Patents by Inventor Hiroki Hirai

Hiroki Hirai 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: 9698523
    Abstract: A fitting work for a connector (40) and a counterpart connector (70) can be performed smoothly. The connector (40) includes a housing body (42) from which an electrical wire (100) connected to a terminal metal fitting (30) extends out from a rear face thereof; and a guide (43) arranged at a rear side of the housing body (42) and configured by having the electrical wire (100) arranged within a through portion (52) passing through in a direction intersecting a front-rear direction, the electrical wire (100) extending out in both directions through both end openings of the through portion (52). The electrical wire (100) extending out in both directions is configured of the electrical wire (100) configuring a main line (10) of a wire harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • Patent number: 9698552
    Abstract: A plurality of connector (40) is configured to be maintained in a state of being aligned in an aligned direction. The connectors (40) each include a housing (41) that may be angularly displaced about an axis parallel to a fitting direction with a counterpart housing (71). A plurality of the housings (41) are aligned in a direction intersecting the fitting direction and an angular displacement direction, and each has a through portion (52) through which electrical wires (100) for aligning the housings (41) in the aligned direction penetrates. A relieving portion (90) having a shape retracting in a direction for avoiding interference with the electrical wires (100) when the housings (41) are angularly displaced is provided on an inner face of each through portion (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • Publication number: 20170162299
    Abstract: A seal structure for multicore cable includes a multicore cable configured such that a plurality of first to fourth wires are surrounded by a sheath and drawn out from an end part of the sheath, and a rubber plug including a sheath fitting portion to be externally fitted to the end part of the sheath and a wire penetrating portion having a plurality of first to fourth through holes, through which the plurality of first to fourth wires drawn out from the end part of the sheath are respectively passed. Sheath side lips to be held in contact with an outer periphery of the sheath are provided on an inner periphery of the sheath fitting portion. First to fourth wire side lips to be respectively held in close contact with outer peripheries of the plurality of first to fourth wires are provided on inner peripheries of the plurality of first to fourth through holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicants: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu KOMORI, Hiroki HIRAI, Tomoyuki SAKATA, Makoto HIGASHIKOZONO, Masato TSUTSUKI
  • Patent number: 9666983
    Abstract: A connector (40) is avoided from becoming large sized by avoiding a guiding used upon fitting from becoming large. A counterpart housing (71) includes a cylindrical hood (72). A housing (41) includes a housing body (42) that can be fitted in the hood (72). The counterpart housing (71) is allowed to be angularly displaced about an axis parallel to a fitting direction of the housings (41, 71). One side of an opening edge of the hood (72) is configured as a counterpart arc portion (74) that curves in an arc shape along an angular displacement direction. One side of a front face of the housing body (42) in the fitting direction is configured as an arc portion (64) that curves in an arc shape along the angular displacement direction, and is configured capable of entering into the hood (72) by being guided by the counterpart arc portion (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • Patent number: 9667045
    Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to prevent the erroneous fitting of a connector (40) and to smoothly perform a fitting operation. A plurality of connectors (40) are aligned in a direction intersecting a front-rear direction. The front face of a housing (41) is oriented in the direction facing a counterpart housing (71) at fitting each connector (40). The housing (41) is provided with a through portion (52) passing through the housing (41) in the direction intersecting the front-rear direction. A plurality of electrical wires (100) extended out from each connector (40) are densely arranged in the through portion (52) so that the free movement of the electrical wires is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • Patent number: 9653894
    Abstract: An incorrect fitting of a connector (40) is prevented, and a fitting work is enabled to be performed smoothly. A plurality of connectors (40), each having a housing (41) capable of fitting with its counterpart housing (71), is arranged in a line. Upon fitting of the housings (41, 71), a front face of each housing (41) is arranged so as to face a direction facing its counterpart housing (71), and an aligning direction of the connectors (40) is set to be a direction intersecting a front-rear direction. Through portions (52, 52E) are provided in the housings (41), and upon fitting of the housings (41, 71), each connector (40) is arranged at a position capable of facing its counterpart connector (70) by an aligning member (80, 100) that is passed through the respective through portions (52, 52E).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • Patent number: 9647434
    Abstract: A binding structure for a band for a wire harness prevents displacement of a band fastening position. A band (10) has a belt-shaped band section (12) by which electrical wires (80) are bound. The band section (12) includes a winding portion (14) wound around an outer periphery of the electrical wires (80) bundled together in a manner that the winding portion (14) is shifted away from a binding start point in a forward direction along a lengthwise direction of the electrical wires, and a winding portion (15) intersecting with the winding portion (14) in the forward direction and wound around the outer periphery in a manner that the winding portion (15) is shifted toward the binding start point in a return direction opposite to the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INSUSTRIES, LTD., AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuto Takeda, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Keishi Kitamura, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • Patent number: 9637461
