Charging cable tie-down

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11724609-B2
Application number	US-202117232407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2021
Priority date	Apr 16, 2021
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for releasably attaching a charging interface (that is coupled to an overhead cable) to a lower surface, thereby helping contribute to limiting unintended movement of the charging interface. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a releasable coupling. An upper interface is configured to secure a first end of the releasable coupling to an implement at an end of an overhead cable that extends downwardly from an overhead body. A lower interface is configured to releasably secure a second end of the releasable coupling to a lower surface. The lower interface is configured to release the second end of the releasable coupling responsive to a strain on the lower interface in excess of a release threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a releasable coupling;
an upper interface configured to secure a first end of the releasable coupling to an implement at an end of an overhead cable that extends downwardly from an overhead body; and
a lower interface configured to releasably secure a second end of the releasable coupling to a lower surface, wherein the lower interface is configured to release the second end of the releasable coupling responsive to a strain on the lower interface in excess of a release threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the strain is generated responsive to force applied to at least one object chosen from the implement, the overhead cable, and the releasable coupling.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the implement includes a charging interface, the overhead cable includes a charging cable, and the overhead body includes an overhead charging source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower interface includes a first coupling configured to be releasably secured to a second coupling at the lower surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first coupling includes a first magnet and the second coupling includes a magnetically-attractive object.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the magnetically-attractive object includes an object chosen from a magnetically-attractive metal object and a second magnet presenting a second magnetic pole opposite to the first magnetic pole of the first magnet.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first coupling includes a deformable plug and the second coupling includes a socket configured to receive the deformable plug.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first coupling and the second coupling include at least one deformable hook and at least one loop.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the releasable coupling includes at least one additional element chosen from an extendable element and a high-visibility element.

10. A system including:
an overhead charging source;
a charging interface configured to provide a source of electrical power for an electrically-chargeable vehicle;
a charging cable configured to be electrically couple the charging interface to the overhead charging source and to mechanically support the charging interface; and
a releasable tie-down apparatus including:
a releasable coupling;
an upper interface configured to secure a first end of the releasable coupling to the charging interface coupled to the charging cable that extends downwardly from the overhead charging source; and
a lower interface configured to releasably secure a second end of the releasable coupling to a lower surface, wherein the lower interface is configured to release the second end of the releasable coupling responsive to a strain on the lower interface in excess of a release threshold.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the lower surface includes a parking surface for the electrically-chargeable vehicle.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the strain is generated responsive to force applied to at least one object chosen from the charging interface, the charging cable, and the releasable coupling.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the lower interface includes a first coupling configured to be releasably secured to a second coupling at the lower surface.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first coupling includes a first magnet and the second coupling includes a magnetically-attractive object.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the magnetically-attractive object includes an object chosen from a magnetically-attractive metal object and a second magnet presenting a second magnetic pole opposite to the first magnetic pole of the first magnet.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first coupling includes a deformable plug and the second coupling includes a socket configured to receive the deformable plug.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first coupling and the second coupling include at least one deformable hook and at least one loop.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the releasable coupling includes at least one additional element chosen from an extendable element and a high-visibility element.

19. A method comprising:
attaching a first end of a releasable coupling to a charging interface at an end of a charging cable that extends downwardly from an overhead source of electrical power; and
releasably attaching a second end of the releasable coupling to a lower surface, wherein the second end of the releasable coupling is configured to be released from the lower surface when a force applied to at least one of the charging interface, the charging cable, and the releasable coupling results in a strain on the lower interface in excess of a release threshold.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein releasably attaching the second end of the releasable coupling includes attaching the second end of the releasable coupling with corresponding attachment devices at the second end of the releasable coupling and the lower surface.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Erikson Tyler
• Lee David Day
• Tamaro Courtney Alex
• Warnke Trent C

Classifications

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• B60L53/18 Primary

  Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60L53/16 Primary

  Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title

• H02J7/0045

  Electricity · mapped topic

• B60L53/14

  Conductive energy transfer · CPC title