Charging terminal cap providing charging cord management

• US 10,464,429 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Inventors: Djrbashian, Edward, Iverson, Jake
• Primary Examiner(s): Pacheco, Alexis B
• Application Number:
  US15/140,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20170313199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 320109, 320107, 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

There is provided a cap for covering a receptacle enclosing charge terminals of a charge handle connected to a charging cord for providing electricity from a power source. The cap comprises a base member including a casing, the casing extending from the base member providing a hollow cavity for covering the receptacle enclosing the charge terminals of the charge handle, and two arms extending from the base member in a different direction from the casing, wherein the two arms are configured to receive the charging cord being coiled therebetween.

Claims

1. A cap for covering a receptacle enclosing charge terminals of a charge handle having a handle portion connected to the receptacle at a first end and connected to a charging cord at a second end for providing electricity from a power source, the cap comprising:

a base member including a casing, the casing extending outwardly from a first side of the base member providing a hollow cavity for covering the receptacle enclosing the charge terminals of the charge handle;

two arms extending outwardly from a second side of the base member being directly behind the first side, wherein the two arms are configured to receive the charging cord therebetween when the cap is covering the receptacle of the charge handle and when the charging cord is being coiled and wrapped around the second end of the charge handle and the first end of the charge handle; and

wherein the handle portion includes one or more handle arms extending outwardly at the second end for supporting the charging cord when the charging cord is being coiled and wrapped around the second end of the charge handle.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the casing of the base member includes a recess configured to receive a tab located on the receptacle of the charge handle.

3. The cap of claim 1, wherein the casing of the base member includes a tooth configured to clasp onto a latch on the charge handle.

4. The cap of claim 1, wherein the casing of the base member includes a catch configured to attach to a string connected to the charge handle.

5. The cap of claim 1, wherein the two arms extend from the base member at an increasing distance from each other.

6. The cap of claim 1, wherein the two arms extend from the base member at a constant distance from each other.

7. The cap of claim 1, wherein the two arms extend from the base member at a decreasing distance from each other.

8. The cap of claim 1 further comprising:

pivot connections, wherein each of the pivot connections connect each of the two arms to the base member of the cap.

9. The cap of claim 1 further comprising:

a first attaching device for attaching the cap to a second attaching device on the charging cord.

10. The cap of claim 9, wherein the first attaching device is located on the base member in between the two arms.

11. The cap of claim 9, wherein the first attaching device is located on at least one of the two arms.

12. The cap of claim 9, wherein the first attaching device is a magnet.

13. The cap of claim 9, wherein the first attaching device comprises of a hook and a loop.

14. The cap of claim 9, wherein the first attaching device is integrated into the cap.

15. The cap of claim 9, wherein the first attaching device is separable from the cap.