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).

  • Connector
    Patent number: 9461406
    Abstract: A connector (1) collectively connects terminals (10) of a plurality of devices (11) by being fit to a stacked body (12) in which the plurality of devices are stacked. The connector (1) includes a terminal main portion (2) with a plurality of independent fitting portions (21 to 24) for connection to the respective terminals (10) of the devices (11). The connector (1) also has a terminal holding portion (3) for supporting and uniting the terminal main portion (2). Connecting portions (51 to 53) connect the fitting portions (21 to 24) and the terminal holding portion (3) and are formed as tolerance absorbing portions capable of absorbing a tolerance due to the stacking of the devices by a resilient force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoya Okamoto, Hiroomi Hiramitsu, Hiroki Hirai, Masakuni Kasugai
  • FLAT CABLE AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20160276063
    Abstract: A flat cable that includes a plurality of conductors respectively extending in an axial direction; and an insulating sheath configured to, in a state where the conductors are lined up in a width direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the conductors, restrict the conductors from outside and collectively cover the conductors, wherein the insulating sheath has an expander enabling bending in the width direction by permitting relative displacement between the conductors, and the expander, by expanding so as to partially separate from the conductors in at least a thickness direction orthogonal to both the width direction and the axial direction, forms an internal space permitting relative displacement such that adjacent conductors overlap in the thickness direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicants: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Housei MIZUNO, Hiroki HIRAI
  • ELECTRICAL CONNECTION STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20160264533
    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: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicants: 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
  • Wiring module
    Patent number: 9439317
    Abstract: A wiring module (1) includes a wiring harness (10) including a plurality of wires (11) and connectors (12) fixed to ends of the respective wires (11) and fittable into fitting portions (91) of a stacked device (90). A positioning member (20) is fixed to the wiring harness (10) and capable of being positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the stacked device (90). The positioning member (20) includes connector fixing portions (21) arranged at the same intervals as the fitting portions (91) of the stacked device (90). The connector fixing portion (21) positions each connector (12) of the wiring harness (10) fixedly at a position facing the corresponding fitting portion (91) when the positioning member (20) is positioned at the predetermined position with respect to the stacked device (90).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoya Okamoto, Hiroomi Hiramitsu, Hiroki Hirai, Masakuni Kasugai
  • WIRING MODULE
    Publication number: 20160254515
    Abstract: A battery wiring module that is attachable to an electric cell set configured with a plurality of electric cells that are lined up in a line-up direction, and that have metal terminals, namely a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The battery wiring module includes: a bus bar for electrically connecting the metal terminals of adjacent electric cells to each other; a resin protector that is made of insulating resin, that has a bus bar holding section for holding the bus bar, and that is attachable to the electric cell set; and an electronic control unit for detecting a state of at least one electric cell. The resin protector is configured to accommodate a tolerance in the line-up direction of the plurality of electric cells, and the electronic control unit is attached to the insulating protector so as to be movable in the line-up direction relative to the insulating protector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroki SHIMODA, Tomoyuki SAKATA, Makoto HIGASHIKOZONO, Masakuni KASUGAI, Masato TSUTSUKI, Hiroki HIRAI, Hideo TAKAHASHI
  • CONNECTOR STRUCTURE AND WIRING HARNESS
    Publication number: 20160240963
    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: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone
  • Battery connecting assembly
    Patent number: 9412989
    Abstract: Each of connection units integrally includes a cover via a hinge, and the cover covers an accommodation portion in which a connecting member is arranged. The connection unit includes a unit stopper and a unit stopper receiver that is fitted to the unit stopper that is formed on an adjacent connection unit. The cover includes a cover stopper and a cover stopper receiver that is fitted to the cover stopper formed on the cover of the adjacent connection unit. The connection units are connected to each other by fitting of the unit stoppers and the unit stopper receivers and fitting of the cover stoppers and the cover stopper receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuko Kinoshita, Hiroomi Hiramitsu, Kensaku Takata, Hiroki Hirai, Katsunori Hamana, Tomofumi Tsuji, Mitsuhiro Akasaka, Tetsuya Nakagawa, Yoshinao Kobayashi, Masaru Shitamichi, Daiki Hirano
  • COMPOSITION HAVING OIL FILM RETENTION FUNCTION, ANTICORROSIVE AGENT USING SAME, AND INSULATED TERMINATED ELECTRIC WIRE
    Publication number: 20160211053
    Abstract: A composition having an oil film retention function which an oil film can be stably retained on surfaces of various metals, an anticorrosive agent using same, and insulated terminated electric wire. A composition having oil film retention function for being added to base oil to be applied onto a metal surface and retaining base oil on metal surface, and composition contains a component that is an adduct of an azole compound and acidic alkyl phosphate ester including one or more compounds represented by General Formulae (1) (Chemical Formula 1) P(?O)(—OR1)(—OH) 2 . . . (1) or General Formula (2) (Chemical Formula 2) P(?O)(—OR1)2(—OH) . . . (2) where R1 represents an organic group having four or more carbon atoms, and component that is an adduct of a metal and/or organic amine compound and acidic alkyl phosphate ester including one or more compounds represented by General Formulae (1) or (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Tatsuya HASE, Takehiro HOSOKAWA, Kazuo NAKASHIMA, Kazuhiro GOTO, Hiroki HIRAI, Junichi ONO, Takuji OTSUKA, Hideki NOMURA, Makoto MIZOGUCHI
  • Battery connecting assembly
    Patent number: 9397327
    Abstract: A battery connecting assembly 20 includes a first coupling unit 21 having a plurality of individual units 20A each accommodating a connecting member 13, and configured by coupling the individual units 20A adjacent to each other; a second coupling unit 22 having a plurality of individual units 20A each accommodating a connecting member 13, and configured by coupling the individual units 20A adjacent to each other, and arranged side by side with the first coupling unit 21; and a positioning member 40 connected to the first coupling unit 21 and the second coupling unit 22 to position the first coupling unit 21 and the second coupling unit 22 relatively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Takase, Hiroki Hirai, Masakuni Kasugai
  • WIRING MODULE
    Publication number: 20160197330
    Abstract: A wiring module 10 to be attached to a battery module M1 including a single cell group 11 in which a plurality of single cells 12 having positive and negative electrode terminals 13 are lined up includes a connection member 19 that is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and that electrically connects adjacent electrode terminals 13 to each other and a voltage detection wire 45 formed by coating a core wire 46 made of aluminum or aluminum alloy with an insulation coating 47. An exposed core wire 46 that is exposed at an end portion of the voltage detection wire 45 is connected to the connection member 19 by welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicants: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi TAKASE, Junichi WAKAYAMA, Tetsuji TANAKA, Hiroki HIRAI
  • WIRE HARNESS AND CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20160197460
    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: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20160197438
    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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • CONNECTOR AND WIRE HARNESS
    Publication number: 20160197435
    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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • WIRE HARNESS AND CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20160197461
    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: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • CONDUCTION PATH AND CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20160190723
    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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Yasuo Oomori, Hosei Mizuno, Hiroki Hirai, Masaaki Tabata, Manabu Uesato
  • CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20160190755
    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: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • Connector
    Patent number: 9379473
    Abstract: A connector includes a plurality of cavities (12) into which terminal fittings are to be accommodated. The cavities (12) are separate tubular members independent of a connector main body (14) and each of the cavities (12) also is configured as a separate member independent of the other cavities. The connector main body (14) functions as a holder for accommodating the plurality of cavities (12) and the cavities (12) are locked individually in the connector main body (14). Clearances are provided between the individual cavities (12) and the connector main body (14) in these locked parts and the cavities (12) are permitted to move relative to the connector main body (14) due to the clearances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoya Okamoto, Hiroomi Hiramitsu, Hiroki Hirai, Masakuni Kasugai
  • Terminal welded and crimped to a wire and a shrinkable tube covering the wire and the terminal
    Patent number: 9379460
    Abstract: A terminal-provided wire (10) includes a wire (11) formed by covering a core (12) with an insulation coating (13), a terminal (20) to be connected to the core (12) exposed at an end of the wire (10), and a shrinkable tube (28) for sealing a wire connecting portion (25) formed by connecting the exposed core (11) and the terminal (20). An inclined surface (12A) for making a thickness of the core (12) smaller toward the tip of the core (12) is formed by welding on a part of the exposed core (12) before the wire connecting portion (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Miyamoto, Hiroki Hirai, Junichi Ono, Takuji Ootsuka
  • WIRE HARNESS AND CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20160181775
    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: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Keishi Kitamura, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Yasuto Takeda, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura
  • BINDING STRUCTURE FOR BAND FOR WIRE HARNESS
    Publication number: 20160156168
    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: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Yasuto Takeda, Yoshihiro Mizutani, Keishi Kitamura, Hiroki Hirai, Tetsuji Tanaka, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Kosuke Sone, Teruo Kato, Kazuhisa Nimura