Patents by Inventor Seiji Kozono

Seiji Kozono 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: 20240022015
    Abstract: A connector lock device includes: a charging connector that supplies power to a battery; an inlet to which the charging connector is fitted; and a locking member that is driven forward and backward by an actuator provided in a housing of the charging connector, and of which a tip portion is retracted into the housing at a retracted position and protrudes out of the housing at an advanced position to be locked to a locked portion of the inlet and prevent the charging connector from being separated from the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Takenori Ohmura, Yoshitaka Tsushima, Seiji Kozono
  • Publication number: 20240006800
    Abstract: A connector fitting structure includes: a first connector including: a first housing that accommodates a first connection terminal; and a guide groove provided in the first housing; a second connector including: a second housing that accommodates a second connection terminal; a guide protrusion portion inserted into the guide groove; and a connector cover pivotable between a closed position that covers an opening to an accommodation space for the second connection terminal and an open position that does not cover the opening. The first connector and the second connector are fitted and electrically connected to each other. The guide protrusion portion is provided on the connector cover, accommodated in the second housing when the connector cover is in the closed position, and exposed outside the second housing and extended along a fitting direction of the first connector and the second connector when the connector cover is in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Takenori Ohmura, Yoshitaka Tsushima, Seiji Kozono, Masaya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11721926
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing configured to accommodate a connection terminal, a shutter that is rotatably provided in the housing and is configured to open and close a front opening of the housing, a rotation lever that is rotatably supported to the housing about a rotation axis, and an interlocking rotation mechanism provided between the rotation lever and the shutter and configured to rotate the shutter in accordance with rotation of the rotation lever. A pressing force of the mating connector, whose fitting tip end portion is moved to a position facing the front opening, acts on a lever front end portion of the rotation lever so as to rotate the rotation lever, and thus the shutter is rotated by the interlocking rotation mechanism so as to open the front opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Kozono, Yoshitaka Tsushima, Masaya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11715903
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing configured to accommodate a connection terminal, a shutter that is rotatably provided in the housing and is configured to open and close a front opening of the housing, a rotation arm that is rotatably supported to the housing about a rotation axis and has an arm portion and a connection engagement portion, and a connection member that is provided so as to be rotatable together with the shutter and includes a first lever portion that is pressed and rotated by a tip end of the connection engagement portion. A pressing force of the mating connector acts on the arm portion so as to rotate the rotation arm, and thus the shutter is rotated together with the connection member rotated by the connection engagement portion so as to open the front opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Kozono, Yoshitaka Tsushima, Masaya Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20230010734
    Abstract: There is a connector including: a first connector; and a second connector that has a cover configured to cover a front surface opening of a housing and a biasing member that biases the cover to a position where a cover portion covers the front surface opening. An opening edge of the front surface opening includes an inclined plane that intersects with a connector fitting direction and that is parallel to a rotation axis of the cover, the inclined plane intersecting at an obtuse angle with a straight line that extends from an opening edge end portion of the front surface opening and that orthogonal to the rotation axis. The connector is designed to rotate the cover to a position where the cover portion does not cover the front surface opening in response to a protruding portion of the first connector pressing a pressed portion of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji KOZONO, Yoshitaka TSUSHIMA, Masaya OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20230009521
    Abstract: There is provided a connector including: a first connector; and a second connector. The second connector includes: a cover having a cover portion that covers a front surface opening of a first housing, a rotation shaft that rotatably supports the cover portion between a position where the cover portion covers the front surface opening and a position where the cover portion does not cover the front surface opening, and an abutted portion with which a protruding portion of the first housing abuts; and a slide mechanism that slides the rotation shaft toward the first connector in response to pressing the first housing to a second housing. After the rotation shaft is slid toward the first connector with the slide mechanism, the protruding portion presses the abutted portion such that the cover portion is rotated to the position where the cover portion does not cover the front surface opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji KOZONO, Yoshitaka TSUSHIMA, Masaya OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20230006395
    Abstract: There is provided a connector fining structure including: a first connector; and a second connector. The first connector includes a guide groove provided in a first housing. The guide groove includes: a first groove portion extending along a connector fitting direction; a second groove portion formed to gradually increase in width from a side of the first groove portion toward a side of the second connector; and a connection portion that connects the first groove portion and the second groove portion. The second connector includes a projection portion provided on a second housing and inserted into the guide groove. The projection portion has a recessed portion formed on a front end side of the projection portion and on at least one side surface of the projection portion that faces groove side surfaces of the guide groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji KOZONO, Yoshitaka TSUSHIMA, Masaya OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220320782
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing configured to accommodate a connection terminal, a shutter that is rotatably provided in the housing and is configured to open and close a front opening of the housing, a rotation arm that is rotatably supported to the housing about a rotation axis and has an arm portion and a connection engagement portion, and a connection member that is provided so as to be rotatable together with the shutter and includes a first lever portion that is pressed and rotated by a tip end of the connection engagement portion. A pressing force of the mating connector acts on the arm portion so as to rotate the rotation arm, and thus the shutter is rotated together with the connection member rotated by the connection engagement portion so as to open the front opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Seiji Kozono, Yoshitaka Tsushima, Masaya Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20220320783
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing configured to accommodate a connection terminal, a slide shutter configured to open and close a front opening of the housing to which a mating connector is to be fitted, a first shutter inclined surface provided on the slide shutter, and a housing inclined surface provided on the housing so as to face the first shutter inclined surface and configured to slide the slide shutter in a direction intersecting a connector fitting direction to open the front opening in accordance with a pressing force applied in the connector fitting direction by the mating connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Seiji Kozono, Yoshitaka Tsushima, Tomoki Matsukawa
  • Publication number: 20220320781
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing configured to accommodate a connection terminal, a shutter that is rotatably provided in the housing and is configured to open and close a front opening of the housing, a rotation lever that is rotatably supported to the housing about a rotation axis, and an interlocking rotation mechanism provided between the rotation lever and the shutter and configured to rotate the shutter in accordance with rotation of the rotation lever. A pressing force of the mating connector, whose fitting tip end portion is moved to a position facing the front opening, acts on a lever front end portion of the rotation lever so as to rotate the rotation lever, and thus the shutter is rotated by the interlocking rotation mechanism so as to open the front opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Seiji Kozono, Yoshitaka Tsushima, Masaya Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20220302642
    Abstract: There is provided a connector configured by a first connector and a second connector which are fitted and electrically connected to each other. The first connector includes: a first housing; and a projecting portion that projects backward from an end portion of the first housing and extends in a fitting direction. The second connector includes: a terminal; a cap that covers a front surface of the terminal; and a second housing including a guide groove that guides the projecting portion and supporting a rotating shaft. The guide groove extends along the fining direction front an opening portion on a side of the first connector with respect to the rotating shaft toward an opposite side to the first connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Kozono, Yoshitaka Tsushima, Masaya Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20220278474
    Abstract: There is provided a connector including: a housing that houses a connection terminal; an outer case that houses and holds the housing; a movable case that includes first cam grooves formed penetratingly in side walls of the movable case, and that is movably disposed inside the outer case in a connector fitting direction; a shutter including a shutter front wall that covers a front opening of the housing, and shutter bosses projecting to outer surfaces of shutter side walls and engaging with the first cam grooves; and a spring that elastically urges the movable case toward a side of the mating connector. The first cam grooves engage with the shutter bosses, such that the shutter is rotated in an opening and closing direction around the shutter bosses in conjunction with the movable case moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Kozono, Yoshitaka Tsushima, Masaya Okamoto, Tomoki Matsukawa
  • Publication number: 20220278478
    Abstract: There is provided a connector configured by a first connector and a second connector which are fitted and electrically connected to each other. The first connector includes a projecting portion extending toward the second connector. The second connector includes: a terminal; and a cap configured to cover a front surface of the terminal and having a folding mechanism. A cover portion of the cap includes: a first cover portion provided with a rotating shaft; a second cover portion adjacent to the first cover portion and provided with a rail pin; and a connection portion that rotatably connects the first cover portion and the second cover portion to each other. The rail pin is configured to move along a rail in response to the contact portion being pressed and/or released by the projecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Kozono, Yoshitaka Tsushima, Masaya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9531103
