Accessory mount

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025001925-A1
Application number	US-202318344775-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2023
Priority date	Jun 29, 2023
Publication date	Jan 2, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An accessory mount for a vehicle includes a support configured to interface with an inner surface of a gate of a vehicle. The support is further configured to support an accessory. A mounting structure is mounted to the support and configured to mount to at least one of the accessory or a crossbar to which the accessory is mounted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a support configured to interface with an inner surface of a gate of a vehicle, the support being further configured to support an accessory; and a mounting structure mounted to the support and configured to mount to at least one of the accessory or a crossbar to which the accessory is mounted.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a base secured to the support and configured to fasten to the gate.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a brace defining a mounting point configured to mount to at least one of a cargo floor and a sidewall of the vehicle to resist tipping of the support.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a first support and the mounting structure comprises a first mounting structure, the apparatus further comprising:
a second support configured to interface with the inner surface of the gate, the second support being further configured to support the accessory; and a second mounting structure mounted to the second support and configured to mount to the at least one of the accessory or the crossbar to which the accessory is mounted.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a crosspiece secured to the first support and the second support and configured to resist tipping of the first support and the second support.

6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a door pivotally secured to the first support and configured to latch with respect to the second support, the door configured to substantially cover: (i) an area extending between the accessory and a cargo floor of the vehicle, and (ii) an area extending between the first support and the second support.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure comprises a pocket defined by the support and configured to receive a crossbar mount secured to the crossbar.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the mounting structure further comprises a striker bar extending across the pocket and configured to engage a latch of the crossbar mount.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electrical component mounted to the support; and an electrical connector coupled to the support and configured to electrically couple to a port on the gate when the support is resting on the inner surface of the gate.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the electrical component comprises a support brake light configured to provide brake signaling for the vehicle in place of a vehicle brake light obscured by the accessory.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the electrical component comprises an electrical socket.

12 . A method comprising:
pivoting a gate of a vehicle away from a cargo floor of the vehicle; positioning a support on an upper surface of the gate; and mounting an accessory to the support and to sidewalls of the vehicle on either side of the cargo floor such that at least a portion of a weight of the accessory is transmitted to the sidewalls and to the gate through the support.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the support comprises a first support, the method further comprising:
positioning a second support on the upper surface of the gate; and mounting the accessory to the second support such that a portion of the weight of the accessory is transmitted to the gate through the second support.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a crosspiece is secured to the first support and the second support to resist tipping of the first support and the second support.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
fastening a first brace to at least one of the cargo floor and a first sidewall of the sidewalls, the first brace being secured to the first support; and fastening a second brace to at least one of the cargo floor and a second sidewall of the sidewalls, the second brace being secured to the second support.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein pivoting the gate away from the cargo floor further comprises pivoting a panel such that the panel is positioned over a gap between the cargo floor and the gate, the first support and the second support configured to provide clearance for the panel while resting on the upper surface of the gate.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising mounting a first crossbar to the first support and the second support, the accessory being mounted to the first crossbar.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising mounting the accessory to one or more second crossbars mounted to the sidewalls.

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first support and the second support are positioned on the upper surface of the gate such that a space between the accessory and the cargo floor is accessible between the first support and the second support.

20 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising a support brake light mounted to a crosspiece extending between the first support and the second support, the method further comprising:
electrically coupling an electrical connector mounted to at least one of the first support and the second support to a port mounted to the gate, the electrical connector being electrically connected to the support brake light and the port being in communication with a controller of the vehicle, the controller configured to cause power to be supplied to the port in response to activation of brakes of the vehicle to provide brake signaling for the vehicle in place of a vehicle brake light obscured by the accessory.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Yang Fong Shyr
• Heronen Nathan

Classifications

• B60P7/08 Primary

  Securing to the vehicle floor or sides ({B60P7/065}, B60P7/13, B60P7/135 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60Q1/44

  for indicating braking action {or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal} · CPC title

• B60R16/03

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

• B62D33/0273 Primary

  Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence) · CPC title