IP Library Granted Patent US 11,912,237
Granted Patent B2
US 11,912,237 · App. 17/892,293 · Granted Feb 27, 2024

Front trunk including multi-action closure assembly

Inventors: Michael John Harmon (Northville, MI); Benjamin Howard (Grosse Pointe Park, MI); Kathryn N. Cezar (Berkley, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60R5/02B62D25/105
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,912,237
App. No.
17/892,293
Granted
Feb 27, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A front trunk includes a multi-action closure assembly. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, including: a front trunk establishing a cargo space; a frame rotatably mounted relative to the cargo space; a first panel rotatably mounted to the frame; a second panel rotatably mounted to the frame; and wherein, when the first and second panels are in closed positions, the frame is rotatable to an open position to uncover the front trunk, wherein, when the frame is in a closed position, the first and second panels are rotatable to open positions to uncover the front trunk.

Claims (42)

1. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a front trunk establishing a cargo space;

a frame rotatably mounted relative to the cargo space;

a first panel rotatably mounted to the frame;

a second panel rotatably mounted to the frame; and

wherein, when the first and second panels are in closed positions, the frame is rotatable to an open position to uncover the front trunk,

wherein, when the frame is in a closed position, the first and second panels are rotatable to open positions to uncover the front trunk.

2. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels are only moveable to their respective open positions when the frame is in the closed position.

3. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured to rotate relative to the cargo space about an axis adjacent a rear edge of the frame.

4. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 2 , wherein the first panel is rotatably mounted to the frame adjacent a rear edge of the first panel.

5. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 3 , wherein the second panel is rotatably mounted to the frame adjacent a bottom edge of the second panel.

6. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 4 , wherein the second panel is rotatable independent of the first panel.

7. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 5 , wherein:

the first panel uncovers a top of the front trunk when the first panel is in the open position, and

the second panel uncovers a front of the front trunk when the second panel is in the open position.

8. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises:

first and second side components arranged on opposite sides of the cargo space and extending substantially parallel to a centerline of the motor vehicle;

first and second vertical components projecting vertically from a respective one of the first and second side components;

a first cross member connecting ends of the first and second side components;

a second cross member connecting ends of the first and second vertical components, and

wherein the first panel is rotatably mounted to the first cross member,

wherein the second panel is rotatably mounted to the second cross member.

9. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a powered assembly configured to selectively move the frame, the first panel, and the second panel.

10. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first panel provides a hood of the motor vehicle and the second panel provides a grille of the motor vehicle.

11. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the motor vehicle is a battery electric vehicle.

12. A method, comprising:

uncovering a cargo space established by a front trunk of a motor vehicle by rotating a frame to an open position, wherein first and second panels are rotatably mounted to the frame.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 , further comprising:

uncovering the cargo space when the frame is in a closed position by rotating one or both of the first and second panels to a respective open position.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein, when the frame rotates to the open position, the first and second panels are in a respective closed position.

15. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first and second panels are only moveable to their respective open positions when the frame is in the closed position.

16. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein:

the frame is configured to rotate relative to the cargo space about an axis adjacent a rear edge of the frame,

the first panel is rotatably mounted to the frame adjacent a rear edge of the first panel, and

the second panel is rotatably mounted to the frame adjacent a bottom edge of the second panel.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the second panel is rotatable independent of the first panel.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein:

the first panel uncovers a top of the front trunk when the first panel is in the open position, and

the second panel uncovers a front of the front trunk when the second panel is in the open position.

19. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the frame, first panel, and second panel are movable by a powered assembly.

20. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first panel provides a hood of the motor vehicle and the second panel provides a grille of the motor vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2022
From: HARMON, MICHAEL JOHN; HOWARD, BENJAMIN; CEZAR, KATHRYN N.
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 060855/0036 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63347704 · Jun 1, 2022
Related Publication 20230391269A1 · Dec 7, 2023
Cited By (2)
US 1,119,727 US 12,735,115