Modular kitchen mounting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12365281-B2
Application number	US-202217866963-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2022
Priority date	Feb 15, 2022
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented herein for a mounting apparatus configured to arrange a retractable kitchen within a vehicle enclosure. The mounting apparatus comprises a first slot configured to accommodate an alignment protrusion of a kitchen module. The mounting apparatus further comprises a second slot configured to accommodate a locking assembly, which, when actuated into a locking position prevents translation of the kitchen module along the second slot. The mounting apparatus shall be arranged on a bottom side of the vehicle enclosure and shall have a retractable kitchen module fixedly attached to the mounting apparatus. The retractable kitchen module comprises a kitchen module enclosure configured to move from a stored position to an extended positioned, and a kitchen work surface configured to extend away from the front side of the vehicle enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting apparatus comprising:
a release assembly arranged in a first slot, wherein the first slot comprises a conical pocket configured to receive the release assembly; and
a locking assembly comprising a handle, wherein the locking assembly is configured to engage with a second slot, and wherein the locking assembly is configured to actuate into a locking position in response to rotation of the handle such that the locking position prevents translation of a storage apparatus along the second slot.

2. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first slot is affixed to a mounting surface and the second slot is affixed to the mounting surface; and
the storage apparatus is coupled to the locking assembly.

3. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the release assembly is configured to disengage from the conical pocket in response to a motion event.

4. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the storage apparatus is arranged such that when the release assembly disengages from the conical pocket, a first end of the storage apparatus vertically translates while a second end of the storage apparatus remains fixedly attached to the second slot.

5. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second slot comprises a t-slot.

6. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second slot comprises a geometry configured to accommodate a guiding protrusion of the storage apparatus.

7. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the storage apparatus is aligned at a first position relative to the mounting apparatus, the storage apparatus can be translated in a first direction to separate the storage apparatus from the mounting apparatus and in a second perpendicular direction to cause a guiding protrusion to engage a geometry of the second slot.

8. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first rail structure that comprises the first slot and the second slot; and
a second rail structure that comprises a third slot and a fourth slot, wherein the first rail structure and the second rail structure are each fixedly attached to a mounting surface.

9. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a third slot, wherein the third slot comprises a respective conical pocket.

10. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the storage apparatus is configured to translate along the second slot in response to the handle being arranged perpendicular to a mounting surface configured to accommodate the second slot; and
the storage apparatus is configured to remain stationary relative to the second slot in response to the handle being arranged parallel to the mounting surface in the locking position.

11. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth slot, wherein the fourth slot comprises a t-slot.

12. The mounting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the second slot and a fourth slot comprises a respective t-slot configured to accommodate a respective guiding protrusion of the storage apparatus.

13. A vehicle bay assembly comprising:
a storage apparatus comprising:
first and second release assemblies; and
first and second locking assemblies; and

a mounting apparatus fixedly attached to a mounting surface and configured to interface with the storage apparatus, wherein the mounting apparatus comprises:
first and second conical pockets arranged within respective first and second slots, wherein:
the first and second release assemblies are configured to disengage the first and second conical pockets, respectively, in response to a motion event; and
the first and second locking assemblies are configured to engage with third and fourth slots, respectively, to prevent translation of the storage apparatus along the third and fourth slots.

14. The vehicle bay assembly of claim 13 , wherein the storage apparatus is configured to be coupled to each of the first slot and the third slot when the storage apparatus is translated into an installation position along the mounting apparatus.

15. The vehicle bay assembly of claim 13 , wherein:
the first release assembly extends from a first alignment protrusion, wherein the first alignment protrusion extends from a bottom surface of the storage apparatus; and
the second release assembly extends from a second alignment protrusion, wherein the second alignment protrusion extends from a bottom surface of the storage apparatus.

16. The vehicle bay assembly of claim 13 , wherein the storage apparatus is arranged such that when each respective release assembly disengages from each respective conical pocket, a first portion of the storage apparatus vertically translates away from the mounting surface while a second portion of the storage apparatus remains fixedly attached to the mounting apparatus.

17. The vehicle bay assembly of claim 13 , wherein the storage apparatus comprises a frame configured to accommodate a pair of guidance tracks for translating a storage feature between a first locked position, a second position corresponding to a first extended length, and a third position corresponding to a second extended length that is longer than the first extended length.

18. The vehicle bay assembly of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the mounting surface is configured to be fixedly attached to a top surface of the storage apparatus.

19. A vehicle, comprising:
a storage apparatus comprising:
a pair of alignment protrusions, each comprising a respective release assembly; and
a pair of guiding protrusions; and

a mounting apparatus coupled to a vehicle surface and configured to interface with the storage apparatus, the mounting apparatus comprising:
a first pair of slots, wherein each of the first pair of slots is configured to receive one of the pair of alignment protrusions and accommodate one of the respective release assemblies; and
a second pair of slots, wherein:
each of the second pair of slots is configured to receive a respective locking assembly of the pair of guiding protrusions; and
each locking assembly is configured to engage with each of the second pair of slots, respectively, to prevent translation of the storage apparatus along each of the second pair of slots in response to rotation of a handle coupled to at least one locking assembly.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein:
the mounting apparatus is coupled to a bottom surface of a storage apparatus, wherein the storage apparatus comprises a second surface arranged opposite of the bottom surface; and
the vehicle comprises a second storage apparatus that is releasably engaged with the second surface of the storage apparatus.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Salerno Jonathan David
• Gillette Stephen
• Walker Daniel Geoffrey

Classifications

• B60R7/04

  in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R7/02

  in separate luggage compartment {(B60R7/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N3/18

  of drinking-water {or other beverage} dispensing devices · CPC title

• B60N3/00

  Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for (of radio sets, television sets, telephones, {stowing or holding appliances} , safety belts or the like B60R) · CPC title

• B60N3/16 Primary

  of cooking or boiling devices · CPC title