Patents by Inventor Akito OHBA

Akito OHBA 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).

  • Publication number: 20240046905
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus, which can provide a keyboard apparatus that a size in depth direction is miniaturized, including a frame, a first member, a key, one or more hammer assemblies configured to rotate in accordance with movement of the key. The one or more hammer assemblies including a rotation member rotatably connected to the frame with respect to a rotation axis as a center of rotation and a weight member attached to the rotation member and having a first portion and a second portion. The second portion faces the first member in a first direction extending along the rotation axis, a thickness of the second portion is smaller than a thickness of the first portion in the first direction, and a length of the second portion is larger than a length of the first portion in a rotation direction of the weight member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Akito OHBA, Yu YOSHIZAKI, Ryuichi ANZAI
  • Publication number: 20230237982
    Abstract: A keyboard unit includes a frame; a first member connected to the frame, a rigidity of the first member in a first direction being lower than a rigidity of the first member in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; and a mounted member. The mounted member includes a first pressing portion configured to suppress a movement of the first member in the first direction by pressing a part of the first member in the second direction, and a positioning portion configured to suppress a movement of the mounted member with respect to the frame in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Akito OHBA, Hirotsugu KAMIYA, Hiroyuki YAMANO
  • Patent number: 10796672
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes a plurality of keys each rotatable with a predetermined stroke, a support assembly which includes a support with one side rotatably arranged with a support rail and a jack with the one side rotatably supported by the support, and rotates with depression of any of the plurality of keys, a hammer unit which is operated by receiving an action of the jack, a shank rail which rotatably supports the hammer unit, and a jack stopper which makes contact with the jack which rotates with the depression of any of the plurality of keys, the jack stopper being placed on a rotation path of the jack and provided to a fixing portion which does not rotate with the depression any of the plurality of keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akito Ohba
  • Patent number: 10692478
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes a key, a frame, a flexible section configured to rotate the key with respect to the frame, the flexible section having a longitudinal direction, and including a region where a length of the flexible section in a first direction continuously increases toward a first end and a second end of the flexible section in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flexible section, and a first supporting section supporting side closer to the first end than the region, the first supporting section including a bonding section bonded to the first end, the bonding section including a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section keeping continuity with the flexible section, and a recessed section being arranged at a position, in a scale direction and sandwiched between the first section and the second section, of the bonding section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Ichiki, Akito Ohba
  • Patent number: 10607577
    Abstract: A support assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided, the support assembly including a jack rotatably supported by a support; a repetition lever rotatably supported with respect to the support; a protrusion disposed at an intersecting portion of the jack and the repetition lever; and a protrusion receiving portion for receiving the protrusion; wherein the protrusion receiving portion defines a movable range of the protrusion and limits a rotation range of the jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akito Ohba, Shunsuke Ichiki
  • Publication number: 20190341014
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes a key, a frame, a flexible section configured to rotate the key with respect to the frame, the flexible section having a longitudinal direction, and including a region where a length of the flexible section in a first direction continuously increases toward a first end and a second end of the flexible section in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flexible section, and a first supporting section supporting side closer to the first end than the region, the first supporting section including a bonding section bonded to the first end, the bonding section including a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section keeping continuity with the flexible section, and a recessed section being arranged at a position, in a scale direction and sandwiched between the first section and the second section, of the bonding section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Shunsuke ICHIKI, Akito OHBA
  • Patent number: 10403243
    Abstract: A support assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a support rotatably disposed with respect to a frame, a repetition lever rotatably connected to the support, an spring element supported by a support portion fixed to the support, the spring element which provides a rotational force to the repetition lever, and a contact portion between the repetition lever and the spring element, wherein a rotating portion of the repetition lever is provided with respect to the support portion on a side opposite to the contact portion between the repetition lever and the spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Akito Ohba
  • Patent number: 10395625
    Abstract: A support assembly includes a support rotatable with respect to a frame, a repetition lever rotatable with respect to the support, and a first extension portion disposed to the repetition lever on a jack side with respect to the center of rotation of the repetition lever, the first extension portion being in contact with a stopper from below the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nariyasu Yaguchi, Akito Ohba, Hiroshi Harimoto
  • Patent number: 10311836
    Abstract: A support assembly includes a support rotatable along a first surface with respect to a support rail, a repetition lever rotatable on the support, and a jack rotatable on the support and disposed to at least partially overlaps the repetition lever. The repetition lever includes a first contact portion which makes contact with a regulating portion which regulates rotation, the jack includes a second contact portion which makes contact with the regulating portion which regulates rotation, and the repetition lever and the jack are provided so that the first contact portion and the second contact portion overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akito Ohba, Hiroshi Harimoto, Shunsuke Ichiki, Ichiro Osuga
  • Patent number: 10304422
    Abstract: A support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention includes a support rotatable along a first surface with respect to a frame; a repetition lever rotatable with respect to the support; and an extension portion coupled to the repetition lever, the extension portion being slidable contact with a first guide portion, the first guide portion moving along the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nariyasu Yaguchi, Akito Ohba, Hiroshi Harimoto
  • Publication number: 20180233114
    Abstract: A support assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided, the support assembly including a jack rotatably supported by a support; a repetition lever rotatably supported with respect to the support; a protrusion disposed at an intersecting portion of the jack and the repetition lever; and a protrusion receiving portion for receiving the protrusion; wherein the protrusion receiving portion defines a movable range of the protrusion and limits a rotation range of the jack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Akito OHBA, Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Publication number: 20180233116
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes a plurality of keys each rotatable with a predetermined stroke, a support assembly which includes a support with one side rotatably arranged with a support rail and a jack with the one side rotatably supported by the support, and rotates with depression of any of the plurality of keys, a hammer unit which is operated by receiving an action of the jack, a shank rail which rotatably supports the hammer unit, and a jack stopper which makes contact with the jack which rotates with the depression of any of the plurality of keys, the jack stopper being placed on a rotation path of the jack and provided to a fixing portion which does not rotate with the depression any of the plurality of keys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventor: Akito OHBA
  • Patent number: 9905205
    Abstract: A support assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a support rotatably disposed with respect to a frame, a jack rotatably connected with respect to the support on a side opposite to a rotation center of the support, and a support heel disposed on a lower surface side of the support to make contact with a member connected to a key, wherein the support is configured of a first main body portion, a bent portion, a second main body portion, and a jack support portion from the rotation center side of the support toward a rotation center side of the jack, and the second main body portion is disposed on a side closer to the key than the first main body portion by the bent portion which couples the first main body portion and the second main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Akito Ohba, Hiroshi Harimoto
  • Publication number: 20180012573
    Abstract: A support assembly includes a support rotatable along a first surface with respect to a support rail, a repetition lever rotatable on the support, and a jack rotatable on the support and disposed to at least partially overlaps the repetition lever. The repetition lever includes a first contact portion which makes contact with a regulating portion which regulates rotation, the jack includes a second contact portion which makes contact with the regulating portion which regulates rotation, and the repetition lever and the jack are provided so that the first contact portion and the second contact portion overlap each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Akito OHBA, Hiroshi HARIMOTO, Shunsuke ICHIKI, Ichiro OSUGA
  • Publication number: 20180012574
    Abstract: A support assembly includes a support rotatable with respect to a frame, a repetition lever rotatable with respect to the support, and a first extension portion disposed to the repetition lever on a jack side with respect to the center of rotation of the repetition lever, the first extension portion being in contact with a stopper from below the stopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Nariyasu YAGUCHI, Akito OHBA, Hiroshi HARIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180012572
    Abstract: A support assembly in one embodiment of the present invention includes a support rotatable along a first surface with respect to a frame; a repetition lever rotatable with respect to the support; and an extension portion coupled to the repetition lever, the extension portion being slidable contact with a first guide portion, the first guide portion moving along the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Nariyasu YAGUCHI, Akito OHBA, Hiroshi HARIMOTO
  • Patent number: 9812108
    Abstract: A support assembly including a support rotatably disposed with respect to a frame, a repetition lever hinge mounted to the support, and a repetition lever supported by the repetition lever hinge and rotatably disposed with respect to the support, wherein the repetition lever has a contact surface and the contact surface contacts a hammer shank roller provided to a hammer shank for rotating a hammer, and the repetition lever hinge is mounted to the support in a mounting direction that crosses with a tangent-line direction of a line tangent to the hammer shank roller at the contact between the hammer shank roller and the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Akito Ohba
  • Patent number: 9672797
    Abstract: A support assembly includes a support rotatably disposed with respect to a frame; a jack support portion connected to the support; a jack having a recessed portion in a lower portion of the jack, the jack having the jack support portion inside the recessed portion and being rotatably disposed to the support; and an acting portion fixed to the jack and receiving a downward action. The recessed portion has an open end with a width larger than a width of the jack support portion. The recessed portion may have an open end with a width larger than a width of the jack support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Akito Ohba, Shunsuke Ichiki
  • Patent number: 9659549
    Abstract: A support assembly of a keyboard apparatus activated in accordance with pressing of a key to rotate a hammer provided at one end of a hammer shank, the support assembly includes a support rotatably disposed with respect to a frame, a jack having one side rotatably connected to the support and another side including a contact surface which makes contact with a hammer shank roller provided to the hammer shank, and a rib provided to the other side of the jack and projecting to a hammer shank roller side of the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Akito Ohba, Ichiro Osuga, Shunsuke Ichiki, Hiroshi Harimoto
  • Publication number: 20170040010
    Abstract: A support assembly including a support rotatably disposed with respect to a frame, a repetition lever hinge mounted to the support, and a repetition lever supported by the repetition lever hinge and rotatably disposed with respect to the support, wherein the repetition lever has a contact surface and the contact surface contacts a hammer shank roller provided to a hammer shank for rotating a hammer, and the repetition lever hinge is mounted to the support in a mounting direction that crosses with a tangent-line direction of a line tangent to the hammer shank roller at the contact between the hammer shank roller and the contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventor: Akito OHBA