IP Library Granted Patent US 11,440,456
Granted Patent B1
US 11,440,456 · App. 17/546,555 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Land vehicles adapted for use as electric delivery vehicles

Inventors: Robert Willison (Lebanon, OH); Donald L. Wires (Loveland, OH); Gary Cain (Loveland, OH)
Assignee: Workhorse Group Inc.
B60P3/007B60J1/10B60K1/02B60K7/0007B60K37/06B60N2/005B60Q1/32B60R1/006B60R3/00B60R7/04B60R9/055B60R11/04B60R25/01B60R25/25B60T1/06B62D1/04B62D21/15B62D25/07B62D33/06B60K2007/0092
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,440,456
App. No.
17/546,555
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

Land vehicles are disclosed. A land vehicle includes a frame structure, a plurality of wheels supported by the frame structure, and a body supported by the frame structure. The frame structure includes an operator cage that at least partially defines an operator cabin and a rear compartment positioned rearward of the operator cage in a longitudinal direction. The body includes a first sidewall arranged on one side of the vehicle and a second sidewall arranged on another side of the vehicle opposite the first sidewall.

Claims (91)

1. A land vehicle comprising:

a frame structure including an operator cage that at least partially defines an operator cabin and a rear compartment positioned rearward of the operator cage in a longitudinal direction;

a plurality of wheels supported by the frame structure;

a body supported by the frame structure that includes a first sidewall arranged on one side of the vehicle and second sidewall arranged on another side of the vehicle opposite the first sidewall, and

a brake system coupled to each one of the plurality of wheels,

wherein:

the first sidewall includes a first door to provide access to the operator cabin from the one side of the vehicle,

the second sidewall includes a second door to provide access to the operator cabin from the another side of the vehicle that is aligned with the first door in the longitudinal direction,

the second sidewall includes an opera window located rearward of the second door in the longitudinal direction to permit visualization of an opera window viewing area located outside of the vehicle proximate the another side thereof by an operator positioned in the operator cabin adjacent the one side of the vehicle in use of the vehicle, and

each brake system includes a disc having a plurality of notches defined between circumferentially adjacent teeth of the disc, a first braking device configured to contact an outer face of the disc to resist rotation of one of the plurality of wheels, a second braking device circumferentially spaced from the first braking device about the disc that is configured to contact the outer face of the disc to resist rotation of the one of the plurality of wheels, and a third braking device configured to contact one or more teeth of the disc to resist rotation of the one of the plurality of wheels.

2. The land vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the operator cabin comprises:

a steering wheel;

an operator seat; and

a rack arranged in the operator cabin opposite the steering wheel and the operator seat that includes a plurality of trays.

3. The land vehicle of claim 2 , wherein:

the operator cabin comprises a pair of tracks affixed to a floor of the operator cabin and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction;

the rack is movable along the pair of tracks in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction between a stowed position, in which the rack is disposed distant from the operator seat, and a delivery position, in which the rack is disposed close to the operator seat; and

the land vehicle has a gross vehicular weight rating (GVWR) of between 10,001 pounds and 14,000 pounds.

4. The land vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an opera window mirror mounted to the second sidewall in close proximity to the opera window to permit visualization of an opera window mirror viewing area located outside of the vehicle proximate the another side thereof by an operator positioned in the operator cabin adjacent the one side of the vehicle in use of the vehicle,

wherein the opera window mirror viewing area extends at least partially rearward of the opera window viewing area in the longitudinal direction.

5. The land vehicle of claim 4 , further comprising a side mirror mounted between the second door and a front windshield of the vehicle to permit visualization of a side mirror viewing area located outside of the vehicle proximate the another side thereof by an operator positioned in the operator cabin adjacent the one side of the vehicle in use of the vehicle,

wherein the side mirror viewing area extends at least partially rearward of the opera window mirror viewing area in the longitudinal direction.

6. The land vehicle of claim 5 , further comprising a camera system affixed to the side mirror.

7. The land vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of electric motors to generate rotational power that are supported by the plurality of wheels, wherein one of the plurality of electric motors is integrated directly into each one of the plurality of wheels.

8. The land vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an impact management system supported by the frame structure and positioned forward of the operator cage in the longitudinal direction,

wherein the frame structure includes a pair of rails that each extends in the longitudinal direction from a first end arranged adjacent a pair of front wheels of the vehicle to a second end arranged adjacent a pair of rear wheels of the vehicle,

wherein the impact management system is configured to deform in response to impact forces applied thereto in use of the land vehicle to maintain structural integrity of the operator cage and the pair of rails, and

wherein the impact management system includes a crash cage extending in the longitudinal direction from the first ends of the pair of rails to a forward-most point of the land vehicle.

9. The land vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first door handle mounted to the first door that includes a first lock and a first identification feature configured to receive biometric data provided by an operator, wherein operation of the first lock is controlled based on the biometric data received by the first identification feature;

a second door handle mounted to the second door that includes a second lock and a second identification feature configured to receive biometric data provided by an operator, wherein operation of the second lock is controlled based on the biometric data received by the second identification feature.

10. A land vehicle comprising:

a frame structure including an operator cage that at least partially defines an operator cabin and a rear compartment positioned rearward of the operator cage in a longitudinal direction;

a plurality of wheels supported by the frame structure;

a body supported by the frame structure that includes a first sidewall arranged on one side of the vehicle having a first door to provide access to the operator cabin from the one side of the vehicle and a second sidewall arranged on another side of the vehicle opposite the first sidewall;

a cap roof coupled to each of the first and second sidewalls that covers the operator cage and the rear compartment; and

a canopy coupled to the cap roof that includes a first canopy section and a second canopy section spaced from the first canopy section in the longitudinal direction,

wherein:

a gutter extends in the longitudinal direction above the first door to define an overhang above the first door,

the gutter is integrally formed with the cap roof, and

one of the first canopy section and the second canopy section is movable relative to the cap roof and the other of the first canopy section and the second canopy section in the longitudinal direction between an open position, in which access to a storage recess is permitted, and a closed position, in which access to the storage recess is restricted.

11. The land vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising a gutter light arranged in close proximity to the gutter to illuminate an area located outside of the vehicle adjacent the first door in use of the vehicle.

12. The land vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the cap roof has a single-piece construction.

13. The land vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the canopy is at least partially movable relative to the cap roof to selectively permit overhead airborne delivery of one or more items into the storage recess.

14. A land vehicle comprising:

a frame structure including an operator cage that at least partially defines an operator cabin and a rear compartment positioned rearward of the operator cage in a longitudinal direction;

a plurality of wheels supported by the frame structure;

a body supported by the frame structure that includes a first sidewall arranged on one side of the vehicle and a second sidewall arranged on another side of the vehicle opposite the first sidewall;

a cap roof coupled to each of the first and second sidewalls that covers the operator cage and the rear compartment; and

a canopy coupled to the cap roof that includes a first canopy section and a second canopy section spaced from the first canopy section in the longitudinal direction,

wherein:

the first sidewall includes a first door to provide access to the operator cabin from the one side of the vehicle,

the second sidewall includes a second door to provide access to the operator cabin from the another side of the vehicle that is aligned with the first door in the longitudinal direction,

the second sidewall includes an opera window located rearward of the second door in the longitudinal direction to permit visualization of an opera window viewing area located outside of the vehicle proximate the another side thereof by an operator positioned in the operator cabin adjacent the one side of the vehicle in use of the vehicle,

a gutter extends in the longitudinal direction above the first door to define an overhang above the first door,

the gutter is integrally formed with the cap roof, and

one of the first canopy section and the second canopy section is movable relative to the cap roof and the other of the first canopy section and the second canopy section in the longitudinal direction between an open position, in which access to a storage recess is permitted, and a closed position, in which access to the storage recess is restricted.

