Patents by Inventor Reiji Sugihara

Reiji Sugihara 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: 6091066
    Abstract: A switch structure that is particularly suited for gaming equipment is tolerant of the spillage of food or of contamination resulting from beverage, or continued operation thereof by individuals with soiled hands. The switch structure has an actuatable member having an manipulable portion and a tube extending from the manipulable portion in the direction to be pushed. A protuberance is installed in a core of the tube and arranged to guide the motion of the actuatable member in response to the application of a pushing force to the manipulable portion thereof. A switch is provided for producing a variation in an electrical condition in response to the actuatable member being pushed. A support element has a recess for accommodating therein the actuatable member, there remaining a space surrounding the periphery of the actuatable member sufficient to accommodate contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Aruze Corporation
    Inventor: Reiji Sugihara
  • Patent number: 6060672
    Abstract: A push button structure that is particularly suited for gaming equipment is tolerant of the spillage of food or beverage, or of continued operation thereof by individuals with soiled hands. The push button structure has an actuatable member having an outwardly extending flange and a manipulable portion. A retaining member is provided with an opening through which is exposed the manipulable portion of the actuatable member. A protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the retaining member or on the outer surface of the outwardly extending flange of the actuatable member to prevent the surfaces from communicating with each another over a large contact area. The reduction in the contact area reduces the strength of adhesion therebetween resulting from the contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Aruze Corporation
    Inventor: Reiji Sugihara
  • Patent number: 5810654
    Abstract: A coin supply and collection apparatus that is applied easily to an existing carousel of the type having a plurality of gaming machines, is readily installed without requiring significant alteration of the gaming machine bases or the internal components of the gaming machines. The apparatus is provided with a first belt conveyor for receiving coins from a coin-providing side and conveys them, as coins to be used in each of the gaming machines, beneath the plurality of gaming machines. A second belt conveyer receives the coins fed from the first belt conveyer and conveys them to coin carriers associated with each of the gaming machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Universal Sales Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Suzuki, Reiji Sugihara