IP Library Granted Patent US 11,572,004
Granted Patent B1
US 11,572,004 · App. 17/884,529 · Granted Feb 7, 2023

Land vehicles adapted for use as electric delivery vehicles

Inventors: Robert Willison (Lebanon, OH); Donald L. Wires (Loveland, OH); Gary Cain (Hillsboro, 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 11,572,004
App. No.
17/884,529
Granted
Feb 7, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

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 (78)

1. An electric 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;

at least one electric motor supported by the frame structure to generate rotational power to drive movement of the electric vehicle;

a cap roof supported by the frame structure that covers the operator cage and the rear compartment; and

a canopy coupled to the cap roof including a first canopy section and a second canopy section movable relative to the cap roof and the first canopy section in the longitudinal direction between (i) an open position, in which access to a storage recess is permitted, and (ii) a closed position, in which access to the storage recess is restricted.

2. The electric vehicle of claim 1 , 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.

3. The electric vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of wheels supported by the frame structure, 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.

4. The electric vehicle of claim 3 , wherein:

the disc includes an outer annular surface that extends circumferentially to at least partially define an outer diameter of the disc,

the teeth are disposed at an inner diameter of the disc,

the first braking device is configured to contact the outer face of the disc without enclosing the outer annular surface, and

the second braking device is configured to contact the outer face of the disc without enclosing the outer annular surface.

5. The electric 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.

6. The electric vehicle of claim 5 , 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 electric vehicle has a gross vehicular weight rating (GVWR) of between 10,001 pounds and 14,000 pounds.

7. The electric vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:

the electric vehicle further comprises a body supported by the frame structure;

the body includes a first sidewall arranged on one side of the electric vehicle and a second sidewall arranged on another side of the electric vehicle opposite the first sidewall,

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 electric vehicle proximate the another side thereof by an operator positioned in the operator cabin adjacent the one side of the electric vehicle in use of the electric vehicle, and

the second sidewall extends rearward in the longitudinal direction from the opera window to a rear end of the electric vehicle without a window formed therein.

8. The electric vehicle of claim 7 , wherein:

the first sidewall includes a side door located in the longitudinal direction between the first door and the rear end of the electric vehicle, and

the first sidewall extends rearward in the longitudinal direction from the side door to the rear end of the electric vehicle without a window formed therein.

9. The electric vehicle of claim 7 , 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 electric vehicle proximate the another side thereof by the operator positioned in the operator cabin adjacent the one side of the electric vehicle in use of the electric vehicle,

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

10. The electric vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a side mirror mounted between the second door and a front windshield of the electric vehicle to permit visualization of a side mirror viewing area located outside of the electric vehicle proximate the another side thereof by the operator positioned in the operator cabin adjacent the one side of the electric vehicle in use of the electric vehicle,

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

11. An electric 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;

at least one electric motor supported by the frame structure to generate rotational power to drive movement of the electric vehicle; and

a cap roof supported by the frame structure that includes (i) a unitary structure which covers the operator cage and the rear compartment and (ii) a gutter that extends in the longitudinal direction above a first door of the electric vehicle to define an overhang above the first door,

wherein the cap roof has a single-piece construction such that the unitary structure and the gutter are formed as a single piece.

12. The electric vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a canopy coupled to the cap roof including a first canopy section and a second canopy section movable relative to the cap roof and the first canopy section in the longitudinal direction between (i) an open position, in which access to a storage recess is permitted, and (ii) a closed position, in which access to the storage recess is restricted.

13. The electric vehicle of claim 12 , 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. The electric vehicle of claim 11 , wherein:

the electric vehicle further comprises a body supported by the frame structure;

the body includes a first sidewall arranged on one side of the electric vehicle and a second sidewall arranged on another side of the electric vehicle opposite the first sidewall,

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 electric vehicle proximate the another side thereof by an operator positioned in the operator cabin adjacent the one side of the electric vehicle in use of the electric vehicle, and

the second sidewall extends rearward in the longitudinal direction from the opera window to a rear end of the electric vehicle without a window formed therein.

15. The electric vehicle of claim 14 , 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; and

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.

16. The electric vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising a gutter light arranged in close proximity to the gutter to illuminate an area located outside of the electric vehicle adjacent the first door in use of the electric vehicle.

17. The electric vehicle of claim 14 , wherein:

the first sidewall includes a side door located in the longitudinal direction between the first door and the rear end of the electric vehicle, and

the first sidewall extends rearward in the longitudinal direction from the side door to the rear end of the electric vehicle without a window formed therein.

18. An electric 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;

at least one electric motor supported by the frame structure to generate rotational power to drive movement of the electric vehicle; and

a body supported by the frame structure,

wherein:

the body includes a first sidewall arranged on one side of the electric vehicle and a second sidewall arranged on another side of the electric vehicle opposite the first sidewall,

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 electric vehicle proximate the another side thereof by an operator positioned in the operator cabin adjacent the one side of the electric vehicle in use of the electric vehicle, and

the second sidewall extends rearward in the longitudinal direction from the opera window to a rear end of the electric vehicle without a window formed therein.

19. The electric vehicle of claim 18 , wherein:

the first sidewall includes a side door located in the longitudinal direction between the first door and the rear end of the electric vehicle, and

the first sidewall extends rearward in the longitudinal direction from the side door to the rear end of the electric vehicle without a window formed therein.

20. The electric vehicle of claim 18 , 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; and

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.

Assignments (6)
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 060763/0370 →
Continuity (1)
Continuation 17546555 · Dec 9, 2021