Patents by Inventor Yoji Hamada
Yoji Hamada 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).
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Publication number: 20240074549Abstract: A watchband can comfortably secure an electronic device to a wrist of a user. The watchband can include a base having a contact surface opposite an engagement surface, contact loops on the contact surface for contacting a user, and engagement loops on the engagement surface for engaging hooks. The hooks can be provided on the engagement surface, opposite some of the contact loops. Edge sections of the base can wrap around a central section to define an end of the base. A tab can extend from an end of the base to facilitate attachment, adjustment, and/or removal of the watch band. The tab can further help maintain the assembled parts in place to enhance durability of the watchband.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Donald L. OLMSTEAD, Ayumi KUSANO, Clement C. TISSANDIER, Eiryo SHIRAISHI, Mengxi ZHAO, Molly J. ANDERSON, Osamu YABE, Seul Bi KIM, Tirshathah A. HUNTER, Yoji HAMADA
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Publication number: 20240074550Abstract: A watchband can comfortably secure an electronic device to a wrist of a user. The watchband can include a base having a contact surface opposite an engagement surface and an engagement ribbon forming loops on the engagement surface of the base for receiving a hook of a buckle. The engagement ribbon can be interwoven with the base to provide secure anchoring for the hook within one of the loops. The woven portions of the watchband can be securely coupled to end structures, such as the buckle, retaining rings, and/or a connector. The watchband provides adjustable lengths to accommodate different fit configurations as desired.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Timothy S. Lui, Clement C. Tissandier, Donald L. Olmstead, Molly J. Anderson, Osamu Yabe, Seul Bi Kim, Yoji Hamada
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Publication number: 20240074551Abstract: A watchband can comfortably secure an electronic device to a wrist of a user. The watchband can include a base having a contact surface opposite an engagement surface and an engagement ribbon forming loops on the engagement surface of the base for receiving a hook of a buckle. The engagement ribbon can be interwoven with the base to provide secure anchoring for the hook within one of the loops. The woven portions of the watchband can be securely coupled to end structures, such as the buckle, retaining rings, and/or a connector. The watchband provides adjustable lengths to accommodate different fit configurations as desired.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Seul Bi KIM, Camille I. HENROT, Clement C. TISSANDIER, Donald L. OLMSTEAD, Jessica J. LU, Kristen L. CRETELLA, Molly J. ANDERSON, Tirshathah A. HUNTER, Yoji HAMADA
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Patent number: 11737528Abstract: A watchband can comfortably secure an electronic device to a wrist of a user. The watchband can include a base having a contact surface opposite an engagement surface, contact loops on the contact surface for contacting a user, and engagement loops on the engagement surface for engaging hooks. The hooks can be provided on the engagement surface, opposite some of the contact loops. The base can include base threads, and the contact loops and engagement loops can be formed by contact threads and engagement threads woven about some of the base threads between the contact surface and the engagement surface. Between adjacent engagement loops, the engagement thread can be more securely attached to the base than is the contact thread between adjacent contact loops.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin A. Shaffer, Yoji Hamada, Motohide Hatanaka, Hsiang-Hung Chen, Eiryo Shiraishi
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Publication number: 20230079679Abstract: Characteristics of a watch band can change when placed in different configurations, and each of these characteristics can be correlated with each of the various configurations. The characteristics can be measured to detect in which of the various configurations the watch band is in. For example, the watch band can include an adjustable capacitor that changes it capacitance when the watch band changes its configuration. For example, the capacitance can change based on stretching of the watch band, bending of the watch band, and/or securement and release of an engagement element. The watch or another device can perform one or more operations based on the detected characteristic and configuration of the watch band.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2021Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: William LEITH, Daniel W. LABOVE, Rimple BHATIA, Osamu YABE, Yoji HAMADA, Timothy S. LUI
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Patent number: 11518138Abstract: Embodiments disclosed are directed to a woven fabric band that is capable of being secured to another object using threads or the band itself. The woven fabric band may include an inner layer having a first temperature melting point and an outer layer having a second temperature melting point that is higher than the first temperature melting point. When heat having the first temperature is applied to the woven fabric band, the inner layer of the woven fabric band melts while the outer layer remains in its original state. When the inner layer melts, the inner layer conforms to a first shape. As a result of the inner layer conforming to the first shape, the outer layer also conforms to the same shape.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Edward Siahaan, Douglas J. Weber, Hsiang Hung Chen, Naoto Matsuyuki, Yoji Hamada, Teodor Dabov, Whitney D. Mattson, Ying-Liang Su
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Patent number: 11499255Abstract: Embodiments described herein may take the form of a textile product having one or more regions of reduced density. These reduced density volumes may form one or more features in the product. For example, the reduced density volumes may have better acoustic transmission properties, optical transmission properties, flexibility, and the like. Sound transmission may be enhanced not only in terms of clarity, but also overall range. That is, certain audio frequencies that the textile may normally block when in an unaltered state may pass through a textile having reduced density or reduced density regions.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: John J. Baker, Michael B. Howes, Michael S. Nashner, Yoji Hamada
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Publication number: 20220273078Abstract: A watchband can comfortably secure an electronic device to a wrist of a user. The watchband can include a base having a contact surface opposite an engagement surface, contact loops on the contact surface for contacting a user, and engagement loops on the engagement surface for engaging hooks. The hooks can be provided on the engagement surface, opposite some of the contact loops. The base can include base threads, and the contact loops and engagement loops can be formed by contact threads and engagement threads woven about some of the base threads between the contact surface and the engagement surface. Between adjacent engagement loops, the engagement thread can be more securely attached to the base than is the contact thread between adjacent contact loops.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Benjamin A. SHAFFER, Yoji HAMADA, Motohide HATANAKA, Hsiang-Hung CHEN, Eiryo SHIRAISHI
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Patent number: 11363861Abstract: A watchband can comfortably secure an electronic device to a wrist of a user. The watchband can include a base having a contact surface opposite an engagement surface, contact loops on the contact surface for contacting a user, and engagement loops on the engagement surface for engaging hooks. The hooks can be provided on the engagement surface, opposite some of the contact loops. The base can include base threads, and the contact loops and engagement loops can be formed by contact threads and engagement threads woven about some of the base threads between the contact surface and the engagement surface. Between adjacent engagement loops, the engagement thread can be more securely attached to the base than is the contact thread between adjacent contact loops.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin A. Shaffer, Yoji Hamada, Motohide Hatanaka, Hsiang-Hung Chen, Eiryo Shiraishi
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Publication number: 20200359754Abstract: A watchband can comfortably secure an electronic device to a wrist of a user. The watchband can include a base having a contact surface opposite an engagement surface, contact loops on the contact surface for contacting a user, and engagement loops on the engagement surface for engaging hooks. The hooks can be provided on the engagement surface, opposite some of the contact loops. The base can include base threads, and the contact loops and engagement loops can be formed by contact threads and engagement threads woven about some of the base threads between the contact surface and the engagement surface. Between adjacent engagement loops, the engagement thread can be more securely attached to the base than is the contact thread between adjacent contact loops.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Benjamin A. SHAFFER, Yoji HAMADA, Motohide HATANAKA, Hsiang-Hung CHEN, Eiryo SHIRAISHI
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Patent number: 10786053Abstract: A woven material including a four layer construction formed by distinct groups of warp threads, and a method of forming the woven material. The woven material may include a first group of warp threads, and an interior weft thread portion coupled to the first group of warp threads. The woven material may also include a second group of warp threads substantially surrounding the first group of warp threads and the interior weft thread portion, and an exterior weft thread portion coupled to the second group of warp threads.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2015Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Edward Siahaan, Whitney D. Mattson, Yoji Hamada
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Patent number: 10750831Abstract: A watchband can comfortably secure an electronic device to a wrist of a user. The watchband can include a base having a contact surface opposite an engagement surface, contact loops on the contact surface for contacting a user, and engagement loops on the engagement surface for engaging hooks. The hooks can be provided on the engagement surface, opposite some of the contact loops. The base can include base threads, and the contact loops and engagement loops can be formed by contact threads and engagement threads woven about some of the base threads between the contact surface and the engagement surface. Between adjacent engagement loops, the engagement thread can be more securely attached to the base than is the contact thread between adjacent contact loops.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin A. Shaffer, Yoji Hamada, Motohide Hatanaka, Hsiang-Hung Chen, Eiryo Shiraishi
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Publication number: 20200255996Abstract: Embodiments described herein may take the form of a textile product having one or more regions of reduced density. These reduced density volumes may form one or more features in the product. For example, the reduced density volumes may have better acoustic transmission properties, optical transmission properties, flexibility, and the like. Sound transmission may be enhanced not only in terms of clarity, but also overall range. That is, certain audio frequencies that the textile may normally block when in an unaltered state may pass through a textile having reduced density or reduced density regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: John J. Baker, Michael B. Howes, Michael S. Nashner, Yoji Hamada
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Patent number: 10568396Abstract: A woven material (100) including bonding fibers (108) and a method of reinforcing woven material using bonding fibers is disclosed. The woven material (100) includes a plurality of warp threads (102), and at least one weft thread (104) coupled to the warp threads (102). The woven material (100) also includes a plurality of bonding fibers (108). The bonding fibers (108) are positioned in parallel with the warp threads (102), and/or in parallel with the weft thread(s) (104). Additionally, the bonding fibers (108) are formed from a material having a melting temperature that is lower than a melting temperature of the material(s) used to form the warp threads (102) and the weft thread(s) (104) of the woven material.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2015Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Yoji Hamada, Peter F. Coxeter, Ying-Liang Su, Edward Siahaan, Whitney D. Mattson, Naoto Matsuyuki
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Patent number: 10303210Abstract: A portable electronic device may have an electronic device strap. The strap may include inner and outer fabric layers and optional intermediate fabric layers. The inner fabric layer may have strands of material that are characterized by a larger denier per filament value than the outer fabric layer to help draw moisture away from the body of a user. The fabric layers may have stretchable warp fibers that allow the strap to be stretched. Weft fibers at the bottom of grooves that span the width of the strap may be provided with different colors than other weft strands. When the strap is stretched, the visibility of the weft fibers at the bottoms of the grooves may increase. A hook-and-loop fastener may be used to close the strap. Loops for the fastener may be formed from warp strands and may have multiple sizes.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kirk M. Mayer, Yoji Hamada, Liming Wang
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Patent number: 10227721Abstract: Woven material and altering the weave pattern of the woven material. The woven material may comprise a first portion comprising a weave pattern formed by a plurality of warp threads and at least one weft thread woven between the plurality of warp threads. The first portion may have a first thickness. The woven material may also comprise a locally thinned portion positioned adjacent the first portion. The locally thinned portion may comprise an altered weave pattern, which may comprise the plurality of warp threads positioned on a single side of the at least one weft thread, and/or the at least one weft thread woven between the plurality of warp threads in the locally thinned portion is separated by a first distance. The first distance may be greater than a second distance positioned between the at least one weft thread woven between the plurality of warp threads in the first portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Motohide Hatanaka, Ying-Liang Su, Yoji Hamada
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Publication number: 20190029373Abstract: A watchband can comfortably secure an electronic device to a wrist of a user. The watchband can include a base having a contact surface opposite an engagement surface, contact loops on the contact surface for contacting a user, and engagement loops on the engagement surface for engaging hooks. The hooks can be provided on the engagement surface, opposite some of the contact loops. The base can include base threads, and the contact loops and engagement loops can be formed by contact threads and engagement threads woven about some of the base threads between the contact surface and the engagement surface. Between adjacent engagement loops, the engagement thread can be more securely attached to the base than is the contact thread between adjacent contact loops.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2017Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: Benjamin A. SHAFFER, Yoji HAMADA, Motohide HATANAKA, Hsiang-Hung CHEN, Eiryo SHIRAISHI
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Patent number: 10077517Abstract: Embodiments described herein may take the form of a textile fabric, including: a first region defined by a first plurality of textile fibers; a second region adjacent the first region and being formed from a second plurality of textile fibers and a hot melt material adjacent the second plurality of textile fibers; wherein the first region is free of hot melt material. Other embodiments may take the form of a method for fabricating a textile product, including the operations of: applying heat to a textile having associated hot melt fibers, thereby melting the hot melt fibers; modifying a mechanical property of a portion of the textile by introducing a solvent to the textile; and stopping an action of the solvent on the textile when the mechanical property reaches a target.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: James C. Whitley, John J. Baker, Kathryn P. Crews, Yoji Hamada
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Patent number: 9938646Abstract: A wearable band includes a woven material having two or more stretch regions. The different stretch regions can be formed by varying the tension on subsets of the warp threads, the weft threads, or both the warp and weft threads. A system for producing the woven material can include two or more tension control devices operably connected to a processing device. Each tension control device is configured to adjust the amount of tension in a respective subset of threads (e.g., warp threads) in the woven material during a weaving operation. The processing device is configured to select thread tension patterns for the subsets of threads used during the weaving operation. Each thread tension pattern includes tension settings for the subsets of threads, where at least one tension setting in one thread tension pattern differs from the tension settings in the other tension patterns.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Yoji Hamada, Matthew D. Rohrbach, Daniel A. Podhajny, Ying-Liang Su, Douglas J. Weber, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Motohide Hatanaka
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Publication number: 20180042368Abstract: A portable electronic device may have an electronic device strap. The strap may include inner and outer fabric layers and optional intermediate fabric layers. The inner fabric layer may have strands of material that are characterized by a larger denier per filament value than the outer fabric layer to help draw moisture away from the body of a user. The fabric layers may have stretchable warp fibers that allow the strap to be stretched. Weft fibers at the bottom of grooves that span the width of the strap may be provided with different colors than other weft strands. When the strap is stretched, the visibility of the weft fibers at the bottoms of the grooves may increase. A hook-and-loop fastener may be used to close the strap. Loops for the fastener may be formed from warp strands and may have multiple sizes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Kirk M. Mayer, Yoji Hamada, Liming Wang