The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 12, 2013
Filed:
Jul. 13, 2012
Elon Reeve Musk, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Joshua Willard Ferguson, Alameda, CA (US);
Daryl Zalan, San Francisco, CA (US);
Christopher Hugo Van Dyke, San Francisco, CA (US);
Elon Reeve Musk, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Joshua Willard Ferguson, Alameda, CA (US);
Daryl Zalan, San Francisco, CA (US);
Christopher Hugo Van Dyke, San Francisco, CA (US);
Tesla Motors, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A vehicle charge inlet integrated into a port assembly surface is provided. The charge inlet includes an inlet housing with a perimeter that is curvilinear, non-cylindrical and shaped so that only a single orientation of a complementary sized and shaped electrical connector may be inserted into the inlet. A plurality of electrical contacts, a latching mechanism and a divider are also integrated into the charge inlet housing, the divider extending from the bottom surface of the inlet housing and configured to fit within a complementary slot of the charge connector, the divider providing further electrical isolation between the electrical contacts. A funneling surface connects the open end of the inlet housing to the port assembly surface.