Mark R Stephens

US Patent:

20220194199, Jun 23, 2022

Filed:

Mar 7, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/688802

Inventors:

- Grand Haven MI, US
Mark Charles Stephens - Grand Rapids MI, US
Helen Weykamp - Grand Haven MI, US

International Classification:

B60K 1/04
B60L 50/60
H01M 50/20

Abstract:

A vehicle battery tray includes a floor assembly that has elongated tray sections that attach together at lateral edge portions of adjacent tray sections to form a floor structure that supports vehicle batteries contained in the vehicle battery tray. The elongated tray sections each have a substantially consistent cross-sectional shape that extends longitudinally along a length of the respective tray section. A first tray section includes a first attachment feature at the lateral edge portion thereof and a second tray section includes a second attachment feature at the lateral edge portion thereof that corresponds with the first attachment feature. The first and second attachment features engage together at a longitudinal seam between the lateral edge portions of the first and second tray sections, such as to align upper surfaces of the first and second tray sections.

US Patent:

20210336306, Oct 28, 2021

Filed:

Jul 2, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/366130

Inventors:

- Grand Haven MI, US
Mark Charles Stephens - Grand Rapids MI, US

International Classification:

H01M 50/20
B60K 1/04
B60L 50/60

Abstract:

A battery tray for supporting batteries at a lower portion of a vehicle frame includes a floor plate and a perimeter wall disposed around the of the floor plate to substantially surround a containment area for storing vehicle battery cells. The perimeter wall includes a tubular member that extends along a periphery of the floor plate to form a perimeter wall around a containment area for storing vehicle battery cells. The perimeter wall is attached at an upper surface of the floor plate, such that the containment area may be generally bounded horizontally by the perimeter wall and at the bottom by the floor plate.

US Patent:

20200384842, Dec 10, 2020

Filed:

May 22, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/881136

Inventors:

- Grand Haven MI, US
Matthew Kuipers - Holland MI, US
Mark C. Stephens - Grand Rapids MI, US

International Classification:

B60K 1/04
B62D 25/20

Abstract:

A crossmember for a vehicle battery tray provides a beam that has a closed cross-sectional shape with a top wall coupled with parallel side walls along a length of the beam. A reinforcing top cap is disposed along the beam, where a C-shaped transverse cross-sectional shape of the top cap has a central section that disposed along the top wall and legs of the top cap welded to the side walls. The legs include inward angled tabs that are biased against the beam and welded thereto. The top wall of the beam and the central section of the top cap have aligned fastener openings disposed at spaced intervals along the length of the beam and configured to receive fasteners that secure at least one of a battery module or tray cover to the crossmember.

US Patent:

20200238811, Jul 30, 2020

Filed:

Apr 17, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/851703

Inventors:

- Grand Haven MI, US
Mark Charles Stephens - Grand Rapids MI, US
Helen Weykamp - Grand Haven MI, US

International Classification:

B60K 1/04
H01M 2/10
B60L 50/60

Abstract:

A vehicle battery tray includes a floor assembly that has elongated tray sections that attach together at lateral edge portions of adjacent tray sections to form a floor structure that supports vehicle batteries contained in the vehicle battery tray. The elongated tray sections each have a substantially consistent cross-sectional shape that extends longitudinally along a length of the respective tray section. A first tray section includes a first attachment feature at the lateral edge portion thereof and a second tray section includes a second attachment feature at the lateral edge portion thereof that corresponds with the first attachment feature. The first and second attachment features engage together at a longitudinal seam between the lateral edge portions of the first and second tray sections, such as to align upper surfaces of the first and second tray sections.

US Patent:

20190100090, Apr 4, 2019

Filed:

Oct 4, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/152147

Inventors:

- Grand Haven MI, US
Mark Charles Stephens - Grand Rapids MI, US
Helen Weykamp - Grand Haven MI, US

International Classification:

B60K 1/04
B60L 11/18
H01M 2/10

Abstract:

A vehicle battery tray has a floor assembly with elongated tray sections that attach together at edge portions of adjacent tray sections of the elongated tray sections to form a floor structure that supports vehicle batteries contained in the vehicle battery tray. The elongated tray sections may have substantially consistent cross-sectional shapes that extends along a length of the tray sections. A thickness of the tray sections at a central area of the floor structure may be greater than a thickness of another one of the elongated tray sections at an outboard area of the floor structure, such as to withstand an equal or greater transverse bending moment than the outboard area of the floor structure.

US Patent:

20190081298, Mar 14, 2019

Filed:

Sep 13, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/130580

Inventors:

- Grand Haven MI, US
Mark Charles Stephens - Grand Rapids MI, US

International Classification:

H01M 2/10
B60K 1/04
B60L 11/18

Abstract:

A battery tray for supporting batteries at a lower portion of a vehicle frame includes a floor plate and a perimeter wall disposed around the of the floor plate to substantially surround a containment area for storing vehicle battery cells. The perimeter wall includes a tubular member that extends along a periphery of the floor plate to form a perimeter wall around a containment area for storing vehicle battery cells. The perimeter wall is attached at an upper surface of the floor plate, such that the containment area may be generally bounded horizontally by the perimeter wall and at the bottom by the floor plate.

US Patent:

20180337374, Nov 22, 2018

Filed:

May 16, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/981068

Inventors:

- Grand Haven MI, US
Mark Charles Stephens - Grand Rapids MI, US
Jeffrey McHenry - Norton Shores MI, US
Matthew Kuipers - Zeeland MI, US

International Classification:

H01M 2/10
H01M 10/613
H01M 10/625
H01M 10/656

Abstract:

A battery tray for an electric vehicle includes a battery support structure that has a floor and a perimeter wall extending around a peripheral portion of the floor to border a battery containment area. A plurality of cross members are coupled with the perimeter wall at opposing sides of the battery support structure, where the cross members extend laterally across the battery containment area. A cover is engaged with an upper portion of the perimeter wall of the battery support structure. The cover, the floor, and/or the cross members may include a retention element that is integrally formed therewith and that is configured to engage a component that is disposed in the battery containment area.