Patents by Inventor Akira Naito

Akira Naito 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: 10096814
    Abstract: The present description discloses a battery pack capable of being detachably attached to an apparatus including an apparatus terminal having a flat plate-like shape by sliding the battery pack in a sliding direction along the apparatus terminal. The battery pack includes a battery terminal capable of engaging with the apparatus terminal so as to be electrically connected therewith. The battery terminal includes a pair of elastic clamping pieces configured to receive the apparatus terminal when the battery pack is attached to the apparatus and to clamp the apparatus terminal from both sides of the apparatus terminal. In the battery pack, the pair of the elastic clamping pieces extends in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Naito
  • Publication number: 20180130980
    Abstract: A battery pack disclosed in the present description includes an outer case including a display portion and an opening portion, wherein the display portion includes one or more display windows; a battery cell housed in the outer case; a substrate housed in the outer case, wherein one or more light emitting elements corresponding to the one or more display windows are mounted on the substrate; and a light shielding wall housed in the outer case, wherein the light shielding wall is arranged to block the opening portion and the one or more light emitting elements from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicants: MAKITA CORPORATION, SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori OGURA, Akira NAITO, Akinori TERUI
  • Patent number: 9866046
    Abstract: A charger charges a rechargeable battery pack of a cordless power tool. The charger includes at least one wall that at least partially defines a battery pack receiving space for the battery pack, a first guide extending away from the at least one wall, and a second guide extending away from the at least one wall and spaced from the first guide. The at least one wall, the first guide and the second guide are configured to guide the battery pack to a prescribed position relative to the at least one wall. The first guide and the second guide each include a portion inclined relative to the insertion direction by an angle of inclination such that the distance between the inclined portion of the first guide and the inclined portion of the second guide decreases in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Ito, Hitoshi Suzuki, Akira Naito
  • Patent number: 9695903
    Abstract: To provide a novel damper for a compressor that includes a vibration isolation system that suits the low rotation speed of a compressor of a cooling apparatus. A plurality of support projections that support annular mounting portions of a compressor at multiple points are provided at an upper end portion of a cylindrical support. The plurality of support projections elastically support the compressor so that the compressor has a high center of gravity and allow the compressor to be laterally displaced by vibration. Moreover, a bellows portion that is elastically deformed while being in contact with the annular mounting portion that becomes laterally displaced is provided. The elastic deformation of the bellows portion buffers the lateral displacement of the compressor and stirs a viscous fluid that fills inside thereof to buffer the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: Panasonic Corporation, Polymatech Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoki Hirai, Akira Naito
  • Patent number: 9634503
    Abstract: In one aspect according to the present teachings, a battery charger may include a body housing and a power supply connector disposed at a lateral side of the body housing. The power supply connector can supply a DC power to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Taga, Yasuhiro Tabuchi, Mamoru Sakai, Akira Naito
  • Patent number: 9614203
    Abstract: A contact diameter, which is formed by a cell holding portion and receiving-partitioning portions, is configured to be smaller than the diameter of a columnar outer peripheral surface of a battery cell. The cell holding portion comes into contact with the columnar outer peripheral surface of the battery cell so as to hold the columnar outer peripheral surface. The contact diameter formed by the cell holding portion and the receiving-partitioning portions increases when the battery cell is held, and the battery cell is pressed when the battery cell is held. A cell holder is provided with the receiving-partitioning portions that guide the battery cells to be inserted and housed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Naito
  • Patent number: 9601729
    Abstract: A power-tool battery pack usable as a power supply of a power tool and capable of slidably attaching to and detaching from a tool main body of the power tool includes a battery main body and a case that houses the battery main body. The battery main body includes a female terminal having inner sides configured to electrically connect to and sandwich a male terminal slidably attachable to the battery pack. The case includes a case main body and a case-cover part. The case-cover part has an opening for receiving the male terminal and sandwiching-wall parts for sandwiching the female terminal from outer sides of the female terminal. The female terminal and the sandwiching-wall parts are configured such that, at least when the female terminal sandwiches the male terminal, parts of the female terminal facing the sandwiching-wall parts are caused to touch the sandwiching-wall parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Naito
  • Publication number: 20170070068
    Abstract: A charger charges a rechargeable battery pack of a cordless power tool. The charger includes at least one wall that at least partially defines a battery pack receiving space for the battery pack, a first guide extending away from the at least one wall, and a second guide extending away from the at least one wall and spaced from the first guide. The at least one wall, the first guide and the second guide are configured to guide the battery pack to a prescribed position relative to the at least one wall. The first guide and the second guide each include a portion inclined relative to the insertion direction by an angle of inclination such that the distance between the inclined portion of the first guide and the inclined portion of the second guide decreases in the insertion direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Kosuke Ito, Hitoshi Suzuki, Akira Naito
  • Publication number: 20170070067
    Abstract: A battery system for a power tool includes two or more battery packs (12), at least one battery holder (14) adapted to detachably engage two or more of the battery packs and a charger (16, 216, 316, 416) adapted to detachably engage the battery holder and to simultaneously electrically communicate with two or more of the battery packs while the at least one battery holder engages both the charger and the battery packs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Hitoshi Suzuki, Kosuke ITO, Akira Naito
  • Patent number: 9577228
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery side terminal electrically connectible with a device side terminal of a device body that may be a tool body of an electric tool or a charger body of a charger. The battery side terminal includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The first contact portion configured to form an electric contact through contact with a first side surface of the device side terminal. The second contact portion configured to form an electric contact through contact with a second side surface opposite to the first side surface of the device side terminal. The first contact portion configured to contact the first side surface in a first contact range having a first length. The second contact portion configured to contact the second side surface in a second contact range having a second length that may be different from the first length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Naito
