Charge plug locking device

• US 9,533,586 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2013
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Kahara, Keiji, Kurumizawa, Naoto, Katagiri, Toshiharu, Yuasa, Hiroaki, Kitano, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US14/097,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20140167696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 439/304, 439/352, 439/142
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/97 Holders with separate means to prevent loosening of the coupling or unauthorised removal of apparatus held
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A lock device includes an inlet arranged in a vehicle and having an inlet housing into which a charge cable is insertable. A lock mechanism is capable of locking the charge cable to the inlet. The lock device includes a lock mechanism attachment portion arranged in the inlet housing and enabling attachment of the lock mechanism to the inlet housing. The lock device may be located on an outer surface of the inlet housing and may include a movable lock pin that serves to retain a lock arm of the charge cable and may also be used to retain a lid for closing the inlet. With this system the inlet housing and lock mechanism form a single unit for ease of assembly.

Claims

1. A lock device, comprising:

an inlet attachable to an attachment subject arranged in a power port of a vehicle, the inlet including an inlet housing that accommodates a cylinder into which a charge cable is insertable, the inlet housing including

a wall surrounding a recess that exposes an outer surface of the cylinder, and

an attachment surface formed at a front edge of the wall, wherein the attachment surface is attachable to a back surface of the attachment subject at a position located toward an inner side of the vehicle from the attachment subject;

a lock mechanism capable of locking the charge cable to the inlet; and

a lock mechanism attachment portion defined by the wall of the inlet housing, wherein the lock mechanism attachment portion enables attachment of the lock mechanism to the wall of the inlet housing at a position located toward the inner side of the vehicle from the attachment surface of the inlet housing.

2. The lock device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment surface of the inlet housing is flush and located in a single plane.

3. The lock device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a seal member arranged between the lock mechanism and the lock mechanism attachment portion of the inlet housing.

4. The lock device according to claim 1, wherein

the lock mechanism includes a lock member movable between a lock position and an unlock position and configured to move the lock member to the lock position to lock the charge cable to the inlet and move the lock member to the unlock position to unlock the charge cable, and

the lock mechanism attachment portion includes

a through hole extending through the inlet housing to expose the lock member in the inlet housing, and

an attachment seat arranged on a periphery of the through hole to fix the lock mechanism.

5. The lock device according to claim 3, wherein the lock mechanism includes a seal reception portion to receive the seal member.

6. The lock device according to claim 4, wherein

the lock mechanism includes a flange which is opposed to the attachment seat and through which a bolt is insertable,

the attachment seat includes an upper surface that receives an insert nut, and

the flange is configured such that, when the flange is attached to the attachment seat with the bolt and the insert nut, the flange covers the attaching seat to prevent exposure of the insert nut to the outside.

7. The lock device according to claim 1, wherein

the lock mechanism is configured to be capable of locking a lid that is arranged at a power port of the vehicle to open and close the power port.