# US 11,440,556 B2 · Trailed vehicles, mobile devices, and weight sensing system user interfaces comprised therein

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- Number: US 11,440,556 B2
- Document ID: US11440556B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/849,367
- Filed: 2020-04-15
- Published: 2021-06-17
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-12
- Assignees: Thor Tech, Inc.
- Applicants: Thor Tech, Inc.
- Inventors: Mark Bullock; Jon Brock
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440556B2

## CPC

- B60D 1/145: consisting of an elongated single bar or tube
- B60W 40/13: Load or weight
- B60D 1/248: {for measuring, indicating or displaying the weight}
- B60D 1/48: characterised by the mounting
- B60D 1/62: involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like
- B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
- B60K 35/22: Display screens
- B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10)
- B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
- B62D 21/09: Means for mounting load bearing surfaces
- B62D 33/02: Platforms; Open load compartments {(flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08)}
- B62D 33/04: Enclosed load compartments {; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains (side curtains per se B60J5/065; tarpaulins per se B60J7/00, B60P7/04)}
- B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
- B60K 2360/1523: Matrix displays
- B60K 2360/167: Vehicle dynamics information
- B60K 2360/171: Vehicle or relevant part thereof displayed
- B60W 2520/00: Input parameters relating to overall vehicle dynamics
- B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- 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

A trailed vehicle comprises a cargo area, a wheeled axle assembly supporting the cargo area, a hitch assembly configured to secure the trailed vehicle to a tow vehicle, and a weight sensing system comprising a weight processing module and a user interface. The weight processing module comprises a processor and non-transitory computer readable storage comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the weight processing module to execute an axle-specific vehicle weight determination, an axle-specific vehicle weight display presented at the user interface, a hitch-specific vehicle weight determination, a hitch-specific vehicle weight display presented at the user interface, a hitch-specific weight percentage determination, a hitch-specific weight percentage display presented at the user interface, a total weight determination, a total weight display presented at the user interface, an available cargo weight determination, and an available cargo weight display presented at the user interface. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A trailed vehicle comprising a cargo area, a wheeled axle assembly supporting the cargo area, a hitch assembly configured to secure the trailed vehicle to a tow vehicle, and a weight sensing system, wherein:
the weight sensing system comprises weight sensing components associated with the wheeled axle assembly and the hitch assembly, a weight processing module communicatively coupled to the weight-sensing components, and a user interface;
the weight processing module comprises a processor and non-transitory computer readable storage, the non-transitory computer readable storage comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the weight processing module to cooperate with the weight sensing components and the user interface to execute weight determination and display operations;
the weight determination and display operations executed by the weight processing module comprise
an axle-specific vehicle weight determination,
an axle-specific vehicle weight display element presented at the user interface,
a hitch-specific vehicle weight determination,
a hitch-specific vehicle weight display element presented at the user interface,
a hitch-specific weight percentage determination,
a hitch-specific weight percentage display element presented at the user interface,
a total weight determination,
a total weight display element presented at the user interface,
an available cargo weight determination, and
an available cargo weight display element presented at the user interface;
the axle-specific vehicle weight display element comprises an excess axle-specific vehicle weight alert that is triggered when the axle-specific vehicle weight determination is above an axle-specific reference weight;
the axle-specific vehicle weight display element accommodates a visual overlay of the axle-specific vehicle weight and the excess axle-specific vehicle weight alert;
the hitch-specific weight percentage determination represents the hitch-specific vehicle weight in relation to a hitch-specific reference weight, and the hitch-specific weight percentage display element comprises an excess hitch-specific weight percentage alert that is triggered when the hitch-specific weight percentage determination is above or below an acceptable relative weight range at the hitch assembly;
the hitch-specific weight display element accommodates a visual overlay of the hitch-specific vehicle weight, the hitch-specific weight percentage, and the excess hitch-specific weight percentage alert;
the total weight determination represents a combination comprising at least the hitch-specific vehicle weight and the axle-specific vehicle weight, and the total weight display element comprises an excess total weight alert that is triggered when the total weight determination is above a GVWR of the trailed vehicle;
the total weight display element accommodates a visual overlay of the total weight and the excess total weight alert;
the available cargo weight determination represents a difference between the GVWR of the trailed vehicle and the total weight, and the available cargo weight display element comprises an excess cargo weight alert that is triggered when the available cargo weight is at or below zero; and
the available cargo weight display element accommodates a visual overlay of the available cargo weight and the excess cargo weight alert.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axle-specific reference weight is a GAWR of the trailed vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axle-specific reference weight is a GVWR of the trailed vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hitch-specific reference weight is a total weight of the trailed vehicle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hitch-specific reference weight is an axle-specific vehicle weight of the trailed vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the total weight determination represents a combination comprising at least the hitch-specific vehicle weight, the axle-specific vehicle weight, and an unsprung weight of the trailed vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the excess axle-specific vehicle weight alert comprises a visual color change in the axle-specific vehicle weight display element of the user interface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 7 wherein the axle-specific vehicle weight display element comprises a wheeled axle assembly representation, and wherein the visual color change in the axle-specific vehicle weight display element comprises a visual color change in the wheeled axle assembly representation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the excess hitch-specific weight percentage alert comprises a visual color change in a hitch-specific weight display element of the user interface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 9 wherein the hitch-specific weight display element comprises a hitch assembly representation, and wherein the visual color change in the hitch-specific weight display element comprises a visual color change in the hitch assembly representation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the excess total weight alert comprises a visual color change in a total weight display element of the user interface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the excess cargo weight alert comprises a visual color change in an available cargo weight display element of the user interface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the weight processing module cooperates with the user interface to display definitional data associated with:
an axle-specific vehicle weight display element of the user interface, in response to a user query at the user interface;
a hitch-specific weight display element of the user interface, in response to a user query at the user interface;
a total weight display element of the user interface, in response to a user query at the user interface; and
an available cargo weight display element of the user interface, in response to a user query at the user interface.

