Patents by Inventor Aki Yokoyama

Aki Yokoyama 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: 11519114
    Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine includes a plurality of needle bars, a needle plate, a needle bar case, a needle bar drive mechanism, a needle bar case movement mechanism, a mounting portion, a frame movement mechanism, a processor, and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include identification processing of identifying a position of the needle bar case in the arrangement direction, in accordance with detection of a retraction command causing the mounting portion to be moved to a retracted position, setting processing of setting the retracted position of the mounting portion on the basis of the identified position of the needle bar case in the arrangement direction, and movement processing of controlling the frame movement mechanism to move the mounting portion to the set retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Aki Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20210269954
    Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine includes a plurality of needle bars, a needle plate, a needle bar case, a needle bar drive mechanism, a needle bar case movement mechanism, a mounting portion, a frame movement mechanism, a processor, and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include identification processing of identifying a position of the needle bar case in the arrangement direction, in accordance with detection of a retraction command causing the mounting portion to be moved to a retracted position, setting processing of setting the retracted position of the mounting portion on the basis of the identified position of the needle bar case in the arrangement direction, and movement processing of controlling the frame movement mechanism to move the mounting portion to the set retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventor: Aki YOKOYAMA
  • Patent number: 10662564
    Abstract: A sewing machine acquires a selected pattern that is selected from among a plurality of embroidery patterns. The sewing machine displays a pattern image representing the selected pattern. The sewing machine identifies a specified position indicated by the instruction. The sewing machine determines, when the selected pattern is acquired a plurality of times, whether one of a plurality of the pattern images is displayed at the identified specified position. When it is determined that the pattern image is displayed at the identified specified position, the sewing machine identifies the selected pattern for which the pattern image is displayed at the specified position as the editing target. When it is not determined that the pattern image is displayed at the identified specified position, the sewing machine identifies the selected pattern for which a mask region encompassing the selected pattern is set at the specified position as the editing target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Aki Yokoyama, Tsuneo Okuyama
  • Patent number: 10626534
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes at least one needle bar, a threading motor, a threading mechanism, a processor, and a memory. The threading mechanism is configured to pass an upper thread through an eye of a sewing needle. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include making one of a setting that prohibits operation of the threading mechanism and a setting that does not prohibit the operation of the threading mechanism. The processes include switching the operation of the threading mechanism by prohibiting the operation of the threading mechanism in a case where the setting that prohibits the operation of the threading mechanism is made, and permitting the operation of the threading mechanism in a case where the setting that does not prohibit the operation of the threading mechanism is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mika Matsushima, Tsuneo Okuyama, Aki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10590579
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes needle bars, a notification portion, a processor, and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include acquiring sewing data for sewing an embroidery pattern made up of a plurality of partial pattern, setting correspondences between a needle bar among the needle bars and an upper thread data set included in the sewing data, for each of the needle bars, and the sewing embroidery pattern, detecting an error that occurs during the sewing, stopping the sewing when the error is detected, specifying a change-eligible needle bar, for which the sewing is completed, when a target data set exists, the correspondence with one of the needle bars not being set for the target data set, and causing the notification portion to notify information indicating the specified change-eligible needle bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuneo Okuyama, Aki Yokoyama, Mika Matsushima
  • Publication number: 20180327951
    Abstract: A sewing machine acquires a selected pattern that is selected from among a plurality of embroidery patterns. The sewing machine displays a pattern image representing the selected pattern. The sewing machine identifies a specified position indicated by the instruction. The sewing machine determines, when the selected pattern is acquired a plurality of times, whether one of a plurality of the pattern images is displayed at the identified specified position. When it is determined that the pattern image is displayed at the identified specified position, the sewing machine identifies the selected pattern for which the pattern image is displayed at the specified position as the editing target. When it is not determined that the pattern image is displayed at the identified specified position, the sewing machine identifies the selected pattern for which a mask region encompassing the selected pattern is set at the specified position as the editing target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Aki YOKOYAMA, Tsuneo OKUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20180194030
