Patents by Inventor Kazuya Terao

Kazuya Terao 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: 11031732
    Abstract: A lever-type connector includes a housing and a lever. The lever is pivotally mounted on the housing, and is pivotally operable between a temporary locking position and a fitting completion position. The lever includes a pair of side plates and an operating portion. A lock portion is provided on the housing, and locks the lever positioned at the fitting completion position. The housing is configured to be fitted to a mating housing by rotating the lever from a fitting start position to the fitting completion position. The housing has a pair of walls that are provided at both sides of the lock portion. Arm protection walls are provided on upper edges of the pair of walls respectively with extending inward so as to cover both sides of the flexible arm portion of the lock portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Shogo Suzuki, Hidenori Kanda, Masayuki Saito, Takuya Hasegawa, Kazuya Terao
  • Patent number: 10109954
    Abstract: A lever-type connector includes a housing configured to be inserted and removed from a mating housing of a mating connector and a lever. The lever is pivotally operable between a temporary locking position and a fitting completion position of the lever. The lever includes a pair of side plates and an operating portion. A lock portion is provided on the housing. Lever disengagement prevention portions are provided on both sides of the housing so as to cover at least respective parts of the side plates of the lever positioned at the fitting completion position from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Shogo Suzuki, Hidenori Kanda, Masayuki Saito, Takuya Hasegawa, Kazuya Terao
  • Patent number: 10103484
    Abstract: A lever-type connector includes a housing configured to be inserted into a mating housing of a mating connector, and a lever that is pivotally operable between a temporary locking position and a fitting completion position. The lever includes a pair of side plates and an operating portion. The housing has a lever-protection wall, protruding outward beyond a pivotal outer peripheral end of the lever disposed at the temporary locking position, the lever-protection wall being provided at an end portion of the housing in a direction opposite to a rotational direction in which the lever rotates from the temporary locking position toward the fitting completion position. The lever disposed at the temporary locking position is arranged so that the operating portion of the lever overlaps the lever-protection wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Shogo Suzuki, Hidenori Kanda, Masayuki Saito, Takuya Hasegawa, Kazuya Terao
  • Publication number: 20180069346
    Abstract: A lever-type connector includes a housing configured to be inserted and removed from a mating housing of a mating connector and a lever. The lever is pivotally operable between a temporary locking position and a fitting completion position of the lever. The lever includes a pair of side plates and an operating portion. A lock portion is provided on the housing. Lever disengagement prevention portions are provided on both sides of the housing so as to cover at least respective parts of the side plates of the lever positioned at the fitting completion position from outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko SHIMIZU, Shogo SUZUKI, Hidenori KANDA, Masayuki SAITO, Takuya HASEGAWA, Kazuya TERAO
  • Publication number: 20180069345
    Abstract: A lever-type connector includes a housing configured to be inserted into a mating housing of a mating connector, and a lever that is pivotally operable between a temporary locking position and a fitting completion position. The lever includes a pair of side plates and an operating portion. The housing has a lever-protection wall, protruding outward beyond a pivotal outer peripheral end of the lever disposed at the temporary locking position, the lever-protection wall being provided at an end portion of the housing in a direction opposite to a rotational direction in which the lever rotates from the temporary locking position toward the fitting completion position. The lever disposed at the temporary locking position is arranged so that the operating portion of the lever overlaps the lever-protection wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko SHIMIZU, Shogo SUZUKI, Hidenori KANDA, Masayuki SAITO, Takuya HASEGAWA, Kazuya TERAO
  • Publication number: 20180069347
    Abstract: A lever-type connector includes a housing and a lever. The lever is pivotally mounted on the housing, and is pivotally operable between a temporary locking position and a fitting completion position. The lever includes a pair of side plates and an operating portion. A lock portion is provided on the housing, and locks the lever positioned at the fitting completion position. The housing is configured to be fitted to a mating housing by rotating the lever from a fitting start position to the fitting completion position. The housing has a pair of walls that are provided at both sides of the lock portion. Arm protection walls are provided on upper edges of the pair of walls respectively with extending inward so as to cover both sides of the flexible arm portion of the lock portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko SHIMIZU, Shogo SUZUKI, Hidenori KANDA, Masayuki SAITO, Takuya HASEGAWA, Kazuya TERAO
  • Patent number: 9391404
