US 7,878,866 B1 · Connector assembly for vehicle charging

Abstract

A connector assembly couples an electrical power supply to a vehicle charging circuit. The assembly includes an elongate handle and a plug coupled to each other. The handle forms an internal cavity for supporting an electrical harness. The plug includes a first end that is attached to the outlet of the handle, and a second end opposite the first end for engaging a vehicle charging receptacle. The plug includes a series of tabs that longitudinally extend from the first end to engage a series of slots formed in the outlet of the handle for attaching the plug to the handle. The series of tabs and the series of slots collectively form a structural weak point for failure by localizing deformation between the tabs and the slots when the assembly is subjected to a predetermined side load applied to an intermediate portion of the assembly.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A connector assembly comprising:

an elongate handle forming an internal cavity for receiving and supporting an electrical harness, the handle having an outlet with a series of peripherally spaced slots formed through an external wall;
and
a plug having a first end releasably attached to the outlet of the handle, and a second end opposite the first end for engaging a vehicle charging receptacle for facilitating electrical charging of a vehicle, the plug having a series of tabs longitudinally extending from a peripheral edge of the first end, each tab having a transverse projection extending radially outward for engaging one of the series of slots for attaching the plug to the handle;
wherein the series of tabs and the series of slots collectively form a structural weak point for failure by localizing deformation between the tabs and the slots when the assembly is subjected to a predetermined side load applied to an intermediate portion of the assembly.

1 more element

A connector assembly comprising:

an elongate handle attached to an electrical harness, the handle having an inlet, an outlet and a body formed therebetween, the inlet being adapted to receive the electrical harness, the body forming an internal cavity and adapted to receive a molded material for encapsulating a portion of the harness therein, the outlet forming an pocket for enclosing a compressed flexible portion of the harness, the outlet having a series of circumferentially spaced slots formed through an external wall;
and
a sealed plug having a first end releasably attached to the outlet of the handle, and a second end opposite the first end for engaging a vehicle charging receptacle for facilitating electrical charging of a vehicle, the plug having a series of circumferentially spaced tabs longitudinally extending from the first end, each tab having a transverse projection extending radially outward for engaging one of the series of slots for attaching the plug to the handle, the series of tabs each having a thickness sized for allowing the tabs to deform and disengage the engaged slots when an intermediate portion of the assembly is subjected to a predetermined side load;
wherein the flexible portion of the harness is configured for extending when the projections disengage the slots for facilitating disconnection of the handle.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Connector assembly for vehicle charging

Life of this patent

Connector assembly for vehicle charging

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20