Patents by Inventor Masanori Hirota

Masanori Hirota 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: 11811167
    Abstract: A first housing is formed with an escaping groove into which a cam pin is insertable. A lever to be assembled with the first housing is provided with a locking protrusion capable of holding the lever in a rotation restricted state by locking an edge part of the escaping groove. A second housing is provided with a first pressing portion for deforming the lever in a direction separating from the first housing by coming into contact with the lever, and a second pressing portion for releasing the rotation restricted state of the lever by coming into contact with the locking protrusion. The first pressing portion first comes into contact with the lever, and the second pressing portion is set to come into contact with the locking protrusion with the lever deformed in the direction separating from the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Publication number: 20220320797
    Abstract: A first housing is formed with an escaping groove into which a cam pin is insertable. A lever to be assembled with the first housing is provided with a locking protrusion capable of holding the lever in a rotation restricted state by locking an edge part of the escaping groove. A second housing is provided with a first pressing portion for deforming the lever in a direction separating from the first housing by coming into contact with the lever, and a second pressing portion for releasing the rotation restricted state of the lever by coming into contact with the locking protrusion. The first pressing portion first comes into contact with the lever, and the second pressing portion is set to come into contact with the locking protrusion with the lever deformed in the direction separating from the first housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventor: Masanori HIROTA
  • Patent number: 11342699
    Abstract: A terminal fitting 10 is provided with a body portion 11 having a tubular shape and extending in a front-rear direction. The body portion 11 includes an outer wall portion 17 arranged from one end toward another end in a width direction. The outer wall portion 17 includes a bent portion 43 curved on one end side in the width direction and having a curved outer side surface facing forward, a stabilizer 29 having a bent shape and projecting outward on another end side in the width direction, and cutout portions 37, 38 open in a front end of the outer wall portion 17 on both widthwise sides of the bent portion 43.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Publication number: 20210175652
    Abstract: A terminal fitting 10 is provided with a body portion 11 having a tubular shape and extending in a front-rear direction. The body portion 11 includes an outer wall portion 17 arranged from one end toward another end in a width direction. The outer wall portion 17 includes a bent portion 43 curved on one end side in the width direction and having a curved outer side surface facing forward, a stabilizer 29 having a bent shape and projecting outward on another end side in the width direction, and cutout portions 37, 38 open in a front end of the outer wall portion 17 on both widthwise sides of the bent portion 43.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: Masanori HIROTA
  • Patent number: 10707617
    Abstract: A moving plate (13) is inserted into a receptacle (11) of a connector body (12) and movable between a partial locking position and a connection position and includes partial locking portions (91) and resilient locking pieces (46). The partial locking portions (91) restrict movement of the moving plate (13) to the connection position. The resilient locking pieces (46) lock to receiving portions (75) of a mating connector (60) and allow movement from the connection position to the partial locking position by being kept locked to the receiving portions (75) while separating the mating connector from the receptacle (11). The connector body (12) has restricting surfaces (28) to restrict deflection of the resilient locking pieces (46) until a riding amount of the partial locking portions (91) on second interfering portions (36) is a maximum when the moving plate (13) returns from the connection position to the partial locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Patent number: 10511115
    Abstract: A connector with retainer includes a housing (20) configured such that terminal fittings (10) are inserted thereinto from behind, and a front retainer (40) to be mounted into the housing (20) from front. The housing (20) includes locking lances (31) capable of locking the terminal fittings (10) inserted to a proper position. The locking lances (31) are cantilevered forward. The front retainer (40) includes ribs (45) configured to enter spaces (S2) lateral to the locking lances (31). The ribs (45) are disposed in a height range of locking portions (32) of the locking lances (31) to be locked to the terminal fittings (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Publication number: 20190372269
    Abstract: A moving plate (13) is inserted into a receptacle (11) of a connector body (12) and movable between a partial locking position and a connection position and includes partial locking portions (91) and resilient locking pieces (46). The partial locking portions (91) restrict movement of the moving plate (13) to the connection position. The resilient locking pieces (46) lock to receiving portions (75) of a mating connector (60) and allow movement from the connection position to the partial locking position by being kept locked to the receiving portions (75) while separating the mating connector from the receptacle (11). The connector body (12) has restricting surfaces (28) to restrict deflection of the resilient locking pieces (46) until a riding amount of the partial locking portions (91) on second interfering portions (36) is a maximum when the moving plate (13) returns from the connection position to the partial locking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Patent number: 10468821