    Abstract: A charging connector includes: a source-side terminal connected to a source side; an inner housing for receiving the source-side terminal; an intermediate terminal having a power source connection electrically connectable to and electrically disconnectable from the source-side terminal and an inlet connection electrically connectable to and electrically disconnectable from an inlet-side terminal connected to a side of a vehicle inlet; and a cassette housing that receives the intermediate terminal, is assembled to the inner housing, and is mateable with the vehicle inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomomi Fujita, Seiji Kozono
  • Publication number: 20160197430
    Abstract: A charging connector includes: a source-side terminal connected to a source side; an inner housing for receiving the source-side terminal; an intermediate terminal having a power source connection electrically connectable to and electrically disconnectable from the source-side terminal and an inlet connection electrically connectable to and electrically disconnectable from an inlet-side terminal connected to a side of a vehicle inlet; and a cassette housing that receives the intermediate terminal, is assembled to the inner housing, and is mateable with the vehicle inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Tomomi FUJITA, Seiji KOZONO
  • Patent number: 7607945
    Abstract: A connector includes: a connector housing; a housing main body receiving terminal fittings; and a front holder to be attached to the housing main body. When the front holder is attached to the housing main body, and the housing main body receives the terminal fittings, a gap is formed between an outer wall of the housing main body and an inner wall of the front holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Kozono, Takashi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7572135
    Abstract: A connector includes a female connector housing, that has a male terminal, and a male connector housing that has a female terminal for electrical connecting to the male terminal, and that is adapted to be fitted into the female connector. The male connector housing includes an inner housing which has the female terminal, and which is adapted to be fitted in the female connector housing so that the female terminal is connected to the male terminal, and an outer housing which is adapted to support the inner housing so that the inner housing is movable in a first direction in which the inner housing is fitted in the female connector housing and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. When the inner housing is fitted into the female connector housing, the inner housing is disposed so as to separate from the outer housing in the second direction with a first gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Kozono, Takashi Matsunaga, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Masato Minakata, Atsushi Nishida
  • Patent number: 7481674
    Abstract: The invention provides a connector having a pair of first and second connector housings for preventing looseness between the connector housings in lateral and longitudinal directions of the connector, surely eliminating frictional wear of male and female terminals in the connector housings. The connector can reliably resist to an external vibration force. A male connector housing 13 is resiliently urged by a waterproof packing 32 toward a female connector housing 36. The male connector housing 13 has an inner housing 25 formed with a plurality of looseness prohibiting projections 30. The looseness prohibiting projection 30 has a tapered surface 30a. An inner surface of a peripheral wall 39 of the female connector housing 36 is formed with a tapered surface 41 engaged with the tapered surface 30a on complete mating of the connector housings 13, 36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Murakami, Seiji Kozono
  • Publication number: 20080207030
    Abstract: A connector includes: a connector housing; a housing main body receiving terminal fittings; and a front holder to be attached to the housing main body. When the front holder is attached to the housing main body, and the housing main body receives the terminal fittings, a gap is formed between an outer wall of the housing main body and an inner wall of the front holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Kozono, Takashi Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20070184708
    Abstract: The invention provides a connector having a pair of first and second connector housings for preventing looseness between the connector housings in lateral and longitudinal directions of the connector, surely eliminating frictional wear of male and female terminals in the connector housings. The connector can reliably resist to an external vibration force. A male connector housing 13 is resiliently urged by a waterproof packing 32 toward a female connector housing 36. The male connector housing 13 has an inner housing 25 formed with a plurality of looseness prohibiting projections 30. The looseness prohibiting projection 30 has a tapered surface 30a. An inner surface of a peripheral wall 39 of the female connector housing 36 is formed with a tapered surface 41 engaged with the tapered surface 30a on complete mating of the connector housings 13, 36.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2004
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takao Murakami, Seiji Kozono