Patents by Inventor Hideo Watanabe

Hideo Watanabe 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: 11202938
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core, an intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball have surface hardnesses which satisfy a specific relationship, and the envelope layer, the intermediate layer and the cover have thicknesses which satisfy a specific relationship. Also, the core has a hardness profile in which the hardnesses at the core surface, core center, a position 5 mm from the core center, and a position midway between the surface and center of the core satisfy specific relationships. This golf ball, when used by mid- and high-level amateurs, enables the golfer to maintain an adequate distance on shots with a driver and achieve a good distance on iron shots, has a good spin performance on approach shots and has a good feel on impact. In addition, the ball has an excellent scuff resistance when struck with a grooved wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Akira Kimura, Jun Shindo
  • Patent number: 11179606
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover, the (core diameter)/(ball diameter) value falls within a particular range, the core has a specific hardness profile, and the Shore C hardness relationships among the core center and surface hardnesses and the surface hardnesses of the envelope layer-encased sphere, intermediate layer-encased sphere and ball satisfy the following conditions: core surface hardness<surface hardness of envelope layer-encased sphere<surface hardness of intermediate layer-encased sphere>ball surface hardness,??(1) (surface hardness of envelope layer-encased sphere)?(core center hardness)?28.??(2) Also, the intermediate layer and cover have respective thicknesses which satisfy the condition: cover thickness<intermediate layer thickness.??(3) This ball enables mid-level and skilled amateur golfers to achieve superior distances on driver shots and on iron shots, and moreover has a soft yet good feel at impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20210346765
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover, the (core diameter)/(ball diameter) value falls within a particular range, the core has a specific hardness profile, and the Shore C hardness relationships among the core center and surface hardnesses and the surface hardnesses of the envelope layer-encased sphere, intermediate layer-encased sphere and ball satisfy the following conditions: core surface hardness<surface hardness of envelope layer-encased sphere<surface hardness of intermediate layer-encased sphere>ball surface hardness,??(1) (surface hardness of envelope layer-encased sphere)?(core center hardness)?28.??(2) Also, the envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover have respective thicknesses which satisfy the condition: cover thickness<intermediate layer thickness envelope layer thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20210346764
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover, the (core diameter)/(ball diameter) value falls within a particular range, the core has a specific hardness profile, and the Shore C hardness relationships among the core center and surface hardnesses and the surface hardnesses of the envelope layer-encased sphere, intermediate layer-encased sphere and ball satisfy the following conditions: (1) core surface hardness<surface hardness of envelope layer-encased sphere<surface hardness of intermediate layer-encased sphere>ball surface hardness, (2) (surface hardness of envelope layer-encased sphere)?(core center hardness)?28. Also, the intermediate layer and cover have respective thicknesses which satisfy the condition: (3) cover thickness<intermediate layer thickness. This ball enables mid-level and skilled amateur golfers to achieve superior distances on driver shots and on iron shots, and moreover has a soft yet good feel at impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20210346766
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover, the (core diameter)/(ball diameter) value falls within a particular range, the core has a specific hardness profile, and the Shore C hardness relationships among the core center and surface hardnesses and the surface hardnesses of the envelope layer-encased sphere, intermediate layer-encased sphere and ball satisfy the following conditions: core surface hardness<envelope layer-encased sphere surface hardness<intermediate layer-encased sphere surface hardness>ball surface hardness, (envelope layer-encased sphere surface hardness)?(core center hardness)?28, and (intermediate layer-encased sphere surface hardness)?(core center hardness)?39. Also, the envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover have thicknesses which satisfy the condition: cover thickness<intermediate layer thickness?envelope layer thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Patent number: 11143250
    Abstract: The disclosure is concerned with control system and control method, for a vehicle including a driving power source, drive wheels, a first clutch, and a second clutch. An electronic control unit, which is included in the control system, places the first clutch in a half-engaged state with a predetermined clutch torque capacity, when the vehicle is started, performs start control in a first mode using the second clutch, by gradually increasing a clutch torque capacity of the second clutch from a released state, and switches the start control from the first mode using the second clutch to a second mode using the first clutch, when the increased clutch torque capacity of the second clutch reaches the clutch torque capacity of the first clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Ryosuke Mizuto
