Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8884773B2/en
Timestamp: 2018-05-25 05:56:34
Document Index: 134908751

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'art; 2', 'art; 1', 'art; 2', 'art; 2', 'art; 6']

US8884773B2 - Shore power cord set - Google Patents
US8884773B2
US8884773B2 US13228242 US201113228242A US8884773B2 US 8884773 B2 US8884773 B2 US 8884773B2 US 13228242 US13228242 US 13228242 US 201113228242 A US201113228242 A US 201113228242A US 8884773 B2 US8884773 B2 US 8884773B2
US13228242
US20120062385A1 (en )
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/381,498 filed Sep. 10, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/474,510 filed Apr. 12, 2011, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 17, the power supply connector 12 or “plug” end of the cord set 10 includes a housing 20 that supports a plurality of electrical contacts 22 or contact “blades”. The contacts 22 are preferably arranged in the well-known configuration for a 125/250V, three pole, four wire grounding, 50A locking cord set. However, other configurations, such as the configuration for a 30A cord set or other well-known configurations provided by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), the Association for Electrical, Electronic, and Information Technologies (VDE), or the British Standards Institution (BSI), may alternatively be used. In any case, the electrical contacts 22 engage and thereby electrically connect the power supply to the power supply connector 12.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5-11, the electrical cord 14 connects to the vehicle connector 18 or “receptacle” end at an end opposite the power supply connector 12. The vehicle connector 18 includes a housing 36 that defines a plurality of recesses 38 (FIG. 1), and each recess 38 houses an electrical contact 40 or contact “blade” (FIG. 1). The electrical contacts 40 electrically connect to the electrical cord 14 in one of various manners, such as through electrical conductors (not shown) disposed within the housing 36 of the vehicle connector 18. In addition, the recesses 38 and the electrical contacts 40 are preferably arranged in the well-known configuration for a 125/250V, three pole, four wire grounding, 50A locking cord set. However, other configurations, such as the configuration for a 30A cord set, other well-known configurations provided by NEMA, IEC, VDE, BSI, or any configuration employed by the power supply connector 12, may alternatively be used. In any case, the electrical contacts 40 engage and electrically connect the vehicle power receptacle 42 (FIGS. 5 and 6) to the vehicle connector 18 to thereby electrically connect the power supply and the vehicle.
The external surfaces 60 of most receptacle inlets 54 are threaded to cooperate with the previous shore power cord sets described above. Specifically, the external surfaces 60 may have, for example, 2¾ inch diameter threads (i.e., 2.670 inch minor diameter, 2.735 inch major diameter) with 16 threads per inch. Other sizes of the external surfaces 60 may be as specified by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC). In any case, the distal portions 52 of the connection jaws 44 preferably have internal threaded surfaces 58 (e.g., 2-¾ inch diameter threads with 16 threads per inch) to securely engage the external threaded surface 60 of the receptacle inlet 54. As such, the cord set 10 is compatible with vehicle power receptacles 42 that are already in use.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 13-15, and 18, the housing 36 of the vehicle connector 18 also supports a flashlight 70. In general, the flashlight 70 emits light from the distal face 72 of the housing 36 (i.e., the surface that defines openings to the recesses 38 in the housing 36). The specific structure of the flashlight 70, however, may take various forms. For example and referring specifically to FIG. 18, the flashlight 70 may comprise a transparent or translucent light guide 74 and an LED 76 that is electrically connected to the electrical cord 14. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the light guide 74 may be disposed between the housing recesses 38. In other embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the light guide 74 has an annular shape that circumscribes the recesses 38. In still other embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the light guide 74 substantially defines the entire distal face 72 of the vehicle connector housing 36. The flashlight 70 may alternatively take other forms that are not explicitly described herein.
