Patents by Inventor Masao Arai

Masao Arai 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: 20230120622
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a tobacco plant having a low alkaloid content. In the tobacco plant, a function of a gene encoding aspartate oxidase AO2 is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takanori TAKEUCHI, Masao ARAI, Hisashi UDAGAWA, Hiroshi MAGOME, Ryo NISHIGUCHI, Yoshimitsu TAKAKURA
  • Publication number: 20230071752
    Abstract: The object of an embodiment of the present invention is to improve the quality of a tobacco product. The present invention relates to a tobacco plant in which a mutation is introduced in a genome, the mutation causing suppression of a function of a specific endogenous gene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi MAGOME, Masao ARAI, Kiyoshi OYAMA, Yoshimitsu TAKAKURA, Ryo NISHIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11591606
    Abstract: Provided is a tobacco plant which is suitable for cultivation for harvesting leaf tobaccos. The present invention encompasses (i) a tobacco plant into which a mutation for suppressing the development of primary axillary buds is introduced, (ii) a method of obtaining the tobacco plant, (iii) a harvest from the tobacco plant, and (iv) a processed product of the harvest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Shoichi Suzuki, Kaori Hamano, Masao Arai, Ayako Nomura, Mai Tsukahara
  • Patent number: 11578336
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tobacco plant which is suitable for cultivation for harvesting leaf tobaccos. The present invention includes (i) a tobacco plant in which a mutation for suppressing the development of axillary buds is introduced and (ii) a method of producing the tobacco plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Shoichi Suzuki, Kaori Hamano, Seiki Sato, Masao Arai, Yuta Negishi, Ayako Nomura, Mai Tsukahara
  • Publication number: 20200392523
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tobacco plant which is suitable for cultivation for harvesting leaf tobaccos. The present invention includes (i) a tobacco plant in which a mutation for suppressing the development of axillary buds is introduced and (ii) a method of producing the tobacco plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Shoichi SUZUKI, Kaori HAMANO, Seiki SATO, Masao ARAI, Yuta NEGISHI, Ayako NOMURA, Mai TSUKAHARA
  • Publication number: 20200362362
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a cured tobacco material having an enhanced threonine content. The present invention provides a method of producing a cured tobacco material having an enhanced threonine content, wherein the cured tobacco material is produced from a modified tobacco plant which has been modified such that expression or activity of an endogenous threonine aldolase is reduced or from a part of the modified tobacco plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Satomi TSUKUI, Satoko SANDA, Hisashi UDAGAWA, Tomoya FUJIMURA, Masao ARAI, Akiko KOIKE
  • Patent number: 10640780
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tobacco plant which is suitable for cultivation for harvesting leaf tobaccos. The present invention includes (i) a tobacco plant in which a mutation for suppressing the development of axillary buds is introduced and (ii) a method of producing the tobacco plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Shoichi Suzuki, Kaori Hamano, Seiki Sato, Masao Arai, Yuta Negishi, Ayako Nomura, Mai Tsukahara
  • Publication number: 20200002711
    Abstract: Provided is a tobacco plant which is suitable for cultivation for harvesting leaf tobaccos. The present invention encompasses (i) a tobacco plant into which a mutation for suppressing the development of primary axillary buds is introduced, (ii) a method of obtaining the tobacco plant, (iii) a harvest from the tobacco plant, and (iv) a processed product of the harvest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Shoichi SUZUKI, Kaori HAMANO, Masao ARAI, Ayako NOMURA, Mai TSUKAHARA
  • Publication number: 20190218564
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tobacco plant which is suitable for cultivation for harvesting leaf tobaccos. The present invention includes (i) a tobacco plant in which a mutation for suppressing the development of axillary buds is introduced and (ii) a method of producing the tobacco plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Shoichi SUZUKI, Kaori HAMANO, Seiki SATO, Masao ARAI, Yuta NEGISHI, Ayako NOMURA, Mai TSUKAHARA
  • Patent number: 10047370
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polynucleotide having a function of regulating a content of a plant metabolite, a polypeptide having a function of regulating a content of a plant metabolite, a vector containing the polynucleotide or a part of the polynucleotide, and a transformed plant produced by using the vector. Examples of such polynucleotides or polypeptides include polynucleotides or polypeptides with homology with quinolinate synthase or those which are predicted to be transcription factors. A method for producing the transformed plant is additionally included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Soichiro Noguchi, Shoichi Suzuki, Masao Arai, Kaori Hamano
  • Publication number: 20160272984
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polynucleotide having a function of regulating a content of a plant metabolite, a polypeptide having a function of regulating a content of a plant metabolite, a vector containing the polynucleotide or a part of the polynucleotide, and a transformed plant produced by using the vector. Examples of such polynucleotides or polypeptides include polynucleotides or polypeptides with homology with quinolinate synthase or those which are predicted to be transcription factors. A method for producing the transformed plant is additionally included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Soichiro NOGUCHI, Shoichi SUZUKI, Masao ARAI, Kaori HAMANO
  • Patent number: 9422346
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polynucleotide having a function of regulating a content of a plant metabolite, a polypeptide having a function of regulating a content of a plant metabolite, a vector containing the polynucleotide or a part of the polynucleotide, and a transformed plant produced by using the vector, and a method for producing the transformed plant, and according to the above polynucleotide, polypeptide, vector, transformed plant and method, a novel gene regulating a content of a plant metabolite and use of the novel gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Soichiro Noguchi, Shoichi Suzuki, Masao Arai, Kaori Hamano
  • Publication number: 20130056014
