Patents by Inventor Eiji Kojima

Eiji Kojima 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).

  • Publication number: 20050148229
    Abstract: A female housing (20) made of a synthetic resin is formed with cavities (22) for accommodating female terminal fittings (21), and locks (24) engageable with the female terminal fittings (21) to retain them are provided in the cavities (22). Each lock (24) projects from an outer surface (20a, 20b) of the female housing (20) during resilient deformation. A lock arm (40) for holding a mating male connector (M) in a connected state is mounted on the female housing (20). The lock arm (40) is made of metal and includes a press-in portion (42) that can be pressed into press-in grooves (30) of the female housing (20). The lock arm (40) is arranged to face the locks (240) and can be retracted into deformation spaces (330) for the locks (240) during the resilient deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Kenji Okamura, Hiroshi Nakano, Eiji Kojima, Masaaki Tabata, Tetsuya Aihara, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Publication number: 20050136725
    Abstract: A female housing (20) is provided with a lock arm (30) for holding a mating male connector (M) in a connected state. The lock arm (30) is comprised of an arm (31) extending along forward and backward directions and an actuator (32) extending along a width direction. The arm (31) is resiliently deformed with a support (33) as a supporting point and has a lock (34) engageable with the male connector (M). The arm (31) is displaced in unlocking direction by pressing the actuator (32). Two couplings (35) coupled to the female housing (20) are provided at opposite sides of the actuator (32). The couplings (35) are inclined up towards a widthwise middle (32a) of the actuator (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Matsunaga, Kenji Okamura, Hiroshi Nakano, Eiji Kojima, Masaaki Tabata, Tetsuya Aihara, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Publication number: 20050106903
    Abstract: A flexible wiring member, which is capable of being wound around a wire harness, is provided with joint-side terminals 14a, which are capable of being fitted with wire-side terminals, and the flexible wiring member includes a connection circuit for electrically connecting specified joint-side terminals in the joint-side terminals 14a. Or, a plurality of joint-side terminals are previously held in the insulation housing, and these joint-side terminals are connected with a common flexible wiring member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Applicants: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Tamagawa, Hiroki Hirai, Yuuji Saka, Akinori Oishi, Mitsuhiro Hattori, Eiji Kojima
  • Patent number: 6848955
    Abstract: Male terminal fittings (1) are produced by press-cutting a flat base plate (8) to form original forms (9) of terminal fittings with base ends (5) forming plated surfaces (13) on the outer surfaces of the original forms (9). Only one layer of plating is formed on all the surfaces of the base ends (5) as the plated surface (13). The method then includes press-cutting a leading end of the base plate (8) to form leading ends (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Kojima
  • Publication number: 20050009412
    Abstract: A housing (30) has cavities (31) for receiving terminal fittings (10), and a lock (33) is provided in each cavity (31). The terminal fitting (10) temporarily resiliently deforms the lock (33) when the terminal fitting (10) is inserted into the cavity (31). The lock (33) then is restored resiliently to engage the terminal fitting (10) when the terminal fitting (10) reaches a proper depth. An outer wall (17) of the terminal fitting (10) facing the lock (33) has a locking projection (27) projecting toward and engageable with the lock (33). A recess (54) is formed in a surface of the lock (33) that slides in contact with the locking projection (27) in an inserting process. An arcuate surface (29a) of the locking projection (27) and a bottom surface (54a) of the recess (54) have substantially conforming shapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Kojima, Keigo Atsumi, Atsushi Nishida, Masato Minakata
  • Patent number: 6767259
    Abstract: A terminal fitting (1) has connecting portion (5) with an engaging portion (14) to be engaged with a resin lock (13) of a connector (3). The engaging portion (14) projects with a step from an upper wall (12) to ensure a large engaging area with the resin lock (13). An outer edge (14A) of the engaging portion (14) is closer to the resin lock (13) than an inner edge (14B) thereof. Thus, when the terminal fitting (1) is pulled back in withdrawing direction, a force acts to move the leading end of the resin lock (13) from the outer edge (14A) of the engaging portion (14) toward the inner edge (14B). Therefore, the terminal fitting (1) is difficult to disengage from the resin lock (13), and a large engaging force is secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Kojima, Masahide Hio, Hirotaka Makino
  • Patent number: 6755697
    Abstract: A female terminal fitting (1) has a rectangular tubular connecting portion (5) for connection with a male tab (4). First and second contacts (9C, 18) are provided respectively on first and second opposed walls (23, 17) of the connecting portion (5). The contacts (9C, 18) resiliently contact and hold the male tab (4). The first contact (9C) is provided at the leading end of a resilient contact piece (9). An engaging edge (25) projects from one side of a base (9A) of the resilient contact piece (9) and is fit into a locking hole (26) formed in a sidewall (15) to position the base (9A) of the resilient contact piece (9) and prevent it from being raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Kojima, Hirotaka Makino
