Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Oofune

Hitoshi Oofune 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).

  • Formed article of amorphous alloy having hardened surface and method for production thereof
    Patent number: 6530998
    Abstract: A ceramic hard layer is formed on the surface of a formed article by subjecting the formed article of a substantially amorphous alloy to a heat treatment in an atmosphere containing a reactive gas under the conditions of temperature and time falling within the amorphous region in the isothermal transformation curve (TTT curve) of the alloy. The heat treatment is carried out, for instance, in an atmosphere containing oxygen and/or nitrogen at a concentration of not less than 1 ppm or in the air at a temperature of not less than the lowest temperature required for the oxidation or nitriding reaction of at least one component element of the matrix material. By this heat treatment, it is possible to produce a ceramic hard layer on the surface of the article in such a manner that the content of oxide and/or nitride gradually decreases in the depth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Oofune