Charging handle for charging electric automobile

Abstract

A charging handle of an electric automobile comprises a shell. The housing includes an overmold, a cavity, a barrel, and a charging cable insert perpendicular to an axis of the electric vehicle charging port. The overmold includes a light transmissive component and a light source. The electric automobile charging handle comprises a charging plug. The charging plug comprises a switch gasket, a charging plug support, a plurality of female contact pins and a contact pin limiter. The charging plug further comprises an inner charging plug shell, an outer charging plug shell and a charging plug gasket. The inner charging plug shell is used for accommodating the switch gasket, the charging plug bracket, the plurality of female contact pins and the contact pin limiting stopper; the outer charging plug shell is fixed to the inner charging plug shell through the charging plug gasket. The electric automobile charging handle further comprises a rotary lock catch.

Description

Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 375,342, filed on September 12, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates to electric vehicle (EV) charging systems. Background Art

[0003] Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), or simply Electric Vehicles (EVs), can be charged by a variety of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) power sources. A typical charging station, or charging point or Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), is a device that provides power to charge the battery of a plug - in electric vehicle. Charging stations provide connectors that comply with a variety of international standards, and these connectors are encapsulated in a charging handle. The charging handle of an AC charging station usually has multiple connectors to enable charging of various vehicles that adopt different competing standards.

[0004] One problem with such charging stations is the lack of a compact charging handle that is convenient for charging in narrow spaces. Usually, the charging handle of a charging station has a straight - handle design. That is, the charging handle extends directly from the charging cable, such that when inserted into the battery, the charging handle and the charging cable are on the same axis. This often forces the user to bend the cable to fit into a narrow charging space, and repeated use can cause the insulating outer layer of the high - voltage wire to crack partially or completely. This poses a potential danger to the user. In addition, at a roadside charging station, when the charging port of an electric vehicle is on the side of the vehicle close to the road, the straight - handle charging handle will protrude into the road where vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians pass frequently, posing a safety hazard in densely populated areas. In low - visibility conditions, the charging handle protruding into the road where vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians pass frequently may not be easily visible, and there may be a risk of collision.

[0005] Another problem with such charging stations is the lack of an indication of the charging status on the charging handle. Some (but not all) electric vehicles provide some kind of visual indication on the vehicle side to convey the charging status to the user when charging. However, if such an indication is not provided on the vehicle, it will be difficult for the user to know the charging status.

[0006] With the popularization of electric vehicles, it has become increasingly necessary to develop convenient carbon-neutral transportation infrastructure, such as roadside charging or charging in other limited space environments like garages and public parking lots. Using charging equipment in these limited space environments brings many problems. One of the problems is that users need to use electric vehicle charging stations on the road in low visibility conditions. Most current standard electric vehicle charging handles are designed after the decades-old fuel nozzle shape, and this design does not consider the usage scenarios on public roads. Such charging handles often protrude significantly from the vehicle side, usually protruding more than one foot. In addition, these charging handles usually have a dark color and are made of matte plastic material. These characteristics pose a risk of collision between these charging handles and passing vehicles on the road, which may cause serious damage.

[0007] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a solution to improve charging connections in narrow space environments and provide better visual indication on the charger side. In addition, a safer and user-friendly electric vehicle charging handle is needed to eliminate the unclear problems encountered by users during operation. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present disclosure provides an electric vehicle charging handle, which may include a housing, an axis perpendicular to the electric vehicle charging handle, a charging cable insert for receiving the charging cable of an electric vehicle charging station, and a charging plug for inserting into the electrical socket of an electric vehicle. The charging plug may include a switch washer. The switch washer may include a button embedded in the switch washer. The charging plug may include a charging plug bracket for fixing the electric vehicle charging handle to the electric vehicle. The charging plug may include a plurality of female contact pins for fixedly electrically connecting with male contact pins in the electrical socket of the electric vehicle. The charging plug may include a contact pin limiter for fixing the plurality of female contact pins to the electric vehicle charging handle. The charging plug may include an inner charging plug housing for accommodating the switch washer, the charging plug bracket, the plurality of female contact pins, and the contact pin limiter. The charging plug may include an outer charging plug housing. The outer charging plug housing may be fixed to the inner charging plug housing through a charging plug gasket.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electric vehicle charging handle is used to align the charging cable of the electric vehicle charging station at a 90-degree angle with the electrical socket in the electric vehicle.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing includes a overmolding, a cavity, and a barrel. The barrel may be used to fix or mechanically couple the overmolding to the electric vehicle charging handle.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electric vehicle charging handle may further include a rotary latch located on the housing.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the rotary latch may be located on the cavity.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an electric vehicle charging handle may include a light-transmitting component for receiving and transmitting light from a light source.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the light source is disposed inside the light-transmitting component.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electric vehicle charging handle may further include a processor that communicates electronically with the light source.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the light source may be configured to be controlled by a wireless device.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the light source may be an LED.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the light source further includes a programmable RGB / RGB+W LED light source.

