Patents by Inventor Tetsuya Aihara

Tetsuya Aihara 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: 8974244
    Abstract: A harness-side connector (30) to be connected to a board connector (10) whose metal fixtures (20) are fixed to the upper surface of a board (P) by soldering include a female housing (31) connected to an end of a wiring harness and fittable into a receptacle (12) of the board connector (10) and a holder (50) formed separately from the female housing (31). The holder (50) includes lock arms (57A, 57B) which are resiliently engaged with the female housing (31) to lock the holder (5) in a state mounted on the female housing (31) and a locking portion (61) which is engaged with the lower surface of the board (P) when the female housing (31) is fitted into the receptacle (12) of the board connector (10) after the holder (50) is mounted on the female housing (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Aihara
  • Patent number: 8821187
    Abstract: A board connector (10) includes a housing (20) made of resin and in which terminal fittings (80) connectable to conductive portions of a board (90) are to be mounted. Fixing members (60) fix the housing (20) on the board (90). Each fixing member (60) is made of metal and includes a housing mounting portion (61). The housing mounting plate (61) is to be mounted on a wall surface of the housing (20) by inserting front and rear ends of the housing mounting plate (61) in mounting grooves (26) formed in the wall surface of the housing (20). The housing mounting plate (61) has a first rib (71) extending in forward and backward directions, and a second rib (72) extending in forward and backward directions and arranged to fit within the height range of the first rib (71) with respect to a height direction perpendicular to forward and backward directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Aihara
  • Patent number: 8529292
    Abstract: A board connector includes a housing (20) into which a mating connector (50) is to be fit, mounting grooves (30) formed on side surfaces of the housing (20), and metal fixing fixtures (40) to be mounted into the mounting grooves (30) while the plate surfaces thereof move along the side surfaces of the housing (20) and lower ends of which are to be fixed to a board (P). Projecting locks (43, 45) project laterally along the plate surface and a bent lock (44) bent outward substantially at a right angle with respect to the plate surface are arranged vertically one above another on each lateral edge of each fixing fixture (40). On the other hand, each mounting groove (30) includes receiving surfaces (35, 36, 38) that respectively contact with the projecting locks (43, 45) and the bent locks (44) to prevent downward movements of the locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Aihara
  • Publication number: 20130095686
    Abstract: A harness-side connector (30) to be connected to a board connector (10) whose metal fixtures (20) are fixed to the upper surface of a board (P) by soldering include a female housing (31) connected to an end of a wiring harness and fittable into a receptacle (12) of the board connector (10) and a holder (50) formed separately from the female housing (31). The holder (50) includes lock arms (57A, 57B) which are resiliently engaged with the female housing (31) to lock the holder (5) in a state mounted on the female housing (31) and a locking portion (61) which is engaged with the lower surface of the board (P) when the female housing (31) is fitted into the receptacle (12) of the board connector (10) after the holder (50) is mounted on the female housing (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Aihara
  • Patent number: 8350155
    Abstract: A wire connection sleeve includes a pipe-like outer tube (20) and an inner tube (30) inserted inside this outer tube (20). The inner tube (30) is formed by winding a sheet-like metal material (P) formed with projections or recesses into a tubular shape with both ends being open, and a longitudinal middle part of this inner tube (30) serves as an inner-tube small-diameter portion (32) which is so squashed or deformed that the opening size thereof is smaller than those of the opposite longitudinal ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Kobayashi, Tetsuya Aihara, Satoshi Morikawa, Hideki Matsunaga, Toshiya Mori
  • Publication number: 20120264323
    Abstract: A board connector (10) includes a housing (20) made of resin and in which terminal fittings (80) connectable to conductive portions of a board (90) are to be mounted. Fixing members (60) fix the housing (20) on the board (90). Each fixing member (60) is made of metal and includes a housing mounting portion (61). The housing mounting plate (61) is to be mounted on a wall surface of the housing (20) by inserting front and rear ends of the housing mounting plate (61) in mounting grooves (26) formed in the wall surface of the housing (20). The housing mounting plate (61) has a first rib (71) extending in forward and backward directions, and a second rib (72) extending in forward and backward directions and arranged to fit within the height range of the first rib (71) with respect to a height direction perpendicular to forward and backward directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Aihara
  • Publication number: 20120122347
    Abstract: A board connector includes a housing (20) into which a mating connector (50) is to be fit, mounting grooves (30) formed on side surfaces of the housing (20), and metal fixing fixtures (40) to be mounted into the mounting grooves (30) while the plate surfaces thereof move along the side surfaces of the housing (20) and lower ends of which are to be fixed to a board (P). Projecting locks (43, 45) project laterally along the plate surface and a bent lock (44) bent outward substantially at a right angle with respect to the plate surface are arranged vertically one above another on each lateral edge of each fixing fixture (40). On the other hand, each mounting groove (30) includes receiving surfaces (35, 36, 38) that respectively contact with the projecting locks (43, 45) and the bent locks (44) to prevent downward movements of the locks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Aihara
