Patents by Inventor Kiyotake Ukigai
Kiyotake Ukigai 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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Publication number: 20170087567Abstract: The present invention is a spout apparatus (1) for discharging water, including a spouting apparatus main body (2) and an oscillation inducing element (4) for discharging water with reciprocating motion; wherein the oscillation inducing element has: a water supply passageway (10a); a water colliding portion (14) for generating vortexes of mutually opposing circulations at the downstream side thereof by the collision of hot or cold water; a vortex street passageway (10b) having a tapered part, placed on the downstream side of the water supply passageway, which narrows in flow path cross section toward the downstream side; a separating portion (12) for suppressing the Coanda effect acting on the flow of water along the wall surface of a vortex street passageway; and a flow-aligning passageway (10c) having an essentially fixed flow path cross section which aligns the flow of hot or cold water which has passed through the separating portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Katsuya NAGATA, Kiyotake UKIGAI
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Publication number: 20170087569Abstract: The present invention is a spout apparatus (1), including: a shower head main body (2), and an oscillation inducing element (4) for discharging water while allowing it to oscillate reciprocally, wherein the oscillation inducing element includes: a water supply passageway (10a), a water collision portion (14) for generating vortexes of alternately mutually opposing circulations; a vortex street passageway (10b) for guiding and growing vortexes formed by the water collision portion; a discharge passageway (10c) for causing water guided by the vortex street passageway to be discharged; a bypass passageway (6b) for allowing water to detour the water collision portion and flow into the vortex street passageway; and a flow volume ratio adjusting member (8), capable of varying the flow volume ratio of water flowing into the vortex street passageway through the water collision portion to water flowing into the vortex street passageway through the bypass passageway.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Katsuya NAGATA, Kiyotake UKIGAI
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Patent number: 9370785Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably supply bubbly water through all nozzle holes and can cause water droplets of large, uniform size to land continuously on the user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein the throttle unit has a flat-shaped throttle channel and water ejected through the throttle channel plunges into an air-liquid interface as a sheet-like stream, thereby producing bubbly water, which is then discharged through the nozzle hole.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Minoru Sato, Takahiro Ohashi, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Katsuya Nagata
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Patent number: 9220376Abstract: A shower apparatus F1 includes a water supply unit 21; a throttle unit 22 installed downstream of the water supply unit 21 and adapted to eject passing water downstream; an aeration unit 23 provided with an opening 231 adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit 22; and a nozzle unit 24 provided with a plurality of nozzle holes 243 adapted to discharge the bubbly water, wherein a virtual water ejection straight line obtained by extending an ejection direction of the water ejected through the throttle unit 22 reaches a location where the nozzle holes 243 are formed, without interfering with inner walls of the aeration unit 23 and the nozzle unit 24.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Takahiro Ohashi, Minoru Sato, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Kiyotake Ukigai, Katsuya Nagata
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Patent number: 9175460Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably produce and supply bubbly water to nozzle holes, causing finely divided water droplets of relatively large, uniform size to land continuously on a user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein an ejection speed changing means is installed in the water supply unit to at least partially vary ejection speeds of the water ejected from respective throttle channels of the plurality of throttle channels of the throttle unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2011Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Minoru Sato, Takahiro Ohashi, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Katsuya Nagata
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Publication number: 20150273488Abstract: In this shower apparatus, a part of an internal space thereof closer to the outer circumference thereof than an aeration unit is defined as a plurality of small spaces, and all of the small spaces have a uniform channel resistance.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Shuhei HAYATA, Koji TAKEDA, Yasufumi UEMURA, Kiyotake UKIGAI, Katsuya NAGATA
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Publication number: 20150273487Abstract: In this shower apparatus, a part of an internal space thereof closer to the outer circumference thereof than an aeration unit is defined as a plurality of small spaces, and all of the small spaces have a uniform channel resistance, and all of the small spaces have a uniform ratio between a channel cross-sectional area at an inlet portion of each of the small spaces and a total opening area of nozzle holes that communicate the small space with an external space such that backflow water CF that returns from the respective small spaces consistently has a uniform flow rate at any point in time among the streams of the backflow water CF.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Shuhei HAYATA, Koji TAKEDA, Yasufumi UEMURA, Kiyotake UKIGAI, Katsuya NAGATA
