Patents by Inventor Shigekazu Wakata

Shigekazu Wakata 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: 7226317
    Abstract: A shielded connector (A) has a housing (20) for accommodating terminal fittings (40) connected with ends of wires (10). A metallic shielding shell (30) is provided in the housing (20), and a tubular connecting member (50) connects an end of the shield (11) and the shielding shell (30). Thus, the shielding shell (30) can be connected with grounding members of a mating housing when the housing (20) is connected with the mating housing. Thus, it is not necessary to connect the shield (11) with the grounding members in addition to a connecting operation of the housing (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Wada, Shigekazu Wakata
  • Publication number: 20070082534
    Abstract: A shielded connector (A) has a housing (20) for accommodating terminal fittings (40) connected with ends of wires (10). A metallic shielding shell (30) is provided in the housing (20), and a tubular connecting member (50) connects an end of the shield (11) and the shielding shell (30). Thus, the shielding shell (30) can be connected with grounding members of a mating housing when the housing (20) is connected with the mating housing. Thus, it is not necessary to connect the shield (11) with the grounding members in addition to a connecting operation of the housing (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Wada, Shigekazu Wakata
  • Patent number: 7147513
    Abstract: A shielded connector (A) has a housing (20) for accommodating terminal fittings (40) connected with ends of wires (10). A metallic shielding shell (30) is provided in the housing (20), and a tubular connecting member (50) connects an end of the shield (11) and the shielding shell (30). Thus, the shielding shell (30) can be connected with grounding members of a mating housing when the housing (20) is connected with the mating housing. Thus, it is not necessary to connect the shield (11) with the grounding members in addition to a connecting operation of the housing (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Wada, Shigekazu Wakata
  • Publication number: 20050136738
    Abstract: A shielded connector (A) has a housing (20) for accommodating terminal fittings (40) connected with ends of wires (10). A metallic shielding shell (30) is provided in the housing (20), and a tubular connecting member (50) connects an end of the shield (11) and the shielding shell (30). Thus, the shielding shell (30) can be connected with grounding members of a mating housing when the housing (20) is connected with the mating housing. Thus, it is not necessary to connect the shield (11) with the grounding members in addition to a connecting operation of the housing (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Wada, Shigekazu Wakata
  • Patent number: 6808841
    Abstract: A terminal unit (TU) includes a battery terminal (2) mounted at the leading end of a wiring harness (4), and a holder (8) mounted on the wiring harness (4) at a position distanced from the battery terminal (2). A current sensor (12) is transported separately from the terminal unit (TU) to a connection site to a battery (B). The battery terminal (2) is introduced through the current sensor (12) and the current sensor (12) then is coupled with the holder (8) at the connection site. This operation is performed at a position distanced from the battery (B), and hence can be performed smoothly without being hindered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Wakata, Masanori Wakui, Hisao Niwa, Naohiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6638090
    Abstract: The invention provides a miniaturized and simplified connector for a flexible flat cable. A male connector 12 is formed from bus bars B and a male housing 13, the bus bars B being welded to a tip end of a flexible flat cable C, the male housing 13 being molded so as to cover these bus bars B and a tip end portion of the flexible flat cable C. An opening portion 13b is formed in one face of the male housing 13. A female connector 17 is formed from terminal fittings 20 and a female housing 18, the terminal fittings 20 having resilient contacts 20b capable of resiliently making contact with the bus bars B when the connector 12 is fitted into the connector 17. A latching means 16 is provided between the female housing 18 and the male housing 13, and a waterproofing rubber ring 21 is located between an inner face of the female housing 18 and an outer face of the male housing 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigekazu Wakata
  • Patent number: 6551147
    Abstract: A battery-side terminal (2) includes a fastening ring (5) to be fixed to a battery post (1), and a connecting piece (8) extends from the fastening ring (5). A current sensor (4) includes a sensor portion (4A) formed with a slit (14) through which the connecting piece (8) is insertable. The battery-side terminal (2) and the current (4) are transported to a connection site while being assembled into one unit. At the connection site, the connecting piece (8) and the harness-side terminal (3) are aligned and placed one over the other, and are tightened by means of a bolt. This tightening operation is performed at a position distanced from a battery, and hence can be performed smoothly performed without being hindered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Wakata, Masanori Wakui, Hisao Niwa, Naohiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6533619
    Abstract: A terminal cap (10) is provided to prevent erroneous use of a booster cable to connect batteries that have different specifications. The terminal cap (10) is mounted to cover a battery terminal (T) to be connected with one of electrodes of a 32V-battery. The terminal cap (10) has protection walls (20) that extend from a first accommodating portion (11a) for accommodating a connecting portion (7) of the battery terminal (T). The protection walls (20) are formed to be higher than a threaded shaft (1) of the electrode. Thus, even if an attempt is made to erroneously connect a booster cable, the protection walls (20) will interfere with the booster cable and prevent connection with the electrode located inside the protection walls (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Wakata, Keiichi Itou, Kazuyuki Shiraki, Masanori Wakui
  • Patent number: 6533604
    Abstract: Connector terminals are provided to enable connection of electrical cables and connector terminals automatically to prevent the connector terminals from being inserted into sub-harnesses in later stages, and to make circuit modification easier. The connector terminals include respectively a male terminal portion at one end and a female terminal portion at the other end. The respective connector terminals further include a cable-fit portion. The connector terminals are contained in a junction case with top and bottom openings. Electrical cables are then wired in the junction case and fitted into the connector terminals. When several such junction cases are superposed, the male terminal portions fit into the female terminal portions through the openings, and the electrical cables separately wired in different junction cases are connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuchika Kobayashi, Takeharu Ito, Shigekazu Wakata, Kuniharu Kusumoto
  • Publication number: 20020115328
    Abstract: The invention provides a miniaturized and simplified connector for a flexible flat cable. A male connector 12 is formed from bus bars B and a male housing 13, the bus bars B being welded to a tip end of a flexible flat cable C, the male housing 13 being molded so as to cover these bus bars B and a tip end portion of the flexible flat cable C. An opening portion 13b is formed in one face of the male housing 13. A female connector 17 is formed from terminal fittings 20 and a female housing 18, the terminal fittings 20 having resilient contacts 20b capable of resiliently making contact with the bus bars B when the connector 12 is fitted into the connector 17. A latching means 16 is provided between the female housing 18 and the male housing 13, and a waterproofing rubber ring 21 is located between an inner face of the female housing 18 and an outer face of the male housing 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigekazu Wakata
  • Patent number: 6398595
    Abstract: A battery (B) includes electrodes (11a, 11b) and engaging portions (10a, 10b) formed by recessing portions of the battery (B) around the electrodes (11a, 11b), and recesses (14a, 14b, 23a, 23b) are formed in side surfaces of the engaging portions (10a, 10b). The recesses (14a, 14b, 23a, 23b) are symmetrically arranged in the left and right engaging portions (10a, 10b). Transversely symmetrical identification pieces (19a, 19b) project from the leading ends of terminals (15a, 15b). In the case of a correct correspondence of the electrodes (11a, 11b) and the terminals (15a, 15b), the identification pieces (19a, 19b) fit into the recesses (14a, 14b, 23a, 23b), enabling assembling of the terminals (15a, 15b) with the electrodes (11a, 11b). In the case of an incorrect correspondence, the identification pieces (19a, 19b) cannot be fitted into the recesses (14a, 14b, 23a, 23b) and interfere with the upper surface of the battery (B), making assembling impossible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Wakata, Hideki Matsunaga, Keiichi Itou, Kazuyuki Shiraki, Masanori Wakui
  • Publication number: 20020051906
    Abstract: A battery-side terminal (2) includes a fastening ring (5) to be fixed to a battery post (1), and a connecting piece (8) extends from the fastening ring (5). A current sensor (4) includes a sensor portion (4A) formed with a slit (14) through which the connecting piece (8) is insertable. The battery-side terminal (2) and the current (4) are transported to a connection site while being assembled into one unit. At the connection site, the connecting piece (8) and the harness-side terminal (3) are aligned and placed one over the other, and are tightened by means of a bolt. This tightening operation is performed at a position distanced from a battery, and hence can be performed smoothly performed without being hindered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Wakata, Masanori Wakui, Hisao Niwa, Naohiko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20020051907
    Abstract: A terminal unit (TU) includes a battery terminal (2) mounted at the leading end of a wiring harness (4), and a holder (8) mounted on the wiring harness (4) at a position distanced from the battery terminal (2). A current sensor (12) is transported separately from the terminal unit (TU) to a connection site to a battery (B). The battery terminal (2) is introduced through the current sensor (12) and the current sensor (12) then is coupled with the holder (8) at the connection site. This operation is performed at a position distanced from the battery (B), and hence can be performed smoothly without being hindered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Wakata, Masanori Wakui, Hisao Niwa, Naohiko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20020037666
