FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents [Amendment] Rules, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Vehicle Charging Station
2. APPLICANT:
a) Name
b) Nationality
c) Address : Panasonic Life Solutions India Private Limited
: IN
3rd Floor, B wing I- Think Techno Campus Pokhran, Road No 2 Thane :
(West), Thane, Maharashtra 400607, India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
COMPLETE
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to charging stations, and more particularly, relates to vehicle charging stations.
BACKGROUND
With advent of technology, use of electric vehicles, such as electric cars and electric scooters is gaining popularity. Driven using electrical energy, such electric vehicles provide a limited distance coverage after which a batter of the electric vehicle is required to be recharged.
To facilitate ease of recharging and popularize use of the electric vehicle amongst the population, charging stations are provided across geographic locations. Typically, these charging stations are located outdoors in open and easily accessible areas for providing a convenient location for charging of electrical vehicles.
Generally, a cable connects a charging port of the electric vehicle a power socket of the charging station for charging the battery of the electric vehicle. The act of coupling and separation of the cable from the power socket of the charging station may be performed multiple times by the user. Therefore, it is imperative that the structural configuration of the charging station provides ample technical benefits to ensure that the electrical cable is well secured while plugged into the charging station.
Owing to the present structure of the charging stations and their deployment in the open areas, it is vital to properly secure the charging stations. As the electrical vehicles are usually parked in the open areas, as a result the charging stations are also installed in open area usually mounted over a wall or a pole. There is always a threat of miscreants stealing the charging station or causing any other damage.

Therefore, secure mounting of the charging stations on the wall or any other similar surface is essential. Additionally, as the charging stations are placed in open area, weather conditions may also contribute to damaging the charging station such as rainwater may sweep in, or the dusty winds can cause the circuitry to malfunction. Currently employed techniques used padlocks as an anti-theft measure but failed to stop the rainwater or dusty wind. Moreover, the padlocks were only a limited protection against theft. Therefore, it was required to present the charging stations with improved locking units to ensure a securely and firmly fitted charging stations which may withstand harsh weather conditions and prove to be effective against thefts.
SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
In an embodiment, a vehicle charging station (VCS) is disclosed. The VCS includes a top cover, housing one or more components of the vehicle charging station. The VCS further includes a door unit adapted to couple with the top cover for securing the components housed therein. In an example, the door unit comprises a locking unit. In an example, the locking unit comprises a lever and a knob, operationally coupled to the lever, for operating the lever between a locked position and an unlocked position. In an example, the top cover comprises a lock-engaging unit. In an example, the lock-engaging unit comprises a plurality of walls and a locking member defining a cavity, where the lock-engaging unit is adapted to accommodate a portion of the lever in the cavity when the lever is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position to seal the door unit with the top cover.

In another embodiment, a top cover of a vehicle charging station, the top cover including, a lock lock-engagement unit comprising a plurality of walls and a locking member defining a cavity. The lock-engagement unit is adapted to accommodate a portion of a lever in the cavity when the lever is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position to seal a door unit of the vehicle charging station with the top cover.
To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1(a) illustrates a schematic front view of a vehicle charging station, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;
Fig. 1(b) illustrates a schematic view of the vehicle charging station having a door unit in open state, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;
Fig. 1(c) illustrates a perspective view of a front cover including a lock-engagement unit, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;
Fig. 2(a) illustrates a magnified view of a locking member, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;

Fig. 2(b) illustrates a back view of the lock-engagement unit, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;
Fig 2(c) illustrates a front view of the lock-engagement unit, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
Fig. 3 illustrates a view where a locking unit is engaged with the lock-engagement unit, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled

in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”
The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.
More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there NEEDS to be one or more . . . ” or “one or more element is REQUIRED.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skills in the art.
Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized

in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1(a) illustrates a schematic front view of a vehicle charging station 100, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. Fig. 1(b) illustrates a schematic view of the vehicle charging station 100 having a door unit 104 in open state, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
Particularly, in the Fig. 1(a) a perspective view of the vehicle charging station 100, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter is presented. The vehicle charging station 100 provides a housing for an assembly of a power socket. In an example, the vehicle charging station 100 may be mounted on a wall, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The vehicle charging station 100 provides a unified structure to a user for connecting an electric vehicle to the vehicle charging station 100 for charging. In an example embodiment, the vehicle charging station 100 may be of approximately following dimension: 90mm (Width) x 210(Height) x 94(Depth).
Referring to Figs. 1(a), the vehicle charging station 100 includes a top cover 102 and a door unit 104. In an example, the top cover 102 houses one or more components of the vehicle charging station 100. For example, the top cover 102 may house a switch assembly, a socket assembly, etc. In the example, the top cover 102 forms an outer unit visible to the user and forms a protective casing for the inside assembly of the vehicle charging station 100. In the example, the top cover 102 is made up of materials including PC (Polycarbonate) plastic. The top cover 102 is a brace structure which may be mounted to the wall. In the example, the top cover 102 may have an exterior of a sphere 103 towards a top portion.
In an example embodiment, a door unit 104 is coupled to the top cover 102. The door unit 104 is a lid over the top cover 102 housing one or more components

of the vehicle charging station 100. In the example, a knob 108 is disposed on the door unit 104.
Referring to Figs. 1(b), in an example, the door unit 104 may be adapted to couple with the top cover 102 for securing the components housed by the top cover 102. The door unit 104 may be coupled using hinges to the top cover 102, such that the door unit 104 may be in the open state or in close state as operated by the user. The door unit 104 may be in the open state to perform movement along one side while affixed longitudinally on the other side with the top cover 102. The user may operate the door unit 104 to be in the closed state so that the door unit 104 affixes to the top cover 102 thus forming an enclosure with the top cover 102 housing the switch assembly, the socket assembly, etc.
In the example, the door unit 104 may snap-fit with the top cover 102 to achieve the closed state. In the example, the door unit 104 may form a convex structure so that a considerable distance between the inner wall of the door unit 104 and the socket assembly housed in the top cover 102 is present to operate the socker assembly. The door unit 104 may be a barrier between the environment and the socket assembly housed in the top cover 102. Thus, the door unit 104 exists as a shield on the top cover 102 housing one or more components of the vehicle charging station 100. In the example, the door unit 104 is disposed below the exterior of the sphere 103 of the top cover 102.
In an example embodiment, the door unit 104 comprises a locking unit. In said embodiment, the locking unit includes a lever 106 towards the inner face of the door unit 104. The locking unit further includes the knob 108 towards the outer face of the door unit 104. The knob 108 is operationally coupled to the lever 106 thus forming the locking unit. In an example, the knob 108 may be used for operating the lever 106 between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locked position and the unlocked position are relatively corresponding to the open state and the closed state of the door unit 104. The locked position may be understood as a position of the lever 106 in which the door unit 104 is in the closed state i.e.,

