US Patent 7952325 Vehicle charging station having a dual position locking door

A vehicle charging station that includes a power receptacle compartment that includes a power receptacle to receive an electrical plug. The vehicle charging station also includes a door that is hingedly coupled with the power receptacle compartment to cover the power receptacle when the door is closed. The vehicle charging station includes a first locking means for locking and unlocking the door from a closed position without consuming power to control access to the power receptacle compartment such that the door remains locked in the closed position if the vehicle charging station loses power. The vehicle charging station also includes a second locking means for locking and unlocking the door from a charging position to control access to the electrical plug. The second locking means allows the door to be unlocked from the charging position if the vehicle charging station loses power.