Cargo delivery system adapter for an electric vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11970103-B2
Application number	US-202117546549-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2021
Priority date	Sep 30, 2019
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

The present technology provides a cargo adapter that can be inserted into a passenger compartment of a mixed-use vehicle that can be anchored to existing anchor points in the vehicle. The cargo adapter can then receive, secure, and support a cargo locker in a way that safely secures the cargo and avoids wear on the interior surfaces of the passenger compartment. The present technology further provides a system for transporting a cargo locker to a vehicle and inserting the cargo adapter and cargo locker into the vehicle quickly and easily.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a height adjustable dolly;
a cargo locker configured to be transported to a vehicle by the height adjustable dolly;
a cargo adapter configured to be transported to the vehicle by the height adjustable dolly, and to receive the cargo locker into the vehicle, wherein the cargo adapter comprises a spring-loaded lock that is mounted to an outside surface of the cargo adapter; and
a hinge configured to reversibly receive the cargo adapter and allow the cargo adapter to translate from a vertical position to a horizontal position.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the spring-loaded lock comprises a cam surface that facilitates depression of the spring-loaded lock.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the cam surface is configured to allow transfer of a cargo box onto the cargo adapter.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the cam surface is configured to automatically engage the spring-loaded lock once the cargo box is in place on the cargo adapter.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cargo locker platform associated with the height adjustable dolly, wherein the cargo locker platform is configured to support the cargo locker and forms a complimentary portion of a loading ramp with the cargo adapter when the cargo adapter is in the horizontal position.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a proximity sensor attached to the height adjustable dolly, the proximity sensor configured to provide an indication when the height adjustable dolly is positioned in a certain distance from the vehicle to translate the cargo adapter from the vertical position to the horizontal position.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the height adjustable dolly is configured with at least two preset heights, wherein a first height is substantially equal to a height of a floor of the vehicle, and wherein a second height is a lower height than the first height and is configured to carry the cargo locker.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cargo anchor affixed to a structure of the vehicle other than a floor of a passenger compartment, wherein the structure of the vehicle comprises one or a side frame of the vehicle or a seat of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cargo adapter incudes roller bearings configured to guide a cargo box onto the cargo adapter.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the cargo box is reversibly secured to the cargo adapter with a cotter pin.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cargo adapter includes at least one vertical strut configured to prevent movement in a first direction of movement of the cargo locker within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the cargo adapter includes at least one clip which secures the cargo locker to the cargo adapter and prevents movement in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction.

Assignees

• Gm Cruise Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Basu Rajat
• Falzon Vincent
• Hart Jordan
• Kodama Miles

Classifications

• B60P1/649 Primary

  Guiding means for the load-transporting element · CPC title

• B60P1/6409

  details, accessories, auxiliary devices · CPC title

• B60P1/6436

  the load-transporting element being shifted horizontally in a crosswise direction, combined or not with a vertical displacement · CPC title

• B60P7/13

  Securing freight containers or forwarding containers on vehicles · CPC title

• B60R11/00

  Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title