Abstract:
A valet EVSE system employs a plurality of outlet stations which are configured with an electrical outlet and brackets for receiving a portable EVSE unit. The portable EVSE unit is configured to removably mount to the brackets and draw power from the electrical outlet. In one embodiment a given station is adapted to receive and supply power to two portable EVSE units. A housing is provided with a pivoted cover for securing the plug of the EVSE unit with the outlet disposed in the housing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application  61 / 507 , 640  filed on Jul.  14 ,  2011 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    As more and more electric vehicles are employed, the desirability of charging the batteries at public facilities and at off-resident locations becomes more crucial. Electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) of various configurations is employed to charge the battery power modules of electric vehicles. It is particularly advantageous to charge the electric vehicles while the vehicles are parked for extended times, such as in parking garages and other parking facilities. If the electric vehicle is not parked in a location which has facilities for charging the vehicle, then for some situations, the vehicle must be driven to a charging station, charged and returned to the parking space. 
         [0003]    Another problem associated with charging multiple vehicles is having enough available power to simultaneously charge numerous vehicles. It makes little economic sense to provide a complete charging station at each of multiple parking spaces when not every vehicle can be simultaneously charged due to power constraints. Likewise, efficiencies dictate that a given parking space should not be associated with a fixedly located complete charging station if a vehicle parked at the space does not require charging over the entire parking time. 
         [0004]    The present disclosure relates to a valet EVSE system which addresses the problem of charging multiple vehicles while they are parked in a facility and provides flexibility so that electric vehicles can be charged without driving the vehicle from the parking space to a charging location and returning same to the parking space. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Briefly stated, a valet EVSE system comprises a plurality of outlet stations. Each station has an electrical outlet and a pair of vertically spaced brackets. A portable EVSE unit has a front panel, a rear panel, and a power cable with a connector and an electrical plug insertable into the outlet. The rear panel has a slot and an upper handle. The EVSE unit is suspendable by the bracket so that the slot receives the one bracket and the other bracket engages and supports the lower portion of the rear panel, and the plug is electrically connectable with the outlet. 
         [0006]    The plug has a neutral pin and two power pins. The neutral pin is preferably shorter than the power pins. Each station comprises a post. In one embodiment, there are two electrical outlets and two pairs of vertically spaced brackets. Each post has a pair of housings projecting from opposed sides of the post. Each housing has an electrical outlet and pivoted cover for the outlet. The EVSE connector plug may be connected to the outlet and secured by the pivoted cover. In one embodiment, the portable EVSE also has a barcode scanner. A solar powered LED may be mounted to the top of the post. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a valet EVSE system comprises a station having a housing for an electrical outlet and an upright structure mounting a first attachment assembly. A portable EVSE unit has a front panel, a rear panel, a power cable with a connector and an electrical plug insertable in the outlet. The rear panel preferably has an upper handle and a second attachment assembly. The EVSE unit is suspendable in a stable upright relationship with the structure by engagement of the first attachment assembly and the second attachment assembly. The plug is electrically connectable with the outlet. In another embodiment, each upright structure has two electrical outlets and two opposed pairs of first and second attachment assemblies. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a dual post/portable EVSE assembly for a valet EVSE system with a post bracket being shown in an enlarged exploded view; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the post/EVSE assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a dual post installation for a valet EVSE system, portions below ground being removed, portions shown in phantom and portions shown in diagram form; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a portable EVSE which is employed in the assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the portable EVSE of  FIGS. 4 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the portable valet EVSE of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the several figures, a dual post/portable valet assembly for a valet EVSE system is designated generally by the numeral  10 . The valet EVSE system has particular application in connection with public facilities, such as parking facilities including garages and parking lots, to provide a multitude of highly accessible charging stations wherein a portable EVSE may be transported and electrically connected to a power outlet and an electric vehicle for charging the battery power supply of the electric vehicle. 
         [0015]    The valet EVSE system can be efficiently employed to charge multiple electric vehicles which are parked at the parking facility without requiring the vehicle be moved to a fixed charging station and without providing a fixed EVSE at each parking location. 
         [0016]    The portable valet system comprises a plurality of outlet stations  12  having at least one electrical outlet connected to a power supply. Preferably, the outlets are located adjacent a parking space. Each of the outlet stations  12  has a bracket assembly for suspending a portable EVSE  14 . Preferably, for facilities with numerous outlet stations, multiple portable EVSEs  14  are employed, but for some where the number of outlet stations is limited, only a single EVSE  14  is required. As described below, some outlet stations  12  serve two parking spaces. 
         [0017]    With reference to  FIG. 1  in one embodiment, a dual outlet station  12  comprises a post assembly generally designated by the numeral  20 . The post assembly comprises a tubular post  30  which projects upwardly from a platform  32 . The post may be secured to the platform  32  by an anchoring yoke  33 . Pairs of substantially identical spaced hanging brackets  34  and  36  are mounted to opposed sides of the post in a vertically spaced outwardly projecting relationship, as will be detailed below. Each bracket  34 ,  36  preferably has a compound angled form with an upwardly projecting retention lip  35 ,  37 . 
         [0018]    Laterally projecting housings  40  and  42  extend outwardly at opposite sides of the post at a height above the brackets. Each housing encloses an electrical outlet (not illustrated). A pivotal outlet cover  41 ,  43  provides access to the electrical outlet and protects same when not in use. The outlet covers  41 ,  43  are disposed in opposite orientations relative to the post  30 . For some embodiments (not illustrated), the electrical receptacle and the EVSE hanging brackets are mounted to a wall and a post is not employed. 
         [0019]    With additional reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , a portable valet EVSE is generally designated by the numeral  50 . The portable EVSE includes a front panel  70  and an opposed rear panel  80 . As best illustrated, the portable valet EVSE includes a power cable  52  with a J1772 connector  54  which connects with the electric vehicle charging station outlet terminal accessed via outlet cover  41 ,  43 . Each cover may be locked while the plug is connected with the receptacle to secure the portable EVSE to the post during usage. 
         [0020]    An electrical plug  56  at the terminus of a short cord  58  connects to the EVSE and is insertable into the outlet for supplying power to the EVSE unit. The neutral pin  57  disconnects from the outlet shortly before the other plug pins upon removal of the plug  56  from the receptacle. 
         [0021]    The EVSE  50  includes a central enclosure  60  disposed between the front panel  70  and the rear panel  80 . In a conventional form, the power cable  52  wraps around the enclosure  60  and is confined between the opposed panels. 
         [0022]    The rear panel  80  includes an upper opening  82  which forms a handle. A rubber material  83  may be disposed around the upper edge of the panel and the upper portions of the opening  82  to facilitate the portability of the EVSE. An elongated hanger slot  84  is formed below the handle. An anti-rotation notch  86  is formed at the bottom edge of the rear panel. The spacing between the anti-rotation notch  86  and the hanger slot  84  is selected so that the hanger slot  84  receives an upper hanging bracket  34 , and the lower hanging bracket  36  may be received by the notch  86  for supporting the portable EVSE unit whereby the portable EVSE may be easily suspended from the post by the brackets in a stable mounting configuration. 
         [0023]    For some embodiments (not illustrated) other assemblies for attaching the portable EVSE to the post may be provided. For example, the post may be configured with a hangar slot and a notch and the rear panel of the EVSE may be configured with brackets for engaging the slot and the notch. For all of the embodiments the portable EVSE is suspended from the support structure in a generally upright, stable mounting configuration which allows for the EVSE to be relatively easily removed and re-suspended when required. For all embodiments it is highly desirable to employ the housing for closing an electrical outlet with a cover which may be locked while the EVSE connector plug is connected with the outlet to secure the portable EVSE during usage. 
         [0024]    The front panel  70  of the portable EVSE  50  preferably has an upper arcuate edge  72  to allow unimpeded access to the handle opening  82 . The panel  70  also includes various switches and/or buttons  72  for operating the portable EVSE. The panel may include various LEDs  75  for indicating the charging/operational status. The front panel may also include an optional charging completion light  76  and an optional RF antenna  78 . In one embodiment, the front panel  70  includes an optional barcode scanner  90  ( FIG. 5 ). 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , a second dual post installation is designated generally by the numeral  100  and is illustrated in connection with the below grade portion of the installation. A pre-cast mounting base  110  includes a central channel for various wires. The top  112  of the base is approximately 18 inches above the grade level. An anchoring bracket  114  is bolted to the base and receives the tubular post  130 . An access opening  132  is formed in the lower front of the base. A ground lug  124  is connected to the post for connecting with a No. 8 ground wire  126  and ultimately a ground rod  128  which is installed underground. The power lines  102  from a service panel lead into a hand hole pull box  104  and ultimately connect via a conduit  106  through the base to the post as illustrated. The EVSE mounting brackets  34  and  36  are mounted to the front of the post. The outlet housings  40  and  42  are also mounted in opposed fashion. 
         [0026]    An optional solar powered, green LED  150  is disposed at the top of the post for indicating the location of the outlet station. 
         [0027]    As previously described with respect to the station  12  of  FIG. 1 , one portable EVSE unit  50  may be suspended by the EVSE brackets  34  and  36 . It will be appreciated that a second EVSE unit may also be suspended on the opposed side of the post if required. 
         [0028]    The portable EVSE may be suspended at each station in a wide variety of attachment assemblies. The attachment assemblies are adapted to allow for mounting in a stable upright orientation while also allowing for a efficient removal of the portable EVSE unit once the charging is completed. In addition, it is highly desirable that the station be provided with a housing for the electrical outlet. The housing both protects the outlet and provides a means for securing the portable EVSE unit during usage. 
         [0029]    While preferred embodiments of the foregoing have been set forth for purposes of illustration, the foregoing description should not be deemed a limitation of the invention herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.