Patents by Inventor Masahiko Ueda

Masahiko Ueda 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: 10773143
    Abstract: Provided is a fitting apparatus for selecting a golf club suited to a golfer, including: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a measurement value obtained by measuring a swing action of a test club by the golfer, with a measurement device; a calculation unit configured to calculate a first swing index and a second swing index related to the swing action, based on the measurement value; a determination unit configured to determine an optimal swingability index, which is a swingability index of the golf club suited to the golfer, according to a magnitude of the first swing index, and determine an optimal stiffness index representing stiffness of a shaft suited to the golfer, according to a magnitude of the second swing index; and a selection unit configured to select at least one of a golf club and a shaft matching the optimal swingability index and the optimal stiffness index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke Okazaki, Masahiko Ueda
  • Patent number: 10639525
    Abstract: A golf club set includes a plurality of golf clubs 1 having different loft angles. The golf clubs 1 include at least one 1st golf club 1A having a loft angle of less than 34 degrees, and at least one 2nd golf club 1B having a loft angle of not less than 34 degrees. Each of the at least one 1st golf club 1A and the at least one 2nd golf club 1B comprises a clubface 3 provided with a plurality of face grooves 8 having a depth. The depth of the face grooves 8 of the at least one 2nd golf club 1B is larger than the depth of the face grooves 8 of the at least one 1st golf club 1A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Ueda, Masahiko Ueda, Shimpei Oyama, Yuki Nagano, Satoru Hanamitsu, Tomoya Hirano, Kenji Kii, Hiroshi Abe, Yasushi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 10478682
    Abstract: A golf club set includes at least one first golf club whose loft angle is not less than 46 degrees and less than 56 degrees, and at least one second golf club whose loft angle is not less than 56 degrees and less than 60 degrees. The first and second golf clubs each comprise a face provided with score lines each formed by a groove having a groove bottom and a pair of opposite grooves walls which are inclined at an inclination angle with respect to a normal direction to the face so that the groove width between the opposite grooves walls is increased from the groove bottom toward the face. The inclination angle of the groove walls of the score lines of the first golf club is in the range from 28 to 42 degrees. The inclination angle of the groove walls of the score lines of the second golf club is in the range from 23 to 37 degrees and smaller than that of the first golf club.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Ueda, Masahiko Ueda, Shimpei Oyama, Yasushi Sugimoto, Takashi Nakamura, Tomoya Hirano
  • Publication number: 20190314703
    Abstract: Provided is a sensitive golf club with a sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a battery, a sensor module configured to measure sensor data indicating a state of the golf club using power from the battery, a communications unit configured to wirelessly transmit the sensor data to an external device using power from the battery, and a control unit configured to control operation of the sensor module and the communications unit using power from the battery. The sensor unit has an A mode, and a B mode in which operation of the communications unit is suppressed compared to the A mode. The control unit is configured to judge whether or not the golf club is prepared for a shot based on the sensor data, and switch between the A mode and B mode based on whether or not the golf club is prepared for a shot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahide ONUKI, Masahiko UEDA, Kousuke OKAZAKI, Yuto NAKAMURA, Yuki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20190282862
    Abstract: A golf club set includes a plurality of golf clubs 1 having different loft angles. The golf clubs 1 include at least one 1st golf club 1A having a loft angle of less than 34 degrees, and at least one 2nd golf club 1B having a loft angle of not less than 34 degrees. Each of the at least one 1st golf club 1A and the at least one 2nd golf club 1B comprises a clubface 3 provided with a plurality of face grooves 8 having a depth. The depth of the face grooves 8 of the at least one 2nd golf club 1B is larger than the depth of the face grooves 8 of the at least one 1st golf club 1A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi UEDA, Masahiko UEDA, Shimpei OYAMA, Yuki NAGANO, Satoru HANAMITSU, Tomoya HIRANO, Kenji KII, Hiroshi ABE, Yasushi SUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190269994
    Abstract: Provided is a virtual golf simulation apparatus including a processor. The processor is connected to an output device and is configured to acquire measurement data obtained by using a measurement device to measure an actual shot performed by a golfer, analyze a shot characteristic of the golfer based on the measurement data, virtually generate a virtual golfer having a shot characteristic corresponding to the shot characteristic of the golfer, receive, from the golfer, an instruction instructing the virtual golfer to perform an action in a virtual space, simulate a shot of the virtual golfer in the virtual space in accordance with the instruction, and output a result of the simulation to the output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kousuke OKAZAKI, Yuto NAKAMURA, Masahiko UEDA
  • Patent number: 10384115
    Abstract: Provided is a GUI display device that is able to explain the movement for holding the wrist cock and the movement for releasing the wrist cock during a golf swing visually in easily understandable manner. The GUI display device includes a display control part. The display control part simultaneously displays, on the GUI screen, a first graphic G1(i) representing a strength with which a wrist cock is held at an i-th timing during a swing motion of a golf club, and a second graphic G2(i) representing the strength with which the wrist cock is released at the i-th timing, where i=1, 2, . . . , N (N being an integer of 2 or more).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke Okazaki, Masahiko Ueda, Yuto Nakamura, Satoru Hanamitsu