  • Publication number: 20040116004
    Abstract: Male terminal fittings (1) are produced by press-cutting a flat base plate (8) to form original forms (9) of terminal fittings with base ends (5) forming plated surfaces (13) on the outer surfaces of the original forms (9). Only one layer of plating is formed on all the surfaces of the base ends (5) as the plated surface (13). The method then includes press-cutting a leading end of the base plate (8) to form leading ends (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Kojima
  • Patent number: 6742062
    Abstract: An information reproduction apparatus which can perform repetitive reproduction is provided. In the apparatus, Information read from an information recording medium is decoded by the plurality of decoding devices. Then a source of an output of the information reproduction apparatus is switched among outputs of a plurality of the decoding devices. If a start position to start repetitive reproduction is designated, another decoding device except one decoding device whose output is currently switched as the source is controlled so as to be able to begin to decode the information on and after the start position. Then if a start instruction is provided, the source is switched from the output of the one decoding device to the output of the another device. Further, the another decoding device is controlled to decode the information on and after the start position, and the one decoding device is controlled to be able to begin to decode the information on and after the start position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Yamada, Nobuo Ohyama, Kazuo Kamei, Eiji Kojima, Masahiko Miyashita, Toshio Ohtani
  • Patent number: 6659814
    Abstract: A male tab (3) is formed by bending an electrically conductive plate. The male tab (3) has a first panel (3A), a second panel (3B) opposed to the first panel (3A), a connecting panel (3C) connecting the first and second panels (3A, 3B), and a foldable support panel (3D) folded from the second panel (3B). The foldable support panel (3D) is held in close contact with the front and rear panels (3A, 3B) and prevents the leading ends of the first and second panels (3A, 3B) from being inclined inward during the pressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Kojima
  • Patent number: 6631343
    Abstract: A method of reducing the computer calculation time of a superposition is disclosed. A computing device having an input unit, an output unit, a memory unit, and an operation unit, is used to calculate the model superposing the function with shifted value of the variable. The model operator is formed by superposing a delta function in the same manner as the superposition of the function. The convolution of a model operator and the function is determined to thereby reduce the calculation time of the model superposing the function with the shifted value of the variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Geotop Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Kojima
  • Publication number: 20030096542
    Abstract: A male tab (3) is formed by bending an electrically conductive plate. The male tab (3) has a first panel (3A), a second panel (3B) opposed to the first panel (3A), a connecting panel (3C) connecting the first and second panels (3A, 3B), and a foldable support panel (3D) folded from the second panel (3B). The foldable support panel (3D) is held in close contact with the front and rear panels (3A, 3B) and prevents the leading ends of the first and second panels (3A, 3B) from being inclined inward during the pressing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Kojima
  • Publication number: 20030096533
    Abstract: A female terminal fitting (1) has a rectangular tubular connecting portion (5) for connection with a male tab (4). First and second contacts (9C, 18) are provided respectively on first and second opposed walls (23, 17) of the connecting portion (5). The contacts (9C, 18) resiliently contact and hold the male tab (4). The first contact (9C) is provided at the leading end of a resilient contact piece (9). An engaging edge (25) projects from one side of a base (9A) of the resilient contact piece (9) and is fit into a locking hole (26) formed in a sidewall (15) to position the base (9A) of the resilient contact piece (9) and prevent it from being raised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Kojima, Hirotaka Makino
  • Publication number: 20030096538
    Abstract: A terminal fitting (1) has connecting portion (5) with an engaging portion (14) to be engaged with a resin lock (13) of a connector (3). The engaging portion (14) projects with a step from an upper wall (12) to ensure a large engaging area with the resin lock (13). An outer edge (14A) of the engaging portion (14) is closer to the resin lock (13) than an inner edge (14B) thereof. Thus, when the terminal fitting (1) is pulled back in withdrawing direction, a force acts to move the leading end of the resin lock (13) from the outer edge (14A) of the engaging portion (14) toward the inner edge (14B). Therefore, the terminal fitting (1) is difficult to disengage from the resin lock (13), and a large engaging force is secured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Kojima, Masahide Hio, Hirotaka Makino
