Carport for a Motor Vehicle

• US 20130042542A1
• Filed: 07/20/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Welschholz, Joerg
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,655 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/73
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/53 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/025 in the form of an overhead canopy, e.g. carports
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/67 in the form of roof constructions in the form of shingles or tiles F24S20/69
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• 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

Abstract

A carport for a vehicle includes a roof, a concrete foundation, and a battery charging station. The roof is mounted to the concrete foundation via at least one support. The concrete foundation has a storage area therein. The charging station has a component for charging a battery of an electric vehicle parked underneath the roof next to the concrete foundation. The component of the charging station is positioned within the storage area of the concrete foundation.

Claims

1. A carport for a vehicle, the carport comprising:

a concrete foundation having a storage area therein, the concrete foundation resting on a carport surface configured to support a vehicle thereon and the storage area is above the carport surface, wherein the storage area is a hollow cavity of the concrete foundation having concrete walls and an exposed side;

a roof mounted over at least part of the concrete foundation via at least one support; and

a charging station having a component for charging a battery of an electric vehicle parked on the carport surface underneath the roof next to the concrete foundation, wherein the component of the charging station is positioned within the storage area of the concrete foundation.

2. The carport of claim 1 wherein:

the component of the charging station is a charging coupler.

4. The carport of claim 1 wherein:

the charging station further includes a solar module configured to generate electric energy, wherein the solar module is arranged on the roof and is connected to the component of the charging station.

5. The carport of claim 4 wherein:

the solar module is connected to the component of the charging station via wiring running along one of the supports.

6. The carport of claim 4 wherein:

the component of the charging station is one of a charging coupler and a storage battery.

7. The carport of claim 1 wherein:

the concrete foundation includes a plurality of storage areas therein;

the charging station includes a plurality of components for charging a battery of an electric vehicle parked underneath the roof next to the concrete foundation, wherein the components of the charging station are positioned within respective ones of the storage areas of the concrete foundation.

8. The carport of claim 7 wherein:

the components of the charging station are connected to one another within the concrete foundation via access points extending between adjacent storage areas of the concrete foundation.

9. The carport of claim 8 wherein:

each storage area of the concrete foundation is a hollow cavity of the concrete foundation.

10. The carport of claim 8 wherein:

the charging station further includes a solar module configured to generate electric energy, wherein the solar module is arranged on the roof and is connected to at least one of the components of the charging station.

11. The carport of claim 10 wherein:

the components of the charging station include a charging coupler and one or more storage batteries.

15. The carport of claim 1 wherein:

the concrete foundation is as an upright concrete foundation.

16. The carport of claim 15 wherein:

the concrete foundation includes at least one prefabricated element.

17. The carport of claim 1 wherein:

the roof is mounted to the concrete foundation such that the roof is cantilevered.

3. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. A carport for a vehicle, the carport comprising:

a concrete foundation having a storage area therein;

a roof mounted to the concrete foundation via at least one support; and

a charging station having a component for charging a battery of an electric vehicle parked underneath the roof next to the concrete foundation, wherein the component of the charging station is positioned within the storage area of the concrete foundation;

wherein the storage area of the concrete foundation is a hollow cavity of the concrete foundation having concrete walls and an exposed side;

wherein the storage area of the concrete foundation includes a closure member movable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein in the closed position the closure member closes the exposed side of the storage area, wherein in the opened position the closure member opens the exposed side of the storage area.

14. The carport of claim 13 wherein:

the closure member is a rolling shutter.

18. A carport for a vehicle, the carport comprising:

a concrete foundation having a plurality of individual storage areas therein, each storage area being a hollow cavity of the concrete foundation having concrete walls and an exposed side;

a roof mounted to the concrete foundation via at least one support; and

a charging station having a plurality of components for charging a battery of an electric vehicle parked underneath the roof next to the concrete foundation, wherein the components of the charging station are located within respective ones of the storage areas of the concrete foundation;

wherein each storage area of the concrete foundation is a hollow cavity of the concrete foundation having concrete walls and an exposed side;

wherein at least one of the storage areas of the concrete foundation includes a closure member movable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein in the closed position the closure member closes the exposed side of the at least one of the storage areas, wherein in the opened position the closure member opens the exposed side of the at least one of the storage areas.

19. The carport of claim 18 wherein:

the components of the charging station include a charging coupler and one or more storage batteries;

wherein the charging coupler is movably connected to one of the storage areas of the concrete foundation such that the charging coupler is movable between a retracted position in which the charging coupler is positioned within the one of the storage areas and a retracted position in which the charging coupler is positioned out of the one of the storage areas;

wherein the one or more storage batteries are located within respective ones of the storage areas of the concrete foundation.

20. The carport of claim 19 wherein:

the charging station further includes a solar module configured to generate electric energy, wherein the solar module is arranged on the roof and is connected to at least one of the components of the charging station.