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polynucleotide having a function of regulating a content of a plant metabolite, a polypeptide having a function of regulating a content of a plant metabolite, a vector containing the polynucleotide or a part of the polynucleotide, and a transformed plant produced by using the vector, and a method for producing the transformed plant, and according to the above polynucleotide, polypeptide, vector, transformed plant and method, a novel gene regulating a content of a plant metabolite and use of the novel gene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Soichiro NOGUCHI, Shoichi Suzuki, Masao Arai, Kaori Hamano
  • Patent number: 7657174
    Abstract: A digital still camera includes a camera body. A lens unit is retained on the camera body in a removable manner. A protection cover is secured to the camera body, and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the protection cover, when in the closed position, closes an exposure opening formed in the camera body, and when in the open position, opens the exposure opening. Cover moving transmission levers set the protection cover in the open position when the lens unit is retained on the camera body, and set the protection cover in the closed position when the lens unit is removed from the camera body. Furthermore, bayonet claw portions engage the lens unit with the camera body. The transmission levers are actuated in response to movement of the bayonet claw portions. A compression coil spring biases the protection cover toward the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Arai
  • Publication number: 20080002968
    Abstract: A digital still camera includes a camera body. A lens unit is retained on the camera body in a removable manner. A protection cover is secured to the camera body, and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the protection cover, when in the closed position, closes an exposure opening formed in the camera body, and when in the open position, opens the exposure opening. Cover moving transmission levers set the protection cover in the open position when the lens unit is retained on the camera body, and set the protection cover in the closed position when the lens unit is removed from the camera body. Furthermore, bayonet claw portions engage the lens unit with the camera body. The transmission levers are actuated in response to movement of the bayonet claw portions. A compression coil spring biases the protection cover toward the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Masao Arai
  • Patent number: 6766894
    Abstract: A movable body movable on a given path is provided with a support section for an object to be carried. Supports for supporting an object to be carried are disposed in the lower portion of the support section on the right and left sides thereof such that a support position can be changed. The given path is provided with a changer positioned between the right and left supports for changing the support position provided by the supports. The movable body is moved until it is stopped with the now-empty support section opposite the changer. The changer is then actuated, thereby changing the support position provided by the supports. Thus, different kinds of objects to be carried can each be stably supported. The common changer simplifies the configuration and operation and enables the support position provided by the right and left supports to be changed quickly and reliably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Arai, Tatsuhiko Sakata, Toshiro Yoneoka, Kei Nakamuta
  • Publication number: 20030221219
    Abstract: The present invention relates a method for transforming a C3 plant to provide it with a C4 photoshynthetic pathway by way of the introduction of some genes participating in a C4 photosynthetic pathway. To this end, the method of the invention comprises introducing a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and a gene coding for a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) which has been connected with a DNA fragment coding for a transit peptide into a C3 plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Masao Arai, Shoichi Suzuki, Nobuhiko Murai, Shigehiro Yamada, Shozo Ohta, James N. Burnell
  • Patent number: 6610913
    Abstract: The present invention relates a method for transforming a rice plant to provide it with a C4 photosynthetic pathway by way of the introduction of some genes participating in a C4 photosynthetic pathway. To this end, the method of the invention comprises introducing a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and a gene coding for a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) which has been connected with a DNA fragment coding for a transit peptide into a rice plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco, Inc.
    Inventors: Masao Arai, Shoichi Suzuki, Nobuhiko Murai, Shigehiro Yamada, Shozo Ohta, James N. Burnell
  • Publication number: 20030000413
    Abstract: A movable body (9) movable on a given path (4) is provided with a support section (30) for an object to be carried. Supports (50) for supporting, from below, an object to be carried are disposed in the lower portion of the support section (30) on the right and left sides thereof such that a support position can be changed. The given path (4) is provided with a changing means (70) positioned between the right and left supports (50) for changing the support position provided by the supports (50). The movable body (9) is moved until it is stopped with the support section (30), which is now empty, opposed to the changing means (70), whereupon the latter is actuated, whereby the support position provided by the supports (50) can be changed. Thus, a plurality of kinds of objects to be carried can each be stably supported. The common changing means (70) simplifies the configuration and operation and enables the support position provided by the right and left supports (50) to be changed quickly and reliably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Arai, Tatsuhiko Sakata, Toshiro Yoneoka, Kei Nakamuta
  • Patent number: 6260674
    Abstract: A friction material contains a fibrous reinforcement, a binder, and a fricton modifier. The binder content of the friction material on the back plate side is made to be larger than the binder content of the friction material on the friction surface side. The fibrous reinforcement content of the friction material on the back plate side is made to be smaller than the fibrous reinforcement content of the friction material on the friction surface side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignees: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd., Akebono Research and Development Centre Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Arai