Patents by Inventor Junichi Kuratani

Junichi Kuratani 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: 6514087
    Abstract: A rotary electric part is disclosed which permits standardization of components and which is inexpensive. A shaft member and a rotary member are formed as separate members, so both can be fabricated separately and then combined together, whereby the standardization of components can be attained and it is possible to provide a less expensive rotary electric part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kuratani
  • Patent number: 6502866
    Abstract: A one-touch joint for a flexible tube. A tapered surface is formed on the inner circumference of a fastening ring, and a ring-shaped retainer is positioned between the tapered surface and a seal member. When the flexible tube is inserted into the retainer, projections in the retainer are pushed open elastically by peak sections of a corrugated tube, and when a peak section has passed, the projections engage with a valley section of the corrugated tube. The joint and flexible tube can be coupled in a one-touch operation, simply by inserting the flexible tube. Moreover, excellent sealing properties and detachment prevention properties are obtained between the joint and the flexible tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignees: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., Sinwa Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Syouzou Hujisawa, Junichi Kuratani, Toshio Sibabuti, Mikio Nakaoka, Kazuyoshi Kariki
  • Patent number: 6392178
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane switch which is not subject to stress relaxation at contacts and is resistant to the reduction in actuating force even if the ambient temperature of the switch becomes high. A first flexible insulating substrate having a first contact pattern and a second flexible insulating substrate having a second contact pattern are disposed in facing relation via a spacer member having an opening at an area in which the first contact patterns face each other; wiring patterns conductive-connected to corresponding contact patterns are provided on at least one of the first flexible insulating substrate and the second flexible insulating substrate; and the first and second contact patterns are conductive-connected by pressure applied to a contact comprising the first and second contact patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kuratani
  • Publication number: 20020050761
    Abstract: A rotary electric part is disclosed which permits standardization of components and which is inexpensive. A shaft member and a rotary member are formed as separate members, so both can be fabricated separately and then combined together, whereby the standardization of components can be attained and it is possible to provide a less expensive rotary electric part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kuratani
  • Patent number: 6310535
    Abstract: In a click structure of a rotary electric part according to the present invention, a click member and a biasing member are formed as separate members, so the resilience of the biasing member is not affected by the heat generated during molding; besides, the spring span of the biasing member can be made long, thus ensuring a satisfactory resilience over a long period. The rotary electric part. Long-term durability, good click feeling and reduced noise are also characteristic features of the rotary electric part of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kuratani
  • Publication number: 20010024156
    Abstract: In a click structure of a rotary electric part according to the present invention, a click member and a biasing member are formed as separate members, so the resilience of the biasing member is not affected by the heat generated during molding; besides, the spring span of the biasing member can be made long, thus ensuring a satisfactory resilience over a long period. The rotary electric part. Long-term durability, good click feeling and reduced noise are also characteristic features of the rotary electric part of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kuratani
  • Patent number: 5909804
    Abstract: A depression actuated switch which is suitable for achieving a reduction thickness and which does not easily malfunction even when an end depressing operation is performed thereon includes: a driving member 4 having a depressing portion 4a and a mounting portion 4b which are connected together by an elastic portion 4c that is elastically deformable during operation; a sheet-like flexible member 2 to the lower surface of which the mounting portion 4b of the driving member 4 is attached; a cushion member 3 which is positioned so as to surround the driving member 4, to the upper surface of which the sheet-like flexible member 2 is glued and which is more liable to be elastically deformed than the sheet-like flexible member 2; a click spring 5 which is arranged below the depressing portion 4a of the driving member 4 and which generates a tactile click feel when it flips over; and a membrane switch 6 arranged below this click spring 5 and which effects conduction between contacts by the click spring 5 which has fl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kuratani
  • Patent number: 5068499
    Abstract: A control lever type input device is disclosed, which is provided with a plurality of input sections disposed on a casing; a control lever supported pivotably for driving the plurality of input sections; and a switch driven by driving the control lever so as to rotate in the peripheral direction thereof, wherein the plurality of input sections are driven selectively by inclining the control lever protruding from the casing in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kuratani
  • Patent number: 4904979
    Abstract: A component assembly, for constituting an electrical part such a volume unit, having a pair of appropriate components, such as those approximate to each other in electrical characteristic, joined as a unit by a connecting plate. In use, the pair of components are separated by severing the connecting plate and are then coupled together to provide the electrical part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Oyama, Junichi Kuratani
  • Patent number: 4903003
    Abstract: A variable resistor with a switch which minimizes appearances of an arc and prevents incomplete contact between contacts of the switch originating from such an arc. The variable resistor with a switch includes a torsion coil spring having one end connected to a movable contact element supported for pivotal motion around a support shaft and the other end connected to a cam member also supported for pivotal motion around the support shaft. When the cam member is pivoted by movement of a slider receiver, a connecting point between the torsion coil spring and the cam member moves across a straight line interconnecting the support shaft and another connecting point between the torsion coil spring and the movable contact element so that a movable contact on the movable contact element is instantaneously brought into or out of contact with a fixed contact to turn the switch on or off irrespective of the speed of movement of the slider receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Kuratani, Keizi Takezawa
  • Patent number: 4887006
    Abstract: A dimmer control circuit having time constant regulating means provided in a multivibrator for regulating the load time ratio of the output pulse signal of the multivibrator to control ON, OFF the voltage of a battery applied to a lamp by the output pulse signal to thereby regulate the luminous intensity of the lamp comprising stopping means provided in the multivibrator for operating near the end of the regulation in a direction for increasing the luminous intensity of the lamp by the time constant regulating means and stopping the operation of the multivibrator. Thus, the dimmer control circuit can stop the operation of the multivibrator near the end of regulation in a direction for increasing the luminous intensity of a lamp to control the connection of a battery directly to the lamp with a fine current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kuratani
  • Patent number: 4845458
    Abstract: A component assembly, for constituting an electrical part such a volume unit, comprises a pair of appropriate components, such as those approximate to each other in electrical characteristic, joined as a unit by a connecting plate. In use, the pair of components are separated by severing the connecting plate and are then coupled together to provide the electrical part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Inventors: Akira Oyama, Junichi Kuratani
  • Patent number: 4739300
    Abstract: A rotary type electronic device has a stationary casing and an axially slidable and angularly rotatable shaft disposed in the casing. The end of the shaft is assembled to the end face of a detentable (heart-shaped) cam so that the shaft can be pushed axially to engage and disengage from a detent position within the casing. The end of the shaft is formed with a tapered conical tip portion, and the end face of the cam is formed with a central insertion hole, having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the conical tip portion, and with cutout portions on opposite sides adjacent the insertion hole forming deformable bridging portions therebetween which deform to allow insertion of the conical tip portion of the shaft in a direction perpendicular to the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kuratani
  • Patent number: 4719324
    Abstract: A rotary type electronic device has a casing, a rotatable operating shaft with one end disposed through a front wall into the casing, a rotary electronic unit in the casing including a rotatable slider retainer which is engaged with the end of the operating shaft, a fastening member fixed on the end of the shaft and engaging the slider retainer, and a spring washer compressed between the fastening member and the casing front wall. The spring water is secured non-rotatively to the fastening member, engages an inner groove on the shaft to hold the shaft axially through the front wall of the casing, and has a protrusion on an annular spring part bearing against the front wall of the casing to provide a click feeling with rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kuratani
  • Patent number: 4573106
    Abstract: A slide rheostat having a light-emitting device for permitting a person to check the position of the knob of the rheostat in the nighttime or in the dark. The rheostat includes a transparent upper baseplate, a transparent lower baseplate, a laminated sheet including a pressure-sensitive contact member, a transparent sliding body that reciprocates, the knob being formed on the sliding body, an indicator portion having a transparent region, and a pressure-applying member. The light-emitting device is disposed below the lower baseplate rather than on the knob carried by the sliding body. When the light-emitting device is lit, the emitted light is transmitted through the lower baseplate, the laminated sheet, the upper baseplate, and the transparent region of the indicator portion that has a scale thereon. Part of the light directly reaches the outside through this transparent region, while the other part arrives at the outside after passing through the knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kuratani
  • Patent number: 4410873
    Abstract: A rotary variable resistor wherein a pair of levers are arranged in a case, a knife-shaped cam has its one end pivotally mounted on a projection of each lever, and the cam comes into engagement with a tooth portion of a toothed wheel in accordance with the operation of the lever so as to turn a slider holder. The moving stroke of the lever can be made small, and the slider holder can be turned every small angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Kuratani