    Abstract: An electrical connection structure includes: a first metal member including copper or a copper alloy, a plated tin layer being formed on at least a portion of the first metal member; a second metal member that is electrically connected or connectable to the first metal member; and a surface treating layer formed on the surface of the first metal member. The surface treating layer is formed by applying a surface treating agent containing base oil and a metal affinity compound having a lipophilic group and an affinity group that has an affinity for metal. The metal affinity compound contains an adduct between an acidic alkyl phosphate ester and an azole compound and an adduct between an acidic alkyl phosphate ester and a metal and/or an organic amine compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Nomura, Hiroki Hirai, Junichi Ono, Takuji Ootsuka, Takehiro Hosokawa, Tatsuya Hase, Kazuo Nakashima, Kazuhiro Goto, Makoto Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 9640955
    Abstract: Provided are a wire harness and a connector (40) allowing a routing path for an electrical wire (100) to be set without increasing the number of components and without requiring a complicated operation. A plurality of connectors (40) are aligned in a direction intersecting a front-rear direction. Each connector (40) is provided with a housing (41) capable of being fitted into a counterpart housing (71). The front face of the housing (41) is oriented in the direction facing the counterpart housing (71) at fitting both the housings (41, 71). The housing (41) is provided with a plurality of through portions (52A, 52B) passing through the housing (41) in the direction intersecting the front-rear direction. Each of the plurality of through portions (52A, 52B) has a space capable of routing an electrical wire (100) extended out from each connector (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • Publication number: 20170117070
    Abstract: A sealing structure of a multicore cable includes the multicore cable, a rubber stopper, a cap, and a holder. The multicore cable includes first to fourth electric wires covered with a sheath. The rubber stopper is fitted on an end of the sheath and first to fourth through holes through which the first to the fourth electric wires are passed, respectively. The cap is fitted on the rubber stopper and presses the rubber stopper inward. The holder includes a sheath holding portion for holding the sheath and a cap holding portion for holding the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicants: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu KOMORI, Hiroki HIRAI, Tomoyuki SAKATA, Makoto HIGASHIKOZONO, Masato TSUTSUKI
  • Publication number: 20170117650
    Abstract: To provide a surface protective agent composition that suppresses corrosion of members of different kinds of metals close to each other due to corrosion current between the metals of the members, and to provide an electric connection structure and a method for producing an electric connection structure using the same. The surface protective agent composition contains (a) a lubricant base oil; (b) a prescribed amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of particular phosphorus compounds and a metal salt or an amine salt thereof; and (c) a prescribed amount of an amide compound, and in the case where the component (b) does not contain the metal salt of the phosphorus compound, the surface protective agent composition further contains (d) a prescribed amount of a salicylate of a particular metal and/or a basic (or perbasic) salt thereof, and the electric connection structure containing a surface protective layer consisting of the surface protective agent composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicants: JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Kyushu University, National University Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Yoshida, Takashi Arai, Yuji Shitara, Kenichi Komiya, Makoto Mizoguchi, Hideki Nomura, Takuji Otsuka, Junichi Ono, Hiroki Hirai, Kazuo Nakashima, Tatsuya Hase, Takehiro Hosokawa, Kazuhiro Goto
  • Patent number: 9620883
    Abstract: A conduction path (20) is formed by connecting a coated wire (26), in which a conductor (27) is surrounded by an insulation coating (28), to a rear end part of a terminal fitting (21) and the entire terminal fitting (21) and a front end part of the coated wire (26) are to be accommodated into a housing (10). The conduction path (20) includes a coating layer (29) made of a photocurable resin, provided in an area of the coated wire (26) to be accommodated into the housing (10), thinner than the insulation coating (28) and surrounding an area of the conductor (27) where the insulation coating (28) is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Oomori, Hosei Mizuno, Hiroki Hirai, Masaaki Tabata, Manabu Uesato
  • Patent number: 9620260
    Abstract: An insulating coated wire includes a center conductor and an insulating coating. The insulating coating has a bending auxiliary section in which the thickness of the insulating coating is smaller than that of the other portion, and that has a shape in which at least a part thereof protrudes outward in the radial direction. The bending auxiliary section has a shape that facilitates bending of the insulating coated wire by elongation deformation thereof. This insulating coated wire can be manufactured by arranging, on the circumference of an insulating coated wire material, a metal mold that has the inner surface including the section having a shape protruding outward in the radial direction, and forming the bending auxiliary section in the shape along the inner surface of the metal mold by heating the insulating coating within the metal mold and generating a pressure difference between inside and outside of the insulating coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Housei Mizuno, Hiroki Hirai, Tomoyuki Sakata, Takehiro Hosokawa, Yasuyuki Ootsuka, Satoshi Murao, Seigou Nakano
