Patents by Inventor Hidekazu Yabuuchi

Hidekazu Yabuuchi 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: 20060021227
    Abstract: A reciprocatory dry shaver capable of driving an inner cutter smoothly along an arcuately curved outer cutter for efficient shaving. The dry shaver includes a shaving head carrying an outer cutter which is arcuately curved along its length, and an inner cutter driven to reciprocate along the length of the outer cutter. An actuator is mounted in the shaving head for driving the inner cutter. The actuator includes an oscillator which reciprocates in the lengthwise direction of the outer cutter and carries a joint for driving connection to the inner cutter. Also included in the actuator is a resilient coupling link which supports the oscillator to the shaving head in order to allow the oscillator to reciprocate relative to the shaving head. The resilient coupling link has its one end coupled to the oscillator and the other end anchored to the shaving head at a portion away from the inner cutter than the oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: Takeshi Shiba, Ryo Motohashi, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6991217
    Abstract: In an oscillation type linear actuator for reciprocally moving a plurality of moving members held in parallel with each other in a predetermined direction owing to electromagnetic action between a stator and them, two moving members reciprocally moving in opposite phases with each other are coupled by a coupling member having spring function, and a non-displacing portion of a plate spring portion of the coupling member which is not displaced substantially is restricted by a stopper. Even when an external force is applied to one of two moving members reciprocally moving in the opposite phases each other, motion of the other moving member is transmitted to the moving member via the coupling member, so that reduction of amplitude of the moving member to which the external force is applied can be restricted, and a balance of amplitudes of two moving members is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shimizu, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Masashi Moriguchi, Noboru Kobayashi, Ryo Motohashi, Ryuji Otani
  • Patent number: 6958553
    Abstract: A linear oscillator includes a reciprocating moving part, a case to contain the moving part, and an amplitude control spindle moveably supported in the case. The moving part and the amplitude control spindle reciprocate at a frequency approximately equal to the resonance frequency of the linear oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ichii, Katsuhiro Hirata, Yasushi Arikawa, Tomio Yamada, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Hiroki Inoue
  • Patent number: 6946756
    Abstract: An oscillatory linear actuator including a plurality of movable elements configured to move in a linear direction, a stationary component configured to drive the plurality of movable elements to move in the linear direction, and a plurality of connecting devices elastically connecting the plurality of movable elements with each other and positioned on at least one end portion of the plurality of movable elements in the linear direction, each of the plurality of connecting devices being extending away from the plurality of movable elements in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shimizu, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Masashi Moriguchi, Noboru Kobayashi, Ryo Motohashi, Ryuji Otani
  • Publication number: 20050200207
    Abstract: An actuator includes a casing, a stationary member having a coil member and mounted in the casing and a movable member having a moving element and supported by the casing. The moving element has a shaft and is supported by the casing so as to be moved in an axial direction of the shaft and in a rotational direction having the axial direction of the shaft as its rotational axis and the moving element is moved in the axial direction and in the rotational direction by causing electric current to flow through the coil member. The stationary member includes a first stationary member for imparting to the movable member a force oriented in the axial direction and a second stationary member for imparting to the movable member a force oriented in the rotational direction, while the coil member includes a first coil member for exciting a first magnetic path passing through the first stationary member and a second coil member for exciting a second magnetic path passing through the second stationary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Yuya Hasegawa, Katsuhiro Hirata, Yoshio Mitsutake, Tomohiro Ota, Ryo Motohashi, Tomohiro Kunita, Hiroaki Shimizu, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Takahiro Nishinaka
  • Publication number: 20050173662
    Abstract: In an oscillation type linear actuator for reciprocally moving a plurality of moving members held in parallel with each other in a predetermined direction owing to electromagnetic action between a stator and them, two moving members reciprocally moving in opposite phases with each other are coupled by a coupling member having spring function, and a non-displacing portion of a plate spring portion of the coupling member which is not displaced substantially is restricted by a stopper. Even when an external force is applied to one of two moving members reciprocally moving in the opposite phases each other, motion of the other moving member is transmitted to the moving member via the coupling member, so that reduction of amplitude of the moving member to which the external force is applied can be restricted, and a balance of amplitudes of two moving members is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shimizu, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Masashi Moriguchi, Noboru Kobayashi, Ryo Motohashi, Ryuji Otani
  • Publication number: 20050134123
    Abstract: A linear oscillating actuator system which is capable of canceling out the stator vibrations for driving a load with a minimum of vibrations. The system includes an oscillator carrying a permanent magnet as well as an output shaft for connection to the load. A stator assembly is incorporated within a housing and is configured to movably support the oscillator and to carry an electromagnet. The electromagnet generates a magnetic field which interacts with the permanent magnet to reciprocate the oscillator relative to the stator assembly in a linear path. A balancer is added to the system for canceling out undesired stator vibrations. The balancer are commonly supported to the stator assembly to be driven thereby in parallel with the oscillator. The balancer is configured to have a mass generally equal to that of the oscillator and to be devoid of any output member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Noboru Kobayashi, Masashi Moriguchi, Takahiro Nishinaka, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Ryo Motohashi
