IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,600,410
Granted Patent B2
US 12,600,410 · App. 18/182,671 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Vehicle subframe

Inventors: Barry Lett (Woking, GB); Christophe Sartiaux (Long Beach, CA); Allen Martin Orchard (Shepperton, GB)
Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
B62D21/15B62D21/155B60K1/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,600,410
App. No.
18/182,671
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system can include a subframe section having a first subframe portion and a second subframe portion. The second subframe portion can couple with the first subframe portion at an angled interface having an angle relative to a horizontal plane. The angled interface can decouple the first subframe portion from the second subframe portion and cause the first subframe portion to move in a direction towards the second subframe portion based on the angle of the angled interface in response to a threshold force applied to the first subframe portion.

Claims (49)

1 . A system, comprising:

a subframe section having a first subframe portion and a second subframe portion;

a shear plate coupled with the first subframe portion, the shear plate to bend in response to movement of the first subframe portion;

the second subframe portion coupled with the first subframe portion at an angled interface having an angle relative to a horizontal plane; and

the angled interface configured to decouple the first subframe portion from the second subframe portion and cause the first subframe portion to move in a direction towards the second subframe portion based on the angle of the angled interface in response to a threshold force applied to the first subframe portion.

2 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:

the angle of the angled interface is in the range of 10 to 45 degrees.

3 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:

the first subframe portion to move in response to the threshold force such that at least a portion of the second subframe portion overlaps the first subframe portion.

4 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:

a second portion of the shear plate coupled with the second subframe portion.

5 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:

the angled interface including a discontinuation configured to cause a portion of the angled interface to deform or break in response to the threshold force.

6 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:

the angled interface including a through hole of a fastener, and a slot positioned at the through hole that extends along a portion of the angled interface configured to cause a portion of the angled interface to deform or break in response to the threshold force.

7 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:

the threshold force applied parallel to the horizontal plane and angled relative to the angled interface.

8 . An electric vehicle, comprising:

a subframe section having a first subframe portion and a second subframe portion;

a shear plate coupled with the first subframe portion, the shear plate to bend in response to movement of the first subframe portion;

the second subframe portion coupled with the first subframe portion at an angled interface having an angle relative to a horizontal plane; and

the angled interface configured to decouple the first subframe portion from the second subframe portion and cause the first subframe portion to move in a direction towards the second subframe portion based on the angle of the angled interface in response to a threshold force applied to the first subframe portion.

9 . The electric vehicle of claim 8 , comprising:

the angle of the angled interface is in the range of 10 to 45 degrees.

10 . The electric vehicle of claim 8 , comprising:

the first subframe portion to move in response to the threshold force such that at least a portion of the second subframe portion overlaps the first subframe portion.

11 . The electric vehicle of claim 8 , comprising:

a second portion of the shear plate coupled with the second subframe portion.

12 . The electric vehicle of claim 8 , comprising:

the angled interface including a discontinuation configured to cause a portion of the angled interface to deform or break in response to the threshold force.

13 . The electric vehicle of claim 8 , comprising:

the angled interface including a through hole of a fastener, and a slot positioned at the through hole that extends along a portion of the angled interface configured to cause a portion of the angled interface to deform or break in response to the threshold force.

14 . The electric vehicle of claim 8 , comprising:

the threshold force applied parallel to the horizontal plane and angled relative to the angled interface.

15 . A method, comprising:

coupling a first subframe portion of a subframe section with a second subframe portion of the subframe section at an angled interface having an angle relative to a horizontal plane;

coupling a shear plate with the first subframe portion, the shear plate to bend in response to movement of the first subframe portion;

decoupling the first subframe portion from the second subframe portion at the angled interface in response to a threshold force applied to the first subframe portion; and

causing the first subframe portion to move in a direction towards the second subframe portion based on the angle of the angled interface in response to the threshold force applied to the first subframe portion.

16 . The method of claim 15 , comprising:

the angle of the angled interface is in the range of 10 to 45 degrees.

17 . The method of claim 15 , comprising:

the first subframe portion to move in response to the threshold force such that at least a portion of the second subframe portion overlaps the first subframe portion.

18 . The method of claim 15 , comprising:

a second portion of the shear plate coupled with the second subframe portion.

19 . The method of claim 15 , comprising:

the angled interface including a discontinuation configured to cause a portion of the angled interface to deform or break in response to the threshold force.

20 . The method of claim 15 , comprising:

the angled interface including a through hole of a fastener, and a slot positioned at the through hole that extends along a portion of the angled interface configured to cause a portion of the angled interface to deform or break in response to the threshold force.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2023
From: LETT, BARRY; SARTIAUX, CHRISTOPHE; ORCHARD, ALLEN MARTIN
To: RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC
Reel/Frame 062962/0407 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2023
From: RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC
To: RIVIAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 062963/0258 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63481819 · Jan 27, 2023
Related Publication 20240253703A1 · Aug 1, 2024
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