Patents by Inventor Kazuo Nakai

Kazuo Nakai 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: 20190115689
    Abstract: A connector includes a connector housing 10 including a cavity 11, a terminal 50 to be accommodated in the cavity 11 and including a wire connecting portion 53, a wire 30 connected to the wire connecting portion 53 of the terminal 50, a rubber plug 60 to be externally fit on the wire 30 and held in close contact with an inner wall of the cavity 11, and a fixing portion 70 configured to fix the wire 30 and the rubber plug 60. The wire 30 includes a flexible vibration absorbing portion 35 between a part connected to the wire connecting portion 53 and a part fixed by the fixing portion 70.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Takeshi Masuda, Youjirou Hashimoto, Kazuo Nakai, Hiromu Ootani, Takehide Terasawa
  • Patent number: 10224672
    Abstract: A lever (22) is formed with first driving portions (27) to move sliders (35) from a connection end position to an unlocking position in the process of rotating the lever (22) from a connection position to a switch position. Second driving portions (28) push the sliders (35) parallel to one another from the unlocking position to a connection start position in the process of rotating the lever (22) from the switch position to an initial position and move away from the sliders (35) as the lever (22) rotates from the initial position to the switch position with the sliders (35) located at the connection start position. Locking portions (33) restrict rotation of the lever (22) toward the connection position by being locked to the sliders (35) with the sliders (35) located at the connection start position and the lever (22) located at the switch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Kazuo Nakai
  • Publication number: 20180331470
    Abstract: A lever (22) is formed with first driving portions (27) to move sliders (35) from a connection end position to an unlocking position in the process of rotating the lever (22) from a connection position to a switch position. Second driving portions (28) push the sliders (35) parallel to one another from the unlocking position to a connection start position in the process of rotating the lever (22) from the switch position to an initial position and move away from the sliders (35) as the lever (22) rotates from the initial position to the switch position with the sliders (35) located at the connection start position. Locking portions (33) restrict rotation of the lever (22) toward the connection position by being locked to the sliders (35) with the sliders (35) located at the connection start position and the lever (22) located at the switch position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Kazuo Nakai
  • Publication number: 20180294587
    Abstract: A terminal fitting (10) includes a body (11) in the form of a rectangular tube, a tab (41) of a mating terminal (40) being inserted into the body (11) from the front. A resilient contact piece (22) is accommodated in the body (11). The tab (41) is sandwiched resiliently in a plate thickness direction thereof between the resilient contact piece (22) and a receiving plate (15) of the body (11). Holding portions (30) are formed integrally to the resilient contact piece (22) and capable of holding the tab (41) with a relative displacement of the tab (41) in a width direction with respect to the resilient contact piece (22) restricted by coming into contact with side edges (41S) of the tab (41).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Keiichi Tsukiyoshi, Kazuo Nakai, Takahiko Saitou
  • Patent number: 10090620
    Abstract: A lever 30 includes two arms (31), a coupling (32) coupling base ends (31R) of the arms (31) and an operating portion (33) coupling tips (31F) of the arms (31). The lever (30) is supported rotatably on a housing (10) with rotary shafts (34) formed on the coupling (32) serving as a fulcrum. Two sliders (40) are mounted in the housing (10) while being fit to drive shafts (38) of the lever (30) and slide in conjunction with the rotation of the lever (30). The sliders (40) are formed with cam grooves (43) configured so that cam followers (53) of a mating housing (51) slide in contact with the cam grooves (43) as the sliders (40) are slid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Kazuo Nakai
  • Publication number: 20180248304
    Abstract: A waterproof connector (1) includes an accommodation recess (31) formed in a wire draw-out surface (26) of a housing (10) and configured to accommodate a ventilation film (63). A wire cover (50) is mounted on the housing (10) to cover the wire draw-out surface (26) and the accommodation recess (31). A wire bending space (54) inside the wire cover (50) is configured to bend wires (15) drawn out from the wire draw-out surface (26). A partition (56) is formed in the wire cover (50) and partitions between the accommodation recess (31) and the wire bending space (54) by contacting the wire draw-out surface (26) to cover an opening of the accommodation recess (31). Drainage portions (37, 38, 39, 40) are formed in a contact area between the wire draw-out surface (26) and the partition (56) and has a convexo-concave or stepped cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Kazuo Nakai
  • Patent number: 10038279
    Abstract: A moving plate (30) includes two resilient locking pieces (34) and can be resiliently curved and deformed to incline a projecting direction of the resilient locking pieces (34), and a female housing (50) pulls the moving plate 30 back to an initial position by locking locks (55) to the resilient locking pieces (34). With the moving plate (30) held at the initial position by initial position holding projections (18), the locks (55) of the female housing (50) are displaced to locked positions to the resilient locking pieces (34) by resiliently deforming the resilient locking pieces (34). The initial position holding projections (18) are spaced apart in the same direction as a separating direction of the resilient locking pieces (34) and arranged at positions different from the pair of resilient locking pieces (34) in the separating direction of the pair of resilient locking pieces (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Kazuo Nakai
  • Publication number: 20180109034
    Abstract: A lever 30 includes two arms (31), a coupling (32) coupling base ends (31R) of the arms (31) and an operating portion (33) coupling tips (31F) of the arms (31). The lever (30) is supported rotatably on a housing (10) with rotary shafts (34) formed on the coupling (32) serving as a fulcrum. Two sliders (40) are mounted in the housing (10) while being fit to drive shafts (38) of the lever (30) and slide in conjunction with the rotation of the lever (30). The sliders (40) are formed with cam grooves (43) configured so that cam followers (53) of a mating housing (51) slide in contact with the cam grooves (43) as the sliders (40) are slid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Kazuo Nakai
  • Patent number: 9948025
    Abstract: A connector (F) includes an inner housing (11). Terminal fittings (72) are fixed to front end parts of wires (71) and are inserted into the inner housing (11) from behind. An outer housing (37) is held out of contact with the terminal fittings (72) and is mounted relatively displaceably with respect to the inner housing (11). Vibration damping rings (64) are fit externally on the wires (71) in a state out of contact with the inner housing (11), and are held resiliently in contact with the outer housing (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Youjirou Hashimoto, Kazuo Nakai
  • Patent number: 9929506
    Abstract: A connector (F) includes an inner housing (11) configured to accommodate terminal fittings (72). An outer housing (37) is separate from the inner housing (11) and is configured to surround the inner housing (11). A lock arm (17) is formed on an outer surface of the inner housing (11) and is configured to lock the inner housing (11) and a mating housing (80) in a connected state by being locked to the mating housing (80). Protecting portions (45, 46) are formed on the outer housing (37) and are arranged near a lock releasing portion (22) of the lock arm (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Youjirou Hashimoto, Kazuo Nakai
  • Publication number: 20180083386
    Abstract: A lever-type connector (A) includes a connector body (10). A lever (30) has a base end (32) rotatably supported on the connector body (10) and a rotating portion (34) for rotational operation is formed on a tip (33) of the lever (30). A finger contact surface (59) is disposed on an outer surface (58) of the rotating portion (34) and is configured to receive contact of a finger during a rotational operation. A resilient lock (51) is formed on the connector body (10) and is configured to lock the lever (30) in a rotation restricted state. Unlocking portions (53) are formed on the resilient lock (51) and are configured to press the resilient lock (51) in a direction separating from the lever (30). The unlocking portions (30) are exposed on the outer surface (58) of the lever (30) with the resilient lock (51) and the lever (30) locked together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Kazuo Nakai
  • Patent number: 9923298
    Abstract: A connector (F) includes an inner housing (11). Terminal fittings (72) fixed to front end parts of wires (71) are inserted into the inner housing (11) from behind. An outer housing (37) is mounted relatively displaceably with respect to the inner housing (11) and is held out of contact with the terminal fittings (72). Two resilient positioning members (55) are configured to position the inner housing (11) and the outer housing (37) and spaced apart in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Youjirou Hashimoto, Kazuo Nakai
  • Patent number: 9893462
    Abstract: A connector (F) includes a housing (10), terminal fittings (72) fixed to front end parts of wires (71) and inserted into the housing (10) from behind and a slack holding portion (43) formed on the housing (10) and configured to hold the wires (71) drawn out backward from the housing (10) in a slackened state. If the wire (71) vibrates behind the housing (10), the wire (71) held in the slackened state by the slack holding portion (43) is resiliently deformed to change a curvature thereof near the housing (10). Vibration energy of the wire (71) is attenuated by the wire (71) itself being resiliently deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Youjirou Hashimoto, Kazuo Nakai
  • Patent number: 9865964
