Electrical Plug Adapter Having Socket Key Safety System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016190744-A1
Application number	US-201514852267-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 11, 2015
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electric vehicle (“EV”) charger plug adapter apparatus includes an adapter housing, a socket extending into a first side of the adapter housing, the socket configuration defined by a first technical standard for use with at least one of a first current or voltage rating, a plug extending from a second side of the adapter housing, the plug configuration defined by a second technical standard for use with at least one of a second current or voltage rating, and a key extending from the first side of the adapter housing, wherein the key prevents seating of a second plug into the socket if the second plug does not have a complementary key socket to fit the key.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A device comprising:
a socket assembly defined by a first technical standard; a plug defined by a second technical standard; and at least one key extending out from a face of the socket assembly; wherein the socket assembly can receive a second plug having at least one key socket to receive at least a portion of the at least one key.

2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one key prevents seating into the socket assembly of a third plug that is complementary to the socket assembly if the third plug does not comprise at least one key socket that is complementary to the at least one key.

3 . The device of claim 1 wherein the second plug is defined by the first technical standard, and wherein the second plug can carry power associated with the second technical standard.

4 . The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least one key is disposed between a power socket and a ground socket of the socket assembly.

5 . The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least one key is a geometric frustum.

6 . The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least one key is at least one of:
straight and serpentine.

7 . The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least one key is comprised of at least one of: a rigid thermoplastic, a rigid thermosetting polymer, metal, and ceramic.

8 . The device of claim 1 wherein the device comprises two keys.

9 . The device of claim 8 wherein the two keys are aligned and centered between a neutral socket and a power socket of the socket assembly.

10 . The device of claim 8 wherein the two keys are positioned adjacent to at least one of: a neutral socket, a power socket, and a ground socket of the socket assembly.

11 . The device of claim 1 wherein the socket assembly comprises a neutral socket, a power socket, and a ground socket, and wherein the plug comprises a neutral blade, a power blade, and a ground blade.

12 . The device of claim 11 wherein the neutral socket is electrically coupled to the neutral blade, the power socket is electrically coupled to the power blade, and the ground socket is electrically coupled to the ground blade.

13 . The device of claim 11 wherein the at least one key comprises a walled structure.

14 . The device of claim 13 wherein the walled structure separates each of the neutral socket, the power socket, and the ground socket on the face of the socket assembly.

15 . The device of claim 13 wherein the walled structure is at least one of: a uniform height and a varying height.

16 . The device of claim 1 further comprising:
a device housing, wherein the socket assembly and the plug are disposed on opposing sides of the device housing.

17 . The device of claim 16 wherein the device housing is generally rectangular in cross-section.

18 . The device of claim 16 wherein the device housing is comprised of at least one of: a rigid thermoplastic and a rigid thermosetting polymer.

19 . The device of claim 16 wherein the device housing further comprises a flexible portion, the flexible portion disposed between the socket assembly and the plug.

20 . The device of claim 16 wherein the device housing further comprises one or more longitudinal slots to receive a clip for slidable coupling with an electric vehicle (“EV”) power adapter comprising the second plug.

21 . The device of claim 1 wherein a power rating associated with the second technical standard is greater than a power rating associated with the first technical standard.

22 . An electric vehicle (“EV”) charger plug adapter apparatus, comprising:
an adapter housing;
a socket extending into a first side of the adapter housing, the socket configuration defined by a first technical standard for use with at least one of a first current or voltage rating;
a first plug extending from a second side of the adapter housing, the first plug configuration defined by a second technical standard for use with at least one of a second current or voltage rating; and
a key extending from the first side of the adapter housing;
wherein the key prevents seating of a second plug into the socket if the second plug does not have a complementary key socket to fit the key.

23 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the first technical standard is National Electrical Manufacturers Association (“NEMA”) 5-15 standard.

24 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the second technical standard is selected from the group consisting of NEMA 6-15, NEMA 5-20, and NEMA 6-20 standards.

25 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the key is a geometric frustum.

26 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the geometric frustum is a peg.

27 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the key comprises a plurality of protrusions.

28 . The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are disposed between a power prong and a neutral prong of the first plug.

29 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the key comprises a walled structure.

30 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the adapter housing comprises a flexible cable connecting the first side and the second side.

31 . An electric vehicle (“EV”) charger plug adapter method, comprising:
plugging a first plug extending from a first side of an adapter housing into a complementary socket, the first plug configuration defined by a first technical standard for use with at least one of a first current or voltage rating; and
blocking a second plug from mating with a second socket extending into a second side of the adapter housing, the second socket configuration defined by a second technical standard for use with at least one of a second current or voltage rating, the blocking being accomplished using a key extending from the second side of the adapter housing.

32 . An electric vehicle (“EV”) charger plug adapter system, comprising:
an adapter housing;
a socket extending into a first side of the adapter housing, the socket configuration defined by NEMA 5-15S;
a first plug extending from a second side of the adapter housing, the first plug configuration defined by a second technical standard selected from the group consisting of NEMA 5-15, NEMA 6-15, NEMA 5-20, and NEMA 6-20; and
at least one key protrusion extending from the first side of the adapter housing;
wherein the at least one key protrusion prevents seating of a second plug into the socket if the second plug does not have at least one complementary key socket to fit the at least one key protrusion.

33 . The system of claim 32 , further comprising:
an EV charging cord plug seated in the socket; and a coupler coupled to the adapter housing and EV charging cord plug; wherein the EV charging cord plug is tethered to the housing by the coupler.

34 . A system, comprising:
an adapter comprising:
a socket defined by a first technical standard and comprising a neutral socket, a power socket, and a ground socket;
a plug defined by a second technical standard and comprising a neutral blade, a power blade, and a ground blade;
at least one key extending out from a face of the socket; and
an adapter housing, wherein the socket and the plug are disposed on opposing sides of the adapter housing;
an electric vehicle (“EV”) pow

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Steinbuchel Iv Herman Joseph
• Hayashigawa Larry
• Norton Ronald Lee
• Soden David Paul
• Zevin Thomas Michael
• Flack Albert Joseph

Classifications

• H01R24/22

  with additional earth or shield contacts · CPC title

• H01R13/6456 Primary

  comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector · CPC title

• H01R13/64

  Means for preventing incorrect coupling · CPC title

• H01R2103/00

  Two poles · CPC title

• H01R13/6392

  for extension cord · CPC title