  • Patent number: 6873067
    Abstract: A linear oscillator includes a reciprocating moving part, a case to contain the moving part, and an amplitude control spindle moveably supported in the case. The moving part and the amplitude control spindle reciprocate at a frequency approximately equal to the resonance frequency of the linear oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ichii, Katsuhiro Hirata, Yasushi Arikawa, Tomio Yamada, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Hiroki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20040128781
    Abstract: A linear oscillator and an electric toothbrush capable of emitting a low noise and of being assembled compact are provided. The linear oscillator, which reciprocates a shaft in an axial direction thereof, includes a plunger movable together with the shaft in the axial direction of the shaft, an elastic member for applying an axially acting resilient force to the plunger, an electromagnetic driving unit operable to reciprocate the plunger in the axial direction of the shaft at a resonant frequency when an alternating current is supplied thereto, and a fixing member restricting rotation of the plunger about an axis thereof within a predetermined angle. The electric toothbrush includes the linear oscillator and a brush head attached to the shaft for use in brushing teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kunita, Yoshihiro Kitamura, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Hiroki Inoue, Masayuki Suzuki, Tomohiro Izumi, Tomio Yamada, Katsuhiro Hirata, Yasushi Arikawa, Yoshitaka Ichii
  • Publication number: 20040130221
    Abstract: A linear oscillator includes a reciprocating moving part, a case to contain the moving part, and an amplitude control spindle moveably supported in the case. The moving part and the amplitude control spindle reciprocate at a frequency approximately equal to the resonance frequency of the linear oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTIC WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ichii, Katsuhiro Hirata, Yasushi Arikawa, Tomio Yamada, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Hiroki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20040046461
    Abstract: An oscillatory linear actuator including a plurality of movable elements configured to move in a linear direction, a stationary component configured to drive the plurality of movable elements to move in the linear direction, and a plurality of connecting devices elastically connecting the plurality of movable elements with each other and positioned on at least one end portion of the plurality of movable elements in the linear direction, each of the plurality of connecting devices being extending away from the plurality of movable elements in opposite directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shimizu, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Masashi Moriguchi, Noboru Kobayashi, Ryo Motohashi, Ryuji Otani
  • Publication number: 20040010871
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush includes a drive part, a driver, a brush part and a vibration-absorber. The drive part includes a drive shaft provided to be lineally movable and a brush part detachably attached to one end of the drive shaft. The driver is configured to apply reciprocal force to the drive shaft to reciprocally lineally move the drive shaft. The vibration-absorber is connected to the drive shaft via a second spring to be lineally movable along the drive shaft. A weight ratio of a weight of the vibration-absorber to a weight of the drive part is at least 0.9 and at most 1.1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Nishinaka, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Hiroki Inoue, Tomio Yamada
  • Publication number: 20030094861
    Abstract: An improved linear oscillating actuator is capable of minimizing the undesired vibrations while moving first and second oscillators in parallel paths. The first and second oscillators carry first and second drive elements respectively for driving connection to individual reciprocating loads. The first and second drive elements project upwardly respectively from the first and second oscillators such that the first drive element is disposed immediately upwardly of the second oscillator and the second drive elements is disposed immediately upwardly of the first oscillator. With this reverse arrangement of the first and second drive elements relative to the first and second oscillators, the individual oscillating systems each including the oscillator, the drive element and the corresponding reciprocating load can have its mass center disposed in close proximity to a mass center of the actuator, thereby enabling to reduce undesired vibrations which would otherwise occur around the mass center of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shimizu, Ryo Motohashi, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Takahiro Nishinaka, Noboru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6559563
    Abstract: An improved linear oscillating actuator is capable of minimizing the undesired vibrations while moving first and second oscillators in parallel paths. The first and second oscillators carry first and second drive elements respectively for driving connection to individual reciprocating loads. The first and second drive elements project upwardly respectively from the first and second oscillators such that the first drive element is disposed immediately upwardly of the second oscillator and the second drive elements is disposed immediately upwardly of the first oscillator. With this reverse arrangement of the first and second drive elements relative to the first and second oscillators, the individual oscillating systems each including the oscillator, the drive element and the corresponding reciprocating load can have its mass center disposed in close proximity to a mass center of the actuator, thereby enabling to reduce undesired vibrations which would otherwise occur around the mass center of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shimizu, Ryo Motohashi, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Takahiro Nishinaka, Noboru Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20020195884
    Abstract: A linear oscillator includes a reciprocating moving part, a case to contain the moving part, and an amplitude control spindle moveably supported in the case. The moving part and the amplitude control spindle reciprocate at a frequency approximately equal to the resonance frequency of the linear oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ichii, Katsuhiro Hirata, Yasushi Arikawa, Tomio Yamada, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Hiroki Inoue