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).
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Patent number: 9444111Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a control valve and a controller. The fuel cell is configured to receive anode gas and cathode gas to generate electric power. The control valve is configured to control pressure of the anode gas being fed to the fuel cell through an anode flow channel. The controller controls the control valve to periodically increase and decrease the pressure of the anode gas flowing through the anode flow channel in an area downstream of the control valve. The controller sets an anode pressure differential value for the anode gas resulting from periodic increasing and decreasing of the pressure of the anode gas based on a requested fuel cell output. The controller determines a quantity of liquid in the anode flow channel. The controller decreases the anode pressure differential value that was set based on the requested fuel cell output.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Shinichi Makino, Ryouichi Shimoi, Susumu Maeshima, Hayato Chikugo
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Patent number: 9409059Abstract: A golf ball has a core, core center, or core layer containing a thermoset elastomer and a polyurethane prepared by combining a thermosetting elastomer and an isocyanate-functional polyurethane, which may be an elastomeric polyurethane, then curing the thermosetting elastomer.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
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Patent number: 9320942Abstract: Generally disclosed is a golf ball having a core and a cover layer. The cover layer includes areas that are hard corresponding to the dimples, and areas that are soft corresponding to the land between the dimples. The cover layer may comprise two different materials, such as polyurethane and ionomer, that are laterally adjacent to each other in the cover layer. Alternatively, the cover layer may be selectively coated with a coating material having a different hardness, such as polyurethane or ionomer. As a result of the arrangement of the hard dimples and the soft land, the golf ball achieves reduced spin, and greater distances, when struck with a larger force (such as during a dive) while also achieving increased spin, and better control, when struck with a smaller force (such as during a chip).Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2011Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Kerby LaVar Maxwell, Yasushi Ichikawa, Chia-Chyi Cheng
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Patent number: 9302157Abstract: A solid multi-layer golf ball includes a core, a mantle layer, and a cover layer. The cover layer and the mantle layer are both made of a thermoplastic polyurethane material. The cover layer is softer than the mantle layer and provided with an optimal thickness for spin and durability. The mantle layer is relatively thin compared to the cover layer and the volume of the ball as a whole. The mantle layer is also harder than the cover layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2009Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
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Publication number: 20160038794Abstract: A method of making and recycling a golf ball is disclosed. The method may include processing a used golf ball to make the materials of the used golf ball reusable in a new golf ball. As a result, the disclosed method may decrease the waste of disposing of used golf balls and the costs associated with acquiring and/or processing new materials. The method of recycling a golf ball may generally include pulverizing used golf balls into particles. The used golf balls may be made of materials having different densities. The particles may be placed in a liquid that causes the particles of different materials to float to different levels based on the densities of the materials. At least a portion of the particles may be melted and injected into a sandwich mold to create a new golf ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Bradley C. Tutmark, Takahisa Ono
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Patent number: 9227368Abstract: This disclosure relates to golf balls having a cover layer made from a crosslinked thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer. The crosslinked thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer includes crosslinks located in the hard segments, where the crosslinks being the reaction product of unsaturated bonds located in the hard segments catalyzed by a free radical initiator. The crosslinks may be formed from an unsaturated diol as a chain extender. The unsaturated diol may be trimethylolpropane monoallylether (TMPME). The cover layer may have certain properties, such as a desirable flexural modulus value and a desirable Shore D hardness value, that further contribute to the golf ball having a high degree of scuff resistance.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Yasushi Ichikawa, Chien-Hsin Chou, Hsin Cheng, Chung-Yu Huang, Chen-Tai Liu
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Patent number: 9227110Abstract: A golf ball includes an inner core and an outer core, both made of highly neutralized acid polymers. The inner core does not substantially include any fillers, while the outer core does include fillers. The outer core may include fillers in an amount of from about 17.% to about 30.7% by weight. The filler may be barium sulfate. The core made from the inner core and the outer core may have an unexpectedly higher coefficient of restitution.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Bradley C. Tutmark
