Patents Assigned to Mizuno Corporation
  • Patent number: 10980315
    Abstract: In a sole structure, a first projection can be deformed more easily toward a heel than tiptoe in a through hole of a sole component, due to a heel side gap which is formed between an inclined surface of the first projection and a wall of the first through hole located closer to the heel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Yoshikawa, Takashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10967235
    Abstract: A bat, which has a hollow barrel and an internal assembly configured to resist deformation of the hollow barrel, is disclosed. The internal assembly includes multiple rods disposed longitudinally within the hollow barrel. The internal assembly can include a deformable ring having a substantially circular outer wall having a diameter less than an inner diameter of the hollow barrel and multiple holes, with each hole configured to at least partially receive a rod of the multiple rods. The bat can have an end cap including end cap holes extending partially through the end cap, with each end cap hole configured to at least partially receive a rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Kikuchi, Yohei Yamashita, David Llewellyn, Thu Van Nguyen, Chi-Hung Lee, Renqin Zhang
  • Patent number: 10945486
    Abstract: A sole body includes a groove whose inner wall surfaces can be caused to come close to, and separate from, each other with an adjustment mechanism, and a transformable portion provided in the groove, extending between the inner wall surfaces, and elastically deformable. The transformable portion includes: rising portions which are continuous with the inner wall surfaces and extend in the thickness direction of the sole body while the inner wall surfaces have come close to each other; and a coupling portion for coupling the rising portions to each other at one end. A first cavity is provided between the inner wall surfaces and the rising portions, while a second cavity is provided between the rising portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: MIZUNO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Ito, Shin Hirai
  • Patent number: 10941507
    Abstract: A stretchable member includes: a flat base made of a stretchable knitted fabric; and a limiting part extending in a stretching direction of the base, formed integrally with the base while having both ends in a length direction knitted in, and fixed to, the base, and configured to limit stretch of the base. The limiting part is longer than the distance between fixing points at which the limiting part is fixed to the base in an unstretched state, and is made of a knitted fabric which has a flat band shape and which is configured to become slack with respect to the base when the base is in the unstretched state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Iuchi, Kohei Yamada
  • Patent number: 10932518
    Abstract: A support is configured such that a bulge is allowed to deform toward a deformation space due to the deformation space when the deformation space is in an open state, and that the bulge is allowed to deform upward and a buffer member is compressively deformed when the deformation space is in a closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: MIZUNO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Matsui, Kazunori Iuchi, Natsuki Sato
  • Patent number: 10933441
    Abstract: A tow prepreg manufacturing apparatus applies resin to an original tow of reinforcing fibers. The tow prepreg manufacturing apparatus includes an oiling roller, a scraper, a resin reservoir, a tube pump, and a controller. The oiling roller is supplied with resin while rotating at a predetermined rotation speed. The scraper adjusts the shape of the resin supplied onto the oiling roller. The resin reservoir supplies resin to the oiling roller. The tube pump discharges resin to the resin reservoir. The controller controls the tube pump so that the amount of resin held in the resin reservoir remains constant and controls the rotation speed of the oiling roller so that a resin content of a wound tow prepreg becomes equal to a target resin content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: MIZUNO CORPORATION, MIZUNO TECHNICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mototaka Iwata, Akiyoshi Utsumi
  • Patent number: 10926141
    Abstract: A golf club head of the wood-type, including a body having a ball-striking face and a sole, is disclosed. The sole can include a wave slot for adding additional weight to the golf club head and for providing improved performance. The wave slot can include a front sidewall, a rear sidewall, and at least two waves. The wave slot can be open-ended. The waves can be positioned between the front and rear sidewalls and can each include a valley portion at the lowest point of the wave such that the valley portion does not protrude below the sole. The wave slot can also have two, three, or more waves, which can have heights that decrease as the position of the waves increases with respect to the ball-striking face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: David Llewellyn, Kei Tsuji, Arata Kamo
  • Patent number: 10926156
    Abstract: A catching tool for baseball according to the present invention includes an inner stall including an inner finger stall having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and an outer stall including an outer finger stall. The outer finger stall includes a projecting bonding portion projecting inwardly. The inner finger stall includes a lateral piece having a cutout formed from the proximal portion side toward the distal portion, and a back piece bonded to the lateral piece so as to cover the cutout. The inner finger stall has a step formed by the lateral piece and the back piece at a position facing the projecting bonding portion, and the step is engageable with the projecting bonding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventor: Norifumi Ito
  • Publication number: 20200303958
    Abstract: A wireless power-feeding apparatus that enables efficient wireless feeding to a power-receiving coil embedded at the center of a spherical power-receiving device. The apparatus includes: a holding member for holding the power-receiving device; a power-transmitting coil; a driver circuit for supplying the power-transmitting coil with high-frequency current to generate a magnetic flux for wireless power-feeding to the power-receiving coil; and a wireless data receiver for receiving data transmitted regularly from a wireless data transmitter, the power-transmitting coil being positioned relative to the holding member in such a manner that the axes of the power-receiving coil and the power-transmitting coil are parallel to each other when the power-receiving device is held by the holding member in such a manner that a mark provided on the surface of the power-receiving device faces a predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicants: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD., MIZUNO CORPORATION, AICHI STEEL CORPORATION, SUNWISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichi TANII, Takeshi NARUO, Shohei SHIBATA, Masaki MORI, Michiharu YAMAMOTO, Yasushi SENDA
  • Patent number: 10779613
    Abstract: An outsole includes a substantially flat reference surface formed on a lower side of the outsole, and studs projecting downward from the reference surface and each having a projection surface positioned below the reference surface. Midsole hollows are provided in a lower portion of a midsole. The midsole hollows are each defined between an upper portion of the outsole and an associated one of midsole recesses formed in a lower surface of a lower midsole at positions facing upper sides of the studs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Yahata, Kazunori Iuchi
  • Patent number: 10758003
    Abstract: A support of a sole structure includes a base disposed in a middle region in a foot width direction and having an upper surface which follows a plantar surface of a wearer's foot, and upper and lower supports continuous with a side portion of the base on a medial side in the foot width direction. The upper support has an upper surface that is continuous with the side portion of the base such that the upper surface of the upper support, together with the upper surface of the base, follows the plantar surface. The lower support is continuous with the side portion of the base so as to be located under the upper support, and has a corrugated shape having peaks and valleys alternating with each other in a longitudinal direction along the side portion of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Iuchi, Yusuke Ide
  • Patent number: 10750825
    Abstract: A shoe includes: a sole made of an elastic material and including a planta support configured to support a plantar surface of a foot; an upper attached to the sole and configured to cover the foot; and a heel counter provided above the planta support, arranged in a heel area of the upper, and covering a region of the foot from a medial side portion to a lateral side portion. The heel counter includes, in a lower rear portion of the heel area, a notch (deformation allowance portion) which is configured to allow impact deformation caused by upward movement of a rear portion of the planta support when the sole receives impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Uda, Ken Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 10743612
    Abstract: A midsole structure for a shoe not only maintains stability at the time of impacting the ground and improves cushioning property but also eliminates discomfort to a foot sole and improves ride feeling during running. The midsole structure (1) comprises at least two midsoles provided at a heel region of the shoe and having a hardness difference. On opposite sides of the heel region, an upper midsole (2) of a greater hardness has a thickness greater than a thickness of a lower midsole (3) of a smaller hardness. In a central part of the heel region, the lower midsole (3) of a smaller hardness has a thickness greater than a thickness of the upper midsole (2) of a greater hardness. Boundary surfaces (2B, 3A) between the upper midsole (2) and the lower midsole (3) do not appear on a top surface of the midsole structure (1) (that is, a foot sole contact surface (2A) of the upper midsole (2)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Iuchi, Tatsuya Dazai, Yoshitaka Takahashi, Takeshi Takeshita
  • Patent number: 10716979
