Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Kinugasa

Hitoshi Kinugasa 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: 8741371
    Abstract: Provided are tea leaves for green tea beverage extraction. A green tea beverage that can be stored without sediments precipitating and without turning brown, and also tastes good chilled, can be extracted from said leaves. Said leaves are characterized in that the relationship between X and Y fulfills condition (1), where X is the weight fraction of theanine content with respect to the total weight of dried tea leaves, and Y is the weight fraction of monosaccharide content with respect to caffeine content. ?0.136X+0.35?Y??0.136X+0.46.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Ito En, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Sasame, Hitoshi Kinugasa, Kazunori Okanoya, Fumio Ito, Hitoshi Iryo
  • Patent number: 8529977
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel green tea beverage packed in a container which shows a good aroma release in the mouth and a lingering aftertaste, has a richness and concentration feeling in the flavor, and can be drunk delectably even in a cold state. Specifically disclosed is a green tea beverage packed in a container characterized in that: the concentration of saccharides, i.e., the sum of monosaccharides and disaccharides, is 150-500 ppm; the ratio by concentration of the disaccharides to the monosaccharides (disaccharides/monosaccharides) is 2.0-8.0; the ratio by concentration of electron-localized catechins to the aforesaid saccharides (electron-localized catechins/saccharides) is 1.8-4.0; and the ratio by content of furfural to geraniol (furfural/geraniol) is 0.5-3.0. It is preferred that the ratio by concentration of the aforesaid saccharides to soluble solid matters originating in tea leaves (saccharides/(soluble solid matters originating in tea leaves×100)) is 5.0 to 10.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ito En, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Sasame, Hitoshi Kinugasa, Kenji Shimaoka, Takashi Soeda
  • Patent number: 8529978
    Abstract: Provided is a tea leaves for extraction of a low-caffeine green tea beverage, which is not susceptible to folding or browning during storage, and which enables the extraction of a green tea beverage which can be enjoyed hot or cold. Specifically provided is a tea leaves for extraction of a green tea beverage having a caffeine content with respect to the total mass of the dried leaves that falls within the range of 0.2 to 2.5 mass %, and the relation between the ratio of the mass content of theanine to the entire mass of dried leaves X (%) and the mass ratio of the content of monosaccharides to the fiber content Y satisfies the following condition: ?0.007X+0.024?Y??0.011X+0.039.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ito En, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Sasame, Hitoshi Kinugasa, Kazunori Okanoya, Fumio Ito, Hitoshi Iryo
  • Publication number: 20120288609
    Abstract: Provided is a caffeine-reduced green tea beverage packed in a container which can be enjoyed either hot or cold, and which has a sweet aroma and rich full-bodied flavor. The green tea beverage packed in a container has a caffeine concentration of less than 90 ppm, and a total sugar concentration (obtained by adding the concentration of nonreducing sugars and the concentration of reducing sugars) that falls within the range of 150 ppm to 500 ppm; a ratio of the concentration of nonreducing sugars to the concentration of reducing sugars (non-reducing sugars/reducing sugars) that falls within the range of 2.0 to 13.0; a ratio of ester catechins to sugar concentration (ester catechins/sugars) that falls within the range of 0.9 to 2.2; and a percentage of the concentration of theanine to the concentration of caffeine (theanine/caffeine×100) of at least 10.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: ITO En, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Sasame, Hitoshi Kinugasa, Kenji Shimaoka, Takashi Soeda
  • Publication number: 20120141650
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel green tea beverage packed in a container which shows a good aroma release in the mouth and a lingering aftertaste, has a richness and concentration feeling in the flavor, and can be drunk delectably even in a cold state. Specifically disclosed is a green tea beverage packed in a container characterized in that: the concentration of saccharides, i.e., the sum of monosaccharides and disaccharides, is 150-500 ppm; the ratio by concentration of the disaccharides to the monosaccharides (disaccharides/monosaccharides) is 2.0-8.0; the ratio by concentration of electron-localized catechins to the aforesaid saccharides (electron-localized catechins/saccharides) is 1.8-4.0; and the ratio by content of furfural to geraniol (furfural/geraniol) is 0.5-3.0. It is preferred that the ratio by concentration of the aforesaid saccharides to soluble solid matters originating in tea leaves (saccharides/(soluble solid matters originating in tea leaves×100)) is 5.0 to 10.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: ITO EN, LTD.
