# US 10,864,859 B2 · Tailgate fuel storage system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,859 B2 - Document ID: US10864859B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/886,773 - Filed: 2018-02-01 - Published: 2018-09-13 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-01 - Assignees: Agility Fuel Systems LLC - Applicants: Agility Fuel Systems LLC - Inventors: Todd Sloan; Chris Forsberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864859B2 ## CPC - B60R 9/06: at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)} - B60K 15/03006: {Gas tanks (B60K15/07 takes precedence)} - B60K 15/063: Arrangement of tanks - B60K 15/067: Mounting of tanks - B60K 15/07: of gas tanks - B62D 33/023: Sideboard or tailgate structures {(vehicle side panels in general B62D25/02)} - B60K 2015/03118: {Multiple tanks, i.e. two or more separate tanks} - B60K 2015/0638: {the fuel tank is arranged in the rear of the vehicle} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 - 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) ## Abstract Methods and systems for fuel storage and transportation are provided. A support assembly for supporting a plurality of fuel containers may comprise a plurality of end support members, and a plurality of side support members that are detachably coupled to the plurality of end support members. The plurality of fuel containers may be configured to be located on a plurality of different planes when supported by the support assembly, in a manner that permits the support assembly to accommodate a plurality of tailgates of different shapes and/or dimensions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A support assembly for supporting a stacked arrangement of fuel containers and coupling to a tailgate of a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of end support members configured to be oriented vertically when applied to the tailgate of the vehicle, the plurality of end support members comprising: a first elongate end support member having a forward facing side and a rearward facing side; a second elongate end support member having a forward facing side and a rearward facing side; the forward facing side of the second elongate end support member being directly coupled to the rearward facing side of the first elongate end support member, the second elongate end support member being shorter than the first elongate end support member such that an upper end of the second elongate end support member is disposed below an upper end of the first elongate end support member and a lower end of the second elongate end support member is disposed above a lower end of the first elongate end support member; a first fuel container supported by a first neck support bracket coupled to the rearward facing side of the first elongate end support member above the upper end of the second elongate end support member; a second fuel container supported by a second neck support bracket coupled to the rearward facing side of the second elongate end support member; a plurality of side support members that are coupled to the plurality of end support members, the plurality of side support members comprising a first side support member coupled to at least one of the first elongate end support member and the second elongate end support member and a second side support member coupled to at least one of the first elongate end support member and the second elongate end support member below the first side support member, the plurality of end support members and the plurality of side support members defining a rectangular frame structure; wherein central axes of the first and second fuel containers are located on different planes, the first side support member and the second side support member being disposed different distances from the forward facing side of the first elongate end support member in a manner that forms a recess in a middle portion of the support assembly adjacent one or more of the fuel containers, the recess being configured to accommodate a shape of the tailgate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of side support members are located on different planes relative to the end support members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the end support members include flanges, wherein the first side support member is located at a first distance from the flanges and the second side support member is located at a second distance from the flanges. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The support assembly of claim 2, wherein the different planes on which the central axes of the fuel containers are located are parallel to each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the shape of the tailgate is one or more of rounded, arcuate, trapezoidal, triangular, or stepped. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The support assembly of claim 1, wherein side portions of the fuel containers are supported by or in contact with the plurality of side support members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The support assembly of claim 6, wherein the neck support brackets are configured to provide support for neck portions of the fuel containers, and the plurality of side support members are configured to protect body portions of the fuel containers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The support assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the side support members is detachably coupled to either the first elongate end support member or the second elongate end support member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of side support members are interchangeable with one another. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of end support members comprises a first pair of end support members and a second pair of end support members disposed on different planes from one another. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The support assembly of claim 10, wherein the first pair of end support members are configured to support a first set of fuel containers, wherein the second pair of end support members are configured to support a second set of fuel containers different from the first set, and wherein the first and second sets of fuel containers are disposed on different planes from one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The support assembly of claim 10, wherein the first and second pairs of end support members are parallel to one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The support assembly of claim 10, wherein the second pair of end support members are coupled to central portions of the first pair of end support members. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the fuel containers comprise containers for compressed natural gas (CNG). ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The support assembly of claim 11, wherein the first set of fuel containers comprises central axes that are located on a first plane, and the second set of fuel containers comprises central axes that are located on a second plane different from the first plane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The support assembly of claim 15, wherein the first plane and the second plane are offset from each other by a fixed distance or a variable distance, such that the first and second planes are oriented to permit the support assembly and the stacked arrangement of fuel containers to accommodate the shape of the tailgate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The support assembly of claim 16, wherein the first plane and the second plane are parallel to each other. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The support assembly of claim 15, wherein a position and/or an orientation of at least one of the first or second planes is adjustable. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The support assembly of claim 18, wherein the position and/or orientation of at least one of the first or second planes is adjustable by moving one or more of the end support members or side support members. ### Claim 20 A support assembly for supporting a stacked arrangement of fuel containers and coupling to a tailgate of a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of end support members comprising a first end support member, a second end support member, a third end support member, and a fourth end support member, wherein the first end support member is directly coupled to the second end support member along the entire length of the second end support member, and the third end support member is coupled to the fourth end support member; a plurality of side support members that are coupled to the plurality of end support members, the plurality of end support members and the plurality of side support members defining a rectangular frame that is oriented vertically when applied to the tailgate of the vehicle; wherein the first and third end support members comprise rearward facing sides configured to support a first set of fuel containers and the second and fourth end support members comprise rearward facing sides configured to support a second set of fuel containers, the second set of fuel containers being disposed in a middle portion of the support assembly; wherein the first set of fuel containers comprises central axes located on a first plane and the second set of fuel containers comprises central axes located on a second plane; and wherein the first plane and the second plane are offset in a manner that forms a recess adjacent the second set of fuel containers that is configured to accommodate a shape of the tailgate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The support assembly of claim 20, wherein one or more of the end support members is configured to be adjusted by a mechanical element, wherein the mechanical element is configured to provide direct connection along the entire length of the second end support member at different positions along the length of the first end support member to alter a configuration of the recess. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The support assembly of claim 21, wherein the mechanical element comprises one or more channels disposed in one or both of the first end support member and the second end support member. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The support assembly of claim 21, wherein the mechanical element comprises one or more grooves disposed in one or both of the first end support member and the second end support member.