Patents by Inventor Keiichi Yamakawa

Keiichi Yamakawa 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: 9853305
    Abstract: A composite membrane and moisture adjustment module using the same is disclosed. The composite membrane includes a moisture-permeable resin layer interposed between porous membranes that constitute a pair; and the mean thickness of the moisture-permeable resin layer is 5 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignees: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., W. L. Gore & Associates, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Yamakawa, William B. Johnson, Mahesh Murthy, Thomas Berta
  • Patent number: 9486748
    Abstract: The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a filter medium for a water treatment filter having contradictory characteristics, that is, hydrophilicity and chemical resistance, and a long life, and to provide the production method thereof. A filter medium for a water treatment filter according to the present invention is characterized in comprising a porous base material having a hydrophilic coating layer; wherein the hydrophilic coating layer has a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer and a high electron density part; a hydrophilic polymer in the cross-linked hydrophilic polymer is cross-linked with an aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group which may contain one or more functional groups selected from a group consisting of an ether group, a hydroxy group and an amino group; the high electron density part has ? electrons; and the high electron density part is covalently bonded to the cross-linked hydrophilic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoka Ogura, Keiichi Yamakawa
  • Publication number: 20150311546
    Abstract: A composite membrane and moisture adjustment module using the same is disclosed. The composite membrane includes a moisture-permeable resin layer interposed between porous membranes that constitute a pair; and the mean thickness of the moisture-permeable resin layer is 5 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Keiichi Yamakawa, William B. Johnson, Mahesh Murthy, Thomas Berta
  • Patent number: 8920699
    Abstract: A molded product including a film bonded to a resin frame is produced by a method including: 1) reinforcing the film with a solvent-soluble or solvent-disintegrable reinforcing layer; 2) inserting the reinforced film in an injection mold; 3) feeding a resin to the mold to attach a frame body to the reinforced film while injection molding the resin frame; and 4) treating the resulting injection molded product with a solvent to remove the reinforcing layer. This production process can establish a technique capable of bonding (integrally molding) the film solely to the frame body, regardless of the size of the film. The film may preferably be an expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene film, and the moisture-permeable resin may preferably be combined with the expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Marutani, Keiichi Yamakawa, Takashi Imai
  • Publication number: 20140061122
    Abstract: The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a filter medium for a water treatment filter having contradictory characteristics, that is, hydrophilicity and chemical resistance, and a long life, and to provide the production method thereof. A filter medium for a water treatment filter according to the present invention is characterized in comprising a porous base material having a hydrophilic coating layer; wherein the hydrophilic coating layer has a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer and a high electron density part; a hydrophilic polymer in the cross-linked hydrophilic polymer is cross-linked with an aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon group which may contain one or more functional groups selected from a group consisting of an ether group, a hydroxy group and an amino group; the high electron density part has ? electrons; and the high electron density part is covalently bonded to the cross-linked hydrophilic polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: W.L. Gore & Associates, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoka Ogura, Keiichi Yamakawa
  • Publication number: 20110259572
    Abstract: A molded product including a film bonded to a resin frame is produced by a method including: 1) reinforcing the film with a solvent-soluble or solvent-disintegrable reinforcing layer; 2) inserting the reinforced film in an injection mold; 3) feeding a resin to the mold to attach a frame body to the reinforced film while injection molding the resin frame; and 4) treating the resulting injection molded product with a solvent to remove the reinforcing layer. This production process can establish a technique capable of bonding (integrally molding) the film solely to the frame body, regardless of the size of the film. The film may preferably be an expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene film, and the moisture-permeable resin may preferably be combined with the expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Muratani, Keiichi Yamakawa, Takashl Imai
  • Publication number: 20100300295
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing an air filter which is improved in the tight adhesion between an ePTFE membrane and a permeable support material without impairing the mechanical strength and permeability of the support material. An air filter produced by laminating a permeable support material (1) having a region wherein fibers different in fiber diameter are entangled and a porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane (2), wherein the mean fiber diameter of the membrane-side face of the support material (1) is smaller than that of the back of the support material (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Keiichi Yamakawa
  • Publication number: 20090324929
    Abstract: A composite membrane and moisture adjustment module using the same is disclosed. The composite membrane includes a moisture-permeable resin layer interposed between porous membranes that constitute a pair; and the mean thickness of the moisture-permeable resin layer is 5 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Keiichi Yamakawa, Wiliam B. Johnson, Mahesh Murthy, Thomas Berta
  • Patent number: 7572321
    Abstract: A membrane 12 that exhibits superior condensation resistance regardless of the type of moisture-permeable resin, that has satisfactory adhesion between a porous film and a reinforcing member, and that can be manufactured in a simple manner. The membrane 12 is a laminated article 23 containing a porous film 20 and a reinforcing member 40, and the reinforcing member 40 has a moisture-permeable resin layer 30 on the side of an interface 50 with the porous film 20. To reliably form the moisture-permeable resin layer (moisture-permeable resin film) 30, the average pore diameter of the porous film 20 is preferably 0.01 to 10 ?m, and the porosity of the reinforcing member 40 is preferably 30 to 95%. According to the membrane 12 of the present invention, even if the moisture-permeable resin is water-soluble (for example, polyvinyl alcohol), condensation resistance is still satisfactory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.
    Inventors: Keiichi Yamakawa, Takashi Imai
  • Publication number: 20060090650
    Abstract: A membrane 12 that exhibits superior condensation resistance regardless of the type of moisture-permeable resin, that has satisfactory adhesion between a porous film and a reinforcing member, and that can be manufactured in a simple manner. The membrane 12 is a laminated article 23 containing a porous film 20 and a reinforcing member 40, and the reinforcing member 40 has a moisture-permeable resin layer 30 on the side of an interface 50 with the porous film 20. To reliably form the moisture-permeable resin layer (moisture-permeable resin film) 30, the average pore diameter of the porous film 20 is preferably 0.01 to 10 ?m, and the porosity of the reinforcing member 40 is preferably 30 to 95%. According to the membrane 12 of the present invention, even if the moisture-permeable resin is water-soluble (for example, polyvinyl alcohol), condensation resistance is still satisfactory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Keiichi Yamakawa, Takashi Imai