IP Library Granted Patent US 10,661,844
Granted Patent B2
US 10,661,844 · App. 15/889,159 · Granted May 26, 2020

Systems, methods, and devices for an automobile door or window

Inventors: Trevor R. Milton (Salt Lake City, UT); Steve Jennes (Fullerton, CA); Markus Scholten (Irvine, CA)
Assignee: Nikola Corporation
B62D33/0612B60J5/06B60J5/108E05D15/0621E06B3/36E06B3/4636B60Y2200/91E05Y2201/684E05Y2900/516
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,661,844
App. No.
15/889,159
Granted
May 26, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for a vehicle door or window are disclosed herein. A vehicle includes a vehicle body and a cabin located within the body of the vehicle, wherein the cabin includes an interior that is configured to accommodate at least one person. The vehicle includes at least one seat located in the interior of the cabin that is configured for seating a user. The vehicle includes at least one door that provides ingress and egress to the interior of the cabin of the vehicle, and the at least one door is located with respect to the body such that the door opens to provide ingress and egress into the cabin from a backside of the seat.

Claims (32)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a semi-truck body having a front side, a driver's side, a passenger side, and a rear side;

a cabin located within the semi-truck body of the vehicle, wherein the cabin comprises an interior that is configured to accommodate at least one person, and wherein the vehicle comprises a sleeper within the cabin;

a seat located in the interior of the cabin that is configured for seating a user; and

a door that provides ingress and egress to the interior of the cabin of the semi-truck body, wherein at least a portion of the door is located on the rear side of the semi-truck body such that the door opens to provide ingress and egress into the cabin from behind the seat, and wherein the door is the foremost door providing ingress and egress to the interior of the cabin.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle comprising a battery pack that is coupled to an electric drive train.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door comprises a first door and a second door.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the first door is located on the driver's side of the vehicle and at least a portion of the second door is located on the passenger's side of the vehicle opposite the first side.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door is hinged at one end and attached to the semi-truck body of the vehicle to open and close the door.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door opens into the sleeper of the cabin.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cabin comprises a driver's seat and a passenger's seat, and wherein access to either of the driver's seat or the passenger's seat is provided by a passage disposed between the driver's seat and the passenger's seat.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the passage comprises a vertical height extending at least from a floor of the cabin of the vehicle to a height of one or more of the driver's seat or the passenger's seat.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door is approximately normal to the driver's side.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising at least one full-size step and at least one hand hold to provide at least two points of leverage for access and entry into the interior of the cabin.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein there is no seat inside the cabin that obstructs an opening provided by the door.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle comprising electrical and combustion components.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cabin further comprises a front portion, a midportion, and a rear portion, and wherein each of the front portion, the midportion, and the rear portion comprise about one-third of a length of the cabin and the rear side is oriented approximately normal to the length of the cabin.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the door is entirely disposed on the rear side.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door is a walk-through door, such that the walk-through door comprises a vertical height configured to accommodate a user in an upright standing position.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a semi-truck body having a front side, a driver's side, a passenger side, and a rear side;

a cabin located within the semi-truck body of the vehicle, wherein the cabin comprises an interior that is configured to accommodate at least one person, wherein the cabin comprises a driver's seat and a passenger's seat, and wherein access to either of the driver's seat or the passenger's seat is provided by a passage disposed between the driver's seat and the passenger's seat;

a seat located in the interior of the cabin that is configured for seating a user; and

a door that provides ingress and egress to the interior of the cabin of the semi-truck body, wherein at least a portion of the door is located on the rear side of the semi-truck body such that the door opens to provide ingress and egress into the cabin from behind the seat, and wherein the door is the foremost door providing ingress and egress to the interior of the cabin.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the door is hinged at one end and attached to the semi-truck body of the vehicle to open and close the door.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the door opens into the sleeper of the cabin.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 , further comprising a sleeper within the cabin.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the passage comprises a vertical height extending at least from a floor of the cabin of the vehicle to a height of one or more of the driver's seat or the passenger's seat.

21. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the door is approximately normal to the driver's side.

22. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein there is no seat inside the cabin that obstructs an opening provided by the door.

23. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the cabin further comprises a front portion, a midportion, and a rear portion, and wherein each of the front portion, the midportion, and the rear portion comprise about one-third of a length of the cabin and the rear side is oriented approximately normal to the length of the cabin.

24. The vehicle of claim 23 , wherein the door is entirely disposed on the rear side.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2025
From: NIKOLA CORPORATION
To: HYROAD NETWORKS LLC
Reel/Frame 073706/0118 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CHANGE APPLICATION NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 72169 FRAME: 135. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 8, 2025
From: ILLUMINATE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: ILLUMINATE ASSET COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 073176/0350 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2018
From: MILTON, TREVOR R.; JENNES, STEVE; SCHOLTEN, MARKUS
To: NIKOLA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047019/0920 →
Cited By (5)
US 12,325,269 US 12,337,821 US 12,381,274 US 12,643,386 US 12,668,135