Patents by Inventor Seisuke Tomita

Seisuke Tomita 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: 9567449
    Abstract: A dispersion of a processing aid in oil is disclosed. Further, a method of forming the dispersion in accordance with methods for preparing rubber compositions is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Publication number: 20160332036
    Abstract: A golf ball with a deposited layer is disclosed. The deposited layer is not produced by a molding process, such as injection molding or compression molding. Instead, the deposition process is produced by another process, such as thermal spraying or sintering. The deposited layer may include partially fused particulate material. The deposited layer may be added to a golf ball design as one or more supplemental layers. The deposited layer may also be provided in a golf ball design as a substitute for one or more layers. A golf ball may further include a combination of one or more supplemental deposited layers and one or more substituted deposited layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Molinari, Michael Wallans, Takahisa Ono, Seisuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 9415269
    Abstract: A golf ball with a deposited layer is disclosed. The deposited layer is not produced by a molding process, such as injection molding or compression molding. Instead, the deposition process is produced by another process, such as thermal spraying or sintering. The deposited layer may include partially fused particulate material. The deposited layer may be added to a golf ball design as one or more supplemental layers. The deposited layer may also be provided in a golf ball design as a substitute for one or more layers. A golf ball may further include a combination of one or more supplemental deposited layers and one or more substituted deposited layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Arthur Molinari, Takahisa Ono, Michael Wallans
  • Publication number: 20150283431
    Abstract: Golf ball comprising core, cover, and optional intermediate layer(s) has the core and/or intermediate layer(s) made by crosslinking a rubber composition including at least (a) 100 parts by weight polybutadiene having 85% to 100% cis-1,4 bond content; (b) about 10 to about 50 parts by weight of (i) a zinc, magnesium, or calcium salt of a first carboxylic acid with least two ethylenically unsaturated bonds and (ii) a zinc, magnesium, or calcium salt of a second carboxylic acid with one ethylenically unsaturated bond that is ?,? to a carbonyl of a carboxyl group, wherein (b)(i) is about 50% by weight to 100% by weight of the combination of (b)(i) and (b)(ii); (c) a free radical initiator; and (d) an inorganic zinc, magnesium, or calcium compound. Further disclosed is a method of making this golf ball by molding and crosslinking the rubber composition to make the core or intermediate layer(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Bender, Seisuke Tomita
  • Publication number: 20150174456
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a core made from a highly neutralized polymer that has been mixed with a hardness modifier. The modifier may be a process oil or a plasticizer. In particular, the modifier may be a naphthenic process oil, a paraffinic process oil, a phthalate plasticizer, a trimellitate plasticizer, an adipate plasticizer, a sebacate-based plasticizer, a maleate-based plasticizer, and blends thereof. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing a golf ball that includes changing the hardness of a highly neutralized polymer core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Seisuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 9061182
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a core made from a highly neutralized polymer that has been mixed with a hardness modifier. The modifier may be a process oil or a plasticizer. In particular, the modifier may be a naphthenic process oil, a paraffinic process oil, a phthalate plasticizer, a trimellitate plasticizer, an adipate plasticizer, a sebacate-based plasticizer, a maleate-based plasticizer, and blends thereof. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing a golf ball that includes changing the hardness of a highly neutralized polymer core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Seisuke Tomita
  • Publication number: 20150144258
    Abstract: A golf ball is provided capable of having various characteristics based on having an aggregated layer core. The golf ball includes an inner core, an outer shell enclosing the inner core, and an intermediate core enclosing the inner core. The intermediate core includes sublayers thermoplastically fused together to form an aggregated intermediate core layer having overall characteristics formed as a combination of the sublayer characteristics. A method of forming a golf ball core having an aggregated layer core can include forming a first and second stack of nested cups, thermoplastically bonding each of the stacks to each other to form first and second aggregated cups, arranging the aggregated cups around a golf ball inner core, and bonding the aggregated cups to each other. In some configurations, the sublayers can include ultrathin sublayers less than 20 microns thick, and in some configurations, the sublayers can include injection molded sublayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yutaka KABESHITA, Kerby LaVar Maxwell, Arthur Parker Molinari, Bradley C. Tutmark, Takahisa Ono, Seisuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 8920262
    Abstract: A golf ball is provided capable of having various characteristics based on having an aggregated layer core. The golf ball includes an inner core, an outer shell enclosing the inner core, and an intermediate core enclosing the inner core. The intermediate core includes sublayers thermoplastically fused together to form an aggregated intermediate core layer having overall characteristics formed as a combination of the sublayer characteristics. A method of forming a golf ball core having an aggregated layer core can include forming a first and second stack of nested cups, thermoplastically bonding each of the stacks to each other to form first and second aggregated cups, arranging the aggregated cups around a golf ball inner core, and bonding the aggregated cups to each other. In some configurations, the sublayers can include ultrathin sublayers less than 20 microns thick, and in some configurations, the sublayers can include injection molded sublayers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yutaka Kabeshita, Kerby LaVar Maxwell, Arthur Molinari, Bradley C. Tutmark, Takahisa Ono, Seisuke Tomita
  • Publication number: 20130310197
    Abstract: A golf ball is provided capable of having various characteristics based on having an aggregated layer core. The golf ball includes an inner core, an outer shell enclosing the inner core, and an intermediate core enclosing the inner core. The intermediate core includes sublayers thermoplastically fused together to form an aggregated intermediate core layer having overall characteristics formed as a combination of the sublayer characteristics. A method of forming a golf ball core having an aggregated layer core can include forming a first and second stack of nested cups, thermoplastically bonding each of the stacks to each other to form first and second aggregated cups, arranging the aggregated cups around a golf ball inner core, and bonding the aggregated cups to each other. In some configurations, the sublayers can include ultrathin sublayers less than 20 microns thick, and in some configurations, the sublayers can include injection molded sublayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Yutaka Kabeshita, Kerby LaVar Maxwell, Arthur Molinari, Bradley C. Tutmark, Takahisa Ono, Seisuke Tomita
