Locking Apparatus for Electric Vehicle Charging Connector
First Claim
1. Apparatus for locking a charging connector to a charge port of an electric vehicle, comprising:
- a lock member disposed on the electric vehicle and movable between a locked position wherein it inhibits disengagement of the connector from the port and an unlocked position wherein it allows disengagement of the connector from the port;
a locking actuator adjacent to the charge port and manually actuatable to move the lock member to the locked position; and
an unlock actuator disposed inside a vehicle cabin and manually actuatable to move the lock member to the unlocked position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A security apparatus for preventing unauthorized disengagement of a charging connector from a charge port of an electric vehicle, for example during the battery charging process. A lock member is disposed on the electric vehicle and is movable between a locked position wherein it inhibits disengagement of the charging connector from the charge port and an unlocked position wherein it allows disengagement of the connector from the port. A locking actuator located adjacent to the charge port is manually actuatable to move the lock member to the locked position. An unlock actuator disposed inside a vehicle cabin is manually actuatable to move the lock member to the unlocked position. This ensures that only a person with access to the interior of the vehicle can unlock and disengage the charging connector from the vehicle.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for locking a charging connector to a charge port of an electric vehicle, comprising:
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a lock member disposed on the electric vehicle and movable between a locked position wherein it inhibits disengagement of the connector from the port and an unlocked position wherein it allows disengagement of the connector from the port; a locking actuator adjacent to the charge port and manually actuatable to move the lock member to the locked position; and an unlock actuator disposed inside a vehicle cabin and manually actuatable to move the lock member to the unlocked position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for charging a battery of an electric vehicle, comprising:
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a charge port for mounting on the electric vehicle; a charging connector engageable with the charge port; a lock member associated with the charge port and movable between a locked position wherein it contacts the connector to inhibit disengagement of the connector from the charge port and an unlocked position wherein it allows disengagement of the connector from the charge port; a locking actuator accessible outside of the vehicle and manually actuatable to move the lock member to the locked position; and an unlock actuator accessible inside a vehicle cabin and manually actuatable to move the lock member to the unlocked position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for locking a charging connector to a charge port of an electric vehicle, comprising:
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a lock member disposed on the electric vehicle adjacent the charging connector and having an unlocked position wherein it allows disengagement of the connector from the port, the lock member manually movable from outside the vehicle to a locked position wherein it inhibits disengagement of the connector from the port and; and an unlock actuator disposed inside a vehicle cabin and manually actuatable to move the lock member to the unlocked position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification