ELECTRIC CHARGING HOLSTER WITH LATCHING MECHANISM
A holster for an electric vehicle charging station is provided with a locking mechanism to selectively secure a charging gun within the holster. The locking mechanism includes a locking finger that is selectively received in an aperture of a docking collar of the charging gun. A release lever or handle of the locking mechanism is biased toward a non-released position. The biasing member may be in the form of a spring. Alternatively, the biasing member may take the form of a magnet.
1 . A holster for an electric charging station, comprising:
a recess that accommodates a docking collar of a charging gun to be received in the holster, the docking collar having an aperture therethrough;
a locking mechanism having a release lever and an associated locking finger selectively received in the aperture in the docking collar; and
a biasing member to bias the release lever toward a non-released position.
2 . The holster of claim 1 , wherein the locking finger of the locking mechanism includes a leading edge that is shaped to facilitate movement of the locking finger, relative to the docking collar, along a portion of the docking collar distal of the aperture when inserting the docking collar into the holster.
3 . The holster of claim 2 , wherein the leading edge of the locking finger is radiused.
4 . The holster of claim 2 , wherein the leading edge of the locking finger is inclined.
5 . The holster of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.
6 . The holster of claim 5 , further comprising a support rod about which the locking mechanism is pivotable.
7 . The holster of claim 6 , further comprising a second rod that serves as a stop to limit rotation of the locking mechanism.
8 . The holster of claim 6 , wherein the spring is secured to the second stop and to the locking finger.
9 . The holster of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a magnet.