Patents by Inventor Toshifumi Ichio

Toshifumi Ichio 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: 10944217
    Abstract: It is aimed to improve durability by reducing a stress generated in a resilient contact piece. A terminal fitting (50) includes a box portion (60) in the form of a rectangular tube and a pair of resilient contact pieces (86, 87) accommodated in the box portion (60) and capable of contacting a tab (95) of a mating terminal inserted into the box portion (69) while resiliently sandwiching the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Patent number: 10931056
    Abstract: A connector has parts that can be used in common as much as possible in different specifications to reduce cost and to facilitate parts management. In a first specification having a high shielding function, a terminal fitting (20) connected to a shielded electric wire (15) is accommodated in a dielectric (23). The dielectric (23) is surrounded by an outer conductor (40) that is connected to a braided wire (18). The second specification requires no shielding function, and thus the outer conductor (40) is not used. Rather, a sub-housing (70) having the same shape and size as the outer conductor (40) of the first specification is used. The sub-housing (70) is configured to accommodate and retain the terminal fitting (20) and is locked in a same retained state as in the first specification when accommodated in a common housing (10) used in both specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventors: Hajime Matsui, Yasuo Omori, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio, Kimiyasu Okumura, Masaaki Tabata, Ryutaro Yamazaki, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Motoya Hara
  • Patent number: 10916874
    Abstract: When a terminal unit (U) is mounted into an accommodation recess (8 of a connector housing (1), a rear part thereof projects from the connector housing (1). A displacement restricting member (2) including positioning portions (16) is mounted on the projecting part. Since the positioning portions (16) are fit into receiving portions (15) of the connector housing (1) while being position in a direction intersecting with an inserting direction, a situation where the projecting part of the terminal holding member (H) is deformed is avoided even if a second wire (25) is swung.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Patent number: 10916876
    Abstract: A terminal unit (30) includes inner conductors (31) having tabs (33) projecting from body portions (32) and a dielectric (40) configured to hold the inner conductors (31) while accommodating the bodies (32), and is mountable into a selected one of a first housing (10) and a second housing (20). The terminal unit (30) inserted into the first housing (10) is retained by a front retainer (17) restricting the resilient deflection of a first locking lance (14) and a first locking portion (47) being locked to the first locking lance (14). The terminal unit (30) inserted into the second housing (20) is retained by the locking of the first locking portion (47) and a second locking lance (22) and the locking of second locking portions (51) of the dielectric (40) and a side retainer (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Patent number: 10833456
    Abstract: A shield terminal (T) includes inner conductors (52) to be connected to front parts of cores (62) of a shielded cable (60), a dielectric (46) configured to accommodate the inner conductors (52), a tubular member (12) forming part of an outer conductor (10) and configured to surround and hold the dielectric (46). Two divided shells (18, 35) have a half-divided shape, are separate from the tubular member (12), and form part of the outer conductor (10). The divided shells (18,35) are to be connected to a front part of a shield layer (65) of the shielded cable (60). A first cover (19) and a second cover (36) are formed on a lower member (18) and an upper member (35) and surround the cores (62) over an entire periphery between a rear end of the tubular member (12) and a front end of the shield layer (65).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Patent number: 10833444
    Abstract: A terminal unit (30) has inner conductors in a dielectric (36) and is mounted in a first or second housing (10, 20). The first housing (10) includes a first locking lance (14), a front retainer (17) and a first accommodation chamber (13). The second housing (20) includes a second locking lance (22), a second accommodation chamber (21) and a side retainer (25). First and second locks (45, 54) are formed on a surface of the dielectric (36). The terminal unit (30) inserted into the first accommodation chamber (13) is retained by the front retainer (17) restricting deflection of the first locking lance (14) and the first lock (45) locking the first locking lance (14). The terminal unit (30) inserted into the second accommodation chamber (21) is retained by locking the first lock (45) with the second locking lance (22) and locking the second lock (54) with the side retainer (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Patent number: 10819071
    Abstract: A connector is capable of replacing an STP cable (10B) and a UTP cable (10A) without a large structural change. UTP connection terminals (21A) are accommodated in accommodating portions (26) of a UTP dielectric (22A) that are close to each other in a width direction. Thus, elastic contact pieces (32) thereof are located inside and close to each other in the width direction, while receiving portions (31) are located outside and spaced from each other in the width direction. STP connection terminals (21B) are accommodated in accommodating portions (26) of an STP dielectric (22B) that are spaced more apart in the width direction than those of the UTP dielectric (22A). Thus, elastic contact pieces (32) thereof are located outside and are spaced from each other in the width direction, while receiving portions (31) thereof are located inside so as to be close to each other in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio, Kimiyasu Okumura, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Motoya Hara, Ryutaro Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10797420
    Abstract: When a terminal unit (U) is mounted into an accommodation recess (8 of a connector housing (1), a rear part thereof projects from the connector housing (1). A displacement restricting member (2) including positioning portions (16) is mounted on the projecting part. Since the positioning portions (16) are fit into receiving portions (15) of the connector housing (1) while being position in a direction intersecting with an inserting direction, a situation where the projecting part of the terminal holding member (H) is deformed is avoided even if a second wire (25) is swung.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Patent number: 10770822
    Abstract: It is aimed to improve assembling workability and the reliability of a shielding function. A shield terminal includes inner conductors (52) to be connected to front end parts of cores (62) of a shielded cable (60), a dielectric (46) configured to accommodate the inner conductors (52), a tubular member (12) constituting an outer conductor (10) and configured to surround and hold the dielectric (46), a lower member (18) separate from the tubular member (12), constituting the outer conductor (10) and including a crimping portion (32) connectable to a shield layer (65) of the shielded cable (60), a first hooking portion (22) formed on a front end part of the lower member (18) and lockable to a rear end edge part of the tubular member (12), and a first guide means (28) configured to guide the lower member (18) to a proper assembly position while allowing the lower member (18) to swing with the first hooking portion (22) as a fulcrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Patent number: 10763600
    Abstract: The connector structure selectively uses either a UTP connector or an STP connector. The UTP connector includes UTP connection terminals connected to respective electric wires of a UTP cable and a UTP dielectric having a pair of housing portions in which the UTP connection terminals are housed. The STB connector includes STP connection terminals connected to respective electric wires of an STP cable and an STP dielectric having a pair of housing portions in which the STP connection terminals are housed. In the UTP dielectric, at least a partition wall for partitioning the pair of housing portions is made of a material having a relatively high dielectric constant. In the STP dielectric, at least a partition wall for partitioning the pair of housing portions is made of a material having a relatively low dielectric constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio, Kimiyasu Okumura, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Motoya Hara, Ryutaro Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10741957
    Abstract: A terminal module M1 is to be accommodated into an outer housing 30, and includes male terminals 20 to be connected to ends of signal wires 11, a first terminal holding member 61 including accommodation recesses 78 for accommodating the terminals 20 inserted in a direction intersecting an extending direction of the terminals 20 with tip parts 21 of the terminals 20 projecting, and a second terminal holding member 65 to be assembled with the first terminal holding member 61. The second terminal holding member 65 is relatively movable toward ends of the signal wires 11 from a terminal tip protection position where the second terminal holding member 65 covers tip parts 21 of the terminals 20 projecting from the first terminal holding member 61.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Hara, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Patent number: 10741977
    Abstract: A shield terminal (T) includes inner conductors (52) connected to cores (62) of a shielded cable (60) and a dielectric (46) accommodates the inner conductors (52). A body (11) of an outer conductor (10) includes a tubular holding portion (14) that surrounds the dielectric (46) and a crimping portion (32) connected to a front of a shield layer (65) of the shielded cable (60). An upper member (35) of the outer conductor (10) is separate from the body (11) and with the body (11) surrounds the cores (62) over an entire periphery. A second hook (39) on a front part of the upper member (35) is lockable to a rear edge of the holding portion (14). A second guide means (29) guides the upper member (35) to a proper position while allowing the upper member (35) to swing with the second hook (39) as a fulcrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Patent number: 10741976
    Abstract: A shield connector includes a male shield terminal (20) mounted in a male housing (10), male inner conductors (37) constituting the male shield terminal (20) and to be connected to female inner conductors (78) by connecting both housings (10, 70), a male outer conductor (21) surrounding the male inner conductors (37) via a male dielectric (31) and configured to contact a female outer conductor (76) by connecting the both housings (10, 70), a tube (25) formed in the male outer conductor (21) and surrounding the female outer conductor (76) with the housings (10, 70) connected, and resilient contact pieces (26) formed in the male outer conductor (21) and to be resiliently connected to an outer periphery of the female outer conductor (76). The tube (25) is continuous over an entire periphery, thereby restricting an expanding deformation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Publication number: 20200235531
    Abstract: A shield connector includes a male shield terminal (20) mounted in a male housing (10), male inner conductors (37) constituting the male shield terminal (20) and to be connected to female inner conductors (78) by connecting both housings (10, 70), a male outer conductor (21) surrounding the male inner conductors (37) via a male dielectric (31) and configured to contact a female outer conductor (76) by connecting the both housings (10, 70), a tube (25) formed in the male outer conductor (21) and surrounding the female outer conductor (76) with the housings (10, 70) connected, and resilient contact pieces (26) formed in the male outer conductor (21) and to be resiliently connected to an outer periphery of the female outer conductor (76). The tube (25) is continuous over an entire periphery, thereby restricting an expanding deformation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Publication number: 20200227863
    Abstract: It is aimed to improve durability by reducing a stress generated in a resilient contact piece. A terminal fitting (50) includes a box portion (60) in the form of a rectangular tube and a pair of resilient contact pieces (86, 87) accommodated in the box portion (60) and capable of contacting a tab (95) of a mating terminal inserted into the box portion (69) while resiliently sandwiching the tab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Patent number: 10714868
    Abstract: It is aimed to suppress a projecting amount from a printed board. A male connector (M) is mounted on a printed board (P). A male connector housing (30) is formed with an inner receptacle (31) formed into a tubular shape open in one direction and fittable in a sealed state into a space between a terminal accommodating portion (4) and an outer tube portion (6) in a female connector (F) and an outer receptacle (33) formed into a tubular shape open in the same direction as the inner receptacle (31) while surrounding the inner receptacle (31), the outer tube portion (6) of the female connector (F) is fittable between the inner receptacle (31) and the outer receptacle (33), and the outer receptacle (33) is mountable on the printed board (P).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetwoeks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Patent number: 10714872
    Abstract: A connector structure enables replacement of an STP cable (10B) and a UTP cable (10A) without a large structural change. UTP connection terminals (21A) connected to respective wires (11) of the UTP cable (10A) are accommodated in accommodating portions (26) of a UTP dielectric (22A) such that insertion areas (53) for male terminals (91) are close to each other in a width direction. STP connection terminals (21B) connected to respective wires (11) of the STP cable (10B) are accommodated in accommodating portions (26) of an STP dielectric (22B) such that insertion areas (53) for male terminals (91) are farther apart in the width direction than in the case of the UTP connection terminals (21A). The UTP connection terminals and the STP connection terminals that are accommodated in the accommodating portions (26) have protrusions (34) that are oriented in the same direction when.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Publication number: 20200194937
    Abstract: An inner conductor terminal for a shield connector includes a terminal connecting portion to be connected to a counterpart terminal. A base plate is provided continuously with the terminal connecting portion and has a soldering surface on which a conductor of a shield cable is placed and soldered. The shield cable includes the conductor and an insulation coating covering an outer periphery of the conductor. The conductor is exposed at a terminal portion of the shield cable. A conductor holding portion is arranged opposite to the conductor so as to be contactable with the conductor placed on the soldering surface in a direction where the conductor is separated from the soldering surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi MAESOBA, Toshifumi ICHIO, Kyouichirou NAKATSUGI
  • Publication number: 20200176908
    Abstract: When a terminal unit (U) is mounted into an accommodation recess (8 of a connector housing (1), a rear part thereof projects from the connector housing (1). A displacement restricting member (2) including positioning portions (16) is mounted on the projecting part. Since the positioning portions (16) are fit into receiving portions (15) of the connector housing (1) while being position in a direction intersecting with an inserting direction, a situation where the projecting part of the terminal holding member (H) is deformed is avoided even if a second wire (25) is swung.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio
  • Publication number: 20200136294
    Abstract: It is aimed to provide a connector capable of reducing the number of components. A connector (100) includes a plurality of terminal fittings (50) having wires (90) connected to rear end parts, and a dielectric (20) for accommodating the plurality of terminal fittings (50) with the wires (90) drawn out rearward. The dielectric (20) includes a holding member (30) having a plurality of terminal accommodation chambers (34) separated in two upper and lower stages and laterally arranged in parallel, upper and lower surfaces of the holding member (30) being formed with openings (35) enabling the terminal fittings (50) to be mounted into the terminal accommodation chambers (34), and a front member (40) integrally formed with a pair of upper and lower closing portions (41, 41) for individually closing the openings (35) on an upper surface side and the openings (35) on a lower surface side, the front member (40) being assembled with the holding member (30) from front.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Toshifumi Ichio