    Abstract: A cut data generating apparatus for generating cut data for allowing a cutting apparatus including a cutting mechanism to cut a pattern out of a cut target workpiece, includes a controller, the controller being configured to control the cut data generating apparatus to: specify an original pattern that is a target of cutting; generate a reinforcement pattern that is accommodated in an inside of a shape of at least a part of the original pattern based on a shape of the specified original pattern, and is overlaid on the original pattern to achieve reinforcement; and generate cut data for cutting the original pattern and a reinforcement pattern out of the cut target workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Aki YOKOYAMA, Tsuneo OKUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20180016720
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes needle bars, a notification portion, a processor, and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include acquiring sewing data for sewing an embroidery pattern made up of a plurality of partial pattern, setting correspondences between a needle bar among the needle bars and an upper thread data set included in the sewing data, for each of the needle bars, and the sewing embroidery pattern, detecting an error that occurs during the sewing, stopping the sewing when the error is detected, specifying a change-eligible needle bar, for which the sewing is completed, when a target data set exists, the correspondence with one of the needle bars not being set for the target data set, and causing the notification portion to notify information indicating the specified change-eligible needle bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Tsuneo OKUYAMA, Aki YOKOYAMA, Mika MATSUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20180016721
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes at least one needle bar, a threading motor, a threading mechanism, a processor, and a memory. The threading mechanism is configured to pass an upper thread through an eye of a sewing needle. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include making one of a setting that prohibits operation of the threading mechanism and a setting that does not prohibit the operation of the threading mechanism. The processes include switching the operation of the threading mechanism by prohibiting the operation of the threading mechanism in a case where the setting that prohibits the operation of the threading mechanism is made, and permitting the operation of the threading mechanism in a case where the setting that does not prohibit the operation of the threading mechanism is made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Mika MATSUSHIMA, Tsuneo OKUYAMA, Aki YOKOYAMA
  • Patent number: 7878542
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag, an adjusting unit capable of adjusting an aperture efficiency of at least one vent hole, a tether belt whose one end is connected to the adjusting unit, and a holding unit for hooking another end of the tether belt. In case where the inflating airbag needs to exert a small reactive force, the adjusting unit is made in a full-opened state at a development early stage with the other end being held by the holding unit and then made in a half-opened until a development final stage with the other end being kept held by the holding unit. In case where the inflating airbag needs to exert a large reactive force, the adjusting unit is made in a full-closed state from a development start to the development final stage with the other end being released from the holding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Unno, Aki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7766376
    Abstract: An air bag, includes 1) a roll part configured to be wound in a form of a roll when the air bag is in a folded state to be installed in a vehicle. The roll part includes a pushed part formed by pushing a part of an outer face of the air bag inward to the roll part in a certain pushing direction, such that the roll part has a decreased cross section by the pushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Aki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7673900
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag, first and second inflators, a gas-supply mechanism and a release member for connecting between a holding structure and the airbag. Gas generated by the second inflator is supplied into the airbag when the release member is pulled by the airbag while gas generated by the first inflator inflates the airbag. According to the airbag device, a gas amount supplied into an airbag can be switched according to an occupant's seating position without equipping a sensor for measuring a distance between an occupant and the airbag or a control device for computing the gas amount supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aki Yokoyama, Tomoko Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 7665765
    Abstract: An air bag 12 is spread flatly. Along four lines “R” that extend radially outward, the air bag 12 is sandwiched and held by line part forming units. By using a first press pieces 44, a portion between the neighboring lines “R” is pressed toward the gas inlet opening to form a first gathering portion, and form a ear portion 52 along each line “R”. Then, each ear portion 52 is pressed by a second press piece 45 to form a second gathering portion 54 that is like a bellows. When a gas is introduced into the gas inlet opening 26, the second gathering portion 54 is quickly expanded and increase of internal pressure of the air bag can be controlled. In the folding process, there is no need of turning the air bag 12 and thus a production device can be made simple in construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aki Yokoyama, Tomoko Ninomiya, Yukihiro Naitou