  • Patent number: 6450831
    Abstract: A terminal fitting (T) has a pair of crimping pieces (17A, 17B) that extend up from opposite side edges of a bottom wall (11), and are crimped into connection with a wire (W) placed on the bottom wall (11). The crimping pieces (17A, 17B) are offset to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire (W). Restricting portions (18A, 18B) are formed on the bottom wall (11) and restrict a lateral displacement of the wire (W) against pushing forces acting on the wire (W) from the crimping pieces (17A, 17B) in directions normal to the longitudinal direction of the wire (W) while the crimping pieces (17A, 17B) are being crimped into connection with the wire (W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Aoyama, Eiji Kojima
  • Patent number: 6447324
    Abstract: A cramping terminal fitting is provided to maintain a satisfactory contact state with a wire without applying plating again after shaping the terminal fitting by a press. The terminal fitting includes insulation displacement contact (IDC) portions (6) into which a wire can be pushed. Each IDC portion (6) is comprised of a contact portion (9) formed by embossing side walls (5) in such a manner as to have a triangular cross section, and cutting blades (8) formed by bending long pieces (18) and short pieces (17) to have a triangular cross section. Further, guide portions (10) for guiding the wire to the IDC portions (6) are provided above the cutting blades (8). Since the contact portions (9) remain plated, a contact state with the wire can be satisfactorily maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nimura, Masahiko Aoyama, Eiji Kojima
  • Patent number: 6435921
    Abstract: A connector has a housing (2) with cavities (4) for accommodating both crimping and insulation-displacement terminal fittings (5, 6). Locks (15) extend into the cavities (4) to elastically engage the terminal fittings (5, 6). A retainer mount opening (17) extends through an outer wall of the housing (2) and communicates with the cavities (4), and a retainer (3) is mounted in the opening (17) for doubly locking the terminal fittings (5, 6). Connecting portions (8) of the same shape are provided at the front of the terminal fittings (5, 6). The height of insulation-displacement portions (7) is shorter than that of the connecting portion (8) in the insulation-displacement terminal fitting (5), and terminal locks (18) of the retainer (3) engage with steps (8A) at the rear of the connecting portions (8). The retainer (3) can be pushed to a full locking position after the terminal fittings (5, 6) are mounted with the housing (2) to redundantly lock the terminal fittings (5, 6) in the cavities (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Kojima, Masahiko Aoyama, Masanori Wakui, Keiichi Itou, Kazuyuki Shiraki
  • Patent number: 6435899
    Abstract: An insulation-displacement terminal fitting is provided to prevent cracks and/or splits during the formation of V-shaped blades in the side walls (11A) of the insulation-displacement terminal fitting. To achieve this objective, slits (15) are formed along boundaries between a bottom wall (13) and side walls (11A) at least in the forming range of the blades (11B), and a bent portion (16) is formed in the bottom wall (13) in the area of the slits (15). The blades (11B) in the side walls (11A) and the bent portion (16) in the bottom wall (13) are formed substantially simultaneously. Thus, neither the blades (11B) nor the side walls (11A) undergo an extensional deformation since base ends (11Ba) of the blades (11B) are brought closer to each other in the side walls (11A) and base ends (16a) of the bent portion (16) are brought closer to each other in the bottom wall (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Kojima
  • Patent number: 6416348
    Abstract: An insulation-displacement terminal fitting (10) has plate-shaped blades (27) disposed before V-shaped contact portions (23) along a wire-insertion direction. The blades (27) make cuts (C) in an insulation coating (Wb) of a wire (W). The insulation coating (Wb) then is cut open by the V-shaped contact portions (23). A cut-open piece (Wc) of the insulation coating (Wb) that is caught by the contact portions (23) is not forcibly stretched. Thus, a core (Wa) is not pulled in a direction to be withdrawn from a clearance between the contact portions (23). An accommodation space (30) in which the caught cut-open piece (Wc) of the insulation coating (Wb) is accommodated is located within a height range of side walls (21). Thus, the cut-open piece (Wc) of the insulation coating (Wb) does not project above the side walls (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahide Hio, Eiji Kojima
  • Patent number: 6416347
    Abstract: An insulation-displacement terminal includes blades (12) that project inwardly from opposed side walls (14). Each blade (12) has V-shaped edges (12A) and a contact edge (12B). The V-shaped edges (12A) are inclined to guide wire a (W) from the side walls (14) toward the contact edges (12B) when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the wire (W). A hook (15) is formed at an end of each V-shaped edge (12A) toward the corresponding contact edge (12B). Thus, even if an angle of inclination of the V-shaped edges (12A) with respect to a wire pushing direction is made smaller, the resin coating (Wa) of the wire (W) can be securely cut open by the hooks (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Kojima