US5536173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Charge connector for electric vehicles
Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-07-20
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Granted: 1996-07-16
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Expires: 2014-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A connector including a locking mechanism to prevent a charge coupling from being broken when charging. A supply connector connected to a power source and a vehicle battery connector installed in an electric vehicle has a handle grip and a connector body attached to a distal end of the handle grip. The handle grip is provided in its interior with a lock mechanism which maintains and releases the coupling of the supply connector to the vehicle inlet and with a control which controls the lock mechanism. The control includes a detector for detecting a complete coupling of the supply connector to the vehicle connector. The control actuates the lock mechanism only when the detector detects the complete coupling and commencement of charging and releases the lock mechanism only when charging is stopped.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitsuhiro Fujitani
- 👤 Kazumoto Konda
- 👤 Yoshihiko Hotta
- 👤 Daijiro Ichikawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:21
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/64; H01R13/641; B; B60; B60L; B60L53/00; B60L53/10; B60L53/14; B60L53/16; B60L2250/00; B60L2250/16; B60L2270/00; B60L2270/30; B60L2270/32; B60L2270/34; H01R2107/00; H01R2201/00; H01R2201/26; H01R24/00; H01R24/66; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/7072; Y02T90/00; Y02T90/10; Y02T90/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A supply connector for detachably coupling to a vehicle battery connector to charge a battery of an electric vehicle, comprising: a supply connector body; means for detecting an electrical connection between said supply connector and said vehicle battery connector; means for detecting a complete coupling between said supply connector body and said vehicle battery connector after said electrical connection detecting means has detected said electrical connection; a lock mechanism for locking and maintaining the complete coupling of said supply connector body to said vehicle battery connector in response to a detected signal of the complete coupling from said complete coupling detecting means and an ON signal from a charge switch in a charging device and releasing the locking of the complete coupling of said supply connector body to said vehicle battery connector in response to an OFF signal from said charge switch; and means for detecting the locking and maintenance of the complete coupling due to actuation of said lock mechanism to generate a signal for closing a circuit and charging the battery in the electric vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A supply connector for detachably coupling to a vehicle battery connector to charge a battery of an electric vehicle, comprising: a supply connector body; means for detecting an electrical connection between said supply connector and said vehicle battery connector; means for detecting a complete coupling between said supply connector body and said vehicle battery connector after said electrical connection detecting means has detected said electrical connection; a lock mechanism for locking and maintaining the complete coupling of said supply connector body to said vehicle battery connector in response to a detected signal of the complete coupling from said complete coupling detecting means and an ON signal from a charge switch in a charging device and releasing the locking of the complete coupling of said supply connector body to said vehicle battery connector in response to an OFF signal from said charge switch; and means for detecting the locking and maintenance of the complete coupling due to actuation of said lock mechanism to generate a signal for closing a circuit and charging the battery in the electric vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A supply connector according to claim 1, wherein said complete coupling detecting means includes means for indicating an operating state of said means and wherein said coupling maintenance detecting means includes means for indicating an operating state of said lock mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-16 | 2000-01-15 | 2000-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-16 | 2004-01-15 | 2004-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-16 | 2008-01-15 | 2008-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |