# US 11,993,167 B2 · Snow protector for vehicle charge port > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,167 B2 - Document ID: US11993167B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/531,232 - Filed: 2021-11-19 - Published: 2023-05-25 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-19 - Assignees: Polestar Performance AB - Applicants: Polestar Performance AB - Inventors: Niklas Johansson; Marcus Gustafsson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993167B2 ## CPC - B60L 53/30: Constructional details of charging stations - B60L 53/16: Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction - 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 - 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 - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A charge port cover, sized and shaped for selective concealment of a charge port recess of a vehicle during vehicle connection via a charging cable to an external charging source. The charge port cover includes a body plate member comprised of rigid or semi-rigid material. The body plate member includes a planar front face and a planar rear face juxtaposed in opposite orientations to one another. The body plate member also includes an outer edge surface joining and defining a perimeter of the front face and the rear face, the outer edge surface having a thin profile. The body plate member also includes a charging connector aperture, located at an interior spaced-apart location from the perimeter, defining a passageway between the planar front face and the planar rear face and configured to selectively receive a charging cable therethrough. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A charge port cover, sized and shaped for selective concealment of a charge port recess of a vehicle during vehicle connection via a charging cable to an external charging source, comprising: a body plate member comprised of rigid or semi-rigid material including: a planar front face and a planar rear face juxtaposed in opposite orientations to one another; an outer edge surface joining and defining a perimeter of the planar front face and the planar rear face, the outer edge surface having a thin profile; and a charging connector aperture, located at an interior spaced-apart location from the perimeter, defining a passageway between the planar front face and the planar rear face and configured to selectively receive the charging cable therethrough, wherein the outer edge surface is shaped and sized for a clearance fit within an outer periphery defining the charge port recess of a vehicle extending inwards from an exterior surface of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, wherein the body plate member is equipped to function as an ice scraper and snow removal tool when not concealing the charge port recess. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The charge port cover of claim 2, wherein the perimeter of the body plate member includes an ice scraper edge comprised of a straight rigid segment of an outer edge surface material disposed across an upper portion of the body plate member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The charge port cover of claim 3, wherein the charging connector aperture provides a handle grip for use of the charge port cover for ice scraping and snow removal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, wherein the body plate member further comprises at least one lid contour in the perimeter of the outer edge surface that is configured to provide a clearance fit with a charge port lid mechanism of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, wherein the body plate member further comprises at least one lid support aperture configured to provide a clearance fit with at least one lid support structure of a charge port lid mechanism of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, wherein the body plate member comprises a thickness between 2.8 mm and 3.2 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, wherein the body plate member is comprised of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, wherein a first segment of an upper portion of the perimeter is parallel to a second segment of a lower portion of the perimeter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, wherein the charging connector aperture is wide enough to allow viewing of lighted portions in an area surrounding the charging cable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, wherein the body plate member is transparent or semi-transparent. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, wherein a straight rigid segment of an outer edge surface material is disposed across an upper portion of the body plate member about the perimeter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, wherein the body plate member is a rigid material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the outer edge surface includes a sharp edge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, further comprising a sharp component coupled to the outer edge surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The charge port cover of claim 15, wherein: the outer edge surface includes a straight segment; and the sharp component coupled to the outer edge surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The charge port cover of claim 1, wherein the charge port cover is removably attachable to the charge port recess.