    Abstract: An iron golf club head includes a head member having a lace surface and a back surface located opposite to the face surface, and a badge member having an opposed surface facing the back surface and connected to the back surface and an exposed surface located opposite to the back surface the opposed surface and exposed to the outside. The badge member includes a resin plate having the opposed surface and made of a resin material, and a metal plate having the exposed surface and made of a metal material. The resin plate is provided with a plurality of recesses recessed toward the opposed surface. The plurality of recesses are arranged side by side in a toe-to-heel direction. The ratio V/S of a volume V (unit: mm3) of the badge member to an area S (unit: mm3) of the opposed surface is 4.0 or more and 10.0 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Hosooka
  • Patent number: 10709204
    Abstract: A shoe (34) of the present invention includes a sole (32) and an upper (33). The upper (33) is composed of a fabric having a knit structure, and contains fiber reinforcement portions (23, 24, and 25) in predetermined portions of the upper (33) integrally. The fiber reinforcement portions (23, 24, and 25) are formed of a float stitch with a plurality of float stitch yarns (19). The shoe of the present invention imparts a proper fit to a wearer's foot by forming the upper composed of the fabric having the knit structure that stretches properly. Also, in the case where the direction of foot force is suddenly changed while the sole contacts the ground, the shoe can hold the foot in desired predetermined positions by the fiber reinforcement portions situated in predetermined positions of the upper integrally. Thus, the present invention provides a shoe having proper holding properties while maintaining fitting properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: MIZUNO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazunori Iuchi, Tetsuo Yamamoto, Terumasa Kita
  • Patent number: 10709943
    Abstract: An iron golf club head includes: a face portion including a ball striking surface and a first reverse surface; and a sole back portion including a second reverse surface connected with the first reverse surface and located below the first reverse surface. The iron golf club head has a first hollow separated from outside by the face portion and the sole back portion. The ratio W/V1 of the weight W (unit: g) of the iron golf club head relative to the volume V1 (unit: mm3) of the iron golf club head is 6.5×10?3 or less. The sole maximum projected width Sw of the iron golf club head is 25 mm or more. The sweet spot height Sh of the iron golf club head is 20 mm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Maenaka, Kazuhiro Doi
  • Patent number: 10709198
    Abstract: A sole body has an upper midsole made of an elastic material, staked over an upper side of a lower midsole, and having, on an upper surface thereof, a planta support surface. The upper midsole has a first recess recessed from the planta support surface in a downward direction and having a bottom, and a second recess recessed from a lower surface of the upper midsole toward the planta support surface, and having a bottom. The first and second recesses are alternately and continuously formed in the width direction of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Ito, Shin Hirai
  • Patent number: 10694812
    Abstract: A sole structure is configured such that in a state where a ground surface of an outsole is in contact with the ground surface, when a planta support surface of a deformable part receives a load of a human body, the deformable part is flexurally deformed downward while being supported on a fixed end functioning as a supporting point, thereby allowing the planta support surface to be inclined downward such that a free end of the deformable part moves downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Yahata, Takao Oda, Daisuke Kogawa
  • Patent number: 10688354
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing an iron golf club head by forging a single round rod member with a pair of dies to form, as a single piece, a body and a neck into which a shaft is to be inserted. The method includes: a first step of heating the single round rod member into a heated material; a second step of placing the heated material in the pair of dies; and a third step of forging the heated material placed in the pair of dies. In the third step, the heated material is prevented from flowing out from parting surfaces of the respective dies at a sole side of the body in the pair of dies, and the heated material blocked at the sole side in the pair of dies flows toward each of a toe of the body and the neck in the pair of dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: Mizuno Corporation, Chuo Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Doi, Tetsuya Kanayama, Jun Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10687583
    Abstract: A shock absorbing member includes: support members spaced apart from each other; and a connection member laid across, and connecting together, the support members. Each of the support members includes: an inner wall capable of elastically deforming by external force in a vertical direction; and a first tube and a second tube each provided to one of an outer wall and the inner wall. While inserted through the first and second tubes of the support members, the connection member is integrally formed in a closed shape with ends of the connection member having no seams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei Yoshida, Kouji Ito