Patents by Inventor Masaaki Tabata

Masaaki Tabata 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).

  • ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE
    Publication number: 20180358747
    Abstract: An electrical connection device includes a first connector (10) to be connected to first wiring materials (W1) in a first member (M1) and fixed to the first member (M1), and a second connector (20) to be connected to second wiring materials (W2) in a second member (M2) and mounted on the second member (M2). A connector holding member (30) is linked to the second member (M2) and is configured to hold the second connector (20) releasably. A connecting operating member (40) is held in the first connector (10) or the second connector (20). The connecting operating member (40) connects the first and second connectors (10, 20) in a connecting direction and separates the second connector (20) from the connector holding member (30) by being operated in an operating direction intersecting the connecting direction in a state where the first and second connectors (10, 20) face each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Tetsuya Miyamura, Masaaki Tabata, Yasuo Omori
  • POWER DISTRIBUTION DEVICE
    Publication number: 20180337463
    Abstract: It is aimed to realize miniaturization. A power distribution device (Da) is for supplying power to a plurality of loads (L) and includes an input-side conductive path (10) to be connected to a battery (B) (power supply), a plurality of terminal holders (13) each including an input-side terminal fitting (20) connectable to the input-side conductive path (10), and a plurality of output-side conductive paths (37) configured to connect the input-side terminal fittings (20) and the loads (L). Since the number of the terminal holders (13) to be connected to the input-side conductive path (10) is a minimum necessary number corresponding to the number of the loads (L), miniaturization is possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Washio, Yasuo Omori, Masaaki Tabata
  • TERMINAL UNIT
    Publication number: 20180254579
    Abstract: A terminal unit includes inner conductors (35) fixed to front ends of wires (38). A dielectric (10) has a holding member (11) and a cover (27) united in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the wires (38) and accommodates the inner conductors (35). Guide recesses (17) are formed on the holding member (11) and extend in a front-rear direction. Guide ribs (33) are formed on the cover (27) and can slide in contact with the guide recesses (17) to allow relative displacement of the holding member (11) and the cover (27) in the front-rear direction while keeping the holding member (11) and the cover (27) united. Guides (19) bring the holding member (11) and the cover (27) closer together in a uniting direction while displacing the cover (27) from a temporary assembled position to a proper assembled position in the front-rear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Tetsuya Miyamura, Masaaki Tabata, Hajime Matsui, Takuma Hibino
  • Connector
    Patent number: 10033129
    Abstract: It is aimed to make connectors accommodating wires conductive to each other without using terminals. Connectors each including wires (2) formed with core exposed portions (2B) by removing parts of coatings (2A) and a connector housing (1) for accommodating the wires (2) while exposing the core exposed portions (2B) in an opening (4) are stacked with the openings (4) facing each other. An operation hole (5) is formed on a side opposite to the opening (4) in the both connector housings (1). Electrodes (9) of a welding machine are inserted through the both operation holes (5) and the core exposed portions (2B) corresponding in a stacking direction are welded to each other. In this way, the wires (2) can be directly connected between the both connectors without using terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMIOTOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Matsui, Masaaki Tabata, Yasuo Omori
  • Connector
    Patent number: 9997867
    Abstract: It is aimed to enable a short circuit in a retainer insertion hole to be avoided. Short-circuit preventing walls (18) configured to partition between cavities (11) adjacent in an arrangement direction are provided in a retainer insertion hole (15). A retainer (13) is provided with a plurality of frame-like portions (20) along the arrangement direction of the respective cavities (11). Each frame-like portion (20) is formed to be able to communicate with the corresponding cavity (11). Escaping grooves (32) are formed along a mounting direction of the retainer (13) between the frame-like portions (20) adjacent in the arrangement direction. Escaping grooves (32) are open on front end parts in the mounting direction of the retainer (13) such that the retainer (13) is mountable into the retainer insertion hole (15) while avoiding interference with the short circuit preventing walls (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Moriyasu, Masaaki Tabata, Hajime Matsui
  • Ground terminal fitting
    Patent number: 9979100
    Abstract: It is aimed to provide a ground terminal fitting suitably connectable to each of various wires. A ground terminal fitting includes a bolt fastening portion (10) to be bolted to a ground part and a wire connecting portion (20) to be connected to an end part of a wire (30). The bolt fastening portion (10) and the wire connecting portion (20) are coupled after being separately formed. According to this configuration, since the wire connecting portion (20) can be formed of an optimal material into an optimal shape, the wire connecting portion can be suitably connected to each of various wires (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Omori, Kohei Takagi, Masaaki Tabata
  • Connector with sub-housing and uniting portion
    Patent number: 9972921
    Abstract: It is aimed to provide a connector capable of dealing with a change in the number of poles without structurally changing a mating connector. Housings (11) for accommodating terminal fittings (12) electrically connectable to tab-like terminals (52) include a main housing (11M) having a locking structure (21) for locking a mating connector (52) and a plurality of types of sub-housings (11S) having different number of poles and selectively unitable with the main housing (11M). The main housing (11M) and the sub-housing (11S) are united by coupling side surfaces to each other. A tab insertion groove (25) into which the tab-like terminal (52) is to be inserted at the time of connection to the mating connector is formed in a coupling part of the united housings (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Matsui, Masaaki Tabata, Yasuo Omori
  • Method for assembling wire harness, interference suppressing member, and wire harness assembly structure
    Patent number: 9950680
    Abstract: A wire harness assembling method includes a step (a) of attaching an interference suppressing member to at least a part of an elongated reinforcement, the reinforcement being arranged on a back side of an instrument panel of a vehicle and extending in a width direction of the vehicle; and a step (b) of arranging a wire harness so that the wire harness faces the reinforcement with the interference suppressing member interposed between the wire harness and the reinforcement, the step (b) being performed after the step (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hosei Mizuno, Hiroki Hirai, Masaaki Tabata
  • Terminal fitting
    Patent number: 9954292
    Abstract: A terminal fitting (T) connects a plurality of wires (40) by a plurality of terminal fittings being connected to end parts of the wires (40) and held in contact, and includes a wire connecting portion (10) to be connected to the end part of the wire (40), a tubular portion (11) having a tubular shape and a shaft (12) fittable inside the tubular portion (11). The terminal fittings are held in contact by fitting the tubular portion (12) and the shaft (12) together. The tubular portion (11) or the shaft (12) is provided with an arcuate portion configured to enable the rotation of each of the tubular portion and the shaft-shaped portion about an axis in a state where the tubular portion and the shaft-shaped portion are fit together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Matsui, Masaaki Tabata, Yasuo Omori
  • Card edge connector and method for manufacturing same
    Patent number: 9893441
    Abstract: It is aimed to prevent a reduction of contact reliability. A card edge connector (A) includes a first housing (10) formed with a board accommodation space (16) open forward, terminal fittings (17) provided in the first housing (10) and formed with resilient contact portions (18) projecting toward the board accommodation space (16), a second housing (20) including a circuit board (23) to be inserted into the board accommodation space (16) from front of the first housing (10), and guide slopes (36) made of synthetic resin, provided to cover a leading edge of the circuit board (23) in an inserting direction into the board accommodation space (16) and inclined with respect to the inserting direction into the board accommodation space (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Moriyasu, Masaaki Tabata, Tetsuya Shinozaki
  • Stabilizer
    Patent number: 9873304
    Abstract: A stabilizer includes a stabilizer bar, left and right cylinders, a parallel pipe, a cross pipe, a parallel on-off valve, and a valve controller. The parallel on-off valve maintains communication between a left side first fluid room of the left cylinder and a right side first fluid room of the right cylinder and maintains communication between a left side second fluid room of the left cylinder and a right side second fluid room of the right cylinder by opening itself. The parallel on-off valve cuts off the communication by closing itself. The valve controller switches an opening/closing state of the parallel on-off valve based on a running state of a vehicle or an operation state of the vehicle by a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Tabata, Takanobu Fukuoka
  • METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING WIRE HARNESS, INTERFERENCE SUPPRESSING MEMBER, AND WIRE HARNESS ASSEMBLY STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20170313266
    Abstract: A wire harness assembling method includes a step (a) of attaching an interference suppressing member to at least a part of an elongated reinforcement, the reinforcement being arranged on a back side of an instrument panel of a vehicle and extending in a width direction of the vehicle; and a step (b) of arranging a wire harness so that the wire harness faces the reinforcement with the interference suppressing member interposed between the wire harness and the reinforcement, the step (b) being performed after the step (a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Hosei MIZUNO, Hiroki HIRAI, Masaaki TABATA
  • GROUND TERMINAL FITTING
    Publication number: 20170310022
    Abstract: It is aimed to provide a ground terminal fitting suitably connectable to each of various wires. A ground terminal fitting includes a bolt fastening portion (10) to be bolted to a ground part and a wire connecting portion (20) to be connected to an end part of a wire (30). The bolt fastening portion (10) and the wire connecting portion (20) are coupled after being separately formed. According to this configuration, since the wire connecting portion (20) can be formed of an optimal material into an optimal shape, the wire connecting portion can be suitably connected to each of various wires (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Yasuo Omori, Kohei Takagi, Masaaki Tabata
  • TERMINAL FITTING
    Publication number: 20170310026
    Abstract: A terminal fitting (T) connects a plurality of wires (40) by a plurality of terminal fittings being connected to end parts of the wires (40) and held in contact, and includes a wire connecting portion (10) to be connected to the end part of the wire (40), a tubular portion (11) having a tubular shape and a shaft (12) fittable inside the tubular portion (11). The terminal fittings are held in contact by fitting the tubular portion (12) and the shaft (12) together. The tubular portion (11) or the shaft (12) is provided with an arcuate portion configured to enable the rotation of each of the tubular portion and the shaft-shaped portion about an axis in a state where the tubular portion and the shaft-shaped portion are fit together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicants: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Matsui, Masaaki Tabata, Yasuo Omori
