Retractable overhead charging cord dispenser for vehicles

• US 8,058,841 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2008
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schultz, David W, Chander, Bala, Miller, Ted James, Gilman, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US12/258,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20100102775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,116 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/111, 320/114, 320/115, 414/281, 414/283
• US Class Current: 320/115
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/34 electric cords or electric power cables
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4402 Guiding arrangements to control paying-out and re-storing of the material guides per se B65H57/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/446 for releasably or permanently attaching the frame to a wall, on a floor or on a post or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4486 Electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0481 with a circular cross-section H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to a retractable overhead charging cord dispenser which has multi-positioning capability to provide plug-in electric power to PHEVs parked at various positions in a garage or the like. An illustrative embodiment of the retractable overhead charging cord dispenser includes an arm assembly, a cord guide arm carried by the arm assembly, a cord storage device provided in the arm assembly and a retractable charging cord extendable from the cord storage device and extending through and protruding from the cord guide arm.

Claims

1. A retractable overhead charging cord dispenser, comprising:

an arm assembly;

a cord guide arm carried by said arm assembly;

a cord storage device provided in said arm assembly;

a cord storage device motor drivingly engaging said cord storage device; and

a retractable charging cord extendable from said cord storage device and extending through and protruding from said cord guide arm.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a remote control unit adapted for remote control of said cord storage device motor.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said cord guide arm is selectively extendable and retractable in length.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein said cord guide arm is telescopically extendable.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said cord guide arm is pivotally carried by said arm assembly.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a guide arm motor operably engaging said arm assembly and adapted to rotate said cord guide arm in a circular motion around said arm assembly.

7. The dispenser of claim 6 further comprising a remote control unit adapted for remote control of said cord storage device motor.

8. A retractable overhead charging cord dispenser, comprising:

at least one track rail;

an arm assembly slidably carried by said at least one track rail;

a track motor engaging said arm assembly;

a cord guide arm carried by said arm assembly;

a cord storage device provided in said arm assembly; and

a retractable charging cord extendable from said cord storage device and extending through and protruding from said cord guide arm.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 further comprising a cord storage device motor drivingly engaging said cord storage device.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 further comprising a remote control unit adapted for remote control of said cord storage device motor.

11. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said cord guide arm is selectively extendable and retractable in length.

12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein said cord guide arm is telescopically extendable.

13. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said cord guide arm is pivotally carried by said arm assembly.

14. The dispenser of claim 8 further comprising a guide arm motor operably engaging said arm assembly and adapted to rotate said cord guide arm in a circular motion around said arm assembly.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 further comprising a remote control unit adapted for remote control of said cord storage device motor.

16. A retractable overhead charging cord dispenser, comprising:

an arm assembly;

a cord guide arm carried by said arm assembly for 360 degree positioning around the arm assembly;

a cord storage device provided in said arm assembly; and

a retractable charging cord extendable from said cord storage device and extending through and protruding from said cord guide arm.