Patents by Inventor Katsunori Oda

Katsunori Oda 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).

  • Article vacuum formation method and vacuum forming apparatus
    Patent number: 10000005
    Abstract: A vacuum forming apparatus is provided that forms an article having a covering bonded to the surface of a substrate in a molding space using a first mold and a second mold. The vacuum forming apparatus is provided with clamps for grasping the covering between the first and second molds arranged at the open positions. The clamps are movable between an interfering position, at which the clamps are located in the movement ranges of the first and second molds, and standby positions, at which the clamps are outside the movement ranges. After the covering is heated, the clamps grasping the covering move to the standby positions and stretch the covering. The first and second molds move to the closed positions and the article is molded between the first and second molds so that the stretched covering and the substrate are bonded to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Katou, Katsunori Oda
  • ARTICLE VACUUM FORMATION METHOD AND VACUUM FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20140096897
    Abstract: A vacuum forming apparatus is provided that forms an article having a covering bonded to the surface of a substrate in a molding space using a first mold and a second mold. The vacuum forming apparatus is provided with clamps for grasping the covering between the first and second molds arranged at the open positions. The clamps are movable between an interfering position, at which the clamps are located in the movement ranges of the first and second molds, and standby positions, at which the clamps are outside the movement ranges. After the covering is heated, the clamps grasping the covering move to the standby positions and stretch the covering. The first and second molds move to the closed positions and the article is molded between the first and second molds so that the stretched covering and the substrate are bonded to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Katou, Katsunori Oda