### Claim 14

A mobile device comprising a communication interface, a user interface, and a user interface controller, wherein:
the communication interface implements vehicle weight acquisition of vehicle weight determinations executed by a weight processing module of a trailed vehicle comprising a cargo area, a wheeled axle assembly supporting the cargo area, a hitch assembly configured to secure the trailed vehicle to a tow vehicle, and a weight sensing system including the weight processing module and weight sensing components that are associated with the wheeled axle assembly and the hitch assembly and that are communicatively coupled to the weight processing module;
the user interface controller comprises a processor and non-transitory computer readable storage having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the user interface controller to cooperate with the communication interface and the user interface to execute user interface controller operations;
the user interface controller operations executed by the user interface controller comprise:
an axle-specific vehicle weight acquisition via the communication interface,
an axle-specific vehicle weight display element at the user interface,
a hitch-specific vehicle weight acquisition via the communication interface,
a hitch-specific vehicle weight display element at the user interface,
a hitch-specific weight percentage display element at the user interface,
a total weight acquisition via the communication interface,
a total weight display element at the user interface,
an available cargo weight acquisition via the communication interface, and
an available cargo weight display element at the user interface;
the axle-specific vehicle weight display element comprises an excess axle-specific vehicle weight alert that is triggered when the axle-specific vehicle weight acquisition is above an axle-specific reference weight;
the axle-specific vehicle weight display element accommodates a visual overlay of the axle-specific vehicle weight and the excess axle-specific vehicle weight alert;
the hitch-specific weight percentage display element comprises both a hitch-specific weight percentage acquisition representing the hitch-specific vehicle weight in relation to a hitch-specific reference weight, and an excess hitch-specific weight percentage alert that is triggered when the hitch-specific weight percentage acquisition is above or below an acceptable relative weight range at the hitch assembly;
the hitch-specific weight percentage display element accommodates a visual overlay of the hitch-specific vehicle weight, the hitch-specific weight percentage, and the excess hitch-specific weight percentage alert;
the total weight acquisition represents a combination comprising at least the axle-specific vehicle weight and the hitch-specific vehicle weight, and the total weight display element comprises an excess total weight alert that is triggered when the total weight acquisition is above a GVWR of the trailed vehicle;
the total weight display element accommodates a visual overlay of the total weight and the excess total weight alert;
the available cargo weight acquisition represents a difference between the GVWR of the trailed vehicle and the total weight, and the available cargo weight display element comprises an excess cargo weight alert that is triggered when the available cargo weight acquisition is at or below zero; and
the available cargo weight display element accommodates a visual overlay of the available cargo weight and the excess cargo weight alert.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The mobile device as claimed in claim 14 wherein:
the vehicle weight determinations executed by the weight processing module comprise an axle-specific vehicle weight determination; and
the axle-specific vehicle weight acquisition comprises an acquisition of the axle-specific vehicle weight determination via the communication interface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The mobile device as claimed in claim 14 wherein:
the vehicle weight determinations executed by the weight processing module comprise a hitch-specific vehicle weight determination; and
the hitch-specific vehicle weight acquisition comprises an acquisition of the hitch-specific vehicle weight determination via the communication interface.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The mobile device as claimed in claim 14 wherein:
the vehicle weight determinations executed by the weight processing module comprise a hitch-specific weight percentage determination; and
the hitch-specific weight percentage acquisition comprises an acquisition of the hitch-specific weight percentage determination via the communication interface.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The mobile device as claimed in claim 14 wherein:
the hitch-specific weight percentage acquisition comprises a hitch-specific weight percentage determination executed by the user interface controller;
the hitch-specific weight percentage determination comprises a determination of a relation of the hitch-specific vehicle weight of the hitch-specific vehicle weight acquisition to the GV WR of the trailed vehicle.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The mobile device as claimed in claim 14 wherein:
the vehicle weight determinations executed by the weight processing module comprise a total weight determination; and
the total weight acquisition comprises an acquisition of the total weight determination via the communication interface.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 14 wherein:
the vehicle weight determinations executed by the weight processing module comprise an available cargo weight determination; and
the available cargo weight acquisition comprises an acquisition of the available cargo weight determination via the communication interface.

