Patents by Inventor Toshikazu Sakurai

Toshikazu Sakurai 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: 20170214029
    Abstract: A battery terminal includes a fastening portion (11) that is partially open in a circumferential direction and a flange (42) projects radially out from the fastening portion (11). Two facing portions (14) project radially out from open ends (13) of the fastening portion (11) and face each other in the circumferential direction. The fastening portion (11) is reduced in diameter and fastened to a battery post P by having the facing portions (14) approach each other. The flange (42) of the fastening portion (11) has cuts (20) for partially reducing a thickness of the fastening portion (11) in a radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Keiichi Tsukiyoshi, Toshikazu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9673560
    Abstract: A laminated connector (1) includes a plurality of housings (2) in which terminal accommodating chambers (6) for accommodating terminal fittings (4) are arranged side by side in a predetermined direction and is structured such that the housings (2) are laminated. The laminated connector (1) includes at least a first housing (10) and a second housing (20) as the plurality of housings (2). A projection (first projections (14)) of the first housing (10) is inserted into a recess (second recesses (28)) of the second housing (20), arranged over a plurality of the terminal accommodating chambers (6) in the second housing (20) and capable of regulating movements of the respective terminal fittings (4) accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers (6) at a position, where the projection is arranged, in a pull-out direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Iihoshi, Toshikazu Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20170125929
    Abstract: A board connector (M) includes a housing (10) formed from first and second separately formed moldings (11, 12). The first molding (11) includes a terminal holding portion (13) and a base-side peripheral wall (20). The second molding (20) is tubular and includes a tip-side peripheral wall (28) with a supporting shaft (31) and ribs (32) projecting integrally in from an inner surface of the tip-side peripheral wall (28). The base-side peripheral wall (20) and the tip-side peripheral wall (28) are assembled to form a receptacle (14) projecting forward from an outer peripheral edge of the terminal holding portion (13). A supporting shaft (31) and ribs (32) are formed integrally with the receptacle (14) and project from an inner wall surface of the receptacle (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Masayasu Fujii, Toshikazu Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20160285193
    Abstract: A laminated connector (1) includes a plurality of housings (2) in which terminal accommodating chambers (6) for accommodating terminal fittings (4) are arranged side by side in a predetermined direction and is structured such that the housings (2) are laminated. The laminated connector (1) includes at least a first housing (10) and a second housing (20) as the plurality of housings (2). A projection (first projections (14)) of the first housing (10) is inserted into a recess (second recesses (28)) of the second housing (20), arranged over a plurality of the terminal accommodating chambers (6) in the second housing (20) and capable of regulating movements of the respective terminal fittings (4) accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers (6) at a position, where the projection is arranged, in a pull-out direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Shinji Iihoshi, Toshikazu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9130282
    Abstract: A coupling portion is approximately U-shaped with two side plates extending up from a bottom plate. Front and rear ends of the bottom plate are respectively joined to a bottom wall of a box and a mounting plate of a crimping portion. Front and rear ends of the side plates are respectively joined to side walls of the box and crimping pieces of the crimping portion. In the crimping portion, an electric wire is crimped by wrapping the first crimping pieces around a terminal portion of the electric wire mounted on a mounting plate while deforming and bending them. In respective end edges of the side plates in an upward extending direction, reinforcing portions are formed continuously extending from respective front ends that are joined to the side walls to rear ends that are joined to the crimping pieces and having regions that are bent inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9099804
    Abstract: It is aimed to reliably restrict the insertion of a terminal fitting in an improper posture. A connector includes terminal fittings 40 to be inserted into terminal accommodating chambers (13) of a housing (10) successively through through holes (61) of a rubber plug holder (60) and sealing holes (51) of a one-piece rubber plug (50), restricting projections (44) projecting from the outer surfaces of the terminal fittings (40), wires (46) passing through the through holes (61) in a state where the terminal fittings (40) are inserted in the terminal accommodating chambers (13), and restricting portions (17) provided to be located in the terminal accommodating chambers (13) and configured to restrict inserting movements of the terminal fittings (40) by interfering with the restricting projections (44) halfway through when the terminal fittings (40) are inserted in an improper posture into the terminal accommodating chambers (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8894450
    Abstract: A connector (10) includes a retainer (30) made of synthetic resin for mounting in a housing (11) at a partial locking position for permitting the insertion of a terminal fitting (20) into the housing (11) and at a full locking position for retaining the inserted terminal fitting (20). Locks (16, 35) are formed on the housing (11) and the retainer (30) and are engageable to hold the retainer (30) at the partial locking position. A pressure receiving surface (15) is formed on the housing (11) and is configured to restrict a movement of the retainer (30) toward the full locking position by pressing the retainer (30) in directions intersecting a moving direction of the retainer (30) from the partial locking position to the full locking position when the retainer (30) is at the partial locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsunori Kitajima, Toshikazu Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20140248787
