IP Library Granted Patent US 11,001,129
Granted Patent B2
US 11,001,129 · App. 16/509,073 · Granted May 11, 2021

Cargo door for semi-truck

Inventors: Trevor R. Milton (Phoenix, AZ); Stephen Jennes (Glendale, AZ); Markus Scholten (Irvine, CA)
Assignee: Nikola Corporation
B60J5/06B60J5/0488B60J5/0497B60L50/66B60R3/005B62D33/0612E05D15/0604B60L2200/36E05Y2900/516
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,001,129
App. No.
16/509,073
Granted
May 11, 2021
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 of 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 of the cabin from a backside of the seat. Further, the door may be a cargo door, which allows access to the cabin for placement of a load, such as a cargo load on a pallet.

Claims (45)

1. A semi-truck vehicle comprising:

an electric drive unit;

a body;

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

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

a cargo door comprising a width extending a horizontal length of the door,

wherein the cargo door provides ingress and egress of the interior of the cabin of the semi-truck vehicle,

wherein the cargo door is located on the body such that a frontmost side of the cargo door is adjacent to a rearmost portion of a front wheel and the width of the cargo door is disposed between the frontmost side of the cargo door and a rearmost side of the cargo door, at least a portion of the cargo door being positioned behind the seat and at least a portion of the seat disposed to be forward of a line defining the rearmost portion of the front wheel well such that the cargo door opens to provide ingress and egress of the cabin from a backside of the seat, and

wherein the cargo door is the foremost door providing ingress or egress of the interior of the cabin.

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

3. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the semi-truck comprises only a single door.

4. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the single door is located on a left side when the user is seated in the seat of the semi-truck vehicle.

5. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the semi-truck comprises a second door positioned on the opposite side of the body as the cargo door.

6. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the second door comprises a passenger door having a width less than the width of the cargo door.

7. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the second door comprises a second cargo door.

8. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cargo door slides on at least one of an upper track, a mid track, or a lower track located externally on the body to open and close the door.

9. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the cargo door moves outward with respect to the body and backwards with respect to the seat as the door is moved to an open position.

10. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the width of the cargo door is between 48 inches and 72 inches.

11. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the semi-truck vehicle is a class 8 semi-truck.

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

13. A semi-truck vehicle comprising:

an electric drive unit;

a body;

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

at least one seat located in the interior of the cabin that is configured for seating a user;

a cargo door comprising a width extending a horizontal length of the door,

wherein the cargo door is the foremost door providing ingress and egress of the interior of the cabin of the semi-truck vehicle, and

wherein the cargo door is located on the body such that a frontmost side of the cargo door is adjacent to a rearmost portion of a front wheel and the width of the cargo door is disposed between the frontmost side of the cargo door and a rearmost side of the cargo door, at least a portion of the cargo door being positioned behind the seat and at least a portion of the seat disposed to be forward of a line defining the rearmost portion of the front wheel well such that the cargo door opens to provide ingress and egress into the cabin from a backside of the seat; and

a passenger door positioned on an opposite side of the body as the cargo door.

14. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the single door is located on a left side when the user is seated in the seat.

15. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the passenger door comprises a width less than the width of the cargo door.

16. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the cargo door slides on at least one of an upper track, a mid track, or a lower track located externally on the body to open and close the door.

17. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the cargo door moves outward with respect to the body and backwards with respect to the seat as the door is moved to an open position.

18. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the width of the cargo door is between 48 inches and 72 inches.

19. The semi-truck vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the semi-truck vehicle is a class 8 semi-truck.

20. A semi-truck vehicle comprising:

an electric drive unit;

a body;

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

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

a cargo door comprising at least two door portions that are adjacent to one another,

wherein the cargo door provides ingress and egress of the interior of the cabin of the semi-truck vehicle,

wherein the cargo door is the foremost door providing ingress or egress of the interior of the cabin,

wherein a first portion of the cargo door is disposed on a first side of the body, and

wherein a second portion of the cargo door is disposed on a second, rear side of the body.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2025
From: NIKOLA CORPORATION
To: HYROAD NETWORKS LLC
Reel/Frame 073706/0118 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2020
From: MILTON, TREVOR R.; JENNES, STEPHEN; SCHOLTEN, MARKUS
To: NIKOLA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052272/0344 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation In Part 15889159 · Feb 5, 2018
Continuation In Part 15396209 · Dec 30, 2016
Continuation In Part 15357350 · Nov 21, 2016
Provisional Application 62391745 · May 9, 2016
Provisional Application 62273256 · Dec 30, 2015
Provisional Application 62391745 · May 9, 2016
Related Publication 20190329635A1 · Oct 31, 2019