Patents by Inventor Yasuhiro Ichikawa

Yasuhiro Ichikawa 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).

  • Publication number: 20240042968
    Abstract: A vehicle cleaning device includes a cylinder to which a cleaning fluid is supplied; a piston slidably inserted in the cylinder; a spray nozzle unit mounted at a leading end of the piston and configured to spray the cleaning fluid toward an object-to-be-cleaned; and a cap that closes a gap between the cylinder and the piston in an opening of the cylinder through which the piston protrudes. The cap includes a tubular part inside the cylinder, and the tubular part defines an end of movement of the piston. A communication hole is provided between a communication groove provided in an outer peripheral surface of the tubular part and an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder, and the gap between the cylinder and the piston communicates with the outside of the cylinder through the communication hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru SAKAI, Yasuhiro ICHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11845092
    Abstract: A vehicle washing device includes: a cylinder including a cylinder tube to which a washing fluid is supplied; a piston including a piston tube that is movably inserted into the cylinder tube and opens at both ends; and a spray nozzle that is mounted at a leading end, in an extension direction, of the piston tube protruding from the cylinder tube. The spray nozzle is configured to spray the washing fluid, supplied through the inside of the piston tube, toward an object-to-be-washed. The outer circumference of the spray nozzle is fitted on the inner circumference of the piston tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Sakai, Yasuhiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11827188
    Abstract: A foreign matter removal device (1) is configured to remove foreign matters on a lens (101) of an in-vehicle camera (100) attached to a vehicle so that the lens (101) of the in-vehicle camera (100) is exposed toward an outside of a body panel of the vehicle. The foreign matter removal device includes a single-cylinder type reciprocating pump (5) configured to generate high-pressure air and a nozzle (22) configured to inject the high-pressure air toward the lens (101). A volume of an internal space of the pump is 10 cm3 or less. Exhaust time (t1) per cycle required for exhausting the air in the internal space is 0.03 seconds or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ichikawa, Akinobu Kubota
  • Patent number: 11827186
    Abstract: A vehicle cleaning device includes a cylinder to which a cleaning fluid is supplied; a piston slidably inserted in the cylinder; a spray nozzle unit mounted at a leading end of the piston and configured to spray the cleaning fluid toward an object-to-be-cleaned; and a cap that closes a gap between the cylinder and the piston in an opening of the cylinder through which the piston protrudes. The cap includes a tubular part inside the cylinder, and the tubular part defines an end of movement of the piston. A communication hole is provided between a communication groove provided in an outer peripheral surface of the tubular part and an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder, and the gap between the cylinder and the piston communicates with the outside of the cylinder through the communication hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Sakai, Yasuhiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11794702
    Abstract: A cleaner for cleaning an object to be cleaned includes a generation unit configured to generate high-pressure air, a nozzle configured to inject the high-pressure air toward a cleaning surface of the object to be cleaned, and a control unit configured to control an injection of the high-pressure air. Even when foreign objects do not adhere to the cleaning surface, the control unit executes an operation mode in which the high-pressure air is generated and injected when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akinobu Kubota, Yasuhiro Ichikawa, Junji Baba, Kazuki Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20230331191
    Abstract: A vehicular cleaner system (1) for cleaning a to-be-cleaned object (100), wherein: the vehicular cleaner system (1) is provided with a tank (11) that accommodates a cleaning liquid, a pump (12) that pressure-feeds the cleaning liquid inside the tank (11), a high-pressure-air generation unit (2) that generates high-pressure air, a first ejection port that sprays the cleaning liquid toward a cleaning surface of the to-be-cleaned object (100), a second ejection port that sprays the high-pressure air toward the cleaning surface, and a controller (4) and vehicle ECU (40) that control the spraying of the cleaning liquid and the spraying of the high-pressure air; and the controller (4) and the vehicle ECU (40) perform control so as to initiate the spraying of the high-pressure air from the second ejection port after spraying of the cleaning liquid from the first ejection port has been initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTORING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki KAWAMURA, Masayuki KONDO, Hikaru NAGAI, Akinobu KUBOTA, Yasuhiro ICHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11731590
    Abstract: A vehicular cleaner system (1) for cleaning a to-be-cleaned object (100), wherein: the vehicular cleaner system (1) is provided with a tank (11) that accommodates a cleaning liquid, a pump (12) that pressure-feeds the cleaning liquid inside the tank (11), a high-pressure-air generation unit (2) that generates high-pressure air, a first ejection port that sprays the cleaning liquid toward a cleaning surface of the to-be-cleaned object (100), a second ejection port that sprays the high-pressure air toward the cleaning surface, and a controller (4) and vehicle ECU (40) that control the spraying of the cleaning liquid and the spraying of the high-pressure air; and the controller (4) and the vehicle ECU (40) perform control so as to initiate the spraying of the high-pressure air from the second ejection port after spraying of the cleaning liquid from the first ejection port has been initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Kawamura, Masayuki Kondo, Hikaru Nagai, Akinobu Kubota, Yasuhiro Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20230095379
    Abstract: A branching tool serving as a check valve incorporated in a cleaner device includes: a main unit provided with an inflow channel and a first outflow channel; a sealing member that allows a flow of cleaning fluid from the inflow channel to the first outflow channel when the cleaner device is in operation and that is formed to seal a backflow of the cleaning fluid from the first outflow channel to the inflow channel when the cleaner device is not in operation; and a lid member that is combined with the main unit so as to form a housing chamber for the sealing member. The lid member has a communication hole that allows the housing chamber to communicate with the outside. The lid member or the main unit is provided with a water receiving recess arranged around the communication hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro MATSUNAGA, Masaru SAKAI, Yasuhiro ICHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11535203
    Abstract: Provided is an air cleaner for vehicles, configured so that objects to be cleaned can be easily maintained in as clean state. This fair cleaner (1) for vehicles is provided with: ejection openings (20, 30) for ejecting air toward the surfaces (21, 31) to be cleaned of objects (2, 3) to be cleaned and a non-positive displacement blower means (10) for continuously delivering air to the ejection openings (20, 30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO.. LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Matsunaga, Akinobu Kubota, Yasuhiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11505163
    Abstract: A foreign matter removal device that removes foreign matters adhering to a lens (101) included in an in-vehicle camera (100), including a camera bracket (91) that attaches the in-vehicle camera (100) to a rear bumper panel (200b) of a vehicle in a state in which the lens (101) is exposed toward the outside of the rear bumper panel (200b) of the vehicle, a high-pressure air generation unit disposed inside the rear bumper panel (200b) and configured to generate high-pressure air, and a nozzle unit provided with a nozzle (22) that injects the high-pressure air toward the lens (101), wherein a through-hole (92) is formed in the camera bracket (91), and the high-pressure air generated by the high-pressure air generation unit passes from the inside to the outside of the rear bumper panel (200b) through the through-hole (92), and is injected from the nozzle (22) toward the lens (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kimura, Junji Baba, Akinobu Kubota, Yasuhiro Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20220227333
    Abstract: A vehicular air curtain device configured to send continuously, based on an operation signal, air to a sensor or a sensor cover mounted on a vehicle at a predetermined wind speed or a predetermined air flow rate in order to prevent dirt from adhering to the sensor or the sensor cover, the vehicular air curtain device includes: an air blowing mechanism; a motor configured to drive the air blowing mechanism; and an air curtain control unit configured to change a drive voltage or a drive current of the motor in accordance with a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro MATSUNAGA, Akinobu KUBOTA, Masaaki SATO, Masaru SAKAI, Yasuhiro ICHIKAWA, Kazuhiro SUZUKI, Yusuke FUNAMI, Toshihisa HAYAMI
  • Publication number: 20220176916
    Abstract: Of the moving directions of the piston, the direction in which high-pressure air is delivered is a delivery direction, and the direction in the opposite direction from the delivery direction is a force accumulation direction. The piston is moved in the force accumulation direction by the moving mechanism, and moved in the delivery direction by the biasing force of the biasing spring in response to the release of the moving force exerted by the moving mechanism. The cylinder is provided with: a piston supporting portion that supports the piston; and a connection protrusion that has a delivery path for delivering the high-pressure air to the nozzle. The inner surface of an end of the piston supporting portion in the delivery direction is formed as a closed surface. The delivery path is located further toward the force accumulation direction than the closed surface is.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kato, Takayoshi Mochizuki, Akinobu Kubota, Yasuhiro Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20220118949
    Abstract: A vehicle cleaner (1) includes: a cylinder (2) provided in an opening (101) formed in a part of a vehicle body panel (100) of a vehicle; a piston (3) supported to be movable forward and backward with respect to the cylinder (2); a nozzle holder (10) provided near the front end of the piston (3); a nozzle (4) which is supported by the nozzle holder (10) and which, with the piston (3) protruding from the opening (101), sprays a cleaning liquid onto a vehicle item to be cleaned; and a nozzle cover (20) which is provided on the front end of the nozzle holder (10) and which, with the piston (3) having been pulled back into the cylinder (2), closes the opening (101). The nozzle cover (20) has a cover part (21) for closing the opening (101), and an engagement part (30) that protrudes from the cover part (21) toward the piston (3) and is engaged with the nozzle holder (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicants: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi USAMI, Masaru SAKAI, Yasuhiro ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20220105903
