Rivian IP Holdings, LLC

Gordon Murray Design Limited

Mark Andrew Jones

Barry Lett

Philipp Josef Wolf

Barry William Flowers

Raghav Jaswal

Jan Hobart

A canopy with a deployable structure is provided. An apparatus can include a canopy that includes a structure. The structure can be deployed over at least one portion of an object. The apparatus can include a fabric that is coupled to the structure. The structure can deploy the fabric over the at least one portion of the object.

Canopy with deployable structure

A laser-cut and spot-welded tubular frame chassis typically has an accuracy of &#xb1;1.5 mm. To allow positioning of exterior body panels to an accuracy of &#xb1;0.2 mm we propose that the vehicle comprise one or more integration panels, lying between the tubular framework and the exterior body panels. These can be made of a lightweight material, and can be made to be structural or non-structural depending on the intended use and location of the panel. It can also be attached adhesively to the framework at an early stage of manufacture. A jig with a suitable datum point can hold the integration panels while the adhesive sets, or a robotic arm or the like can hold the panel in the correct position. An adhesive thickness of about 3 mm will allow chassis tolerances of &#xb1;1.5 mm in any direction to be accommodated. The exterior body panels can then be attached to the integration panels in any preferred manner, such as adhesives, bolts, clips or the like. This attachment is preferably non-adhesive, and can therefore be done at a late stage in manufacture after much of the interior work has been done. The integration panel will also provide a convenient point for providing fittings and fixings for ancillaries within the vehicle such as brake lines, wiring, NVH panels and the like. A molded integration panel can be formed with appropriate fitting and fixings as necessary. This will also reduce the number of brackets and the like which need to be welded to the framework, reducing the energy cost of the vehicle manufacturing process.

Vehicle bodywork

Valve for a toilet installation

Growing community of inventors

Shoreham-by-Sea, United Kingdom

Mark Andrew Jones