  • Patent number: 11103753
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed primarily of a base rubber, has a diameter set in a specific range and has a specially designed internal hardness profile, the intermediate layer and the cover are each formed of resin materials, and the surface hardness of the ball is higher than the surface hardness of the intermediate layer-encased sphere. This ball achieves a satisfactory distance on full shots with a driver and with long and middle irons, provides a good spin performance on approach shots, and has a durability to repeated impact and a scuff resistance that are both excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Atsushi Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20210236884
    Abstract: A golf ball for amateur golfers has both an excellent flight and a good, soft feel when hit by the average golfer whose head speed is not very high. The ball has a compressive deformation B when subjected to a final load of 50 kgf from an initial load of 5 kgf that is from 1.30 to 1.80 mm and a compressive deformation C when subjected to a final load of 90 kgf from an initial load of 5 kgf that is from 2.45 to 2.90 mm. The core of the ball has a hardness profile which satisfies the conditions (1) Cs?Cc?20 and (2) Cs?Cs?3?5.0, wherein Cs is the Shore C hardness at the core surface, Cs?3 is the Shore C hardness 3 mm inside the core and Cc is the Shore C hardness at the core center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20210205668
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core formed of a rubber composition, an intermediate layer formed of a polyurethane material and a cover, the ball satisfies the following condition: surface hardness of ball?surface hardness of intermediate layer-encased sphere. When the ball is struck with a driver at a head speed of 40 m/s, the sum of the time t1 required from contact initiation between the driver and ball for deformation of the ball to reach a maximum value and the time t2 required from the state of maximum ball deformation for the ball and driver clubface to separate is at least 685 microseconds, and the ratio t2/t1 is at least 1.35, and the core has a specific hardness profile. This ball has an excellent flight performance when hit by low or moderate head-speed golfers, is receptive to spin on approach shots and has a good, soft feel at impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20210195884
    Abstract: There are provided a mite attracting agent including: a calcined shell; and a mite attracting composition containing a mite attracting substance, and a mite catcher including the above-described mite attracting agent. Preferably, the mite attracting agent further includes silica gel. The mite attracting agent can reduce a mite allergen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: NIKKAKU LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20210170237
    Abstract: A golf ball for amateur golfers is endowed with an excellent flight and a good feel at impact that is soft yet solid when hit by a golfer whose head speed is not very high. The ball, which includes a core and a cover, has a compressive deformation B when subjected to a final load of 30 kgf from an initial load state of 5 kgf that is from 0.72 to 0.97 mm and a compressive deformation C when subjected to a final load of 60 kgf from an initial load state of 5 kgf that is from 1.55 to 1.85 mm. In addition, the core has a hardness profile which satisfies specific conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Patent number: 11027174
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed primarily of a base rubber and has a diameter set in a specific range, the envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover are each formed of resin materials, and the envelope layer is formed into two layers—an inner layer and an outer layer. The center and surface hardnesses of the core, the surface hardness of the inner envelope layer-encased sphere, the surface hardness of the outer envelope layer-encased sphere, the surface hardness of the intermediate layer-encased sphere and the surface hardness of the ball together satisfy a specific relationship. This ball achieves a satisfactory distance on full shots both with a driver and with irons, in addition to which it is superior in the short game and has a good feel at impact and an excellent scuff resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20210162267
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the envelope layer is formed into two layers—an inner envelope layer and an outer envelope layer. The inner envelope layer-encased sphere, outer envelope layer-encased sphere, intermediate layer-encased sphere and ball have respective surface hardness that satisfy a specific relationship. The inner envelope layer or outer envelope layer is formed primarily of one or more elastomer, and further the core has a particular hardness profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20210140496