15. The land vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the operator cabin comprises a control panel having a plurality of modular units each configured for individual removal and/or replacement without requiring removal and/or replacement of any of the other modular units.

16. The land vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the operator cabin comprises a floor that is arranged nineteen inches in a vertical direction above a support surface on which the land vehicle is positioned.

17. The land vehicle of claim 16 , further comprising a step arranged on the right side of the vehicle to facilitate entry into, and exit from, the operator cabin from the right side of the vehicle, wherein the step is positioned in a vertical direction between the floor and the support surface, and wherein the step is arranged eleven inches in the vertical direction above the support surface.

18. The land vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the land vehicle has a gross vehicular weight rating (GVWR) of between 10,001 pounds and 14,000 pounds.

19. A land vehicle comprising:

a frame structure including an operator cage that at least partially defines an operator cabin and a rear compartment positioned rearward of the operator cage in a longitudinal direction;

a plurality of wheels supported by the frame structure; and

a body supported by the frame structure that includes a first sidewall arranged on one side of the vehicle and a second sidewall arranged on another side of the vehicle opposite the first sidewall,

wherein:

the first sidewall includes a first door to provide access to the operator cabin from the one side of the vehicle,

the second sidewall includes a second door to provide access to the operator cabin from the another side of the vehicle that is aligned with the first door in the longitudinal direction,

the second sidewall includes an opera window located rearward of the second door in the longitudinal direction to permit visualization of an opera window viewing area located outside of the vehicle proximate the another side thereof by an operator positioned in the operator cabin adjacent the one side of the vehicle in use of the vehicle,

the operator cabin includes a steering wheel, an operator seat, a rack arranged in the operator cabin opposite the steering wheel and the operator seat that includes a plurality of trays, and a pair of tracks affixed to a floor of the operator cabin and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction,

the rack is movable along the pair of tracks in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction between a stowed position, in which the rack is disposed distant from the operator seat, and a delivery position, in which the rack is disposed close to the operator seat, and

the land vehicle has a gross vehicular weight rating (GVWR) of between 10,001 pounds and 14,000 pounds.

20. The land vehicle of claim 19 , further comprising an opera window mirror mounted to the second sidewall in close proximity to the opera window to permit visualization of an opera window mirror viewing area located outside of the vehicle proximate the another side thereof by an operator positioned in the operator cabin adjacent the one side of the vehicle in use of the vehicle,

wherein the opera window mirror viewing area extends at least partially rearward of the opera window viewing area in the longitudinal direction.

21. The land vehicle of claim 20 , further comprising (i) a side mirror mounted between the second door and a front windshield of the vehicle to permit visualization of a side mirror viewing area located outside of the vehicle proximate the another side thereof by an operator positioned in the operator cabin adjacent the one side of the vehicle in use of the vehicle and (ii) a camera system affixed to the side mirror,

wherein the side mirror viewing area extends at least partially rearward of the opera window mirror viewing area in the longitudinal direction.

22. The land vehicle of claim 19 , further comprising:

a plurality of electric motors to generate rotational power that are supported by the plurality of wheels, wherein one of the plurality of electric motors is integrated directly into each one of the plurality of wheels; and

a brake system coupled to each one of the plurality of wheels, wherein each brake system includes a disc having a plurality of notches defined between circumferentially adjacent teeth of the disc, a first braking device configured to contact an outer face of the disc to resist rotation of one of the plurality of wheels, a second braking device circumferentially spaced from the first braking device about the disc that is configured to contact the outer face of the disc to resist rotation of the one of the plurality of wheels, and a third braking device configured to contact one or more teeth of the disc to resist rotation of the one of the plurality of wheels.

23. The land vehicle of claim 22 , further comprising an impact management system supported by the frame structure and positioned forward of the operator cage in the longitudinal direction,

wherein the frame structure includes a pair of rails that each extends in the longitudinal direction from a first end arranged adjacent a pair of front wheels of the vehicle to a second end arranged adjacent a pair of rear wheels of the vehicle,

wherein the impact management system is configured to deform in response to impact forces applied thereto in use of the land vehicle to maintain structural integrity of the operator cage and the pair of rails, and

wherein the impact management system includes a crash cage extending in the longitudinal direction from the first ends of the pair of rails to a forward-most point of the land vehicle.

