Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Muroi
Hiroaki Muroi 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: 6917001Abstract: A time switch that provides a convenient time setting method through a sub-dial that can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise. A gearwheel set, through which motor torque is conveyed to a dial, includes a ninth drive gear and a ninth shank gear which is joined to a step shaft on which the ninth drive gear rotates. A circular depression is formed within the rear side of the ninth drive gear, the inner perimeter on which are formed multiple ratchet teeth at uniform intervals. Ratchet pawls, which extend from the shank portion of the ninth shank gear, engage the ratchet teeth to form a ratchet mechanism that does not slip when the torque applied by the motor is sufficient to rotatably drive the dial, but that slips when the torque applied to the ratchet mechanism from the dial is greater than that applied by the motor.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2004Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Muroi, Takayuki Todokoro, Kazuo Yanagida
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Patent number: 6914204Abstract: A time switch that provides a convenient time setting method through a sub-dial that can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise. A ratchet device is constructed of multiple ratchet teeth formed at specific intervals on the rear surface of a drive gear, and pawls that extend from a pinion gear, the tip portions of the pawls engaging the multiple ratchet teeth. The ratchet device does not slip when the torque applied by the motor is sufficient to rotatably drive the dial, but slips when the torque applied to the ratchet device from the dial is greater than that applied by the motor. A control knob, which is attached to the tip of the cam shaft, may be turned to control the rotation of a switching cam which sets contact points to on or off positions.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2004Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Muroi, Takayuki Todokoro
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Publication number: 20050051410Abstract: A time switch that provides a convenient time setting method through a sub-dial that can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise. A gearwheel set, through which motor torque is conveyed to a dial, includes a ninth drive gear and a ninth shank gear which is joined to a step shaft on which the ninth drive gear rotates. A circular depression is formed within the rear side of the ninth drive gear, the inner perimeter on which are formed multiple ratchet teeth at uniform intervals. Ratchet pawls, which extend from the shank portion of the ninth shank gear, engage the ratchet teeth to form a ratchet mechanism that does not slip when the torque applied by the motor is sufficient to rotatably drive the dial, but that slips when the torque applied to the ratchet mechanism from the dial is greater than that applied by the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2004Publication date: March 10, 2005Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.Inventors: Hiroaki Muroi, Takayuki Todokoro, Kazuo Yanagida
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Publication number: 20050045456Abstract: A time switch that provides a convenient time setting method through a sub-dial that can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise. A ratchet device is constructed of multiple ratchet teeth formed at specific intervals on the rear surface of a drive gear, and pawls that extend from a pinion gear, the tip portions of the pawls engaging the multiple ratchet teeth. The ratchet device does not slip when the torque applied by the motor is sufficient to rotatably drive the dial, but slips when the torque applied to the ratchet device from the dial is greater than that applied by the motor. A control knob, which is attached to the tip of the cam shaft, may be turned to control the rotation of a switching cam which sets contact points to on or off positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2004Publication date: March 3, 2005Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Muroi, Takayuki Todokoro
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Patent number: 6429549Abstract: A time switch includes a circuit board equipped with a time switch circuit and a display for displaying a time-schedule set by a user and current time, an operation unit having push buttons for setting the time-schedule and current time, and a casing in which the circuit board and operation unit are accommodated, the casing having openings for fitting the push buttons. The operation unit includes a resilient sheet member integrally equipped with the push buttons and conductive contact members each disposed on a portion corresponding to each of the push buttons. The circuit board has pairs of contact portions, each pair of contact portions being electrically connected via the conductive contact member while the push button is depressed. The operation unit is supported the casing and the circuit board in a state that a peripheral portion of the sheet member is clamped by and between an inner surface of the casing and the circuit board with the buttons fitted in the openings.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1999Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Muroi, Kazuo Yanagida
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Patent number: 6429547Abstract: A time switch includes a circuit board equipped with a time switch circuit operated by a commercial power source, a battery board to which a back-up battery for supplying a back-up power to the circuit board in case of an interruption of a power supply from the commercial power source is mounted, and a casing in which the circuit board and the battery board are mounted. The battery board is a member separated from the circuit board, or integrally formed with the circuit board by way of an easy-to-break portion having a relatively weak mechanical strength. Thus, the battery board can be detached from the circuit board so that the back-up battery is disposed apart from the circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1999Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Muroi, Kazuo Yanagida, Masanori Matsuda
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Patent number: 6262497Abstract: A switch integrated controller capable of giving a wide variety of controllers at a reduced cost. The controller has a casing composed of a controller module and a terminal module which are separately formed from each other and detachably connected to each other. The controller module has an entry section for receiving a specific external condition and a signal generating section which generates a trigger signal when the specific condition is met by a predetermined reference. The terminal module includes at least one pair of terminals which are adapted to be connected through wires to the external electrical device and an associated external power source and further includes a relay switch which is connected between the terminals for selectively connecting and disconnecting the electric device to and from the electrical power source in response to the trigger signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1998Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Muroi, Takayuki Todokoro, Kazuo Yanagida
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Patent number: 5771207Abstract: A time switch for starting and stopping an electric appliance at set times comprises an electric timer, a display housing a display for the set times, and a switch housing having a concave. The switch housing has input terminals, output terminals, and a switch unit for connecting and disconnecting the electric appliance to and from an power source in accordance with an output from the timer. The time switch includes a coupling member for connection of the display housing to the switch housing. The coupling member comprises a cylinder through which lead wires extends between the timer and the switch unit. The coupling member is movably supported to the switch housing along a center axis of the cylinder so that the display housing can move between a normal position where the display housing fits within the concave and an extended position where the display housing projects out of the concave.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1997Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignees: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., Asahi National Lighting Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Muroi, Masanori Matsuda, Hisao Takahashi, Kazuo Yanagida