Patents by Inventor Fumio Mihara

Fumio Mihara 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: 8366028
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer equipped with an electrostatic atomization pole having superior resistance to migration. The atomizer includes an electrostatic atomization pole, a liquid supply mechanism that supplies the pole with liquid, and a power supply that supplies the pole with high voltage to electrostatically atomize the liquid held on the pole. A coating is formed on the surface of the pole, and the coating is formed of simple metal or alloy, which displays resistance to migration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumiaki Nakano, Akihide Sugawa, Fumio Mihara, Yasunori Matsui, Kishiko Hirai
  • Patent number: 8157508
    Abstract: Blower apparatus has: an air duct having suction and supply openings; a blower fan for creating a flow of air in the duct; and an electrostatic atomizer. The atomizer includes a hollow body exposed to the air in the duct. The body is provided therein with an electrostatic atomization chamber, and has a barrier, an inlet and an outlet. The barrier is put in the duct so that a part of the air flowing in the duct collides with the front of the barrier and thereby pressure-increased air is obtained. The inlet is located at the front side of the barrier so that the pressure-increased air can enter the chamber through the inlet. The outlet is located at the rear side of the barrier so that all the pressure-increased air higher than that of the air flowing in the duct, from the chamber can flow out into the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Akihide Sugawa, Atsushi Isaka, Fumio Mihara
  • Publication number: 20110240772
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer equipped with an electrostatic atomization pole having superior migration-proof. The atomizer comprises the electrostatic atomization pole, a liquid supply mechanism that supplies the pole with liquid, and a power supply that supplies the pole with high voltage to electrostatically atomize the liquid held on the pole. A coating is formed on the surface of the pole, and the coating is formed of simple metal or alloy, which displays resistance to migration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumiaki Nakano, Akihide Sugawa, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Fumio Mihara, Yasunori Matsui
  • Patent number: 8015724
    Abstract: This heating blower has a housing 1, a fan 2, a heater 3, and an electrostatic atomizing device 5. The electrostatic atomizing device 5 is provided in the housing 1 and discharges nanometer-size ion mist to the outside. The electrostatic atomizing device 5 comprises a discharging electrode 50, an opposed electrode 52 disposed opposite the discharging electrode 50, a cooling part 53 which cools the discharging electrode 50 to generate moisture from ambient air near the discharging electrode, and a high voltage applying part 55 which applies a high voltage between said discharging electrode and the opposed electrode to atomize water generated near the discharging electrode. Therefore, this heating blower can discharge nanometer-size ion mist to the outside without replenishment of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Imahori, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Akihide Sugawa, Fumio Mihara, Shousuke Akisada, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Kousuke Katayama, Toshiyuki Yamauchi, Hiroshi Suda, Yasunori Matsui
  • Patent number: 7980493
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer equipped with an electrostatic atomization pole having superior resistance to migration. The atomizer includes an electrostatic atomization pole, a liquid supply mechanism that supplies the pole with liquid, and a power supply that supplies the pole with high voltage to electrostatically atomize the liquid held on the pole. A coating is formed on the surface of the pole, and the coating is formed of simple metal or alloy, which displays resistance to migration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumiaki Nakano, Akihide Sugawa, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Fumio Mihara, Yasunori Matsui
  • Publication number: 20110067571
    Abstract: The air purification apparatus includes a duct (10), a filter (20) for air purification, an electrostatically atomizing device (30), a fan (40), and a switching device (50). The duct (10) has an inlet (11) and an outlet (12). The filter (20) is placed inside of the duct (10). The electrostatically atomizing device (30) is configured to generate a mist of charged minute water particles by means of electrostatically atomizing phenomenon and discharge the same into the duct (10). The fan (40) is configured to send air from the inlet (11) to the outlet (12). The switching device (50) is configured to switch one of a first mode and a second mode. The air purification apparatus is configured to send a mist of charged minute water particles from the electrostatically atomizing device (30) to the outlet (12) not through the filter (20) in said first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Yukiyasu Asano, Fumio Mihara, Yutaka Uratani
  • Patent number: 7874503
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device capable of instantly giving an electrostatically atomizing effect without requiring a water tank. The electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode opposed to the emitter electrode, a water feeder configured to give water on the emitter electrode, and a high voltage source configured to apply a high voltage across said emitter electrode and said opposed electrode to electrostatically charge the water on the emitter electrode for spraying charged minute water particles from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The water feeder is configured to condense the water on the emitter electrode from within the surrounding air, enabling to supply the water on the emitter electrode in a short time without relying upon an additional water tank. Thus, an atomization of the charged minute water particles can be obtained immediately upon use of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Imahori, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Akihide Sugawa, Fumio Mihara, Shousuke Akisada, Tomoharu Watanabe, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Kentaro Kobayashi, Shinya Murase, Kouichi Hirai, Junji Imai
  • Publication number: 20100071402
