Patents by Inventor Yasushi Ichikawa

Yasushi Ichikawa 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).

  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 7037963
    Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and two or more outer layers covering said core, wherein the first outer layer is formed mainly from a mixture of a non-ionomer thermoplastic elastomer and an isocyanate compound and the second outer layer is formed mainly from a mixture composed of a resin component consisting of an ionomer resin and a non-ionomer thermoplastic elastomer, a fatty acid and/or a derivative thereof, a metal ion source capable of neutralizing unneutralized acid radicals in the above-mentioned components, and a compound having two or more reactive functional groups and a molecular weight no larger than 20,000, with the first outer layer being contiguous to the second outer layer, which exhibits superior in durability and rebound resilience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rinya Takesue, Yasushi Ichikawa, Hiroyuki Nagasawa
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 7029406
    Abstract: In a golf ball comprising an elastic core, an intermediate layer of at least one layer, and a cover which is provided on its surface with a plurality of dimples, wherein the cover has a gage of 1.0–1.5 mm, the intermediate layer has a gage of 1.0–2.0 mm per layer, the golf ball in its entirety has a specific gravity of 1.128–1.145 g/cm3. On account of an optimum specific gravity in a relatively high range, the ball is improved in flight performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuki Kasashima, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 6992145
    Abstract: In a golf ball comprising a core and a cover of plural layers, a cover inner layer is formed primarily of an ionomer resin in admixture with a compound containing at least two reactive functional groups and having a molecular weight of up to 20,000 and a cover outer layer is formed primarily of a non-ionomer resin. The ball is fully durable to repeated impact, and maintains good spin performance, rebound characteristics and feel even after repeated impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Rinya Takesue, Eiji Takehana
  • Multi-piece solid golf ball
    Patent number: 6981925
    Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball has a solid core obtained by molding and vulcanizing a rubber composition which includes (A) a base rubber containing a polybutadiene synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst, (B) an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, (C) an organic sulfur compound, (D) an inorganic filler and (E) an organic peroxide. The core is enclosed within a mantle of one or more layer which is made primarily of a thermoplastic resin and has a Durometer D hardness of 30 to 70. The mantle is enclosed within a cover which is made primarily of a thermoplastic polyurethane and which has a Durometer D hardness of 40 to 60 that is lower than the Durometer D hardness of the outermost layer of the mantle. This construction provides the golf ball with an outstanding rebound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Shimizu, Junji Hayashi, Hiroshi Higuchi, Rinya Takesue, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Two-piece solid golf ball
    Patent number: 6966850
    Abstract: Disclosed is a two-piece solid golf ball satisfying the following conditions (1) to (4): (1) an outer cover predominantly contains a polyurethane material; (2) the outer cover has a thickness of 2.15 to 2.9 mm; (3) a core is formed from a rubber material; and (4) JIS C hardness as measured at any portion of the core is 58 to 87. The golf ball provides excellent feeling on impact and controllability, exhibits excellent cut resistance, scuff resistance, and durability against cracking caused by repeated hitting, and is suitable for use by advanced golfers on golf practice ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Golf ball materials and golf ball
    Publication number: 20050256269
    Abstract: A golf ball material comprises a heated mixture having a melt index of at least 1.0 dg/min, which mixture is composed of (A) a thermoplastic resin, (B) a fatty acid or fatty acid derivative having a molecular weight of at least 280, and (C) a basic inorganic metal compound capable of neutralizing acidic groups in components A and B. The material including a highly neutralized ionomer resin has good thermal stability, flow characteristics and moldability. The invention is also directed at high-rebound golf balls which can be easily and efficiently manufactured using the same material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Rinya Takesue, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Golf ball materials and golf ball
    Patent number: 6962951
    Abstract: A golf ball material comprises a heated mixture having a melt index of at least 1.0 dg/min, which mixture is composed of (A) a thermoplastic resin, (B) a fatty acid or fatty acid derivative having a molecular weight of at least 280, and (C) a basic inorganic metal compound capable of neutralizing acidic groups in components A and B. The material including a highly neutralized ionomer resin has good thermal stability, flow characteristics and moldability. The invention is also directed at high-rebound golf balls which can be easily and efficiently manufactured using the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rinya Takesue, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Multi-piece golf ball
