US 2025/0367995 A1 · Object manipulator for effectuating automated connection between vehicle and counterpart-disposed configuration

Abstract

A three part vehicle connection system comprising an object manipulator (A), a vehicle-defined connector (B) and a configuration-defined connection counterpart (e.g., a trailer-side or charging station-side connector, C) is disclosed. (A) and (B) are connectible; and, (B) and (C) are connectible. The connections (A to B and B to C) can be in a state that (i) defeats or (ii) allows connector disengagement. In a first configuration (1): (A) is connected to (B) in state (i) and (B) is connected to (C) in state (ii). When in configuration (1), an actuator of (A) can cause a change to a second configuration (2) wherein: (A) is connected to (B) in state (ii) and (B is connected to (C) in state (i).

Claims21

Dependent claims

-352. (canceled)

A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle-defined connection counterpart, comprising:
a retaining member configuration, wherein the retaining member configuration is configurable in a first retaining configuration and in a second retaining configuration;
an object manipulator, comprising:
a retaining member actuator;
and
a manipulator-defined retaining counterpart;
the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configured such that:
the object manipulator is connectible to the vehicle-defined connection counterpart;
while the object manipulator is connected to the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configurable in a relative movement interference relationship and a relative movement effectible relationship;
in the relative movement interference relationship:
the retaining member configuration is disposed in the first retaining configuration;
the retaining member configuration and the manipulator-defined retaining counterpart are co-operatively configured such that interference to displacement of the object manipulator, relative to the vehicle defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, is established, such that defeating of the connection of the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, via displacement of the object manipulator, relative to the vehicle defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, is opposed;
in the relative movement effectible relationship:
the retaining member configuration is disposed in the second retaining configuration;
the retaining member configuration and the manipulator-defined retaining counterpart are co-operatively configured such that there is an absence of interference to displacement of the object manipulator, relative to the vehicle defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, such that the object manipulator is displaceable, relative to the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, for effectuating defeating of the connection of the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart;
while the object manipulator is connected to the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, the retaining member configuration and the retaining member actuator are co-operatively configurable in an interaction-effective relationship, wherein, in the interaction-effective relationship, the retaining member configuration is disposed, relative to the retaining member actuator, such that the retaining member configuration is actuatable, by the retaining member actuator, for transitioning the retaining member configuration between the first retaining configuration and the second retaining configuration;
wherein:
the vehicle-defined connection counterpart is configured for connection to a configuration-defined connection counterpart of a counterpart-disposed configuration, the configuration-defined connection counterpart comprising:
a connector-defined retaining counterpart;
the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configured such that:
while the vehicle-defined connection counterpart is connected to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configurable in a relative movement interference relationship and a relative movement effectible relationship;
in the relative movement interference relationship:
the retaining member configuration is disposed in the second retaining configuration;
the retaining member configuration and the connector-defined retaining counterpart are co-operatively configured such that interference to displacement of the vehicle defined connection counterpart, relative to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the configuration-defined connection counterpart, is established, such that defeating of the connection of the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart, via displacement, of the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, relative to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the configuration-defined connection counterpart, is opposed;
in the relative movement effectible relationship:
the retaining member configuration is disposed in the first retaining configuration;
the retaining member configuration and the connector-defined retaining counterpart are co-operatively configured such that there is an absence of interference to displacement of the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, relative to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the configuration-defined connection counterpart, such that the vehicle-defined connection counterpart is displaceable, relative to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the configuration-defined connection counterpart, for effectuating defeating of the connection of the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart;
while:
(i) the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart are connected such that the retaining member configuration and the retaining member actuator are co-operatively configured in the interaction-effective relationship, and disposed in the relative movement interference relationship, and (ii) the vehicle-defined connection counterpart is connected to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, and disposed in the relative movement effectible-relationship:
in response to actuation of the retaining member configuration by the retaining member actuator, the retaining member configuration is transitioned from the first retaining configuration to the second retaining configuration, with effect that:
the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart become disposed in the relative movement effectible relationship;
and
the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart become disposed in the relative movement interference relationship.

30 more elements

A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle-defined connection counterpart, comprising:
a retaining member configuration, wherein the retaining member configuration is configurable in a first retaining configuration and in a second retaining configuration;
an object manipulator, comprising:
a manipulator-defined retaining counterpart;
the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configured such that:
the object manipulator is connectible to the vehicle-defined connection counterpart;
while the object manipulator is connected to the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configurable in a relative movement interference relationship and a relative movement effectible relationship;
in the relative movement interference relationship:
the retaining member configuration is disposed in the first retaining configuration;
the retaining member configuration and the manipulator-defined retaining counterpart are co-operatively configured such that interference to displacement of the object manipulator, relative to the vehicle defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, is established, such that defeating of the connection of the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, via displacement of the object manipulator, relative to the vehicle defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, is opposed;
in the relative movement effectible relationship:
the retaining member configuration is disposed in the second retaining configuration;
the retaining member configuration and the manipulator-defined retaining counterpart are co-operatively configured such that there is an absence of interference to displacement of the object manipulator, relative to the vehicle defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, such that the object manipulator is displaceable, relative to the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, for effectuating defeating of the connection of the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart;
wherein:
the vehicle-defined connection counterpart is configured for connection to a configuration-defined connection counterpart of a counterpart-disposed configuration, the configuration-defined connection counterpart comprising:
a connector-defined retaining counterpart;
the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configured such that:
while the vehicle-defined connection counterpart is connected to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configurable in a relative movement interference relationship and a relative movement effectible relationship;
in the relative movement interference relationship:
the retaining member configuration is disposed in the second retaining configuration;
the retaining member configuration and the connector-defined retaining counterpart are co-operatively configured such that interference to displacement of the vehicle defined connection counterpart, relative to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the configuration-defined connection counterpart, is established, such that defeating of the connection of the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart, via displacement, of the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, relative to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the configuration-defined connection counterpart, is opposed;
in the relative movement effectible relationship:
the retaining member configuration is disposed in the first retaining configuration;
the retaining member configuration and the connector-defined retaining counterpart are co-operatively configured such that there is an absence of interference to displacement of the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, relative to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the configuration-defined connection counterpart, such that the vehicle-defined connection counterpart is displaceable, relative to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the configuration-defined connection counterpart, for effectuating defeating of the connection of the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart;
while:
(i) the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart are connected, and disposed in the relative movement interference relationship, and (ii) the vehicle-defined connection counterpart is connected to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, and disposed in the relative movement effectible-relationship:
in response to transition of the retaining member configuration from the first retaining configuration to the second retaining configuration:
the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart become disposed in the relative movement effectible relationship;
and
the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart become disposed in the relative movement interference relationship.