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing (10) connectable to a mating housing (90), a detector (40) arranged movably from a standby position to a detection position with respect to the housing (10). A movement from the standby position to the detection position is restricted by locking portions (47) locking stoppers (33) of the housing (10). A lever (60) arranged displaceably from an initial position to a connection position with respect to the housing (10), the both housings (10, 90) is connected toward the connection position by the lever. The lever (60) includes releasing portions (66) for releasing a locked state by pressing the locking portions (47) when the lever is displaced to the connection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Patent number: 10355397
    Abstract: A rubber plug (10) includes a mat-like rubber plug body (12) with sealing holes (11) for receiving a wire with terminal (95) in a liquid-tight manner. Rounded corner parts (13) protruding out on the rubber plug body (12). Outer peripheral lips (18) are provided circumferentially on an outer periphery of the rubber plug body (12) and inner peripheral lips (19) are provided circumferentially on inner peripheries of the sealing holes (11). Lightening portions (21) are provided for the outer peripheral lips (18) in base end parts of the outer peripheral lips (18) and parts facing the inner peripheral lips (19) of the sealing holes (11) near the corner parts (13) of the rubber plug body (12). The lightening portions (21) are recessed more inward than regions (22) adjacent in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Patent number: 10348023
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing (20) and a front retainer (40) to be mounted into the housing (20) from the front. The housing (20) includes locking lances (31) for locking terminal fittings (10) inserted to proper positions. The locking lance (31) is pressed by the terminal fitting (10) and retracted into a deflection space (S1) when the terminal fitting (10) is inserted, and resiliently returns and locks the terminal fitting (10) when the terminal fitting (10) is inserted properly. The front retainer (40) includes deflection restricting portions (42) for restricting deformation of the locking lances (31) by entering the deflection spaces (S1), and includes ribs (45) that can contact and guide a tip of a tab (11) if the tab (11) is inclined during insertion of the terminal fitting (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Patent number: 10340621
    Abstract: A housing (10) includes a housing body (11) and a receptacle (12) projecting forward from the housing body (11). The housing body (11) includes first cavities (13) into which first male terminals (70) are inserted, and second cavities (14) into which second male terminals (80) are inserted. Each second male terminal (80) includes a second tab (82) longer than a first tab (72) of each first male terminal (70). Recesses (23) are provided on a front surface (17) of the housing body (11) around openings of the second cavities (14) and are recessed farther rearward than areas around openings of the first cavities (13). A moving plate (40) is movable from an initial position to a connection position in the receptacle (12). The moving plate (40) has interpolar partitioning portions (52) configured to partition between the adjacent second tabs (82) by entering the recesses (23) at the connection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Hirota, Yuji Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20190067869
    Abstract: A rubber plug (10) includes a mat-like rubber plug body (12) with sealing holes (11) for receiving a wire with terminal (95) in a liquid-tight manner. Rounded corner parts (13) protruding out on the rubber plug body (12). Outer peripheral lips (18) are provided circumferentially on an outer periphery of the rubber plug body (12) and inner peripheral lips (19) are provided circumferentially on inner peripheries of the sealing holes (11). Lightening portions (21) are provided for the outer peripheral lips (18) in base end parts of the outer peripheral lips (18) and parts facing the inner peripheral lips (19) of the sealing holes (11) near the corner parts (13) of the rubber plug body (12). The lightening portions (21) are recessed more inward than regions (22) adjacent in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Patent number: 10205269
    Abstract: A waterproof connector includes tabs (22) extending forward from terminal bodies (21) of male terminal fittings (20) with their centers higher than centers (21C) of the terminal bodies (21) in a height direction. A housing (10) has terminal accommodation chambers (12) for accommodating the terminal bodies (21) and connecting portions (23). A one-piece rubber plug (40) is in a rear part of the housing (10) and has seal holes (41). A rear holder (60) is behind the rubber plug (40) and has through holes (61) communicating with the seal holes (41). Inner peripheral lips (43F, 43R) on an inner periphery of each seal hole (41) closely contact an outer periphery of a wire (30) in a liquid-tight manner with the terminal body (21) and a front part (30F) of the wire (30) accommodated in the terminal accommodation chamber (12). The axes of through holes (61are lower than the axes of terminal accommodation chambers (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Patent number: 10148037