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Patent number: 9193102Abstract: A method of making and recycling a golf ball is disclosed. The method may include processing a used golf ball to make the materials of the used golf ball reusable in a new golf ball. As a result, the disclosed method may decrease the waste of disposing of used golf balls and the costs associated with acquiring and/or processing new materials. The method of recycling a golf ball may generally include pulverizing used golf balls into particles. The used golf balls may be made of materials having different densities. The particles may be placed in a liquid that causes the particles of different materials to float to different levels based on the densities of the materials. At least a portion of the particles may be melted and injected into a sandwich mold to create a new golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Bradley C. Tutmark, Takahisa Ono
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Patent number: 9175127Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an aliphatic polyester having an increased molecular weight comprising the steps of: (i) introducing into a mixing tank equipped with an inlet for injecting a diisocyanate an aliphatic polyester prepolymer which has a number average molecular weight of 5000 or higher and has terminal hydroxyl groups and in which at least one acid component is a succinic acid compound, wherein the aliphatic polyester prepolymer is introduced above the position of the inlet and wherein the aliphatic polyester prepolymer is melted at a temperature not lower than a melting point of the prepolymer and is in a liquid state, (ii) injecting a diisocyanate into the aliphatic polyester prepolymer, wherein the amount of diisocyanate is equivalent to between one tenth and two times the amount of the hydroxyl groups in the aliphatic polyester prepolymer; and (iii) reacting the aliphatic polyester prepolymer with the diisocyanate.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Hideharu Kimura, Akira Ishii
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Publication number: 20150306462Abstract: A golf ball having an inner core layer, an outer core layer enclosing the inner core layer, and a cover layer enclosing the outer core layer. The inner core layer includes a blend of a first highly neutralized acid polymer having a first Vicat softening temperature and a first specific gravity, a second highly neutralized acid polymer having a second Vicat softening temperature and a second specific gravity, and an ionomer-based masterbatch comprising an additive and an ionomer resin having a third Vicat softening temperature and a third specific gravity. The absolute values of the differences among the Vicat softening temperatures is no more than about 15° C. and the absolute value of the difference between the specific gravities is no more than about 0.015. The cover layer may include an inner cover layer enclosing the outer core layer and an outer layer enclosing the inner cover layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2015Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Yasushi Ichikawa, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Arthur Parker Molinari
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Publication number: 20150288008Abstract: A fuel cell system 100 includes: a fuel cell 1 for generating a power by causing an electrochemical reaction between an oxidant gas supplied to an oxidant electrode 34 and a fuel gas supplied to a fuel electrode 67; a fuel gas supplier HS for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel electrode 67; and a controller 40 for controlling the fuel gas supplier HS to thereby supply the fuel gas to the fuel electrode 67, the controller 40 being configured to implement a pressure change when an outlet of the fuel electrode 67 side is closed, wherein based on a first pressure change pattern for implementing the pressure change at a first pressure width ?P1, the controller 40 periodically changes a pressure of the fuel gas at the fuel electrode 67.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2015Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO , LTD.Inventors: Yasushi ICHIKAWA, Keigo IKEZOE, Kenichi GOTO, Ken NAKAYAMA, Mitsunori KUMADA, Yousuke TOMITA
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Publication number: 20150284971Abstract: The present invention relates to an axially yielding elasto-plastic hysteresis brace including an H-section steel as a steel core, a buckling-restraining member covering an outer periphery of the H-section steel, an unbonded layer filled between the steel core and the buckling-restraining member, and a square steel pipe covering the outer periphery of the buckling-restraining member for reinforcement. For both ends of the H-section steel, one reinforcing plate is welded to each outer surface of each flange so as to be overlapped therewith. The buckling-restraining member is installed so that each reinforcing plate is inserted to the buckling-restraining member through an end thereof by a predetermined length L. And, where the width of the H-section steel as a steel core is given as B and the height thereof is given as H, an insertion length L of each reinforcing plate is set in a range of 2B?L?3B and also 2H?L?3H.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2013Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Kohji Nishimoto
