Luggage management system for the trunk of vehicles

Abstract

System (500) for luggage management in a trunk (104) of a vehicle, wherein the system (500) comprises: a base (102) which is attached to a floor of the trunk (104); and an arrangement of a plurality of roller assemblies (106) provided on the base (102); wherein each of the plurality of roller assemblies (106) comprises at least one roller (108) configured to rotate about a horizontal axis, and wherein the at least one roller (108) is configured to rotate about a vertical axis to realign the corresponding horizontal axis, such that aligning the horizontal axis belonging to the rollers (108) of one or more of the plurality of roller assemblies (106) in a desired direction by rotating the rollers (108) about the corresponding vertical axis and subsequently rotating the rollers (108) about the respective horizontal axis enables the movement of luggage placed in the trunk (104) to a desired position, characterized in that the rotation of the at least one roller (108) and a roller housing (110) of each of the roller assembly (106) is driven by one or more motors (112), wherein each of the plurality of roller assemblies (106) is configured with one or more sensors to detect the presence of luggage above the plurality of roller assemblies (106), wherein the one or more sensors comprise pressure sensors, comprising a control unit (502) which communicates with one or more sensors (114) to determine the occupancy status of the trunk (104), wherein the occupancy status includes the location of the luggage and free space, wherein the control unit (502) is configured to adjust the movement of the plurality of roller assemblies (106) to enable movement of the luggage placed in the trunk (104) to the desired position in the trunk (104) based on the occupancy status.

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of motor vehicles. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a system for luggage management in the trunk of a vehicle.

[0002] With the increasing importance of electric vehicles (EVs) in the automotive industry, vehicle interior design is also evolving to meet the demands of a multi-purpose space. This change is driven by customer expectations for greater comfort and adaptability. Consequently, manufacturers are responding to these expectations by integrating larger front trunks, also known as "frunks."

[0003] While increasing frunk space is important for customer satisfaction, it also presents a practical challenge. The larger size of frunks makes it difficult for users to efficiently move heavy luggage during loading and unloading. Given this challenge, there is a growing need for a solution that simplifies the process of handling luggage in these larger frunks.

[0004] Patent DE 10 2019 001 342 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with a cargo space located in the front of the vehicle. The cargo space can be covered by a front hood that can be moved between a closed and an open position. Furthermore, the invention discloses a load container that is adjustable between a home position and a loading position, wherein the load container is inclined towards the outside of the vehicle relative to its home position in the loading position.

[0005] DE 10 2009 038 683 A1 - This document discloses a damped swivel caster for use in the cargo hold of an aircraft. The caster consists of a rotating housing connected to a base that allows 360-degree rotation, and a roller mounted within the housing. A spring mechanism provides damping when a load is applied to the caster.

[0006] DE 41 02 423 A1 - This document specifies a loading device for vehicles. It has motor-driven conveyor belts or rollers installed on the loading floor to actively transport goods into or out of the vehicle's storage area.

[0007] DE 10 2010 013 176 A1 - This document discloses a loading floor device for the cargo area of ​​a vehicle. The device has a series of passive, unidirectional rollers that can be moved vertically. In the raised position, the rollers facilitate the movement of objects, and in the lowered position, the objects rest securely on a base plate for transport.

[0008] DE 10 2020 208 506 B4 - This document discloses a loading device for a motor vehicle. It consists of a storage container and a lifting device with which the container can be moved vertically in the rear of the vehicle. DE 10 2013 019 204 B4 - This document contains a variable loading floor for the trunk of a motor vehicle. The floor can be adjusted to different heights and positions to create flexible storage configurations, such as an upper and a lower storage level.

[0009] While the aforementioned patent discloses an arrangement that enables a person standing in front of the motor vehicle to load or unload items at a very short distance, there is the possibility of providing an improved and more efficient solution to the aforementioned problem.

[0010] One purpose of the present disclosure is to support effective and efficient management of luggage in the trunk of a vehicle.

[0011] One purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a system that enables easy movement of luggage in the trunk in a desired direction.

[0012] One purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a system that enables or assists the movement of luggage in the frunk.

[0013] One purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a system that automatically moves the luggage in the trunk based on the occupancy status of the trunk, thus ensuring optimal use of space in the trunk.

[0014] One purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a system that secures luggage in a desired position during vehicle movements.