    Patent number: 6939250
    Abstract: A multi-piece golf ball includes a core having a diameter of 30 to 40 mm, at least one intermediate layer including the outermost layer having a thickness of 0.5 to 2.0 mm, and a cover having a thickness of 1.0 to 3.0 mm. The cover is made from a material obtained by dispersedly blending at least one kind of silicone powder selected from a silicone rubber powder, a silicon resin powder, and a composite powder thereof, in a main resin component containing an ionomer resin in an amount of 50% by weight or more. Dimples of the number of 300 to 550 pieces are formed in the surface of the golf ball in such a manner that a dimple total volume ratio VR is in a range of 0.85% or less. The multi-piece golf ball is excellent in resilience, flight distance characteristic, and feel of hitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Hayashi, Hisashi Yamagishi, Yasumasa Shimizu, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 6939251
    Abstract: Disclosed is a golf ball having a cover formed from a thermoplastic polyurethane material which can be recycled for molding, which exhibits high restitution, and which exhibits excellent scuff resistance. The cover is formed from a composition (D) containing, as predominant components, the following components (A), (B) and (C): (A) a thermoplastic polyurethane material, (B) a thermoplastic polyamide, and (C) an isocyanate mixture in which an isocyanate compound (c-1) having at least two isocyanate groups serving as functional groups in the molecule is dispersed in a thermoplastic resin (c-2) which is substantially non-reactive with the isocyanate groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Rinya Takesue, Hiroyuki Nagasawa
  • Golf ball material and golf ball
    Publication number: 20050182192
    Abstract: A mixture having good thermal stability, flow and moldability and suitable as a golf ball-forming material is obtained when a base resin comprising a (metal ion-neutralized) olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylate ternary random copolymer and optionally a (metal ion-neutralized) olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid binary random copolymer is blended with specific proportions of a fatty acid and/or fatty acid derivative and a basic inorganic metal compound capable of neutralizing acidic groups left unneutralized in the base resin and fatty acid. Using the same material, high-rebound golf balls can be effectively manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: Rinya Takesue, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Golf ball material and golf ball
    Patent number: 6894097
    Abstract: A mixture having good thermal stability, flow and moldability and suitable as a golf ball-forming material is obtained when a base resin comprising a (metal ion-neutralized) olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylate ternary random copolymer and optionally a (metal ion-neutralized) olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid binary random copolymer is blended with specific proportions of a fatty acid and/or fatty acid derivative and a basic inorganic metal compound capable of neutralizing acidic groups left unneutralized in the base resin and fatty acid. Using the same material, high-rebound golf balls can be effectively manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rinya Takesue, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Two-piece solid golf ball
    Patent number: 6887168
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a two-piece golf ball formed of a solid core and a cover, the solid core being formed from a rubber composition composed of a rubber base material of polybutadiene synthesized by using a catalyst of rare earth element, a small amount of organic peroxide, an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, an organic sulfur compound, and an inorganic filler, and the cover being formed mainly from a thermoplastic polyurethane material. The two-piece golf ball is by far superior to conventional ones in flying performance, cover durability, coating durability, and shot feeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Hayashi, Yasumasa Shimizu, Hiroshi Higuchi, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Multi-piece golf ball
    Publication number: 20050090334
    Abstract: A multi-piece golf ball includes a core having a diameter of 30 to 40 mm, at least one intermediate layer including the outermost layer having a thickness of 0.5 to 2.0 mm, and a cover having a thickness of 1.0 to 3.0 mm. The core is made from a rubber composition mainly containing polybutadiene. The outermost layer is made from a non-ionomer based thermoplastic resin. The cover is made from a material obtained by dispersedly blending at least one kind of silicone powder selected from a silicone rubber powder, a silicon resin powder, and a composite powder thereof, in a main resin component containing an ionomer resin in an amount of 50% by weight or more. The core has a hardness corresponding to a deflection in a range of 3.5 to 6.5 mm under an applied load of 100 kg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Junji Hayashi, Hisashi Yamagishi, Yasumasa Shimizu, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Multi-piece solid golf ball