    Abstract: A lever-operative connector which can be downsized includes a frame and a lever rotatably coupled to the frame. The frame has a circumferential wall having one opening and the other opening at both ends. The frame has a notch formed in the circumferential wall and communicating with the one opening. When the lever is rotated toward the one opening side, a part of a lever side wall is exposed from an interior of the circumferential wall so as to compensate the notch of the circumferential wall, thereby forming, together with the frame, a hood having the housing-receiving width. When the lever is rotated toward the other opening side, the part of the lever side wall is received inside the circumferential wall so as to open the notch of the circumferential wall, thereby eliminating the housing-receiving width and the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Masao Nagano
  • Patent number: 9312638
    Abstract: A lever connector includes a first connector, a second connector and a lever. The lever includes a locking portion provided to be bendable inward and outward with respect to a rotation direction of the lever. The first connector is provided with a locked portion to be locked with the locking portion. The rotation of the lever causes the locking portion to be bent outward with respect to the rotation direction of the lever, and then causes the locking portion to be bent inward with respect to the rotation direction of the lever such that the locked portion is locked with the locking portion. The locking portion is provided with an abutment portion that abuts on an edge part of an attachment hole of a panel when the first connector and the second connector are attached to the attachment hole in the middle of the rotation of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao
  • Patent number: 9178306
    Abstract: A lever-type connector includes a first connector, a second connector, and a lever that rotates to fit the first connector and the second connector together, the first connector and the second connector being mounted into a mounting hole of a panel when the first and second connectors are in a fitted state. The lever includes a flexible locking portion. The first connector includes a locked portion with which the locking portion is engaged in a manner such that the lever rotates to bend the locking portion when the first and second connectors are properly fitted together. The locking portion includes a regulating portion positioned to face an edge portion of the mounting hole of the panel when the first connector and the second connector properly fitted together are mounted in the mounting hole so as to prevent the engagement between the locking portion and the locked portion from being released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao
  • Patent number: 9153908
    Abstract: A lever-type connector (1) comprises: a first connector (11); a second connector (21); and a lever (31) configured to be turned to fit the connectors (11, 21) each other. The first connector (11) has a lock portion (14) designed to be flexurally deformed toward its inner surface side and inserted into the attachment hole (42) when the connectors are attached to the attachment hole (52). The lever (31) includes an arm portion (32) located on the inner surface side of the first connector (11) while the lever (31) is being turned. The arm portion (32) includes: a deformation blocking part (36) configured to block the flexural deformation when the deformation blocking part (36) is located on the inner surface side of the lock portion (14); and a deformation allowing part (37) configured to allow the flexural deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao
  • Patent number: 9071017
    Abstract: A lever connector includes a female connector, a male connector and a lever. The female connector includes a frame having a flange portion protruding toward a straight direction perpendicular to a direction in which the female connector and the male connector are to be fitted with each other. The flange portion includes a locking portion with flexibility. The lever includes a locked portion locked with the locking portion in a normal fitted state. The locking portion does not abut on a hole edge of an attachment hole formed on a panel in a state where the locked portion is locked with the locking portion, and abuts on the hole edge of the attachment hole in a state where the locked portion is not locked with the locking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao
  • Patent number: 9065211
    Abstract: This lever-type connector (1) having: a first connector (11); a second connector (21); and a lever (31) that fits the connectors (11, 21) together by being rotated. The first connector (11) has an engagement lock part (14) that is inserted through an attachment hole (52) by being bent and deformed toward the inner surface side at the time of attaching the first connector to the attachment hole (52). The lever (31) has an arm part (32) that is located on the inner surface side of the first connector (11) during the rotation of the lever (31). The arm part (32) has: a deformation permitting part (37) that permits the bending deformation thereof when the lever (31) is at a rotation position where the connectors (11, 21) are in a half-fitted state; and a deformation preventing part (36) that prevents the bending deformation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao
  • Patent number: 9048578
