Rivian IP Holdings, LLC

William Kirk Robinson

Brian Gase

Mason Verbridge

Sheetanshu Tyagi

Robert J Scaringe

Jared Odle

Eric Scott Griffith

Mark Vinnels

Kyle Mulligan

Chayan Mishra

Larry Parker

Marcus Merideth

Dwight S Brooks

Eric Griffith

Brendan White

Suhant Ranga

An apparatus may be used to release a hood of a vehicle. In one or more implementations, the vehicle detects a pedestrian and the apparatus releases the hood. The apparatus may include a biasing component that, when released, provides a force to another component to release the hood. In order to release the biasing component, the apparatus may include shape memory alloy that deforms when heated. As an exemplary heating method, the vehicle may include a sensor that detects the pedestrian and provides a signal in the form of electrical current that passes through the shape memory allow. The hood may release prior to the pedestrian contacting the hood.

Systems and methods for actuating a vehicle hood

An automotive vehicle with a storage compartment has a cabin, a set of rear wheels located behind the cabin, a cargo space, and a closable integrated storage compartment located adjacent to the cabin, rearward of a rear-most seat of the automotive vehicle, and forward of the set of rear wheels. At least a portion of the storage compartment is positioned forward of a forward wall of the cargo space. The storage compartment has at least one sidewall enclosing an interior portion of the storage compartment and extending from a first side panel at a first side of the automotive vehicle toward a second side of the automotive vehicle, a first opening to the storage compartment at the first side of the automotive vehicle, and a first door at the first opening. The first door has a first step member with a horizontal step surface when open.

Automotive vehicle through body storage with combination door and step

Vehicle tailgate assembly that includes a sill flap and tailgate, where the sill flap has rollers that contact the tailgate while the sill flap and tailgate are opened or closed. The sill flap thus maintains rolling contact with the tailgate during opening and closing operations. In embodiments of the disclosure, the tailgate opens to leave a gap between the edge of the vehicle bed and the edge of the tailgate, and the sill flap is pivoted into this gap. While being pivoted into this open position, the sill flap rollers rotatably contact the tailgate, so that the sill flap maintains rolling contact with the tailgate rather than frictional contact therewith. This prevents damage to the sill flap and tailgate when opened and closed.

Vehicle sill flap

A tailgate for a vehicle includes a main panel, a step, and a plurality of links that couple the step to the main panel and support the step for movement relative to the main panel between a stowed position and a deployed position. The main panel defines a cutout open through its rearward side. The main panel is mounted to the vehicle's cargo area and movable between a closed position and an open position. The step includes a cargo side and a rearward side. When the step is in the stowed position, the step is received in the cutout and the step's cargo side is substantially parallel to the main panel's cargo side. When the step is in the deployed position, the step is offset from the main panel and the step's cargo side is substantially parallel to the main panel's cargo side.

Vehicle tailgate with integrated step

A tailgate assembly of a vehicle includes a tailgate configured to provide a boundary of a cargo area, and a hinge assembly coupled to the tailgate and coupled to the vehicle. The hinge assembly is configured to control a trajectory of the tailgate. The tailgate is configured to achieve a vertical closed position, a horizontal open position, and a vertical open position rotated about 180&#xb0; from the first position. The hinge assembly includes a hinge arm coupled to the vehicle at a first hinge and coupled to the tailgate at a second hinge. In some embodiments, a cable assembly is used to control the position of the tailgate. In the vertical closed position, the cable end is not engaged. In the horizontal open position, the cable end is engaged. In the vertical open position rotated about 180&#xb0; from the closed position, the cable end is not engaged or under tension.

Multi-position tailgate for a vehicle

Vehicle tailgate assembly

A dual motion tailgate is configured to undergo two distinct motions, each with advantages depending on circumstances. The tailgate can undergo a rotation (i.e., drop) motion as well as a swing down motion via one or more linkages and corresponding latches. The swing down motion allows closer access to the bed, and the tailgate extends less far from the rear of the vehicle as compared to the drop motion. Latches constrain one or more motions of the tailgate, allowing a desired motion of the tailgate. The motions may be manually controlled, or actuator controlled. When automatically controlled, a control system manages one or more latches and actuators to allow a desired motion of the tailgate.

Dual motion tailgate using a configurable mechanical linkage

A swing and drop tailgate is configured to undergo two distinct motions, each with advantages depending on circumstances. The swing and drop tailgate can undergo a rotation motion about a hinge, as well as a swing down motion via a linkage. The swing down motion allows closer access to the bed, and extends less far from the rear of the vehicle as compared to the drop motion. The motions may be manually controlled, or actuator controlled. One or more latches may constrain motion, or prevent, of the tailgate. A tailgate assembly may include a post assembly and a tailgate, that may move together as a rigid body when dropping, or move relative to one another when swinging.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

William Kirk Robinson