[0019] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the overmolding may include a light-transmitting component for receiving and transmitting light from the light source.

[0020] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a button within the switch gasket provides a waterproof seal for the electric vehicle charging handle when engaged by a rotary latch.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the rotary latch facilitates controlling the release and retraction of a charging cable of an electric vehicle charging station.

[0022] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pin limiter may be in an annular shape.

[0023] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the charging cable insert may include a cable strain relief. The cable strain relief may provide protection for the charging cable, relieve stress on the wires and cable connections of the charging cable, and prevent connection or breakage of the charging cable.

[0024] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the Hall effect sensor board may be disposed on the charging plug bracket. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] To more fully understand the nature and objects of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle charging handle of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle charging handle of the present disclosure, showing the components within the electric vehicle charging handle.

[0028] Figure 3It is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an electric vehicle charging handle that provides a visual indication to the user according to the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 4A It shows the potential hazards existing in the existing electric vehicle charging handle.

[0030] Figure 4B It shows an embodiment of an electric vehicle charging handle of the present disclosure with a 90-degree cable angle.

[0031] Figure 5 It shows the use of a rotary latch in the electric vehicle charging handle of the present disclosure to control the retraction and release of the charging cable.

[0032] Figure 6 It shows an embodiment of the operation of an electric vehicle charging handle.

[0033] Figure 7 It shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle charging handle.

[0034] Figure 8 It shows a right side view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle charging handle.

[0035] Figure 9 It shows a left side view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle charging handle.

[0036] Figure 10 It shows a front view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle charging handle.

[0037] Figure 11 It shows a rear view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle charging handle.

[0038] Figure 12 It shows a bottom view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle charging handle.

[0039] Figure 13 It shows a top view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle charging handle.

[0040] Figure 14 It is an exploded view of another embodiment of the electric vehicle charging handle of the present disclosure, showing the components in the electric vehicle charging handle. Detailed Description

[0041] Although the subject matter claimed in the present disclosure will be described in accordance with specific embodiments, other embodiments, including those that do not list all the advantages and features described in the present disclosure, still fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, different modifications can be made to the structure, logic, process steps, and electronic components. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the appended claims.

[0042] As Figure 1As shown, the present disclosure provides an Electric Vehicle (EV) charger 10. As Figure 4B and Figure 6 shown, the EV charging handle 10 includes a compact housing 15 for aligning the charging cable 42 of an EV charging station 40 at a 90-degree angle with an electrical socket 44 in an electric vehicle 50. In an embodiment, the charging cable 42 can be aligned at a right angle to the direction of the connecting shaft. The internal components of the EV charging handle 10 are configured to form a low-profile or compact housing.

[0043] In an embodiment, the EV charging handle 10 includes a charging plug 30 for connection to the charging socket of the electric vehicle 50. The EV charging handle 10 can include any one of a Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, or Type 4 plug. Additionally, the charging cable 42 can be an insulated cable that encloses multiple independent insulated wires. As Figure 2 shown, these wires are connected to the pins 33 of the charging plug 30 inside the housing 15. The housing 15 of the EV charging handle 10 can also be configured as a waterproof structure to protect the wire connection from damage. The EV charging handle 10 can also be configured to be painted with bright and / or reflective paint for easy identification in low visibility environments.

