Patents by Inventor Toshimitsu Sonobe

Toshimitsu Sonobe 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: 5620328
    Abstract: A connector comprises first and second housings adapted to be coupled to each other. A pivotal plate is pivotally disposed on one of the housings. A pair of leaf springs is interposed between one of the housings and the pivotal plate. A latch is provided for locking the two housings upon coupling. When the two housings are to be coupled, the pivotal plate is pivoted by the action of the leaf springs. This occurs after the two housings reach an intermediate state of coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamamoto, Toshimitsu Sonobe
  • Patent number: 5569041
    Abstract: A connector is provided that can be coupled with a low inserting force and that will not terminate coupling operation while it is in an incomplete coupling state. The connector comprises a pair of housings coupled to each other, a pivotal piece pivotally provide on one of the two housings, a spring interposed between one housing and the pivotal piece, and a latch means for locking the two housings that are coupled to each other. When the two housings are coupled, and after the two housings reach a predetermined intermediate coupling state, the pivotal piece is pivoted by the spring, thereby completing coupling of the two housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Sonobe, Masahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5411399
    Abstract: A connector connecting two circuit boards of different types comprises an insulative male housing which houses conductive plug contacts therein, a circuit board having conductive receptacle contacts engaged with the housing and making electrical connection with the plug contacts, and a flexible conductor engaged with the housing and making electrical connection with the plug contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Okuyama, Masahiro Yamamoto, Toshimitsu Sonobe
  • Patent number: 5000690
    Abstract: An electrical connector, described for suitably connecting electronic packages to each other or an electrical package to electrical wires. In a preferred form, the connector comprises a plurality of first contacts supported by an insulative housing, the housing having opposite surfaces adjacent which exposed portions of the first contacts lie. The exposed contact portions are attached to electrically engage two respective printed circuit boards on the top and bottom of the connector. Additionally, a further set of contacts is provided, which contacts include an exposed portion adjacent one of the housing supporting surfaces and a terminal portion disposed substantially parallel to such supporting surfaces for electrical engagement to a terminated wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Sonobe, Masahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4790761
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a cassette and a receptacle electrically and mechanically coupled together. The cassette includes a housing encompassing a printed circuit board and a plurality of electrical contacts in connection with terminals on the circuit board and disposed at a bottom surface of the cassette housing for exterior connection thereto. The receptacle includes a housing having a cavity for receipt of the cassette therein. The cavity is of size to accommodate rotation of the cassette in the cavity from an insertion position to a latched position. The receptacle housing includes a plurality of spring contacts adjacent the bottom of the cavity, the spring contacts being electrically engaged by the contacts on the cassette upon insertion of the cassette into the receptacle cavity. The receptacle housing includes a pair of spaced opposing pins projecting into the cavity that enter and engage slots formed on the lower sides of the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Sonobe
  • Patent number: 4725242
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises an insulative housing having a cavity therein for sealably receiving a rubber bush. At the bottom wall of the cavity the housing supports a movable plate having a plurality of holes therein for receipt of a respective plurality of contacts of terminated electrical wires. The bush includes a like plurality of holes aligned with the holes in the plate. The plate comprises a projecting cam that is engaged upon insertion of a cam actuator, the plate being moved in response to such insertion to lock the contacts in the housing by the edges of the plate defining the holes therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Sonobe, Masahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4721478
    Abstract: A water sealed electrical connector for assembly to a wire terminated by a conductive contact includes an insulative housing having a cavity extending in a front surface thereof and a hole communicating with the cavity and extending into a rear portion of the housing for receipt of the contact. A rubber bush is sealably received in the housing and has a hole in alignment with the housing hole for sealed receipt of the contact. A movable retention member is supported in the housing for latching engagement with the contact. An opening is provided in the housing to permit exterior access to the retention member by a tool, so as to enable the tool to move the retention member for insertion and withdrawal of the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Sonobe
  • Patent number: 4636022
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for making electrical connection to a cassette having a plurality of exteriorly accessible terminals. The connector includes a housing having a cavity therein, the cavity being formed for oblique receipt of the cassette. Spring contacts are supported in the connector housing for making electrical engagement with the terminals of the cassette. A latching mechanism is established by cooperative engagement between a projecting pin on the cassette and a groove in the housing whereby pivotal movement of the cassette from its initial obliquely inserted position locks the cassette in the housing and establishes electrical connection between the terminals of the cassette and the contacts of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Sonobe
  • Patent number: 4618209
    Abstract: A lead member comprises a plurality of leg pieces, an interlink plate for holding the leg pieces spaced from each other at predetermined intervals to thereby interlink respective one ends of the leg pieces. Terminal portions are provided at the respective other ends of the leg pieces to attach to a PCB, a wire or the like. Each of the leg pieces is folded to overlap the interlink plate so as to form a leg portion at the folded section, the leg portion being insertable into predetermined openings in another PCB or substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Sonobe
  • Patent number: 4556266
    Abstract: A jumper wire material for connecting a pair of printed circuit wiring boards and having, in addition, a function to serve as a spacer for holding the printed circuit wiring boards in a mutually spaced relationship, the jumper wire material being constructed with core wires arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined pitch, an insulative covering of a solid and non-flexible plastic material, and ridges projectively provided in parallel with each other on a pair of mutually opposed side surfaces of the insulative covering, and extending along the core wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Sonobe