Patents by Inventor Takuma KAWAUCHIYA

Takuma KAWAUCHIYA 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: 10067475
    Abstract: A timepiece is equipped with a movement, a timepiece case accommodating the movement, and a hollow tubular structure portion having a connection proximal portion directly or indirectly in contact with the movement. The hollow tubular structure portion is formed such that a space defined between itself and the timepiece case is hermetically sealed. The inner space of the hollow tubular structure portion communicates with the exterior of the timepiece case via an external opening of the timepiece case. The timepiece can secure a sufficient waterproof performance and can transmit sound from a sound source efficiently to the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Niwa, Takuma Kawauchiya, Masahiro Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20170212475
    Abstract: A timepiece which can secure a sufficient waterproof performance and which can transmit sound from a sound source efficiently to the exterior is provided. The timepiece is equipped with a movement, a timepiece case accommodating the movement, and a hollow structure portion having a connection proximal portion directly or indirectly in contact with the movement. The hollow structure portion is formed such that a space defined between itself and the timepiece case is of a hermetic structure. The inner space of the hollow structure portion communicates with the external space via an external opening of the timepiece case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Takashi NIWA, Takuma KAWAUCHIYA, Masahiro NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 9568887
    Abstract: To provide an operation stabilizing mechanism, a movement, and a mechanical timepiece allowing a reduction in size while achieving an enhancement in rate precision. An operation stabilizing mechanism includes: an outer carriage and an inner carriage provided so as to be mutually rotatable; a constant-force spring provided between the outer carriage and the inner carriage and configured to impart a rotational force to the inner carriage such that the inner carriage rotates with respect to the outer carriage; a stop wheel provided on the outer carriage; and a stopper configured to perform engaging and releasing operations on the stop wheel upon the rotation of the inner carriage, wherein the rotational axis of the outer carriage and the rotation axis of the inner carriage cross each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Takuma Kawauchiya, Masahiro Nakajima, Takashi Niwa, Masayuki Koda
  • Publication number: 20160266547
    Abstract: To provide an operation stabilizing mechanism, a movement, and a mechanical timepiece allowing a reduction in size while achieving an enhancement in rate precision. An operation stabilizing mechanism includes: an outer carriage and an inner carriage provided so as to be mutually rotatable; a constant-force spring provided between the outer carriage and the inner carriage and configured to impart a rotational force to the inner carriage such that the inner carriage rotates with respect to the outer carriage; a stop wheel provided on the outer carriage; and a stopper configured to perform engaging and releasing operations on the stop wheel upon the rotation of the inner carriage, wherein the rotational axis of the outer carriage and the rotation axis of the inner carriage cross each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Takuma KAWAUCHIYA, Masahiro NAKAJIMA, Takashi NIWA, Masayuki KODA
  • Patent number: 9235193
    Abstract: A temperature compensation-type balance includes a balance staff, and a balance wheel having a plurality of bimetal portions disposed in parallel to each other in a circumferential direction around a rotation axis of the balance staff. Connection members connect respective ones of the plurality of bimetal portions and the balance staff. Each bimetal portion is a layered body in which a first member and a second member are radially overlapped, and one end portion in the circumferential direction is a fixed end connected to a respective connection member and the other end portion in the circumferential direction is a free end. The first member is formed of a ceramic material, and the second member is formed of a metal material having a thermal expansion coefficient different from that of the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Niwa, Masahiro Nakajima, Takuma Kawauchiya, Hisashi Fujieda, Manabu Shinke
  • Patent number: 9188956
    Abstract: A balance includes a balance staff pivotally supported rotatably and a balance wheel arranged around the balance staff. The balance wheel has one end portion fixed to a connection arm radially connected to the balance staff and a free end portion configured to be radially deformed. The balance wheel has a first rim connected to the connection arm and a second rim in overlapping relation with the first rim and formed of a material having a linear expansion coefficient different from the first rim. The first and second rims are arranged in a circumferential direction and are bonded together by melting portions formed of melted materials of the first and second rims. The melting portions are formed on upper and lower surfaces of and in an intermediate position between the first and second rims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakajima, Takashi Niwa, Takuma Kawauchiya
  • Patent number: 9164486
    Abstract: An operation stabilization mechanism has a first carriage to which a rotational drive force of a train wheel is transmitted and which is rotatably supported with respect to a main plate, and a second carriage rotatably supported with respect to the first carriage. A constant-force spring is provided between the first carriage and the second carriage and is configured to impart a rotational force to the second carriage so that the second carriage undergoes rotation with respect to the first carriage. An escapement/governor mechanism is mounted in the second carriage and is configured to be driven by a rotational torque generated through rotation of the second carriage and transmitted to the escapement/governor mechanism. A stopper lever is mounted to undergo rotational movement relative to the first carriage for suppressing fluctuations in the rotational torque transmitted to the escapement/governor mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Takuma Kawauchiya, Takashi Niwa, Masahiro Nakajima, Masayuki Koda
  • Patent number: 9128465
    Abstract: To provide a timepiece balance with hairspring capable of changing the moment of inertia of the balance wheel without involving generation of a one-sidedness in weight. There is provided a balance with hairspring including a balance staff, and a balance wheel arranged around the balance staff, wherein there are provided a first rim constituting the balance wheel and having a guide portion configured to vary in the distance from the balance staff in correspondence with a peripheral direction around the balance staff, an elastic portion arranged so as to be slidable along the guide portion and capable of elastic deformation in the radial direction around the balance staff, and a second rim having a plurality of weight portions arranged in the peripheral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Takuma Kawauchiya, Takashi Niwa, Masahiro Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20150185700
    Abstract: To provide a timepiece balance with hairspring capable of changing the moment of inertia of the balance wheel without involving generation of a one-sidedness in weight. There is provided a balance with hairspring including a balance staff, and a balance wheel arranged around the balance staff, wherein there are provided a first rim constituting the balance wheel and having a guide portion configured to vary in the distance from the balance staff in correspondence with a peripheral direction around the balance staff, an elastic portion arranged so as to be slidable along the guide portion and capable of elastic deformation in the radial direction around the balance staff, and a second rim having a plurality of weight portions arranged in the peripheral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Takuma KAWAUCHIYA, Takashi NIWA, Masahiro NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 9052693
    Abstract: There are provided a constant force device, a movement, and a mechanical timepiece which can decrease a loss of power for controlling rotation of a stop wheel & pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Takuma Kawauchiya, Takashi Niwa, Masahiro Nakajima, Masayuki Koda
  • Publication number: 20150063084
    Abstract: There are provided a constant force device, a movement, and a mechanical timepiece which can decrease a loss of power for controlling rotation of a stop wheel & pinion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Takuma KAWAUCHIYA, Takashi NIWA, Masahiro NAKAJIMA, Masayuki KODA
  • Publication number: 20150063083
    Abstract: Provision of an operation stabilization mechanism, a movement, and a mechanical timepiece capable of stabilizing the operation of the balance with hairspring while preventing a change in the oscillation cycle of the balance with hairspring due to the gravitational force even in the case where a constant-force device is provided. An operation stabilization mechanism includes: an outer carriage 33 to which a drive force of a train wheel is transmitted and which is rotatably supported with respect to a main plate; an inner carriage 34 rotatably supported with respect to the outer carriage 33; a constant-force spring provided between the outer carriage 33 and the inner carriage 34 and imparting a rotational force to the inner carriage 34 so that the inner carriage 34 may rotate with respect to the outer carriage 33; and an escapement mechanism 102 mounted in the inner carriage 34 and configured to be driven through rotation of the inner carriage 34.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Takuma KAWAUCHIYA, Takashi NIWA, Masahiro NAKAJIMA, Masayuki KODA
  • Publication number: 20140241134
    Abstract: A temperature compensation-type balance includes a balance staff, and a balance wheel that has a plurality of bimetal portions which are disposed in parallel to each other in a circumferential direction around a rotational axle O of the balance staff and connection members which connect the plurality of bimetal portions and the balance staff. The bimetal portion is a layered body in which a first member and a second member are radially overlapped, and one end portion in the circumferential direction is a fixed end connected to the connection member and the other end portion in the circumferential direction is a free end. The first member is formed of a ceramic material, and the second member is formed of a metal material having a thermal expansion coefficient different from that of the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Takashi NIWA, Masahiro NAKAJIMA, Takuma KAWAUCHIYA, Hisashi FUJIEDA, Manabu SHINKE
  • Publication number: 20140185418
    Abstract: There is provided a balance which includes a balance staff which is pivotally supported rotatably; and a balance wheel which is arranged around the balance staff and in which one end portion is a fixed end portion fixed to a connection arm which is radially connected to the balance staff and the other end portion is a free end portion which can be radially deformed. The balance wheel has a first rim which is connected to the connection arm and a second rim which is arranged to be overlapped with the first rim and formed of a material having a linear expansion coefficient different from the first rim, and the first rim and the second rim are bonded together by using a melting portion in which respective materials thereof are melted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro NAKAJIMA, Takashi NIWA, Takuma KAWAUCHIYA