# US 12,600,414 B2 · Vehicle

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- Number: US 12,600,414 B2
- Document ID: US12600414B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/242,585
- Filed: 2023-09-06
- Published: 2024-03-21
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2022-09-20
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Subaru Corporation
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Subaru Corporation
- Inventors: Kentaro Nakamura; Daisuke Suewaka; Satoshi Ikeda; Ryotaro Fujikawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12600414B2

## CPC

- B62D 21/157: {for side impacts}
- B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion
- B62D 25/025: {Side sills thereof}
- B62D 25/2036: {the subunits being side panels, sills or pillars (B62D21/157 takes precedence)}
- B60K 2001/0438: {Arrangement under the floor}
- 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)
- 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

## Abstract

A vehicle may include a battery pack located below the floor panel; an energy absorber extending along a side surface of the battery pack in the front-rear direction and facing the side sill from below; and a cover plate covering a lower surface of the battery pack from below. The energy absorber may include an inner part facing the side surface of the battery pack and an outer part located outside in a left-right direction of the vehicle with respect to the inner part. An end of the cover plate in the left-right direction may be fixed to a lower surface of the inner part of the energy absorber with a plurality of fasteners. A lower surface of the outer part may protrude downward relative to the lower surface of the inner part and is located lower than lower ends of the plurality of fasteners.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle, comprising:
a floor panel;
a side sill extending along a side edge of the floor panel in a front-rear direction of the vehicle;
a battery pack located below the floor panel;
an energy absorber extending along a side surface of the battery pack in the front-rear direction and facing the side sill from below; and
a cover plate covering a lower surface of the battery pack from below,
wherein:
the energy absorber comprises an inner part facing the side surface of the battery pack and an outer part located outside in a left-right direction of the vehicle with respect to the inner part,
an end of the cover plate in the left-right direction is fixed to a lower surface of the inner part of the energy absorber with a plurality of fasteners,
a lower surface of the outer part protrudes downward relative to the lower surface of the inner part and is located lower than lower ends of the plurality of fasteners,
the end of the cover plate comprises a plurality of first portions and a plurality of second portions, wherein the first portions and the second portions are alternately arranged one by one along the front-rear direction,
the plurality of first portions comprises a plurality of fixed portions at each of which corresponding one of the plurality of fasteners is arranged, and
the plurality of second portions protrudes downward relative to the plurality of first portions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
lower ends of the plurality of second portions are located lower than the lower ends of the plurality of fasteners.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a bracket facing an upper surface of the energy absorber and disposed on the side surface of the battery pack,
wherein
the inner part of the energy absorber is located between the bracket and the cover plate, and
the plurality of fasteners fastens the bracket, the cover plate, and the inner part of the energy absorber altogether.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein
the bracket comprises a plurality of third portions and a plurality of fourth portions, wherein the third portions and the fourth portions are alternately arranged one by one along the front-rear direction,
the plurality of third portions comprises a plurality of fixed portions at each of which corresponding one of the plurality of fasteners is arranged, and
the plurality of fourth portions protrudes upward relative to the plurality of third portions.

### Claim 5

A vehicle, comprising:
a floor panel;
a side sill extending along a side edge of the floor panel in a front-rear direction of the vehicle;
a battery pack located below the floor panel;
an energy absorber extending along a side surface of the battery pack in the front-rear direction and facing the side sill from below;
a cover plate covering a lower surface of the battery pack from below; and
a bracket facing an upper surface of the energy absorber and disposed on the side surface of the battery pack,
wherein:
the energy absorber comprises an inner part facing the side surface of the battery pack and an outer part located outside in a left-right direction of the vehicle with respect to the inner part,
an end of the cover plate in the left-right direction is fixed to a lower surface of the inner part of the energy absorber with a plurality of fasteners,
a lower surface of the outer part protrudes downward relative to the lower surface of the inner part and is located lower than lower ends of the plurality of fasteners,
the inner part of the energy absorber is located between the bracket and the cover plate, and
the plurality of fasteners fastens the bracket, the cover plate, and the inner part of the energy absorber altogether.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein
the bracket comprises a plurality of third portions and a plurality of fourth portions, wherein the third portions and the fourth portions are alternately arranged one by one along the front-rear direction,
the plurality of third portions comprises a plurality of fixed portions at each of which corresponding one of the plurality of fasteners is arranged, and
the plurality of fourth portions protrudes upward relative to the plurality of third portions.