Automatic dust cap for auxiliary power outlet
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsWoo-Sung Bae, Cesar Tiscareno, Scott Kendall Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An auxiliary power port including a socket for receiving an electric power plug, a dust cover for covering an opening of the socket wherein the dust cover is moved to a retracted position during engagement of the electric power plug and moved to an engaged position after extraction of the electric power plug, a spring mechanism for applying a closing force to the dust cover, and a dampener for applying a dampening force to the dust cover such to reduce a rate of movement of the dust cover.
Claims20
An auxiliary power port comprising:
- a socket for receiving an electric power plug;
- a dust cover for covering an opening of the socket wherein the dust cover is moved to a retracted position during engagement of the electric power plug and moved to an engaged position after extraction of the electric power plug;
- a spring mechanism for applying a closing force to the dust cover;
- and
- a dampener for applying a dampening force to the dust cover such to reduce a rate of movement of the dust cover.
A method of providing an auxiliary power port for vehicular applications comprising:
- receiving, by a socket, an electric power plug;
- opening a dust cover for covering an opening of the socket in response to an engagement of the electric power plug into the socket wherein the dust cover is moved to a retracted position during engagement of the electric power plug;
- and
- closing the dust cover in response to an extraction of the electric power plug by a spring mechanism for applying a closing force to the dust cover and a dampener for applying a dampening force to the dust cover such to reduce a rate of movement of the dust cover.
An auxiliary power port for a vehicular application comprising:
- a socket for receiving an electric power plug wherein the socket includes a conductive portion coupled to an electric power supply and a non-conductive portion for mounting the auxiliary power port into a vehicle surface;
- a dust cover for covering an opening of the socket wherein the dust cover is moved to a retracted position during engagement of the electric power plug and moved to an engaged position after extraction of the electric power plug;
- a spring mechanism for applying a closing force to the dust cover;
- and
- a dampener for applying a dampening force to the dust cover such to reduce a rate of movement of the dust cover wherein the rate of movement of the dust cover is reduced such that the dust cover does not contact the power plug during extraction of the power plug from the socket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.