    Publication number: 20050075196
    Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball has a solid core obtained by molding and vulcanizing a rubber composition which includes (A) a base rubber containing a polybutadiene synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst, (B) an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, (C) an organic sulfur compound, (D) an inorganic filler and (E) an organic peroxide. The core is enclosed within a mantle of one or more layer which is made primarily of a thermoplastic resin and has a Durometer D hardness of 30 to 70. The mantle is enclosed within a cover which is made primarily of a thermoplastic polyurethane and which has a Durometer D hardness of 40 to 60 that is lower than the Durometer D hardness of the outermost layer of the mantle. This construction provides the golf ball with an outstanding rebound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Inventors: Yasumasa Shimizu, Junji Hayashi, Hiroshi Higuchi, Rinya Takesue, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Golf ball cover composition and golf ball
    Patent number: 6855075
    Abstract: A composition comprising an ionomer resin, a thermoplastic urethane material, and a rubbery elastomer-containing rubbery elastomer composition and having a Shore D hardness of 45 to 63 when molded, is easy to mold and can provide a golf ball cover endowed with excellent resilience, durability and feel upon impact. Golf balls having a cover made of such a composition exhibit excellent rebound characteristics, durability and feel, and are able to achieve a greater distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Toshimi Yamanaka
  • Solid golf ball
    Patent number: 6846250
    Abstract: In a solid golf ball comprising an elastic solid core and a resin cover, the cover has a JIS-C hardness of 50-85, and provided that the ball receives a spin rate S1 (rpm) in the dry state and a spin rate S2 (rpm) in the wet state when hit with a short iron having a loft of an 8-iron or greater, the percent spin retention: (S2/S1)×100 is at least 47%. The ball's spin susceptibility when hit with the short iron is not reduced in the dry state or fine weather, nor is noticeably reduced even in the wet state or rain weather. The ball has so high performance that the ball travels a distance as intended, immediately stops on the green, is easy to control and thus, suited for professional and amateur low-handicap golfers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Higuchi, Hirotaka Shimosaka, Junji Umezawa, Yasushi Ichikawa, Rinya Takesue
  • Golf ball material and golf ball
    Patent number: 6838501
    Abstract: A mixture having good thermal stability, flow and moldability and suitable as a golf ball-forming material is obtained when a resinous component including a base resin of an ionomer resin or resins and optionally a non-ionomer thermoplastic elastomer is blended with specific proportions of a fatty acid and/or fatty acid derivative and a basic inorganic metal compound capable of neutralizing acidic groups left unneutralized in the base resin and fatty acid. Using the same material, high-rebound golf balls can be effectively manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rinya Takesue, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Two-piece solid golf ball
    Patent number: 6837804
    Abstract: Disclosed is a two-piece solid golf ball satisfying the following conditions (1) to (4): (1) a cover predominantly contains a polyurethane material; (2) the cover has a JIS C hardness of 72 to 89, and a thickness of 0.70 to 1.95 mm; (3) a core is formed from a rubber material containing an organic sulfur compound; and (4) a center portion of the core has a JIS C hardness of 58 to 68, a surface portion of the core has a JIS C hardness of 71 to 87, and a value obtained through subtraction of the JIS C hardness of the center portion of the core from the JIS C hardness of the surface portion of the core is 8 to 21. The golf ball exhibits excellent feeling on impact, controllability, cut resistance, scratch resistance, and durability against cracking caused by repeated hitting, and has improved flight performance; i.e., an improved carrying distance particularly upon being hit upwind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Watanabe, Yasushi Ichikawa
  • Golf ball
    Patent number: 6833400
    Abstract: Disclosed is a golf ball having a cover formed from a thermoplastic polyurethane material exhibiting excellent mold releasability, despite the cover having dimples thereon and being difficult to remove from a mold. The cover material contains a thermoplastic polyurethane material as a primary component and a fatty acid amide and/or a montan wax serving as dispersants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Rinya Takesue
  • Golf ball material and golf ball
    Patent number: 6822028
    Abstract: A material comprising a heated mixture of (A) an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer, an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylate copolymer, a metal ion neutralized product thereof, or a mixture thereof, (B) a polyurethane elastomer, and (C) an organic or inorganic basic compound has improved thermal stability, flow and moldability. Using the material, golf balls having good rebound are effectively manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rinya Takesue, Yasushi Ichikawa