    Abstract: A connector includes a lever (50) to connect a male housing (20) and a female housing (10) by rotating from an initial position to a connection position. The male housing (20) includes a receptacle (22) and a moving plate (30) movable in a connecting direction of the housings (10, 20). The lever (50) includes plates (51) extending along an outer surface of the male housing (20). The moving plate (30) includes a wall (33) extending along an inner surface of the receptacle (22). The plate (51) of the lever (50) includes an initial lock (54) to limit rotation of the lever (50) toward the connection position by being locked to the receptacle (22). The wall (33) includes unlocking portions (38) to push the initial locking portions (54) in an unlocking direction by contacting the female housing (10). The unlocking portion (38) is separated from surroundings by long narrow slits (39).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Publication number: 20180331454
    Abstract: A connector with retainer includes a housing (20) configured such that terminal fittings (10) are inserted thereinto from behind, and a front retainer (40) to be mounted into the housing (20) from front. The housing (20) includes locking lances (31) capable of locking the terminal fittings (10) inserted to a proper position. The locking lances (31) are cantilevered forward. The front retainer (40) includes ribs (45) configured to enter spaces (S2) lateral to the locking lances (31). The ribs (45) are disposed in a height range of locking portions (32) of the locking lances (31) to be locked to the terminal fittings (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Publication number: 20180309223
    Abstract: A housing (10) includes a housing body (11) and a receptacle (12) projecting forward from the housing body (11). The housing body (11) includes first cavities (13) into which first male terminals (70) are inserted, and second cavities (14) into which second male terminals (80) are inserted. Each second male terminal (80) includes a second tab (82) longer than a first tab (72) of each first male terminal (70). Recesses (23) are provided on a front surface (17) of the housing body (11) around openings of the second cavities (14) and are recessed farther rearward than areas around openings of the first cavities (13). A moving plate (40) is movable from an initial position to a connection position in the receptacle (12). The moving plate (40) has interpolar partitioning portions (52) configured to partition between the adjacent second tabs (82) by entering the recesses (23) at the connection position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Masanori Hirota, Yuji Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20180301850
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing (10) connectable to a mating housing (90), a detector (40) arranged movably from a standby position to a detection position with respect to the housing (10). A movement from the standby position to the detection position is restricted by locking portions (47) locking stoppers (33) of the housing (10). A lever (60) arranged displaceably from an initial position to a connection position with respect to the housing (10), the both housings (10, 90) is connected toward the connection position by the lever. The lever (60) includes releasing portions (66) for releasing a locked state by pressing the locking portions (47) when the lever is displaced to the connection position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Publication number: 20180248310
    Abstract: A connector includes a lever (50) to connect a male housing (20) and a female housing (10) by rotating from an initial position to a connection position. The male housing (20) includes a receptacle (22) and a moving plate (30) movable in a connecting direction of the housings (10, 20). The lever (50) includes plates (51) extending along an outer surface of the male housing (20). The moving plate (30) includes a wall (33) extending along an inner surface of the receptacle (22). The plate (51) of the lever (50) includes an initial lock (54) to limit rotation of the lever (50) toward the connection position by being locked to the receptacle (22). The wall (33) includes unlocking portions (38) to push the initial locking portions (54) in an unlocking direction by contacting the female housing (10). The unlocking portion (38) is separated from surroundings by long narrow slits (39).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Publication number: 20180248294
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing (20) and a front retainer (40) to be mounted into the housing (20) from the front. The housing (20) includes locking lances (31) for locking terminal fittings (10) inserted to proper positions. The locking lance (31) is pressed by the terminal fitting (10) and retracted into a deflection space (S1) when the terminal fitting (10) is inserted, and resiliently returns and locks the terminal fitting (10) when the terminal fitting (10) is inserted properly. The front retainer (40) includes deflection restricting portions (42) for restricting deformation of the locking lances (31) by entering the deflection spaces (S1), and includes ribs (45) that can contact and guide a tip of a tab (11) if the tab (11) is inclined during insertion of the terminal fitting (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota
  • Publication number: 20180248302
    Abstract: A waterproof connector includes tabs (22) extending forward from terminal bodies (21) of male terminal fittings (20) and are higher than centers (21C) of the terminal bodies (21) in a height direction. A housing (10) has terminal accommodation chambers (12) for accommodating the terminal bodies (21) and connecting portions (23). A one-piece rubber plug (40) is in a rear part of the housing (10) and has seal holes (41). A rear holder (60) is behind the rubber plug (40) and has through holes (61) communicating with the seal holes (41). Inner peripheral lips (43F, 43R) on an inner periphery of each seal hole (41) closely contact an outer periphery of a wire (30) in a liquid-tight manner with the terminal body (21) and a front part (30F) of the wire (30) accommodated in the terminal accommodation chamber (12). The through holes (61) are lower than the terminal accommodation chambers (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventor: Masanori Hirota