Patents by Inventor Takashi Maruko

Takashi Maruko 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: 7056232
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, the intermediate layer has a gage G1 of 0.8–2 mm and a Shore D hardness of 50–65, the cover has a gage G2 of 0.5–1.3 mm and a Shore D hardness of 37–53, and the intermediate layer gage G1 and the cover gage G2 satisfy [G1/(G1+G2)]×100?45%. Upon full shots with a driver, the ball gains a reduced spin rate and an increased initial velocity, which lead to an increase in travel distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Maruko, Michio Inoue
  • Patent number: 7052414
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, the intermediate layer has a gage G1 of 0.8–2 mm and a Shore D hardness of 50–65, the cover has a gage G2 of 0.5–1.3 mm and a Shore D hardness of 37–53, and the intermediate layer gage G1 and the cover gage G2 satisfy [G1/(G1+G2)]×100?45%. Upon full shots with a driver, the ball gains a reduced spin rate and an increased initial velocity, which lead to an increase in travel distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Maruko, Michio Inoue
  • Patent number: 6712717
    Abstract: In a solid golf ball comprising a solid core and a cover, provided that a coefficient of restitution at a firing velocity of v m/s is designated by CORv, a ball structure prior to formation of the cover satisfies COR25-COR50≧0.100, and the ball satisfies COR50≧0.740 and COR25-COR50≧0.09. The golf ball's performance depends little on the head speed so that the flight performance of the ball when hit at a low head speed is improved while the flight performance when hit at a high head speed is little deteriorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakamura, Hisashi Yamagishi, Takashi Maruko
  • Patent number: 6659886
    Abstract: In connection with a golf ball comprising a core, an intermediate resin layer, and a cover, the invention provides a mold having a cavity wall defining a spherical cavity, wherein the core is placed in the cavity to define a space for molding the resin layer. The cavity wall is provided with a plurality of radially extending projections, the total cross-sectional area of the projections relative to the cavity wall and the total volume of the projections relative to the space volume are properly controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Yamagishi, Yutaka Masutani, Takashi Maruko, Atsushi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20030190978
    Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, the intermediate layer has a gage G1 of 0.8-2 mm and a Shore D hardness of 50-65, the cover has a gage G2 of 0.5-1.3 mm and a Shore D hardness of 37-53, and the intermediate layer, gage G1 and the cover gage G2 satisfy [G1/(G1+G2)]×100≧45%. Upon full shots with a driver, the ball gains a reduced spin rate and an increased initial velocity, which lead to an increase in travel distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Maruko, Michio Inoue
  • Patent number: 6607454
    Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a rubbery elastic core and a cover enclosing the core and consisting of a plurality of resinous layers is provided. Among the plurality of cover layers, the outermost layer has a thickness of less than 1 mm and a Shore D hardness of 50-65 and an inner layer has a thickness of 0.5-2.0 mm and a Shore D hardness of 40-55. The ball is easy to control due to high-spin receptivity when hit with a short iron, and travels a distance due to restricted spin when hit with a small loft club like driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Maruko, Michio Inoue
  • Patent number: 6605009
    Abstract: In a solid golf ball comprising a solid core and a cover, the solid core has a multilayer construction which includes a center core and an outer core of at least one layer that encloses the center core. The center core is formed primarily of a resin and has a diameter from 3 mm to less than 15 mm. The outer core is formed of a rubber composition based on polybutadiene. The center core has a surface hardness which is higher than the hardness of an innermost layer of the outer core. The ball has a high-pitched click and a soft feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakamura, Hisashi Yamagishi, Takashi Maruko, Yutaka Masutani
  • Patent number: 6575847
    Abstract: A golf ball includes at least a core, an inner cover, and an outer cover. The inner and outer covers are of different colors. A portion of the inner cover penetrates the outer cover and is exposed to the outside on the surface of the golf ball. The exposed portion constitutes a mark portion on the surface of the golf ball. Further, an auxiliary layer is provided in contact with the inner cover. The auxiliary layer has a color different from those of the inner and outer covers and has an end surface which is exposed to the outside on the surface of the golf ball within the mark portion. Either the inner cover or the auxiliary layer completely covers the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Yamagishi, Takashi Maruko, Yutaka Masutani, Michio Inoue
  • Patent number: 6527652
    Abstract: A multilayer solid golf ball comprising a core and a cover of four layers is characterized in that the core undergoes a deflection of 2.5-5.5 mm under an applied load of 100 kg, the difference in hardness between a first layer of the cover enclosing the core and a second layer of the cover enclosing the first layer is at least 5 Shore D hardness units, the second layer has a Shore D hardness of up to 52, a third layer of the cover enclosing the second layer is harder than the second layer and a fourth layer of the cover enclosing the third layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Maruko, Hisashi Yamagishi, Yutaka Masutani
  • Patent number: 6514158
    Abstract: In a multi-piece golf ball comprising a core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, the ratio of A/B is set to be 1.10/1 or greater wherein A is a deflection under a load of 100 kg of the core and B is a deflection under a load of 100 kg of a sphere having the core enclosed with the intermediate layer, and the coefficient of restitution of the ball at a firing velocity of 25 m/s minus the coefficient of restitution of the ball at a firing velocity of 50 m/s is less than 0.100. The ball shows performance less dependent on a head speed, a distance exactly corresponding to a particular number of club used, and improved flight performance at a high head speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakamura, Hisashi Yamagishi, Takashi Maruko
  • Patent number: 6508726
    Abstract: A golf ball includes at least a core, an inner cover, and an outer cover. The inner cover completely encloses the core, and the inner and outer covers are of different colors. A portion of the inner cover penetrates the outer cover and is exposed to the outside on the surface of the golf ball. The exposed portion serves as a mark portion on the surface of the golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Yamagishi, Takashi Maruko, Yutaka Masutani, Michio Inoue
  • Patent number: 6503155
    Abstract: A golf ball includes a core, an intermediate layer, and a cover. At a boundary between the core and the intermediate layer or at a boundary between the intermediate layer and the cover, convex ribs are formed in a network pattern on a first layer such that the convex ribs intrude into a second layer. In addition, columnar projections are formed on the first layer at positions corresponding to the nodes of the network pattern such that the columnar projections intrude into the second layer deeper than the convex ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestome Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Maruko, Hisashi Yamagishi, Yutaka Masutani
  • Patent number: 6478696
    Abstract: In a solid golf ball of multilayer structure comprising a core, an enclosing layer, and a cover, the core and the enclosing layer have volumes V1 and V2 which satisfy 0.05%≦V1/V2×100%≦60%, and the core has a rebound of A (cm) and the core enclosed with the enclosing layer has a rebound of B (cm) both when dropped from a height of 120 cm, which satisfy A<B. The ball travels an increased carry at both high and low club-head speeds and ensures greater carry for low head speed players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Yamagishi, Takashi Maruko, Yutaka Masutani, Atsushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6465573
    Abstract: A solid golf ball comprising a core, an intermediate layer, and a cover is improved in rebound, distance and feel when the intermediate layer is comprised of a thermoplastic resin in admixture with rubber powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Maruko, Hisashi Yamagishi, Yutaka Masutani
  • Patent number: 6461251
    Abstract: In a solid golf ball of four or multi-layer construction, comprising a center core, an outer core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, the outer core has a higher Shore D hardness than the center core, and the solid core has a diameter of up to 27 mm. The ball has improved feel, click, durability and flight performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Yamagishi, Takashi Maruko, Yutaka Masutani
  • Publication number: 20020142863
    Abstract: In a solid golf ball comprising a solid core and a cover, provided that a coefficient of restitution at a firing velocity of v m/s is designated by CORv, a ball structure prior to formation of the cover satisfies COR25-COR50≧0.100, and the ball satisfies COR50≧0.740 and COR25-COR50≧0.09. The golf ball's performance depends little on the head speed so that the flight performance of the ball when hit at a low head speed is improved while the flight performance when hit at a high head speed is little deteriorated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakamura, Hisashi Yamagishi, Takashi Maruko
  • Patent number: 6431998
    Abstract: In a solid golf ball comprising a solid core and a cover, the solid core has a multilayer construction which includes a center core and an outer core that encloses the center core. The center core is composed primarily of a resin and has a diameter of 3-20 mm and a specific gravity of 0.90-1.50. The center core has a surface Shore D hardness of 40-95 which is at least 10 units greater than the Shore D hardness of an innermost layer of the outer core. The ball has an excellent click and feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakamura, Hisashi Yamagishi, Takashi Maruko, Yutaka Masutani
  • Publication number: 20020103043
    Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a rubbery elastic core and a cover enclosing the core and consisting of a plurality of resinous layers is provided. Among the plurality of cover layers, the outermost layer has a thickness of less than 1 mm and a Shore D hardness of 50-65 and an inner layer has a thickness of 0.5-2.0 mm and a Shore D hardness of 40-55. The ball is easy to control due to high-spin receptivity when hit with a short iron, and travels a distance due to restricted spin when hit with a small loft club like driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Maruko, Michio Inoue
  • Patent number: 6419595
    Abstract: A multilayer solid golf ball comprising a core and a cover of four layers is characterized in that a first layer of the cover enclosing the core has a Shore D hardness of up to 60, a second layer of the cover enclosing the first layer has a Shore D hardness of at least 45, a third layer of the cover enclosing the second layer has a Shore D hardness of up to 45, the second layer is made harder than the first layer, and a fourth layer of the cover enclosing the third layer is made harder than the third layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Maruko, Hisashi Yamagishi, Yutaka Masutani
  • Patent number: 6416425
    Abstract: A multilayer solid golf ball comprising a core and a cover of four layers is characterized in that a first layer of the cover enclosing the core has a Shore D hardness of at least 55, a second layer of the cover enclosing the first layer has a Shore D hardness of up to 45, the difference in hardness between a third layer of the cover enclosing the second layer and the second layer is at least 5 Shore D units, and a fourth layer of the cover enclosing the third layer is made harder than the third layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Maruko, Hisashi Yamagishi, Yutaka Masutani