Patents by Inventor Hideo Watanabe

Hideo Watanabe 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: 20200368949
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover that is formed of a resin material composed primarily of a polyurethane resin and has a thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm by injection molding the cover using a vertically separating two-part injection mold having specific gate and support pin configurations. This method enables a relatively soft urethane resin cover that is thin and of high quality to be formed, and has a good golf ball productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20200368587
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer encasing the core and a cover which encases the intermediate layer and has numerous dimples on an outside surface thereof, the intermediate layer is formed of a resin material, the cover is formed of a urethane resin material, the core has a diameter of at least 38.0 mm, the core has a deflection when compressed under a final load of 1,275 N (130 kgf) from an initial load of 98 N (10 kgf) of at least 3.9 mm, the core has a center and a surface such that the value obtained by subtracting the JIS-C hardness at the core center from the JIS-C hardness at the core surface is at least 15, the sphere obtained by encasing the core with the intermediate layer (intermediate layer-encased sphere) has a surface hardness on the Shore D hardness scale of at least 69, the ball has a surface hardness on the Shore D hardness scale of 62 or less, and the (intermediate layer thickness)/(core diameter) value is from 0.025 to 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Bridgeston Sprots Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20200363012
    Abstract: A high pressure tank is equipped with a liner, a reinforcing layer laminated on an outer surface of the liner, and a cap joined to the liner and having a flow path through which a gas is capable of flowing. The liner and the cap are joined to each other by screw-engagement, and a connecting member (plate-shaped members, annular member) is disposed so as to straddle over the liner and the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20200353317
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the envelope layer is formed into two layers—an inner envelope layer and an outer envelope layer. The inner envelope layer-encased sphere, outer envelope layer-encased sphere, intermediate layer-encased sphere and ball have respective surface hardnesses that satisfy a specific relationship. The inner envelope layer or outer envelope layer is formed primarily of one or more thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyester elastomers, polyamide elastomers, polyurethane elastomers, olefin elastomers and styrene elastomers. This ball has an excellent flight when struck by golfers whose head speeds are not that fast and has a good, soft feel at impact, thus making it highly suitable for amateur golfers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20200330829
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core formed of a rubber composition, an intermediate layer formed of a polyurethane material and a cover, the ball satisfies the following condition: surface hardness of ball?surface hardness of intermediate layer-encased sphere. When the ball is struck with a driver at a head speed of 40 m/s, the sum of the time t1 required from contact initiation between the driver and ball for deformation of the ball to reach a maximum value and the time t2 required from the state of maximum ball deformation for the ball and driver clubface to separate is at least 705 microseconds. This ball has an excellent flight performance when hit by low or moderate head-speed golfers, is receptive to spin on approach shots and has a good, soft feel at impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20200330828
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, the cover is formed primarily of a polyurethane material, the ball has a higher surface hardness on the Shore C hardness scale than the sphere obtained by encasing the core with the intermediate layer (intermediate layer-encased sphere), and the ball has a deflection of at least 3.6 mm when compressed under a final load of 1,275 N (130 kgf) from an initial load of 98 N (10 kgf). The golf ball has an excellent flight performance when hit by golfers whose head speeds are not very fast and moreover has a good, soft feel at impact, making it suitable for use by amateur golfers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20200330826
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a two-layer core consisting of an inner core layer and an outer core layer, one or more intermediate layer, and a cover serving as an outermost layer, the inner core layer and outer core layer are each formed primarily of a base rubber, the inner core layer has a diameter of at least 19 mm, the intermediate layer and the cover are each formed primarily of a resin material, and the overall core has a specific hardness profile. The golf ball has a high initial velocity while holding down the spin rate on full shots with a driver or long iron, thus enabling a good distance to be achieved. The ball also has a high controllability in the short game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Akira Kimura, Masanobu Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 10773131
    Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball having a two-layer core with an inner core layer and an outer core layer and having a cover of at least two layers including an intermediate layer and an outer layer with numerous dimples on the surface is characterized in that the hardest cover layer has a specific material hardness and the ball has a specific value obtained by subtracting the surface hardness of the overall core from the surface hardness of the hardest cover layer, a specific deflection, and a specific value obtained by subtracting the initial velocity of the inner core layer from the initial velocity of the sphere consisting of the inner core layer encased by the outer core layer. This golf ball enables relatively low head speed golfers to achieve a good distance on full shots with drivers and iron clubs and also provides a soft, comfortable feel at impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Sato, Hideo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10773130
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, a cover and an intermediate layer therebetween, the core, an intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball have surface hardnesses which satisfy a specific relationship, and the intermediate layer and the cover have thicknesses which satisfy a specific relationship. Also, the core has a hardness profile in which the hardnesses at the core surface, core center, a position 5 mm from the core center, and a position midway between the surface and center of the core satisfy specific relationships. This golf ball, when used by mid- and high-level amateurs, enables the golfer to maintain an adequate distance on shots with a driver and achieve a good distance on iron shots, has a good spin performance on approach shots and has a good feel on impact. In addition, the ball has an excellent scuff resistance when struck with a grooved wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Akira Kimura, Jun Shindo
  • Patent number: 10765917
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer encasing the core and a cover which encases the intermediate layer and has numerous dimples on an outside surface thereof, the intermediate layer is formed of a resin material, the cover is formed of a urethane resin material, the core has a diameter of at least 38.0 mm, the sphere obtained by encasing the core with the intermediate layer has a surface hardness on the Shore D hardness scale of at least 69, the cover has a material hardness on the Shore D hardness scale of 55 or less, the (intermediate layer thickness)/(core diameter) value is from 0.025 to 0.043, the (cover thickness)/(core diameter) value is from 0.014 to 0.027, and the sphere obtained by encasing the core with the intermediate layer has an initial velocity A and the core has an initial velocity B which together satisfy the condition A?B?0 m/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Katsunori Sato, Masanobu Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 10758786
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a two-layer core consisting of an inner core layer and an outer core layer, one or more intermediate layer, and a cover serving as an outermost layer, the inner core layer and outer core layer are each formed primarily of a base rubber, the inner core layer has a diameter of at least 21 mm, the intermediate layer and the cover are each formed primarily of a resin material, and the overall core has a specific hardness profile. The golf ball has a high initial velocity while holding down the spin rate on full shots with a driver or long iron, thus enabling a good distance to be achieved. The ball also has a high controllability in the short game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Akira Kimura, Masanobu Kuwahara
  • Publication number: 20200263743
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle configured to accurately learn an initial engagement position of a clutch. The control system is applied to a vehicle comprising a clutch that selectively transmits power between a prime mover and drive wheels, and a detector that detects an input speed of the clutch rotated by the prime mover. A controller executes a learning of the initial engagement position of the clutch, if a reaction time until an input speed of the clutch is changed by engaging the clutch gradually while maintaining the input speed of the clutch to a constant speed is shorter than a threshold period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Junya MIZUNO, Toshiyuki TOMITA
  • Publication number: 20200246664
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, a cover and an intermediate layer therebetween, the core, an intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball have surface hardnesses which satisfy a specific relationship. and the intermediate layer and the cover have thicknesses which satisfy a specific relationship. Also, the core has a hardness profile in which the hardnesses at the core surface, core center, a position 5 mm from the core center, and a position midway between the surface and center of the core satisfy specific relationships. This golf ball, when used by mid- and high-level amateurs, enables the golfer to maintain an adequate distance on shots with a driver and achieve a good distance on iron shots, has a good spin performance on approach shots and has a good feel on impact. In addition, the ball has an excellent scuff resistance when struck with a grooved wedge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Akira KIMURA, Jun SHINDO
  • Publication number: 20200206580
    Abstract: In a golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, the intermediate layer-encased sphere has a higher surface hardness than the ball. The core hardness profile in the ball is designed such that the core surface has a Shore C hardness value which is at least 27 higher than the Shore C hardness value at the core center, and the surface areas A to F calculated from hardness differences between positions located at specific distances in the core and differences between the specific distances satisfy a specific formula. This golf ball has an excellent flight performance when struck by skilled amateur golfers and professionals, and also has a good controllability on shots with an iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Masanobu KUWAHARA
  • Publication number: 20200207327
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to smoothly engage an engagement device while reducing a collision noise of the engagement device. The control system is configured to apply torque to a set of teeth on one half of the engagement device to shift a phase of the set of teeth in the event of teeth interference. After the completion of engagement of the engagement device, the control system further applies torque to the set of teeth on one half of the engagement device to reduce backlash between the set of teeth on one half of the engagement device and a set of teeth on the other half of the engagement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Takahiro YOKOKAWA, Hideo WATANABE, Kazumi HOSHIYA, Hirokazu KATO, Minoru KATO, Kensei HATA
  • Publication number: 20200207330
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to limit a thermal damage to a starting clutch without generating a shock. The control system is applied to a vehicle in which a prime mover includes an engine, a first motor, and a second motor. In the vehicle, the first motor is connected to the engine, and a first clutch and a second clutch are disposed between the engine and drive wheels. A controller executes a transient slip control to cause the second clutch to slip while bringing the slipping first clutch into complete engagement if a temperature of the first clutch is high. If an engine speed is changed during execution of the transient slip control, the first motor generates a collection torque to suppress the change in the engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junya MIZUNO, Hideo WATANABE, Toshiyuki TOMITA, Masami KONDO
  • Publication number: 20200197756
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the intermediate layer is formed into two layers—an inner layer and an outer layer. The surface hardness of the envelope layer-encased sphere, the surface hardness of the inner intermediate layer-encased sphere, the surface hardness of the outer intermediate layer-encased sphere and the surface hardness of the ball together satisfy a specific relationship. This ball has an excellent flight when struck by golfers whose head speeds are not that fast and has a soft yet good feel at impact, thus making it highly suitable for amateur golfers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20200179767
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed primarily of a base rubber, the envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover are each formed of a resin material, and the envelope layer is formed into two layers—an inner layer and an outer layer. The center and surface hardnesses of the core, the surface hardness of the inner envelope layer-encased sphere, the surface hardness of the outer envelope layer-encased sphere, the surface hardness of the intermediate layer-encased sphere and the surface hardness of the ball together satisfy a specific relationship. This ball exhibits a flight performance capable of satisfying professional golfers and skilled amateurs and possesses an excellent controllability on approach shots, in addition to which it has a good feel at impact and an excellent scuff resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20200171358
    Abstract: A golf ball for amateur golfers is endowed with an excellent flight when hit by the average golfer whose head speed is not that high and also has a good feel at impact that is soft and solid on full shots with all golf club numbers. The golf ball, which includes a core and a cover, has a compressive deformation A under 0.2 kgf to 5 kgf loading that is 0.21 mm or less and a compressive deformation B under 5 kgf to 30 kgf loading that is from 0.73 to 0.95 mm. Also, letting D be the compressive deformation of the ball under 10 kgf to 130 kgf loading and C be the compressive deformation of the ball under 5 kgf to 60 kgf loading, the ratio D/A is from 16.0 to 20.5 and the ratio D/C is from 1.80 to 1.90.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Katsunori SATO
  • Publication number: 20200155905
    Abstract: A golf ball for amateur golfers is endowed with both an excellent flight and a good, soft feel at impact when hit by the average golfer whose head speed is not very high. The golf ball, which includes a core and a cover, has a compressive deformation A when the ball is subjected to a final load of 5 kgf from an initial load state of 0.2 kgf that is 0.18 mm or less, a compressive deformation B when the ball is subjected to a final load of 15 kgf from an initial load state of 5 kgf that is from 0.30 to 0.38 mm, a compressive deformation C when the ball is subjected to a final load of 60 kgf from an initial load state of 5 kgf that is from 1.70 to 2.03 mm and a compressive deformation D when the ball is subjected to a final load of 130 kgf from an initial load state of 10 kgf that is from 3.10 to 3.80 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo WATANABE, Katsunori SATO