[0015] The aspects of this disclosure relate to the field of motor vehicles. In particular, this disclosure relates to a system for luggage management in the trunk of a vehicle.

[0016] From one perspective, the system for maneuvering luggage in a vehicle's trunk includes a base attached to the trunk floor and an arrangement of multiple roller assemblies provided on the base. Each of the multiple roller assemblies includes at least one roller configured to rotate about a horizontal axis, and the at least one roller is further configured to rotate about a vertical axis to reorient the corresponding horizontal axis, such that aligning the at least one roller of one or more of the multiple roller assemblies in a desired direction by rotating the one or more rollers about a corresponding vertical axis and subsequently rotating the rollers about the respective horizontal axis enables the movement of luggage placed in the trunk to a desired position within the trunk.

[0017] In one embodiment, each of the roller assemblies can include a roller housing configured for rotation about the vertical axis, and at least one roller is rotatably attached to the roller housing about the respective horizontal axis.

[0018] The rotation of at least one roller and the roller housing is driven by one or more motors in each of the roller assembly.

[0019] Each of the numerous roller assemblies is configured with one or more sensors to detect the presence of luggage above the roller assembly.

[0020] The system includes a control unit that communicates with one or more sensors to determine the trunk's occupancy status, which includes the location of luggage and available space. The control unit can be configured to adjust the movement of the roller assemblies to move luggage to the desired position within the trunk based on this occupancy status.

[0021] In one embodiment, the control unit can be configured to recognize the size and shape of the luggage based on input from one or more sensors and to arrange the luggage precisely to make optimal use of the space.

[0022] In one embodiment, the control unit can be configured to automatically reposition the luggage in the trunk, thereby moving the luggage autonomously to create space for additional items and thus making optimal use of the space in the trunk.

[0023] In one embodiment, the system may include, but is not limited to, a user interface that includes a joystick and / or a graphical user interface (GUI) to allow a user to input commands. The input command may relate to the movement of luggage in the trunk.

[0024] In an alternative embodiment, the system can include one or more cameras located in the trunk to capture images of the trunk, and the control unit can process these images to determine the trunk's occupancy status. This also allows for further luggage management within the trunk to optimize space utilization.

[0025] In one embodiment, the roller assemblies can include a locking mechanism, and the control unit is configured to activate the locking mechanism to secure the luggage in a desired position and thus prevent movement while the vehicle is in motion.

[0026] Various tasks, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become clearer from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawing figures, in which the same reference numerals represent the same components.

[0027] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and form part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the disclosed trunk for a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. 2A and Fig. Figure 2B illustrates an exemplary perspective view of an arrangement of luggage in the trunk according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 3A illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a roller assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 3B illustrates an exemplary cross-sectional view of a roller assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure and Fig. Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of an arrangement of a plurality of roller assemblies according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary block diagram for a disclosed system for baggage management in a trunk of vehicles according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] A detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, follows. The embodiments are described in sufficient detail to clearly convey the disclosure. However, the level of detail provided is not intended to limit the expected variations of the embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the spirit and scope of protection of the present disclosure, as defined in the accompanying claims.

[0029] The embodiments described herein relate to a luggage management system in the trunk of vehicles, which is capable of automatically moving the luggage in the trunk while taking into account optimal use of the space therein, thereby saving manual effort and time when loading the luggage in the trunk.

[0030] From one perspective, a luggage management system for a vehicle's trunk includes a base attached to the trunk floor. The system includes an array of multiple roller assemblies mounted on the base. Each of these multiple roller assemblies includes at least one roller configured to rotate about a horizontal axis to move luggage placed above the assembly along an upper surface of the base. Furthermore, this at least one roller is configured to rotate about a vertical axis to reorient the corresponding horizontal axis depending on the direction in which the luggage is to be moved.Thus, the disclosed system enables the movement of luggage placed in the trunk to a desired position by first aligning at least one roller of one or more of the multitude of roller assemblies under the luggage in a desired direction, by rotating the one or more rollers around the corresponding vertical axis, and then rotating the rollers around the respective horizontal axis.

[0031] In one embodiment, the system includes the ability to detect the presence and location of luggage in the trunk and to determine the trunk's occupancy status. The occupancy status can refer to the location of the luggage and the available space in the trunk. The system further includes the ability to adjust the movements of the roller assemblies so that luggage placed in the trunk can be moved to a desired free position within the trunk to optimize space utilization.