    Abstract: A vehicle cleaning device includes a cylinder to which a cleaning fluid is supplied; a piston slidably inserted in the cylinder; a spray nozzle unit mounted at a leading end of the piston and configured to spray the cleaning fluid toward an object-to-be-cleaned; and a cap that closes a gap between the cylinder and the piston in an opening of the cylinder through which the piston protrudes. The cap includes a tubular part inside the cylinder, and the tubular part defines an end of movement of the piston. A communication hole is provided between a communication groove provided in an outer peripheral surface of the tubular part and an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder, and the gap between the cylinder and the piston communicates with the outside of the cylinder through the communication hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru SAKAI, Yasuhiro ICHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11230271
    Abstract: Of moving directions of a piston, the direction in which high-pressure air is delivered is a delivery direction, and the direction in the opposite direction from the delivery direction is a force accumulation direction. The piston is moved in the force accumulation direction by the moving mechanism, and moved in the delivery direction by the biasing force of the biasing spring in response to the release of the moving force exerted by the moving mechanism. The cylinder is provided with: a piston supporting portion that supports the piston; and a connection protrusion that has a delivery path for delivering the high-pressure air to the nozzle. The inner surface of an end of the piston supporting portion in the delivery direction is formed as a closed surface. The delivery path is located further toward the force accumulation direction than the closed surface is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kato, Takayoshi Mochizuki, Akinobu Kubota, Yasuhiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11225224
    Abstract: Structural simplification and efficient injection state of high-pressure air from a nozzle are ensured. A foreign material removal device is provided with: a cylinder (18) into which air is caused to flow; a piston (22) which is movably supported in the cylinder and feeds the air introduced into the cylinder in a feeding direction as high-pressure air; and a nozzle (6) which injects the high-pressure air fed by the piston. Thus, the piston is moved relative to the cylinder, the high-pressure air is fed from the cylinder, and the high-pressure air is injected from the nozzle, whereby structural simplification and an efficient injection state of the high-pressure air from the nozzle can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akinobu Kubota, Yasuhiro Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20210394204
    Abstract: A vehicle washing device includes: a cylinder including a cylinder tube to which a washing fluid is supplied; a piston including a piston tube that is movably inserted into the cylinder tube and opens at both ends; and a spray nozzle that is mounted at a leading end, in an extension direction, of the piston tube protruding from the cylinder tube. The spray nozzle is configured to spray the washing fluid, supplied through the inside of the piston tube, toward an object-to-be-washed. The outer circumference of the spray nozzle is fitted on the inner circumference of the piston tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru SAKAI, Yasuhiro ICHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20210362689
    Abstract: A foreign matter removal device (1) is configured to remove foreign matters on a lens (101) of an in-vehicle camera (100) attached to a vehicle so that the lens (101) of the in-vehicle camera (100) is exposed toward an outside of a body panel of the vehicle. The foreign matter removal device includes a single-cylinder type reciprocating pump (5) configured to generate high-pressure air and a nozzle (22) configured to inject the high-pressure air toward the lens (101). A volume of an internal space of the pump is 10 cm3 or less. Exhaust time (t1) per cycle required for exhausting the air in the internal space is 0.03 seconds or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro ICHIKAWA, Akinobu KUBOTA
  • Patent number: 11155244
    Abstract: A foreign matter removal device (1) is configured to remove foreign matters on a lens (101) of an in-vehicle camera (100) attached to a vehicle so that the lens (101) of the in-vehicle camera (100) is exposed toward an outside of a body panel of the vehicle. The foreign matter removal device includes a single-cylinder type reciprocating pump (5) configured to generate high-pressure air and a nozzle (22) configured to inject the high-pressure air toward the lens (101). A volume of an internal space of the pump is 10 cm3 or less. Exhaust time (t1) per cycle required for exhausting the air in the internal space is 0.03 seconds or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ichikawa, Akinobu Kubota
  • Publication number: 20210179030
    Abstract: The vehicular cleaner system is provided with: a tank (2) for storing a cleaning fluid; a motor pump (3) for pumping out the cleaning fluid in the tank (2); lighting fixture nozzles (4) for spraying the cleaning fluid toward headlamps (100); sensor nozzles (5) for spraying the cleaning fluid toward on-board sensors (200); a cleaning fluid passage (9) that connects the motor pump (3) to the lighting fixture nozzles (4) and the sensor nozzles (5); and a controller (8) for controlling the spraying of the cleaning fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru SAKAI, Yasuhiro ICHIKAWA