Patent US5385480A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5385480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector inlet assembly with break-away mechanism for electric vehicle
Assignee: Hubbell Inc
•
Filing: 1993-09-02
•
Granted: 1995-01-31
•
Expires: 2013-09-02
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector inlet assembly with a break-away mechanism coupled to an electric vehicle for receiving electrical energy. The break-away mechanism disconnects the contacts of the inlet assembly or receptacle from the contacts of the plug to prevent damage of the electrical connector assembly, upon application of a highly excessive force pulling the plug away from the receptacle prior to disengagement of the contacts. The electrical connector inlet assembly receives an electrical connector or plug with electrical contacts for mating with the electrical contacts of the electrical inlet assembly or receptacle. The plug has a cover for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts and to protect the electrical contacts from the environment. Likewise, the receptacle has a cover for selectively covering and uncovering its electrical contacts to prevent inadvertent contact with the electrical contacts and to protect the electrical contacts from the environment. In the preferred embodiment, the covers of the plug and receptacle are either automatically or manually uncovered only after full insertion of the plug into the receptacle. The plug can be inserted into the receptacle with little or no force by the user since the contacts of the plug and receptacle are not electrically coupled together until after full insertion of the plug into the receptacle.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest G. Hoffman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:43
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/64; H01R13/641; B; B60; B60L; B60L50/00; B60L50/50; B60L50/60; B60L50/66; B60L53/00; B60L53/10; B60L53/11; B60L53/14; B60L53/16; B60L53/30; B60L53/31; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; H01R13/44; H01R13/447; H01R13/453; H01R13/4532; H01R13/4536; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/5213; H01R13/62; H01R13/629; H01R13/62933; H01R13/62938; B60L2250/00; B60L2250/16; B60L2270/00; B60L2270/30; B60L2270/32; B60L2270/34; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/5219; H01R13/633; H01R2201/00; H01R2201/26; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/7072; Y02T90/00; Y02T90/10; Y02T90/12; Y02T90/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly for recharging a battery of an electric vehicle, comprising: a first housing with a mounting member for rigidly coupling said first housing to a structure of the vehicle; a second housing with an inlet cavity for receiving a mating electrical connector with a first set of electrical contacts therein; a joint assembly movably coupling said first housing to said second housing for limited relative movement therebetween; a second set of electrical contacts movably coupled to said second housing for movement between a retracted position remote from said inlet cavity and an extended position located within said inlet cavity for electrically engaging the first set of electrical contacts of the mating electrical connector; an actuation mechanism operatively coupled to said second set of electrical contacts for moving said second set of electrical contacts between said retracted position and said extended position; and a break-away mechanism for disengaging the first set of electrical contacts of the mating electrical connector from said second set of electrical contacts when coupled together and after application of an excessively high force therebetween, said break-away mechanism including a release mechanism for moving said second set of contacts from said extended position to said retracted position upon a predetermined amount of relative movement between said first and second housings, and a trigger mechanism operatively coupled between said first and second housings for sensing relative movement between said first and second housings and operatively coupled to said release mechanism for activating said release mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly for recharging a battery of an electric vehicle, comprising: a first housing with a mounting member for rigidly coupling said first housing to a structure of the vehicle; a second housing with an inlet cavity for receiving a mating electrical connector with a first set of electrical contacts therein; a joint assembly movably coupling said first housing to said second housing for limited relative movement therebetween; a second set of electrical contacts movably coupled to said second housing for movement between a retracted position remote from said inlet cavity and an extended position located within said inlet cavity for electrically engaging the first set of electrical contacts of the mating electrical connector; an actuation mechanism operatively coupled to said second set of electrical contacts for moving said second set of electrical contacts between said retracted position and said extended position; and a break-away mechanism for disengaging the first set of electrical contacts of the mating electrical connector from said second set of electrical contacts when coupled together and after application of an excessively high force therebetween, said break-away mechanism including a release mechanism for moving said second set of contacts from said extended position to said retracted position upon a predetermined amount of relative movement between said first and second housings, and a trigger mechanism operatively coupled between said first and second housings for sensing relative movement between said first and second housings and operatively coupled to said release mechanism for activating said release mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 1, wherein said actuation mechanism includes a cam member normally biased to a retracted position by said release mechanism, and a drive member normally biased to an extended position, said release mechanism being coupled to said drive member and releasably coupled to said cam member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 2, wherein said trigger mechanism includes a movable member movably supported in a trigger support coupled to said second housing, and a stationary member with a camming surface coupled to said first housing for engaging said movable member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 3, wherein said movable member includes a ball slidably coupled to said trigger support for engaging said camming surface, and a trigger lever pivotally coupled to said trigger support with a first end of said trigger lever engaging said ball and a second end of said trigger lever engaging said release mechanism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 4, wherein said camming surface of said stationary member includes a cone-shaped recess and an annular ring surrounding said cone-shaped recess.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 5, wherein said trigger mechanism includes a spring for biasing said trigger lever against said ball.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 6, wherein said release mechanism includes a release latch coupled between said drive member and said cam member and a spring for normally biasing said cam member to its retracted position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 7, wherein said release latch is movably coupled to said drive member for movement therewith between their retracted and extended positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 8, wherein said release latch includes a tab for selectively engaging a shelf formed in said cam member, and for engaging a slot formed in said drive member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 9, wherein said cam member and said drive member are pivotally coupled to said second housing about a first pivot rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 10, wherein said latch member has a slot for receiving said first rod.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 11, wherein said second end of said trigger lever engages said release latch for moving said release latch about said first pivot rod to disengage said tab from said shelf when said ball moves sufficiently relative to said cone-shaped recess.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 12, wherein said joint assembly includes a pair of transverse pivot members coupled between said first and second housings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 13, wherein each of said pivot members includes a pivot pin rotatably positioned within a tube, and said tubes of said pivot members being rigidly coupled together.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 2, wherein said release mechanism includes a release latch coupled between said drive member and said cam member and a spring for normally biasing said cam member to its retracted position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 15, wherein said release latch is movably coupled to said drive member for movement therewith between their retracted and extended positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 16, wherein said release latch includes a tab for selectively engaging a shelf formed in said cam member, and for engaging a slot formed in said drive member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 17, wherein said cam member and said drive member are pivotally coupled to said second housing about a first pivot rod.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 18, wherein said latch member has a slot for receiving said first rod.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 2, wherein said joint assembly includes a pair of transverse pivot members coupled between said first and second housings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical connector inlet assembly according to claim 20, wherein each of said pivot members includes a pivot pin rotatably positioned within a tube, and said tubes of said pivot members being rigidly coupled together.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
SU208053A1
Cited
US3270267A
Cited
DE1926582A1
Cited
US3952239A
Cited
US3950059A
Cited
US4217019A
Cited
US4158802A
Cited
US4203640A
Cited
EP0049625A1
Cited
US4431241A
Cited
US4624472A
Cited
US4718862A
Cited
US4843477A
Cited
US5220268A
Cited
US5104331A
Cited
US5157319A
Cited
US5174772A
Cited
US5306999A
Cited
US5252078A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-30 | 1998-08-01 | 1999-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-30 | 2002-08-01 | 2003-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-30 | 2006-08-01 | 2007-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |