Patents by Inventor Shuichi Kikuchi

Shuichi Kikuchi 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: 5531322
    Abstract: A storage case for flat, uniformly shaped quadrilateral objects such as floppy disks includes a rectangular box like lid and base portions hinged to both sides of a central spine portion. Inside each of the base and lid portions two pair of ribs are provided for firmly gripping a floppy disk, or the like, inserted therein. The ribs may include a pressure applying first rib opposed to a top gripping second rib for added security. A central spine of the case includes additional ribs for grippingly engaging a third floppy disk which may thus be held separately from the disks inserted in the base and lid such that three disks may be securely held without rattling. The edges of the case are provided with three closing members corresponding to three engaging members to assure secure closure and, in addition, mating edges of the side wall portions may be formed at compatible angles which interlock in a closed condition of the case preventing plastic deformation thereof when the case is carried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Iwaki, Shuichi Kikuchi, Hiroshi Asakura
  • Patent number: 5527606
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shutter for a protective envelope containing a recording disk, having both satisfactory sliding property and satisfactory heat-resisting property. The shutter is formed by folding a laminated sheet having a first layer formed by folding a laminated sheet having high heat-resisting property and a second layer formed of a material having low frictional property so that the first layer forms the outer surface of the shutter and the second layer form the inner surface of the shutter. The first layer of the laminated sheet ensures the shutter satisfactory heat-resisting performance and the second layer of the same ensures the shutter satisfactory sliding performance. A printed layer or an evaporated metal layer may be formed between the first and second layers of the laminated sheet and/or the first and second layers of the laminated sheet may be colored to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5513042
    Abstract: A lens system includes a master lens system and a conversion lens system. The master lens system has a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, and a fourth lens, which are sequentially arranged from an object side of the lens system to an image side thereof, and has a first diaphragm which is arranged between the third lens and the fourth lens. The first lens is a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface toward the object side. The second lens is a negative lens. The third lens is a positive lens. The fourth lens is a negative meniscus lens having a concave surface toward the object side. The conversion lens system is arranged in such a manner that the conversion lens system can be freely inserted and removed between the third lens and the fourth lens of the master lens system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Itoh, Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5511405
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing shutters for computer disks, optical disks and the like, includes forming a rib on a connecting member formed between adjoining shutter blanks during bending and cutting processing. The rib is concave in cross-section and increases a strength of the connecting portion such that stress applied during bending processing, and movement of the rolled steel which is used for manufacturing, does not deform the connecting portion. According to this, processing speed for manufacturing may be increased and further, thinner material may be utilized in forming the shutters. Also, at a later stage of processing, the convex ribs may again be flattened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5481404
    Abstract: A zoom lens having a super wide angle has a first lens group having positive refracting power and arranged on an object side of the zoom lens; a second lens group having negative refracting power and arranged on an image side of the zoom lens; and a converter lens having positive refracting power and detachably attached between the first and second lens groups. A focal length of the zoom lens is changed by changing a distance between the first and second lens groups. The distance between the first and second lens groups is set to be wide on a wide angle side in a zooming region and narrow on a telescopic side in the zooming region. The focal length of the zoom lens at the super wide angle is set to be shorter than that at a wide angle end in the zooming region by mounting the converter lens on the wide angle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5454209
    Abstract: A method of packaging an article, such as a disk cassette or a tape cassette, in a wrapping film having at least a printed portion to be attached adhesively to the surface of the article comprises wrapping the article in the wrapping film, and pressing the printed portion to the surface of the article to attach the printed portion adhesively to the surface of the article so that the printed portion remains on the surface of the article when the wrapping film is torn off. Characters and patterns to be formed on both the article and the wrapping film are printed on the wrapping film and the characters and patterns to be formed on the surface of the article are formed in the printed portion of the wrapping film and the printed portion is attached adhesively to the surface of the article when the article is wrapped in the wrapping film. Therefore, nothing needs to be printed on the article, which reduces the manufacturing cost of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5355997
    Abstract: To facilitate the handling and retrieving a cassette from among a large numbers of such cassettes contained in a case a pair of right and left inner boxes are arranged in the right and left length direction of an outer box. The inner boxes are rotatably mounted on the inner side of the outer box, so as to rotate independently. The inner boxes are identical to each other to minimize manufacturing and assembly costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5347102
    Abstract: A heating device used for production of a disc shutter made of synthetic resin and shaped into a U-form in section, arranged to heat a pair of corner portions of the shutter to extinguish residual stresses that exist in the corner portions that are formed where a connecting portion of the shutter connects a pair of shutter plates. The heating device comprises a movable support for fixedly supporting the free ends of the pair of shutter plates, a fixed heater which heats the corner portions of the shutter at a predetermined temperature, a pair of heating surfaces connected to form an acute angle, a temperature setting device, and a heating duration setting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Toshiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5327314
    Abstract: A lifter for a disk mounted in a disk cartridge comprises a lifter body formed of a flexible thin plate material and having a fold, folded at a predetermined angle so as to define a fixing member at one side of the fold and a pressing member at the other. A cutout is formed at a position across the fold to minimize distorting forces concentrated at the fold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Kiyoyuki Miyata
  • Patent number: 5308708
    Abstract: A shutter for a cartridge for containing a recording medium that has excellent scratch resistance and dustproofness. The shutter is composed of a nonmagnetic corrosion resistant steel sheet containing at least about 10% by weight of Cr, and includes a front surface having a hardness (Hv) of not less than about 250 but not more than 400 and a roughness expressed as an average surface roughness (Ra) of not less than about 0.3 .mu.m but not more than 1.0 .mu.m, and a reverse surface having a roughness (Ra) adjusted to about 0.1 to 0.25 .mu.m if the reverse surface is finished as a dull surface, and adjusted to about 0.15 to 0.50 .mu.m if the reverse surface is finished by a grinding roll. The steel sheet has first and second surfaces which are to respectively constitute the outer and inner surfaces of the shutter, and which have surface roughness values corresponding to the above surface roughness values of the front and reverse surfaces of the steel sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignees: Kawasaki Steel Corporation, Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Motohiko Takeda, Toshiaki Sanada, Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5293995
    Abstract: A storage case for disc-shaped recording media contained within respective substantially flat rectangular housings is constituted by a one-piece molded plastic member including a central spine having opposed side edges joined by flexible hinges with respective rectangular covers which are swingable between closed positions, in which the covers extend substantially parallel to each other from the spine with their inner surfaces in confronting relation, and opened positions in which the covers are spread angularly apart, elements on the covers for holding respective disc-shaped recording media in their rectangular housings against the inner surfaces of the respective covers, and a holder on the spine extending from the latter between the covers in the closed positions of the latter for embracing and holding at least one additional disc-shaped recording medium at an edge portion of its respective rectangular housing so as to accommodate such at least one additional disc-shaped recording medium in its respective
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Iwaki, Shuichi Kikuchi, Mika Kaneko, Toshiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5277229
    Abstract: A weft supply system of a loom using an overhead traveling truck between a package supply station and a weft supply station near the loom for holding and carrying a package wherein a package delivery device is connected to the package supply station for delivering specific types of packages to the package supply station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Yoshiaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5270865
    Abstract: A compact zoom lens has first to fourth lens groups sequentially arranged from an object side. The first, second and fourth lens groups respectively have negative, positive and negative focal lengths. When a zooming operation is performed from a wide angle end to a telescopic end, a distance between the first and second lens groups is decreased, a distance between the second and third lens groups is increased, and a distance between the third and fourth lens groups is decreased. Focal lengths f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 of the first and second lens groups, focal lengths f.sub.2,3,4W and f.sub.2,3,4T of a combined lens system of the second, third and fourth lens groups at the wide angle end and the telescopic end, a focal length f.sub.3,4T of a combined lens system of the third and fourth lens groups at the telescopic end, focal lengths f.sub.W and f.sub.T of an entire lens system at the wide angle end and the telescopic end satisfy the following conditions where symbol .sqroot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Masami Itoh
  • Patent number: 5262917
    Abstract: A shutter for disk cassette, which is made of synthetic resin and shaped into a U-form in section, is heated again on a pair of corner portions thereof in order that the shutter does not deform during its lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Toshiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5240548
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a recording medium having a recording disc and a center core having an adhesive coated area of attachment to the recording disc. The apparatus includes a horizontal base member, a support member rigidly fixed on the base member, and a core support table secured on the base member for carrying the center core placed thereon. The recording disc is placed on the attachment area of the center core placed on the core support table. A pushing tool is supported for vertical movement along the support member toward and away from the core support table. The pushing tool is moved downward to push the recording disc against the attachment area of the center core so as to bond the recording disc on the center core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shotoku Aramaki, Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5237845
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a shutter to be slidably put on a protective envelope for containing a flexible disk. The method comprises cambering a flat metal strip, punching-out a blank having a shape corresponding to the development of the shutter from the cambered metal strip, and folding the blank along folding lines perpendicular to the cambered edges of the blank in a substantially U-shape. The shutter thus manufactured has opposite side walls cambered away from each other, and an end wall connecting the opposite side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5233494
    Abstract: A disk cassette with shutter, the shutter comprising a pair of respective shutter plates and a connecting plate, for connecting the pair of shutter plates, and the shutter shaped substantially into a U-form in section. An inward concave portion is provided in each of at least one of the respective shutter plates near and along a curved corner that is formed between the connecting plate and the respective shutter plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5226035
    Abstract: A disk cartridge which accommodates a disk-like recording medium therein and has head insertion openings, and a shutter which is made of sheet metal, formed substantially into letter U in section, and slidably secured to an outside of the cartridge to open and close the head insertion openings with a pair of covers provided in the shutter, at least one outer surface of the two covers is at least partly covered with a coating (13) to prevent the shutter from being flawed. The coating (13) includes an anti-static material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Kato, Shuichi Kikuchi, Toshiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5182673
    Abstract: In a zoom lens having a high variable magnification, first and second lens groups and respectively having negative and positive focal lengths are sequentially arranged from an object side of the zoom lens to an image side thereof. A combined focal length of an entire lens system is charged by changing a distance between the first and second lens groups while the position of an image surface is constantly held. The zoom lens is constructed such that the second lens group is constructed by front and rear lens groups respectively having positive and negative focal lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kikuchi, Masami Itoh
  • Patent number: 5161080
    Abstract: Projections and recesses or the like are formed or an adhesive is coated on slide contact surfaces of a main cartridge body rotatably accommodating a disk such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk and a shutter mounted movably on the main cartridge body for opening or closing an opening formed in the main cartridge body for exposing a portion of the disk to outside to provide the slide contact surfaces with low friction to prevent wear of the shutter and/or the main cartridge body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Funayama, Shuichi Kikuchi