The Apple Car project may be dead, but Apple continues to be granted patents for automotive technology. The latest is patent number US 12168901 B for a “Panel With Pivoting and Translational Motion.”
About the patent
Per the patent, automotive panels can be raised and lowered between a closed position and an open position. As an example, a panel may lower into an interior space. The window assembly includes a window, a track that supports the window for movement along the track between a closed position and an open position, and a pivot assembly that is configured to pivot the track and the window with respect to the vehicle body portion.
A second aspect of the disclosure is a vehicle that includes a vehicle body portion that defines an interior space, a window that has an inner surface, a window support member that is connected to the inner surface of the window, tracks, a pivot frame, support rods, and drive members.
The tracks are located in the interior space of the vehicle body portion and are connected to the window support member so that the window support member is movable along the tracks to move the window between a raised position and a lowered position. The pivot frame is fixed to the vehicle body portion.
The support rods are supported by the pivot frame and are connected to the tracks. The drive members are configured to cause extension and retraction of the support rods relative to the pivot assembly frame in response to rotation of the drive members in order to cause pivoting of the tracks and the window with respect to the vehicle body portion.
A third aspect of the disclosure is a vehicle that includes a vehicle body portion that defines an interior space, a window, tracks, a lift actuator, and a pivot actuator. The window is movable between a closed position, in which the window obstructs a window opening, and an open position, in which the window is located in the interior space of the vehicle body portion and does not obstruct the window opening.
The tracks support the window. The lift actuator that is configured to move the window relative to the tracks between a closed position and an open position. The pivot actuator is configured to pivot the window between a first angular position, in which the window is in alignment with the window opening, and a second angular position, in which the window is pivoted out of alignment with the window opening.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “A panel is supported by a track for movement along the track between a closed position and an open position, and is further supported by a pivot assembly that is configured to pivot the track and the panel.”
