Patents by Inventor Masatoshi Kato

Masatoshi Kato 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: 20190015713
    Abstract: The golf club head according to the present invention includes a face portion, a crown portion and a sole portion, the crown portion including a first region extending in a toe-heel direction along at least part of the face portion, a second region arranged further on a back side than the first region, and a step region extending in the toe-heel direction between the first region and the second region and extending downward toward the second region from the first region side, and the second region including a first part arranged in a vicinity of the middle in the toe-heel direction and contacting the step region, and a second part having a thinner wall thickness than the first part and arranged to surround a periphery of the first part on the back side, the toe side and the heel side of the first part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi KATO
  • Publication number: 20190009142
    Abstract: A golf club set according to the present invention is constituted by a plurality of golf clubs having different loft angles. Each golf club includes a shaft and a golf club head. Each of the golf club heads includes a crown part, a face part, a sole part, and a hosel part attached to the shaft. In at least one combination of golf clubs, among the plurality of golf clubs, having different loft angles, the golf club head of the golf club having the higher loft angle is, when in a reference state, longer from a lowermost point to an uppermost point of the golf club head, excluding the hosel part, than the golf club head of the golf club having the lower loft angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi KATO
  • Patent number: 9881137
    Abstract: Provided is a fitting apparatus that accurately and objectively determines an optimal swingability index, which is a swingability index of a golf club suited to a golfer. The fitting apparatus is provided with an acquisition unit, a calculation unit, and a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires a measurement value obtained by measuring a swing action of a test club by the golfer with a measurement device. The calculation unit calculates a swing index indicating a feature amount of the swing action, based on the measurement value. The determination unit determines the optimal swingability index, according to a magnitude of the swing index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD., SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke Okazaki, Masatoshi Kato, Masahiko Ueda, Naoyoshi Ueda, Shimpei Oyama
  • Patent number: 9802086
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club head in which the lateral moment of inertia can be increased through thickness adjustment of the sole portion. The golf club head according to the present invention includes a crown portion, a sole portion and a face portion. The sole portion includes a first thin-walled portion and a first thick-walled portion that extends from the toe side of the first thin-walled portion to the heel side of the first thin-walled portion via the back side, so as to surround the first thin-walled portion, and is thicker than the first thin-walled portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 9630066
    Abstract: A fitting method, of a shaft of a golf club, for selecting a shaft having a torque matching a golfer based on a swing of the golfer. The method includes the steps of obtaining measurement values from a sensor attached to a grip of the golf club and capable of measuring angular velocities about three axes when a golf ball is hit by the golf club; obtaining a predetermined index value for the angular velocities quantified from the measurement values; and selecting a shaft matching the golfer from among multiple shafts whose torques have been measured in advance, based on a relationship established through test-hitting performed in advance between the index value and a torque of a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD., SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20160354655
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club head in which the lateral moment of inertia can be increased through thickness adjustment of the sole portion. The golf club head according to the present invention includes a crown portion, a sole portion and a face portion. The sole portion includes a first thin-walled portion and a first thick-walled portion that extends from the toe side of the first thin-walled portion to the heel side of the first thin-walled portion via the back side, so as to surround the first thin-walled portion, and is thicker than the first thin-walled portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi KATO
  • Publication number: 20160354656
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club head in which the restitution performance of a lower part of the face portion can be improved. The golf club head of the invention includes a head body having a crown portion, a sole portion and an opening surrounded by the crown portion and the sole portion, and a face member closing the opening of the head body. The face member is formed in a cup shape having a tabular face portion for hitting the ball and a peripheral portion extending from a periphery of the face portion and joined to an end surface of the opening. The peripheral portion includes a first peripheral region joined to the crown portion and a second peripheral region joined to the sole portion. The second peripheral region is more than 1.6 times larger in width than the first peripheral region, and has a width larger than 8 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi KATO
  • Publication number: 20160354654
    Abstract: Provided is a golf club head that includes a face portion for hitting a ball. The face portion has a thick portion that includes a face center, and a peripheral portion that is thinner than the thick portion and surrounds the thick portion. The thick portion extends along a central axis line, and has a recessed portion on at least one side of the central axis line so that a central region of the thick portion along the central axis line is recessed more toward the central axis line than parts of the thick portion on two sides of the central region along the central axis line. Note that the central axis line extends in a top-sole direction or in a direction inclined from a toe side toward a heel side along a direction from a sole side toward a top side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi KATO
  • Patent number: 9452331
    Abstract: A fitting method of a shaft of a golf club for selecting a shaft matching a golfer based on a swing of the golfer. The method includes the steps of obtaining measurement values from a sensor attached to a grip of a golf club; determining address, top, and impact of a swing from the measurement values; and selecting a shaft that matches a golfer through a usage of the swing characteristic amounts and values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD., SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke Okazaki, Masahiko Ueda, Masatoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 9297729
    Abstract: An evaluation method for hit feeling of a sport implement according to the present invention includes an acceleration measurement step for measuring acceleration of a sport hitting tool 4 and a data analysis step for analyzing data obtained in the measurement. In the data analysis step, an amount of change in acceleration in a first cycle of vibration after hitting is calculated. The evaluation method evaluates hit feeling to be felt by a person, using the amount of change in the acceleration. Preferably, in the data analysis step, an amount of change in acceleration in the first cycle of predetermined time is calculated. The predetermined time is within 1.5 msec from the time of hitting. Preferably, the sport hitting tool 4 has the hitting section detachably attached to a shaft section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Kato, Naoyoshi Ueda, Masahiko Ueda, Takeshi Asakura
  • Publication number: 20160030803
    Abstract: Provided is a fitting apparatus that accurately and objectively determines an optimal swingability index, which is a swingability index of a golf club suited to a golfer. The fitting apparatus is provided with an acquisition unit, a calculation unit, and a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires a measurement value obtained by measuring a swing action of a test club by the golfer with a measurement device. The calculation unit calculates a swing index indicating a feature amount of the swing action, based on the measurement value. The determination unit determines the optimal swingability index, according to a magnitude of the swing index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicants: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD., SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke OKAZAKI, Masatoshi KATO, Masahiko UEDA, Naoyoshi UEDA, Shimpei OYAMA
  • Publication number: 20150367174
    Abstract: A golf swing analysis apparatus for analyzing a swing action of a golf club is provided. The golf swing analysis apparatus comprises an acquisition unit configured to acquire a measurement value obtained by measuring the swing action using a measurement device; a grip behavior derivation unit configured to derive a behavior of a grip of the golf club that occurs during the swing action, based on the measurement value; and a shoulder behavior derivation unit configured to derive a behavior of a pseudo shoulder of a golfer that occurs during the swing action, based on the behavior of the grip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke OKAZAKI, Masahiko UEDA, Masatoshi KATO, Yuki NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20150224371
    Abstract: A fitting method, of a shaft of a golf club, for selecting a shaft having a torque matching a golfer based on a swing of the golfer. The method includes the steps of obtaining measurement values from a sensor attached to a grip of the golf club and capable of measuring angular velocities about three axes when a golf ball is hit by the golf club; obtaining a predetermined index value for the angular velocities quantified from the measurement values; and selecting a shaft matching the golfer from among multiple shafts whose torques have been measured in advance, based on a relationship established through test-hitting performed in advance between the index value and a torque of a shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8935914
    Abstract: An exhaust device includes: an exhaust manifold, an upstream-side cone of a catalyst, an exhaust gas sensor, an outer shell, and a sensor chamber. Between the upstream-side cone and the outer shell, an inflow channel is formed. The inflow channel has an opening that opens inside the exhaust manifold so as to communicate with the sensor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Futaba Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohisa Okami, Masatoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8926444
    Abstract: A golf club having a head disposed at a front end of a shaft and having a grip disposed at a back end of the shaft. The golf club includes a sensor section arranged on a grip-end edge of the grip and used for analyzing action of a golf swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignees: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd., Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Kato, Masahiko Ueda
  • Publication number: 20130288812
    Abstract: A golf club having a head disposed at a front end of a shaft and having a grip disposed at a back end of the shaft. The golf club includes a sensor section arranged on a grip-end edge of the grip and used for analyzing action of a golf swing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi KATO, Masahiko UEDA
  • Publication number: 20130260923
    Abstract: A fitting method of a shaft of a golf club for selecting a shaft matching a golfer based on a swing of the golfer. The method includes the steps of obtaining measurement values from a sensor attached to a grip of a golf club; determining address, top, and impact of a swing from the measurement values; and selecting a shaft that matches a golfer through a usage of the swing characteristic amounts and values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicants: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kousuke OKAZAKI, Masahiko UEDA, Masatoshi KATO
  • Patent number: 8535175
    Abstract: A shaft 6 includes a textile layer. The textile layer has a biaxial textile 20 composed of warps and wefts. The warp is oriented substantially parallel to an axial direction of the shaft. The weft is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the axial direction of the shaft. When a tensile elastic modulus of the warp is defined as ET (tf/mm2) and a tensile elastic modulus of the weft is defined as EY (tf/mm2), the tensile elastic modulus ET is smaller than the tensile elastic modulus EY. Preferably, the warp is a PAN carbon fiber and the weft is a pitch carbon fiber. Preferably, when a tensile strength of the warp is defined as ST (kgf/mm2) and a tensile strength of the weft is defined as SY (kgf/mm2), the tensile strength ST is greater than the tensile strength SY.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Masatoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8491410
    Abstract: A shaft 6 has layers. The layers include a straight layer in which an absolute angle ?a of a fiber to a shaft axis line is 10 degrees or less, a bias layer in which the angle ?a is 30 degrees or greater and 60 degrees or less, and a hoop layer in which the angle ?a is 80 degrees or greater. The layers include full length layers and a partial layer. The full length layers include full length bias layers and full length straight layers. The full length bias layers are located on the innermost side among the full length layers. The full length layer brought into contact with a low RC full length layer outside the full length bias layers is a high RC layer. The full length layer brought into contact with an outer surface of the full length bias layers is a high RC layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Masatoshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20120317961
    Abstract: An exhaust device includes: an exhaust manifold, an upstream-side cone of a catalyst, an exhaust gas sensor, an outer shell, and a sensor chamber. Between the upstream-side cone and the outer shell, an inflow channel is formed. The inflow channel has an opening that opens inside the exhaust manifold so as to communicate with the sensor chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirohisa Okami, Masatoshi Kato