  • Patent number: 7654560
    Abstract: An air bag 1 is provided. At a vehicle side impact, the air bag 1 unfolds from an upper part of a vehicle body downwardly. The air bag 1 includes an airbag body 10 having an inside foundation cloth 8a and an outside foundation cloth 8b, and a pair of inner-cloths 19a, 19b arranged in the airbag body 10. The inside inner-cloth 19a is joined to the outside inner-cloth 19b through two inner junctions 21, 21 separated from each other in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. The inner-cloths 19a, 19b have front ends, rear ends and intermediate portions between the inner junctions 21, 21, all of which are joined to the foundation cloths 8a, 8b through overlapping junctions 22a, 22b. In arrangement, the overlapping junctions 22a of the inside inner-cloth 19a are shifted from the overlapping junctions 22b of the outside inner-cloth 19b forwardly. Consequently, triple-layer tubular expansion chambers 25a, 26, 25b are defined in the airbag body 10, allowing a passenger's head to be received certainly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aki Yokoyama, Junichi Umehara, Katsuaki Iwaki, Yasunori Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20090189379
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag, an adjusting unit capable of adjusting an aperture efficiency of at least one vent hole, a tether belt whose one end is connected to the adjusting unit, and a holding unit for hooking another end of the tether belt. In case where the inflating airbag needs to exert a small reactive force, the adjusting unit is made in a full-opened state at a development early stage with the other end being held by the holding unit and then made in a half-opened until a development final stage with the other end being kept held by the holding unit. In case where the inflating airbag needs to exert a large reactive force, the adjusting unit is made in a full-closed state from a development start to the development final stage with the other end being released from the holding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato UNNO, Aki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7455315
    Abstract: An air bag module includes an inflator for supplying gas, and an air bag supplied with the gas from the inflator, and arranged to expand between an attachment surface and legs of an occupant sitting on a seat. Thickness of the air bag in a direction from the attachment surface to the legs of the occupant is established such that a rear surface of the air bag is substantially parallel to a virtual line extending substantially along a bilateral direction of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Aki Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20080238060
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag, first and second inflators, a gas-supply mechanism and a release member for connecting between a holding structure and the airbag. Gas generated by the second inflator is supplied into the airbag when the release member is pulled by the airbag while gas generated by the first inflator inflates the airbag. According to the airbag device, a gas amount supplied into an airbag can be switched according to an occupant's seating position without equipping a sensor for measuring a distance between an occupant and the airbag or a control device for computing the gas amount supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aki YOKOYAMA, Tomoko Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 7407180
    Abstract: An air bag apparatus includes a folded air bag, an inflator arranged to discharge a high pressure gas into the air bag at a collision of the vehicle, and a container member receiving the air bag, covering a non-deployment side of the air bag, and retaining the inflator. The container member includes a rigid base plate supporting the inflator and the air bag, covering one part of the non-deployment side of the air bag, and supporting a reaction force of the air bag at a deployment of the air bag, and a flexible panel including a connecting portion connected with the base plate, covering the other part of the non-deployment side of the air bag, and being arranged to restrict inflation of the air bag on the non-deployment side at the deployment of the air bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aki Yokoyama, Norimasa Goto
  • Patent number: 7384062
    Abstract: An airbag system includes an airbag having therein a plurality of chambers defined by a partition and a gas introduction portion arranged to face an end of the partition, an inflator having a gas supply portion and arranged opposite to the end of the partition for supplying gas to the gas introduction portion, and a passage arranged between the partition and the inflator and allowing fluid communication between the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aki Yokoyama, Jyunichi Umehara, Takashi Ueda, Katsuhiro Tokita
  • Patent number: 7344154
    Abstract: An airbag is provided which is folded with a duct part and an expansion part, the duct part having an inlet for allowing fluid communication throughout the duct part, the expansion part communicating with the duct part, wherein the airbag comprises an aggregative part obtained by aggregating a downward portion of the airbag, and a plurality of arms obtained by folding an upward portion of the airbag and being in fluid communication along the length direction of the airbag. The arms cover the aggregative part on the back thereof with respect to the expansion direction of the airbag. Thus, even having greater length from one end to another end, the airbag can deploy smoothly with less time difference between the front and the back in the length direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aki Yokoyama, Kazuyuki Inomata, Norihito Mochizuki