    Abstract: A boss drawing-in groove of a lever includes: a lever inversion groove portion configured to cause the lever drawing-in boss to rotate the lever in an opposite direction opposite to a fitting rotation direction, in response to an insertion of a male connector into a hood with the lever being positioned at an initial rotation position; a drawing-in groove portion configured to guide the lever drawing-in boss by a rotating operation of the lever in the fitting rotation direction and cause the male connector to be fitted into a female connector; and a lever inertial rotation portion configured to rotate in the fitting rotation direction due to an inertial force of the lever after rotation of the lever in the opposite direction and cause the lever drawing-in boss to move to the drawing-in groove portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao
  • Patent number: 9033720
    Abstract: Lever-falling prevention walls configured to prevent a pair of arm plates of a lever from falling to an inner side are provided on a collar-like plate portion of a hood to protrude in a same direction as a pair of support wall portions protrudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao
  • Patent number: 9033719
    Abstract: A fitting guide portion is provided between a male connector housing and a hood, and guides a male connector in a normal fitting direction with respect to a female connector in response to a load in a direction inclined with respect to the female connector and applied to the male connector by a rotating operation of a lever. The fitting guide portion includes a guide rib provided in one of inner walls of the male connector and the hood and a rib guide groove provided in the other of the inner walls and for the guide rib to be inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao
  • Patent number: 9028266
    Abstract: A connector device is provided in which a fitting force acts on a female connector and a male connector by operating a lever from a fitting start operation position to a fitting end operation position. The connector device includes a semi-fitting detection portion and a pressing portion. The semi-fitting detection portion is located at a non-projecting position below a peripheral surface of a frame of the female connector and is shifted to a projecting position to project from the peripheral surface of the frame by a pressing force. The pressing portion is provided in the male connector, presses and shifts the semi-fitting detection portion to the projecting position when located at a fitting halfway position before a fitting end position, and stops pressing the semi-fitting detection portion when located at the fitting end position so as to shift the semi-fitting detection portion to the non-projecting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao
  • Publication number: 20140235081
    Abstract: This lever-type connector (1) comprises: a first connector (11); a second connector (21); and a lever (31) that fits the connectors (11, 21) together by being rotated. The first connector (11) has an engagement lock part (14) that is inserted through an attachment hole (52) by being bent and deformed toward the inner surface side at the time of attaching the first connector to the attachment hole (52). The lever (31) has an arm part (32) that is located on the inner surface side of the first connector (11) during the rotation of the lever (31). The arm part (32) has: a deformation permitting part (37) that permits the bending deformation thereof when the lever (31) is at a rotation position where the connectors (11, 21) are in a half-fitted state; and a deformation preventing part (36) that prevents the bending deformation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao
  • Publication number: 20140148031
    Abstract: A lever-type connector includes a first connector, a second connector, and a lever that rotates to fit the first connector and the second connector together, the first connector and the second connector being mounted into a mounting hole of a panel when the first and second connectors are in a fitted state. The lever includes a flexible locking portion. The first connector includes a locked portion with which the locking portion is engaged in a manner such that the lever rotates to bend the locking portion when the first and second connectors are properly fitted together. The locking portion includes a regulating portion positioned to face an edge portion of the mounting hole of the panel when the first connector and the second connector properly fitted together are mounted in the mounting hole so as to prevent the engagement between the locking portion and the locked portion from being released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao
  • Publication number: 20140148025
    Abstract: Lever-falling prevention walls configured to prevent a pair of arm plates of a lever from falling to an inner side are provided on a collar-like plate portion of a hood to protrude in a same direction as a pair of support wall portions protrudes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao
  • Publication number: 20140127921
    Abstract: A fitting guide portion is provided between a male connector housing and a hood, and guides a male connector in a normal fitting direction with respect to a female connector in response to a load in a direction inclined with respect to the female connector and applied to the male connector by a rotating operation of a lever. The fitting guide portion includes a guide rib provided in one of inner walls of the male connector and the hood and a rib guide groove provided in the other of the inner walls and for the guide rib to be inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiko Shimizu, Akinori Tashiro, Akihiro Tsuruta, Kazuya Terao