Patents by Inventor Bunta HIRAI

Bunta HIRAI 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: 11969975
    Abstract: A protective cover member includes a laminate including: a protective membrane having a shape configured to cover an opening when the protective cover member is placed on the face of an object; a substrate film joined to the protective membrane; and a first adhesive layer configured to fix the protective cover member to the face, wherein an outer peripheral surface of the protective cover member has a step in a laminating direction of the laminate, a first portion of the protective cover member protrudes at the step more outward than a second portion of the protective cover member does when the protective cover member is placed on the face, the first portion being positioned farther from the face than the step, the second portion being positioned closer to the face than the step, and the protective membrane and the substrate film are positioned in the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Abe, Tomohiro Kontani, Takeo Inoue, Bunta Hirai
  • Publication number: 20220266575
    Abstract: A protective cover member includes a laminate including: a protective membrane having a shape configured to cover an opening when the protective cover member is placed on the face of an object; a substrate film joined to the protective membrane; and a first adhesive layer configured to fix the protective cover member to the face, wherein an outer peripheral surface of the protective cover member has a step in a laminating direction of the laminate, a first portion of the protective cover member protrudes at the step more outward than a second portion of the protective cover member does when the protective cover member is placed on the face, the first portion being positioned farther from the face than the step, the second portion being positioned closer to the face than the step, and the protective membrane and the substrate film are positioned in the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi ABE, Tomohiro KONTANI, Takeo INOUE, Bunta HIRAI
  • Patent number: 11395057
    Abstract: The waterproof sound-transmitting member of the present disclosure includes: a waterproof sound-transmitting membrane configured to prevent entry of water while permitting sound to pass therethrough, and a support layer joined to a main surface of the waterproof sound-transmitting membrane. The waterproof sound-transmitting membrane has an air permeability of 10,000 seconds/100 mL or more as expressed by Gurley number, the support layer includes a resin foam material and has a through hole extending in a thickness direction thereof and serving as a path for sound transmitted through the waterproof sound-transmitting membrane, and a side air permeability of the support layer between the through hole and an outer peripheral side surface of the support layer when the support layer is compressed in the thickness direction thereof at a compression ratio of 20% is 0.1 mL/(min·mm3) or more as a value per unit volume of the support layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Sugaya, Bunta Hirai, Takeo Inoue
  • Publication number: 20210176550
    Abstract: The waterproof sound-transmitting member of the present disclosure includes: a waterproof sound-transmitting membrane configured to prevent entry of water while permitting sound to pass therethrough, and a support layer joined to a main surface of the waterproof sound-transmitting membrane. The waterproof sound-transmitting membrane has an air permeability of 10,000 seconds/100 mL or more as expressed by Gurley number, the support layer includes a resin foam material and has a through hole extending in a thickness direction thereof and serving as a path for sound transmitted through the waterproof sound-transmitting membrane, and a side air permeability of the support layer between the through hole and an outer peripheral side surface of the support layer when the support layer is compressed in the thickness direction thereof at a compression ratio of 20% is 0.1 mL/(min·mm3) or more as a value per unit volume of the support layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke SUGAYA, Bunta HIRAI, Takeo INOUE
  • Patent number: 10999660
    Abstract: The waterproof member of the present disclosure includes a waterproof membrane configured to prevent entry of water while permitting sound and/or gas to pass therethrough, and a support layer having air permeability in a thickness direction thereof. The waterproof member has a joining region where the waterproof membrane and the support layer are joined, and a non-joining region where the waterproof membrane and the support layer are spaced apart from each other. The non-joining region is surrounded by the joining region when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the waterproof membrane. A thickness of the support layer in the non-joining region is 500 ?m or less. A spacing distance between the waterproof membrane and the support layer in the non-joining region is 150 ?m or less. An air resistance in an in-plane direction of the support layer is greater than 80,000 seconds/100 mL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamao Fukushima, Bunta Hirai, Yosuke Sugaya, Yuichi Abe
  • Publication number: 20210092499
    Abstract: The waterproof member of the present disclosure includes a waterproof membrane configured to prevent entry of water while permitting sound and/or gas to pass therethrough, and a support layer having air permeability in a thickness direction thereof. The waterproof member has a joining region where the waterproof membrane and the support layer are joined, and a non-joining region where the waterproof membrane and the support layer are spaced apart from each other. The non-joining region is surrounded by the joining region when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the waterproof membrane. A thickness of the support layer in the non-joining region is 500 ?m or less. A spacing distance between the waterproof membrane and the support layer in the non-joining region is 150 ?m or less. An air resistance in an in-plane direction of the support layer is greater than 80,000 seconds/100 mL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamao FUKUSHIMA, Bunta HIRAI, Yosuke SUGAYA, Yuichi ABE
  • Publication number: 20210067851
    Abstract: The waterproof member of the present disclosure is a waterproof member comprising a waterproof membrane configured to prevent entry of water while permitting sound and/or gas to pass therethrough, and a support layer having air permeability in a thickness direction thereof, wherein the member has a joining region where the waterproof membrane and the support layer are joined, and a non-joining region where the waterproof membrane and the support layer are spaced apart from each other, the non-joining region is surrounded by the joining region when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the waterproof membrane, and a thickness of the support layer in the non-joining region is less than 100 ?m. The waterproof member of the present disclosure is, for example, a waterproof sound-transmitting member including a waterproof sound-transmitting membrane and a support layer for the membrane and having improved sound transmission characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamao FUKUSHIMA, Yosuke SUGAYA, Bunta HIRAI, Yuichi ABE
  • Patent number: 10362387
    Abstract: An acoustic resistor for use in an audio device includes a resin film having air permeability in a thickness direction of the resin film, and the resin film is a non-porous film having through holes formed to extend straight through the resin film in the thickness direction. This acoustic resistor is used in an audio device including: a transducing part that performs conversion between sound and an electrical signal and that includes an acoustic element; a housing enclosing the transducing part and having at least one opening; and a passage for gas that is present inside the housing and communicates with the opening and in which the acoustic element is placed. The acoustic resistor is placed between the opening and the acoustic element in the passage. The variation in properties of the acoustic resistor of the present disclosure can be made smaller than that of conventional acoustic resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bunta Hirai, Satoru Furuyama, Masaaki Mori, Hajime Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20180035203
    Abstract: A waterproof sound transmission structure of the present disclosure includes: a wall separating a first space from a second space where water can be present, the wall being provided with a sound transmission port for transmission of sound between the first and second spaces; and a waterproof sound-permeable membrane placed to cover the sound transmission port, the waterproof sound-permeable membrane being adapted to permit transmission of sound between the first and second spaces and being further adapted to prevent ingress of water from the second space into the first space through the sound transmission port. The first space is sealed when the second space is filled with water, the sealed first space having a volume of 300 mm3 or less. The waterproof sound transmission structure of the present disclosure has higher levels of both waterproofness and sound permeability than conventional waterproof sound transmission structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bunta HIRAI, Satoru FURUYAMA, Masaaki MORI, Hajime YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180020284
    Abstract: An acoustic resistor for use in an audio device includes a resin film having air permeability in a thickness direction of the resin film, and the resin film is a non-porous film having through holes formed to extend straight through the resin film in the thickness direction. This acoustic resistor is used in an audio device including: a transducing part that performs conversion between sound and an electrical signal and that includes an acoustic element; a housing enclosing the transducing part and having at least one opening; and a passage for gas that is present inside the housing and communicates with the opening and in which the acoustic element is placed. The acoustic resistor is placed between the opening and the acoustic element in the passage. The variation in properties of the acoustic resistor of the present disclosure can be made smaller than that of conventional acoustic resistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bunta HIRAI, Satoru FURUYAMA, Masaaki MORI, Hajime YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140287223
    Abstract: An ethylene-propylene-diene rubber foamed material is obtained by foaming a rubber composition containing an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. In the ethylene-propylene-diene rubber foamed material, the content ratio of a sulfur atom calculated based on the measurement result of a fluorescent X-ray measurement, based on mass, is 1000 ppm or less, a rate of change of a 50% compressive load value after being heated at 140° C. for 7 days to a 50% compressive load value before being heated is 50% or more and 150% or less, and the 50% compressive load value before being heated is 0.1 N/cm2 or more and 2.0 N/cm2 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bunta HIRAI, Takayuki IWASE
  • Publication number: 20140287222
    Abstract: A buffer material is obtained by foaming a rubber composition containing an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. In the buffer material, the content ratio of a sulfur atom calculated based on the measurement result of a fluorescent X-ray measurement, based on mass, is 1000 ppm or less, the buffer material has a 50% compressive load value of 0.1 N/cm2 or more and 2.0 N/cm2 or less, and the buffer material has a stress relaxation rate in a compressed state of 50% after 10 seconds of compression of 60% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bunta HIRAI, Takayuki IWASE
  • Publication number: 20140284086
    Abstract: A vibration-proof material is obtained by foaming a rubber composition containing an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. The content ratio of a sulfur atom calculated based on the measurement result of a fluorescent X-ray measurement, based on mass, is 1000 ppm or less and the vibration-proof material has a Young's modulus at 23° C. of 6.0×105 Pa or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki IWASE, Bunta HIRAI, Eiji MATSUDA
  • Publication number: 20140238775
    Abstract: A sound insulating material is obtained by foaming a rubber composition containing an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. The content ratio of a sulfur atom calculated by a fluorescent X-ray measurement, based on mass, is 1000 ppm or less. The sound insulating material has a 50% compressive load value of 0.1 N/cm2 or more and 10 N/cm2 or less. The sound insulating material has an air permeability of 10 cm3/min/cm2 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Iwase, Bunta Hirai
  • Publication number: 20140234610
    Abstract: A sound absorbing material is obtained by foaming a rubber composition containing an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. The content ratio of sulfur in the sound absorbing material calculated by a fluorescent X-ray measurement, based on mass, is 1000 ppm or less. The sound absorbing material has a 50% compressive load value of 0.1 N/cm2 or more and 10 N/cm2 or less. The sound absorbing material has a 50% permanent compression set of less than 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Iwase, Bunta Hirai
  • Publication number: 20140065409
    Abstract: An ethylene-propylene-diene rubber foamed material is obtained by foaming a rubber composition containing an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. A rate of change of an 80% compressive load value CL2 after being heated at 150° C. for 10 days to an 80% compressive load value CL1 before being heated is ?50% or more and 50% or less and the 80% compressive load value CL1 before being heated is 0.5 N/cm2 or more and 10 N/cm2 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Bunta HIRAI, Takumi KOUSAKA
  • Publication number: 20140065410
    Abstract: An ethylene-propylene-diene rubber foamed material is obtained by foaming a rubber composition containing an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber and a cross-linking agent. The cross-linking agent does not contain sulfur and contains a thiuram compound and the mixing ratio of the thiuram compound with respect to 100 parts by mass of the ethylene-propylene-diene rubber is 0.05 parts by mass or more and less than 20 parts by mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takumi KOUSAKA, Bunta HIRAI