IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,459,438
Granted Patent B2
US 12,459,438 · App. 17/892,404 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Front trunk configured to facilitate wireless charging

Inventors: Michael John Harmon (Northville, MI); Jesse Rene Diephuis (West Bloomfield, MI); Ryan Wayne Warner (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60R5/02B60J5/02B60Q3/30B60R16/033H02J50/005H02J50/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,459,438
App. No.
17/892,404
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure relates to a front trunk configured to facilitate wireless charging. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, including: a front trunk including a wireless charger configured to wirelessly charge an electronic device adjacent the front trunk.

Claims (36)

1 . A motor vehicle, comprising:

a front trunk including a floor, wherein the floor includes a wireless charger, and wherein the wireless charger of the floor is provided by a plurality of sender coils exhibiting a total surface area greater than half a total surface area of the floor; and

a closure assembly configured to move between closed and open positions to selectively cover and uncover the front trunk, wherein a surface of the closure assembly includes a wireless charger, and wherein the wireless charger of the closure assembly is provided by a plurality of sender coils exhibiting a total surface area greater than half a total surface area of the surface of the closure assembly.

2 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of storage compartments arranged within the front trunk and spaced-apart above the floor, wherein each of the storage compartments includes a wireless charger.

3 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of electrical outlets arranged above the plurality of storage compartments.

4 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a light source arranged above the plurality of storage compartments and configured to illuminate an area below the light source.

5 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the closure assembly includes a grille panel configured to rotate between a closed position and an open position to selectively cover and uncover the front trunk from a front, and the surface is a surface of the grille panel facing an interior of the front trunk when the grille panel is closed.

6 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 5 , wherein, when the grille panel is open, the surface is substantially parallel to a ground surface and lies in a common plane with the floor.

7 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 6 , further comprising at least one panel configured to slide laterally relative to the grille panel between an expanded and retracted position when the grille panel is open.

8 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 7 , further comprising a tool mounted to the at least one panel.

9 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 7 , wherein the at least one panel is replaceable.

10 . A motor vehicle, comprising:

a front trunk;

a closure assembly configured to move between closed and open positions to selectively cover and uncover the front trunk;

wherein the closure assembly includes a grille panel configured to rotate between a closed position and an open position to selectively cover and uncover the front trunk from a front,

wherein the grille panel includes a first surface facing the front trunk when the grille panel is closed,

wherein the closure assembly further includes a first panel configured to slide laterally relative to the grille panel in a first direction between an expanded and retracted position and a second panel configured to slide laterally relative to the grille panel in a second direction opposite the first direction between an expanded and retracted position,

wherein a surface of the grille panel includes a first wireless charger, a surface of the first panel includes a second wireless charger, and a surface of the second panel includes a third wireless charger, and

wherein the first wireless charger is provided by a plurality of sender coils exhibiting a total surface area greater than half a total surface area of the first surface of the grille panel.

11 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a light source arranged adjacent a top of the front trunk, wherein, when the grille panel is open and the first and second panels are in respective expanded positions, the light source is configured to illuminate the grille panel, the first panel, and the second panel.

12 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the motor vehicle is an electrified vehicle including a battery pack, and wherein the motor vehicle is configured to provide electricity from the battery pack to the wireless charger.

13 . A method, comprising:

wirelessly charging a portable electronic device adjacent a front trunk of a motor vehicle;

rotating a grille panel to an open position in which a top surface of the grille panel is substantially parallel to a ground surface, wherein the top surface includes a wireless charger, ; and

tilting a light source to illuminate the top surface, wherein the light source is configured to provide at least a portion of a headlamp or headlamp assembly of the motor vehicle.

14 . The method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising, when the grille panel is open, sliding at least one panel laterally relative to the grille panel between an expanded and retracted position.

15 . The method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising, when the grille panel is open and the at least one panel is in an expanded position, illuminating the grille panel and the at least one panel by activating the light source.

16 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 7 , wherein the at least one panel also includes a wireless charger.

17 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein;

the wireless charger of the floor is provided by a plurality of sender coils exhibiting a total surface area of at least 75% of a total surface area of the floor, and

the wireless charger of the closure assembly is provided by a plurality of sender coils exhibiting a total surface area of at least 75% of a total surface area of the surface of the closure assembly.

18 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of sender coils providing the wireless charger of the floor are provided by a mat arranged on the floor, and

the plurality of sender coils providing the wireless charger of the closure assembly are provided by a mat that is attached to the surface of the closure assembly.

19 . The method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising simultaneously rotating the grille panel to the open position and sliding a panel laterally relative to the grille panel to an expanded position.

20 . The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the light source is a light bar extending substantially perpendicular to a centerline of the motor vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2022
From: HARMON, MICHAEL JOHN; DIEPHUIS, JESSE RENE; WARNER, RYAN WAYNE
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 060856/0783 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63347704 · Jun 1, 2022
Related Publication 20230391272A1 · Dec 7, 2023
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