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Patent number: 9149685Abstract: A golf ball having a soft outer surface coating having a hardness less than about HB on the ASTM D3363 scale, or less than about 40 on ASTM D2134 scale. The soft outer surface coating may contain polyurethane, a hydroxyl functional silicone material, or a hydroxyl functional fluoro material. Also, a method for making the golf ball. The golf ball having the soft outer surface coating exhibits a high spin rate over short shots essentially without degrading performance on driver shots, as compared with the performance of the uncoated golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2011Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Hideyuki Ishii, Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Bradley C. Tutmark, Nicholas Yontz
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Patent number: 9147896Abstract: A fuel cell system is basically provided with a fuel cell, a pressure adjusting valve, a purge valve and an anode pressure controller. The fuel cell includes an anode that receives an anode gas and a cathode that receives a cathode gas to generate electric power corresponding to a load. The pressure adjusting valve is disposed in a supply path to adjust anode gas pressure to the anode. The purge valve is disposed in a discharging flow path to discharge an anode-off gas containing impurities from the fuel cell. The anode pressure controller is configured to control the pressure adjusting valve to perform a pulsation operation that pulsates the anode gas pressure of the fuel cell. The anode pressure controller decreases a median pressure of the pulsation operation as a wetness level of an electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell stack is determined to become higher.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Susumu Maeshima, Keigo Ikezoe, Yasushi Ichikawa, Takahiro Fujii, Ryoichi Shimoi, Taiji Nishiyama, Yusuke Ito
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Patent number: 9108083Abstract: A golf ball having an inner core layer, an outer core layer enclosing the inner core layer, and a cover layer enclosing the outer core layer. The inner core layer includes a blend of a first highly neutralized acid polymer having a first Vicat softening temperature and a first specific gravity, a second highly neutralized acid polymer having a second Vicat softening temperature and a second specific gravity, and an ionomer-based masterbatch comprising an additive and an ionomer resin having a third Vicat softening temperature and a third specific gravity. The absolute values of the differences among the Vicat softening temperatures is no more than about 15° C. and the absolute value of the difference between the specific gravities is no more than about 0.015. The cover layer may include an inner cover layer enclosing the outer core layer and an outer layer enclosing the inner cover layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Yasushi Ichikawa, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu, Arthur Molinari
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Patent number: 9101797Abstract: A golf ball having a core layer, a mantle layer enclosing the core layer, and a cover layer enclosing the mantle layer. At least one of the layers includes a blend of at least two highly neutralized acid polymers having low flexural moduli. The relative proportion of one highly neutralized acid polymer to the other highly neutralized acid polymer is between about 10:90 and about 90:10.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chen-Tai Liu
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Patent number: 9101796Abstract: A golf ball having an over-indexed thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer cover and having a soft feeling when hit. The golf ball cover also may be cross-linked.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Chen-Tai Liu, Chien-Hsin Chou, Hui-Kai Liao
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Patent number: 9101798Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of highly neutralized polymer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The cover is a two layer cover, with a relatively hard and dense inner cover and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer cover. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as feel and sound.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chen-Tai Liu
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Publication number: 20150218838Abstract: Provided are a buckling restrained brace including a core material that has a plate shape and extends along an axis, a restraining member that extends along the axis and covers the core material from an outer peripheral side in a state where both end portions of the core material in an axis direction protrude outside, a filler that is filled between the restraining member and the core material, and a pair of first reinforcing members that each have a plate shape and are installed in both end portions of the core material in the axis direction so as to interpose the core material therebetween from both sides of the core material in a plate width direction, and a load-bearing structure installed with the buckling restrained brace.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2013Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN ENGINEERING CO., LTD.Inventors: Yasushi Ichikawa, Kouhei Higuchi, Kohji Nishimoto, Nobuhiro Mochizuki, Masatoshi Wada, Toyoki Kuroiwa, Shunji Endo
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Patent number: 9089739Abstract: A golf ball having certain relationships and values of its initial velocities at various club head speeds is provided. The golf ball may achieve an initial velocity of at least about 173 mph at a club head speed of about 125 mph, therefore achieving an increased total shot distance. The golf ball has multiple layers making up its core, and the golf ball may be a four piece golf ball.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Hideyuki Ishii, Yasushi Ichikawa, Arthur Molinari, Chien-Hsin Chou, Chin-Shun Ko, Chen-Tai Liu, Jun Ichinose