24. The land vehicle of claim 19 , further comprising a cap roof coupled to each of the first and second sidewalls that covers the operator cage and the rear compartment and a gutter light arranged in close proximity to a gutter to illuminate an area located outside of the vehicle adjacent the first door in use of the vehicle,

wherein:

the gutter extends in the longitudinal direction above the first door to define an overhang above the first door; and

the gutter is integrally formed with the cap roof.

25. The land vehicle of claim 24 , wherein the cap roof has a single-piece construction.

26. The land vehicle of claim 24 , further comprising a canopy coupled to the cap roof that includes a first canopy section and a second canopy section spaced from the first canopy section in the longitudinal direction,

wherein one of the first canopy section and the second canopy section is movable relative to the cap roof and the other of the first canopy section and the second canopy section in the longitudinal direction between an open position, in which access to a storage recess is permitted, and a closed position, in which access to the storage recess is restricted.

27. The land vehicle of claim 26 , wherein the canopy is at least partially movable relative to the cap roof to selectively permit overhead airborne delivery of one or more items into the storage recess.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2025
From: WORKHORSE GROUP INC.; WORKHORSE TECHNOLOGIES INC.; WORKHORSE PROPERTIES INC.; HORSEFLY INC.; STABLES & STALLS LLC; STABLES & STALLS REAL ESTATE I LLC; ROUTEHORSE LLC; OMAHA INTERMEDIATE, INC.; OMAHA INTERMEDIATE 2, INC.; ESG LOGISTICS CORP.; WORKHORSE MOTOR WORKS INC.; MOTIV POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
To: MOTIVE GM HOLDINGS II LLC
Reel/Frame 074006/0682 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2025
From: WORKHORSE GROUP INC.; WORKHORSE TECHNOLOGIES INC.; WORKHORSE MOTOR WORKS INC.; WORKHORSE PROPERTIES INC.; HORSEFLY INC.; STABLES & STALLS LLC; STABLES & STALLS REAL ESTATE I LLC; ROUTEHORSE LLC; ESG LOGISTICS CORP.; OMAHA MERGER SUBSIDIARY, INC.; OMAHA INTERMEDIATE, INC.; OMAHA INTERMEDIATE 2, INC.
To: MOTIVE GM HOLDINGS II LLC
Reel/Frame 072489/0426 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2024
From: HIGH TRAIL SPECIAL SITUATIONS LLC
To: WORKHORSE GROUP, INC.; WORKHORSE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; WORKHORSE MOTOR WORKS, INC.; WORKHORSE PROPERTIES INC.; HORSEFLY INC.; ESG LOGISTICS CORP.; STABLES & STALLS LLC; ROUTEHORSE LLC; STABLES & STALLS REAL ESTATE I LLC
Reel/Frame 066832/0728 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2024
From: WORKHORSE GROUP, INC.; WORKHORSE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; WORKHORSE MOTOR WORKS, INC.; WORKHORSE PROPERTIES INC.; HORSEFLY INC.; ESG LOGISTICS CORP.; STABLES & STALLS LLC; ROUTEHORSE LLC; STABLES & STALLS REAL ESTATE I LLC
To: HORSEPOWER MANAGEMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 066816/0076 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2023
From: WORKHORSE GROUP INC.
To: HIGH TRAIL SPECIAL SITUATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 066130/0303 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2022
From: WILLISON, ROBERT; WIRES, DONALD L.; CAIN, GARY
To: WORKHORSE GROUP INC.
Reel/Frame 060758/0133 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2022
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: WORKHORSE GROUP INC.
Reel/Frame 059530/0959 →
Cited By (6)
US 12,246,623 US 12,427,903 US 12,485,963 US 12,545,319 US 12,623,585 US 12,630,067