### Claim 21

A trailed vehicle comprising a cargo area, a wheeled axle assembly supporting the cargo area, a hitch assembly configured to secure the trailed vehicle to a tow vehicle, and a weight sensing system, wherein:
the weight sensing system comprises weight sensing components associated with the wheeled axle assembly and the hitch assembly, a weight processing module communicatively coupled to the weight-sensing components, and a user interface;
the weight processing module comprises a processor and non-transitory computer readable storage, the non-transitory computer readable storage comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the weight processing module to cooperate with the weight sensing components and the user interface to execute weight determination and display operations;
the user interface comprises an axle-specific vehicle weight display element, a hitch-specific weight display element, a total weight display element, and an available cargo weight display element;
the weight determination and display operations executed by the weight processing module comprise an axle-specific vehicle weight determination, a hitch-specific vehicle weight determination, a hitch-specific weight percentage determination, a total weight determination, and an available cargo weight determination;
the weight determination and display operations executed by the weight processing module further comprise an axle-specific vehicle weight display presented at the user interface, a hitch-specific vehicle weight display presented at the user interface, a hitch-specific weight percentage display presented at the user interface, a total weight display presented at the user interface, and an available cargo weight display presented at the user interface;
the axle-specific vehicle weight display comprises an excess axle-specific vehicle weight alert that is triggered when the axle-specific vehicle weight determination is above an axle-specific reference weight, and the axle-specific vehicle weight display element accommodates a visual overlay of the axle-specific vehicle weight and the excess axle-specific vehicle weight alert;
the hitch-specific weight percentage determination represents the hitch-specific vehicle weight in relation to a hitch-specific reference weight, the hitch-specific weight percentage display comprises an excess hitch-specific weight percentage alert that is triggered when the hitch-specific weight percentage determination is above or below an acceptable relative weight range at the hitch assembly, and the hitch-specific weight display element accommodates a visual overlay of the hitch-specific vehicle weight, the hitch-specific weight percentage, and the excess hitch-specific vehicle weight alert;
the total weight determination represents a combination comprising at least the hitch-specific vehicle weight and the axle-specific vehicle weight, the total weight display comprises an excess total weight alert that is triggered when the total weight determination is above a GVWR of the trailed vehicle, and the total weight display element accommodates a visual overlay of the total weight and the excess total weight alert; and
the available cargo weight determination represents a difference between the GVWR of the trailed vehicle and the total weight, the available cargo weight display comprises an excess cargo weight alert that is triggered when the available cargo weight is at or below zero, and the available cargo weight display element accommodates a visual overlay of the available cargo weight and the excess cargo weight alert.