sealed with the top cover 102. The unlocked position may be understood as a position of the lever 106 in which the door unit 104 is in open state i.e., no longer sealed to the top cover 102 and is free to rotate about its hinges.
Referring to Fig.1(c), illustrates a perspective view of a front cover 110 including a lock-engagement unit 112, according to embodiments of the present subject matter. Further, a locking member 114 is also shown in the figure. The front cover 110 may be a visible face of the top cover 102 which provides access to vehicle charging station 100 to the user.
In an example embodiment, the top cover 102 may include a lock-engagement unit 112. The lock-engagement unit 112 includes a plurality of walls and a locking member 114. The locking member 114 may have a cavity. In an example, the locking member 114 may form a cut-out section in the front cover 110. In the example, the lock-engagement unit 112 is disposed on front cover 110 corresponding to the locking unit of the door unit 104. The locking member 114 is disposed in the cut-out section in axial direction of the vehicle charging station 100. As the locking member 114 is disposed in the cut-out section, it may form the cavity between the locking member 114 and the front cover 110.
In the example, the lock-engagement unit 112 may be adapted to accommodate a portion of the lever 106 of the locking unit. For example, when the door unit 104 is operated by the user in closed state, the lock-engagement unit 112 accommodates the lever 106 in the cavity when the lever 106 is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position thereby, sealing the door unit 104 with the top cover 102. In an example embodiment, the lock-engagement unit 112 may be provided in a front cover 110 housed in the top cover 102.
Fig. 2(a) illustrates a magnified view of the locking member 114. As may be seen, the locking member 114 is provided on the plurality of walls of the front cover 110 defining the cavity. In an example, the wall comprising the locking member 114 may include a contour that defines a hollow gap. In an example, a first end of the locking member 114 is fixed to an edge of the contour and another end of the

locking member 114 extends into this gap. Furthermore, in an example, the locking member 114 comprises a first region 114a and a second region 114b. In an example, the first region 114a may form an angle with the second region 114b.
In an example, the lever 106 of the locking unit engages with the first region 114a and the second region 114b when the lever 106 is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position upon closing the door unit 104. This movement of the lever 106 from the unlocked position to the locked position results in the lever 106 moving over the first region 114a and the second region 114b. In an example, a frictional force between the lever 106 and the locking member 114 increases when the lever 106 is moved from the first region 114a to the second region 114b. As a result, a spring effect or a restoration force is built up due to this engagement of the lever 106 with the locking member 114, which pushes the lever 106 thereby, sealing the door unit 104 with the top cover 102. In the example, the first region 114a forming the angle of around 13 degrees with the second region 114b prevents the lever 106 from getting trapped on the tip of the first region 114a. Further, in case the locking unit is disposed in other positions due to assembly variations causing the lever 106 to shift, the first region 114a may guide the lever 106 to secure the locking successfully.
Fig. 2(b) illustrates a back view 200 of the lock-engagement unit 112 and Fig 2(c) illustrates a front view 202 of the lock-engagement unit 112, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. As may be seen, the first end of the locking member 114 is fixed to an edge of the contour and the other end of the locking member 114 extends into this gap.
Fig. 3 illustrates a view 300 where a locking unit 302 is engaged with the lock-engagement unit 112. In an example, the locking unit 302 may be disposed in the door unit 104. The locking unit 302 may be operated by the user using a key. In the example, the key when inserted into the knob 108 and operated, causes the level 106 to move from an unlocked position to a locked position and vice-versa. According to aspects of the present subject matter, the engagement of the locking

unit 302 with the lock-engagement unit 112 causes the door unit 104 to tightly seal with the top cover 104 at the contact edge region. In an example, the locking unit 302 may be made up of metallic material such as steel or brass or aluminium etc. such that a sturdiness is achieved in the locking unit 302.
In a use case example, the vehicle charging station 100 is mounted on the wall. The cable is connected to the electrical vehicle and draws electrical energy from the vehicle charging station 100. The vehicle charging station 100 may be connected to a power supply line in a house or commercial space thus drawing power which is further supplied to the electric vehicle. The top cover 102 housing the components of the vehicle charging station 100 may also act as base plate using which the vehicle charging station 100 may be mounted on the wall. The back side of the top cover hidden from the user may include coupling arrangements to be mounted on the wall. Now, as the cable with its plug inserted into the power socket assembly is operated by the user, there is always a risk of theft of the cable when left unattended by the user. As the vehicle charging stations 100 are installed in open spaces, the user post plugging the cable into the power socket assembly for charging the electrical vehicle may not be around to monitor the connection. Anti¬social elements of the society may lead to theft or miscreants may disconnect the charging or steal the cable.
Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention provide structural configuration to ensure the cable is safely plugged into the power socket assembly and cannot be removed without the intended user’s desire. This is achieved by the door unit 104 that is movably coupled to the top cover 102. The user post plugging the electrical cable and plug in the power socket assembly may close the door unit 104 and operate the knob 108. The operation of the knob 108 may lead to change in the lever 106 direction from unlocked position to locked position. The user may operate the knob 108 using the key from outside. Thus, the door unit 104 may form sealed configuration with the top cover 102 securing the components of the vehicle charging unit 100 inside.

