Patents by Inventor Yoshimasa Hashimoto

Yoshimasa Hashimoto 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: 9278580
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire including a first row of blocks arranged in a substantially central region of a tread of the pneumatic tire, wherein the first row of blocks includes a plurality of first blocks; a plurality of first grooves, each arranged between two adjacent first blocks; a plurality of second rows of blocks each including a plurality of second blocks, each arranged on either side of the first row of blocks; a plurality of second grooves, each arranged between the first row of blocks and each of the second rows of blocks; and a plurality of third grooves, wherein each third groove is arranged between two adjacent second blocks, the third grooves including a plurality of fourth grooves and a plurality of fifth grooves, with each fourth groove being narrower than each fifth groove, and the fourth groove and fifth groove being arranged alternately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isamu Kishizoe, Izumi Kuramochi, Kotaro Iwabuchi, Takumi Morito, Koji Watanabe, Yoshimasa Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8967210
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire having further improved ice performance achieved by narrow grooves. The pneumatic tire of the present invention is provided, in a tread, with land sections formed by partitioning the tread by grooves, and each of the land sections is provide with narrow grooves in a ground contact surface of the land section. The angle of tilt of the narrow grooves relative to the tire's circumferential direction is set to be larger in end regions located at both sides of a center region in a tire's lateral direction in each of the land sections than in the center region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8844592
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire improved in on-ice performance and on-snow performance in good balance. The pneumatic tire includes a tread portion extending in a tire circumferential direction and forming a ring shape, a pair of sidewall portions on both sides of the tread portion, respectively, and a pair of bead portions on inner sides of the sidewall portions in a tire radial direction, respectively. The tread portion includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction and a plurality of lateral grooves extending in a tire width direction. The longitudinal and lateral grooves define a plurality of block rows each including a plurality of blocks. Each of the plurality of blocks included in at least one of the block rows includes at least three closed grooves including at least one first closed groove and at least one second closed groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nagayasu, Yoshimasa Hashimoto, Hiroshi Furusawa, Kenichirou Endou, Kenichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8281836
    Abstract: Provided is a run flat tire having an enhanced ride comfort in running on general road surfaces and an enhanced driving stability on snowy road surfaces at the time when the tire is not punctured, as well as an enhanced maneuverability, particularly starting ability, on icy road surfaces in run-flat running where the tire is punctured. Three belt layers (8, 9, 10) are disposed on an outer circumferential side of a carcass layer (6) in a tread portion (4). In addition, as to the three belt layers, the cord angle ? of the innermost belt layer (8) with respect to a circumferential direction of the tire is set at 15° to 30°, the cord angle ? of the intermediate belt layer (9) with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire is set at not less than 40°, and the cord angle ? of the outermost belt layer (10) with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire is set at 35° to 70°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Sugitani, Yoshimasa Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8281837
    Abstract: Provided are a pneumatic tire with a durability which is improved by preventing oxygen deterioration of coating rubber of a reinforcement layer, and a method of manufacturing the pneumatic tire. The pneumatic tire according to the present invention is a pneumatic tire including a reinforcement layer having reinforcement cords. In the pneumatic tire, the reinforcement layer is covered with thin films each made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer in a way that the reinforcement is wrapped with the thin films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Hashimoto, Yoshiaki Kirino
  • Publication number: 20120118454
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire improved in on-ice performance and on-snow performance in good balance. The pneumatic tire includes a tread portion extending in a tire circumferential direction and forming a ring shape, a pair of sidewall portions on both sides of the tread portion, respectively, and a pair of bead portions on inner sides of the sidewall portions in a tire radial direction, respectively. The tread portion includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction and a plurality of lateral grooves extending in a tire width direction. The longitudinal and lateral grooves define a plurality of block rows each including a plurality of blocks. Each of the plurality of blocks included in at least one of the block rows includes at least three closed grooves including at least one first closed groove and at least one second closed groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki NAGAYASU, Yoshimasa HASHIMOTO, Hiroshi FURUSAWA, Kenichirou ENDOU, Kenichi SATO
  • Patent number: 7802596
    Abstract: There is provided a pneumatic tire capable of improving on-snow performance on a snowy road surface including a sherbet-like snowy road surface without deteriorating on-ice performance. An assistant groove 6 less in width than the main grooves 2 extends in the circumferential direction TC of the tire in each middle land 4. The lateral grooves 7 include right and left first lateral grooves 8 extending from the center land 3 outward in the widthwise direction of the tire beyond the tire ground contact ends TF, and right and left second lateral grooves 9 extending from the middle lands 4 outward in the widthwise direction of the tire beyond the tire ground contact ends TF, the first lateral grooves 8 and second lateral grooves 9 being alternately disposed in the circumferential direction TC of the tire. The groove area percentage in the center region portion 1C of the tread surface 1 is less than the groove area percentage in the ground contact surface region G of the tread surface 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20100193096
