Patents by Inventor Shinshu Kato

Shinshu Kato 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: 20060027390
    Abstract: To suppress a temperature-rise in and to improve the quality of a bus bar when a desired width for the bus bar is not ensured, a bus bar is formed by stamping from a conductive metal plate of a predetermined thickness. The bus bar is configured to be included in an electric junction box for installation in an automobile. The bus bar includes a main bus bar formed by stamping from a conductive metal plate according to a circuit pattern and an auxiliary bus bar that is laminated and firmly fixed at a location on the main bus bar where the main bus bar cannot be stamped with a desired width. The auxiliary bus bar is fixed to the main bus bar, for example, by welding, to form an integrated combination. At the welded portion of the integrated combination, the width of the main bus bar or the width of the auxiliary bus bar is no greater than other portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Suzuki, Shinshu Kato, Hiroyuki Nakata, Ingyu Paku
  • Patent number: 6846183
    Abstract: A junction box comprises small size standard boxes. The small size standard box includes a main casing that contains many longitudinal bus bars disposed in parallel with one another at a given interval in distance therein, and male and female coupling portions provided on the outer opposite side surfaces of the main casing. Plural small size standard boxes are juxtaposed together in accordance with different kinds of automobile vehicles by interconnecting the male and female coupling portions successively. A lower casing member is attached to the main casing. The size of the lower casing member depends on the number of the standard boxes to be coupled for a special purpose. The lower casing member is provided with an attachment portion for a vehicle body projecting from the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinshu Kato, Katsuya Ito, Kouichi Shirouzu
  • Publication number: 20040121623
    Abstract: A junction box comprises small size standard boxes. The small size standard box includes a main casing that contains many longitudinal bus bars disposed in parallel with one another at a given interval in distance therein, and male and female coupling portions provided on the outer opposite side surfaces of the main casing. Plural small size standard boxes are juxtaposed together in accordance with different kinds of automobile vehicles by interconnecting the male and female coupling portions successively. A lower casing member is attached to the main casing. The size of the lower casing member depends on the number of the standard boxes to be coupled for a special purpose. The lower casing member is provided with an attachment portion for a vehicle body projecting from the member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinshu Kato, Katsuya Ito, Kouichi Shirouzu
  • Patent number: 6650087
    Abstract: An electrical connection box is provided for a vehicle which has a low-voltage battery of maximum output voltage selected from 14V and 28V, and a high-voltage battery of output voltage higher than that of said first battery structure. The electrical connection box has an insulation plate and, fixed on one face of said insulation plate, first bus bars connected in use to the first battery and second bus bars connected in use to the second battery so that the first and second bus bars are at different potentials. In order to reduce a risk of electrical leakage paths on the insulation plate, at least one of the following features is present: (i) the first bus bars and the second bus bars are separated on the face of the insulation plate by an air insulation zone of width in the range of from about 1 mm to about 30 mm, (ii) an insulation wall stands up on the insulation plate between the first bus bars and the second bus bars, (iii) the second bus bars are embedded in the insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eriko Yuasa, Shuji Yamakawa, Shinshu Kato
  • Patent number: 6629850
    Abstract: An electrical connection box for a vehicle has a low-voltage bus bar and a high voltage bus bar, received in groove structures of a first insulation plate. Each groove structure is defined by a base wall surface on which the bus bar is disposed and a pair of opposed upstanding side wall surfaces. The first insulation plate has a downward recess or through-hole between the groove structures. A second insulation plate superimposed on the first plate has a downward projection received in the recess or through-hole and extending to a lower end which is below the base wall surfaces of the groove structures. The structure inhibits leak currents between the bus bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinshu Kato, Eriko Yuasa
  • Patent number: 6603283
    Abstract: An electrical connection box is provided for a vehicle which has a low-voltage battery of maximum output voltage selected from a range of from about 14V to about 28V, and a high-voltage battery of output voltage higher than that of the first battery structure. The electrical connection box has an insulation material of plate-like shape and, embedded in the insulation material, first bus bars connected in use to the first battery and second bus bars connected in use to the second battery so that the first and second bus bars are at different potentials. Connection tabs of the bus bars project out of the insulation material. Risk of leakage currents between the bus bars is thus minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eriko Yuasa, Shinshu Kato
  • Patent number: 6478585
    Abstract: An electrical connection box for use in a vehicle has bus bars in a casing with upstanding connection tabs which are alongside and spaced from each other. Insulation resin embeds the tabs while leaving exposed projecting portions. A connector attached to the casing has a housing containing terminals respectively engaged with the projecting portions of the tabs. The resin material provides a recess located between the tabs and the housing of said connector has a partition wall of insulating material which lies between the terminals and extends into the recess, to prevent leak current between the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eriko Yuasa, Shinshu Kato
  • Publication number: 20020072257
    Abstract: An electrical connection box for a vehicle has a low-voltage bus bar and a high voltage bus bar, received in groove structures of a first insulation plate. Each groove structure is defined by a base wall surface on which the bus bar is disposed and a pair of opposed upstanding side wall surfaces. The first insulation plate has a downward recess or through-hole between the groove structures. A second insulation plate superimposed on the first plate has a downward projection received in the recess or through-hole and extending to a lower end which is below the base wall surfaces of the groove structures. The structure inhibits leak currents between the bus bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinshu Kato, Eriko Yuasa