[0044] As Figure 2 and Figure 7 shown, in an embodiment, the EV charging handle 10 includes a handle 19. The handle 19 can include two or more parts such that the cable can pass through the housing 15 and the cable strain relief 21 and then be crimped to the follower pins 33. These components are then fastened (e.g., snapped) into an integral structure, where without this assembly method, the cable and the pins 33 cannot maintain the necessary structural rigidity and sealing between the charging plug housing 35 and the internal structure while completing the crimping, thus ensuring the safe operation of the charging plug 30. An auxiliary cylindrical structure can be assembled on the charging plug housing 35 and the internal structure to form a sealed space around the internal structure through a sealing fit with the rear housing and the charging plug housing 35. The auxiliary cylindrical structure can include a barrel 18, and the barrel 18 can be fastened to the cavity 17 to form a waterproof sealing structure, for example, by the tight pressing of an O-ring or a molded gasket. This cylindrical structure can be assembled by threading, adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or other techniques. When using the threading method, O-rings, washers, or seals can be provided at the front and rear ends of the cylinder. The front end of the cylinder described in the assembly direction has a flat surface that can carry an O-ring or a seal, and the rear end has an embedded O-ring or a seal on the inner surface, or has a small flange or protruding structure that can engage with the complementary groove or protruding structure on the charging plug housing 35, and the front end of the cylinder can pass through easily without collision.

[0045] As Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 shown, the housing 15 may include one or more energized light sources 26. The light source 26 can at least be turned on and off, or have its light intensity increased and decreased, to generate various lighting patterns or blinking effects. The electrical connection of the charging circuit can power the light source 26 independently or separately. When the electric vehicle charging handle 10 is removed from the base of the electric vehicle charging station 40, the light source 26 can alternately switch on and off at a certain frequency to produce a noticeable pattern, the frequency of which is not so high that it cannot be perceived by the human eye or may cause visual fatigue to those sensitive to flashlights. The alternating switching of the light source can continue until the electric vehicle charging handle 10 is connected to the electric vehicle 50, which can provide high visibility assistance to the operator and ensure that passing drivers and vehicles can be more easily noticed. After connection, the light source can remain on, or only remain on under ambient light conditions where the light emitted from the charging handle can enhance visibility. The light source 26 can maintain this state until the charging handle is unplugged from the vehicle, and then resume the blinking operation until the charging handle returns to the base of the charging station 40. Other lighting sequences can also be adopted.

[0046] The lighting sequence and / or color can be changed to indicate different charging states or operating states. For example, the intensity, brightness, and / or color can be changed. When the electric vehicle charging handle 10 is placed back on the base, the light source can remain on to indicate states such as that the charging station is faulty and needs repair or that the charging station has been reserved.

[0047] Figure 2 Shows an exploded view of the components of the electric vehicle charging handle 10. The electric vehicle charging handle 10 includes a housing 15. The housing 15 is composed of a overmolding 16, a cavity 17, and a barrel 18. The overmolding 16 can be constructed of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material for the user 60 to hold the electric vehicle charging handle 10. Other materials that are easy to hold, such as silicone and rubber, can also be used. The choice of material is not limited herein, and any material can be used.

[0048] The overmolding 16 may include a light-transmitting component 25 for receiving and partially transmitting the light of the light source 26. The overmolding 16 may include an opening for the light-transmitting component 25, or the overmolding 16 itself is at least partially translucent. The light-transmitting component 25 can be constructed of any material with translucent or transparent properties. The light-transmitting component 25 can also be constructed of a rigid or semi-rigid material. Alternatively, the light-transmitting component 25 may include two or more components co-molded by a two-color injection molding process. The light-transmitting component 25 may also include a light guiding function to control the position on the light-transmitting component 25 where the visible light is emitted from the light-transmitting component 25 and / or the overmolding 16.

[0049] The light-transmitting component 25 can be in various shapes such as circular, square, cubic, prismatic, or domed.

[0050] Although the light-transmitting component 25 is disclosed, the light feature can be implemented in another area of the electric vehicle charging handle 10.

[0051] The overmolding 16 can also include or involve a light source 26. In an embodiment, the light source 26 can be separated from the overmolding 16. The light source 26 can be disposed inside the light-transmitting component 25. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the position of the light source 26 inside the light-transmitting component 25. The light source 26 can be a Light Emitting Diode (LED). Alternatively, the light source 26 can be any one of an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp, or a gas discharge lamp. The LED light source described herein can also include an LED array, and the LED array includes a plurality of LEDs for emitting multicolor light. Specifically, the LED array can include any combination of red, green, blue, or white LEDs (such as RGB, RGB+W). The white LED (or other white light source) can be used together with a color filter to emit different colors. As known to those skilled in the art, these LEDs can be driven by forward currents of different intensities to emit any color in the visible spectrum. The LED forward current can be provided by a power source such as a lithium-ion battery through a control circuit, or by the power supplied to the electric vehicle charging handle 10 from other places. The power source and the control circuit can be installed on a PCB board inside the light-transmitting component.

[0052] The light source 26 described in the embodiments of the present disclosure can also include additional circuits or processors to support remote control of the lighting function through the wireless device 55, so as to control parameters of the LED array, such as color, intensity, and frequency ( Figure 6 ). The wireless device 55 can be any electronic device with Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and wireless communication functions, including but not limited to mobile phones, smart watches, personal digital assistants, laptop computers, tablet computers, in-vehicle tablets, etc. The wireless device 55 can include a non-transitory storage medium storing a software program, where the program instructs the processor in the wireless device to provide a graphical user interface to the user to control the operation of the light source.

[0053] Embodiments of the system can include a processor, which is programmed with software and / or firmware and, together with suitable digital and / or analog interfaces for connecting to other components, performs the functions described herein. Alternatively or additionally, the system can include hardwired and / or programmable hardware logic circuits for performing at least some of the functions described herein. The program code or instructions for the processor to implement the various methods and functions described herein can be stored in a readable storage medium (such as a memory).

[0054] Continuing to refer to Figure 2 , the housing 15 may further include a cavity 17. In an embodiment, the cavity 17 may be part of the overmolding 16. In another embodiment, the cavity may be separate from the overmolding 16. The cavity 17 can be used to safely seal the light source 26 within the light transmissive component 25.

[0055] The housing 15 may further include a charging cable insert 20 perpendicular to the axis of the electric vehicle charging handle 10. In an embodiment, as Figure 5 and Figure 12 shown, the charging cable insert 20 is for receiving the charging cable 42 from the charging station 40. In an embodiment, the charging cable insert 20 may be part of the handle 19. In another embodiment, the charging cable insert 20 may be part of the cavity 17. In another embodiment, the charging cable insert 20 may be part of the overmolding 16. The housing 15 of the electric vehicle charging handle 10 provides an insertion angle for the charging cable 42 that is perpendicular to the connection axis of the connection between the electric vehicle charging handle 10 and the electrical socket 44 of the electric vehicle 50. This facilitates a compact connection between the electric vehicle charging handle 10 and the electric vehicle 50. Figure 4A Shows a prior electric vehicle charging handle where the charging cable 42 easily extends at least a foot away from the vehicle and in most usage scenarios is likely to extend out into the path of oncoming vehicles, presenting a safety hazard. Figure 4B Shows the electric vehicle charging handle 10 of an embodiment herein, where the charging cable insert 20 provides a right - angled insertion angle for the charging cable 42, facilitating a compact and flush connection between the electric vehicle charging handle 10 and the electric vehicle 50. As Figure 4B shown, the electric vehicle charging handle 10 provided by the embodiments herein remains flush with the body of the electric vehicle 50.

[0056] The electric vehicle charging handle 10 is perpendicular to the connection axis of the connection between the electric vehicle charging handle 10 and the electrical socket 44, which changes the assembly process of the electric vehicle charging handle 10. The cable is assembled to the housing 15 and the pins 33 are crimped after being inserted into the cavity 17 and / or the overmolding 16. A series of structures are used to fix the position of the pins 33 and guide the internal conductors to the correct positions, ensuring reliable and consistent assembly.

[0057] In an embodiment, the cable and the conductor are bent and inserted into the charging plug holder 32, and the charging plug holder 32 holds the correct position and bending radius of the conductor. The charging plug holder 32 may also include a component for fixing the contact pin 33, rather than simply relying on the cable itself for fixation. This can ensure a more secure connection compared to having only a single conductor. The charging plug holder 32 can be designed to include a series of radial features to facilitate assembly while maintaining the spacing between any current-carrying conductors to ensure proper insulation can be achieved. The structural design of the charging plug holder 32 and the cavity 17 keeps the cable and the included conductor in place during assembly, while allowing a 90-degree turn and maintaining the bending radius required by the conductor diameter. This is achieved through the synergistic action of the component in the cavity 17 that can guide the cable and the cavity or protrusion in the charging plug holder 32 that fixes the cable or the contact pin 33, and these cavities or protrusions are designed to allow elastic deformation of the structure of the charging plug holder 32 or the insulating sheath of the conductor during insertion.