    Abstract: It is aimed to reliably restrict the insertion of a terminal fitting in an improper posture. A connector includes terminal fittings 40 to be inserted into terminal accommodating chambers (13) of a housing (10) successively through through holes (61) of a rubber plug holder (60) and sealing holes (51) of a one-piece rubber plug (50), restricting projections (44) projecting from the outer surfaces of the terminal fittings (40), wires (46) passing through the through holes (61) in a state where the terminal fittings (40) are inserted in the terminal accommodating chambers (13), and restricting portions (17) provided to be located in the terminal accommodating chambers (13) and configured to restrict inserting movements of the terminal fittings (40) by interfering with the restricting projections (44) halfway through when the terminal fittings (40) are inserted in an improper posture into the terminal accommodating chambers (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20130273764
    Abstract: A connector (10) includes a retainer (30) made of synthetic resin for mounting in a housing (11) at a partial locking position for permitting the insertion of a terminal fitting (20) into the housing (11) and at a full locking position for retaining the inserted terminal fitting (20). Locks (16, 35) are formed on the housing (11) and the retainer (30) and are engageable to hold the retainer (30) at the partial locking position. A pressure receiving surface (15) is formed on the housing (11) and is configured to restrict a movement of the retainer (30) toward the full locking position by pressing the retainer (30) in directions intersecting a moving direction of the retainer (30) from the partial locking position to the full locking position when the retainer (30) is at the partial locking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsunori Kitajima, Toshikazu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8449313
    Abstract: In the process of connecting two housings (10, 30), a lock arm (36) is resiliently deformed in an unlocking direction crossing a connecting direction of the two housings (10, 30) by sliding in contact with a guiding surface (17) of a lock portion (16). The guiding surface (17) includes a first guiding surface (17A) arranged in a front area in the connecting direction to the second housing (30) and a second guiding surface (17B) arranged in an area behind the first guiding surface (17A) in the connecting direction to the second housing (30) and having a steep area (22) whose angle of inclination with respect to the connecting direction of the two housings (10, 30) is larger than that of the first guiding surface (17A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20130126236
    Abstract: A coupling portion is approximately U-shaped with two side plates extending up from a bottom plate. Front and rear ends of the bottom plate are respectively joined to a bottom wall of a box and a mounting plate of a crimping portion. Front and rear ends of the side plates are respectively joined to side walls of the box and crimping pieces of the crimping portion. In the crimping portion, an electric wire is crimped by wrapping the first crimping pieces around a terminal portion of the electric wire mounted on a mounting plate while deforming and bending them. In respective end edges of the side plates in an upward extending direction, reinforcing portions are formed continuously extending from respective front ends that are joined to the side walls to rear ends that are joined to the crimping pieces and having regions that are bent inward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8419471
    Abstract: A connector includes: a housing having a plurality of cavities; and a plurality of terminal fittings that are inserted into the cavities individually and respectively, wherein a lance is formed in each of the cavities, the lance having a lock portion to be locked in a corresponding one of the terminal fittings, wherein the cavities are disposed to be aligned in a bending direction of the lances, and wherein an escape portion is provided in the terminal fitting which is inserted into the cavity disposed to be opposed to the back surface, the escape portion being formed to dent an outer surface of the terminal fitting opposed to the back surface of the lance so that at least a part of a back face portion of the lance is allowed to enter the escape portion when the lance bends elastically toward the back face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai, Yuji Minoda, Hirotomi Nemoto, Shigeki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8388388
    Abstract: A connector includes: a terminal fitting having a body portion; and a housing having a cavity that receives the terminal fitting, wherein the body portion has a first protrusion that protrudes from an outer surface of the body portion and an interference avoiding portion, wherein the first protrusion and the interference avoiding portion are disposed to be opposed to each other substantially in a diagonal line on a virtual projection plane, and wherein the cavity is formed with, in an inner surface thereof, a first groove into which the first protrusion is allowed to enter only when the terminal fitting has a proper insertion posture relative to the cavity and an interference portion that is formed to swell from the inner surface of the cavity to narrow a gap with the interference avoiding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai, Yuji Minoda, Yohei Kugumiya, Kazuyuki Iwashita
  • Publication number: 20120057928
