Patents by Inventor Shunsuke ICHIKI

Shunsuke ICHIKI 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: 10614781
    Abstract: A keyboard device is provided. The keyboard device includes a key and a connection portion connected between the key and a frame. The connection portion possess a first region and second regions. The first region extends in a key-longitude direction and has a smaller width than the key in a scale direction. The second regions are arranged so as to be lined in front of and behind the first region in the key-longitude direction, have flexibility in a yawing direction, and have narrower widths than the first region in a scale direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Ichiki
  • Patent number: 10607577
    Abstract: A support assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided, the support assembly including a jack rotatably supported by a support; a repetition lever rotatably supported with respect to the support; a protrusion disposed at an intersecting portion of the jack and the repetition lever; and a protrusion receiving portion for receiving the protrusion; wherein the protrusion receiving portion defines a movable range of the protrusion and limits a rotation range of the jack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akito Ohba, Shunsuke Ichiki
  • Patent number: 10553189
    Abstract: A keyboard device capable of securing a wider rotation region of a hammer is provided. The keyboard device includes: a key; a connection portion connected between the key and a frame, the connection portion including: a first region extending in a key-longitude direction and having a depressed portion caved upward; and a second region arranged so as to line up with the first region in the key-longitude direction, located in at least a part of a region other than the depressed portion, having flexibility in a yawing direction; and a hammer mechanism operated according to a strike of the key. A part of the hammer mechanism is positioned in the depressed portion in a state where the key is struck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Ichiki
  • Publication number: 20200013378
    Abstract: A pivot member includes: a first member configured to pivot about a pivot axis; and a second member having a connecting surface, at least a portion of which has a flat surface. The second member is disposed such that the flat surface and the first member are opposed to each other. The second member has at least one surface different from the flat surface. A first identifier and a second identifier are provided on the at least one surface. The first identifier is visually recognizable from a first direction orthogonal to the flat surface. The second identifier is visually recognizable from the first direction and from a second direction in which the first identifier is not visually recognizable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Ken TAKAHASHI, Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Publication number: 20200005749
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes: a frame; a plurality of keys including a first key and a second key, the plurality of keys rotating around the frame; and a plurality of guides for restricting an operation of each of the plurality of keys, at positions different in a vertical direction, each of the plurality of guides including a first member that is softer than the frame and the plurality of keys, and a second member that is harder than the first member, wherein each of the plurality of guides is in a first state where a corresponding one of the keys comes into contact with the first member, or in a second state where the corresponding one of the keys comes into contact with the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventor: Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Publication number: 20200005750
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes a key, a frame, and a flexible section which rotates the key with respect to the frame, the flexible section having a longitudinal direction, and including a region where both a length of the flexible section in a first direction perpendicular to a scale direction and a length of the flexible section in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction continuously increase toward ends of the flexible section in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flexible section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventor: Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Publication number: 20190392788
    Abstract: A hammer assembly includes: a weight; and a pivot member including a first weight supporter configured to support the weight in a first direction, a second weight supporter configured to support the weight in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a coupling portion configured to couple the first weight supporter and the second weight supporter to each other. A distance from the first weight supporter to the weight and a distance from the second weight supporter to the weight increase with decrease in distance to the coupling portion in at least a portion of a region of the weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Ken TAKAHASHI, Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Publication number: 20190392801
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes: a frame; keys each disposed pivotably with respect to the frame; pivot members each including: a support member disposed pivotably about a pivot shaft; and a structure connected to the support member at a position spaced apart from the pivot shaft, the structure having a specific gravity that is greater than that of the support member. A hole portion is formed in each of a first structure and a second structure, each of which is the structure of a corresponding one of a first pivot member and a second pivot member of at least two of the pivot members, such that a mass of the first structure and a mass of the second structure are different from each other. The hole portion of the first structure and the hole portion of the second structure are different from each other in shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Ken TAKAHASHI, Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Publication number: 20190378486
    Abstract: A pivot mechanism includes: a shaft portion; a bearing configured to contact the shaft portion and pivot about a pivot axis; and a reinforcement protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion. The outer circumferential surface includes a first region contactable by the bearing in a range of its pivotal movement and a second region not including the first region in a region opposed to the first region via the pivot axis. The reinforcement extends from at least a portion of the second region to an outside of the bearing in a pivot-axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Hirotsugu KAMIYA, Shunsuke ICHIKI, Tsuyoshi SATO
  • Publication number: 20190341014