[0058] Figure 3 The electric vehicle charging handle 10 of the present disclosure provides a visual indication to the user 60. The electric vehicle charging handle 10 can emit stable or pulsating light to indicate that the electric vehicle 50 is charging, which can alert the vehicle and pedestrians in dim light. The visual indication provided by the above light source not only provides visibility to passing vehicles and pedestrians, but also provides illumination for the user to plug and unplug the electric vehicle charging handle 10 from the electric vehicle 50 under various weather and lighting conditions. For the user 60, the electric vehicle 50, the electric vehicle charging handle 10, the charging cable 42, and the electric vehicle charging station 40, this can reduce the risk of collision with road traffic. For example, after the electric vehicle charging handle 10 is removed from the electric vehicle charging station 40, the electric vehicle charging handle 10 can emit stable or pulsating light to alert the vehicle and pedestrians that charging is about to start. This can ensure user safety and ensure that the user can be seen by vehicles and pedestrians when walking onto the street.

[0059] Returning to Figure 2 , the charging cable insert 20 may also include a cable strain relief 21. The cable strain relief 21 can be an additional extension of the charging cable 42 or another structure for reducing cable stress. The cable strain relief 21 can prevent the cable from being overly bent at the exit of the handle end where sharp bends are most likely to occur. The cable strain relief 21 can provide protection and relieve stress for the wires and cable connection parts of the charging cable 42, thereby avoiding breakage at the connection of the charging cable 42 or the cable.

[0060] Referring again to Figure 2, the electric vehicle charging handle 10 further includes a charging plug 30 for inserting into the electrical socket 44 of the electric vehicle 50. The charging plug 30 includes a switch washer 31 and a charging plug bracket 32. The switch washer 31 may include a button 38 embedded therein, and the button 38 can provide a waterproof seal. The charging plug bracket 32 helps to fix the electric vehicle charging handle 10 to the electric vehicle 50. The charging plug 30 further includes a plurality of female contact pins 33. The plurality of female contact pins 33 helps to ensure electrical connection with the male contact pins on the electric vehicle 50. The charging plug 30 further includes a contact pin limiter 34. The contact pin limiter 34 helps to fix the plurality of female contact pins 33 to the charging plug 30. The charging plug 30 may further include an inner charging plug housing 37. The inner charging plug housing 37 is used to accommodate the switch washer 31, the charging plug bracket 32, the plurality of female contact pins 33, and the contact pin limiter 34. The various components of the charging plug 30 can be fastened and snapped together to form an assembly. The charging plug 30 further includes an outer charging plug housing 35 and a charging plug gasket 36. The outer charging plug housing 35 can be fixed to the inner charging plug housing 37 through the charging plug gasket 36.

[0061] The housing 15 of the electric vehicle charging handle 10 further includes a barrel 18. The barrel 18 fixes the overmolding 16 to the charging plug 30. The outer charging plug housing 35 is assembled on the inner charging plug housing 37 and the barrel 18, fastening the overmolding 16 and the barrel 18 to form a waterproof seal. The outer charging plug housing 35 can be assembled by means of threading, adhesive, or ultrasonic welding. The charging plug gasket 36 can be an O-ring, a gasket, or a seal, and can be installed between the outer charging plug housing and the inner charging plug housing to provide IP44 protection and a waterproof seal between the components of the contact pin limiter and the barrel 18.

[0062] Figure 14 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the electric vehicle charging handle 10. Figure 14 The electric vehicle charging handle 10 in Figure 2 is similar to that shown in

[0063] As Figure 5 shown, the electric vehicle charging handle 10 further includes a rotary latch 28. As Figure 6As shown, the rotary latch 28 can be located on the barrel 18. The rotary latch 28 can be used to lock the electric vehicle charging handle 10 to the electric vehicle charging station 40 when the electric vehicle charging handle 10 is not in use, and can be compatible with standards such as SAE J1772 Level 2. Additionally, the rotary latch 28 can also be used to retract or release the charging cable 42 from the cable mechanism 43 of the electric vehicle charging station 40. The rotary latch 28 can be connected (e.g., snapped) to a brake member within the socket of the electric vehicle charging station 40 that is used to receive the electric vehicle charging handle 10. This can lock the electric vehicle charging handle 10 within the socket of the electric vehicle charging station 40. The relevant dimensions of the socket can be determined with reference to the regulations for the socket in the SAE J1772 standard. Figure 5 The rotary latch 28 of the electric vehicle charging handle 10 is shown.

[0064] The rotary latch 28 can be spring-loaded so that it can rotate around a fixed pin. Instead of an embedded switch or button 38, a magnet can also be embedded inside the rotary latch 28. The magnet is sensed by a magnetic Hall effect sensor board 70 (see Figure 14 ) to sense whether the rotary latch 28 is pressed and the depth of the press. Using the magnet and the magnetic Hall effect sensor allows the user to retract or release the cable at different speeds by pressing the latch to different degrees. For example, pressing the rotary latch 28 to a greater depth can cause the cable mechanism to operate at an accelerated speed.

