Patents by Inventor Wataru Saka

Wataru Saka 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: 8450556
    Abstract: A shaped sheet, comprising: a plurality of protrusions (3) on one surface side of the shaped sheet formed of fibers; and connecting portions (5) for being barriers and connecting the protrusions (3) to one another, wherein the connecting portion (5) has a fiber density higher than a fiber density of the protrusion (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Takanobu Miyamoto, Takeshi Miyamura, Taeko Kanai, Aya Yoshimoto, Soichi Fujita, Hiromichi Suzuki, Wataru Saka, Shinobu Takei
  • Patent number: 7942992
    Abstract: A bulky sheet material having three-dimensional protrusions comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer provided on at least one side of the first fiber layer. The first fiber layer contains thermally shrunken heat-shrinkable fibers. The second fiber layer comprises heat non-shrinkable fibers. The first fiber layer and the second fiber layer are partly joined together at a large number of joints formed by fusion bonding. The joints are formed by melting and solidification of a heat fusible resin having a higher melting point than the shrinkage starting temperature of the heat shrinkable fiber. The second fiber layer forms a large number of protrusions between the joints by the heat shrinkage of the first fiber layer while leaving the joints as depressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Saka, Shoichi Taneichi, Takanobu Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20100249740
    Abstract: A shaped sheet, comprising: a plurality of protrusions (3) on one surface side of the shaped sheet formed of fibers; and connecting portions (5) for being barriers and connecting the protrusions (3) to one another, wherein the connecting portion (5) has a fiber density higher than a fiber density of the protrusion (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Takanobu Miyamoto, Takeshi Miyamura, Taeko Kanai, Hiromichi Suzuki, Wataru Saka, Shinobu Takei
  • Publication number: 20090294019
    Abstract: A bulky sheet material having three-dimensional protrusions comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer provided on at least one side of the first fiber layer. The first fiber layer contains thermally shrunken heat-shrinkable fibers. The second fiber layer comprises heat non-shrinkable fibers. The first fiber layer and the second fiber layer are partly joined together at a large number of joints formed by fusion bonding. The joints are formed by melting and solidification of a heat fusible resin having a higher melting point than the shrinkage starting temperature of the heat shrinkable fiber. The second fiber layer forms a large number of protrusions between the joints by the heat shrinkage of the first fiber layer while leaving the joints as depressions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Wataru SAKA, Shoichi TANEICHI, Takanobu MIYAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7534928
    Abstract: A topsheet for absorbent articles is disclosed. The topsheet is used on the side of an absorbent article to be brought into contact with a wearer's body. The topsheet has an air permeability of 10 ml/cm2·sec or more in the horizontal direction under a pressure of 10 cN/cm2. The topsheet also has an air permeability of 10 to 500 ml/cm2·sec in the horizontal direction under a pressure of 50 cN/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Noriko Sakamoto, Hiroko Sugiura, Yasuo Toyoshima, Shoichi Taneichi, Wataru Saka
  • Patent number: 7303808
    Abstract: A bulky sheet material having three-dimensional protrusions 10 is disclosed. The sheet material comprises a first layer 1 and a second layer 2 adjacent to the first layer 1. The first layer 1 and the second layer 2 is partly joined together at joints 3 in a prescribed pattern. The first layer 1 has a number of raised portions which are located among the joints 3. The second layer 2 comprises a material which exhibits elastomeric behavior. The bulky sheet material 10 exhibits elastomeric behavior as a whole and breathability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: KAO Corporation
    Inventors: Shoichi Taneichi, Manabu Kaneta, Yasuhiro Komori, Takanobu Miyamoto, Wataru Saka, Yoshihiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 7267860
    Abstract: A topsheet 10 of an absorbent article is a nonwoven fabric having a plurality of heat fusion joints 3 formed by embossing. Fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric protrude in the thickness direction of the nonwoven fabric between the joints 3 to form a plurality of protrusions 4a and 4b on both the upper and the lower sides of the nonwoven fabric. The base of the individual protrusions 4b formed on the lower side projects in the planar direction of the nonwoven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Toyoshima, Ken Nemoto, Wataru Saka
  • Patent number: 7258910
    Abstract: A topsheet for an absorbent article which has an uneven profile formed on a surface thereof to be brought into contact with a wearer's skin, the uneven profile being flexibly deformable in conformity to the contour of the wearer's body and to the wearer's movement, and depressions of the uneven profile being capable of trapping high-viscosity excreta thereby separating the high-viscosity excreta from the wearer's skin while an absorbent article having the topsheet is worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Toyoshima, Hiroko Sugiura, Takanobu Miyamoto, Wataru Saka, Shoichi Taneichi
  • Patent number: 7131171
    Abstract: A method for restoring bulkiness of nonwoven fabric which contains crimped thermoplastic fiber and is in a roll form is disclosed. The method comprises unwinding the nonwoven fabric from the stock roll, and blowing hot air to the unwound nonwoven fabric by a through-air technique to make the nonwoven fabric increase in bulkiness. The hot air is heated at a temperature lower than the melting point of the thermoplastic fiber and not lower than a temperature lower than that melting point by about 50° C., and is blown for about 0.05 to 3 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Takanobu Miyamoto, Wataru Saka, Yasuhiro Komori, Koji Asano, Manabu Kaneta
  • Patent number: 6926948
    Abstract: A topsheet for an absorbent article which has an uneven profile formed on a surface thereof to be brought into contact with a wearer's skin, the uneven profile being flexibly deformable in conformity to the contour of the wearer's body and to the wearer's movement, and depressions of the uneven profile being capable of trapping high-viscosity excreta thereby separating the high-viscosity excreta from the wearer's skin while an absorbent article having the topsheet is worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Toyoshima, Hiroko Sugiura, Takanobu Miyamoto, Wataru Saka, Shoichi Taneichi
  • Publication number: 20050147798
    Abstract: A topsheet for an absorbent article which has an uneven profile formed on a surface thereof to be brought into contact with a wearer's skin, the uneven profile being flexibly deformable in conformity to the contour of the wearer's body and to the wearer's movement, and depressions of the uneven profile being capable of trapping high-viscosity excreta thereby separating the high-viscosity excreta from the wearer's skin while an absorbent article having the topsheet is worn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Yasuo Toyoshima, Hiroko Sugiura, Takanobu Miyamoto, Wataru Saka, Shoichi Taneichi
  • Patent number: 6888046
    Abstract: A topsheet 10 for an absorbent article comprising a first fiber layer 1 disposed on the side of a wearer and a second fiber layer 2 disposed on the side of an absorbent member, the first fiber layer 1 and the second fiber layer 2 being partially bonded together at joints 3 in a prescribed pattern, the first fiber layer 1 having protrusions 4 on the wearer's side in portions other than the joints 3, and the second fiber layer 2 being a fiber aggregate containing heat shrinkable fiber and having heat shrunken parts 5 that have shrunken and densified parts 6 that have been inhibited from heat shrinkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Toyoshima, Noriko Sakamoto, Hiroko Sugiura, Takanobu Miyamoto, Wataru Saka, Shoichi Taneichi
  • Publication number: 20040142151
    Abstract: A topsheet 10 of an absorbent article is a nonwoven fabric having a plurality of heat fusion joints 3 formed by embossing. Fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric protrude in the thickness direction of the nonwoven fabric between the joints 3 to form a plurality of protrusions 4a and 4b on both the upper and the lower sides of the nonwoven fabric. The base of the individual protrusions 4b formed on the lower side projects in the planar direction of the nonwoven fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Yasuo Toyoshima, Ken Nemoto, Wataru Saka
  • Publication number: 20040111848
    Abstract: A method for restoring bulkiness of nonwoven fabric which contains crimped thermoplastic fiber and is in a roll form is disclosed. The method comprises unwinding the nonwoven fabric from the stock roll, and blowing hot air to the unwound nonwoven fabric by a through-air technique to make the nonwoven fabric increase in bulkiness. The hot air is heated at a temperature lower than the melting point of the thermoplastic fiber and not lower than a temperature lower than that melting point by about 50° C., and is blown for about 0.05 to 3 seconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Takanobu Miyamoto, Wataru Saka, Yasuhiro Komori, Koji Asano, Manabu Kaneta
  • Publication number: 20030167044
    Abstract: A topsheet 10 for an absorbent article comprising a first fiber layer 1 disposed on the side of a wearer and a second fiber layer 2 disposed on the side of an absorbent member, the first fiber layer 1 and the second fiber layer 2 being partially bonded together at joints 3 in a prescribed pattern, the first fiber layer 1 having protrusions 4 on the wearer's side in portions other than the joints 3, and the second fiber layer 2 being a fiber aggregate containing heat shrinkable fiber and having heat shrunken parts 5 that have shrunken and densified parts 6 that have been inhibited from heat shrinkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Yasuo Toyoshima, Noriko Sakamoto, Hiroko Sugiura, Takanobu Miyamoto, Wataru Saka, Shoichi Taneichi
  • Publication number: 20030162460
    Abstract: A bulky sheet material having three-dimensional protrusions comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer provided on at least one side of the first fiber layer. The first fiber layer contains thermally shrunken heat-shrinkable fibers. The second fiber layer comprises heat non-shrinkable fibers. The first fiber layer and the second fiber layer are partly joined together at a large number of joints formed by fusion bonding. The joints are formed by melting and solidification of a heat fusible resin having a higher melting point than the shrinkage starting temperature of the heat shrinkable fiber. The second fiber layer forms a large number of protrusions between the joints by the heat shrinkage of the first fiber layer while leaving the joints as depressions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Wataru Saka, Shoichi Taneichi, Takanobu Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20030050615
    Abstract: A topsheet for absorbent articles is disclosed. The topsheet is used on the side of an absorbent article to be brought into contact with a wearer's body. The topsheet has an air permeability of 10 ml/cm2·sec or more in the horizontal direction under a pressure of 10 cN/cm2. The topsheet also has an air permeability of 10 to 500 ml/cm2·sec in the horizontal direction under a pressure of 50 cN/cm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Noriko Sakamoto, Hiroko Sugiura, Yasuo Toyoshima, Shoichi Taneichi, Wataru Saka
  • Publication number: 20020068150
    Abstract: A bulky sheet material having three-dimensional protrusions 10 is disclosed. The sheet material comprises a first layer 1 and a second layer 2 adjacent to the first layer 1. The first layer 1 and the second layer 2 is partly joined together at joints 3 in a prescribed pattern. The first layer 1 has a number of raised portions which are located among the joints 3. The second layer 2 comprises a material which exhibits elastomeric behavior. The bulky sheet material 10 exhibits elastomeric behavior as a whole and breathability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Shoichi Taneichi, Manabu Kaneta, Yasuhiro Komori, Takanobu Miyamoto, Wataru Saka, Yoshihiro Sakai
  • Publication number: 20020058128
    Abstract: A topsheet for an absorbent article which has an uneven profile formed on a surface thereof to be brought into contact with a wearer's skin, the uneven profile being flexibly deformable in conformity to the contour of the wearer's body and to the wearer's movement, and depressions of the uneven profile being capable of trapping high-viscosity excreta thereby separating the high-viscosity excreta from the wearer's skin while an absorbent article having the topsheet is worn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Yasuo Toyoshima, Hiroko Sugiura, Takanobu Miyamoto, Wataru Saka, Shoichi Taneichi