[0032] In one embodiment, the functionality for detecting the location of luggage and free space is enabled by any one or a combination of pressure sensors configured with the roller assemblies and one or more cameras located in the trunk; and a control unit operationally coupled with the pressure sensors and / or the cameras.

[0033] In one embodiment, the rotation of the at least one roller and the roller housing of each roller assembly is driven by one or more motors, and the control unit can be operationally coupled to the motors to align the rollers and then rotate them in desired directions to move the luggage.

[0034] In one embodiment, the control unit can be configured to recognize the size and shape of the luggage and to arrange the luggage precisely to make optimal use of the space.

[0035] The control unit is configured to automatically reposition the luggage in the trunk, thereby moving the luggage autonomously to create space for additional items.

[0036] In one embodiment, the system includes, but is not limited to, a user interface that includes a joystick and / or a GUI to enable a user to input commands.

[0037] In one embodiment, the roller assemblies can also include a locking mechanism with the rollers, and the control unit can activate the locking mechanism to prevent movement during vehicle movement and thereby secure the luggage in the desired position.

[0038] Furthermore, it is understood that although the exemplary illustrations depict a single trunk comprising a multitude of roller assemblies provided on the base, in a practical scenario it is possible that the spaces can be divided into several barrier spaces, and each of the multiple barriers comprising a multitude of roller assemblies provided on the base, and that all such variations, without any limitation, are clearly within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0039] The detailed explanation of how the proposed system facilitates the movement of luggage in the vehicle's trunk to a specific position is provided with reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 described in more detail. It should be noted that the drawings of the present subject matter shown here serve only for illustration and are not to be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 jointly explained, and the same reference numerals were used to refer to identical components and units. The present invention discloses a system 500 for luggage management in a trunk 104 of a vehicle. Referring to Fig. Figures 1 to 2B disclose schematic views of the trunk 104 (hereinafter also referred to simply as space 104) for a vehicle. As illustrated therein, the trunk 104 comprises a base 102 which is attached to a floor of the trunk 104. In one embodiment, the base 102 can be made of lightweight and malleable plastic. Alternatively, depending on the requirements for strength, durability, and aesthetics, options such as polymers, composites, metal alloys, and fiber-reinforced composites can be used.

[0040] In one embodiment, the trunk 104 integrates an arrangement of roller assemblies 106, as shown in Fig. 4 shown. Each roller assembly 106, as shown in Fig. 3A and Fig. As shown in Figure 3B, the system includes at least one roller 108 configured for rotation along a horizontal axis (XX). Furthermore, the rollers 108 can be configured to rotate in both directions, clockwise and counterclockwise, about the horizontal axis (XX), depending on the direction in which the luggage is to be moved. Each roller assembly 106 is also configured to align the rollers 108 by rotating the entire assembly about a corresponding vertical axis (YY). As can be understood, this configuration—that is, the feature of the rollers 108 rotating bidirectionally about the horizontal axis and the ability of the roller assembly 106 to change the orientation of the horizontal axis—facilitates the precise movement of the luggage in any direction within the trunk 104.The revealed structural framework effectively addresses challenges related to efficient luggage management by providing a system capable of moving luggage in different directions within the trunk.

[0041] As in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 3, each roller assembly 106 is further equipped with a roller housing 110 configured for rotation about the vertical axis. The at least one roller 108 is rotatably mounted on the roller housing 110 about the respective horizontal axis (XX). This configuration allows for greater flexibility in moving the luggage. Furthermore, the rotation of the rollers 108 and their respective housings is facilitated by the activation of one or more motors 112 (see Figure 3). Fig. 5) The one or more motors 112 increase the operating efficiency of the luggage management system. The motors provide the necessary power to perform the rotary movements and thus contribute to the overall efficiency of repositioning luggage in the trunk. This motor-driven mechanism ensures synchronized and responsive control of the movement of the rollers 108, thereby optimizing the system's performance. The integration of motors enables dynamic control and thus improves the overall functionality of the luggage management system in the trunk 104.

[0042] In one embodiment, the disclosed structural arrangement addresses the challenges often associated with efficient luggage management. By integrating this arrangement of roller assemblies 108, the system enables 500 users to seamlessly navigate and organize luggage in the trunk. The dynamic movement capabilities of the rollers 108, both vertically and horizontally, contribute to a versatile and adaptable luggage management solution.