  • Publication number: 20170062881
    Abstract: An electricity storage module that includes a power storage element group obtained by stacking a plurality of power storage elements each having a lead terminal that protrudes from a side edge; and holding members that are attached to the side edges at which the lead terminals are provided and that hold the power storage elements, the holding members being provided with a fuse mounting portion for mounting a fuse that is to be electrically connected to the lead terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicants: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LIMITED, SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideyuki KUBOKI, Hiroki HIRAI, Tomoyuki SAKATA, Makoto HIGASHIKOZONO, Toshifumi ICHIO, Kenji NAKAGAWA
  • Patent number: 9570841
    Abstract: It is aimed to enable a connecting operation to smoothly proceed by preventing erroneous connection of a connector (10). A connector structure includes a housing (20) in which a terminal fitting (60) is to be accommodated, a wire (70) to be connected to the terminal fitting (60) and pulled out from a wire pull-out surface (24) of the housing (20), and an extra-length adjusting portion (21) provided continuously to the housing (20) and configured to hold the wire (70) pulled out from the wire pull-out surface (24) in a state loosened into a substantially U shape or wounded one or more turns and variably adjust the amount of loosening or winding of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone
  • Publication number: 20170040583
    Abstract: An electricity storage module includes a power storage element group obtained by stacking a plurality of power storage elements each having a lead terminal that protrudes from a side edge, and holding members that are attached to the side edges at which the lead terminals are provided and that hold the power storage elements. The holding members are provided with a fuse mounting portion for mounting a fuse that is to be electrically connected to the lead terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicants: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideyuki KUBOKI, Hiroki HIRAI, Tomoyuki SAKATA, Makoto HIGASHIKOZONO, Toshifumi ICHIO, Kenji NAKAGAWA
  • Patent number: 9565780
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic circuit unit which includes a circuit board, a case for the circuit board and a connector for external connection and can be miniaturized and simplified in structure. This electronic circuit unit includes a circuit board (10) provided with a plurality of conductors for connection (14) on an edge part (12), a case (CS) configured to house the circuit board, and a plurality of terminals (30) provided on ends of a plurality of wires (W). The case (CS) integrally includes a board housing portion (20) and a terminal holding portion (40). The board housing portion (20) holds the circuit board (10) at a specific board holding position. The terminal holding portion (40) holds these terminals (30) in such an arrangement that each terminal (30) comes into contact with each conductor for connection (14) of the circuit board (10) at the board holding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiro Nishio, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Massaki Tabata, Yasuo Omori
  • Patent number: 9564661
    Abstract: There are provided an electric cell group of a plurality of electric cells 11 with positive and negative electrode terminals, connecting members for connecting adjacent electrode terminals, and a wiring module assembled to the electric cell group. The wiring module includes a plurality of voltage detection terminals connected to the ends of a plurality of electric wires W for detecting the conditions of the electric cells, a plurality of retainer portions retaining the detection terminals, and interval adjusting device provided between a plurality of adjacent retainer portions for adjusting the intervals between the retainer portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoya Okamoto, Hiroomi Hiramitsu, Hiroki Hirai
  • Patent number: 9490550
    Abstract: Provided are an aluminum-based terminal fitting in which a Sn layer has high peel resistance, and a terminal connecting structure of an electric wire provided with the terminal fitting. The aluminum-based terminal fitting includes a wire barrel portion (110) for connection to a conductor (210) constituted by aluminum or an aluminum alloy and provided in an electric wire (200), and a fitting portion (female fitting portion (130) or male fitting portion (140)) provided to extend from the wire barrel portion (110) and electrically connected to a separate terminal fitting. A Sn layer formed directly on a base material constituting the terminal fitting is provided on the contact region in the fitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuji Otsuka, Hiroki Hirai, Junichi Ono, Kingo Furukawa, Teruyoshi Munekata, Hajime Ota, Yoshihiro Nakai, Taichiro Nishikawa, Tetsuya Kuwabara, Yoshiyuki Takaki, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20160294138
    Abstract: Provided is a connector (10) whereof a cover (60) is prevented from falling off a housing (20). The connector (10) is provided with: the housing (20), which is capable of fitting to a counterpart housing (90) and arranged in proximity or in contact with a peripheral member such as a solenoid (80) when fitting to the counterpart housing (90); and the cover (60), which is independent from the housing (20) and attached to the housing (20) so as to cover an electric wire (100) drawn out from a wire outdrawing surface of this housing (20). When the housing (20) fits to the counterpart housing (90), the cover (60) is faced by the peripheral member in a separating direction from the housing (20) so that the cover (60) is arranged to be interposed between the housing (20) and the peripheral member such as the solenoid (80).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicants: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura