Charge cord locking/unlocking actuator
First Claim
1. A locking mechanism for securing a plug of a charging cord in a charging receptacle of a vehicle, the receptacle configured to receive a charging cord from a first direction, the locking mechanism comprising:
- an actuator including an actuating pin movable along a linear travel path in a second direction the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction;
a linear-actuated cam connected to and driven along the linear travel path by the actuating pin and defining a cam slot formed therein positioned at an angle relative to the linear travel path; and
a locking arm pivotally mounted at a pivot point to a component disposed adjacent to the locking arm and including a follower pin that engages the cam slot and a lock bolt, the locking arm pivot having an axis extending parallel to the first direction, wherein the locking arm is configured to pivot about the pivot point to move between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to movement of the linear-actuated cam along the linear travel path and, during the pivoting, the lock bolt moves from a first position to a second position, the lock bolt being positioned in and at least partially through an opening in the receptacle to engage the charging cord.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A locking mechanism secures a plug of a charging cord in a charging receptacle of a vehicle and includes an actuator, a linear-actuated cam connected thereto and driven along a linear travel path thereby (the cam defining a slot therein positioned at an angle relative to the path), and a locking arm pivotally mounted at a pivot point to a component disposed adjacent the arm. The arm includes a follower pin that engages the slot. The arm pivots about the point to move between locked and unlocked positions in response to movement of the cam along the path. A housing of the vehicle includes the receptacle, a charging interface connected with the plug to allow current to flow from a charging unit to a system of batteries of the vehicle during a charging operation, and the mechanism.
36 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A locking mechanism for securing a plug of a charging cord in a charging receptacle of a vehicle, the receptacle configured to receive a charging cord from a first direction, the locking mechanism comprising:
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an actuator including an actuating pin movable along a linear travel path in a second direction the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; a linear-actuated cam connected to and driven along the linear travel path by the actuating pin and defining a cam slot formed therein positioned at an angle relative to the linear travel path; and a locking arm pivotally mounted at a pivot point to a component disposed adjacent to the locking arm and including a follower pin that engages the cam slot and a lock bolt, the locking arm pivot having an axis extending parallel to the first direction, wherein the locking arm is configured to pivot about the pivot point to move between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to movement of the linear-actuated cam along the linear travel path and, during the pivoting, the lock bolt moves from a first position to a second position, the lock bolt being positioned in and at least partially through an opening in the receptacle to engage the charging cord. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A housing of a vehicle including a system of batteries that receive a charge from an external power source, the housing comprising:
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a receptacle adapted to receive a charging cord from a first direction, the charging cord being coupled to the external power source; a charging interface configured to connect with the charging cord to allow current to flow from the external power source to the system of batteries during a charging operation; and a locking mechanism arranged in the housing to secure the charging cord in the receptacle, the locking mechanism including; an actuator including an actuating pin movable along a linear travel path in a second direction the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; a linear-actuated cam connected to and driven along the linear travel path by the actuating pin and defining a cam slot formed therein positioned at an angle relative to the linear travel path; and a locking arm pivotally mounted at a pivot point to a component disposed adjacent to the locking arm and including a follower pin that engages the cam slot and a lock bolt, wherein the locking arm is configured to pivot about the pivot point to move between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to movement of the linear-actuated cam along the linear travel path and, during the pivoting, the lock bolt moves from a first position to a second position, the lock bolt being positioned in and at least partially through an opening in the receptacle to engage the charging cord. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification