Patents by Inventor Hideki TANIMOTO
Hideki TANIMOTO 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).
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Patent number: 11927004Abstract: The present invention provides a flush water tank device (4) that supplies flush water to an upper and lower spout port of a flush toilet (2) including; a flush water tank (10); a discharge valve (12); a first on-off valve (19) that performs switching between ejection and stopping of the flush water from the upper spout port; a first on-off valve driving mechanism (16) that is moved from a stopped position to an ejection position based on an user operation; a biasing mechanism (17) that causes the first on-off valve driving mechanism to move to the stopped position; a holding mechanism (20) that holds, at the ejection position, the first on-off valve driving mechanism at the ejection position against the bias force; and a releasing mechanism (21) that releases the holding of the first on-off valve driving mechanism, using the flush water flowing out from the first on-off valve.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Hideki Tanimoto, Koki Shinohara, Kenji Hatama, Makoto Abe, Seika Tatsuoka
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Publication number: 20230065471Abstract: The present invention provides a flush water tank device (4), including: a flush water tank (10); a discharge valve (12) that causes the lower spout port to eject the flush water by switching between discharge and stopping of the flush water; a water pressure driving mechanism (14) that drives the discharge valve with a water supply pressure; a first on-off valve (19) that switches between water ejection and stopping of the flush water; a second on-off valve (18) that switches between water supply and stopping of the flush water to the water pressure driving mechanism; and a delay valve opening mechanism (21) that causes the second on-off valve to open with a delay of predetermined time after water ejection from the upper spout port is started, using a part of the flush water introduced via the first on-off valve, to supply the flush water to the water pressure driving mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Hideki TANIMOTO, Koki SHINOHARA, Kenji HATAMA, Seika TATSUOKA
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Publication number: 20230069634Abstract: The present invention provides a flush water tank device (4) that supplies flush water to an upper and lower spout port of a flush toilet (2) including; a flush water tank (10); a discharge valve (12); a first on-off valve (19) that performs switching between ejection and stopping of the flush water from the upper spout port; a first on-off valve driving mechanism (16) that is moved from a stopped position to an ejection position based on an user operation; a biasing mechanism (17) that causes the first on-off valve driving mechanism to move to the stopped position; a holding mechanism (20) that holds, at the ejection position, the first on-off valve driving mechanism at the ejection position against the bias force; and a releasing mechanism (21) that releases the holding of the first on-off valve driving mechanism, using the flush water flowing out from the first on-off valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Hideki TANIMOTO, Koki SHINOHARA, Kenji HATAMA, Makoto ABE, Seika TATSUOKA
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Patent number: 10794050Abstract: A discharge valve operating device includes an electric operation unit including a rotating shaft, a first coupling member and a second coupling member having respective one ends coupled to a discharge valve, a first rotary winding member, and a second rotary winding member. The first rotary winding member and the second rotary winding member include a first holed portion and a second holed portion, respectively, which are provided near portions at respective rotation centers. Each holed portion is engageable and disengageable with the rotating shaft in a rotation direction in accordance with the rotation direction of the rotating shaft in each operation mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Koki Shinohara, Hideki Tanimoto, Makoto Abe
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Patent number: 10519640Abstract: A discharge valve operating device includes a first linking member and a second linking member, a rotary winding device, and an operation unit configured to rotationally operate the rotary winding device, wherein when the operation unit rotationally operates in a first direction, the operation unit is configured to perform toilet flushing in a full-flushing mode by pulling up the discharge valve by a first length by the rotary winding device winding the first linking member by the first length in the first direction, and when the operation unit rotationally operates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the operation unit is configured to perform toilet flushing in a partial-flushing mode by pulling up the discharge valve by a second length by the rotary winding device winding the second linking member in the second direction by the second length which is the same as the first length.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Hideki Tanimoto, Tomoyoshi Taketani, Takashi Matsusaki
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Patent number: 10480167Abstract: A float-position adjusting member is circumferentially rotatable around an axis thereof so that a relative position between an arm and a float is adjustable. A small-tank-position adjusting member is also circumferentially rotatable around an axis thereof so that a vertical position to which a small tank is supported is adjustable. These adjusting members are coaxially arranged. When the float-position adjusting member is rotated in one direction, a first contact part of the float-position adjusting member comes in contact with a first contact part of the small-tank-position adjusting member for their corotation. When the small-tank-position adjusting member is rotated in the other direction, second contact parts of the adjusting members come in contact with each other for their corotation. There is no corotation between the contact state of the first contact parts and the contact state of the second contact parts, whose rotational angle is 10 degrees or more.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Hideki Tanimoto, Kenji Hatama
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Patent number: 10461602Abstract: A flush water tank apparatus capable of stable operational control of a discharge valve apparatus, and stable flush water supply to a toilet for long term. The flush water tank apparatus of the present invention includes a power drive unit comprising a motor and an output shaft, being a power drive unit capable of electrically operating a drain valve on a drain valve mechanism; and a housing portion formed so as to surround the perimeter of the outlet on a drive unit internal air passage extending from the motor in the interior of the flush water tank; wherein an air passage communicating from the motor of the power drive unit through the housing portion to the exterior of the flush water tank is formed.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2018Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Tomoyoshi Taketani, Hideki Tanimoto, Takashi Matsusaki
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Publication number: 20190249404Abstract: A discharge valve operating device includes an electric operation unit including a rotating shaft, a first coupling member and a second coupling member having respective one ends coupled to a discharge valve, a first rotary winding member, and a second rotary winding member. The first rotary winding member and the second rotary winding member include a first holed portion and a second holed portion, respectively, which are provided near portions at respective rotation centers. Each holed portion is engageable and disengageable with the rotating shaft in a rotation direction in accordance with the rotation direction of the rotating shaft in each operation mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Koki SHINOHARA, Hideki TANIMOTO, Makoto ABE
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Patent number: 10358805Abstract: A wall-mounted type toilet fixing device includes a flush water tank device that is hidden in an area behind a wall, and a fixing unit, the fixing unit includes support portions, a toilet fixing portion, a pair of left and right legs, and a drain pipe connection, and the pair of legs are disposed outside from the drain pipe connection and inside from a side wall of a toilet body in elevation view, and are disposed laterally asymmetrically to each other with respect to a central axis passing through a center of the drain pipe connection and dividing the fixing unit equally in a left-right direction, in a state where the toilet body is fixed to the toilet fixing portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2018Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Hideki Tanimoto, Tomoyoshi Taketani, Takashi Matsusaki, Makoto Abe
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Patent number: 10184237Abstract: In a discharge valve device, a protuberance penetrates a vertical channel with a raised portion engaging a channel. Thus when an attempt is made to rotate a cylindrical body in the circumferential direction with a raised portion engaging a channel, contact between the protuberance right side surface and the vertical channel restricts rotational movement of the cylindrical body in the circumferential direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Hideki Tanimoto, Kenji Hatama
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Publication number: 20190006906Abstract: Problem: To provide a flush water tank apparatus capable of stable operational control of a discharge valve apparatus, and stable flush water supply to a toilet for long term. Solution Means: The flush water tank apparatus of the present invention includes: a power drive unit comprising a motor 60 and an output shaft 62, being a power drive unit 54 capable of electrically operating a drain valve on a drain valve mechanism; and a housing portion 56 formed so as to surround the perimeter of the outlet on a drive unit internal air passage 70 extending from the motor in the interior of the flush water tank; wherein an air passage communicating from the motor 60 of the power drive unit 54 through the housing portion 56 to the exterior of the flush water tank 8 is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Tomoyoshi TAKETANI, Hideki TANIMOTO, Takashi MATSUSAKI
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Publication number: 20180340322Abstract: A float-position adjusting member is circumferentially rotatable around an axis thereof so that a relative position between an arm and a float is adjustable. A small-tank-position adjusting member is also circumferentially rotatable around an axis thereof so that a vertical position to which a small tank is supported is adjustable. These adjusting members are coaxially arranged. When the float-position adjusting member is rotated in one direction, a first contact part of the float-position adjusting member comes in contact with a first contact part of the small-tank-position adjusting member for their corotation. When the small-tank-position adjusting member is rotated in the other direction, second contact parts of the adjusting members come in contact with each other for their corotation. There is no corotation between the contact state of the first contact parts and the contact state of the second contact parts, whose rotational angle is 10 degrees or more.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Inventors: Hideki TANIMOTO, Kenji HATAMA
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Patent number: 10119260Abstract: A discharge valve apparatus attached to a reservoir tank in a reservoir tank apparatus for storing flush water. The discharge valve apparatus includes a valve body, attached to the top of a discharge opening provided in the bottom surface of a reservoir tank, for opening and closing the discharge opening by up and down movement thereof, a float, attached to the valve body, which drops in tandem with the drop in water level inside the flush water tank; and a variable drop start timing mechanism to make a drop start timing of the valve body variable.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Koki Shinohara, Hideki Tanimoto, Yukinori Kubozono, Kenji Hatama, Hisashi Koga
