IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,728,924
Granted Patent B2
US 12,728,924 · App. 18/341,238 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Frame support apparatus

Inventors: Jin Yan (Aliso Viejo, CA); Jagannathan Shankar Mahadevan (Orange, CA); Akshat Chauhan (Livonia, MI); Christopher Matthews (Huntington Beach, CA)
Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
B62D21/15B60K1/04B62D21/157B62D25/025H01M50/242B60K2001/0438
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,728,924
App. No.
18/341,238
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus can include a body having a plurality of walls dividing the body into a plurality of sections along a height of the body. A first wall and an opposing second wall can define a section of the plurality of sections. A middle portion of the first wall can be disposed closer to the second wall in a first direction than an end portion of the first wall. The first wall and the second wall can move towards each other in the first direction in response to a force applied on the body in a second direction.

Claims (80)

1 . An apparatus, comprising:

a body having a plurality of walls dividing the body into a plurality of sections along a height of the body;

a first wall and an opposing second wall defining a section of the plurality of sections, a middle portion of the first wall disposed closer to the second wall in a first direction than an end portion of the first wall;

the first wall having a plurality of divots extending along a length of the body;

the first wall and the second wall to move towards each other in the first direction in response to a force applied on the body in a second direction;

the first wall comprising a first protrusion and the second wall comprising a second protrusion; and

the first protrusion to contact the second protrusion in response to the force.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the section further comprising a third wall connected to the first wall and the second wall, the third wall to receive a first force as the first wall and the second wall move toward each other and a second force after the first protrusion of the first wall contacts the second protrusion of the second wall; and

the first force differing from the second force.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the plurality of sections comprising a plurality of first sections;

the body comprising a plurality of second sections; and

each of the plurality of first sections having an adjoining wall of the plurality of walls with one of the plurality of second sections.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the plurality of sections comprising a plurality of first sections;

the body comprising a plurality of second sections, each of the plurality of second sections comprising a plurality of parallel walls;

a first parallel wall of the plurality of parallel walls joined at an end of the first wall of the section; and

a second parallel wall of the plurality of parallel walls joined at an end of the second wall of the section.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the plurality of sections comprising a plurality of first sections; and

the body comprising a plurality of second sections monolithically formed with the plurality of first sections.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the plurality of sections comprising a plurality of first sections; and

a plurality of second sections disposed adjacent to the plurality of first sections.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the body comprising an extrusion.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the body comprising a frame rail positioned adjacent a battery.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

the plurality of sections comprising a plurality of first sections;

a plurality of second sections coupled with the body; and

the plurality of second sections comprising a different material than the plurality of first sections.

10 . A vehicle, comprising:

an apparatus, comprising:

a body having a plurality of walls dividing the body into a plurality of sections along a height of the body;

a first wall and an opposing second wall defining a section of the plurality of sections, a middle portion of the first wall disposed closer to the second wall in a first direction than an end portion of the first wall;

the first wall having a plurality of divots extending along a length of the body;

the first wall and the second wall to move towards each other in the first direction in response to a force applied on the body in a second direction;

the first wall comprising a first protrusion and the second wall comprising a second protrusion; and

the first protrusion to contact the second protrusion in response to the force.

11 . The vehicle of claim 10 , comprising:

the section further comprising a third wall connected to the first wall and the second wall, the third wall to receive a first force as the first wall and the second wall move toward each other and a second force after the first protrusion of the first wall contacts the second protrusion of the second wall; and

the first force differs from the second force.

12 . The vehicle of claim 10 , comprising:

the plurality of sections comprising a plurality of first sections;

the body comprising a plurality of second sections; and

each of the plurality of first sections having an adjoining wall of the plurality of walls with one of the plurality of second sections.

13 . The vehicle of claim 10 , comprising:

the plurality of sections comprising a plurality of first sections;

the body comprising a plurality of second sections, each of the plurality of second sections comprising a plurality of parallel walls;

a first parallel wall of the plurality of parallel walls joined at an end of the first wall of the section; and

a second parallel wall of the plurality of parallel walls joined at an end of the second wall of the section.

14 . The vehicle of claim 10 , comprising:

the plurality of sections comprising a plurality of first sections; and

the body comprising a plurality of second sections monolithically formed with the plurality of first sections.

15 . The vehicle of claim 10 , comprising:

the plurality of sections comprising a plurality of first sections; and

a plurality of second sections disposed adjacent to the plurality of first sections.

16 . The vehicle of claim 10 , comprising:

the body comprising an extrusion.

17 . An apparatus, comprising:

a body having a plurality of walls dividing the body into a plurality of first sections and a plurality of second sections;

a first wall and an opposing second wall defining a section of the plurality of first sections, a middle portion of the first wall disposed closer to the second wall in a first direction than an end portion of the first wall;

the first wall having a plurality of divots extending along a length of the body;

the first wall and the second wall to move towards each other in the first direction in response to a force applied on the body in a second direction;

the first wall comprising a first protrusion and the second wall comprising a second protrusion; and

the first protrusion to contact the second protrusion in response to the force.

18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

each of the plurality of divots comprises a slot;

a first divot of the plurality of divots is disposed on a first side of the first protrusion; and

a second divot of the plurality of divots is disposed on a second side of the first protrusion.

19 . The vehicle of claim 10 , comprising:

each of the plurality of divots comprises a slot;

a first divot of the plurality of divots is disposed on a first side of the first protrusion; and

a second divot of the plurality of divots is disposed on a second side of the first protrusion.

20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , comprising:

each of the plurality of divots comprises a slot;

a first divot of the plurality of divots is disposed on a first side of the first protrusion; and

a second divot of the plurality of divots is disposed on a second side of the first protrusion.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2023
From: YAN, JIN; MAHADEVAN, JAGANNATHAN SHANKAR; CHAUHAN, AKSHAT; MATTHEWS, CHRISTOPHER
To: RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC
Reel/Frame 064062/0834 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2023
From: RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC
To: RIVIAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 064062/0880 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240425115A1 · Dec 26, 2024
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