Company patents
KAO CORPORATION
KAO CORPORATION's patent strategy reveals a surprising shift away from its core consumer and pharma_biotech sectors, with significant declines in key categories like Pharmaceutical Preparations (down 30.3% in 2024 and 66.7% so far in 2026) and Cosmetics & Personal Care Use (down 31.7% in 2024 and 75.9% so far in 2026). While these categories still represent 31.0% and 24.4% of its portfolio respectively, the rapid growth of Catalysts & Reactors by 233.3% in 2024 suggests an emerging focus on materials science, despite its smaller portfolio share of 3.2%.
Patent Trend by Technology Area
Yearly patent publications since 2023
Product themes
Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.
688 US filings (since 2023) · 12 categories · 37 themes
Development of personal care compositions that achieve effective cleansing and conditioning benefits while avoiding harsh sulfated surfactants, often using alternative, milder surfactant systems.
Chemical compositions and methods for stimulating hair growth, altering hair structure for styling (e.g., straightening, curling, dyeing), or protecting hair from environmental damage and heat.
Innovations in creating stable cosmetic formulations, particularly oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions, and developing novel stabilizers or rheology modifiers for desired texture, feel, and shelf-life.
Compositions specifically developed for maintaining oral hygiene, preventing dental issues like cavities and gingivitis, and improving cosmetic aspects such as teeth whitening.
Polymer compositions incorporating inorganic or organic filler materials to impart specific functional properties such as thermal conductivity, flame retardancy, electrical conductivity, or enhanced mechanical strength and dimensional stability.
Devices and systems that utilize sensors, AI, robotics, or advanced delivery mechanisms (e.g., electrostatic spraying) to precisely apply cosmetic substances, control application parameters, or personalize formulations based on user data.
Formulated liquid compositions designed for specific industrial applications, such as non-flammable cleaning, thermal management in electronics, or as low-viscosity, high-flash-point base fluids.
Development and application of polymer compositions designed for reprocessability, recyclability, or incorporating sustainable additives, often featuring reversible bonds or bio-based components.
Technologies focused on encapsulating active ingredients or fragrances to control their release, enhance their substantivity, or improve their stability and efficacy in personal care products.
Polymer compositions engineered for enhanced heat resistance, thermal stability in molten states, or improved processability at high temperatures, often involving specific copolymers, blends, or stabilizing additives for applications in electronics or automotive.
Systems and components for storing, delivering, circulating, and managing printing liquids (e.g., ink) to the printhead, often including features for pressure regulation, filtration, degassing, and balancing liquid levels.
Development of rubber and elastomer compositions, often involving specific polymer blends, additives (e.g., process oils, reinforcing agents), and cure packages, to achieve desired mechanical properties like abrasion resistance, wet grip, shear durability, or flexibility for demanding applications.
Formulations and active ingredients designed to counteract signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, or to promote skin repair and regeneration through specific biological mechanisms.
Methods and apparatus for the efficient and selective production of organic compounds, including amines, acids, and esters, often involving catalytic or continuous processes and purification steps.
Novel formulations and mechanisms for initiating or controlling the polymerization and cross-linking of adhesives, including dual-curing systems, radical polymerization, and partial curing for tailored material properties.
Multi-layer polymer films engineered to provide superior barrier properties against gases (e.g., oxygen), moisture, or aromas, often incorporating heat-sealing or resealing mechanisms for food and product preservation.
Design aspects of user-replaceable cartridges or containers for printing consumables (e.g., ink, tape, labels) that facilitate easy installation, proper positioning, type identification, and reliable supply to the printer.
Methods for creating fine polymer particles, powders, or microspheres with controlled size, morphology, and distribution, used as raw materials or for specific applications.
Techniques for manufacturing thin polymer layers, sheets, or multi-layer structures, often optimized for specific properties such as flexibility, barrier function, filtration, or mechanical strength.
Structural elements within a container designed to secure, separate, cushion, or otherwise protect individual items or groups of contents from movement, shock, or damage.
Synthesis and application of crosslinked polymer networks designed to swell in water, often for medical, sensing, or smart material applications, exhibiting properties like hydrolysis resistance, thermochromism, or radiation protection.
Therapeutic strategies employing nucleic acids (DNA, RNA, oligonucleotides) to modulate gene expression, deliver genetic material, or interfere with disease-causing pathways. Includes gene therapy using viral vectors.
Methods for producing organic chemicals from biomass or through fermentation processes, often focusing on carbohydrates or fatty acid derivatives for food, health, or industrial applications.
Additives or compositions specifically formulated for surface application or modification to impart protective, decorative, or specialized functional properties to polymer products.
Design and modification of antibodies or antibody-derived fragments for targeted therapeutic intervention, including bispecific formats, Fc region modifications, and activatable constructs.
Delivery systems specifically engineered to administer advanced drug formulations (e.g., microparticles, biologics, extended-release systems) to achieve precise targeting, controlled release kinetics, or enhanced therapeutic efficacy within the body.
Mixtures of liquid crystal compounds and other additives, such as monomers or carbon black, designed to achieve specific optical, electrical, or physical properties for use in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) or other electro-optical devices.
Abrasive slurry compositions used in semiconductor manufacturing for planarizing wafer surfaces, typically containing abrasive particles and chemical additives to achieve specific material removal rates and selectivity.
Mechanisms and methods for preventing or removing clogs, ink residue, or contaminants from printhead nozzles and surfaces to ensure consistent print quality and extend printhead lifespan.
Advanced systems and stations that automate complex hair cleaning, dyeing, or styling processes using specialized fluid delivery, acoustic waves, or other non-thermal physical mechanisms.
Development of combs, brushes, and other manual or semi-manual personal care tools with novel structural features, materials, or ergonomic considerations to improve user experience, application effectiveness, or specialized grooming tasks.
Materials added to polymers to modify their thermal transfer properties, typically increasing conductivity for heat dissipation in applications like electronics or battery packs.
Containers or packaging components featuring active mechanisms for controlled release, preparation, or delivery of their contents, such as liquids, bulk materials, volatile compounds, or single-serve portions.
Development and synthesis of catalysts with unique compositions or structures, such as medium entropy alloys, metal foam-supported catalysts, layered catalytic articles, or high-entropy oxides, to enhance activity, selectivity, or stability in chemical reactions.
Innovative designs for cosmetic containers and dispensing systems that feature modular components, integrated applicators, reusability, or enhanced mechanisms for storing and delivering multiple cosmetic products.
Systems and devices that precisely regulate temperature for personal care products or appliances, often incorporating sensors, processors, and communication for enhanced control, efficiency, or safety.
Additives that enhance a polymer's resistance to thermal degradation, high temperatures, or ignition, including flame retardants and heat stabilizers for improved safety and durability.
Patents
Showing 1-10 of 12
Functional Hydrogels