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Publication number: 20180216328Abstract: A wall-mounted type toilet fixing device includes a flush water tank device that is hidden in an area behind a wall, and a fixing unit, the fixing unit includes support portions, a toilet fixing portion, a pair of left and right legs, and a drain pipe connection, and the pair of legs are disposed outside from the drain pipe connection and inside from a side wall of a toilet body in elevation view, and are disposed laterally asymmetrically to each other with respect to a central axis passing through a center of the drain pipe connection and dividing the fixing unit equally in a left-right direction, in a state where the toilet body is fixed to the toilet fixing portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2018Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: Hideki TANIMOTO, Tomoyoshi TAKETANI, Takashi MATSUSAKI, Makoto ABE
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Publication number: 20180216329Abstract: A discharge valve operating device includes a first linking member and a second linking member, a rotary winding device, and an operation unit configured to rotationally operate the rotary winding device, wherein when the operation unit rotationally operates in a first direction, the operation unit is configured to perform toilet flushing in a full-flushing mode by pulling up the discharge valve by a first length by the rotary winding device winding the first linking member by the first length in the first direction, and when the operation unit rotationally operates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the operation unit is configured to perform toilet flushing in a partial-flushing mode by pulling up the discharge valve by a second length by the rotary winding device winding the second linking member in the second direction by the second length which is the same as the first length.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2018Publication date: August 2, 2018Inventors: Hideki TANIMOTO, Tomoyoshi TAKETANI, Takashi MATSUSAKI
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Patent number: 10017929Abstract: A discharge valve apparatus includes a discharge main body, disposed above a flush water tank discharge port, for opening and closing the flush water tank discharge port by the up and down motion of a valve body disposed inside a casing; wherein the discharge main body includes an attachment portion allowing an operating wire extending from a wire pull-up operating apparatus to detachably attach to a valve body portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Koki Shinohara, Hideki Tanimoto, Mayu Okubo, Yoshitaka Tsuru, Makoto Abe, Yukinori Kubozono
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Patent number: 9926694Abstract: An operating device for a flush water tank assembly includes: a rotary shaft, an operating handle, an operating wire, and a drive unit, wherein the drive unit includes: a rotary member, a rotary winding member, a locking unit for mutually locking the rotary member and the rotary winding member when the rotary winding member rotates in a forward rotational direction from operating position P1 and reaches operating position P3, and a lock release portion for releasing the lock between the rotary member and the rotary winding member when the rotary member and the rotary winding member rotate in a forward rotational direction from operating position P1 and reach operating position P3.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2016Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Koki Shinohara, Hideki Tanimoto, Kenji Hatama, Makoto Abe
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Patent number: 9896828Abstract: A drain valve device includes a valve body and a lift part. The valve body plugs a drain outlet arranged on a bottom surface of a tank. The lift part is configured to lift the valve body. The lift part includes an engagement part. The engagement part engages with the valve body at a first height and releases engagement of the engagement part with the valve body at a second height. The second height is greater than the first height.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2016Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Koki Shinohara, Hideki Tanimoto, Makoto Abe
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Patent number: 9890527Abstract: An operating device includes a rotary shaft, an operating handle, an operating wire, and a drive unit; wherein this drive unit includes: a rotary member, a rotary windup member, a locking device for mutually locking the rotary member and the rotary windup member until the rotary windup member rotates in the forward rotational direction from a first operating position and reaches a second operating position, a lock release device for releasing the lock between the rotary member and the rotary windup member so the rotary windup member rotates in the reverse rotational direction and moves to the first operating position regardless of any operation of the operating handle when the rotary member and the rotary windup member reach the second operating position, and a biasing device for restoring the rotary member to an initial position at which a toilet flush operation can be started from the operating position.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2017Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Koki Shinohara, Hideki Tanimoto, Kenji Hatama, Makoto Abe
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Patent number: 9783971Abstract: A discharge valve apparatus of the present invention includes: a discharge portion main body member attached to discharge opening, forming the inside of discharge flow path for guiding flush water from an inflow opening formed at one end thereof to an outflow opening formed at the other end thereof; a valve body for opening and closing the inflow opening of the discharge portion main body member; and an affixing portion, formed to project into the discharge flow path of a discharge portion main body member, for affixing the discharge portion main body member to a reservoir tank; wherein the inside surface of side wall portion in the discharge portion main body member at the same height as this affixing portion forms a curved portion, which curves outward so as to expand the cross-sectional area of the flow path.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Koki Shinohara, Atsuko Yamasaki, Yukinori Kubozono, Hideki Tanimoto, Kenji Hatama