In another use case, in an example, as the door unit 104 with its locking unit 302 is configured to be sealed in closed state with the top cover 102, it provides protection from the weather as well. The locking unit 302 disposed on the door unit 104 and configured to form engagement, leading to locking configuration with the lock-engagement unit 112 of the front cover 110 provides additional protection from the weather. The alignment of the locking unit 302 and the lock-engagement unit 112 is corresponding to each other thus attaining aligned structural configuration with almost no gaps left between the front cover 110 and the door unit 104. This arrangement has sealing effect and does not let the water or dusty winds to sweep inside of the door unit. Thus, protecting the housing components of the vehicle charging station 100.
In various advantageous aspects of the invention are:
• The present disclosure provides the door unit 104 creating enclosure over the top cover 102 housing one or more components of the vehicle charging station 100. Thus, keeping the housing components safe.
• The present disclosure provides the locking unit disposed on the door unit 104 ensuring a firm sealing of the door unit 104 with the top cover 102. Thus, this mechanical arrangement provides anti-theft safety for the components of the vehicle charging station 100.
• The present disclosure provides structural configuration of the lock-engagement unit 112 which is simple, reliable, and is easily configured in the front cover 110.
While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a

single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.

WE CLAIM:
1. A vehicle charging station (100), comprising:
a top cover (102) housing one or more components of the vehicle charging station (100); and
a door unit (104) adapted to couple with the top cover (102) for securing the components housed by the top cover (102), the door unit (104) comprising:
a locking unit (302), wherein the locking unit (302) comprises: a lever (106); and
a knob (108), operationally coupled to the lever (106), for
operating the lever (106) between a locked position and an
unlocked position,
wherein the top cover (102) comprises a lock-engagement unit (112),
the lock-engagement unit (112) comprising a plurality of walls and a locking
member (114) defining a cavity, wherein the lock-engagement unit (112) is
adapted to accommodate a portion of the lever (106) in the cavity when the
lever (106) is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position to seal
the door unit (104) with the top cover (102).
2. The vehicle charging station (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top cover (102) houses a front cover (110) comprising the lock-engagement unit (112).
3. The vehicle charging station (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member (114) comprises a first region (114a) and a second region (114b).
4. The vehicle charging station (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first region (114a) forms an angle with the second region (114b).
5. The vehicle charging station (100) as claimed in any one of the claims 3 and 4, wherein the lever (106) engages with the first region (114a) and the second

region (114b) when the lever (106) is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position.
6. The vehicle charging station (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein a frictional force existing between the lever (106) and the locking member (114) increases when the lever (106) is moved from the first region (114a) to the second region (114b).
7. The vehicle charging station (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein an engagement of the lever (106) with the locking member (114) causes application of a force on the lever (106) to seal the door unit (104) with the top cover (102).
8. A top cover (102) of a vehicle charging station (100), the top cover (102) comprising:
a lock lock-engagement unit (112) comprising a plurality of walls and a locking member (114) defining a cavity, wherein the lock-engagement unit (112) is adapted to accommodate a portion of a lever (106) in the cavity when the lever (106) is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position to seal a door unit (104) of the vehicle charging station (100) with the top cover (102).
9. The top cover (102) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the locking member (114) comprises a first region (114a) forming an angle with a second region (114b).
10. The top cover (102) as claimed in any of the claim 9, wherein the lever (106) engages with the first region (114a) and the second region (114b) when the lever (106) is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position.