  • Ground terminal fitting
    Patent number: 9793627
    Abstract: A ground terminal fitting includes a bolt fastening portion (11) to be bolted to a ground part (40) and a wire connecting portion (12) to be connected to an end part of a wire (30). The bolt fastening portion (11) and a bottom plate portion (18) of the wire connecting portion (12) are arranged flush with each other. A protrusion (21) projecting toward the ground part (40) is provided on a part of the bolt fastening portion (11) around a bolt insertion hole (14) through which a bolt (41) is to be inserted. Since a linking portion (13) lining the bolt fastening portion (11) and the wire connecting portion (12) needs not be formed into a bent shape according to this configuration, a stress concentration on the linking portion (13) can be alleviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Omori, Kohei Takagi, Masaaki Tabata
  • CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20170294722
    Abstract: It is aimed to provide a connector capable of dealing with a change in the number of poles without structurally changing a mating connector. Housings (11) for accommodating terminal fittings (12) electrically connectable to tab-like terminals (52) include a main housing (11M) having a locking structure (21) for locking a mating connector (52) and a plurality of types of sub-housings (11S) having different number of poles and selectively unitable with the main housing (11M). The main housing (11M) and the sub-housing (11S) are united by coupling side surfaces to each other. A tab insertion groove (25) into which the tab-like terminal (52) is to be inserted at the time of connection to the mating connector is formed in a coupling part of the united housings (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Hajime Matsui, Masaaki Tabata, Yasuo Omori
  • CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20170288334
    Abstract: It is aimed to enable a short circuit in a retainer insertion hole to be avoided. Short-circuit preventing walls (18) configured to partition between cavities (11) adjacent in an arrangement direction are provided in a retainer insertion hole (15). A retainer (13) is provided with a plurality of frame-like portions (20) along the arrangement direction of the respective cavities (11). Each frame-like portion (20) is formed to be able to communicate with the corresponding cavity (11). Escaping grooves (32) are formed along a mounting direction of the retainer (13) between the frame-like portions (20) adjacent in the arrangement direction. Escaping grooves (32) are open on front end parts in the mounting direction of the retainer (13) such that the retainer (13) is mountable into the retainer insertion hole (15) while avoiding interference with the short circuit preventing walls (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Masanori Moriyasu, Masaaki Tabata, Hajime Matsui
  • Terminal fitting
    Patent number: 9774109
    Abstract: A grounding terminal unit (A) is sandwiched between a seating surface (S) of a bolt (B) and a grounding part (E) with first connecting plates (13) of a first grounding terminal fitting (10) and second connecting plates (43) of a second grounding terminal fitting (40) placed one over the other in a plate thickness direction. The first grounding terminal fitting (10) is configured by uniting two divided fittings (20, 30) including tabs (19) connectable to first conductive paths (Wa) and the two divided fittings (20, 30) are formed with uniting locking portions (25, 33) for holding the two divided fittings (20, 30) in a united state by being locked to each other at a position different from the first connecting plates (13). The first connecting plates (13) are in the form of single plates with the two divided fittings (20, 30) united.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Tabata, Yasuo Oomori, Hajime Matsui, Hideaki Itou, Kenta Ito
  • CARD EDGE CONNECTOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME
    Publication number: 20170244183
    Abstract: It is aimed to prevent a reduction of contact reliability. A card edge connector (A) includes a first housing (10) formed with a board accommodation space (16) open forward, terminal fittings (17) provided in the first housing (10) and formed with resilient contact portions (18) projecting toward the board accommodation space (16), a second housing (20) including a circuit board (23) to be inserted into the board accommodation space (16) from front of the first housing (10), and guide slopes (36) made of synthetic resin, provided to cover a leading edge of the circuit board (23) in an inserting direction into the board accommodation space (16) and inclined with respect to the inserting direction into the board accommodation space (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Masanori Moriyasu, Masaaki Tabata, Tetsuya Shinozaki
  • CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20170237196
    Abstract: Connectors each include wires (2) formed with core exposed portions (2B) by removing parts of coatings (2A) and a connector housing (1) for accommodating the wires (2) while exposing the core exposed portions (2B) in an opening (4). The connectors are stacked with the openings (4) facing each other. An operation hole (5) is formed on a side opposite to the opening (4) in each of the connector housings (1). Electrodes (9) of a welding machine are inserted through both operation holes (5) and the core exposed portions (2B) corresponding in a stacking direction are welded to each other. In this way, the wires (2) can be connected directly between the both connectors without using terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Hajime Matsui, Masaaki Tabata, Yasuo Omori