  • Patent number: 7828608
    Abstract: A connector (10) has a terminal fitting (17) press-fit into a terminal holding portion (18). The terminal fitting (17) has a wide rectangular cross-sectional shape and includes a lower surface (17A), two side surfaces (17B) standing upward from the opposite lateral edges of the lower surface (17A) and an upper surface (17C) connecting the upper edges of the side surfaces (17B). The terminal holding portion (18) includes two side walls (18B) that interfere with the side surfaces (17B), a bottom wall (18A) formed with lower interfering portions (18E) that interfere with non-touching parts (17D) of the lower surface portion (17A) not to be held in contact with a mating terminal fitting (21) and a ceiling wall (18C) formed with upper interfering portions (18D) that interfere with non-touching parts (17D) of the upper surface (17C) not to be held in contact with the mating terminal fitting (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Aihara, Kenji Okamura
  • Patent number: 7806702
    Abstract: A board connector (10) has a housing (20) with a terminal holding portion (40) for holding terminals (30) in forward and backward directions and a receptacle extends forward from the terminal holding portion (40). Mount grooves (60) are formed in side walls (52) of the receptacle (50). Board fixing portions (70) are held in the mount grooves (60) within the thickness range of the side walls and are soldered to the upper surface of a printed board (P). Mounting portions (54) are formed in the side walls (52) and have open front ends. Restricting members (80) are formed separately from the mating connector and mountable within the thickness range of the side walls (52) forward of the board fixing portions (70). One end of each restricting member (54) engages lower surfaces (54A) of the mounting portions (54) and the other end engages the lower surface of the printed board (P).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Aihara, Kenji Okamura, Masahide Hio, Yoshiro Kakuda, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20100147585
    Abstract: A wire connection sleeve includes a pipe-like outer tube (20) and an inner tube (30) inserted inside this outer tube (20). The inner tube (30) is formed by winding a sheet-like metal material (P) formed with projections or recesses into a tubular shape with both ends being open, and a longitudinal middle part of this inner tube (30) serves as an inner-tube small-diameter portion (32) which is so squashed or deformed that the opening size thereof is smaller than those of the opposite longitudinal ends. Thus, connection reliability at connected parts of wires (W) can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Kobayashi, Tetsuya Aihara, Satoshi Morikawa, Hideki Matsunaga, Toshiya Mori
  • Publication number: 20100112836
    Abstract: A board connector (10) has a housing (20) with a terminal holding portion (40) for holding terminals (30) in forward and backward directions and a receptacle extends forward from the terminal holding portion (40). Mount grooves (60) are formed in side walls (52) of the receptacle (50). Board fixing portions (70) are held in the mount grooves (60) within the thickness range of the side walls and are soldered to the upper surface of a printed board (P). Mounting portions (54) are formed in the side walls (52) and have open front ends. Restricting members (80) are formed separately from the mating connector and mountable within the thickness range of the side walls (52) forward of the board fixing portions (70). One end of each restricting member (54) engages lower surfaces (54A) of the mounting portions (54) and the other end engages the lower surface of the printed board (P).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Aihara, Kenji Okamura, Masahide Hio, Yoshiro Kakuda, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20100055998
    Abstract: A female terminal fitting (12) has wire barrels (17) to be crimped around a core (10) that extends in a first direction. A connecting portion (18) extends from the wire barrels (17) and is connectable with a male terminal fitting. The wire barrels (17) have a contact surface (22) to be held in contact with the core (10). Grooves (30) are formed in a surface of the wire barrels (17) opposite to the contact surface (22) and extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Aihara
  • Publication number: 20100029144
    Abstract: A connector (10) has a terminal fitting (17) press-fit into a terminal holding portion (18). The terminal fitting (17) has a wide rectangular cross-sectional shape and includes a lower surface (17A), two side surfaces (17B) standing upward from the opposite lateral edges of the lower surface (17A) and an upper surface (17C) connecting the upper edges of the side surfaces (17B). The terminal holding portion (18) includes two side walls (18B) that interfere with the side surfaces (17B), a bottom wall (18A) formed with lower interfering portions (18E) that interfere with non-touching parts (17D) of the lower surface portion (17A) not to be held in contact with a mating terminal fitting (21) and a ceiling wall (18C) formed with upper interfering portions (18D) that interfere with non-touching parts (17D) of the upper surface (17C) not to be held in contact with the mating terminal fitting (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Aihara, Kenji Okamura
  • Patent number: 7520785
    Abstract: With two connectors (10, 20) properly connected, engaging projections (28) projecting from wall surfaces of lower receiving grooves (27S) are inserted below engageable portions (18) provided on lower reinforcing ribs (17S) and these engaging projections (28) can be held in contact with the engageable portions (18) from below. Thus, if an upward force acts on the female connector (20), the engaging projections (28) contact the engageable portions (18) and this force is borne by the lower reinforcing ribs (17S). In other words, since the upward force acting on the female connector (20) is borne by both upper and lower walls (13U, 13S) of a receptacle (13), the upper wall (13U) can be made thinner as compared to the case where this force acts only on the upper wall (13U). As a result, a board connector (C1) can be thinned further.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Aihara
  • Patent number: 7467956
    Abstract: A plurality of terminal fittings 11 are mounted to a housing 20, board connecting portions 13 having mounting portions 14 at lower ends protrude rearward, fixed fittings 30 having mounting plates 32 at lower edges are mounted to opposite side surfaces of the housing 20, and the mounting portion 14 of each terminal fitting 11 and the mounting plates 32 of the fixed fittings 30 are secured to a PCB 40 by reflow soldering. During the reflow soldering, a drawing force toward the PCB 40 acts on each of the terminal fittings 11 and the fixed fittings 30 based on surface tension of molten solder H, but the center of the fixed fitting 30 in the fore/aft direction of the board connecting portion 13 is positioned forward of the center of gravity position O of a connector 10, and rotation moment Mb toward the PCB 40 acts on the front of the housing 20 based on a drawing force Fb on the side of the fixed fitting 30 to prevent the front from being raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Hirai, Kenji Okamura, Masahide Hio, Tetsuya Aihara, Hiroshi Nakano, Shigeki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20080194136
    Abstract: With two connectors (10, 20) properly connected, engaging projections (28) projecting from wall surfaces of lower receiving grooves (27S) are inserted below engageable portions (18) provided on lower reinforcing ribs (17S) and these engaging projections (28) can be held in contact with the engageable portions (18) from below. Thus, if an upward force acts on the female connector (20), the engaging projections (28) contact the engageable portions (18) and this force is borne by the lower reinforcing ribs (17S). In other words, since the upward force acting on the female connector (20) is borne by both upper and lower walls (13U, 13S) of a receptacle (13), the upper wall (13U) can be made thinner as compared to the case where this force acts only on the upper wall (13U). As a result, a board connector (C1) can be thinned further.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Aihara
  • Publication number: 20080085616
    Abstract: A plurality of terminal fittings 11 are mounted to a housing 20, board connecting portions 13 having mounting portions 14 at lower ends protrude rearward, fixed fittings 30 having mounting plates 32 at lower edges are mounted to opposite side surfaces of the housing 20, and the mounting portion 14 of each terminal fitting 11 and the mounting plates 32 of the fixed fittings 30 are secured to a PCB 40 by reflow soldering. During the reflow soldering, a drawing force toward the PCB 40 acts on each of the terminal fittings 11 and the fixed fittings 30 based on surface tension of molten solder H, but the center of the fixed fitting 30 in the fore/aft direction of the board connecting portion 13 is positioned forward of the center of gravity position O of a connector 10, and rotation moment Mb toward the PCB 40 acts on the front of the housing 20 based on a drawing force Fb on the side of the fixed fitting 30 to prevent the front from being raised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicants: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD, SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD
    Inventors: Hiroki Hirai, Kenji Okamura, Masahide Hio, Tetsuya Aihara, Hiroshi Nakano, Shigeki Shimada
  • Patent number: 7241150
    Abstract: A circuit board connector has a housing 10 and terminal fittings (30) mounted in the housing (10). The terminal fittings (30) have board connecting portions (34) drawn out of the housing (10). The board connecting portions (34) are arranged on the surface of a circuit board (K) and connected with conductors on the circuit board (K) by soldering. Notches (36) are formed in lateral edges (37) of the board connecting portions (34) and have upward-sloped surfaces (39) to which solder (H) applied to the conductors adheres. A solder test is conducted by observing from above the adhered state of the solder (H) to the sloped surfaces (39) of the notches (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Aihara
  • Patent number: 7214090
    Abstract: Male connectors (10) are accommodated in an ECU casing C, and connect with female connectors (20) connected with ends of wires (Wa). The male and female connectors (10, 20) are locked together by engaging a lock (45) on a lock arm (40) of the female connector (20) with an engaging portion (47) of the male connector (10). The fracture strength of the engaging portion (47) of the male connector (10) exceeds the fracture strength of the lock (45) of the female connector (20). Thus, an excessive force acting to separate the locked connectors (10, 20) will fracture the lock (45) of the female connector (20) first to cancel the locked state. This avoids fracturing the engaging portion (47) of the male connector (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Aihara, Eiji Kojime
  • Publication number: 20070042618
    Abstract: A circuit board connector has a housing 10 and terminal fittings (30) mounted in the housing (10). The terminal fittings (30) have board connecting portions (34) drawn out of the housing (10). The board connecting portions (34) are arranged on the surface of a circuit board (K) and connected with conductors on the circuit board (K) by soldering. Notches (36) are formed in lateral edges (37) of the board connecting portions (34) and have upward-sloped surfaces (39) to which solder (H) applied to the conductors adheres. A solder test is conducted by observing from above the adhered state of the solder (H) to the sloped surfaces (39) of the notches (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Aihara