Vehicle accessory port and plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11230326-B2
Application number	US-201816190126-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2018
Priority date	Nov 13, 2018
Publication date	Jan 25, 2022
Grant date	Jan 25, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle may include an integrated connector system. The vehicle includes a body having an outer surface and a plurality of attachment ports arranged on the outer surface. The attachments ports include a recess that extends below the surrounding outer surface. Each attachment port is configured to receive and engage with an attachment plug of an accessory. In some embodiments, there are different types of attachment ports, configured to engage with respective types of attachment plugs. Various accessories may be engaged with the attachment ports, allowing a range of items and equipment to be secured to the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle having an integrated connector system, comprising:
a vehicle body comprising an outer surface;
a plurality of attachment ports arranged on the outer surface, wherein each of the plurality of attachment ports comprises:
a recess that extends below the surrounding outer surface and is configured to accommodate an attachment plug of an accessory, wherein:
the attachment plug comprises a body comprising a pair of rigid extensions forming a notch therebetween that accommodates a pin such that when the attachment plug is inserted into the port, the pin passes into the notch between the pair of rigid extensions and ends of the pair of rigid extensions come to rest below the outer surface in the recess;
the recess comprises two opposing sidewalls that comprise corresponding portions that extend below a height of the surrounding outer surface;
each respective recess comprises a perimeter comprising two parallel sides, each comprising portions of the two opposing side walls, a first curved end that connects first ends of the respective two parallel sides, and a second curved end that connects second ends of the respective two parallel sides; and

the pin extending between the two opposing sidewalls of the recess, wherein the pin comprises a first end attached to a first one of the two opposing sidewalls and a second opposite end attached to a second one of the two opposing sidewalls, and wherein a latching mechanism of the accessory is configured to engage the pin.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each respective attachment port comprises:
an outer perimeter arranged substantially in the plane of the surrounding outer surface and comprising two parallel sides and curved ends that connect the two parallel sides.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of attachment ports comprises:
a rim extending between the recess and the surrounding outer surface, wherein the rim extends less than 10 millimeters above the surrounding outer surface.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle body comprises one or more structural elements; and
each of the plurality of attachment ports is mechanically coupled to one of the one or more structural elements.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the outer surface comprises a roof surface having a left side and a right side; and
the plurality of attachment ports comprises:
two attachment ports arranged on the left side of the roof surface; and
two attachment ports arranged on the right side of the roof surface.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle body comprises a truck bed having a left-side rail and a right-side rail;
the outer surface comprises a top surface of the left-side rail and a top surface of the right-side rail; and
the plurality of attachment ports comprises:
two attachment ports arranged on the top surface of the left-side rail; and
two attachment ports arranged on the top surface of the right-side rail.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the outer surface comprises a truck bed having a left-bottom surface and a right-bottom surface; and
the plurality of attachment ports comprises:
two attachment ports arranged on the left-bottom surface; and
two attachment ports arranged on the right-bottom surface.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle body comprises a truck bed having a left-side rail and a right-side rail;
the outer surface comprises:
a roof surface;
top surfaces of the left-side rail and the right-side rail; and
a truck bed surface; and

the plurality of attachment ports comprises:
a first pair of attachment ports arranged on the roof surface a first lateral distance away from each other;

a second pair of attachment ports arranged on the top surfaces a second lateral distance away from each other; and
a third pair of attachment ports arranged on the truck bed surface a third lateral distance away from each other.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein:
the first lateral distance is greater than the second lateral distance; and
the second lateral distance is greater than the third lateral distance.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of attachment ports comprises:
a first pair of attachment ports arranged on a first portion of the outer surface a first lateral distance away from each other; and
a second pair of attachment ports arranged on a second portion of the outer surface a second lateral distance away from each other, wherein the first lateral distance is greater than the second lateral distance, the vehicle further comprising:
an accessory configured to:
engage with the first pair of attachment ports in a first configuration; and
engage with the second pair of attachment ports in a second configuration.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of attachment ports comprises:
a first pair of attachment ports arranged on a first portion of the outer surface at a first height;
a second pair of attachment ports arranged on a second portion of the outer surface at a second height, wherein the first height is different than the second height by more than 150 millimeters.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first accessory having a first pair of attachment plugs configured to engage with the first pair of attachment ports, wherein:
the first pair of attachment ports each comprise a respective pin; and
when the first accessory is engaged with the first pair of attachment ports, the respective pins are positioned at a third height relative to the first pair of attachment plugs; and

a second accessory having a second pair of attachment plugs configured to engage with the second pair of attachment ports, wherein:
the second pair of attachment ports each comprise a respective pin;
when the second accessory is engaged with the second pair of attachment ports, the respective pins are positioned at a fourth height relative to the second pair of attachment plugs; and
the third height is substantially similar to the fourth height.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein:
the first portion of the outer surface comprises a roof surface; and
the second portion of the outer surface comprises top surfaces of a left-side rail and a right-side rail of a truck bed.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the recess of at least one of the plurality of attachment ports comprises an electrical connector configured to provide power to an accessory engaged with the recess.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the electrical connector provides a voltage potential across two electrical terminals.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein:
the accessory comprises a light; and
the electrical connector is configured to provide power to the light when the accessory is engaged with an attachment port having the electrical connector.

17. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising control circuitry, wherein at least one of the plurality of attachment ports comprises:
at least one electrical terminal coupled to the control circuitry; and
an actuated locking mechanism configured to lock the attachment plug of the accessory to the attachment port, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the actuated locking mechanism.

18. The vehicle of claim 1 ,
wherein the latching mechanism is configured to constrain relative motion of the attachment plug away from the attachment port.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the latching mechanism comprises a catch configured to rotate relative to the plug body to en

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Elder Christian
• Griffith Eric

Classifications

• B60R9/02 Primary

  at the sides, e.g. on running-board · CPC title

• B62D33/0207 Primary

  Connections of movable or detachable racks or stanchions to platforms · CPC title

• B60R9/052

  Carriers comprising elongate members extending only transversely of vehicle (B60R9/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R9/045

  Carriers being adjustable or transformable, e.g. expansible, collapsible {(transformable into tents B60P3/36; into beds B60P3/38)} · CPC title

• B60R16/03

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title