Electrical connector with flexible blade shaped handle
First Claim
1. A flexible electrical connector for supplying power to a receiving device, the flexible electrical connector comprising:
- a blade-shaped housing having a first portion and an opposing second portion, wherein the second portion defines a handle that is configured to flex about the first portion of the housing along an arc in a single plane, the arc extending about −
35°
to about 35°
from a longitudinal axis of the housing extending from the first portion to the second portion when the flexible electrical connector is in a rest position;
an electrical interface at the first portion of the housing, wherein the electrical interface is configured to detachably mate with a corresponding electrical interface on the receiving device; and
a power cord extending from the second portion of the housing;
wherein the blade-shaped housing has two substantially parallel sidewalls defining a length and a height of the housing, the sidewalls being set apart by a width that is smaller than the height which is smaller than the length; and
wherein the single plane about which the handle can flex is substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls and substantially parallel to the length.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The flexible electrical connector is designed to facilitate electrical connections between a power receiving device, such as an at least partially electric vehicle, and a power supplying device, such as an electric vehicle charging station. The flexible electrical connector has a blade shaped housing attached to a power cord that extends to the power supplying device. The blade shaped housing has a substantially rigid end portion with an electrical interface configured to detachably mate with a corresponding electrical interface on the power receiving device. The blade shaped housing also has a handle portion made of a substantially flexible material such which is configured to flex about the rigid end portion along an arc in a single plane. As such, the flexible handle can absorb impacts it receives rather than transferring them to the rigid and breakable electrical interface components.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A flexible electrical connector for supplying power to a receiving device, the flexible electrical connector comprising:
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a blade-shaped housing having a first portion and an opposing second portion, wherein the second portion defines a handle that is configured to flex about the first portion of the housing along an arc in a single plane, the arc extending about −
35°
to about 35°
from a longitudinal axis of the housing extending from the first portion to the second portion when the flexible electrical connector is in a rest position;an electrical interface at the first portion of the housing, wherein the electrical interface is configured to detachably mate with a corresponding electrical interface on the receiving device; and a power cord extending from the second portion of the housing; wherein the blade-shaped housing has two substantially parallel sidewalls defining a length and a height of the housing, the sidewalls being set apart by a width that is smaller than the height which is smaller than the length; and wherein the single plane about which the handle can flex is substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls and substantially parallel to the length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A flexible electrical connector kit for supplying power to a receiving device, the flexible electrical connector kit comprising:
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a first blade-shaped housing having a first portion and an opposing second portion; the second portion defining a handle that is configured to flex about the first portion of the housing along an arc in a single plane, the arc extending about −
35°
to about 35°
from a longitudinal axis of the housing extending from the first portion to the second portion when the flexible electrical connector is in a rest position; andan electrical interface at the first portion of the housing, wherein the electrical interface is configured to detachably mate with a corresponding electrical interface on a receiving device; a power cord extending from the second portion of the housing; and a second housing having a first portion and an opposing second portion; an electrical interface at the first portion of the second housing, wherein the electrical interface is configured to detachably mate with a corresponding electrical interface on a power supply device; and the power cord extending from the second portion of the second housing; wherein the first blade-shaped housing has two substantially parallel sidewalls defining a length and a height of the housing, the sidewalls being set apart by a width that is smaller than the height which is smaller than the length; and wherein the single plane about which the handle can flex is substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls and substantially parallel to the length. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A flexible electrical connector for supplying power to a receiving device, the flexible electrical connector comprising:
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a blade-shaped housing having a first portion and an opposing second portion, wherein the second portion defines a handle that is configured to flex about the first portion of the housing along an arc in a single plane, the arc extending about −
35°
to about 35°
from a longitudinal axis of the housing extending from the first portion to the second portion when the flexible electrical connector is in a rest position;an electrical interface at the first portion of the housing, wherein the electrical interface is configured to detachably mate with a corresponding electrical interface on an at least partially electric vehicle; and a power cord extending from the second portion of the housing; wherein the blade-shaped housing has two substantially parallel sidewalls defining a length and a height of the housing, the sidewalls being set apart by a width that is smaller than the height which is smaller than the length; and wherein the single plane about which the handle can flex is substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls and substantially parallel to the length.
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Specification