# US 12,006,751 B2 · Articulating vehicle energy source door > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,751 B2 - Document ID: US12006751B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/610,214 - Filed: 2020-05-05 - Published: 2022-08-11 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-14 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: Christopher Thomas Schaafsma; Saman Bagheri Farahani; Justin Louis Ruzich; Dennis Matthew Mark - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006751B2 ## CPC - E05D 3/16: with seven parallel pins and four arms - B60K 15/05: Inlet covers - E05D 3/122: {Gear hinges} - E05D 11/06: Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges - E05D 11/1007: {with positive locking} - B60K 2015/0523: {with sliding connection to the vehicle body} - B60K 2015/053: {with hinged connection to the vehicle body} - B60K 2015/0561: {Locking means for the inlet cover} - B60Y 2410/113: Mount clips, snap-fit, e.g. quick fit with elastic members - E05Y 2900/132: Doors - E05Y 2900/534: Fuel lids, charger lids - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A vehicle port door includes a housing and an interlocking linkage assembly. The interlocking linkage assembly is pivotably connected to the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle port door, comprising: a housing; and a flap pivotable relative to the housing via an interlocking linkage assembly, the interlocking linkage assembly including: an intermediate link pivotably connected to a first pivot mount, the first pivot mount supported by the housing; a driver link pivotably connected to a second pivot mount, the second pivot mount supported by the housing; a passive link having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotably connected to the intermediate link and the second end pivotably connected to the flap; and a driven link pivotably connected to the driver link, the intermediate link, and the flap, wherein the flap is aligned with the housing in a closed position, and wherein the flap has clearance relative to the housing in an open position so that the flap is spaced apart from the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle port door of claim 1, wherein the interlocking linkage assembly, in combination with the flap, includes seven pivot connections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle port door of claim 1, wherein the interlocking linkage assembly is retracted into the housing when the interlocking linkage assembly is in the closed position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle port door of claim 1, wherein the interlocking linkage assembly extends outwardly from the housing when the interlocking linkage assembly is in the open position, the housing configured to be installed into an opening defined by a body panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle port door of claim 1, wherein the intermediate link includes a first set of interlocking tabs and a second set of interlocking tabs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle port door of claim 5, wherein the first set of interlocking tabs interlock with the driven link of the interlocking linkage assembly when the driven link is slidably inserted into the first set of interlocking tabs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle port door of claim 6, wherein the first set of interlocking tabs snapably engages the driven link when the interlocking linkage assembly moves toward the open position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The vehicle port door of claim 5, wherein the second set of interlocking tabs interlocks with the passive link of the interlocking linkage assembly when the passive link is slidably inserted into the second set of interlocking tabs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle port door of claim 8, wherein the second set of interlocking tabs snapably engages the passive link when the interlocking linkage assembly moves toward the open position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle port door of claim 1, wherein the first set of interlocking tabs extends laterally from the intermediate link toward the flap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The vehicle port door of claim 5, wherein the second set of interlocking tabs extends outwardly from an end knuckle of the intermediate link. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle port door of claim 1, wherein the interlocking linkage assembly pivots and translates the flap relative to the housing. ### Claim 13 A vehicle port door, comprising: a flap; and a linkage assembly, the linkage assembly including: an intermediate link articulatingly connected to the flap, the intermediate link including a first set of interlocking tabs and a second set of interlocking tabs; a driver link; a passive link pivotably connected to the flap and the intermediate link; and a driven link pivotably connected to the flap, the intermediate link, and the driver link, wherein the first set of interlocking tabs are configured to snapably engage the driven link and the second set of interlocking tabs are configured to snapably engage the passive link when the flap is in an open position so that the flap resists deflection. ### Claim 14 A vehicle port door, comprising: a housing; and a flap articulatingly connected to the housing via a linkage assembly, the linkage assembly including: a paddle link pivotably connected to a first pivot mount supported by the housing; and a relay link pivotably connected to a second pivot mount supported by the housing, the linkage assembly configured to pivot and translate the flap relative to the housing, and the linkage assembly disposed in the housing when the flap is a in a closed position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The vehicle port door of claim 13, wherein the linkage assembly interlocks with itself in an open position when the driven link is slidably inserted to an interlocking tab that extends laterally from the intermediate link. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The vehicle port door of claim 4, wherein the first and second pivot mounts are arranged to pivot the interlocking linkage assembly about axes that are parallel to the body panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The vehicle port door of claim 1, wherein each of the flap, the intermediate link, the driver link, the passive link, and the driven link include two or more knuckles, and wherein an intersection of two knuckles forms a pivot connection. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle port door of claim 17, wherein the paddle link includes a first end knuckle, a second end knuckle, and a first intermediate knuckle, and wherein the intermediate knuckle is offset from the first and second end knuckles to form a corner between the first end knuckle and the second end knuckle.