  • Publication number: 20170012272
    Abstract: The present description discloses a battery pack capable of being detachably attached to an apparatus including an apparatus terminal having a flat plate-like shape by sliding the battery pack in a sliding direction along the apparatus terminal. The battery pack includes a battery terminal capable of engaging with the apparatus terminal so as to be electrically connected therewith. The battery terminal includes a pair of elastic clamping pieces configured to receive the apparatus terminal when the battery pack is attached to the apparatus and to clamp the apparatus terminal from both sides of the apparatus terminal. In the battery pack, the pair of the elastic clamping pieces extends in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira NAITO
  • Patent number: 9537336
    Abstract: A battery system for a power tool includes two or more battery packs (12), at least one battery holder (14) adapted to detachably engage two or more of the battery packs and a charger (16, 216, 316, 416) adapted to detachably engage the battery holder and to simultaneously electrically communicate with two or more of the battery packs while the at least one battery holder engages both the charger and the battery packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Suzuki, Kosuke Ito, Akira Naito
  • Patent number: 9525293
    Abstract: A charger (40; 240; 340) charges a battery pack (20) that is detachably attachable to a cordless power tool (12). The charger has at least a first side wall (44b) that at least partially defines a battery pack receiving hole (44; 244) shaped to receive and accommodate the battery pack. A charging output element (62; 362) supplies charging power to the battery pack. The battery pack receiving hole has a lateral cross sectional area that decreases downwardly in the vertical direction of the battery pack receiving hole such that gravity causes the battery pack to be guided to a prescribed position within the battery pack receiving hole. In addition, the charging output element is positioned so as to be proximal to a corresponding charging power input element of the battery pack when the battery pack is disposed in the prescribed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Ito, Hitoshi Suzuki, Akira Naito
  • Patent number: 9412982
    Abstract: A front pressing rib is formed integrally with the cell holder. The front pressing rib bridges a dimensional difference between the inside of the case to be assembled and the cell holder by generating a pressing force on the front side. That is, the cell holder is pressed rearward in the case by a pressing force of the front pressing rib that is applied to the inside of the case. The front pressing rib serves to completely bridge the dimensional difference when the cell holder is inserted into the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Naito
  • Patent number: 9337453
    Abstract: A battery pack (10; 110) for a power tool includes a housing (18) made of a rigid material. The housing contains a cooling air passage (54), which is in gaseous communication with the outside environment, and at least one isolated space (52). At least one isolating wall (44) is disposed inside the housing so as to physically separate and isolate the cooling air passage from the at least one isolated space. A plurality of battery cells (32) is disposed within the housing such that an end portion (32a) thereof is disposed within the at least one isolated space and an intermediate portion (32b) thereof is disposed adjacent the cooling air passage. First portions (78) of the at least one isolating wall respectively contact the plurality of battery cells and are comprised of a material that is more flexible and/or elastic than the rigid material of the housing (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori Ogura, Akira Naito, Takuya Umemura
  • Patent number: 9221315
    Abstract: A cylinder unit includes a cylinder, a rod guide, a piston, a piston rod, and a rebound member provided between the rod guide and the piston to absorb impact generated when the cylinder unit is fully extended. The rebound member includes a coil spring arranged around an outer circumference of the piston rod and a pair of upper and lower holder members fitted to the fixing portions formed in both ends of the coil spring so that the piston rod is inserted into a shaft center hole. The center portion formed between the fixing portions of the coil spring has a diameter smaller than that of the fixing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignees: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD., CHITA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisato Shii, Akira Naito, Tatsuya Sukegawa, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Takashi Ominami
  • Publication number: 20150249237
    Abstract: A power-tool battery pack usable as a power supply of a power tool and capable of slidably attaching to and detaching from a tool main body of the power tool includes a battery main body and a case that houses the battery main body. The battery main body includes a female terminal having inner sides configured to electrically connect to and sandwich a male terminal slidably attachable to the battery pack. The case includes a case main body and a case-cover part. The case-cover part has an opening for receiving the male terminal and sandwiching-wall parts for sandwiching the female terminal from outer sides of the female terminal. The female terminal and the sandwiching-wall parts are configured such that, at least when the female terminal sandwiches the male terminal, parts of the female terminal facing the sandwiching-wall parts are caused to touch the sandwiching-wall parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventor: Akira Naito
  • Publication number: 20150244197
    Abstract: In one aspect according to the present teachings, a battery charger may include a body housing and a power supply connector disposed at a lateral side of the body housing. The power supply connector can supply a DC power to an external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Hideyuki TAGA, Yasuhiro TABUCHI, Mamoru SAKAI, Akira NAITO
  • Publication number: 20150194710
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a case, a battery device, an intervening member and a temperature detection device. The battery device may be disposed within the case and include a cell holder configured to accommodate a plurality of battery cells. The intervening member may be provided between the cell holder and at least one of the plurality of cell holder. The temperature detection device may be disposed between the intervening member and at least one of the plurality of cell holder, so that the temperature detection device directly contacts at least one of the battery cells for detecting a temperature thereof. At least one of the cell holder and the intervening member may have an elasticity, so that the temperature detection device may be directly pressed against at least one of the battery cells due to an elastic deformation of the least one of the cell holder and the intervening member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventor: Akira NAITO
  • Patent number: 8952581
    Abstract: An electric tool may include a motor housing and a motor disposed within the motor housing. The motor has a stator fixed in position relative to the motor housing and a rotor rotatable about a motor axis. Cooling air can flow within the motor housing across the motor in a direction substantially parallel to the motor axis. A baffle may be disposed within the motor housing for regulating the flow of cooling air across the motor. At least a part of the baffle may be positioned within a range of a length of the stator with respect to the axial direction of the motor axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Naito, Hidenori Nagasaka, Ryunosuke Kumagai