    Abstract: An air conditioner has a function of carrying a mist of charged minute water particles on a ventilated air being blown into a room. The air conditioner includes a blower blowing the ventilated air and an atomizing unit configured to be supplied with water and to electrostatically atomize it into the mist of minute charged water particles. A housing of the air conditioner is divided by a partition into a flow channel leading from an air inlet to an air outlet and a compartment accommodating therein the atomizing unit. A feed conduit extends from a feed port of the atomizing unit into a flow channel through the partition to feed the mist to the air being blown out through the air outlet, while the atomizing unit is isolated from the flow channel to minimize flow resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Fumio Mihara, Akihide Sugawa
  • Patent number: 7644511
    Abstract: A heating and blowing apparatus includes a main body housing having an inlet port and a discharge port. An air flow path extends from the inlet pod to the discharge port. A rotatingly driven fan and a heating unit are arranged on the air flow path. A bypass flow path branches off from the air flow path and leads to an ion emission port. An ion generator including a discharge electrode and an opposing electrode is arranged in the bypass flow path Further, the apparatus includes a cover arranged at the ion emission port and having an opening through which ions pass. One or more protrusions are provided on a rear surface of the cover. The protrusions make contact with the opposing electrode such that the cover is grounded through the opposing electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Ishikawa, Hideki Tanaka, Kenji Kamada, Kazumi Okawa, Fumio Mihara
  • Patent number: 7567420
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode opposed to the emitter electrode, and a cooling means which condenses the water on the emitter electrode from within the surrounding air, and a high voltage source applying a high voltage across the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode to electrostatically charge the water for atomizing charged minute water particles from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The device further includes a controller for discharging the charged minute water particles in a stable manner. The controller monitors a discharge current flowing between the two electrodes to control the cooling means for keeping the discharge current at a predetermined level, thereby regulating the atomizing amount of the charged minute particles from the emitter electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kobayashi, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Tomoharu Watanabe, Akihide Sugawa, Shousuke Akisada, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Fumio Mihara, Kouichi Hirai, Shinya Murase, Atsushi Isaka, Osamu Imahori, Sumio Wada, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto, Toshihisa Hirai
  • Publication number: 20090121050
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizer equipped with an electrostatic atomization pole having superior migration-proof. The atomizer comprises the electrostatic atomization pole, a liquid supply mechanism that supplies the pole with liquid, and a power supply that supplies the pole with high voltage to electrostatically atomize the liquid held on the pole. A coating is formed on the surface of the pole, and the coating is formed of simple metal or alloy, which displays resistance to migration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumiaki Nakano, Akihide Sugawa, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Fumio Mihara, Yasunori Matsui
  • Publication number: 20090001200
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatically atomizing device capable of instantly giving an electrostatically atomizing effect without requiring a water tank. The electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode opposed to the emitter electrode, a water feeder configured to give water on the emitter electrode, and a high voltage source configured to apply a high voltage across said emitter electrode and said opposed electrode to electrostatically charge the water on the emitter electrode for spraying charged minute water particles from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The water feeder is configured to condense the water on the emitter electrode from within the surrounding air, enabling to supply the water on the emitter electrode in a short time without relying upon an additional water tank. Thus, an atomization of the charged minute water particles can be obtained immediately upon use of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Osamu Imahori, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Akihide Sugawa, Fumio Mihara, Shousuke Akisada, Tomoharu Watanabe, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Kentaro Kobayashi, Shinya Murase, Kouichi Hirai, Junji Imai
  • Publication number: 20080292450
    Abstract: Blower apparatus has: an air duct having suction and supply openings; a blower fan for creating a flow of air in the duct; and an electrostatic atomizer. The atomizer includes a hollow body exposed to the air in the duct. The body is provided therein with an electrostatic atomization chamber, and has a barrier, an inlet and an outlet. The barrier is put in the duct so that a part of the air flowing in the duct collides with the front of the barrier and thereby pressure-increased air is obtained. The inlet is located at the front side of the barrier so that the pressure-increased air can enter the chamber through the inlet. The outlet is located at the rear side of the barrier so that all the pressure-increased air higher than that of the air flowing in the duct, from the chamber can flow out into the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Takeshi Yano, Akihide Sugawa, Atsushi Isaka, Fumio Mihara
  • Publication number: 20080130189
    Abstract: An electrostatically atomizing device includes an emitter electrode, an opposed electrode opposed to the emitter electrode, and a cooling means which condenses the water on the emitter electrode from within the surrounding air, and a high voltage source applying a high voltage across the emitter electrode and the opposed electrode to electrostatically charge the water for atomizing charged minute water particles from a discharge end of the emitter electrode. The device further includes a controller for discharging the charged minute water particles in a stable manner. The controller monitors a discharge current flowing between the two electrodes to control the cooling means for keeping the discharge current at a predetermined level, thereby regulating the atomizing amount of the charged minute particles from the emitter electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kobayashi, Hirokazu Yoshioka, Tomoharu Watanabe, Akihide Sugawa, Shousuke Akisada, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, Fumio Mihara, Kouichi Hirai, Shinya Murase, Atsushi Isaka, Osamu Imahori, Sumio Wada, Tatsuhiko Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7350317
