PLUG LOCK STRUCTURE

• US 20120047971A1
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: KATAGIRI, Toshiharu, KAHARA, Keiji
• Granted Patent: US 8,206,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/58
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

A plug lock structure that locks a power feeding plug to an inlet, which is fixed to a power feeding subject. The inlet includes a catch. The power feeding plug includes a hook, hooked to the catch, and an operation portion, which separates the hook from the catch. The plug lock structure includes a lock member pivoted in a direction in which the lock member forces the hook against the catch and a direction in which the lock member moves away from the catch together with the hook. A lock block is moved between a first position, at which the lock block permits pivoting of the lock member when the hook moves from the hooked state, and a second position, at which the lock block restricts pivoting of the lock member by contacting the lock member when the hook moves from the hooked state.

Claims

1. A plug lock structure that locks a power feeding plug to an inlet, which is fixed to a power feeding subject, wherein the inlet includes a catch, and the power feeding plug includes a hook, which can be hooked to the catch, and an operation portion, which separates the hook from the catch to unhook the hook, the plug lock structure comprising:

a lock member that is pivotable in a direction in which the lock member forces the hook against the catch with an urging force, wherein when the hook moves away from the catch, the lock member is pivoted in a direction in which the lock member moves away from the catch together with the hook; and

a lock block that moves between a first position, at which the lock block permits pivoting of the lock member when the hook moves from a state hooked to the catch, and a second position, at which the lock block restricts pivoting of the lock member by contacting the lock member when the hook moves from the hooked state.

2. The plug lock structure according to claim 1, further comprising a case that accommodates the lock member and the lock block, wherein the case includes a first accommodation area, which receives the lock member, and a second accommodation area, which differs from the first accommodation area and which receives the lock block.

3. The plug lock structure according to claim 2, wherein the lock block moves between the first and second positions in the second accommodation area without entering the first accommodation area.

4. The plug lock structure according to claim 1, wherein

the lock member includes a first end portion, which contacts the hook, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, and

the lock block is arranged between the second end portion of the lock member and the inlet when moving at the second position.

5. The plug lock structure according to claim 4, wherein the lock member includes:

a lock bar that functions as the first end portion of the lock member; and

a lock lever that functions as the second end portion of the lock member, includes a shaft shared by the lock bar, and rotates integrally with the lock bar about the shaft, wherein the lock lever is separated from the lock bar in an axial direction of the shaft; and

the plug lock structure further comprises;

an actuator that moves the lock block between the first position and the second position; and

a case including a hooking cavity, which accommodates the lock bar and receives the hook, an accommodation chamber, which accommodates the actuator, the lock lever, and the lock block.

6. The plug lock according to claim 5, wherein the case includes an insertion hole through which the shaft is inserted and through which the accommodation chamber and the hooking cavity are communicated, and the plug lock structure further comprises a seal arranged around the insertion hole in the accommodation chamber.

7. The plug lock structure according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is arranged inward from the lock lever relative to the power feeding subject.

8. The plug lock structure according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is a self-sustained solenoid.