  • Patent number: 10252106
    Abstract: A golf swing analysis apparatus for analyzing a swing action of a golf club is provided. The golf swing analysis apparatus comprises an acquisition unit configured to acquire a measurement value obtained by measuring the swing action using a measurement device; a grip behavior derivation unit configured to derive a behavior of a grip of the golf club that occurs during the swing action, based on the measurement value; and a shoulder behavior derivation unit configured to derive a behavior of a pseudo shoulder of a golfer that occurs during the swing action, based on the behavior of the grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke Okazaki, Masahiko Ueda, Masatoshi Kato, Yuki Nagano
  • Publication number: 20180311540
    Abstract: A golf club set includes at least one first golf club whose loft angle is not less than 46 degrees and less than 56 degrees, and at least one second golf club whose loft angle is not less than 56 degrees and less than 60 degrees. The first and second golf clubs each comprise a face provided with score lines each formed by a groove having a groove bottom and a pair of opposite grooves walls which are inclined at an inclination angle with respect to a normal direction to the face so that the groove width between the opposite grooves walls is increased from the groove bottom toward the face. The inclination angle of the groove walls of the score lines of the first golf club is in the range from 28 to 42 degrees. The inclination angle of the groove walls of the score lines of the second golf club is in the range from 23 to 37 degrees and smaller than that of the first golf club.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi UEDA, Masahiko UEDA, Shimpei OYAMA, Yasushi SUGIMOTO, Takashi NAKAMURA, Tomoya HIRANO
  • Patent number: 9881137
    Abstract: Provided is a fitting apparatus that accurately and objectively determines an optimal swingability index, which is a swingability index of a golf club suited to a golfer. The fitting apparatus is provided with an acquisition unit, a calculation unit, and a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires a measurement value obtained by measuring a swing action of a test club by the golfer with a measurement device. The calculation unit calculates a swing index indicating a feature amount of the swing action, based on the measurement value. The determination unit determines the optimal swingability index, according to a magnitude of the swing index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD., SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke Okazaki, Masatoshi Kato, Masahiko Ueda, Naoyoshi Ueda, Shimpei Oyama
  • Publication number: 20170354859
    Abstract: Provided is a GUI display device that is able to explain the movement for holding the wrist cock and the movement for releasing the wrist cock during a golf swing visually in easily understandable manner. The GUI display device includes a display control part. The display control part simultaneously displays, on the GUI screen, a first graphic G1(i) representing a strength with which a wrist cock is held at an i-th timing during a swing motion of a golf club, and a second graphic G2(i) representing the strength with which the wrist cock is released at the i-th timing, where i=1, 2, . . . , N (N being an integer of 2 or more).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicants: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD., SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke OKAZAKI, Masahiko UEDA, Yuto NAKAMURA, Satoru HANAMITSU
  • Publication number: 20170340936
    Abstract: Provided is an impact point estimation apparatus that is capable of estimating, easily and with high accuracy, an impact point on a face surface of a golf club head at the time of a golf swing. The impact point estimation apparatus includes an acquisition part configured to acquire time-series sensor data that is output from at least one of an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor attached to at least one of a grip and a shaft of a golf club and an estimation part configured to estimate the impact point, according to a shaft characteristic which is a characteristic of the shaft, based on the sensor data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicants: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD., SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru HANAMITSU, Masahiko UEDA, Kousuke OKAZAKI, Yuto NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 9821209
    Abstract: A golf swing analysis apparatus capable of estimating the strike point of the ball on the face in a simple manner when a golf club is swung is provided. The apparatus is provided with a derivation unit, a calculation unit, and an estimation unit to analyze a swing using a golf club having a grip, a shaft and a head. The derivation unit derives analytical data including at least one of time-series angular velocity data and time-series acceleration data in an analysis time interval near impact, from sensor data output from at least one of an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor attached to at least one of the grip and the shaft. The calculation unit calculates a feature amount of a waveform of the analytical data. The estimation unit estimates an impact position of a ball on a face of the head, according to the feature amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignees: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD., SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD
    Inventors: Masahiko Ueda, Kousuke Okazaki, Yuto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9795841
    Abstract: A golf club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6, and a grip 8. A club inertia moment about a swing axis is defined as Isw. A club inertia moment about a grip end is defined as Ige. Ige is 2920 (kg·cm2) or greater and less than 2970 (kg·cm2). Isw/Ige is equal to or less than 2.48. A club weight is defined as Wc (kg), an axial direction distance from the grip end to a center of gravity of the club is defined as Lc (cm), and a club inertia moment about the center of gravity of the club is defined as Ic (kg·cm2). Isw is calculated by Equation (1) below. Ige is calculated by Equation (2) below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Ueda, Masahiko Ueda, Yasushi Sugimoto, Takashi Nakamura, Seiji Hayase, Wataru Kimizuka
  • Patent number: 9776055
    Abstract: A golf club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6, and a grip 8. A club inertia moment about a swing axis is defined as Isw. A club inertia moment about a grip end is defined as Ige. Ige is 2870 (kg·cm2) or greater and less than 2920 (kg·cm2). Isw/Ige is equal to or less than 2.46. A club weight is defined as Wc (kg), an axial direction distance from the grip end to a center of gravity of the club is defined as Lc (cm), and a club inertia moment about the center of gravity of the club is defined as Ic (kg·cm2). Isw is calculated by Equation (1) below. Ige is calculated by Equation (2) below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Ueda, Masahiko Ueda, Yasushi Sugimoto, Takashi Nakamura, Seiji Hayase, Wataru Kimizuka
  • Publication number: 20170246517
    Abstract: A head 2 includes a face surface 4, a back surface 6, and a sole surface 8. The back surface 6 includes a top side region Rt and a sole side region Rs. The sole side region Rs includes a sole side inclination surface Sb1 inclined to increase a face thickness toward a sole side, a plurality of back recessed parts Rb1 formed on the sole side inclination surface Sb1, and a wall WL1 formed between the back recessed parts Rb1 adjacent to each other. A low specific gravity member X1 having a specific gravity lower than the specific gravity of the face material is disposed on at least one of the back recessed parts Rb1. The head 2 has a loft angle of equal to or greater than 42°. The head 2 has a sweet spot height of equal to or greater than 19 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicants: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD., SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi UEDA, Masahiko UEDA, Shimpei OYAMA, Yasushi SUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170065866
    Abstract: Provided is a fitting apparatus for selecting a golf club suited to a golfer, including: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a measurement value obtained by measuring a swing action of a test club by the golfer, with a measurement device; a calculation unit configured to calculate a first swing index and a second swing index related to the swing action, based on the measurement value; a determination unit configured to determine an optimal swingability index, which is a swingability index of the golf club suited to the golfer, according to a magnitude of the first swing index, and determine an optimal stiffness index representing stiffness of a shaft suited to the golfer, according to a magnitude of the second swing index; and a selection unit configured to select at least one of a golf club and a shaft matching the optimal swingability index and the optimal stiffness index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicants: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD., SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke OKAZAKI, Masahiko UEDA
  • Patent number: 9586107
    Abstract: A golf club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6, and a grip 8. A club inertia moment about a swing axis is defined as Isw. A club inertia moment about a grip end is defined as Ige. Ige is 2820 (kg·cm2) or greater and less than 2870 (kg·cm2). Isw/Ige is equal to or less than 2.42. A club weight is defined as Wc (kg), an axial direction distance from the grip end to a center of gravity of the club is defined as Lc (cm), and a club inertia moment about the center of gravity of the club is defined as Ic (kg·cm2). Isw is calculated by Equation (1) below. Ige is calculated by Equation (2) below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Ueda, Masahiko Ueda, Yasushi Sugimoto, Takashi Nakamura, Seiji Hayase, Wataru Kimizuka
  • Patent number: 9452331
    Abstract: A fitting method of a shaft of a golf club for selecting a shaft matching a golfer based on a swing of the golfer. The method includes the steps of obtaining measurement values from a sensor attached to a grip of a golf club; determining address, top, and impact of a swing from the measurement values; and selecting a shaft that matches a golfer through a usage of the swing characteristic amounts and values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD., SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke Okazaki, Masahiko Ueda, Masatoshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20160184632
    Abstract: A golf swing analysis apparatus capable of estimating the strike point of the ball on the face in a simple manner when a golf club is swung is provided. The apparatus is provided with a derivation unit, a calculation unit, and an estimation unit to analyze a swing using a golf club having a grip, a shaft and a head. The derivation unit derives analytical data including at least one of time-series angular velocity data and time-series acceleration data in an analysis time interval near impact, from sensor data output from at least one of an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor attached to at least one of the grip and the shaft. The calculation unit calculates a feature amount of a waveform of the analytical data. The estimation unit estimates an impact position of a ball on a face of the head, according to the feature amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicants: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD., SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Ueda, Kousuke Okazaki, Yuto Nakamura