US 12,444,873 B2 · Charging socket with compact and secure protection for conductors against foreign objects

Abstract

A socket with compact protection for conductors against foreign objects. The socket comprises a housing having channels extending in a mating direction, power conductors disposed in the channels, and assemblies disposed on the channels to block entrances into the channels. The assemblies are within a chamber of the housing surrounded by a wall. Each assembly comprises a cover and shutters pivotably coupled to the cover. Each shutter has a blocking portion and an actuating portion configured to be actuated by the housing of a desired plug. When the actuating portion is actuated, the blocking portion moves away from blocking the entrance to the channel. When a mating plug is removed and the actuating portion returns to its rest state, the blocking portion automatically moves back to block the entrance to the channel. Such a configuration reduces the risk of anything other than terminals of the desired plug contacting the conductors.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A socket, comprising:

a housing comprising a chamber surrounded by a wall;
a plurality of conductive elements held by the housing and comprising mating ends extending in a mating direction;
and
a plurality of shutter assemblies disposed inside the chamber and each of the plurality of shutter assemblies comprising:
a cover comprising a plurality of openings, and
a movably mounted shutter configured to move into a first position in which the shutter blocks a first portion of the mating end of a respective conductive element of the plurality of conductive elements in the mating direction and a second position in which the shutter blocks a second portion, smaller than the first portion, of the mating end of the respective conductive element of the plurality of conductive elements in the mating direction, the shutter comprising:
a first portion configured to block the mating end of a respective conductive element of the plurality of conductive elements, and
a second portion coupled to the first portion and extending radially away from the conductive element and through a respective opening of the plurality of openings of the cover.

5 more elements

A socket, comprising:

a conductive element comprising a mating end configured to receive a mating conductive element inserted along an axis of insertion;
and
a shutter subassembly comprising:
a cover comprising a plurality of openings, and an aperture aligned, along the axis of insertion, with the mating end of the conductive element;
and
a plurality of shutters pivotably mounted to the cover and configured to pivot between at least a first state and a second state, each of the plurality of shutters comprising:
a first portion configured to block the mating end of the conductive element, and
a second portion coupled to the first portion and extending radially away from the conductive element and through a respective opening of the plurality of openings of the cover,
wherein a larger portion of the aperture is blocked by the plurality of shutters in the first state than in the second state.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Charging socket with compact and secure protection for conductors against foreign objects

Life of this patent

Charging socket with compact and secure protection for conductors against foreign objects

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22