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).

  • Patent number: 6468624
    Abstract: The invention is a hook fastener strip (10), having magnetically attractable wires (13a,b,c,&d) which are located between, and retained by, hook members (11) on the front face of the fastener strip (10). Each hook member (11) is comprised of a shaft (14) and a split-mushroom-shaped head (15). The outer edges of head (15) protrude beyond the sides of shaft (14), and the undersides of the outer edges form ledges (16a&b) which serve to retain the magnetically attractable wires (13a,b,c,&d) within the hook layer of the fastener strip (10). The magnetically attractable wires (13a,b,c,&d) within the fastener strip allow it to be secured to a correspondingly magnetically attractive object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: YKK Corporation of America
    Inventors: Nobuo Fujisawa, Craig Jay Graham, Tsuyoshi Minato Minato, John Alexander Galbreath
  • Publication number: 20020132087
    Abstract: A method for producing an extruded sheet material wherein a polymeric material is formed into a sheet and a variety of materials are incorporated into the extruded material prior to hardening. The sheet materials produced incorporate, either sheet, filament or particulate matter onto either side of the finished product, allowing for great variability in the finished product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Wolfgang Coronel, Nobuo Fujisawa, Craig Jay Graham, Tsuyoshi Minato, David D. Smith
  • Patent number: 6439537
    Abstract: The invention is a seat bun mold (10) with a recess (12) suitable for containing a fastener strip (18) to be molded into the seat bun, the recess (12) having an end wall (14) shaped so as to provide a snap-fit seal against the end of the fastener strip (18), in order to prevent fouling of the fastener strip (18) during the seat bun molding process. End wall (14) extends from the bottom to the top of the recess (12), and substantially curves inward along its lower extent and outward along its upper extent. The end of fastener strip (18) is snapped into recess (12) by first aligning fastener strip (18) over recess (12) and then exerting downward pressure. The tension of the end of fastener strip (18) against end wall (14) forms a seal to prevent intrusion of liquid molding material through end wall (14) of recess (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: YKK Corporation of America
    Inventors: Nobuo Fujisawa, Tsuyoshi Minato, Craig Jay Graham
  • Patent number: 6254304
    Abstract: A fastening surface body which can mount a sheet-like fastening body to a sheet-like mounting body having various kinds of cross-sectional shapes with no play. The fastening surface body can securely engage a surface fastener of a sheet member to which a female surface fastener is mounted, where the fastening body includes a flat substrate having a surface comprising male engaging elements. The fastening body is structured so as to be fitted and fixed to fitting groove portions of the mounting body so as to bond and fix various kinds of sheet members. Each fitting groove portion of the of the mounting body generally has a C-shaped cross section formed with openings along both end edges of a widthwise direction. The fastening body has at least a protrusion having a height so that that the protrusion contacts a surface of the mounting body when the fastening body is fitted and fixed to the mounting body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takizawa, Mitsuru Akeno, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 6063067
    Abstract: A disposable diaper has a pair of first surface fastener members supported by a rear flap of a diaper body and a second surface fastener member supported by a front flap of the diaper body. The first and second surface fastener members have first and second engaging elements; the first and/or second engaging elements are made of water-soluble resin. After approximately 1/3 to 2/5 of the diaper body on the side of the rear flap is folded inwardly, the diaper body is wound into a roll toward the front flap, and then the water-soluble resin of the first and/or second engaging elements is dissolved with water. Then the first surface fastener members are pressed against the second surface fastener member to fasten the diaper body in roll as waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takizawa, Masashi Doi, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 6061881
    Abstract: There is provided a male engaging member of a surface fastener comprising novel engaging elements that are flexible to a certain extent and highly durable and, at the same time, ensure a certain level of peeling resistance. The engaging elements of such an engaging member stably remain in engagement with piles of a female engaging member coupled with it without unintentionally becoming disengaged from the piles caught by them. The engaging miember comprises a flat substrate sheet, first engaging elements having a stem and an engaging portion disposed at the top thereof and second engaging elements having a column portion and a tilted hitch portion also disposed at the top thereof, the first engaging elements and the second engaging elements being arranged in linear rows independently relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takizawa, Mitsuru Akeno, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5985406