    Abstract: In an electrostatic atomizing hairdryer, electrostatically atomized mist generated in an electrostatic atomizing unit is effectively scattered into airflow emitted from a main body of the hairdryer so that the mist can be sprayed to hair uniformly and a time necessary for treatment of hair can be shortened. A tank constituting the electrostatic atomizing unit is detachably provided on a portion in the vicinity of an outer periphery of the main body, and an electrode unit for generating the mist is provided in a path of airflow sucked in an inside of the main body so as to be insulated from heat of a heating unit by an adiabator. A mist emitting opening from which the mist is emitted is disposed on a plane substantially the same as and at substantially the center of an air exit opening of the main body. Thereby, the mist emitted from the mist emitting opening is effectively scattered into the airflow emitted from the air exit opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Matsui, Osamu Imahori, Shosuke Akisada, Fumio Mihara, Akihide Sugawa, Toshihisa Hirai, Takashi Nakagawa, Kozo Kawai, Naofumi Kodama, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Kiyoshi Takashima, Kousuke Katayama, Junichi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20080000101
    Abstract: A heating and blowing apparatus includes a main body housing having an inlet port and a discharge port; a rotatingly driven fan and a heating unit arranged on an air flow path, the air flow path extending from the inlet port to the discharge port; and an ion generator including a discharge electrode and an opposing electrode arranged in a bypass flow path, the bypass flow path branching off from the air flow path and leading to an ion emission port. Further, it includes a cover, arranged at the ion emission port, having an opening through which ions pass and one or more protrusions provided on a rear surface of the cover, the protrusion making contact with the opposing electrode placed closer to the cover than the discharge electrode is, wherein the cover is grounded through the opposing electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Ishikawa, Hideki Tanaka, Kenji Kamada, Kazumi Okawa, Fumio Mihara
  • Publication number: 20070166208
    Abstract: A radiation flow passage is branched from a main air flow passage extending from a fan in a main unit block toward a heater, an electrostatic atomization block is disposed in the radiation flow passage, and a section of the radiation flow passage positioned on a downstream side of a radiating unit is branched to a first branched flow passage passing through a discharge electrode to communicate with outside and a second branched flow passage bypassing the discharge electrode to communicate with the outside, so that the air around the discharge electrode is always ventilated to facilitate generation of water droplets, and portion of the air introduced into the radiation flow passage is supplied to the discharge electrode by the first branched flow passage to suppress lowering of cooling efficiency of the discharge electrode, so that nanometer-sized mist can be stably generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki TANAKA, Fumio MIHARA, Tomoya ISHIKAWA, Yasunori MATSUI
  • Publication number: 20060064892
    Abstract: In an electrostatic atomizing hairdryer, electrostatically atomized mist generated in an electrostatic atomizing unit is effectively scattered into airflow emitted from a main body of the hairdryer so that the mist can be sprayed to hair uniformly and a time necessary for treatment of hair can be shortened. A tank constituting the electrostatic atomizing unit is detachably provided on a portion in the vicinity of an outer periphery of the main body, and an electrode unit for generating the mist is provided in a path of airflow sucked in an inside of the main body so as to be insulated from heat of a heating unit by an adiabator. A mist emitting opening from which the mist is emitted is disposed on a plane substantially the same as and at substantially the center of an air exit opening of the main body. Thereby, the mist emitted from the mist emitting opening is effectively scattered into the airflow emitted from the air exit opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Matsui, Osamu Imahori, Shosuke Akisada, Fumio Mihara, Akihide Sugawa, Toshihisa Hirai, Takashi Nakagawa, Kozo Kawai, Naofumi Kodama, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Kiyoshi Takashima, Kousuke Katayama, Junichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6662809
    Abstract: An eyelash curler that can selectively perform all-eyelashes curling and localized eyelashes curling is disclosed. The eyelash curler includes a curler main body, an immobilizing member attached to a top of the curler main body for immobilizing eyelashes, a plurality of first sandwiching-holding members attached to the curler main body underneath the immobilizing member and adapted to sandwich the eyelashes against the immobilizing member, and an operating handle attached to the curler main body for causing the plurality of first sandwiching-holding members to sandwich the eyelashes against the immobilizing member. By selecting a operation mode by a mode-switching switch, each of the plurality of first sandwiching-holding members can be independently pressed against and released from the immobilizing member so that a user can easily perform localized curling of the eyelashes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yamaguchi, Kenichi Muraki, Hisasi Kitamura, Fumio Mihara
  • Publication number: 20020129829
    Abstract: An eyelash curler that can selectively perform all-eyelashes curling and localized eyelashes curling is disclosed. The eyelash curler includes a curler main body, an immobilizing member attached to a top of the curler main body for immobilizing eyelashes, a plurality of first sandwiching-holding members attached to the curler main body underneath the immobilizing member and adapted to sandwich the eyelashes against the immobilizing member, and an operating handle attached to the curler main body for causing the plurality of first sandwiching-holding members to sandwich the eyelashes against the immobilizing member. By selecting a operation mode by a mode-switching switch, each of the plurality of first sandwiching-holding members can be independently pressed against and released from the immobilizing member so that a user can easily perform localized curling of the eyelashes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Naoki Yamaguchi, Kenichi Muraki, Hisasi Kitamura, Fumio Mihara