    Abstract: In the process of connecting two housings (10, 30), a lock arm (36) is resiliently deformed in an unlocking direction crossing a connecting direction of the two housings (10, 30) by sliding in contact with a guiding surface (17) of a lock portion (16). The guiding surface (17) includes a first guiding surface (17A) arranged in a front area in the connecting direction to the second housing (30) and a second guiding surface (17B) arranged in an area behind the first guiding surface (17A) in the connecting direction to the second housing (30) and having a steep area (22) whose angle of inclination with respect to the connecting direction of the two housings (10, 30) is larger than that of the first guiding surface (17A).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20110212646
    Abstract: A connector includes: a housing having a plurality of cavities; and a plurality of terminal fittings that are inserted into the cavities individually and respectively, wherein a lance is formed in each of the cavities, the lance having a lock portion to be locked in a corresponding one of the terminal fittings, wherein the cavities are disposed to be aligned in a bending direction of the lances, and wherein an escape portion is provided in the terminal fitting which is inserted into the cavity disposed to be opposed to the back surface, the escape portion being formed to dent an outer surface of the terminal fitting opposed to the back surface of the lance so that at least a part of a back face portion of the lance is allowed to enter the escape portion when the lance bends elastically toward the back face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicants: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Honda R&D Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai, Yuji Minoda, Hirotomi Nemoto, Shigeki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20110212654
    Abstract: A connector includes: a terminal fitting having a body portion; and a housing having a cavity that receives the terminal fitting, wherein the body portion has a first protrusion that protrudes from an outer surface of the body portion and an interference avoiding portion, wherein the first protrusion and the interference avoiding portion are disposed to be opposed to each other substantially in a diagonal line on a virtual projection plane, and wherein the cavity is formed with, in an inner surface thereof, a first groove into which the first protrusion is allowed to enter only when the terminal fitting has a proper insertion posture relative to the cavity and an interference portion that is formed to swell from the inner surface of the cavity to narrow a gap with the interference avoiding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicants: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai, Yuji Minoda, Yohei Kugumiya, Kazuyuki Iwashita
  • Patent number: 7568923
    Abstract: A connector has a first housing (1) and a second housing (2) with a receptacle (4) for receiving the first housing (1). A slider (3) having a cam groove (24) is mounted in the first housing (1) for movement normal to connecting directions of the housings (1, 2). A cam (8) projects in the receptacle (4), and is movable along the cam groove (24). A mold removal hole (5A) for molding the cam (8) is formed in a back wall (5) of the receptacle (4), and a mold removal space (S) is between the cam (8) and the mold removal hole (5A). The slider (3) includes a deformable portion (25) that slides in contact with a slider insertion hole (11) while being deformed during connection of the housings (1, 2), and is restored resiliently in the mold removal space (S) when the housings (1, 2) are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Fukatsu, Toshikazu Sakurai, Youjirou Hashimoto, Yasushi Okayasu, Masaya Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 7520765
    Abstract: A female housing (10) has a lever (12) to facilitate connection with a male housing (11). An operable portion (43) of the lever (12) is at a lateral end of the female housing (10) immediately before the housings (10; 11) are connected and is operated along a connecting direction of the male housing (11). An engaging portion (53) is formed at an end of the lever (12) opposite the operable portion (43) and is engageable with a locking projection (52) on the male housing (11) immediately before the housings (10, 11) are connected properly. Thus, the locking projection (52) receives a force acting along the connecting direction of the male housing (11) as the lever (12) is rotated. In this way, the posture of the female housing (10) is corrected, enabling the two housings (10, 11) to be connected in their proper postures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Fukatsu, Toshikazu Sakurai, Masayasu Fujii
  • Patent number: 7445491
    Abstract: A lever (40) formed with a cam groove (41) is rotatably mounted and a detecting terminal (60) is mounted in a female housing (10). The detecting terminal (60) contacts contact terminals (98) in the female housing (10) to close a detecting circuit only when the housings (10, 80) are connected properly. A pressing portion (44) projects from part of a cam plate (47) of the lever (40) facing the detecting terminal (60), and keeps pressing the detecting terminal (60) to deform the detecting terminal 60 to a position where the detecting terminal (60) is separated from the contact terminals (98) while the lever (40) is rotated until the housings (10, 80) are connected properly. The pressed state is canceled to enable the detecting terminal (60) to contact the contact terminals (98) when the lever 40 is rotated to a position where the housings (10, 80) are connected properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayasu Fujii, Toshikazu Sakurai, Atsushi Sakatani
  • Patent number: 7445474
    Abstract: A lever (30) can be assembled in either of two postures symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry (19), and the rotating direction of the lever (30) changes depending on the assembling posture. Thus, the rotating direction of the lever (30) can be selected depending on circumstances. A cam follower (52) can enter a cam groove (33) regardless of the posture in which the lever (30) is assembled. The lever (30) can be held at a standby position by a holder (21L, 21R, 22, 34, 36), and the lever (30) can be locked at a connection position by a lock (21L, 21R, 23L, 23R, 39, 41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Sakatani, Yoshihiro Uchiyama, Toshikazu Sakurai