# US 10,370,041 B2 · Systems, methods, and devices for an automobile door or window

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- Number: US 10,370,041 B2
- Document ID: US10370041B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/410,130
- Filed: 2017-01-19
- Published: 2017-07-13
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-30
- Assignees: Nikola Corporation
- Applicants: Nikola Corporation
- Inventors: Trevor R. Milton; Steve Jennes; Markus Scholten
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370041B2

## CPC

- B62D 33/0612: {Cabins with living accommodation, especially for long distance road vehicles, i.e. sleeping, cooking, or other facilities (beds in general adapted to be used in vahicles A47C17/80; sanitation devices in vehicles in general B60R15/00; living accommodation in vehicles in general B60P3/32; passenger fittings in general B60N3/00)}
- B60J 5/0497: {for load transporting vehicles or public transport, e.g. lorries, trucks, buses}
- B60J 5/062: {for utility vehicles or public transport (B60J5/08 takes precedence)}
- B60K 6/20: the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
- B60K 6/26: characterised by the motors or the generators
- B60N 2/005: Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles {, e.g. dismountable auxiliary seats}(B60N2/02 takes precedence {; for railway vehicles B61D1/04})
- B60N 3/001: {of tables or trays}
- B60N 3/008: {of beds}
- B60N 3/10: of receptacles for food or beverages, e.g. refrigerated
- B60N 3/16: of cooking or boiling devices
- B60R 3/00: Arrangements of steps {or ladders facilitating access to or on the vehicle}, e.g. running-boards ({construction of steps for railway vehicles B61D23/00} ; ladders E06C)
- E05D 15/0604: {allowing an additional movement (E05D15/10 takes precedence; raising wings before sliding E05D15/565)}
- E05F 15/41: Detection by monitoring transmitted force or torque (E05F15/48 takes precedence); Safety couplings with activation dependent upon torque or force, e.g. slip couplings
- E05F 15/60: using electrical actuators
- E05F 15/632: for horizontally-sliding wings
- E05F 15/70: with automatic actuation
- E05F 15/73: responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
- B60K 6/28: characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
- B60L 58/26: by cooling
- E05Y 2900/516: for trucks or trailers
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y10S 903/906: Motor or generator
- Y10S 903/907: Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00)
- E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for a vehicle door or window are disclosed herein. A vehicle includes a vehicle body and a cabin located within the body of the vehicle, wherein the cabin includes an interior that is configured to accommodate at least one person. The vehicle includes at least one seat located in the interior of the cabin that is configured for seating a user. The vehicle includes at least one door that provides ingress and egress to the interior of the cabin of the vehicle, and the at least one door is located with respect to the body such that the door opens to provide ingress and egress into the cabin from a backside of the seat.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle comprising:
a body comprising a front end and a rear end;
a plurality of front wheels located proximally with respect to the body and a plurality of rear wheels located distally with respect to the body, wherein the front wheels comprise a first rear most location that is a first distance from the front end of the body and a second front most location that is a second distance from the front end of the body, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance;
a cabin located within the body, wherein the cabin comprises an interior with at least one seat located in the interior that is configured for seating at least one person, and wherein a majority of the at least one seat is located within the first distance of the front wheels;
a door having a foremost portion that is both adjacent to a front wheel well and that is disposed behind the rear most location of the front wheels;
wherein the door is the foremost door providing ingress or egress into the interior of the cabin; and
an electric motor and a gear train corresponding with the electric motor, wherein the electric motor and gear train are configured to provide electrical power to at least one of the plurality of front wheels or the plurality of rear wheels.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the body of the vehicle comprises a plurality of front wheel wells, including the front wheel well, that correspond to the plurality of front wheels, wherein the front wheel wells comprise a front most portion and a rear most portion with a horizontal distance therebetween, wherein the entirety of the at least one seat is located within the horizontal distance of the front wheel wells.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the door opens to provide ingress and egress into the cabin from a backside of the at least one seat.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the body of the vehicle comprises an opening having a width and a height that corresponds with the door, wherein there is no seat inside the cabin that obstructs the width of the opening.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises a plurality of electric motors and a plurality of gear trains that each correspond with each of the plurality of electric motors.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the door is the only door that provides ingress and egress to the interior of the cabin of the vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the door is located on a driver's side of the vehicle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the door is located on a passenger's side of the vehicle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second door, wherein the first door and the second door each provide ingress and egress to the interior of the cabin of the vehicle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicle of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first door or the second door slides on an upper track, a mid-track, and a lower track located externally on the body of the vehicle to open and close the at least one door.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the first door or the second door moves outward with respect to the body and backward with respect to the at least one seat as the door is moved to an open position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The vehicle of claim 10, wherein an activation signal turns on a drive motor to pull the at least one of the first door and the second door open and closed.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first door is located on a driver's side of the vehicle and the second door is located on a passenger's side of the vehicle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the door is hinged at one end and attached to the body of the vehicle to open and close the door.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the door comprises a peak load sensor configured to sense a threshold, such that when a load on the door is higher than the threshold a control unit reverses the direction of the door and keeps the door from closing.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the door is located approximately at a midpoint of the body of the vehicle to provide ingress and egress into the cabin.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a semi-truck.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an electric driven class 7 semi-truck.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an electric driven class 8 semi-truck.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises a sleeper within the cabin.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the sleeper comprises a bunk bed, a refrigerator having a volume that is at least 15 cubic feet, a table, and a microwave oven.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The vehicle of claim 20, wherein entry into the cabin of the vehicle provides full access to the at least one seat and the sleeper simultaneously.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein an opening into the cabin comprises a height that is at least six feet five inches.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the cabin comprises a driver's seat and a passenger's seat, wherein access to either of the driver's seat or the passenger's seat is provided between the passenger's seat and the driver's seat.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises at least one full-size step and at least one handhold to provide at least two points of leverage and for access and entry into the interior of the cabin.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein there are two steps and two handholds that provide four points of leverage for entry into the interior of the cabin, such that a user enters into the cabin facing forward.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle comprising electrical and combustion components.