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: 20170224060
    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: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: David Smith, Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Publication number: 20170150788
    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: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Shinich Imai, Mineto Terada, Kenji Okuda, Tsuyoshi Minato, Zhiyu Ren
  • Publication number: 20170119107
    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: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Kenji Okuda, Mineto Terada, Shinichi Imai, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Publication number: 20170013919
    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: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato, Atsushi Nakaya, Kenta Okada
  • Publication number: 20170013918
    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: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Zhiyu Ren, Tsuyoshi Minato, Atsushi Nakaya, Kenta Okada
  • Publication number: 20160242512
    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: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Minato, Zhiyu Ren, Mineto Terada, Shinichi Imai, Kenji Okuda, Atsushi Nakaya, Yasuhiro Sugahara
  • Patent number: 9357815
    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 includes a continuous lateral wall body which 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. 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: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Minato, Zhiyu Ren, Mineto Terada, Shinichi Imai, Kenji Okuda, Atsushi Nakaya, Yasuhiro Sugahara
  • Publication number: 20140298628
    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 includes a continuous lateral wall body which 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. 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: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Minato, Zhiyu Ren, Mineto Terada, Shinichi Imai, Kenji Okuda, Atsushi Nakaya, Yasuhiro Sugahara
  • Patent number: 7493676
    Abstract: Hook structures for use in hook and loop or hook and engagement material fastening applications. Structures according to embodiments of the invention include hooks which extend from bases which in turn extend from a foundation and also extend laterally across the structures. The bases are separated by valleys which also extend laterally across the structures, whose height can be uniform laterally in the structures or varied. The bases provide suitable strength and support to allow the hooks to be robust and strong for permanent or semi-permanent fastening applications, while the valleys interposed between bases allow the hooks to penetrate sufficiently deeply into the engagement material for effective fastening to occur. Such structures may be formed according to processes which physically or conceptually employ various layers to support hooks, retention barrier members such as fingers interposed laterally between hooks, and/or for spacing such hooks and barriers as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Murasaki, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 7350276
    Abstract: In a molded surface fastener (10) having engaging elements (2) of minute dimension of thermoplastic resin molded together with a base member (1) by continuous molding, each engaging element (2) comprises first and second engaging portions (22a, 22b) each having a different configuration extending in parallel to a surface of the base member from a top end of a pillar portion (21) rising from the base member (1) such that they intersect at right angle. The second engaging head (22b) has an ordinary hook shape structure while the first engaging head (22a) has a wing-like thin plate structure as seen in a plan view. The engaging elements having such a structure in which each engaging element has appropriate engagement force, shearing force and separation force so as to keep an excellent tactile feeling of a surface of the surface fastener, prevents itself from falling down against a pressing force, secures a high engagement ratio with mating pile pieces and satisfies a durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Minato, Eiji Gonda, Mitsuru Akeno
  • Publication number: 20070240289
    Abstract: Hook structures for use in hook and loop or hook and engagement material fastening applications. Structures according to embodiments of the invention include hooks which extend from bases which in turn extend from a foundation and also extend laterally across the structures. The bases are separated by valleys which also extend laterally across the structures, whose height can be uniform laterally in the structures or varied. The bases provide suitable strength and support to allow the hooks to be robust and strong for permanent or semi-permanent fastening applications, while the valleys interposed between bases allow the hooks to penetrate sufficiently deeply into the engagement material for effective fastening to occur. Such structures may be formed according to processes which physically or conceptually employ various layers to support hooks, retention barrier members such as fingers interposed laterally between hooks, and/or for spacing such hooks and barriers as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Ryuichi Murasaki, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Publication number: 20060096072
    Abstract: In a molded surface fastener (10) having engaging elements (2) of minute dimension of thermoplastic resin molded together with a base member (1) by continuous molding, each engaging element (2) comprises first and second engaging portions (22a, 22b) each having a different configuration extending in parallel to a surface of the base member from a top end of a pillar portion (21) rising from the base member (1) such that they intersect at right angle. The second engaging head (22b) has an ordinary hook shape structure while the first engaging head (22a) has a wing-like thin plate structure as seen in a plan view. The engaging elements having such a structure in which each engaging element has appropriate engagement force, shearing force and separation force so as to keep an excellent tactile feeling of a surface of the surface fastener, prevents itself from falling down against a pressing force, secures a high engagement ratio with mating pile pieces and satisfies a durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Minato, Eiji Gonda, Mitsuru Akeno
  • Patent number: 7022394
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fastener strip having magnetically attractable particles which are not located across the entire volume of the strip, but rather are incorporated in a discrete, distinct area of the strip. The fastener strip has a base and many hook pieces which rise from a fastening surface of the base. One embodiment has a magnetically attractable body in a row which rises from the surface of the base and is located along a substantially center line of the fastener strip. The magnetically attractable particles are incorporated in the magnetically attractable body and a part of the base located below the magnetically attractable body, and the magnetically attractable particles are not dispersed across the whole area of the base. A method of manufacturing such a strip is also described here.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Fujisawa, Craig Jay Graham, Tsuyoshi Minato, Ryuichi Murasaki, Mitsuru Akeno
  • Publication number: 20050160534
    Abstract: The invention provides a molded surface fastener and a cushion body formed integrally with it wherein a molded surface fastener has first resin invasion preventing means of an expandable resin material for molding a cushion body on each of right and left side edge portions along a longitudinal direction of a thermoplastic-resin base member surface, a number of engaging elements provided between the invasion preventing means, and second resin invasion preventing means for sectioning the engaging elements into desired number of regions along the longitudinal direction of the base member and extending in a width direction between adjacent sectioned regions, the second resin invasion preventing means comprising a function for engaging/disengaging a mating engaging element, thereby the molded surface fastener securing a required binding force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Mitsuru Akeno, Tsuyoshi Minato, Eiji Gonda
  • Publication number: 20050139971
    Abstract: The invention provides a molding method and molding apparatus, effective and cheap, for a surface fastener to be directly/indirectly bonded with/fit to an mounting object, capable of increasing the bonding strength or friction force regardless of the configuration of a bonding surface, wherein molten resin is discharged continuously from a resin extruding port of an extrusion die to a peripheral surface of a die wheel having hook piece forming cavities therein for forming hook pieces in the hook piece forming cavities while forming a flat base member at a gap between the extrusion die and the die wheel, the rear surface of a surface fastener without engaging elements is cooled by feeding refrigerant through a refrigerant passage formed in the extrusion die below the resin extruding port, surface sinks are formed in the entire rear surface for increasing bonding area, thereby increasing bonding strength and friction force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 6896759
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fastener strip having magnetically attractable particles which are not located across the entire volume of the strip, but rather are incorporated in a discrete, distinct area of the strip. The fastener strip has a base and many hook pieces which rise from a fastening surface of the base. One embodiment has a magnetically attractable body in a row which rises from the surface of the base and is located along a substantially center line of the fastener strip. The magnetically attractable particles are incorporated in the magnetically attractable body and a part of the base located below the magnetically attractable body, and the magnetically attractable particles are not dispersed across the whole area of the base. A method of manufacturing such a strip is also described here.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Fujisawa, Craig Jay Graham, Tsuyoshi Minato, Ryuichi Murasaki, Mitsuru Akeno
  • Patent number: 6720059
    Abstract: This invention provides a fastener strip in which fastening elements form a fastener layer on a front face of the fastener strip. Rows of vertical members are disposed along each of the side edges of the fastener layer and each row comprises vertical members formed with an appropriate interval between them for controlling the degree of foam penetration during the molding process. The vertical members anchor the fastener strip to an object during molding of the object and form an effective seal against fouling of the fastening elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Fujisawa, Craig Jay Graham, Tsuyoshi Minato, Ryuichi Murasaki, Mitsuru Akeno
  • Publication number: 20030214068
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fastener strip having magnetically attractable particles which are not located across the entire volume of the strip, but rather are incorporated in a discrete, distinct area of the strip. The fastener strip has a base and many hook pieces which rise from a fastening surface of the base. One embodiment has a magnetically attractable body in a row which rises from the surface of the base and is located along a substantially center line of the fastener strip. The magnetically attractable particles are incorporated in the magnetically attractable body and a part of the base located below the magnetically attractable body, and the magnetically attractable particles are not dispersed across the whole area of the base. A method of manufacturing such a strip is also described here.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Fujisawa, Craig Jay Graham, Tsuyoshi Minato, Ryuichi Murasaki, Mitsuru Akeno
  • Publication number: 20020164449
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fastener strip having magnetic powders which are not located across a whole volume of a strip but are incorporated in each discrete distinct area of the strip. The fastener strip has a base plate and many hook pieces which rise from a fastening surface of the base plate. Further, the fastener strip has a magnetic body in a row which rises from the surface of the base plate as well as is located below a substantially center line of the fastener strip. The magnetic powders are incorporated in the magnetic body and a part of the base plate located below the magnetic body, and the magnetic powders are not dispersed across the whole area of the base plate. A method of manufacturing such a strip is also described here.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Nobuo Fujisawa, Craig Jay Graham, Tsuyoshi Minato, Ryuichi Murasaki, Mitsuru Akeno
  • Publication number: 20020164451
    Abstract: This invention provides a fastener strip in which fastening elements form a fastener layer on a front face of the fastener strip. Vertical walls are disposed along each of side edges of the fastener layer and each vertical wall comprises wall portions formed with an appropriate interval for controlling the degree of foam penetration during the molding process. The wall portions fix the fastener strip to an object during molding of the object and form an effective seal against fouling of the fastening elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Nobuo Fujisawa, Craig Jay Graham, Tsuyoshi Minato, Ryuichi Murasaki, Mitsuru Akeno