Patents by Inventor Keita Yokochi

Keita Yokochi 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: 10052172
    Abstract: A method for maintenance checking of a dental handpiece is disclosed. The method comprises measuring in advance no-load current values of a drive motor, with a handpiece known as being in usable condition and a handpiece known as insufficiently maintained respectively connected thereto and operated in no-load condition, storing as reference data the no-load current values of the drive motor together with associated data relating to degree of maintenance, measuring a no-load current value of the drive motor with a dental handpiece to be checked connected thereto and operated in no-load condition, and determining whether the handpiece checked is usable, requires maintenance, or is unusable, by comparing the measured no-load current value with the reference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Nakanishi Inc.
    Inventors: Shinichirou Muto, Masaru Ishijima, Keita Yokochi, Hayato Matsushita, Yukihiro Ueki
  • Patent number: 9289271
    Abstract: A dental handpiece has a head section, a neck section, a grip section connected to the grip section, and a drive unit connected to the grip section. The handpiece also has a detent unit for preventing relative rotation between the neck and grip sections. The detent unit includes a detent pin arranged axially slidably in the grip section, a spring for biasing the pin proximally so that the distal end of the pin is arranged inside the grip section in a rest position, and a catch formed at the proximal end of the neck section for receiving the pin for engagement. When the drive unit is brought into connection to the grip section, the pin is pressed distally to project out of the grip section into engagement in the catch, to thereby prevent relative rotation between the neck section and the grip section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Nakanishi Inc.
    Inventors: Takao Kimura, Masanori Mizunuma, Keita Yokochi
  • Publication number: 20150377969
    Abstract: A method for maintenance checking of a dental handpiece is disclosed. The method comprises measuring in advance no-load current values of a drive motor, with a handpiece known as being in usable condition and a handpiece known as insufficiently maintained respectively connected thereto and operated in no-load condition, storing as reference data the no-load current values of the drive motor together with associated data relating to degree of maintenance, measuring a no-load current value of the drive motor with a dental handpiece to be checked connected thereto and operated in no-load condition, and determining whether the handpiece checked is usable, requires maintenance, or is unusable, by comparing the measured no-load current value with the reference data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Applicant: NAKANISHI INC.
    Inventors: Shinichirou Muto, Masaru Ishijima, Keita Yokochi, Hayato Matsushita, Yukihiro Ueki
  • Patent number: 8882501
    Abstract: A dental handpiece where the chip air line is selectively switched to the ON-state for using both water and chip air, and to the OFF-state for using only water. The dental handpiece has a switching valve between the circumferential chip air channel and the chip air line in the handpiece body for selectively allowing and preventing communication. Opening the valve switches the communication to the ON-state in which chip air is allowed to pass from the circumferential chip air channel into the chip air line. Closing the valve switches the communication to an OFF-state in which chip air is prevented from passing from the circumferential chip air channel into the chip air line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nakanishi Inc.
    Inventors: Takao Kimura, Masanori Mizunuma, Keita Yokochi
  • Publication number: 20140030673
    Abstract: A dental handpiece capable of withstanding a higher torque load includes a driving source which rotates a first rotating shaft 3 which is supported rotatably in a rear casing 2R, which transmits rotation to a second rotating shaft 9 which is supported rotatably in a front casing 2F. First and second bearings 12,14 are disposed at a predetermined interval in a jacket 8 fixed in the front casing 2F to rotatably support the second rotating shaft 9, and a third bearing 13 is disposed between the first and second bearings 12,14. The third bearing 13 reduces the whirling of the second rotating shaft 9, thereby preventing the wearing and chipping of the teeth of gears caused by a shift of meshing positions between a first gear 5 and a second gear 10 and a shift of meshing positions between a third gear 11 and a fourth gear 73.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: NAKANISHI INC.
    Inventors: Masanori Mizunuma, Takao Kimura, Keita Yokochi
  • Publication number: 20120301843
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dental handpiece wherein the chip air line is selectively switched to the ON-state for using both water and chip air, and to the OFF-state for using only water. The dental handpiece has a switching valve provided between the circumferential chip air channel and the chip air line in the handpiece body for selectively allowing and preventing communication therebetween, wherein opening of the valve switches the communication to the ON-state in which chip air is allowed to pass from the circumferential chip air channel into the chip air line, whereas closing of the valve switches the communication to an OFF-state in which chip air is prevented from passing from the circumferential chip air channel into the chip air line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Takao Kimura, Masanori Mizunuma, Keita Yokochi
  • Publication number: 20120288823
    Abstract: A dental handpiece has a head section, a neck section, a grip section connected to the grip section, and a drive unit connected to the grip section. The handpiece also has detent means for preventing relative rotation between the neck and grip sections. The detent means includes a detent pin arranged axially slidably in the grip section, spring means for biasing the pin proximally so that the distal end of the pin is arranged inside the grip section in a rest position, and catch means formed at the proximal end of the neck section for receiving the pin for engagement. When the drive unit is brought into connection to the grip section, the pin is pressed distally to project out of the grip section into engagement in the catch means, to thereby prevent relative rotation between the neck section and the grip section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Takao Kimura, Masanori Mizunuma, Keita Yokochi