Granted Patent B2

US 7,952,325 · App. 12/870,742 · Granted May 31, 2011

Abstract

Claims (16)

1. A charging station, comprising:

a power receptacle compartment including a power receptacle to receive an electrical plug;

a door hingedly coupled with the power receptacle compartment, the door to cover the power receptacle when the door is closed;

a first locking means for locking and unlocking the door from a closed position without consuming power to control access to the power receptacle compartment such that the door remains locked in the closed position if the charging station loses power; and

a second locking means for locking and unlocking the door from a charging position to control access to the electrical plug such that the door is unlocked from the charging position if the charging station loses power.

2. The charging station of claim 1 , wherein the power receptacle compartment has a depth such that the charging station accepts a plurality of plug end types and a plurality of cord sizes, and the charging station is not limited to receiving a right angle plug.

3. The charging station of claim 1 , further comprising a means for authorizing a request from a customer to use the charging station, wherein upon a successful authorization of that request, the first locking means unlocking the door from the closed position allowing the customer to open the door and insert the electrical plug.

4. The charging station of claim 3 , further comprising a means for authorizing a request from the customer to access the electrical plug, wherein upon a successful authorization of that request, the second locking means unlocking the door from the charging position allowing the customer to receive the electrical plug.

5. A method in a vehicle charging station having a power receptacle compartment coupled with a door, the power receptacle compartment having a power receptacle to receive a charging cord of a vehicle, the method comprising:

while the vehicle charging station is not in use and the door is closed, locking the door in a first position without consuming power to prevent access to the power receptacle, wherein the door remains locked in the first position if the vehicle charging station loses power; and

while the charging cord is inserted into the power receptacle, locking the door in a second position to prevent access to the charging cord, wherein responsive to the vehicle charging stating losing power, unlocking the door from the second position allowing retrieval of the charging cord.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the second position allowing a plurality of charging cord plug types and a plurality of charging cord gauge sizes to be accepted by the vehicle charging station and is not limited to accepting right angle charging cord plugs.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising unlocking the door from the first position responsive to receiving an authorized request to use the vehicle charging station.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising unlocking the door from the second position responsive to receiving a request from an authorized entity.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the locking the door in the first position without consuming power includes extending a first locking pin whose movement is controlled by a first solenoid, wherein when power is not applied to the first solenoid the first locking pin is extended, and wherein the unlocking the door from the first position includes applying power to the first solenoid causing the first locking pin to retract.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the locking the door in the second position includes applying power to a second solenoid causing a second locking pin to extend to lock the door, wherein the unlocking the door from the second position includes removing the application of power from the second solenoid causing the second locking pin to retract.

Assignments (13)