Patents by Inventor Kazumi Okawa

Kazumi Okawa 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: 7883034
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizing device, which is capable of increasing the generation of a fine mist, while suppressing abnormal discharge and the generation of ozone. This electrostatic atomizing device is equipped with a plurality of atomizing electrodes, to which a high voltage is applied by a single high voltage generating circuit, counter electrodes disposed so as to face the atomizing electrodes; and a liquid transfer means for transferring a liquid (e.g., water) to each of the atomizing electrodes. The atomizing electrodes are connected in parallel to the high voltage generating circuit, and a resistive element for suppressing discharge current is inserted between the high voltage generating circuit and each of the atomizing electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Matsui, Kazumi Okawa, Atsushi Isaka, Shinya Murase, Tomohiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7676952
    Abstract: A hair dryer having a static atomizing device, which has the capability of generating an electrostatically charged microparticle mist of 3 nm to 100 nm. The static atomizing device has a pair of an atomizing electrode and a counter electrode, a tank for storing a liquid such as water; a liquid transport member for transport water from the tank to the atomizing electrode according to capillary phenomenon, and a voltage applying unit. When a high voltage is applied between the atomizing electrode and the counter electrode, while water being supplied to the atomizing electrode through the liquid transport member, the electrostatically charged microparticle mist is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakagawa, Yasunori Matsui, Naofumi Kodama, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Kiyoshi Takashima, Toshihisa Hirai, Kishiko Hirai, legal representative, Kenji Kamada, Kengo Ito, Kazumi Okawa, Atsushi Isaka, Shinya Murase
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090236450
    Abstract: An electrostatic atomizing device is provided, which is capable of increasing the generation of a fine mist, while suppressing abnormal discharge and the generation of ozone. This electrostatic atomizing device is equipped with a plurality of atomizing electrodes, to which a high voltage is applied by a single high voltage generating circuit, counter electrodes disposed so as to face the atomizing electrodes; and a liquid transfer means for transferring a liquid (e.g., water) to each of the atomizing electrodes. The atomizing electrodes are connected in parallel to the high voltage generating circuit, and a resistive element for suppressing discharge current is inserted between the high voltage generating circuit and each of the atomizing electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2006
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd
    Inventors: Yasunori Matsui, Kazumi Okawa, Atsushi Isaka, Shinya Murase, Tomohiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7530978
    Abstract: An optical hair removing device includes a light emitting unit for emitting a light and an irradiation unit for irradiating the light emitted from the light emitting unit to body hairs on a skin. Further, the optical hair removing device includes a control unit for controlling the light emission unit. The irradiation unit has a movement detection unit for detecting a movement of the irradiation unit on a skin and a contact detection unit for detecting a contact between the irradiation unit and the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazumi Okawa
  • Publication number: 20080119829
    Abstract: An optical hair removing device includes a light emitting unit for emitting a light and an irradiation unit for irradiating the light emitted from the light emitting unit to body hairs on a skin. Further, the optical hair removing device includes a control unit for controlling the light emission unit. The irradiation unit has a movement detection unit for detecting a movement of the irradiation unit on a skin and a contact detection unit for detecting a contact between the irradiation unit and the skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazumi Okawa
  • 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: 20060201016
    Abstract: A hair dryer with a static atomizing device is provided, which has the capability of generating an electrostatically charged microparticle mist of 3 nm to 100 nm. The static atomizing device has a pair of an atomizing electrode and a counter electrode, a tank for storing a liquid such as water; a liquid transport member for transport water from the tank to the atomizing electrode according to capillary phenomenon, and a voltage applying unit. When a high voltage is applied between the atomizing electrode and the counter electrode, while water being supplied to the atomizing electrode through the liquid transport member, the electrostatically charged microparticle mist is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakagawa, Yasunori Matsui, Naofumi Kodama, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Kiyoshi Takashima, Toshihisa Hirai, Kenji Kamada, Kengo Ito, Kazumi Okawa, Atsushi Isaka, Shinya Murase, Kishiko Hirai
  • Patent number: 7068924
    Abstract: A steam generator for efficiently generating fine steam particles is provided. Water supplied from a water tank is heated by a heater to generate steam in a steam chamber. The steam generator has a discharge generating portion, which is composed of a pair of electrodes, an intermediate electrode disposed therebetween, and a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage between the electrodes to generate discharges between the electrodes and the intermediate electrode. The steam generated in the steam chamber is exposed to the discharges, so that fine steam particles are efficiently sprayed out from the steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Watanabe, Yasuhiro Adachi, Shingo Omura, Shigenori Kugumiya, Kazumi Okawa
  • Publication number: 20050276582
    Abstract: A steam generator for efficiently generating fine steam particles is provided. Water supplied from a water tank is heated by a heater to generate steam in a steam chamber. The steam generator has a discharge generating portion, which is composed of a pair of electrodes, an intermediate electrode disposed therebetween, and a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage between the electrodes to generate discharges between the electrodes and the intermediate electrode. The steam generated in the steam chamber is exposed to the discharges, so that fine steam particles are efficiently sprayed out from the steam generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Shunichi Watanabe, Yasuhiro Adachi, Shingo Omura, Shigenori Kugumiya, Kazumi Okawa
  • Patent number: 6695799
    Abstract: A relaxation apparatus which comprises a reclining chair for supporting thereon a whole body of a person who desires relaxation. The person resting on the reclining chair is cyclically vibrated at a frequency not higher than 25 Hz. A control is provided for controlling the vibrating device. The maximum absolute value of acceleration of the vibration produced by the vibrating device to vibrate the person supported on the reclining chair is not greater than 0.1 G. The control controls the acceleration in dependence on the frequency of vibrations outputted by the vibrating device such that the acceleration is small when the frequency of vibrations outputted by the vibrating device is low while the acceleration is large when the frequency of vibrations is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masako Kitadou, Kazunori Araki, Tatsuya Takahashi, Kazumi Okawa, Suehisa Kishimoto, Yuuki Yoda
  • Patent number: 6557940
    Abstract: A chair assists rising movement so that seating and rising can be comfortably performed with safety and comfort. The chair assisting rising movement is separated into a reclining block, a mount base block, and an intermediate base block. A backrest and the intermediate base block are pivotally supported by a first link while the mount base block and the intermediate base block are pivotally supported through a second link and a third link, provided in front and rear. The first link is rotated for moving the backrest from a stationary position to a rearward inclined condition. The second link and the third link are respectively rotated to raise the intermediate base block and a seat surface of the reclining block from stationary positions to specified heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Hayashi, Kazumi Okawa, Hironobu Sakaue
  • Patent number: 6494850
    Abstract: A relaxation apparatus which comprises a reclining chair for supporting thereon a whole body of a person who desires relaxation. The person resting on the reclining chair is cyclically vibrated at a frequency not higher than 25 Hz. A control is provided for controlling the vibrating device. The maximum absolute value of acceleration of the vibration produced by the vibrating device to vibrate the person supported on the reclining chair is not greater than 0.1 G. The control controls the acceleration in dependence on the frequency of vibrations outputted by the vibrating device such that the acceleration is small when the frequency of vibrations outputted by the vibrating device is low while the acceleration is large when the frequency of vibrations is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masako Kitadou, Kazunori Araki, Tatsuya Takahashi, Kazumi Okawa, Suehisa Kishimoto, Yuuki Yoda
  • Publication number: 20020183667
    Abstract: A relaxation apparatus which comprises a reclining chair for supporting thereon a whole body of a person who desires relaxation. The person resting on the reclining chair is cyclically vibrated at a frequency not higher than 25 Hz. A control is provided for controlling the vibrating device. The maximum absolute value of acceleration of the vibration produced by the vibrating device to vibrate the person supported on the reclining chair is not greater than 0.1 G. The control controls the acceleration in dependence on the frequency of vibrations outputted by the vibrating device such that the acceleration is small when the frequency of vibrations outputted by the vibrating device is low while the acceleration is large when the frequency of vibrations is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masako Kitadou, Kazunori Araki, Tatsuya Takahashi, Kazumi Okawa, Suehisa Kishimoto, Yuuki Yoda
  • Publication number: 20010006300
    Abstract: A chair assists rising movement so that seating and rising can be comfortably performed with safety and comfort. The chair assisting rising movement is separated into a reclining block, a mount base block, and an intermediate base block. A backrest and the intermediate base block are pivotally supported by a first link while the mount base block and the intermediate base block are pivotally supported through a second link and a third link, provided in front and rear. The first link is rotated for moving the backrest from a stationary position to a rearward inclined condition. The second link and the third link are respectively rotated to raise the intermediate base block and a seat surface of the reclining block from stationary positions to specified heights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Mitsuo Hayashi, Kazumi Okawa, Hironobu Sakaue