27 more elements

A counterpart-disposed configuration, comprising:

a configuration-defined connection counterpart, comprising:
a connector-defined retaining counterpart;
wherein:
the configuration-defined connection counterpart is configured for connection to a vehicle-defined connection counterpart of a vehicle, the vehicle-defined connection counterpart comprising:
a retaining member configuration, wherein the retaining member configuration is configurable in a first retaining configuration and in a second retaining configuration;
the configuration-defined connection counterpart and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configured such that:
while the configuration-defined connection counterpart is connected to the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, the configuration-defined connection counterpart and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configurable in a relative movement interference relationship and a relative movement effectible relationship;
in the relative movement interference relationship:
the retaining member configuration is disposed in the first retaining configuration;
the retaining member configuration and the connector-defined retaining counterpart are co-operatively configured such that interference to displacement of the vehicle defined connection counterpart, relative to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the configuration-defined connection counterpart, is established, such that defeating of the connection of the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart, via displacement, of the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, relative to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the configuration-defined connection counterpart, is opposed;
in the relative movement effectible relationship:
the retaining member configuration is disposed in the second retaining configuration;
the retaining member configuration and the connector-defined retaining counterpart are co-operatively configured such that there is an absence of interference to displacement of the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, relative to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the configuration-defined connection counterpart, such that the vehicle-defined connection counterpart is displaceable, relative to the configuration-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the configuration-defined connection counterpart, for effectuating defeating of the connection of the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart;
the vehicle-defined connection counterpart is configured for connection to an object manipulator of the vehicle, the object manipulator comprising:
a retaining member actuator;
and
a manipulator-defined retaining counterpart;
the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configured such that:
while the object manipulator is connected to the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart are co-operatively configurable in a relative movement interference relationship and a relative movement effectible relationship;
in the relative movement interference relationship:
the retaining member configuration is disposed in the second retaining configuration;
the retaining member configuration and the manipulator-defined retaining counterpart are co-operatively configured such that interference to displacement of the object manipulator, relative to the vehicle defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, is established, such that defeating of the connection of the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, via displacement of the object manipulator, relative to the vehicle defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, is opposed;
in the relative movement effectible relationship:
the retaining member configuration is disposed in the first retaining configuration;
the retaining member configuration and the manipulator-defined retaining counterpart are co-operatively configured such that there is an absence of interference to displacement of the object manipulator, relative to the vehicle defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, such that the object manipulator is displaceable, relative to the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, in a direction away from the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, for effectuating defeating of the connection of the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart;
while the object manipulator is connected to the vehicle-defined connection counterpart, the retaining member configuration and the retaining member actuator are co-operatively configurable in an interaction-effective relationship, wherein, in the interaction-effective relationship, the retaining member configuration is disposed, relative to the retaining member actuator, such that the retaining member configuration is actuatable, by the retaining member actuator, for transitioning the retaining member configuration between the first retaining configuration and the second retaining configuration;
while:
(i) the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart are connected, and disposed in the relative movement interference relationship, and (ii) the object manipulator is connected to the vehicle-defined connection counterpart such that the retaining member configuration and the retaining member actuator are co-operatively configured in the interaction-effective relationship, and disposed in the relative movement effectible-relationship:
in response to actuation of the retaining member configuration by the retaining member actuator, the retaining member configuration is transitioned from the first retaining configuration to the second retaining configuration, with effect that:
the object manipulator and the vehicle-defined connection counterpart become disposed in the relative movement interference relationship;
the vehicle-defined connection counterpart and the configuration-defined connection counterpart become disposed in the relative movement effectible relationship.

28 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

19/125,580Filed 31 Oct 2023

Priority

31 Oct 2022

Published

4 Dec 2025

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B60D 1/64
Involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like: couplings or joints therefor
B60L 53/16
Conductive energy transfer: connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
B62D 53/125
Engaging automatically: with simultaneous coupling of the service lines
H01R 13/005
Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00: electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling

Object manipulator for effectuating automated connection between vehicle and counterpart-disposed configuration

Life of this patent

Object manipulator for effectuating automated connection between vehicle and counterpart-disposed configuration

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21