Power connection system

• US 9,190,782 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Club Car Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Club Car Incorporated
• Inventors: King, Russell W., Schult, Dave Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US13/873,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20130337673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 439/38, 439/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/635 by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7037 making use of a magnetically operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/713 the switch being a safety switch

Abstract

An AC cord/plug is “dead” while disconnected and goes “live” only when connected. The plug has a set of spring-loaded, normally-open contacts, each having two sets of fixed contacts and a single set of movable contacts. The movable contacts are in a spring-loaded assembly that has an iron core opposite the contacts, and the fixed contacts are in a hermetically sealed compartment shielding them from the plug'"'"'s exterior. The AC plug inputs (L1, L2) are connected to one set of the normally open, fixed contacts, and the plug'"'"'s socket terminals are connected to the other set of normally opened, fixed contacts. In the unplugged state, the plug'"'"'s socket contacts are electrically isolated from the L1 and L2 inputs. When plugged-in, the plug'"'"'s socket terminals go “live” when a magnetic circuit closes between the plug and socket that causes the plug'"'"'s spring-loaded assembly to move to close the contacts.

Claims

1. An electrical connection system, comprising:

a first connector having at least one electrical switch through which electricity will pass when the switch is closed that is operated by an actuator that leaves the electrical switch open when the actuator is not being activated; and

a second connector that receives the first connector along an established axis of connection and through which electricity will pass when the first connector'"'"'s electrical switch is closed;

a magnetic force that arises between the first and second connectors when they are at a defined distance apart on their axis of connection that activates the actuator in the first connector to close the electrical switch in the first connector; and

a hermetically sealed chamber surrounding the at least one electrical switch through which electricity will pass when the switch is closed and the actuator that leaves the electrical switch open when the actuator is not being activated.

2. The connection system of claim 1, wherein there are two electrical switches through which electricity will pass when the switches are closed that are operated by actuators that leave the switches open when the actuators are not being activated.

3. The connection system of claim 1, and further comprising a spring configured to apply a mechanical force along the axis of connection to the actuator that leaves the electrical switch in an open position when the actuator is not being activated.

4. The connection system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic force is imparted by a ferromagnetic material in the second connector.

5. The connection system of claim 4, wherein the magnetic force is imparted by a magnet in the second connector.

6. The connection system of claim 1, wherein:

the first connector includes a protruding male portion; and

the second connector includes a female socket configured to receive the protruding male portion of the first connector; and

wherein the actuator of the first connector is partially disposed within the protruding male portion and wherein a magnet is disposed at the apex of the female socket within the second connector socket.

7. An electrical connection system, comprising:

a first connector having at least one electrical switch through which electricity will pass when the switch is closed that is operated by an actuator that leaves the electrical switch open when the actuator is not being activated; and

a second connector that receives the first connector along an established axis of connection and through which electricity will pass when the first connector'"'"'s electrical switch is closed; and

a magnetic force that arises between the first and second connectors when they are at a defined distance apart on their axis of connection that activates the actuator in the first connector to close the electrical switch in the first connector;

wherein;

the first connector includes a protruding male portion; and

the second connector includes a female socket configured to receive the protruding male portion of the first connector; and

wherein the actuator of the first connector is partially disposed within the protruding male portion and wherein a magnet is disposed at the apex of the female socket within the second connector socket.

8. The connection system of claim 7, wherein there are two electrical switches through which electricity will pass when the switches are closed that are operated by actuators that leave the switches open when the actuators are not being activated.

9. The connection system of claim 7, and further comprising a spring configured to apply a mechanical force along the axis of connection to the actuator that leaves the electrical switch in an open position when the actuator is not being activated.

10. The connection system of claim 7, wherein the magnetic force is imparted by a ferromagnetic material in the second connector.

11. The connection system of claim 10, wherein the magnetic force is imparted by a magnet in the second connector.

12. The connection system of claim 7, and further comprising a hermetically sealed chamber surrounding the at least one electrical switch through which electricity will pass when the switch is closed and the actuator that leaves the electrical switch open when the actuator is not being activated.