US008286743B2(12)UllltedStatesPatent(10)PatentN0.:US8,286,743B2Rawlinson(45)DateofPatent:Oct.16,2012(54)VEHICLEBATTERYPACKBALLISTIC5,534,364A*7/1996Watanabeeta1................429/61SHIELD5,620,057A*4/1997Klemeneta1...180/68.55,639,571A*6/1997Watersetal...429/71.5,681,668A*10/1997Reedeta1..........429/100(75)Inventor:PeterDoreRawllnson,PlayaDelRey,6,094,927A*8/2000Anazawaeta1‘“62/239CA(Us)6,224,998Bl*5/2001Brounsetal.......429/1006,227,322B1*5/2001Nishikawa..180/68.5(73)Assignee:TeslaMotors,Inc.,PaloAlto,CA(US)6,547,020B2*4/2003Mallseta1~~..180/6856,632,560B1*10/2003Zhoueta1...429/99*'.~~~~6,662,891B2*12/2003Misueta1...180/68.1()Nome‘sublecttoany(3531mm?thegermgftglg7,427,093B2*9/2008Watanabe61:11...296/3715Pawnt1SexteneoraJusteuner7,654,352B2*2/2010Takasakieta1..............180/685USC15402)by0days-7,717,207B25/2010Watanabeeta1.7,770,525B2*8/2010Kumareta1....................105/51(21)Appl.NO.Z13/311,4358,037,960B210/2011Kiya8,091,669B2*1/2012Tanedaeta1.................180/68.5'.2001/0030069A1*10/2001Misueta1...180/68.1(22)Wed‘Dec‘5’20112002/0162696A1*11/2002Maus61:11...180/685___2004/0016580A1*1/2004Kronnereta1...180/68.5(65)PrlorPubllcatlollData2006/0005695Al*1/2006Honlingereta1........89/36.08Us2012/0160088A1Jun2820122009/0021052A1*1/2009Kato........................296/203.01’(Continued)RelatedUS.ApplicationDataFOREIGNPATENTDOCUMENTS(63)gzrcitlgiugglopofappl1cat1onNo.13/311,343,?ledonW0WO2012063393Al*50012(60)ProvisionalapplicationNo.61/426,254,?ledonDec.PrimaryExamilieriHauPhan22’2010ASSlSZLlI’lZExammer*JacobMeyer(74)Attorney,Agent,orFirm*PatentLaWOf?ceofDavid(51)Int.C].G.BeckB60R16/04(2006.01)(52)us.Cl.......................................................180/685(57)ABSTRACT(58)FieldofClassi?cationSearch.................180/68.5;AnimprovedprotectionSystemforabatterypackmounted_429/96:400;105/51;224/490;248/500betWeenthepassengercabin?oorpanelofanelectricvehicleSeeapphcanon?leforCompleteSearchhlstory'andthedrivingsurfaceisprovided,thesystemutilizinga(56)ReferencesCitedballisticshieldmountedundertheelectricvehicleandinterU.S.PATENTDOCUMENTS4,174,014A*11/1979Bjorksten....................180/68.54,336,644A*6/1982Medlin29/401.14,352,316A*10/1982Medlin.............89/36.025,086,860A*2/1992Franciseta1.180/6855,305,513A*4/1994Lucideta1.................29/402.08posedbetWeenthebatterypackenclosureandthedrivingsurface,Wheretheballisticshieldisspacedapartfromtheenclosurebottompanel.AlayerofacompressiblematerialmaybeinterposedbetWeentheballisticshieldandthebatterypackenclosure.20Claims,14DrawingSheetsUS8,286,743B2Page2US.PATENTDOCUMENTS2012/0021301A1*1/2012Ohashi..........................429/400*.2009/0186266Al*7/2009Nishinoe161.................429/1202012/0028135A1*2/2012Ohash‘429/400.2012/0073888A13/2012Tanedae161.180/6852009/0242299Al*10/2009Takasak1e161.180/685*-.2012/0103714A15/2012(311016161....................180/6852010/0025132Al*2/2010111116161.........180/6529*-2012/0156539A16/2012HonJoe161...................429/1002010/0175940Al*7/2010Tanedaeta1.180/685*-2012/0161429A16/2012Rawhnsone161.280/801.12010/0273040A1*10/2010Kubota6‘a1~429/1002012/0161472Al*6/2012Rawlinson6161296/187082010/0289295Al*11/2010Yodaetal.296/187.03''2010/0307848Al*12/2010Hashimotoetal.180/685__2011/0300427A1*12/2011IWasaeta1......................429/99*cltedbyexamlnerUS.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet10114US8,286,743B2//1/41111.111;1111\\\\\l),4.595.543:US.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet20f14US8,286,743B2mowvowUS.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet30f14US8,286,743B2mom3wowUS.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet40f14US8,286,743B2,112,224,552,,i.WNW,”$5.25II5iIowrow42413152,?~US.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet50f14US8,286,743B2US.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet60f14US8,286,743B2US.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet70f14US8,286,743B2US.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet80f14US8,286,743B2z...FIG.8701FIG.9US.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet90f14US8,286,743B2701FIG.10US.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet100f14US8,286,743B2US.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet110114US8,286,743B2FIG.12US.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet120114US8,286,743B210011203.FIG.13US.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet130f14US8,286,743B2FIG.14US.Patent0a.16,2012Sheet140f14US8,286,743B2FIG.15US8,286,743B21VEHICLEBATTERYPACKBALLISTICSHIELDCROSS-REFERENCETORELATEDAPPLICATIONThepresentapplicationisacontinuationofUS.patentapplicationSer.No.13/311,343,?led5Dec.2011,andclaimsbene?tofthe?lingdateofUS.ProvisionalPatentApplicationSer.No.61/426,254,?ledDec.22,2010,thedisclosuresofWhichareincorporatedhereinbyreferenceforanyandallpurposes.FIELDOFTHEINVENTIONThepresentinventionrelatesgenerallytovehiclestructuresand,moreparticularly,tomeansforimprovingtheintegrationofabatterypackintoanelectricvehicle.BACKGROUNDOFTHEINVENTIONAlargepercentageoftheWorld’svehiclesrunongasolineusinganinternalcombustionengine.Theuseofsuchvehicles,morespeci?callytheuseofvehiclesWhichrelyonfossilfuels,e.g.,gasoline,createstWoproblems.First,duetothe?nitesiZeandlimitedregionalavailabilityofsuchfuels,majorprice?uctuationsandagenerallyupWardpricingtrendinthecostofgasolinearecommon,bothofWhichcanhaveadramaticimpactattheconsumerlevel.Second,fossilfuelcombustionisoneofthe