[0065] Further, in an embodiment, the inside of the rotary latch 28 can have a cavity for connecting to the switch washer 31 of the charging plug 30. Pressing the rotary latch 28 can depress the latch and trigger (e.g., depress) the switch washer 31.

[0066] In an embodiment, the button 38 within the switch washer 31 is used to provide a waterproof seal for the electric vehicle charging handle 10 when engaged by the rotary latch 28. Figure 5 An illustration shows the use of the rotary latch 28 in the electric vehicle charging handle 10 of the present disclosure to control the retraction and release of the charging cable 42. As shown by the arrow, the user 60 can engage the button 38 by pressing the rotary latch 28.

[0067] Figure 6 An illustration shows an embodiment of the operation. The electric vehicle charging handle 10 can emit a steady or pulsating light to convey the interaction status of the system. For example, it can emit light when inserted into the electric vehicle charging station 40, pulled out from the electric vehicle charging station 40, or inserted into the power socket 44 of the electric vehicle 50. This emission of light can also be linked to the interaction with the electric vehicle charging station 40 and / or a mobile application on the wireless device 55 of the user 60.

[0068] The light source 26 can also change color and intensity, generating a more recognizable and softer lighting pattern compared to other solutions described herein. With multi-color display and adjustable intensity, more information can be conveyed to users, vehicles and pedestrians, or public officers. It can also indicate the charging completion time, whether the electric vehicle 50 being charged has occupied the charging space for an excessive time, or whether the electric vehicle 50 at that time violates local parking regulations. The processor can be used to change the color and intensity according to various inputs.

[0069] Figures 7 to 12 A multi-perspective view of an embodiment of the electric vehicle charging handle 10 is shown.

[0070] Although the present disclosure has been described by one or more specific embodiments, it should be understood that other embodiments can be implemented without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the rights of the present disclosure is only defined by the appended claims and their reasonable interpretations.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle (EV) charging handle, comprising: a housing; a charging cable insert perpendicular to the axis of the electric vehicle charging handle, wherein the charging cable insert is for receiving the charging cable of an electric vehicle charging station; and a charging plug for inserting into an electrical socket of an electric vehicle, wherein the charging plug comprises: a switch washer; a charging plug bracket for fixing the electric vehicle charging handle to the electric vehicle; a plurality of female contact pins for fixedly electrically connecting with male contact pins in the electrical socket of the electric vehicle; a contact pin limiter for fixing the plurality of female contact pins to the electric vehicle charging handle; an inner charging plug housing for accommodating the switch washer, the charging plug bracket, the plurality of female contact pins, and the contact pin limiter; and an outer charging plug housing, wherein the outer charging plug housing is fixed to the inner charging plug housing by a charging plug gasket.

2. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 1, wherein the electric vehicle charging handle is for aligning the charging cable of the electric vehicle charging station at a 90-degree angle with the electrical socket in the electric vehicle.

3. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a overmolding, a cavity, and a barrel, wherein the barrel is disposed on the overmolding of the electric vehicle charging handle.

4. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 3, wherein the electric vehicle charging handle further comprises a rotary latch disposed on the housing.

5. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 4, wherein the rotary latch is disposed on the cavity.

6. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 4, wherein the rotary latch facilitates controlling the release and retraction of the charging cable of the electric vehicle charging station.

7. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 4, wherein a button in the switch washer is for providing a waterproof seal for the electric vehicle charging handle when engaged by the rotary latch.

8. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 3, wherein the overmolding comprises a light-transmissive component for receiving and transmitting light from a light source.

9. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 8, wherein the light source is disposed inside the light-transmissive component.

10. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 8, further comprising a processor in electronic communication with the light source.

11. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 10, wherein the light source is configured to be controlled by a wireless device.

12. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 8, wherein the light source is an LED.

13. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 12, wherein the light source further comprises a programmable RGB LED light source.

14. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 1, further comprising a light-transmissive component for receiving and transmitting light from a light source.

15. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 1, wherein the contact pin limiter is in an annular shape.

16. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 1, wherein The charging cable insert includes a cable strain relief for protecting the charging cable.

17. The electric vehicle charging handle according to claim 1, further comprising a Hall effect sensor board disposed on the charging plug bracket.

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