    Abstract: Disclosed is a separable fastener which can be appropriately used as a fastening means for disposable products. In a separable fastener composed of a base part and a multiplicity of engaging elements raised from the obverse side of the base part, a water-soluble resinous material is present at least on the reverse side of the base part. Advantageously, a resin which manifests adhesiveness on absorbing water is used for the water-soluble resinous material. In another mode of the separable fastener, the base part and the engaging elements are made of a water-soluble resinous material and/or a biodegradable resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takizawa, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5951931
    Abstract: A molded surface fastener is manufactured by supplying molten resin to the circumferential surface of a die wheel rotating in one way to mold a substrate sheet blank and a multiplicity of substantially straight and inclined engaging element blanks in an integral form, and then pressing distal ends of the engaging element blanks by a heat-molding roller in rotation at the same speed to incline the engaging element blanks further toward the substrate sheet blank and also to melt the distal ends to shape each said distal end into an engaging head projecting in a direction opposite to the direction of inclination of the respective engaging element blank. Each of the resulting engaging elements is composed of a stem rising from the substrate sheet surface with inclination by a predetermined angle (.theta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Murasaki, Toshiaki Takizawa, Mitsuru Akeno, Keisuke Sakakibara, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5948337
    Abstract: Molten resin is continuously extruded from an injection die or an extrusion die toward the circumferential surface of a die wheel having in its circumferential surface a multiplicity of hook-element-forming cavities and, at the same time, one or more yarns are introduced between the molten resin and the circumferential surface of the die wheel into an inter-element portion of a substrate sheet between a desired adjacent rows of hook elements in parallel to the hook element rows. The yarns are embedded in and integrally molded with the inter-element portion of the substrate sheet and at the same time, hook elements are molded on the circumferential surface of the die wheel as the hook-element-forming cavities are filled with part of the molten resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Sakakibara, Ryuichi Murasaki, Shinichi Daijyogo, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5938997
    Abstract: Molten resin is continuously extruded from an injection die or an extrusion die toward the circumferential surface of a die wheel having in its circumferential surface a multiplicity of hook-element-forming cavities and, at the same time, one or more yarns are introduced between the molten resin and the circumferential surface of the die wheel into an inter-element portion of a substrate sheet between a desired adjacent rows of hook elements in parallel to the hook element rows. The yarns are embedded in and integrally molded with the inter-element portion of the substrate sheet and at the same time, hook elements are molded on the circumferential surface of the die wheel as the hook-element-forming cavities are filled with part of the molten resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Sakakibara, Ryuichi Murasaki, Shinichi Daijyogo, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5930876
    Abstract: Disclosed are a biodegradable separable fastener which can be appropriately used as a fastening means for disposable products and a method for the production thereof. In a separable fastener composed of a base part and a multiplicity of engaging elements raised from the obverse side of the base part, the base part and the engaging elements are formed of a biodegradable resin. In a favorable mode, at least the base part of the separable fastener has such a sectional shape as to increase the specific surface area. For example, grooves and/or holes are formed in the base part or holes are extended from the reverse side of the base part to the interiors of the engaging elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takizawa, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5900302
    Abstract: A molded surface fastener having on its engaging surface an ornamental pattern, such as characters, design, symbol, etc., which is devoid of engaging elements. This ornamental pattern is formed using a die wheel having a multiplicity of engaging-element-forming cavities arranged on the entire circumferential surface except an ornamental pattern of area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5860194
    Abstract: Disclosed are a biodegradable separable fastener which can be appropriately used as a fastening means for disposable products and a method for the production thereof. In a separable fastener composed of a base part and a multiplicity of engaging elements raised from the obverse side of the base part, the base part and the engaging elements are formed of a biodegradable resin. In a favorable mode, at least the base part of the separable fastener has such a sectional shape as to increase the specific surface area. For example, grooves and/or holes are formed in the base part or holes are extended from the reverse side of the base part to the interiors of the engaging elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takizawa, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5839172
    Abstract: A surface fastener molded of synthetic resin, comprises a substrate sheet, and a multiplicity of hook elements molded on at least one surface of the substrate sheet, each hook element having a hook body having a stem and a curved portion. Each of the hook elements has first and second reinforcing ribs projecting from opposite side surfaces of the hook body. The first reinforcing rib is greater in height than the second reinforcing rib. In the presence of the first and second reinforcing ribs different in height, compression stresses developed in the hook body are dispersed at two or more points when a companion engaging element is removed off the hook element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takizawa, Keisuke Sakakibara, Mitsuru Akeno, Ryuichi Murasaki, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5800760
    Abstract: A fastening connector of thermoplastic resin for connecting two separate members together is continuously molded efficiently in a single step by a simple method and apparatus. The method includes the steps of continuously extruding molten resin from an injection nozzle to the circumferential surface of a die wheel, which has in the circumferential surface, a multiplicity of engaging-element-forming cavities, to continuously mold a substrate sheet between the circumferential surface of the die wheel and the injection nozzle and a multiplicity of engaging elements in the engaging-element-forming cavities which elements stand on a front surface of the substrate sheet and, at the same time, to continuously mold at least one engaging ridge, through an engaging-ridge-molding channel, with part of the molten resin integrally with a rear surface of the substrate sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takizawa, Mitsuru Akeno, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5749129
    Abstract: A molded surface fastener is manufactured by supplying molten resin to the circumferential surface of a die wheel rotating in one way to mold a substrate sheet blank and a multiplicity of substantially straight and inclined engaging element blanks in an integral form, and then pressing distal ends of the engaging element blanks by a heat-molding roller in rotation at the same speed to incline the engaging element blanks further toward the substrate sheet blank and also to melt the distal ends to shape each said distal end into an engaging head projecting in a direction opposite to the direction of inclination of the respective engaging element blank. Each of the resulting engaging elements is composed of a stem rising from the substrate sheet surface with inclination by a predetermined angle (.theta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Murasaki, Toshiaki Takizawa, Mitsuru Akeno, Keisuke Sakakibara, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5702797
    Abstract: Molten resin is continuously extruded from an injection die or an extrusion die toward the circumferential surface of a die wheel having in its circumferential surface a multiplicity of hook-element-forming cavities and, at the same time, one or more yarns are introduced between the molten resin and the circumferential surface of the die wheel into an inter-element portion of a substrate sheet between a desired adjacent rows of hook elements in parallel to the hook element rows. The yarns are embedded in and integrally molded with the inter-element portion of the substrate sheet and at the same time, hook elements are molded on the circumferential surface of the die wheel as the hook-element-forming cavities are filled with part of the molten resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Sakakibara, Ryuichi Murasaki, Shinichi Daijyogo, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5690875
    Abstract: A high-quality molded surface fastener is manufactured by extruding molten thermoplastic resin, in a predetermined width, from an extrusion nozzle to a circumferential surface of a die wheel having a multiplicity of engaging-element-forming cavities, driving the die wheel for rotation, and molding a multiplicity of engaging elements integrally with a plate-like substrate sheet. At the same time, pseudo elements are molded integrally with the substrate sheet along opposite side edges, using pseudo-element-forming cavities in opposite side circumferential surfaces of the die wheel simultaneously. With the pseudo elements, the molded surface fastener is peeled off the die wheel under a uniform peeling force through the entire width of the substrate sheet. Thus the high-quality surface fastener can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Sakakibara, Ryuichi Murasaki, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: 5657517
    Abstract: In a molded surface fastener, a hook has vertical multi-step reinforcing ribs on opposite side surfaces of a stem, and it is therefore possible to make the hook-shape engaging portion adequately soft and to increase the rate of engagement with loops. Further, since each reinforcing rib extends to the curve of the hook-shape engaging portion, it is possible to secure a predetermined degree of engaging force, despite the thin and soft hook-shape engaging portion, unlike the simple reinforcing ribs of the conventional art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Akeno, Ryuichi Murasaki, Shinichi Daijyogo, Tsuyoshi Minato
  • Patent number: D457053
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Akeno, Tsuyoshi Minato