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes a key, a frame, a flexible section configured to rotate the key with respect to the frame, the flexible section having a longitudinal direction, and including a region where a length of the flexible section in a first direction continuously increases toward a first end and a second end of the flexible section in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flexible section, and a first supporting section supporting side closer to the first end than the region, the first supporting section including a bonding section bonded to the first end, the bonding section including a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section keeping continuity with the flexible section, and a recessed section being arranged at a position, in a scale direction and sandwiched between the first section and the second section, of the bonding section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Shunsuke ICHIKI, Akito OHBA
  • Publication number: 20190251939
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard apparatus includes a key, a frame, and a connecting portion having a first flexible portion, a second flexible portion serially connected to the first flexible portion between the key and the frame, and a connector for connecting the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion to each other attachably and detachably, the connecting portion turnably connecting the key to the frame by utilizing flexibility of the first flexible portion or the second flexible portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventor: Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Publication number: 20190206378
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes white keys, black keys adjacent to the white keys, and guides that are arranged between the white keys and the black keys and restrict operation by coming into contact with the white keys and the black keys. The keyboard device may further include a housing that covers parts of the white keys and the black keys, and the guide may be arranged in the region covered by the housing. The keyboard device may further include caps that are provided between the guides and the white keys and the guides and the black keys, and that have a lower Young's modulus than the guides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventor: Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Patent number: 10311836
    Abstract: A support assembly includes a support rotatable along a first surface with respect to a support rail, a repetition lever rotatable on the support, and a jack rotatable on the support and disposed to at least partially overlaps the repetition lever. The repetition lever includes a first contact portion which makes contact with a regulating portion which regulates rotation, the jack includes a second contact portion which makes contact with the regulating portion which regulates rotation, and the repetition lever and the jack are provided so that the first contact portion and the second contact portion overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akito Ohba, Hiroshi Harimoto, Shunsuke Ichiki, Ichiro Osuga
  • Patent number: 10311847
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes: a key; a frame; and a connecting portion configured to connect the key and the frame to each other. The connecting portion includes a flexible member having a rod shape and having flexibility that enables the key to pivot with respect to the frame. The flexible member includes a portion that, in entirety of a range of pivotal movement of the key, maintains a state in which a length of a line extending along a neutral axis of the flexible member between two points located on the neutral axis is greater than a length of a straight line connecting the two points to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Ichiki, Hirotsugu Suzuki, Ichiro Osuga
  • Publication number: 20190156805
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes: a key disposed so as to be pivotable with respect to a frame; a first member, an elastic member being disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the first member; a second member configured to be moved on the elastic member while elastically deforming the elastic member in response to pivotal movement of the key; and a hammer assembly connected to the key via the first member and the second member so as to pivot in response to pivotal movement of the key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Kento OGAWA, Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Publication number: 20190156804
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes: a key disposed to be pivotable with respect to a frame; a hammer assembly disposed to be pivotable in response to pivotal movement of the key; a first member; a second member disposed to be slid and moved on the first member when the hammer assembly pivots in response to pivotal movement of the key; and a third member connected to the first member and configured to guide the second member such that the second member is not located at a distance greater than or equal to a predetermined distance from the first member, the third member having a shape in which a second contact area that is an area of contact between the second member and the third member is less than a first contact area that is an area of contact between the first member and the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Kento OGAWA, Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Publication number: 20190043463
    Abstract: A pivot mechanism includes: a shaft portion; a bearing configured to contact the shaft portion at a first contact and a second contact and configured to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the shaft portion; and a supporter secured to the bearing, configured to contact the shaft portion at a third contact, and bendable in a direction different from a direction from the pivot axis toward the third contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventor: Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Publication number: 20190043459
    Abstract: A pivot mechanism includes: a shaft; a bearing including an opening portion in which the shaft is to be inserted, wherein a size of the opening portion at an open end of the bearing which has flexibility is less than a diameter of the shaft, and the bearing is configured to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the shaft; and a stopper disposed spaced apart from the shaft in a direction in which the shaft inserted in the opening portion moves away from the bearing, the stopper being movable in a direction different from the direction in which the shaft moves away from the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventor: Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Publication number: 20190035371
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus includes: keys; at least one frame configured to support at least one of the keys; at least one bendable portion disposed between one of the keys and the frame and having flexibility in a scale direction; and a coupler configured to couple the bendable portion and the key to each other attachably and detachably. Two couplers each as the coupler which correspond respectively to the keys adjacent to each other are disposed respectively at positions different from each other in a longitudinal direction of the key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventor: Shunsuke ICHIKI
  • Publication number: 20190027121
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard apparatus includes a key; and a connecting member connecting the key to a frame and including a rod-like flexible member arranged between the frame and the key, the key being turned to the frame by bending of the rod-like flexible member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Shunsuke ICHIKI, Ichiro OSUGA