    Abstract: A connector (F) includes a housing (10), and terminal accommodating chambers (13) are formed in the housing (10). Terminal fittings (72) are fixed individually fixed to front end parts of the wires (71) and are inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers (13) from behind. Rubber plugs (61) are fit externally on the front end parts of the wires (71) and are configured to seal clearances between outer peripheries of the wires (71) and inner peripheries of the terminal accommodating chambers (13). Vibration damping rings (64) are formed on rear end parts of the rubber plugs (61). Vibration damping rings adjacent to each other are held resiliently held in contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Youjirou Hashimoto, Kazuo Nakai
  • Patent number: 9793647
    Abstract: A moving plate (30) includes two resilient locking pieces (34) and can be resiliently curved and deformed to incline a projecting direction of the resilient locking pieces (34). With the moving plate (30) held at an initial position by retaining projections (21), locks (55) of a female housing (50) are displaced from positions where the locks (55) are locked to the resilient locking pieces (34) to positions where the locks (55) are not locked to the resilient locking pieces (34) by resiliently deforming the resilient locking pieces (34). The retaining projections (21) are spaced apart in the same direction as a separating direction of the resilient locking pieces (34) and are at positions different from the resilient locking pieces (34) in the separating direction of the resilient locking pieces (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Kazuo Nakai
  • Patent number: 9755363
    Abstract: A male housing of a connector assembly has moving plate (30) with a pair of resilient locking pieces (34) that can be curved resiliently and deformed to incline a projecting direction of the resilient locking pieces (34). A female housing (50) causes the moving plate (30) to interfere with initial position holding projections (18) and pulls the moving plate (30) back to an initial position by locking with locking portions (55) to the resilient locking pieces (34). The initial position holding projections (18) are paired and spaced apart in the same direction as a separating direction of the resilient locking pieces (34) and are arranged at positions different from the resilient locking pieces (34) in the separating direction of the resilient locking pieces (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Kazuo Nakai
  • Publication number: 20170222356
    Abstract: A connector (F) includes an inner housing (11). Terminal fittings (72) are fixed to front end parts of wires (71) and are inserted into the inner housing (11) from behind. An outer housing (37) is held out of contact with the terminal fittings (72) and is mounted relatively displaceably with respect to the inner housing (11). Vibration damping rings (64) are fit externally on the wires (71) in a state out of contact with the inner housing (11), and are held resiliently in contact with the outer housing (37).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Youjirou Hashimoto, Kazuo Nakai
  • Publication number: 20170222354
    Abstract: A connector (F) includes an inner housing (11). Terminal fittings (72) fixed to front end parts of wires (71) are inserted into the inner housing (11) from behind. An outer housing (37) is mounted relatively displaceably with respect to the inner housing (11) and is held out of contact with the terminal fittings (72). Two resilient positioning members (55) are configured to position the inner housing (11) and the outer housing (37) and spaced apart in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Youjirou Hashimoto, Kazuo Nakai
  • Publication number: 20170222357
    Abstract: A connector (F) includes a housing (10), and terminal accommodating chambers (13) are formed in the housing (10). Terminal fittings (72) are fixed individually fixed to front end parts of the wires (71) and are inserted into the respective terminal accommodating chambers (13) from behind. Rubber plugs (61) are fit externally on the front end parts of the wires (71) and are configured to seal clearances between outer peripheries of the wires (71) and inner peripheries of the terminal accommodating chambers (13). Vibration damping rings (64) are formed on rear end parts of the rubber plugs (61). Vibration damping rings adjacent to each other are held resiliently held in contact with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Youjirou Hashimoto, Kazuo Nakai
  • Publication number: 20170222358
    Abstract: A connector (F) includes a housing (10), terminal fittings (72) fixed to front end parts of wires (71) and inserted into the housing (10) from behind and a slack holding portion (43) formed on the housing (10) and configured to hold the wires (71) drawn out backward from the housing (10) in a slackened state. If the wire (71) vibrates behind the housing (10), the wire (71) held in the slackened state by the slack holding portion (43) is resiliently deformed to change a curvature thereof near the housing (10). Vibration energy of the wire (71) is attenuated by the wire (71) itself being resiliently deformed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Youjirou Hashimoto, Kazuo Nakai