    Inventors: Masami Sasame, Hitoshi Kinugasa, Kenji Shimaoka, Takahashi Soeda
  • Publication number: 20120114801
    Abstract: Provided are tea leaves for green tea beverage extraction. A green tea beverage that can be stored without sediments precipitating and without turning brown, and also tastes good chilled, can be extracted from said leaves. Said leaves are characterized in that the relationship between X and Y fulfills condition (1), where X is the weight fraction of theanine content with respect to the total weight of dried tea leaves, and Y is the weight fraction of monosaccharide content with respect to caffeine content. ?0.136X+0.35?Y??0.136X+0.46.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Masami Sasame, Hitoshi Kinugasa, Kazunori Okanoya, Fumio Ito, Hitoshi Iryo
  • Patent number: 7682643
    Abstract: To provide a new manufacturing method of containered green tea beverage suited for selling hot. A step of eliminating silica was introduced in the manufacturing process, wherein the silica is eliminated after adding silica to a tea extract obtained by extracting green tea leaves to adsorb the sediment component present in tea extract to the silica. By adding silica to the tea extract and bringing them into contact, the proteins and polysaccharides causing secondary sediment can be selectively adsorbed and decreased, allowing the occurrence of sediment to be prevented, even when selling the beverage hot. Furthermore, it allows a large amount of flavor component to be left. Further more, a large amount of catechins can be left in the beverage, allowing the growth of heat-resistant bacteria to be inhibited by the antibacterial action of catechins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Ito En, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Sasame, Hitoshi Kinugasa, Kenji Shimaoka, Yoko Haraguchi, Hitoshi Niino, Kazunori Okanoya
  • Publication number: 20080311271
    Abstract: A container-packed coffee beverage is provided, containing chlorogenic acids to a suitable extent, and furthermore having excellent taste, and with deterioration at heating has been suppressed. A container-packed coffee beverage containing the following constituents (A), (B) and (C): (A) Constituent ? (B) Constituent ? (C) chlorogenic acids wherein the peak area ratio of constituent (A) appearing in a retention time of 2.0 to 2.3 minutes and constituent (B) appearing in a retention time of 2.7 to 3.2 minutes on a chromatogram obtained by constituent analysis of a coffee extract at a detection wavelength of 260 nm using a high performance liquid chromatography apparatus is {(A)/(B)}×100=30 to 100, and the content ratio of 5-caffeoylquinic acid within the constituent (C) is 28.0 to 35.0% by weight, and a preparation method thereof is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Akio Sugimoto, Hitoshi Kinugasa, Tsutomu Tsukamoto, Takayuki Ochi, Nobuo Matsumoto, Mitsuo Yashiro
  • Publication number: 20070224332
    Abstract: With the object of providing a bottleable green tea beverage for selling hot, a bottleable green tea beverage was prepared, which is a bottleable green tea beverage containing a green tea extract obtained by extracting green tea leaves, wherein the content in epigallocatechin gallate and gallocatechin gallate is 380 mg/l to 1500 mg/l as a total value, the content of glutamic acid is 20 mg/l to 120 mg/l, the diff-use transmittance is 1.0% or less, and the pH is 5 to 7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: ITO EN, LTD
    Inventors: Akio Sugimoto, Naomi Furuse, Kozo Nagata, Hirokazu Hosoyama, Takanobu Takihara, Hitoshi Kinugasa
  • Patent number: 7022367
    Abstract: The oolong tea beverage is produced by a cold water treatment step of bringing raw material oolong tea leaves into contact with water adjusted at pH about 4 to 6 and 25° C. or lower, eluting and removing about 11 to 26% caffeine from the raw material oolong tea leaves by carrying out solid-liquid separation, and recovering the treated tea leaves; and a hot water extraction step of recovering hot water extract to be a beverage raw material containing nerolidol by extracting the treated tea leaves with hot water at about 90 to 95° C. containing vitamin C and adjusted at pH about 4 to 6 and then carrying out solid-liquid separation. The cold water treatment step enables eluting and removing caffeine and the hot water extraction step enables extracting more nerolidol, which is a flow scent component particular in high quality oolong teas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Ito En, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kinugasa, Kazunori Okanoya, Izumi Awano, Motomu Takamatsu
  • Publication number: 20060024421
    Abstract: The oolong tea beverage is produced by a cold water treatment step of bringing raw material oolong tea leaves into contact with water adjusted at pH about 4 to 6 and 25° C. or lower, eluting and removing about 11 to 26% caffeine from the raw material oolong tea leaves by carrying out solid-liquid separation, and recovering the treated tea leaves; and a hot water extraction step of recovering hot water extract to be a beverage raw material containing nerolidol by extracting the treated tea leaves with hot water at about 90 to 95° C. containing vitamin C and adjusted at pH about 4 to 6 and then carrying out solid-liquid separation. The cold water treatment step enables eluting and removing caffeine and the hot water extraction step enables extracting more nerolidol, which is a flow scent component particular in high quality oolong teas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kinugasa, Kazunori Okanoya, Izumi Awano, Motomu Takamatsu
  • Publication number: 20050186314
    Abstract: To provide a new manufacturing method of containered green tea beverage suited for selling hot. A step of eliminating silica was introduced in the manufacturing process, wherein the silica is eliminated after adding silica to a tea extract obtained by extracting green tea leaves to adsorb the sediment component present in tea extract to the silica. By adding silica to the tea extract and bringing them into contact, the proteins and polysaccharides causing secondary sediment can be selectively adsorbed and decreased, allowing the occurrence of sediment to be prevented, even when selling the beverage hot. Furthermore, it allows a large amount of flavor component to be left. Further more, a large amount of catechins can be left in the beverage, allowing the growth of heat-resistant bacteria to be inhibited by the antibacterial action of catechins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Masami Sasame, Hitoshi Kinugasa, Kenji Shimaoka, Yoko Haraguchi, Hitoshi Niino, Kazunori Okanoya
  • Patent number: 6797305
    Abstract: Providing a manufacturing process of tea beverages that the secondary sediment does not occur even during the long-term storage. In the manufacturing process, determining the strictinin content in a tea extract or formulation of before-heat-sterilization, to manage to manufacture the strictinin content to be at or below the predetermined level. Since the strictinin in the tea extract or formulation decomposed to ellagic acid which is a cause substance of the secondary sediment after heat-sterilization, the occurrence of secondary sediment can be prevented previously by managing the manufacturing process to control the strictinin content in the tea extract or formulation of before-heat-sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Ito En, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Niino, Hitoshi Kinugasa, Masami Sasame, Kazunori Okanoya, Shuhei Kuribayashi, Kenji Shimaoka, Yoko Ueno
  • Publication number: 20030185950
    Abstract: Providing a manufacturing process of tea beverages that the secondary sediment does not occur even during the long-term storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: ITO EN, LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Niino, Hitoshi Kinugasa, Masami Sasame, Kazunori Okanoya, Shuhei Kuribayashi, Kenji Shimaoka, Yoko Ueno
  • Patent number: 6387428
    Abstract: In order to produce green tea beverages which have a good flavor and a good balance of the fragrant components and do not form unpleasant precipitates, such green tea beverage are produced by a method including an extracting step consisting of two extraction steps, a first step in which green tea leaves are extracted at an applied pressure to obtain a pressure extract (step 1) and a second step in which green tea leaves are extracted under atmospheric pressure, followed by microfiltration to obtain an atmospheric extract (step 2), and a mixing step in which the pressure extract and the atmospheric extract obtained in the respective step are mixed at a mixing ratio determined on the basis of the weight of the raw tea leaves (step 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Ito En, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kinugasa, Masami Sasame, Nobuo Matsumoto, Kenji Shimaoka, Yoko Ueno, Hitoshi Niino, Kazunori Okanoya, Izumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5922380
    Abstract: Tea leaves are extracted in warm or hot water, and the obtained extract is contacted with a cation exchange resin ionically bonded to potassium ion. The potassium ion is ionically bonded to the cation exchange resin in advance. Divalent ions in the tea beverage are replaced with the potassium ions from the cation exchange resin. The electrical conductivity of the extract is controlled in this whole process. The natural flavor and quality of the tea are thereby maintained more certainly, since metal ions that cause muddiness or precipitation are effectively removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Ito En, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanobu Takihara, Hitoshi Kinugasa, Hitoshi Niino, Yuko Sagesaka, Toshio Kawasaki, Nobuo Matsumoto, Kenji Shimaoka, Masami Sasame, Takashi Yamamoto