Electric vehicle charging station and method for charging an electric vehicle
First Claim
1. An electric vehicle charging station for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
- an electrical connector electrically connectable to a source of electrical energy, the electrical connector adapted for connecting to a battery of the electric vehicle;
an electrical cable having a first end connected to the electrical connector and a second end connectable to the source of electrical energy;
a frame having a connector receiving portion for receiving the electrical connector;
a locking unit mounted to the frame for preventing a user access to the electrical connector;
the locking unit comprising a connector cover movable between a closed position in which the electrical connector is enclosed in the receiving portion to prevent the user access to the electrical connector, and an open position in which the electrical connector is accessible and removable from the receiving portion, and a connector locking mechanism for locking the connector cover when in the closed position, wherein the frame further comprises a cable receiving portion for receiving the electrical cable;
a control unit operatively connected to the locking unit, the control unit for verifying rights of a user to access the electrical connector and unlocking the locking unit upon successful verification of the user rights to provide the user access to the electrical connector; and
a cable cover pivotally secured to the frame adjacent to the cable receiving portion and movable between a first position in which the electrical cable is enclosed in the cable receiving portion to prevent the user access to the electrical cable, and a second position in which the electrical cable is accessible and removable from the cable receiving portion, anda cable locking mechanism controlled by the control unit for locking the cable cover when in the first position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is described an electric vehicle charging station for charging an electric vehicle, comprising: an electrical connector electrically connectable to a source of electrical energy, the electrical connector adapted for connecting to a battery of the electric vehicle; a frame having a connector receiving portion for receiving the electrical connector; a locking unit mounted to the frame for preventing a user access to the electrical connector; and a control unit operatively connected to the locking unit, the control unit for verifying rights of a user to access the electrical connector and unlocking the locking unit upon successful verification of the user rights to provide the user access to the electrical connector.
13 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electric vehicle charging station for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
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an electrical connector electrically connectable to a source of electrical energy, the electrical connector adapted for connecting to a battery of the electric vehicle; an electrical cable having a first end connected to the electrical connector and a second end connectable to the source of electrical energy; a frame having a connector receiving portion for receiving the electrical connector;
a locking unit mounted to the frame for preventing a user access to the electrical connector;
the locking unit comprising a connector cover movable between a closed position in which the electrical connector is enclosed in the receiving portion to prevent the user access to the electrical connector, and an open position in which the electrical connector is accessible and removable from the receiving portion, and a connector locking mechanism for locking the connector cover when in the closed position, wherein the frame further comprises a cable receiving portion for receiving the electrical cable;a control unit operatively connected to the locking unit, the control unit for verifying rights of a user to access the electrical connector and unlocking the locking unit upon successful verification of the user rights to provide the user access to the electrical connector; and a cable cover pivotally secured to the frame adjacent to the cable receiving portion and movable between a first position in which the electrical cable is enclosed in the cable receiving portion to prevent the user access to the electrical cable, and a second position in which the electrical cable is accessible and removable from the cable receiving portion, and a cable locking mechanism controlled by the control unit for locking the cable cover when in the first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
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at an electric vehicle charging station, verifying rights of a user to use the charging station for charging the electric vehicle; upon successful verification, unlocking a locking unit mounted to a frame of the charging station, the locking unit preventing the user access to an electrical connector electrically connected to a source of electrical power and positioned in a receiving portion of the frame, thereby providing the user access to the electrical connector, said unlocking the locking unit comprising unlocking a locking mechanism operatively connected to a connector cover movable between a closed position in which the electrical connector is enclosed in the receiving portion, thereby preventing the user access to the electrical connector, and an open position in which the electrical connector is accessible and removable from the receiving portion; unlocking a cable cover locked in a first position by a control unit, the cable cover being pivotally secured to the frame adjacent to the cable receiving portion and movable between the first position in which the electrical cable is enclosed in the cable receiving portion to prevent the user access to the electrical cable, and a second position in which the electrical cable is accessible and removable from the cable receiving portion; and the user electrically connecting a battery of the electric vehicle to the electrical connector, thereby charging the electric vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification