Patents by Inventor Toshiro Maejima

Toshiro Maejima 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: 11545795
    Abstract: A connector includes: a cylindrical terminal to be electrically connected with a cylindrical counterpart terminal; an internal terminal located in the cylindrical terminal; and a housing holding the cylindrical terminal. The cylindrical terminal has a contact portion configured by bending a plate-shaped conductor into a cylindrical shape to contact one edge portion of the conductor with the other edge portion of the conductor. The one edge portion has a recessed shape at its circumferential end portion by reducing its thickness outwardly in a radial direction of the cylindrical terminal to configure one reduced thickness portion. The other edge portion has a recessed shape at its circumferential end portion by reducing its thickness inwardly in the radial direction to configure the other reduced thickness portion. The contact portion is configured by overlapping the one reduced thickness portion and the other reduced thickness portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: YAZAKI CORPORATION, TAKASAKI MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiro Maejima, Kouichirou Matsushita, Takuya Otake, Fujio Usui
  • Patent number: 11495925
    Abstract: A connector includes: a cylindrical terminal; an internal terminal; and a housing. The cylindrical terminal has an engagement portion of its one edge portion and its opposite other edge portion. The one edge portion has a first reduced thickness portion at its circumferential end portion. The first reduced thickness portion has a first protrusion protruding inwardly in a radial direction and extending in an axial direction. The other edge portion has a second reduced thickness portion. The second reduced thickness portion has a second protrusion protruding outwardly in the radial direction and extending in the axial direction. The engagement portion is configured by overlapping the first reduced thickness portion and the second reduced thickness portion and further by locating the first protrusion and the second protrusion to face each other in the circumferential direction to allow an engagement between them in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiro Maejima, Kouichirou Matsushita, Takuya Otake
  • Publication number: 20210376539
    Abstract: A connector includes: a cylindrical terminal to be electrically connected with a cylindrical counterpart terminal; an internal terminal located in the cylindrical terminal; and a housing holding the cylindrical terminal. The cylindrical terminal has a contact portion configured by bending a plate-shaped conductor into a cylindrical shape to contact one edge portion of the conductor with the other edge portion of the conductor. The one edge portion has a recessed shape at its circumferential end portion by reducing its thickness outwardly in a radial direction of the cylindrical terminal to configure one reduced thickness portion. The other edge portion has a recessed shape at its circumferential end portion by reducing its thickness inwardly in the radial direction to configure the other reduced thickness portion. The contact portion is configured by overlapping the one reduced thickness portion and the other reduced thickness portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicants: Yazaki Corporation, TAKASAKI MFG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiro MAEJIMA, Kouichirou Matsushita, Takuya Otake, Fujio Usui
  • Publication number: 20210376543
    Abstract: A connector includes: a cylindrical terminal; an internal terminal; and a housing. The cylindrical terminal has an engagement portion of its one edge portion and its opposite other edge portion. The one edge portion has a first reduced thickness portion at its circumferential end portion. The first reduced thickness portion has a first protrusion protruding inwardly in a radial direction and extending in an axial direction. The other edge portion has a second reduced thickness portion. The second reduced thickness portion has a second protrusion protruding outwardly in the radial direction and extending in the axial direction. The engagement portion is configured by overlapping the first reduced thickness portion and the second reduced thickness portion and further by locating the first protrusion and the second protrusion to face each other in the circumferential direction to allow an engagement between them in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiro Maejima, Kouichirou Matsushita, Takuya Otake
  • Patent number: 7125285
    Abstract: A joint connector includes an insulative connector housing, a plurality of connection terminals provided on the connector housing, and a board having a conductive wire. The connection terminals contact to the conductive wire for electrically connecting predetermined connection terminals of the connection terminals each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiro Maejima, Shigeo Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 7029320
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a connector in which it is possible to easily recognize that a holder has been reliably engaged with a female housing. The connector (1) includes the holder (2) and the female housing (3). The holder (2) holds an end part (4a) of an FPC (4). The holder (2) has a pair of first walls (7) One of the first walls (7a) is provided with a lock hole (13) in its inner face. A width (L) of the first wall (7a) is equal to a width (La) of the FPC (4). The female housing (3) has a pair of second walls (22). One of the second walls (22a) is provided with an engaging projection (25) and a recess (26) in its outer face (27). The engaging projection (25) is projected from the outer face (27), and the recess (26) is recessed from the outer face (27). The engaging projection (25) is engaged in the lock hole (13), thereby to allow the female housing (3) and the holder (2) to be engaged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima
  • Publication number: 20050142905
    Abstract: A joint connector includes an insulative connector housing, a plurality of connection terminals provided on the connector housing, and a board having a conductive wire. The connection terminals contact to the conductive wire for electrically connecting predetermined connection terminals of the connection terminals each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Toshiro Maejima, Shigeo Ishizuka
  • Publication number: 20040067679
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a connector in which it is possible to easily recognize that a holder has been reliably engaged with a female housing. The connector (1) includes the holder (2) and the female housing (3). The holder (2) holds an end part (4a) of an FPC (4). The holder (2) has a pair of first walls (7) One of the first walls (7a) is provided with a lock hole (13) in its inner face. A width (L) of the first wall (7a) is equal to a width (La) of the FPC (4). The female housing (3) has a pair of second walls (22). One of the second walls (22a) is provided with an engaging projection (25) and a recess (26) in its outer face (27). The engaging projection (25) is projected from the outer face (27) , and the recess (26) is recessed from the outer face (27). The engaging projection (25) is engaged in the lock hole (13), thereby to allow the female housing (3) and the holder (2) to be engaged with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima
  • Patent number: 6056570
    Abstract: A terminal-operating plate is movably mounted on an upper wall of a connector housing. The upper wall has guide slits formed therein which communicate to respective terminal-accommodating chambers where terminal lugs each with a wire are accommodated. The terminal-operating plate has terminal drive arms projecting therefrom which engage with the terminal lugs in the terminal-accommodating chambers. The connector housing is coupled to a mating connector housing, with terminal lugs positioned in the terminal-accommodating chambers, followed by moving the terminal-operating plate in the fitting direction of the connectors to bring the terminal lugs into contact with terminal lugs in a mating connector housing. A pair of connector housings are securely and easily fitted to each other with a low coupling force. The construction is suited for a multipolar connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima
  • Patent number: 6036509
    Abstract: An LIF connector includes a first connector including a housing having cam projections formed on a side surface thereof, a second connector having a reception portion for receiving the first connector, and a slider having a generally U-shape includes a pair of opposed side walls each having a cam groove for guiding a respective one of the cam projections. When the slider is pushed into the second connector, the slider causes the first connector to be inserted into the second connector. A movable lock portion is pivotally mounted on a distal end of at least one of the opposed side walls of the slider. The lock portion, passed through a housing of the second connector when the slider is inserted into the second connector, is brought into a laid condition, thereby locking the slider to the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima
  • Patent number: 5915986
    Abstract: A terminal-operating plate is movably mounted on an upper wall of a connector housing. The upper wall has guide slits formed therein which communicate to respective terminal-accommodating chambers where terminal lugs each with a wire are accommodated. The terminal-operating plate has terminal drive arms projecting therefrom which engage with the terminal lugs in the terminal-accommodating chambers. The connector housing is coupled to a mating connector housing, with terminal lugs positioned in the terminal-accommodating chambers, followed by moving the terminal-operating plate in the fitting direction of the connectors to bring the terminal lugs into contact with terminal lugs in a mating connector housing. A pair of connector housings are securely and easily fitted to each other with a low coupling force. The construction is suited for a multipolar connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima
  • Patent number: 5897396
    Abstract: A waterproof rubber plug has a through hole for allowing a pair of electrical wires to pass therethrough. the end of each of the electrical wires being electrically connected to a terminal. The waterproof rubber plug is inserted into a mounting hole formed in a connector housing for filling the gap between the outer periphery of each of the pair of electrical wires and the inner surface of the mounting hole of the connector housing. The through hole is divided into a pair of branch holes, each allowing the corresponding one of the pair of electrical wires to pass therethrough so as to tightly engage the outer periphery of each of the electric wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima
  • Patent number: 5868586
    Abstract: A clip fixes a connector housing having a bore for preventing generation of a shrinkage mark in the vicinity of an outer peripheral wall onto a panel. The clip comprises a clip body including: an engagement portion for engagement with the panel; and an attachment portion having a felled-U shape in side view, the attachment portion being constituted by a first holding member which is able to be inserted into the bore of the connector housing and a second holding member which is designed to sandwich the outer peripheral wall of the connector housing between the first and second holding members when the first holding member is fitted into the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima
  • Patent number: 5711682
    Abstract: An electrical connector requiring low insertion force, simple structure, few constituents and low cost. The connector includes a first connector housing for retaining a first connector element, a second connector housing for retaining a second connector element to be engaged with the first connector element and an operating lever having at least one hook part arranged at an end thereof. The first connector housing has at least one holder for engaging with the hook part to thereby rotatably support the operating lever. The second connector housing includes a side wall provided with a pin protruding therefrom and the operating lever further includes a slit for slidably engaging with the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima
  • Patent number: 5685746
    Abstract: A female terminal for receiving a plate-shaped male terminal includes a terminal body consisting of a wire connection portion and an electrical connection portion to connect with the the male terminal. The electrical connection portion has a pair of opposing elastic plates for elastically pinching the male terminal therebetween. The female terminal further includes a protective member for covering the electrical connection portion. The protective member has an opening defined at a front portion thereof and slits formed on sidewalls of the protective member. When connecting the inclined male terminal with the female terminal, the leading end of the male terminal is initially introduced into the protective member through either one of the slits. By pivotal movement of the male terminal thereafter, the male terminal can be connected to the female terminal so as to be in alignment therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima
  • Patent number: 5672075
    Abstract: A socket-type terminal has an annular groove which is formed in a step portion between a base portion of a terminal connecting portion and a neck portion. A distal end of a lance head of a retaining lance for preventing withdrawal of the terminal is so formed as to fit in the groove. With this construction, when the terminal is pulled in a longitudinal direction, the whole of the retaining lance is displaced in a direction of the axis of the terminal. Therefore, the terminal is firmly retained in a housing without damaging the retaining lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima
  • Patent number: 5622512
    Abstract: An apparatus for affixing a packing unit for a waterproof connector includes a first connector housing for receiving wires and having through-holes, and a second connector housing for connecting with the first connector housing. A packing unit is inserted in the first connector housing for providing a waterproof seal at an engaging surface between the first connector housing and the second connector housing. Projection parts are disposed respectively on opposite side portions of one end of the packing unit, each of the projection parts having an outwardly extending retaining portion for engaging the first connector housing. A rear holder is attached to a rear end of the first connector housing for retaining the packing unit, and lock portions are disposed respectively on opposite side portions of one end of the rear holder. Lock pawls, for respectively retaining the lock portions, are disposed adjacent to outlets of the through-holes formed in the first connector housing, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Uchida, Toshiro Maejima
  • Patent number: 5618207
    Abstract: A double-retaining connector in which a double-retaining operation can be effected easily and positively and a retaining portion will not be inadvertently influenced by an external force. A spacer 2 is inserted into terminal receiving chambers 4 from a rear end of a housing 1, and each spacer piece 16 at a front end of the spacer 2 moves past a retaining projection 5a of a retaining lance 5, and is held in a provisionally-retained position forwardly of the retaining lance 5. Then, a connection terminal 3 is inserted into the terminal receiving chamber 4 from the rear end of the housing 1, and moves past a retaining protuberance 6 to be retained against rearward withdrawal. At the same time, the retaining projection 5a of the retaining lance 5 fits in a retaining hole in an electrical contact portion of the connection terminal 3, thereby achieving a double retaining of the connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima
  • Patent number: 5597325
    Abstract: A inclined guide part which comprises an inclined surface for pushing up a spacer is formed in a connector housing and an inclined slide contact part is formed for the inclined guide part in the spacer an a position lower than the inclined guide part while the inclined surface for pushing down the flexible lock lance is formed at the tip of the antideflection plate. An up-face inclined guide surface for the spacer is formed on the rim of the opening of the connector housing. Temporary lock units are equipped in the connector housing and the spacer to temporarily hold the inclined guide part and the inclined slide contact part in their mutually proximate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiro Maejima, Yoshinori Uchida
  • Patent number: 5516311
    Abstract: An electric connector terminal inserted into a terminal accommodating chamber of a connector housing, comprises: a first engagement portion (23) for engagement with a mating terminal; a wire conductor clamping portion (19) formed to the rear of the first engagement portion; a second engagement portion (13) formed at the rear end of the first engagement portion for engagement with a lance formed in the terminal accommodating chamber, for fixing the terminal to the connector housing; and in particular a prevention wall (29, 43) formed between the lance engage portion and the wire conductor clamping portion, for imprisoning the wire ends which might otherwise interfere with bare wire conductor ends projecting from the wire conductor clamping portion and the lance of the connector housing when the connector terminal is inserted into the connector housing. The presence of the prevention wall allows the terminal to be securely inserted into the connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima