MULTIDIRECTIONAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, PLUG AND SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A connector for making electrical connection between a portable electrical energy storage device electrically connected to the connector or an electric powered device electrically connected to the connector and a plug electrically connected to an electric powered device or a portable electrical energy storage device that is not electrically connected to the connector, the connector comprising:
- a. an electrically nonconductive connector base having a connector central axis;
b. an electrical contact housing including an outer sidewall extending in a direction parallel to the connector central axis and an inner sidewall extending in a direction parallel to the connector central axis, the inner sidewall located closer to the connector central axis than the outer sidewall, the electrical contact housing centered on the connector central axis;
c. a first terminal including at least two electrically conductive contact pads located adjacent the inner sidewall of the electrical contact housing; and
d. a second terminal including at least one electrically conductive contact pad located adjacent the outer sidewall of the electrical contact housing.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Multidirectional electrical connectors, electrical connector plugs and electrical connection systems for electrically connecting a portable energy storage device to an electrically powered device, such as an electric powered vehicle or a device for electrically charging the portable electrical energy storage device are described. The multidirectional feature of the electrical connectors, electrical connector plugs and electrical connections systems permit electrical connection between the electrical connectors and electrical connector plugs in a plurality of rotational orientations between a portable electrical energy storage device to which a connector or plug is electrically connected and an electrically powered device to which a corresponding plug or connecter is electrically connected.
-
Citations
37 Claims
-
1. A connector for making electrical connection between a portable electrical energy storage device electrically connected to the connector or an electric powered device electrically connected to the connector and a plug electrically connected to an electric powered device or a portable electrical energy storage device that is not electrically connected to the connector, the connector comprising:
-
a. an electrically nonconductive connector base having a connector central axis; b. an electrical contact housing including an outer sidewall extending in a direction parallel to the connector central axis and an inner sidewall extending in a direction parallel to the connector central axis, the inner sidewall located closer to the connector central axis than the outer sidewall, the electrical contact housing centered on the connector central axis; c. a first terminal including at least two electrically conductive contact pads located adjacent the inner sidewall of the electrical contact housing; and d. a second terminal including at least one electrically conductive contact pad located adjacent the outer sidewall of the electrical contact housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
3. (canceled)
-
6-8. -8. (canceled)
-
11-12. -12. (canceled)
-
18. A plug for making electrical connection between an electric powered device electrically connected to the plug or a portable electrical energy storage device electrically connected to the plug and a connector electrically connected to an electric powered device or a portable electrical energy storage device that is not electrically connected to the plug, the plug comprising:
-
a. an electrical plug housing including a plug end, a terminal end and a plug housing central axis, the plug end located at an end of the electrical plug housing that is opposite an end of the electrical plug housing where the terminal end is located; b. a first terminal located at the plug end and including at least two electrically conductive contact pads, each contact pad of the first terminal extending parallel to the plug housing central axis and positioned around the plug housing central axis; and c. a second terminal located at the plug end and including at least two electrically conductive contact pads, each contact pad of the second terminal extending parallel to the plug housing central axis and positioned around the plug housing central axis, the first terminal of the plug located closer to the plug housing central axis than the second terminal of the plug, each contact pad of the first terminal separated from the contact pads of the second terminal by an electrically nonconductive medium. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 25, 26)
-
-
22-24. -24. (canceled)
-
27-28. -28. (canceled)
-
29. A system for electrically connecting a portable electrical energy storage device to an electrically powered device, the system comprising a connector including:
-
a. an electrically nonconductive connector base, the electrically nonconductive connector base including a connector central axis; b. an electrical contact housing including an outer sidewall extending in a direction parallel to the connector central axis and an inner sidewall extending in a direction parallel to the connector central axis, the inner sidewall located closer to the connector central axis than the outer sidewall, the electrical contact housing centered on the connector central axis; c. a first connector terminal including at least one electrically conductive contact surface located adjacent the inner sidewall of the electrical contact housing; d. a second connector terminal including at least one electrically conductive contact surface located adjacent the outer sidewall of the electrical contact housing; and e. a plug including; f. an electrical plug housing including a plug end, a terminal end and a plug housing central axis, the plug end located at an end of the electrical plug housing that is opposite an end of the electrical plug housing where the terminal end is located; g. a first plug terminal located at the plug end and including at least one electrically conductive contact pad, the at least one contact pad of the first plug terminal extending parallel to the plug housing central axis and positioned around the plug housing central axis; and h. a second plug terminal located at the plug end and including at least one electrically conductive contact pad, the at least one contact pad of the second plug terminal extending parallel to the plug housing central axis and positioned around the plug housing central axis, the first plug terminal located closer to the plug housing central axis than the second plug terminal and the at least one contact pad of the first plug terminal separated from the at least one contact pad of the second plug terminal by an electrically nonconductive medium. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
30. (canceled)
-
36. A connector for making electrical connection between a portable electrical energy storage device electrically connected to the connector or an electric powered device electrically connected to the connector and a plug electrically connected to an electric powered device or a portable electrical energy storage device that is not electrically connected to the connector, the connector comprising:
-
a. an electrically nonconductive connector base having a connector central axis; b. an electrical contact housing including an outer sidewall extending in a direction parallel to the connector central axis and an inner sidewall extending in a direction parallel to the connector central axis, the inner sidewall located closer to the connector central axis than the outer sidewall, the electrical contact housing centered on the connector central axis; c. a first terminal including at least one electrically conductive contact pad located adjacent the inner sidewall of the electrical contact housing; d. a second terminal including at least one electrically conductive contact pad located adjacent the outer sidewall of the electrical contact housing; e. a resilient electrically conductive connector adjacent the second terminal.
-
-
37. A plug for making electrical connection between an electric powered device electrically connected to the plug or a portable electrical energy storage device electrically connected to the plug and a connector electrically connected to an electric powered device or a portable electrical energy storage device that is not electrically connected to the plug, the plug comprising:
-
a. an electrical plug housing including a plug end, a terminal end and a plug housing central axis, the plug end located at an end of the electrical plug housing that is opposite an end of the electrical plug housing where the terminal end is located; b. a first terminal located at the plug end and including at least one electrically conductive contact pad, the at least one contact pad of the first terminal extending parallel to the plug housing central axis and positioned around the plug housing central axis; c. a second terminal located at the plug end and including at least one electrically conductive contact pad, the at least one contact pad of the second terminal extending parallel to the plug housing central axis and positioned around the plug housing central axis, the first terminal of the plug located closer to the plug housing central axis than the second terminal of the plug, the at least one contact pad of the first terminal separated from the at least one pad of the second terminal by an electrically nonconductive medium; d. a resilient electrically conductive connector adjacent the first terminal; and e. a resilient electrically conductive connector adjacent the second terminal.
-
Specification