Patents by Inventor Toru Kohda

Toru Kohda 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: 7452006
    Abstract: A pipe coupling is disclosed which comprises a plug (14) and a socket (12). When the plug is inserted into the socket, the plug first urges sleeve actuators (28) radially outward to axially move a sleeve (22) and, thereafter, urges locking elements (20) radially outward to move the sleeve further. Eventually, the locking elements and sleeve actuators are fitted within a locking recess (14-2) of the plug to securely connect the plug and the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Kohda
  • Publication number: 20060284418
    Abstract: A quick connect pipe coupling has a plug 14 formed with a locking recess 14-2 and a socket 12 provided with a plurality of radially movable locking elements 20. The locking elements are received in the locking recess to securely connect the plug to the socket. The socket 12 has a socket body 18. The socket body 18 includes a plurality of first through apertures 18-1 within which the respective locking elements are received, and a plurality of second through apertures 18-2 within which a plurality of sleeve actuators 28 are received. The plug 14 has a tapered surface 14-3. Upon insertion of the plug 14 into the socket body 18, the tapered surface 14-3 urges the sleeve actuators 28 into engagement with an inclined surface 22-3 of a sleeve 22. This results in axial displacement of the sleeve 22 and also, allows radial outward movement of the sleeve actuators. Further insertion of the plug urges the locking elements 20 to be engaged with the inclined surface of the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventor: Toru Kohda
  • Patent number: 7131458
    Abstract: A pipe coupling is configured such that when a male coupling member and a female coupling member are to be connected with each other, a valve disposed in the female coupling member is partly inserted into the male coupling member so as to come into press-contact with the valve in the male coupling member, and to cause displacement of the valves, to thereby open a fluid passage in the pipe coupling. An O-ring is provided on the interior surface of the male coupling member. A sleeve is arranged in a female coupling member such that a forward end portion of the sleeve is inserted into the male coupling member in such a manner that the outer surface of the forward end portion of the sleeve sealingly engages with the O-ring, while allowing the valves of the male and female coupling members abut against each other within the forward end portion of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Kohda
  • Patent number: 7118089
    Abstract: A fluid coupler has a female coupler member and a male coupler member which can be connected to the female coupler member by simply being inserted into the female coupler member. The female coupler member includes a first locking ball, a second locking ball and a locking ball confining ring. The confining ring has a first slanted inner surface engaging the first locking ball to partly project the first locking ball into a male coupler member receiving hole of the female coupler. The confining ring further has a second slanted inner surface and a locking ball pressing surface extending in parallel with an axis of the male coupler member receiving hole. In an insertion operation, the male coupler member first engages the first locking ball to press it against the first slanted surface, thereby axially moving the confining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Mikiya, Toru Kohda
  • Patent number: 7070164
    Abstract: A coupling member comprises a spherical rotatable valve member installed in a fluid passage thereof, in which the fluid passage is maintained open when a through hole of the valve member is aligned with the fluid passage, while the fluid passage is maintained closed when the through hole of the valve member not aligned with the fluid passage. An annular sealing convex portion is arranged on the outer surface of the valve member, which has larger radii relative to a pivotal axis A than the outer surface, so that the sealing convex portion is fully engaged with an end-opening peripheral edge of the fluid passage only when the valve member is placed in the closing rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Kohda
  • Patent number: 7028982
    Abstract: A coupling member has a spherical rotatable valve member is operatively installed therein so as to be movable in an axial direction of the coupling member, and so as also to be rotatable between the opening rotational position and a closing rotational position under a control of a cam mechanism comprising a pin and a cam hole formed in the rotatable valve member and slidably engaged with the pin. The coupling member further comprises a stopper to be engaged with the rotational valve member to hold it into the opening rotational position and a spring member for urging the rotatable valve member against the stopper via the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Kohda
  • Publication number: 20050087239
    Abstract: A pipe coupling is configured such that when a male coupling member and a female coupling member are to be connected with each other, a valve disposed in the female coupling member is partly inserted into the male coupling member so as to come into press-contact with the valve in the male coupling member, and to cause displacement of the valves, to thereby open a fluid passage in the pipe coupling. An O-ring is provided on the interior surface of the male coupling member. A sleeve is arranged in a female coupling member such that a forward end portion of the sleeve is inserted into the male coupling member in such a manner that the outer surface of the forward end portion of the sleeve sealingly engages with the O-ring, while allowing the valves of the male and female coupling members abut against each other within the forward end portion of the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventor: Toru Kohda
  • Publication number: 20050087241
    Abstract: A coupling member comprises a spherical rotatable valve member installed in a fluid passage thereof, in which the fluid passage is maintained open when a through hole of the valve member is aligned with the fluid passage, while the fluid passage is maintained closed when the through hole of the valve member not aligned with the fluid passage. An annular sealing convex portion is arranged on the outer surface of the valve member, which has larger radii relative to a pivotal axis A than the outer surface, so that the sealing convex portion is fully engaged with an end-opening peripheral edge of the fluid passage only when the valve member is placed in the closing rotational position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventor: Toru Kohda
  • Publication number: 20050087240
    Abstract: A coupling member has a spherical rotatable valve member is operatively installed therein so as to be movable in an axial direction of the coupling member, and so as also to be rotatable between the opening rotational position and a closing rotational position under a control of a cam mechanism comprising a pin and a cam hole formed in the rotatable valve member and slidably engaged with the pin. The coupling member further comprises a stopper to be engaged with the rotational valve member to hold it into the opening rotational position and a spring member for urging the rotatable valve member against the stopper via the pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventor: Toru Kohda
  • Publication number: 20040099318
    Abstract: A fluid coupler has a female coupler member and a male coupler member which can be connected to the female coupler member by simply inserting into the female coupler member. The female coupler member includes a first locking ball, a second locking ball and a locking ball confining ring. The confining ring has a first slanted inner surface engaging the first locking ball to partly project the first locking ball into a male coupler member receiving hole of the female coupler. The confining ring further has a second slanted inner surface and a locking ball pressing surface extending in parallel with an axis of the male receiving hole. In an insertion operation, the male coupler member first engages the first locking ball to press it against the first slanted surface, thereby axially moving the confining ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Toshio Mikiya, Toru Kohda