# US 11,897,352 B2 · Plug inlet for storing electrical vehicle plug > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,352 B2 - Document ID: US11897352B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/874,539 - Filed: 2022-07-27 - Published: 2022-11-17 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-14 - Assignees: Solaredge Technologies Ltd. - Applicants: Solaredge Technologies Ltd. - Inventors: Michael Raikh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897352B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/6272: {comprising a single latching arm} - B60L 53/11: {DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4} - B60L 53/16: Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - H01R 13/443: Dummy plugs - H01R 13/6205: {Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet} - H01R 13/6271: {Latching means integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence)} - H01R 13/629: Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure {electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances (separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26)} - H01R 13/665: {with built-in electronic circuit (H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence)} - H01R 13/7032: {making use of a separate bridging element directly cooperating with the terminals} - H01R 2201/26: for vehicles - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A method includes plugging a plug into a socket, wherein the plugging includes pushing the plug into the socket at least up to a point that a latch clicks into the plug and locks the plug in place. Pressing down on a lever that rotates around an axis causes the lever to be pushed down. This results in the latch moving away from the plug and unlocking the plug from the socket, to thereby allow the plug to be separated from the socket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a base comprising: a first magnet, a socket configured to receive a plug; and a lever comprising: an axis of rotation coupling the lever to the base; a second magnet, wherein a distance between the first magnet and the second magnet is determined by a repulsion force between the first magnet and the second magnet; and a latch configured to be inserted into and removed from a mortise of the plug; wherein when the plug is inserted into the socket, the latch is configured to be pushed aside by the plug, thereby pushing the first magnet and the second magnet towards each other, and wherein when the plug is fully inserted into the socket the latch is configured to enter the mortise thereby locking the plug in the socket. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of the first magnet and the second magnet comprises an electromagnet and the other of the first magnet and the second magnet comprises a ferromagnetic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a controller is configured to activate or deactivate the electromagnet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein activating the electromagnet locks the plug into the socket and wherein deactivating the electromagnet unlocks the plug from the socket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein activating the electromagnet unlocks the plug from the socket and wherein deactivating the electromagnet locks the plug into the socket. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second magnet is positioned on a first end of the lever and wherein the latch is positioned on a second end of the lever. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axis of rotation is positioned between the second magnet and the latch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plug comprises an electrical vehicle charging plug. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lever comprises a handle configured receive a force applied to the handle, and wherein the force is configured to push the first magnet and the second magnet towards each other. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: plugging a plug into a socket of a base, wherein the plugging includes pushing the plug into the socket at least up to a point that a latch of a lever is inserted into a mortise of the plug, thereby locking the plug in place, wherein the lever is coupled to the base by an axis of rotation; receiving a wireless signal, by a controller, to unlock the plug; and releasing, by the controller, the latch from the mortise and unlocking the plug from the socket, thereby allowing removal of the plug from the socket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising a locking mechanism, wherein the releasing comprises activating or deactivating the locking mechanism, and wherein the lever comprises a magnet mounted on a first end of the lever and wherein the latch is positioned on a second end of the lever. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the releasing comprises activating or deactivating an electromagnet, and wherein the locking mechanism comprises the electromagnet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the plug corresponds to an electrical vehicle charging plug. ### Claim 14 A system comprising: a plug comprising a mortise; a plug inlet, the plug inlet comprising: a base comprising: a first magnet, a socket configured to receive the plug; and a lever comprising: an axis of rotation coupling the lever to the base; a second magnet, wherein a distance between the first magnet and the second magnet is determined by a repulsion force between the first magnet and the second magnet; and a latch configured to be inserted into and removed from the mortise; wherein when the plug is inserted into the socket, the latch is configured to be pushed aside by the plug, thereby pushing the first magnet and the second magnet towards each other, and wherein when the plug is fully inserted into the socket the latch is configured to enter the mortise thereby locking the plug in the socket. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein one of the first magnet and the second magnet comprises an electromagnet and the other of the first magnet and the second magnet comprises a ferromagnetic material, and wherein a controller configured to activate or deactivate the electromagnet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein activating the electromagnet locks the plug into the socket and wherein deactivating the electromagnet unlocks the plug from the socket. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein activating the electromagnet unlocks the plug from the socket and wherein deactivating the electromagnet locks the plug into the socket. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein the plug inlet comprises a magnetic sensor in communication with a controller configured to detect the location of the plug in relation to the plug inlet based on signals received from the magnetic sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18 wherein the controller is configured to detect the spatial orientation of the plug in relation to the plug inlet based on signals received from the magnetic sensor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein the second magnet is mounted on a first end of the lever and wherein the latch is positioned on a second end of the lever.