The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 22, 2014
Filed:
Dec. 06, 2012
Tesla Motors, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Alexi Charbonneau, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Malcolm Burgess, Mountain View, CA (US);
Vivek Attaluri, Union City, CA (US);
Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya, Irvine, CA (US);
Alan Paul Clarke, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Peter Dore Rawlinson, Worcestershire, GB;
Robert David Sumpf, Jr., San Francisco, CA (US);
Bruce Philip Edwards, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Tesla Motors, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
An energy absorbing and distributing side impact system for use with a vehicle is provided, the system utilizing a collapsible side sill along with multiple vehicle cross-members to achieve the desired level of vehicle side impact resistance, the combination of these elements absorbing and distributing the impact load throughout the vehicle structure. A battery pack enclosure that includes a plurality of cross-members that transverse the battery pack enclosure also help to absorb and distribute at least a portion of the load received when either the first or second side of the vehicle receives a side impact. In this configuration the battery pack enclosure is positioned between the front and rear vehicle suspension assemblies and mounted between, and mechanically coupled to, the side sill assemblies. In addition to providing rigidity, strength and impact resistance, the battery pack cross-members segregate the batteries contained within the battery pack enclosure into battery groups.