  • Publication number: 20020028591
    Abstract: An electrical connection box for use in a vehicle has bus bars in a casing with upstanding connection tabs which are alongside and spaced from each other. Insulation resin embeds the tabs while leaving exposed projecting portions. A connector attached to the casing has a housing containing terminals respectively engaged with the projecting portions of the tabs. The resin material provides a recess located between the tabs and the housing of said connector has a partition wall of insulating material which lies between the terminals and extends into the recess, to prevent leak current between the terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Eriko Yuasa, Shinshu Kato
  • Publication number: 20020002961
    Abstract: An electrical connection box is provided for a vehicle which has a low-voltage battery of maximum output voltage selected from a range of from about 14V to about 28V, and a high-voltage battery of output voltage higher than that of the first battery structure. The electrical connection box has an insulation material of plate-like shape and, embedded in the insulation material, first bus bars connected in use to the first battery and second bus bars connected in use to the second battery so that the first and second bus bars are at different potentials. Connection tabs of the bus bars project out of the insulation material. Risk of leakage currents between the bus bars is thus minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eriko Yuasa, Shinshu Kato
  • Publication number: 20020003377
    Abstract: An electrical connection box is provided for a vehicle which has a low-voltage battery of maximum output voltage selected from 14V and 28V, and a high-voltage battery of output voltage higher than that of said first battery structure. The electrical connection box has an insulation plate and, fixed on one face of said insulation plate, first bus bars connected in use to the first battery and second bus bars connected in use to the second battery so that the first and second bus bars are at different potentials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eriko Yuasa, Shuji Yamakawa, Shinshu Kato
  • Patent number: 6204451
    Abstract: A bus bar is installed on a relay box accommodating relays. An exposed core wire at one end of an input line and an exposed core wire at one end of a bypassing line are crimped to a crimping portion of a first connection terminal. An exposed core wire at one end of an output line and an exposed core wire at the other end of the bypassing line are crimped to a crimping portion of a second connection terminal. The first and second connection terminals are connected with the bus bar by means of a respective screws tightened into the bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinshu Kato, Shigeru Akoshima, Yasuhiro Kasahara
  • Patent number: 6166327
    Abstract: A wire box including a main box having an outer surface with a water outlet therein. A wall is provided around the periphery of the outlet and projects outwardly from the surface in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto. There is a closure on the end of the wall furthest from the main box. There is at least one opening in the wall which communicates between the outlet and the exterior of the box. It is more desirable if there is a protective rib adjacent the opening and spaced apart therefrom a distant sufficient to allow water to run out of the opening. The form of the closure may be widely varied so that there is no direct path into and out of the main box for water to follow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukitaka Saito, Shinshu Kato
  • Patent number: 6043431
    Abstract: A positioning cylinder to close positioning holes in both the upper and lower casings of a branching junction box so as to prevent dirt and moisture from entering. The positioning cylinder is preferably integral with the upper casing and hollow so as to allow it to fit over a positioning pin employed as a locator during the assembly of the junction box. The positioning cylinder not only closes the holes that are in the upper and lower casing of the junction box, but also stabilizes the busbar substrates that are in the junction box and provides for a more integral and secure junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinshu Kato
  • Patent number: 5913689
    Abstract: The male connector used in an electrical junction box employs a guide rib which is disposed perpendicular to the long side of an enclosing rib which encircles the male tab opening. The guide rib, positioned on both long sides of the enclosing rib, guides the tab into the male tab opening in order to prevent damage which occurs when there is misalignment of the tab with the male tab opening. In order to further assist in the realignment of the tab with the male tab opening, the surfaces of the enclosing rib and the guiding rib are sloped towards the male tab opening to allow the tab to be guided into the male tab opening during assembly of the junction box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinshu Kato
  • Patent number: 5624280
    Abstract: A branch joint box includes upper and lower casings of an identical shape which form a casing assembly by overturning one of the upper and lower casings. First connector portions and second connector portions are arranged in a plurality of rows and having first terminal holes and second terminal holes, respectively. Bus bars each have a coupling portion accommodated in the casing assembly and first and second terminal portions extend from opposite sides of the coupling portion, respectively, and project out of the first and second terminal holes, respectively. The upper and lower casings have first and second locking portions engageable with each other and are disposed at one side of the first and second connector portions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinshu Kato
  • Patent number: 5295858
    Abstract: A connecting box for forming branch circuit comprises two rectangular casing members in the same configuration and a plurality of conductive members. Each casing member comprises a partitioning, a plurality of connector-connecting openings disposed on one side thereof with respect to the partitioning wall, a conductive member-accommodating portion disposed on the other side and a plurality of connection portion-inserting openings formed on the partitioning wall. The two casing members are connected with each other with one of the casing members to constitute a case having the conductive member-accommodating portion in the center portion thereof and the connector-connecting openings on the front and back sides. The conductive members are disposed in the conductive member-accommodating portion so as to project a connecting portion of each conductive member into each of the connector-connecting openings formed on the front and back sides of the case through each connection portion-inserting opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Kasai, Yuuji Saka, Shinshu Kato