# US 12,759,384 B2 · Vehicle battery support structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,384 B2 - Document ID: US12759384B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/443,484 - Filed: 2024-02-16 - Published: 2024-12-19 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-06-16 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yasuhiro Shirai; Yuto Nakashima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759384B2 ## CPC - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - B62D 21/03: transverse members providing body support - B62D 25/025: {Side sills thereof} - H01M 50/242: adapted for protecting batteries against vibrations, collision impact or swelling - H01M 50/249: specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains (constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64) - B60K 2001/0438: {Arrangement under the floor} - B62D 21/157: {for side impacts} - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - 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) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY ## Abstract In the vehicle battery support structure, the battery pack is disposed below the ladder frame. The battery bracket is fixed to a vehicle width direction outer side of the battery pack. The suspension bracket is secured to the battery bracket. The suspension bracket includes a horizontal portion and an inclined portion. The horizontal portion extends in the vehicle width direction from an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the side rail. The inclined portion extends outward and downward in the vehicle width direction from an outer end of the horizontal portion in the vehicle width direction. The shock absorbing component is disposed on the vehicle width direction outer side of the battery bracket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle battery support structure comprising: a ladder frame including a side rail extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; a battery pack disposed below the ladder frame; a battery bracket fixed to an outer side of the battery pack in a vehicle width direction, the battery bracket extending in the vehicle front-rear direction; a suspension bracket fixed to the battery bracket, the suspension bracket having a hollow structure formed of a plurality of walls, one wall of the plurality of walls including a horizontal portion extending in the vehicle width direction from an outer side of the side rail in the vehicle width direction, an inclined portion extending both outward and downward from an outer end of the horizontal portion in the vehicle width direction, and a vertical portion connected to a lower end of the inclined portion; and a shock absorbing component disposed on an outer side of the battery bracket in the vehicle width direction, the shock absorbing component being directly coupled to the vertical portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery support structure according to claim 1, wherein: the suspension bracket is provided with a bent portion between the horizontal portion and the inclined portion; and the bent portion is provided at a height equal to or higher than an upper surface of the battery pack. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle battery support structure according to claim 2, wherein: at least a part of the shock absorbing component and at least a part of the battery pack are disposed at the same height; and the shock absorbing component is supported on the side rail via the battery bracket and the suspension bracket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle battery support structure according to claim 3, wherein: the side rail is provided with a cab mount bracket that supports a cabin; and the suspension bracket is fixed to the cab mount bracket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle battery support structure according to claim 4, wherein: a rocker extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is disposed below the cabin and on an outer side of the cabin in the vehicle width direction; and the inclined portion of the suspension bracket is disposed below the rocker. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery support structure according to claim 1, wherein: the shock absorbing component includes a flange at an inner end of the shock absorbing component in the vehicle width direction; and the flange is fixed to the vertical portion by a bolt. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle battery support structure according to claim 6, wherein: the shock absorbing component includes a hook extending downward in a vehicle height direction at the inner end of the shock absorbing component in the vehicle width direction; the battery bracket includes a hook extending upward in the vehicle height direction at an outer end of the battery bracket in the vehicle width direction; and the hook of the shock absorbing component is engaged with the hook provided on the battery bracket. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle battery support structure according to claim 7, wherein: the battery bracket has a hollow structure including a plurality of inner plates; the plurality of inner plates extend in the vehicle height direction; and the plurality of inner plates are arranged at intervals along the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The vehicle battery support structure according to claim 7, wherein: the shock absorbing component has a hollow structure having a cross-shaped cross-section; and the shock absorbing component includes a plurality of inner plates inside the shock absorbing component, the plurality of inner plates including a first inner plate extending in the vehicle height direction, and a second inner plate extending in the vehicle width direction, the first inner plate and the second inner plate intersecting with each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery support structure according to claim 1, wherein the shock absorbing component is a step for a passenger to get on and off a cabin of a vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery support structure according to claim 1, wherein the inclined portion is sloping downward and away from a centerline of a vehicle, the centerline extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle battery support structure according to claim 1, wherein: the side rail includes an inner side rail and an outer side rail, the inner side rail and the outer side rail each having a U-shaped cross section and being superposed to form a closed cross-sectional structure; and the suspension bracket is welded to the outer side rail.