a power-transmitting member in which a lower gear to which power from a motor is transmitted and an upper gear coupled to the cam gear are formed. The cam is offset from the center of rotation of the cam gear. The holder is pushed in a forward/backward direction by reciprocal motion of the cam within a range that constitutes less than a full revolution about the center of rotation of the cam gear. A region into which part of the lower gear fits and a region through which the cam moves are provided in a space above one surface of the cam gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Fukai, Hiroya Miwa
  • Publication number: 20150343913
    Abstract: An actuator containing a drive mechanism that moves a locking pin forward and backward. Said drive mechanism is provided with the following: a holder that holds the locking pin; a cam member that has a cam gear; and a power-transmitting member in which a lower gear to which power from a motor is transmitted and an upper gear coupled to the cam gear are formed. The cam is offset from the center of rotation of the cam gear. The holder is pushed in a forward/backward direction by reciprocal motion of the cam within a range that constitutes less than a full revolution about the center of rotation of the cam gear. A region into which part of the lower gear fits and a region through which the cam moves are provided in a space above one surface of the cam gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira FUKAI, Hiroya MIWA
  • Patent number: 8366489
    Abstract: Provided is a relay connector 100 for establishing connection between motors each having a pair of motor terminals provided to a back plate, and for supplying power supplied from external terminals to the respective motor terminals. The relay connector 100 includes: a motor connecting surface 120 having a first relay terminal 140 that connects to the motor terminals of each motor; an external connector connecting surface 130 that is continuous to the motor connecting surface 120 and has in its bonding surface a second relay terminal 150 that connects to L-shaped terminals 220; and a housing 110 having the motor connecting surface 120 and the external connector connecting surface 130 in its end surfaces. The first relay terminal 140 and the second relay terminal 150 are electrically connected with each other within the housing 110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Molex Incorporated, Murakami Corporation
    Inventors: Kotaro Kobayashi, Naoya Matsuura, Hisaya Suzuki, Akira Fukai, Masahiro Motomiya
  • Publication number: 20120314425
    Abstract: A turn lamp unit has a substrate holding unit for use when assembling a rigid substrate equipped with a lamp to a base member. This substrate holding unit comprises a board-like substrate mount rising from a bottom face on the inner face side of the base member; a pair of elastic pressers, which rise from a flat part of the substrate mount and are arranged so as to oppose each other in a width direction of the base member (i.e., a vertical direction in the state where the turn lamp unit is mounted to a door mirror), for pressing the front face of the rigid substrate by elasticity and thereby holding the rigid substrate at the substrate mount; and a projection, disposed on the substrate mount between the pair of elastic pressers, for abutting against the rear face of the rigid substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira FUKAI, Hiroya MIWA, Ryo INUZUKA
  • Patent number: 8215781
    Abstract: In a mirror for an automobile, the adoption of resin mirror body to a mirror plate can decrease the weight of the mirror body, and the mirror plate is fixed onto a mirror holder through the welding. Therefore, this eliminates the usage of both-sided adhesive tape or adhesive agent, makes assembly processes less complicated, and thus the reduction in production cost is achieved. Furthermore, since the mirror plate can be fixed onto the mirror holder firmly and strongly even when the mirror plate is not pressed strongly to the mirror holder, excessive load on the mirror holder or the mirror plate becomes avoided. In addition, at the time of the production stage, some dimensional variation in the edge part of the mirror holder or the peripheral edge of the mirror plate becomes easily acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Murakami Corporation
    Inventors: Fumitaka Kitagawa, Akira Fukai
  • Publication number: 20120115354
    Abstract: Provided is a relay connector 100 for establishing connection between motors each having a pair of motor terminals provided to a back plate, and for supplying power supplied from external terminals to the respective motor terminals. The relay connector 100 includes: a motor connecting surface 120 having a first relay terminal 140 that connects to the motor terminals of each motor; an external connector connecting surface 130 that is continuous to the motor connecting surface 120 and has in its bonding surface a second relay terminal 150 that connects to L-shaped terminals 220; and a housing 110 having the motor connecting surface 120 and the external connector connecting surface 130 in its end surfaces. The first relay terminal 140 and the second relay terminal 150 are electrically connected with each other within the housing 110.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicants: Murakami Corporation, Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kotaro Kobayashi, Naoya Matsuura, Hisaya Suzuki, Akira Fukai, Masahiro Motomiya
  • Patent number: 8147105
    Abstract: For a turn lamp unit, a reflecting member is disposed in an inner space formed by a housing and lens section, wherein the reflecting member is fixed to the housing by a screw. The head portion of the screw is disposed inside a screw housing space arranged at the housing, and an opening of the screw housing space is closed by a waterproof moisture-transmission section. Further, since the inner space and screw housing space are communicated with each other through a breathing hole, one end of the breathing hole is continuous with the inside of the screw housing space closed by the waterproof moisture-transmission section, and the other end of the breathing section is continuous with the inside of the inner space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Murakami, Corporation
    Inventors: Shungo Ikeno, Masahiro Motomiya, Akira Fukai, Ryo Inuzuka
  • Publication number: 20100302793
    Abstract: For a turn lamp unit, a reflecting member is disposed in an inner space formed by a housing and lens section, wherein the reflecting member is fixed to the housing by a screw. The head portion of the screw is disposed inside a screw housing space arranged at the housing, and an opening of the screw housing space is closed by a waterproof moisture-transmission section. Further, since the inner space and screw housing space are communicated with each other through a breathing hole, one end of the breathing hole is continuous with the inside of the screw housing space closed by the waterproof moisture-transmission section, and the other end of the breathing section is continuous with the inside of the inner space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shungo IKENO, Masahiro MOTOMIYA, Akira FUKAI, Ryo INUZUKA
  • Patent number: 7837404
    Abstract: An applicator which includes a rear barrel 1; an ink occlusion element 10 accommodated in rear barrel 1; an ink occlusion element receiver 20 opposing the front end part of ink occlusion element 10; a see-through front barrel 30 fitted to the opening of rear barrel 1, a detection tube 40 inserted in front barrel 30 for flowing ink from ink occlusion element 10; a joint core 50 supported by detection tube 40 and flowing out ink from ink occlusion element 10; and a pen core 60 supported by detection tube 40 and disposed on the opposite side of joint core 50 with a detection space 63 from joint core 50. Detection tube 40, joint core 50 and pen core 60 are formed into an integral structure. It is possible to exactly grasp the ink end state in a visual manner, based on the presence/absence of ink in detection space 63 of detection tube 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Iwasa, Yukinori Sawa, Akira Fukai, Takahiro Osada
  • Patent number: 7833061
    Abstract: To provide a connector that incorporates a built-in electronic part, which allows for easy assembly for obtaining a required connection structure, ensures connection reliability, and prevents dislodging of the electronic part even when used in locations involving frequent vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignees: Molex Incorporated, Murakami Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Hori, Akira Kawaguchi, Hisaya Suzuki, Akira Fukai, Masahiro Motomiya
  • Publication number: 20100188763
    Abstract: In a mirror for an automobile, the adoption of resin mirror body to a mirror plate can decrease the weight of the mirror body, and the mirror plate is fixed onto a mirror holder through the welding. Therefore, this eliminates the usage of both-sided adhesive tape or adhesive agent, makes assembly processes less complicated, and thus the reduction in production cost is achieved. Furthermore, since the mirror plate can be fixed onto the mirror holder firmly and strongly even when the mirror plate is not pressed strongly to the mirror holder, excessive load on the mirror holder or the mirror plate becomes avoided. In addition, at the time of the production stage, some dimensional variation in the edge part of the mirror holder or the peripheral edge of the mirror plate becomes easily acceptable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumitaka KITAGAWA, Akira FUKAI