Granted Patent B2

US 12,539,737 · App. 18/105,699 · Granted Feb 3, 2026

Inventors: Kamalesh Bhambare (Novi, MI); Mayur Prakash Gaikwad (Irvine, CA); Aaron Kirk Hensler (South Lyon, MI)

Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC

B60H1/267B60H1/00821B60H1/00985B60P3/36

Abstract

Claims (29)

1 . A vehicle-based ventilation system for an accessory comprising:

a source of a climate-controlled airflow;

a duct comprising:

a source-end configured to couple to the source of the climate-controlled airflow; and

an accessory-end configured to couple to the accessory, wherein the duct comprises a tonneau cover having openings that form at least a portion of the duct; and

an accessory climate sensor positioned within the accessory.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the source-end is further configured to couple to an air extractor.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the air extractor moves air from a first area to a second area, wherein the first area comprises an interior of a vehicle.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the source-end is further configured to couple to a vent of a vehicle.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the openings form the at least a portion of the duct when the tonneau cover is retracted.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the source-end or the accessory-end comprises a magnetic coupler to couple to the source of the climate-controlled airflow or the accessory respectively.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the accessory climate sensor comprises a temperature sensor, an air-quality sensor, a humidity sensor, or a solar radiation sensor.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the accessory climate sensor is wirelessly connected to a vehicle.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein information captured by the accessory climate sensor is used to determine a parameter of the climate-controlled airflow, wherein the parameter comprises a temperature or a fan speed of the climate-controlled airflow.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the accessory climate sensor is embedded in the accessory-end, the accessory, or a mobile device.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a user interface, wherein the user interface is optionally displayed on a display associated with a vehicle.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the display comprises a gauge display, an infotainment display, an accessory display, or a mobile device display.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the user interface comprises a setting to adjust a specified temperature within the accessory.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the user interface comprises information associated with a state of charge of the vehicle, a vehicle range, or a climate within the accessory.

15 . A method of providing ventilation to an accessory of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a control module of the vehicle, user input related to controlling a climate-controlled airflow through a duct, wherein the duct comprises a tonneau cover having openings that form at least a portion of the duct;

receiving, by the control module, signals from an accessory climate sensor;

determining, by the control module based on the user input and the signals, a parameter of the climate-controlled airflow; and

sending, by the control module and based on the parameter, signals to modify the climate-controlled airflow.

16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of one or more computing devices, cause the one or more processors to:

receive user input related to controlling a climate-controlled airflow through a duct, wherein the duct comprises a tonneau cover having openings that form at least a portion of the duct;

receive signals from an accessory climate sensor;

determine, based on the user input and the signals, a parameter of the climate-controlled airflow; and

send, based on the parameter, signals to modify the climate-controlled airflow.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (38)