Patents by Inventor Tsuyoshi Minato

Tsuyoshi Minato 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: 20240051445
    Abstract: A cover material attachment includes: a base to be installed in a groove of a cushion material; a first support and a second support that are provided upright on the base toward an opening of the groove, and are opposed to each other in a width direction of the groove; a first protrusion and a second protrusion that respectively protrude from the first and second supports in respective directions that bring the first and second protrusions closer to each other, and are to be engaged with an engaging member; and a first frame and a second frame that are provided upright on the base toward the opening of the groove and are opposed to each other in the width direction of the groove. The first and second frames each include a guide configured to guide the engaging member to a space between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Madoka Nanbu, Takayoshi Tanaka, Wanli Zhang, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 11445786
    Abstract: A fastening tape having flexibility in a longitudinal direction of the fastening tape. The fastening tape includes a plurality of fasteners, a support, and magnetic material positioned on the support. The support defines a plurality of plateaus and a plurality of valleys. The magnetic material is positioned on at least a portion of one of the plurality of plateaus or the plurality of valleys of the support such that a height of the magnetic material varies in the longitudinal direction. Because the height of the magnetic material varies, the fastening tape is more flexible in the longitudinal direction. In some cases, the fastening tape is also flexible in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato, Atsushi Nakaya, Kenta Okada
  • Patent number: 11083252
    Abstract: A fastening tape includes a base, at least one hook, and at least one rib. The at least one hook includes a stem and an engagement portion extending from an upper end of the stem in a longitudinal direction. The stem includes a leading edge and a trailing edge in the longitudinal direction, and a center of the at least one hook is between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The at least one rib is laterally adjacent to the at least one hook, and a center of the at least one rib is offset from the center of the at least one hook in the longitudinal direction towards the leading edge of the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Fleming, Wolfgang Coronel, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 10709210
    Abstract: Described is a fastening tape that includes a plurality of attachment portions extending upwardly from a bottom portion of the fastening tape. The fastening tape also includes at least one inner wall disposed adjacent to at least some of the plurality of attachment portions and at least one outer wall offset from the at least one inner wall such that a cavity is disposed between the at least one inner wall and the at least one outer wall. Finally, the fastening tape includes an injected foam member disposed in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: David Smith, Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 10694821
    Abstract: A fastening tape with a flange is provided. The fastening tape includes a body and a plurality of fasteners positioned on the body. The flange is between the plurality of fasteners and an edge of the body. In some cases, the flange increases the “hook to foam strength” of the fastening tape when the fastening tape is within foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Minato, Zhiyu Ren, Atsushi Nakaya, Michael Fleming, Keith Kratz, Wolfgang Coronel, Takayuki Matsui, Tetsuya Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20200121034
    Abstract: A fastening tape having flexibility in a longitudinal direction of the fastening tape. The fastening tape includes a plurality of fasteners, a support, and magnetic material positioned on the support. The support defines a plurality of plateaus and a plurality of valleys. The magnetic material is positioned on at least a portion of one of the plurality of plateaus or the plurality of valleys of the support such that a height of the magnetic material varies in the longitudinal direction. Because the height of the magnetic material varies, the fastening tape is more flexible in the longitudinal direction. In some cases, the fastening tape is also flexible in the lateral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato, Atsushi Nakaya, Kenta Okada
  • Patent number: 10548374
    Abstract: A fastening tape having flexibility in a longitudinal direction of the fastening tape. The fastening tape includes a plurality of fasteners, a support, and magnetic material positioned on the support. The support defines a plurality of plateaus and a plurality of valleys. The magnetic material is positioned on at least a portion of one of the plurality of plateaus or the plurality of valleys of the support such that a height of the magnetic material varies in the longitudinal direction. Because the height of the magnetic material varies, the fastening tape is more flexible in the longitudinal direction. In some cases, the fastening tape is also flexible in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato, Atsushi Nakaya, Kenta Okada
  • Patent number: 10524547
    Abstract: A molded surface fastener has engagement regions in which engaging elements are disposed in an erect manner and space regions with no engaging elements, the engagement regions and the space regions alternating in the longitudinal direction. Each space region has a pair of left and right vertical wall portions that are disposed on a substrate portion in an erect manner and a convex rib portion that protrudes from the center of the substrate portion in the width direction, and the convex rib portion is integrally connected to a main lateral wall portion disposed in the width direction of the engagement region. By implementing a simple cutting process, this molded surface fastener can be easily adapted to usages in which the fastener has to be in a curved shape bending in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Okuda, Mineto Terada, Shinichi Imai, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 10362839
    Abstract: A fastening device includes a first tape portion and a first fastening portion joined thereto, the first fastening portion defining a first side surface and a second side surface opposite thereto, the first fastening portion including a plurality of fastening elements extending from the first side surface, the plurality of fastening elements arranged lengthwise along a lengthwise direction of the fastening device, each adjacent pair of fastening elements offset by a pitch distance and defining a fastening gap therebetween, each of the plurality of fastening elements including an engagement portion extending in a direction parallel to the lengthwise direction, each of the plurality of fastening elements being asymmetric about a protrusional centerline of the fastening element, the fastening device being a first fastening device configured to be joined to a second fastening device comprising a second fastening portion having the same geometry as the first fastening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Minato, Suguru Ogura, Mingsi Wang, Yusuke Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 10327518
    Abstract: A molded surface fastener, in which many magnetic particles can be contained in a closer part with respect to a magnet of a molding die, and further a front surface and a rear surface can be easily identified, is provided. In the molded surface fastener of the invention, a magnetic region containing magnetic particles is formed on at least a part between right and left resin intrusion barrier portions, and a magnetic raised portion which is lower than engaging elements and contains the magnetic particles therein is disposed between the engaging elements adjacent in a length direction within the magnetic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Imai, Ayumi Fujisaki, Hiromasa Abe, Kenta Okada, Mineto Terada, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 10258113
    Abstract: The molded surface fastener has a plurality of engaging regions having engaging elements and a plurality of space regions disposed between the engaging regions. Each space region has a plurality of wall pieces standing on a substrate portion and intrusion-accepted space portions which allows a foam resin material to intrude across the wall pieces in foam molding of a cushion body. By that, deformation or breakage of the engaging element in a manufacturing process can be prevented. Moreover, the molded surface fastener is firmly fixed in a state that the engaging elements are exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Imai, Mineto Terada, Kenji Okuda, Tsuyoshi Minato, Zhiyu Ren
  • Publication number: 20190059524
    Abstract: A fastening device includes a first tape portion and a first fastening portion joined thereto, the first fastening portion defining a first side surface and a second side surface opposite thereto, the first fastening portion including a plurality of fastening elements extending from the first side surface, the plurality of fastening elements arranged lengthwise along a lengthwise direction of the fastening device, each adjacent pair of fastening elements offset by a pitch distance and defining a fastening gap therebetween, each of the plurality of fastening elements including an engagement portion extending in a direction parallel to the lengthwise direction, each of the plurality of fastening elements being asymmetric about a protrusional centerline of the fastening element, the fastening device being a first fastening device configured to be joined to a second fastening device comprising a second fastening portion having the same geometry as the first fastening portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Minato, Suguru Ogura, Mingsi Wang, Yusuke Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 10189387
    Abstract: A fastening tape has flexibility in a lateral (width) direction of the fastening tape. The fastening tape includes a body, a plurality of fasteners, and a plurality of transverse walls. The plurality of fasteners and the plurality of transverse walls extend in an upward direction from a top surface of the body. The plurality of fasteners are arranged in rows extending in the lateral direction. Each transverse wall includes a transverse wall width, and at least some of the plurality of transverse walls are arranged in the rows of the plurality of fasteners and connect fasteners in the rows fasteners. The fastening tape includes at least one slit within or adjacent at least one of the transverse walls, which increases flexibility in the lateral direction of the fastening tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato, Atsushi Nakaya, Kenta Okada
  • Publication number: 20180325222
    Abstract: Described is a fastening tape that includes a plurality of attachment portions extending upwardly from a bottom portion of the fastening tape. The fastening tape also includes at least one inner wall disposed adjacent to at least some of the plurality of attachment portions and at least one outer wall offset from the at least one inner wall such that a cavity is disposed between the at least one inner wall and the at least one outer wall. Finally, the fastening tape includes an injected foam member disposed in the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: David Smith, Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 10051926
    Abstract: Described is a fastening tape that includes a plurality of attachment portions extending upwardly from a bottom portion of the fastening tape. The fastening tape also includes at least one inner wall disposed adjacent to at least some of the plurality of attachment portions and at least one outer wall offset from the at least one inner wall such that a cavity is disposed between the at least one inner wall and the at least one outer wall. Finally, the fastening tape includes an injected foam member disposed in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: David Smith, Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 10021947
    Abstract: Described is a fastening tape that includes improved attachment systems. To increase the effectiveness of attaching the fastening tape to a component foam, the bottom or underside of the fastening tape includes one or more membranes. The one or more membranes are attached to the bottom surface of the fastening tape at one or more attachment portions. To strengthen the attachment between the fastening tape and the component foam, the membrane may include one or more non-attachment portions in the form of open spaces or pockets into which the component foam may flow when introduced into the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakaya, Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato, Wolfgang Coronel, Keith Kratz, Michael Fleming
  • Publication number: 20180168290
    Abstract: A fastening tape with a flange is provided. The fastening tape includes a body and a plurality of fasteners positioned on the body. The flange is between the plurality of fasteners and an edge of the body. In some cases, the flange increases the “hook to foam strength” of the fastening tape when the fastening tape is within foam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Minato, Zhiyu Ren, Atsushi Nakaya, Michael Fleming, Keith Kratz, Wolfgang Coronel, Takayuki Matsui, Tetsuya Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20170295890
    Abstract: A molded surface fastener, in which many magnetic particles can be contained in a closer part with respect to a magnet of a molding die, and further a front surface and a rear surface can be easily identified, is provided. In the molded surface fastener of the invention, a magnetic region containing magnetic particles is formed on at least a part between right and left resin intrusion barrier portions, and a magnetic raised portion which is lower than engaging elements and contains the magnetic particles therein is disposed between the engaging elements adjacent in a length direction within the magnetic region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Shinichi Imai, Ayumi Fujisaki, Hiromasa Abe, Kenta Okada, Mineto Terada, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 9781979
    Abstract: A surface fastener member includes left and right longitudinal protective wall sections and front and rear lateral protective wall sections. Each of the lateral protective wall sections includes an outer first lateral wall section and an inner second lateral wall section. The first lateral wall section is continuously placed between the left and right longitudinal protective wall sections at a predetermined height. The second lateral wall section includes a plurality of divided lateral wall bodies which are intermittently placed along a width direction, and a plurality of second engagement elements. The distance is set smaller than a mounting pitch of the first engagement elements in the longitudinal direction of the surface fastener member. According to this, when the molded surface fastener is integrally molded on a cushion body, it is possible to prevent resin material from entering an engagement element region of the surface fastener member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Minato, Zhiyu Ren, Mineto Terada, Shinichi Imai, Kenji Okuda, Atsushi Nakaya, Yasuhiro Sugahara
  • Publication number: 20170245602
    Abstract: Described is a fastening tape that includes improved attachment systems. To increase the effectiveness of attaching the fastening tape to a component foam, the bottom or underside of the fastening tape includes one or more membranes. The one or more membranes are attached to the bottom surface of the fastening tape at one or more attachment portions. To strengthen the attachment between the fastening tape and the component foam, the membrane may include one or more non-attachment portions in the form of open spaces or pockets into which the component foam may flow when introduced into the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakaya, Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato, Wolfgang Coronel, Keith Kratz, Michael Fleming