Service coupling
First Claim
1. A service coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that one or more services are transferable therebetween, the service coupling comprising:
- (a) a plug comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a pair of opposed major surfaces extending between the distal and proximal ends, and a service engagement portion on at least one of the major surfaces; and
(b) a receptacle comprising an opening shaped to receive the plug inserted distal-end first, and a service engagement portion inside the receptacle and corresponding with each plug service engagement portion;
wherein one of the plug and receptacle service engagement portions is substantially arcuate and the other engagement portion is configured to engage at least some portion of the arcuate engagement portion along the arc-length of the arcuate engagement portion, thereby enabling engagement to be maintained between the plug and receptacle engagement portions when the plug is in a rotational position about the arc-axis of the arcuate engagement portion and that is not perfectly aligned with the receptacle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a service coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that one or more services are transferable therebetween. The coupling comprises a plug comprising at least one service engagement portion; and a receptacle comprising an opening to receive the plug, and at least one service engagement portion positioned to engage the plug service engagement portion when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. The engagement is such that a service is transferable between the plug and receptacle. At least one of the plug and receptacle service engagement portions is arcuate thereby enabling engagement to be maintained between the plug and receptacle engagement portions when the plug is rotated about the axis and within the arc-length of the arcuate engagement portion.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A service coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that one or more services are transferable therebetween, the service coupling comprising:
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(a) a plug comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a pair of opposed major surfaces extending between the distal and proximal ends, and a service engagement portion on at least one of the major surfaces; and
(b) a receptacle comprising an opening shaped to receive the plug inserted distal-end first, and a service engagement portion inside the receptacle and corresponding with each plug service engagement portion;
wherein one of the plug and receptacle service engagement portions is substantially arcuate and the other engagement portion is configured to engage at least some portion of the arcuate engagement portion along the arc-length of the arcuate engagement portion, thereby enabling engagement to be maintained between the plug and receptacle engagement portions when the plug is in a rotational position about the arc-axis of the arcuate engagement portion and that is not perfectly aligned with the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A service coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that one or more services are transferable therebetween, the service coupling comprising:
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a receptacle comprising an opening shaped to receive a plug inserted distal-end first, and at least one service engagement portion inside the receptacle for engaging a corresponding service engagement portion on the plug; and
wherein at least one of the receptacle service engagement portions is substantially arcuate such that the plug service engagement portion can engage at least some portion along the arc-length of the arcuate receptacle service engagement portion when the plug is in a rotational position about the arc-axis of the arcuate receptacle service engagement portion and that is not perfectly aligned with the receptacle; and
wherein at least one of the plug service engagement portions is substantially arcuate such that the receptacle service engagement portion can engage at least some portion along the arc-length of the arcuate plug service engagement portion when the plug is in a rotational position about the arc-axis of the arcuate plug service engagement portion and that is not perfectly aligned with the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A service coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that one or more services are transferable therebetween, the coupling comprising:
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(a) a plug comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a pair of opposed major surfaces extending between the distal and proximal ends, and a service engagement portion on at least one of the major surfaces, for engaging a corresponding service engagement portion in a receptacle; and
wherein at least one of the plug service engagement portions is substantially arcuate such that the receptacle service engagement portion can engage at least some portion along the arc-length of the arcuate plug service engagement portion when the plug is in a rotational position about the arc-axis of the arcuate plug service engagement portion and that is not perfectly aligned with the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification