US 12,438,352 B2
Junction box as a protected charging socket for an electric vehicle
Sebastian Vahle, Landshut (DE)
Assigned to AUDI AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
Filed by AUDI AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
Filed on May 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/318,559.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2022 112 557.2 (DE), filed on May 19, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0378731 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. H02G 3/08 (2006.01); B60L 53/16 (2019.01)
CPC H02G 3/083 (2013.01) [B60L 53/16 (2019.02)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle exterior; and
a charging socket assembly situated at the vehicle exterior, the charging socket assembly configured as a junction box that includes:
a housing;
a single charging socket arranged in the housing for plugging in a plug of a cable of a vehicle charging device; and
a cover movably mounted on the housing to move between an open position and a covering position, in which the cover covers an opening of the housing in the covering position,
wherein the cover includes a cable passage for the cable with a smaller largest interior dimension than the smallest exterior dimension of the plug of the cable such that the plug of the cable is incapable of passing through the cable passage,
wherein the cover is movable from the open position to the covering position while the plug of the cable of the vehicle charging device is engaged in the single charging socket by enabling the cable to pass through the cable passage of the cover as the cover transitions from the open position to the covering position, and
wherein the cover assists in securing the plug of the cable of the vehicle charging device in the single charging socket of the junction box when the cover is in the covering position by preventing the plug from being withdrawn from the electric vehicle.