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire having further improved ice performance achieved by narrow grooves. The pneumatic tire of the present invention is provided, in a tread, with land sections formed by partitioning the tread by grooves, and each of the land sections is provide with narrow grooves in a ground contact surface of the land section. The angle of tilt of the narrow grooves relative to the tire's circumferential direction is set to be larger in end regions located at both sides of a center region in a tire's lateral direction in each of the land sections than in the center region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20100078105
    Abstract: There is provided a pneumatic tire capable of improving on-snow performance on a snowy road surface including a sherbet-like snowy road surface without deteriorating on-ice performance. An assistant groove 6 less in width than the main grooves 2 extends in the circumferential direction TC of the tire in each middle land 4. The lateral grooves 7 include right and left first lateral grooves 8 extending from the center land 3 outward in the widthwise direction of the tire beyond the tire ground contact ends TF, and right and left second lateral grooves 9 extending from the middle lands 4 outward in the widthwise direction of the tire beyond the tire ground contact ends TF, the first lateral grooves 8 and second lateral grooves 9 being alternately disposed in the circumferential direction TC of the tire. The groove area percentage in the center region portion 1C of the tread surface 1 is less than the groove area percentage in the ground contact surface region G of the tread surface 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7637295
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic tire which is allowed to increase block stiffness not only during braking and driving but also during cornering, and is allowed thereby to compatibly enhance tire performances both during braking and driving and during cornering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Hashimoto, Isamu Kishizoe
  • Publication number: 20090283194
    Abstract: Provided are a pneumatic tire with a durability which is improved by preventing oxygen deterioration of coating rubber of a reinforcement layer, and a method of manufacturing the pneumatic tire. The pneumatic tire according to the present invention is a pneumatic tire including a reinforcement layer having reinforcement cords. In the pneumatic tire, the reinforcement layer is covered with thin films each made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer in a way that the reinforcement is wrapped with the thin films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Hashimoto, Yoshiaki Kirino
  • Publication number: 20090165916
    Abstract: Provided is a run flat tire having an enhanced ride comfort in running on general road surfaces and an enhanced driving stability on snowy road surfaces at the time when the tire is not punctured, as well as an enhanced maneuverability, particularly starting ability, on icy road surfaces in run-flat running where the tire is punctured. Three belt layers (8, 9, 10) are disposed on an outer circumferential side of a carcass layer (6) in a tread portion (4). In addition, as to the three belt layers, the cord angle ? of the innermost belt layer (8) with respect to a circumferential direction of the tire is set at 15° to 30°, the cord angle ? of the intermediate belt layer (9) with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire is set at not less than 40°, and the cord angle ? of the outermost belt layer (10) with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire is set at 35° to 70°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Sugitani, Yoshimasa Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7500500
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for use on iced and snowed road surfaces has a tread surface. The tread surface has a plurality of main grooves extending in a circumferential direction of the tire and a plurality of lateral grooves extending in a width direction of the tire. Blocks are defined by the main grooves and the lateral grooves. The blocks have a ground contact face which has a plurality of pairs of sipes comprising a left sipe and a right sipe extending in the tire width direction. The plurality of pairs of sipes are placed in a predetermined interval in the tire circumferential direction. Each of the left and right sipes of each pair extends from a width-directional center portion of the ground contact face of the block toward each way of the tire width direction so as to open its outer end to each side face of the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Hashimoto, Hirohisa Hazama
  • Patent number: D606012
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Mori, Michio Shimizu, Yoshimasa Hashimoto, Izumi Kuramochi, Takumi Morito
  • Patent number: D678175
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nagayasu, Yoshimasa Hashimoto, Hiroshi Furusawa, Kenichiro Endo, Kenichi Sato
  • Patent number: D682774
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nagayasu, Yoshimasa Hashimoto, Hiroshi Furusawa, Kenichiro Endo, Kenichi Sato
  • Patent number: D705718
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Hirama, Hiroshi Furusawa, Yoshimasa Hashimoto
  • Patent number: D744410
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Furusawa, Yoshimasa Hashimoto, Kenichiro Endo, Kenichi Sato
  • Patent number: D744936
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Furusawa, Yoshimasa Hashimoto, Kenichiro Endo, Kenichi Sato
  • Patent number: D788686
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Nagayasu, Yoshimasa Hashimoto, Hiroshi Furusawa, Kenichirou Endou, Kenichi Sato