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Patent number: 9108207Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably supply bubbly water through all nozzle holes and can cause water droplets of large, uniform size to land continuously on the user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein the throttle unit has a flat-shaped throttle channel and water ejected through the throttle channel plunges into an air-liquid interface as a sheet-like stream, thereby producing bubbly water, which is then discharged through the nozzle hole.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Minoru Sato, Takahiro Ohashi, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Katsuya Nagata
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Publication number: 20150108255Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably supply bubbly water through all nozzle holes and can cause water droplets of large, uniform size to land continuously on the user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein the throttle unit has a flat-shaped throttle channel and water ejected through the throttle channel plunges into an air-liquid interface as a sheet-like stream, thereby producing bubbly water, which is then discharged through the nozzle hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake UKIGAI, Minoru SATO, Takahiro OHASHI, Yutaka AIHARA, Minami OKAMOTO, Katsuya NAGATA
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Patent number: 8955772Abstract: The present invention provides a shower apparatus which allows a user to enjoy spray of water with a voluminous feel even when a small volume of water is discharged as well as with a comfortable stimulus sensation of an instantaneous flow rate of the spray varying greatly. The shower apparatus periodically varies a volume of air taken into an aeration unit by periodically changing a traveling direction of a water stream ejected to the aeration unit from a throttle unit and produces pulsating spray by varying the instantaneous flow rate of bubbly water discharged from a nozzle unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Toto Ltd.Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Minoru Sato, Katsuya Nagata
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Patent number: 8944349Abstract: The present invention provides a shower apparatus that allows the user to have a shower stream with a voluminous feel, even when a small volume of water is discharged, and also with a stimulus sensation arising from water being discharged in a pulsating manner. A shower apparatus F1 periodically changes the volume of air taken into an aeration unit 43 by oscillating a main water stream ejected toward the aeration unit 43 from a throttle unit 42 in a direction crossing the direction of the ejection, so that the bubbly water discharged from a water discharge unit 44 creates a pulsating shower stream.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2012Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Toto Ltd.Inventors: Kiyotake Ukigai, Minoru Sato, Katsuya Nagata
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Patent number: 8720795Abstract: Providing a flush bowl capable of discharging a planar shower-like water discharge flow in a wide range while changing the water discharge trajectory is directed. The shower device according to an embodiment of the invention is a shower device including: a water discharger including a plurality of water discharge ports; a rotator including a channel at its center; a coupling section coupling the inside of the water discharger to the channel of the rotator; a receiving section receiving the rotator; a driving mechanism configured to rotate and revolve the rotator in the receiving section; and a decelerating section provided inside the water discharger.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2008Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Toto LtdInventors: Minoru Sato, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Kiyotake Ukigai
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Patent number: 8444065Abstract: An object is to provide a water discharge device in which a water sprinkling member having water discharge ports can simultaneously achieve both good rotation start-up ability and good rotation stability. A water discharge device FC is configured in such a manner that the center of gravity of a rotor constituted of a tubular body 20 and a head 40 (the water sprinkling member) is positioned near an opening 4 which is located near the center of swing at which a central axis C1 of the tubular body 20 tilted by swinging revolution and a central axis C2 of an inflow chamber 3 intersect in a state where any water is not supplied to a buffer chamber 43 of the head 40, whereas the center of gravity of the rotor is moved to a head 40 side in a state where the water is supplied to the buffer chamber 43 of the head 40.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Toto Ltd.Inventors: Yutaka Aihara, Minoru Sato, Minami Okamoto, Kiyotake Ukigai
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Publication number: 20120234943Abstract: The present invention provides a shower apparatus that allows the user to have a shower stream with a voluminous feel, even when a small volume of water is discharged, and also with a stimulus sensation arising from water being discharged in a pulsating manner. A shower apparatus F1 periodically changes the volume of air taken into an aeration unit 43 by oscillating a main water stream ejected toward the aeration unit 43 from a throttle unit 42 in a direction crossing the direction of the ejection, so that the bubbly water discharged from a water discharge unit 44 creates a pulsating shower stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake UKIGAI, Minoru SATO, Katsuya NAGATA
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Publication number: 20110315791Abstract: The present invention provides a shower apparatus which allows a user to enjoy spray of water with a voluminous feel even when a small volume of water is discharged as well as with a comfortable stimulus sensation of an instantaneous flow rate of the spray varying greatly. The shower apparatus periodically varies a volume of air taken into an aeration unit by periodically changing a traveling direction of a water stream ejected to the aeration unit from a throttle unit and produces pulsating spray by varying the instantaneous flow rate of bubbly water discharged from a nozzle unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake UKIGAI, Minoru SATO, Katsuya NAGATA
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Publication number: 20110284662Abstract: A shower apparatus F1 includes a water supply unit 21; a throttle unit 22 installed downstream of the water supply unit 21 and adapted to eject passing water downstream; an aeration unit 23 provided with an opening 231 adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit 22; and a nozzle unit 24 provided with a plurality of nozzle holes 243 adapted to discharge the bubbly water, wherein a virtual water ejection straight line obtained by extending an ejection direction of the water ejected through the throttle unit 22 reaches a location where the nozzle holes 243 are formed, without interfering with inner walls of the aeration unit 23 and the nozzle unit 24.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2009Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Takahiro Ohashi, Minoru Sato, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Kiyotake Ukigai, Katsuya Nagata
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Publication number: 20110198416Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably supply bubbly water through all nozzle holes and can cause water droplets of large, uniform size to land continuously on the user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein the throttle unit has a flat-shaped throttle channel and water ejected through the throttle channel plunges into an air-liquid interface as a sheet-like stream, thereby producing bubbly water, which is then discharged through the nozzle hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake UKIGAI, Minoru SATO, Takahiro OHASHI, Yutaka AIHARA, Minami OKAMOTO, Katsuya NAGATA
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Publication number: 20110198415Abstract: Provided is a shower apparatus which can stably produce and supply bubbly water to nozzle holes, causing finely divided water droplets of relatively large, uniform size to land continuously on a user so as to allow the user to enjoy a shower with a voluminous feel as if the user were being showered by large drops of rain. The shower apparatus includes a water supply unit, a throttle unit adapted to eject passing water downstream, an aeration unit adapted to produce bubbly water by aerating the water ejected through the throttle unit, and a nozzle unit provided with a plurality of nozzle holes used to discharge the bubbly water, wherein an ejection speed changing means is installed in the water supply unit to at least partially vary ejection speeds of the water ejected from respective throttle channels of the plurality of throttle channels of the throttle unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Kiyotake UKIGAI, Minoru SATO, Takahiro OHASHI, Yutaka AIHARA, Minami OKAMOTO, Katsuya NAGATA
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Publication number: 20110168810Abstract: An object is to provide a water discharge device in which a water sprinkling member having water discharge ports can simultaneously achieve both good rotation start-up ability and good rotation stability. A water discharge device FC is configured in such a manner that the center of gravity of a rotor constituted of a tubular body 20 and a head 40 (the water sprinkling member) is positioned near an opening 4 which is located near the center of swing at which a central axis C1 of the tubular body 20 tilted by swinging revolution and a central axis C2 of an inflow chamber 3 intersect in a state where any water is not supplied to a buffer chamber 43 of the head 40, whereas the center of gravity of the rotor is moved to a head 40 side in a state where the water is supplied to the buffer chamber 43 of the head 40.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2009Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Yutaka Aihara, Minoru Sato, Minami Okamoto, Kiyotake Ukigai
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Publication number: 20100230512Abstract: Providing a flush bowl capable of discharging a planar shower-like water discharge flow in a wide range while changing the water discharge trajectory is directed. The shower device according to an embodiment of the invention is a shower device including: a water discharger including a plurality of water discharge ports; a rotator including a channel at its center; a coupling section coupling the inside of the water discharger to the channel of the rotator; a receiving section receiving the rotator; a driving mechanism configured to rotate and revolve the rotator in the receiving section; and a decelerating section provided inside the water discharger.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2008Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Minoru Sato, Yutaka Aihara, Minami Okamoto, Kiyotake Ukigai