  • Publication number: 20130289186
    Abstract: A dispersion of a processing aid in oil is disclosed. Further, a method of forming the dispersion in accordance with methods for preparing rubber compositions is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 8568837
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a golf ball with a deposited layer is disclosed. The deposited layer is not produced by a molding process, such as injection molding or compression molding. Instead, the deposition process is produced by another process, such as thermal spraying. The deposited layer may include partially fused particulate material. The deposited layer may be added to a golf ball design as one or more supplemental layers. The deposited layer may also be provided in a golf ball design as a substitute for one or more layers. A golf ball may further include a combination of one or more supplemental deposited layers and one or more substituted deposited layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Arthur Molinari, Takahisa Ono, Michael Wallans
  • Publication number: 20130260919
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a core made from a highly neutralized polymer that has been mixed with a hardness modifier. The modifier may be a process oil or a plasticizer. In particular, the modifier may be a naphthenic process oil, a paraffinic process oil, a phthalate plasticizer, a trimellitate plasticizer, an adipate plasticizer, a sebacate-based plasticizer, a maleate-based plasticizer, and blends thereof. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing a golf ball that includes changing the hardness of a highly neutralized polymer core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Seisuke Tomita
  • Publication number: 20130260916
    Abstract: A golf ball with a deposited layer is disclosed. The deposited layer is not produced by a molding process, such as injection molding or compression molding. Instead, the deposition process is produced by another process, such as thermal spraying or sintering. The deposited layer may include partially fused particulate material. The deposited layer may be added to a golf ball design as one or more supplemental layers. The deposited layer may also be provided in a golf ball design as a substitute for one or more layers. A golf ball may further include a combination of one or more supplemental deposited layers and one or more substituted deposited layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Arthur Molinari, Takahisa Ono, Michael Wallans
  • Publication number: 20130260044
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a golf ball with a deposited layer is disclosed. The deposited layer is not produced by a molding process, such as injection molding or compression molding. Instead, the deposition process is produced by another process, such as thermal spraying. The deposited layer may include partially fused particulate material. The deposited layer may be added to a golf ball design as one or more supplemental layers. The deposited layer may also be provided in a golf ball design as a substitute for one or more layers. A golf ball may further include a combination of one or more supplemental deposited layers and one or more substituted deposited layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Arthur Molinari, Takahisa Ono, Michael Wallans
  • Patent number: 8524316
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a golf ball with a deposited layer is disclosed. The deposited layer is not produced by a molding process, such as injection molding or compression molding. Instead, the deposition process is produced by another process, such as sintering. The deposited layer may include partially fused particulate material. The deposited layer may be added to a golf ball design as one or more supplemental layers. The deposited layer may also be provided in a golf ball design as a substitute for one or more layers. A golf ball may further include a combination of one or more supplemental deposited layers and one or more substituted deposited layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Arthur Molinari, Takahisa Ono
  • Publication number: 20130225329
    Abstract: A high performance golf ball made in part of a modified high Mooney viscosity rubber. The modified high Mooney viscosity rubber has less than about 20 phr oil and is high Mooney viscosity rubber having a Mooney viscosity at least about 40 blended with between about 1 phr and about 10 phr of process oil and between about 0.05 phr and 5 phr of peptizing agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Aaron Craig Bender, Bradley C. Tutmark
  • Publication number: 20130225330
    Abstract: A golf ball having a relatively larger, lower density inner core, and a relatively thinner, higher density outer core such that the ball has a relatively large moment of inertia (MOI) to generate an improved spin rate profile. The inner core is a blend of highly neutralized acid polymer and metallocene-catalyzed polymer, and the golf ball has a cover surrounding the inner layers. Also, an “on demand” method and system for making such golf balls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Seisuke Tomita, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 5651741
    Abstract: A golf ball is provided with a marking portion including a hologram implementing a color and/or pattern produced by optical interference. The marking portion is provided on the entire surface of the golf ball or only in dimples. The marking portion including a hologram reflects light and thereby glitters, and is visually recognized as a three-dimensional image, thereby improving visibility of the ball from a distance. The marking portion including a hologram allows an image to be readily reproduced by irradiating a laser beam thereto. Thus reproduced image facilitates an automated inspection for the appearance of the marking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Masutani, Keisuke Ihara, Seisuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 5439227
    Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball has a solid core of multi-layer configuration including an inner layer circumscribed by an outer layer. The core inner layer is formed from a rubber composition. The core outer layer is formed thereon by injection molding a mixture of 100-50 wt % of a polyether ester type thermoplastic elastomer having a Shore D hardness of 30-50 and a Tg of up to -25.degree. C. and 0-50 wt % of an ethylene-(meth)acrylate copolymer ionomer having a flexural modulus of 200-400 MPa. The core is surrounded by a cover of an ethylene-(meth)acrylate copolymer ionomer having a flexural modulus of 200-450 MPa and a Shore D hardness of 55-68. The ball shows improved flying performance, feel on impact and durability and lends itself to mass production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Egashira, Seisuke Tomita
  • Patent number: 5252652
    Abstract: One-piece and multi-layered golf balls are improved in flying performance by forming the one-piece ball entirely or multi-layered golf ball core from a rubber composition comprising a base rubber, an unsaturated carboxylic acid metal salt, and an organic sulfur compound and/or a metal salt thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Egashira, Kazuyuki Takahashi, Seisuke Tomita