Referring now to FIGS. 24-36, the cord set 10 is preferably manufactured as follows. Referring first to FIGS. 24 and 25, a base 90 of the housing 36 that includes the contact recesses 38 is provided with bosses 92 that ultimately pivotally support the connection jaws 44. The base 90 further includes bendable snap hooks 94 that are described in further detail below. Next and as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, a contact housing 96 is engaged against the base 90 proximate the snap hooks 94. Referring to FIGS. 28 and 29, the electrical contacts 40 are next positioned such that they extend through openings in the contact housing 96 and into the base 90. In addition, the LED 76 is positioned within a recess 98 of the contact housing 96 that extends toward the distal face 72 of the base 90. Next and as shown in FIG. 30, an end cap 100 is then positioned over the contact housing 96. The end cap 100 includes snap supports 102 (i.e., eyelets) that each engage one of the snap hooks 94 of the base 90 to secure the contact housing 96 and the electrical contacts 40 relative to the base 90. Referring to FIGS. 31 and 32, the LED 82 and the sealing component 66 are next connected to the base 90. Furthermore, conductive wires 103 of the cord 14 are passed through openings 104 in the end cap 100 and connected to the electrical contacts 40. Next and referring to FIG. 33, the above components are positioned in a molding die (not shown) and overmolded with a material (e.g., a plastic resin) that forms an outer body 106 of the housing 36. Such an overmolding process firmly secures the cord 14 to the housing 36, although the mounting bosses 92 and the LED 82 remain exposed. Lastly and as shown in FIGS. 34-36, the connection jaws 44 are pivotally connected to the bosses 92 and the light guide 80 is positioned over the LED 82.
The circuit 130 also includes a temperature sensor 136 having a resistance T136 that varies with temperature. The temperature sensor 136 is preferably a thermistor rated for R1 at T1 and R2 at T2 (e.g., 4700 at 25 degrees Celsius and 4700Ω at 85 degrees Celsius), such as a PRF18BE471RB1RB thermistor available from Murata Manufacturing Co. of Kyoto, Japan.
V 1=(R 1/(R 138 +R 1))* V 76
As the temperature sensor 136 cools, its resistance decreases. When below the range of V2 to V3 on the gate of the transistor 140, it will turn off. In this state, the transistor 142 is off, the transistor 144 is on, the LED 82 (i.e., the blue LED) is on, the LED 128 (i.e., the red LED) is off, and the LED 76 (i.e., the flashlight LED) is on to indicate normal operating conditions.
In this aspect, the housing may further have a base and an end cap snap connected to the base. Each of the connection jaws may include a threaded internal surface configured to engage an external threaded surface of the power receptacle. Each internal threaded surface may have a first nominal diameter and a first pitch, the external threaded surface may have a second nominal diameter and a second pitch, and the second nominal diameter and the second pitch may be substantially the same as the first nominal diameter and the first pitch, respectively. Each internal threaded surface may have a nominal diameter of substantially 2-¾ inches and a pitch of substantially 16 threads per inch.
tests a voltage of the power supply and provides an indication if the voltage is outside of a normal operating range;
tests a polarity of the power supply and provides an indication if the polarity of the power supply is reversed; and
tests for grounding of the power supply and provides an indication if grounding is not present,
wherein the vehicle connector includes:
a housing supporting a plurality of electrical contacts configured to engage and thereby electrically connect the vehicle power receptacle to the vehicle connector;
at least two connection jaws, each of the connection jaws being pivotally connected to the housing to move between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position the jaws being engagable with the vehicle power receptacle to secure the vehicle connector to the vehicle power receptacle, and in the open position the jaws being disengagable with the vehicle power receptacle, wherein each of the connection jaws includes a ribbed internal surface configured to engage an external threaded surface of a power receptacle.
2. The electrical cord set of claim 1, wherein the connection jaws are biased towards the closed position.
3. The electrical cord set of claim 1, wherein the flexible electrical cord defines a longitudinal axis of the electrical cord set, and the connection jaws are pivotable about axes that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
4. The electrical cord set of claim 1, wherein the vehicle connector includes a sealing component configured to engage the vehicle power receptacle to isolate the plurality of electrical contacts of the vehicle connector from an outside environment.
5. The electrical cord set of claim 1, further comprising a lock member being movable from a locked position to an unlock position and vice versa, in the locked position the lock member engaging the connection jaws to inhibit the connection jaws from moving to the open position.
6. An electrical cord set for electrically connecting a power supply to a vehicle, comprising:
a corrosion-indicating module configured to indicate corrosion of at least one of the power supply connector and the vehicle connector;
tests for grounding of the power supply and provides an indication if grounding is not present.
7. The electrical cord set of claim 6, wherein the corrosion-indicating module includes a thermistor having a temperature-dependent resistance, the corrosion-indicating module providing an indication when the resistance of the thermistor exceeds a threshold.
8. An electrical cord set for electrically connecting a power supply to a vehicle, comprising:
a test module electrically connecting the power supply connector and the vehicle connector, the test module having an electrical circuit, and when the power supply connector is connected to the power supply the electrical circuit performs the steps of:
9. The electrical cord set of claim 8, wherein the test module further comprises:
10. An electrical cord set for electrically connecting a power supply to a vehicle power receptacle, comprising:
a flexible electrical cord electrically connected to the power supply connector;
a vehicle connector electrically connected to the flexible electrical cord, the vehicle connector including:
at least two connection jaws, each of the connection jaws being pivotally connected to the housing to move between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position the jaws being engagable with the vehicle power receptacle to secure the vehicle connector to the vehicle power receptacle, and in the open position the jaws being disengagable with the vehicle power receptacle, and wherein the connection jaws are biased towards the closed position and include a ribbed internal surface configured to engage an external threaded surface of a power receptacle.
11. The electrical cord set of claim 10, wherein the connection jaws are pivotable about axes that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
12. An electrical cord set for electrically connecting a power supply to a vehicle power receptacle, comprising:
at least two connection jaws, each of the connection jaws being pivotally connected to the housing to move between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position the jaws being engagable with the vehicle power receptacle to secure the vehicle connector to the vehicle power receptacle, and in the open position the jaws being disengagable with the vehicle power receptacle, and
a lock member being movable from a locked position to an unlock position and vice versa, in the locked position the lock member engaging the connection jaws to inhibit the connection jaws from moving to the open position.
13. The electrical cord set of claim 10, wherein the vehicle connector includes a sealing component configured to engage the vehicle power receptacle to isolate the plurality of electrical contacts of the vehicle connector from an outside environment.
14. The electrical cord set of claim 8, wherein the vehicle connector includes a flashlight illuminated by the power supply.
15. The electrical cord set of claim 14, wherein the flashlight is a light-emitting diode.
US13228242 2010-09-10 2011-09-08 Shore power cord set Active 2032-10-06 US8884773B2 (en)
US14513609 Continuation US20150031235A1 (en) 2010-09-10 2014-10-14 Shore power cord set
US20120062385A1 true US20120062385A1 (en) 2012-03-15
US8884773B2 true US8884773B2 (en) 2014-11-11
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Hubbell; HBL61CM05 Shore Power Cable Set 2 Pole; pages from www.google.com/products; admitted prior art; 2 pages, Sep. 2010.
Marinco Electrical Group; ParkPower® Quality RV Electrical Products; product literature; copyright 2008; 4 pages.
Pass & Seymour; Pass & Seymour/Legrand NEMA Configuration Table; copyright 2006; 1 page.
Ratio Electric; Shore Power Connections; brochure page from www.shore-power.info; Nijkerk, The Netherlands; admitted prior art; 1 page, Sep. 2010.
Smartplug Systems, LLC; brochure from www.smartplug.com; Seattle, WA; admitted prior art; 2 pages, Sep. 2010.
Wholesale Marine; Shorepower Cordsets; pages from www.wholesalemarine.com; admitted prior art; 2 pages, Sep. 2010.
Wholesale Marine; Shorepower Cordsets; pages from www.wholesalemarine.com; admitted prior art; 6 pages, Sep. 2010.
US20150031235A1 (en) 2015-01-29 application
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WIESEMANN, DAVID L.;KENT, TIMOTHY J.;ANDERSON, JASON W.;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110906 TO 20110908;REEL/FRAME:026875/0117