    Abstract: Connector terminals are provided to enable connection of electrical cables and connector terminals automatically to prevent the connector terminals from being inserted into sub-harnesses in later stages, and to make circuit modification easier. The connector terminals include respectively a male terminal portion at one end and a female terminal portion at the other end. The respective connector terminals further include a cable-fit portion. The connector terminals are contained in a junction case with top and bottom openings. Electrical cables are then wired in the junction case and fitted into the connector terminals. When several such junction cases are superposed, the male terminal portions fit into the female terminal portions through the openings, and the electrical cables separately wired in different junction cases are connected to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Nobuchika Kobayashi, Takeharu Ito, Shigekazu Wakata, Kuniharu Kusumoto
  • Patent number: 6358098
    Abstract: A joint connector is provided to solve problems of later-inserted terminals and to enable both an increase of wires to be joined and a circuit change. A terminal (6) of such a joint terminal includes a terminal connecting portion (10) in the form of a rectangular tube provided at a front part of the terminal (6). A tab-shaped joint portion (15) projects forward from a ceiling wall (10B) of the terminal connecting portion (10). The joint portion (15) is caused to project forward through a joint portion drawing opening (2C) of a connector housing (3) and is then folded substantially in U-shape. When the connector housings (3) are assembled one over another, the joint portions (15) of the terminals (6) mounted in the lower connector housing(s) (3) are pushed into the terminal connecting portions (10) of the terminals (6) mounted in the upper connector housing(s), thereby connecting the terminals (6) provided one over another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigekazu Wakata
  • Publication number: 20010027063
    Abstract: A battery (B) includes electrodes (11a, 11b) and engaging portions (10a, 10b) formed by recessing portions of the battery (B) around the electrodes (11a, 11b), and recesses (14a, 14b, 23a, 23b) are formed in side surfaces of the engaging portions (10a, 10b). The recesses (14a, 14b, 23a, 23b) are symmetrically arranged in the left and right engaging portions (10a, 10b). Transversely symmetrical identification pieces (19a, 19b) project from the leading ends of terminals (15a, 15b). In the case of a correct correspondence of the electrodes (11a, 11b) and the terminals (15a, 15b), the identification pieces (19a, 19b) fit into the recesses (14a, 14b, 23a, 23b), enabling assembling of the terminals (15a, 15b) with the electrodes (11a, 11b). In the case of an incorrect correspondence, the identification pieces (19a, 19b) cannot be fitted into the recesses (14a, 14b, 23a, 23b) and interfere with the upper surface of the battery (B), making assembling impossible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Shigekazu Wakata, Hideki Matsunaga, Keiichi Itou, Kazuyuki Shiraki, Masanori Wakui
  • Publication number: 20010024909
    Abstract: A terminal cap (10) is provided to prevent erroneous use of a booster cable to connect batteries that have different specifications. The terminal cap (10) is mounted to cover a battery terminal (T) to be connected with one of electrodes of a 32 V-battery. The terminal cap (10) has protection walls (20) that extend from a first accommodating portion (11a) for accommodating a connecting portion (7) of the battery terminal (T). The protection walls (20) are formed to be higher than a threaded shaft (1) of the electrode. Thus, even if an attempt is made to erroneously connect a booster cable, the protection walls (20) will interfere with the booster cable and prevent connection with the electrode located inside the protection walls (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Shigekazu Wakata, Keiichi Itou, Kazuyuki Shiraki, Masanori Wakui
  • Patent number: 6039603
    Abstract: A double collar portion formed on a rubber plug intermediate opposite ends thereof and an umbrella-shaped end plug formed at a rear end of the rubber plug improve waterproofing in an electrical terminal. The collar portion is held in intimate contact with an inner peripheral surface of a tubular terminal-receiving chamber to form a seal therebetween. An open end of the tubular terminal-receiving chamber is closed by the end plug without a gap or recess, thereby eliminating the possibility of collection of water and virtually eliminating the possibility of water leaking into the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Wakata, Eiji Saijo
  • Patent number: 6033261
    Abstract: A double collar portion formed on a rubber plug intermediate opposite ends thereof and an umbrella-shaped end plug formed at a rear end of the rubber plug improve waterproofing in an electrical terminal. The collar portion is held in intimate contact with an inner peripheral surface of a tubular terminal-receiving chamber to form a seal therebetween. An open end of the tubular terminal-receiving chamber is closed by the end plug without a gap or recess, thereby eliminating the possibility of collection of water and virtually eliminating the possibility of water leaking into the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Wakata, Eiji Saijo
  • Patent number: 5927725
    Abstract: A sealing device for a cavity into which a wire is inserted, the sealing device including an elastic sealing member which sealingly engages the inner surface of the cavity and the outer surface of the wire so as to prevent entrance of water into the cavity, and a rigid retainer associated with the sealing member and engaging the cavity so that, when the wire is bent transversely, deformation of the sealing member is substantially prevented and the integrity of the seal is maintained. This sealing device reliably prevents entrance of water, even if water is sprayed thereon at high pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Tabata, Shigekazu Wakata