    Abstract: The disclosure is concerned with control system and control method, for a vehicle including a driving power source, drive wheels, a first clutch, and a second clutch. An electronic control unit, which is included in the control system, places the first clutch in a half-engaged state with a predetermined clutch torque capacity, when the vehicle is started, performs start control in a first mode using the second clutch, by gradually increasing a clutch torque capacity of the second clutch from a released state, and switches the start control from the first mode using the second clutch to a second mode using the first clutch, when the increased clutch torque capacity of the second clutch reaches the clutch torque capacity of the first clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Ryosuke MIZUTO
  • Patent number: 10987548
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core formed of a rubber composition, an intermediate layer formed of a polyurethane material and a cover, the ball satisfies the following condition: surface hardness of ball?surface hardness of intermediate layer-encased sphere. When the ball is struck with a driver at a head speed of 40 m/s, the sum of the time t1 required from contact initiation between the driver and ball for deformation of the ball to reach a maximum value and the time t2 required from the state of maximum ball deformation for the ball and driver clubface to separate is at least 705 microseconds. This ball has an excellent flight performance when hit by low or moderate head-speed golfers, is receptive to spin on approach shots and has a good, soft feel at impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10982726
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle configured to accurately learn an initial engagement position of a clutch. The control system is applied to a vehicle comprising a clutch that selectively transmits power between a prime mover and drive wheels, and a detector that detects an input speed of the clutch rotated by the prime mover. A controller executes a learning of the initial engagement position of the clutch, if a reaction time until an input speed of the clutch is changed by engaging the clutch gradually while maintaining the input speed of the clutch to a constant speed is shorter than a threshold period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Junya Mizuno, Toshiyuki Tomita
  • Publication number: 20210106878
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed primarily of a base rubber and has a diameter set in a specific range, and the intermediate layer and cover are each formed of resin materials. The core has an internal hardness such that, regarding the hardness at the core center, the hardnesses at positions located at 2 mm intervals from the core center outward up to 16 mm and the core surface hardness, the hardness differences therebetween are set within a specific range. The ball surface hardness is set so as to be higher than the surface hardness of the intermediate layer-encased sphere. This ball achieves a satisfactory distance on full shots not only with a driver, but also with a long iron or a middle iron, in addition to which it has an excellent durability to repeated impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Atsushi KOMATSU
  • Publication number: 20210106879
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed primarily of a base rubber, has a diameter set in a specific range and has a specially designed internal hardness profile, the intermediate layer and the cover are each formed of resin materials, and the surface hardness of the ball is higher than the surface hardness of the intermediate layer-encased sphere. This ball achieves a satisfactory distance on full shots with a driver and with long and middle irons, provides a good spin performance on approach shots, and has a durability to repeated impact and a scuff resistance that are both excellent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Atsushi KOMATSU
  • Publication number: 20210101053
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core, an intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball have surface hardnesses which satisfy a specific relationship, and the envelope layer, the intermediate layer and the cover have thicknesses which satisfy a specific relationship. Also, the core has a hardness profile in which the hardnesses at the core surface, core center, a position 5 mm from the core center, and a position midway between the surface and center of the core satisfy specific relationships. This golf ball, when used by mid- and high-level amateurs, enables the golfer to maintain an adequate distance on shots with a driver and achieve a good distance on iron shots, has a good spin performance on approach shots and has a good feel on impact. In addition, the ball has an excellent scuff resistance when struck with a grooved wedge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Akira KIMURA, Jun SHINDO
  • Patent number: 10967228
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the intermediate layer is formed into two layers—an inner layer and an outer layer. The surface hardness of the envelope layer-encased sphere, the surface hardness of the inner intermediate layer-encased sphere, the surface hardness of the outer intermediate layer-encased sphere and the surface hardness of the ball together satisfy a specific relationship. This ball has an excellent flight when struck by golfers whose head speeds are not that fast and has a soft yet good feel at impact, thus making it highly suitable for amateur golfers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Watanabe