[0043] Fig. 5 shows with reference to Fig. Figures 1-4 are an exemplary block diagram for the proposed System 500 for luggage management in a trunk (also simply referred to as System 500, and the two terms are used interchangeably herein). In one embodiment, System 500 integrates the trunk 104, as described above, and a plurality of roller assemblies 106, as shown in Figure 1-4. Fig. 3A and Fig. Figure 3B shows that each of the roller assemblies 106 can be equipped with one or more sensors 114. The sensors are pressure sensors and are operationally coupled to a control unit 502 of the system 500. Based on input from the sensors 114, the control unit 502 can detect the presence of luggage above the roller assemblies 106, help identify available space, and determine the weight of the luggage in the trunk 104. The pressure sensors can collectively provide an output regarding the occupancy status of the trunk 104, enabling the control unit 502 to adjust luggage movements accordingly by actuating the motors 112. In one embodiment, the integration of pressure sensors contributes to improved perception of the luggage environment, facilitating precise and adaptive repositioning of luggage within the trunk 104.

[0044] In one embodiment, ultrasonic sensors can be used that emit sound waves and measure their reflection to identify the presence and position of objects. To determine the weight of the luggage, load sensors or strain gauges can be strategically placed in the trunk 104, and all such applications are clearly within the scope of protection of the present disclosure without any limitation.

[0045] In one embodiment, the system 500 can include one or more cameras 504, strategically positioned in the trunk 104, as an alternative to or in combination with the pressure sensors 114. The one or more cameras 504 can capture a multitude of images, which can then be processed by the control unit 502 to determine the occupancy status of the trunk 104. The visual data thus acquired can support the system's decision-making process and facilitate the identification and categorization of items in the trunk 104. By using sophisticated image processing algorithms, the control unit 502 can evaluate the spatial arrangement of objects, thereby facilitating precise and adaptive repositioning of luggage in the trunk 104.

[0046] In one embodiment, the system 500 can include a locking mechanism (not shown in the figure) that is activated by the control unit 502 to increase safety while the vehicle is in motion. The locking mechanism can ensure the secure placement of luggage, thereby minimizing movement and potential hazards. The integration of a locking mechanism can provide a comprehensive solution for the efficient and safe management of luggage in the vehicle's trunk. The locking mechanism ensures that the luggage remains securely locked in place, thus minimizing movement and potential hazards while driving.

[0047] The control unit 502 communicates with one or more motors 112 and one or more sensors 114 to determine the occupancy status of the trunk 104 with regard to the presence of luggage or available space. It then adjusts the movement of the roller assembly 106 to move the luggage placed in the trunk 104 to the desired position within the trunk 104. The control unit 502 is configured to analyze the inputs from the sensors to accurately determine the occupancy status of the trunk 104. Subsequently, the control unit 502 can control the movement of the roller assemblies 106 and the individual rollers 108, thus ensuring efficient and precise repositioning of luggage to desired locations within the trunk 104.

[0048] The control unit 502 is further configured to detect the size and shape of the luggage via one or more sensors, and is configured to control the arrangement of the roller assembly 106 so that the one or more pieces of luggage are arranged precisely to make optimal use of the space.

[0049] In one embodiment, the control unit 502 can include a processor, which may be a digital signal processor (e.g., a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or a fixed logic processor, etc.) configured to execute instructions or logic. The processor may include a general-purpose processor, a special-purpose processor (in which software instructions are integrated into the processor), a state machine, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable gate array (PGA), including a field PGA, a single component, a distributed group of processors, and the like.

[0050] The System 500 can further integrate a user interface 116 that allows a user to input commands to control the movement of luggage in the trunk 104. In one embodiment, the System 500, through the integration of a user interface 116, can support seamless command input for controlling the movement of luggage in the trunk 104. This user-friendly feature allows individuals to easily navigate and organize personal belongings, providing an intuitive and personalized luggage management experience. In one embodiment, the user interface 116 can be provided as a graphical user interface 116 on a vehicle's dashboard, or it can take the form of a joystick located at a convenient location in the trunk.In one application, the joystick can communicate wirelessly with the 502 control unit to allow for secure storage when not in use. The joystick can also provide a physical input mechanism, enabling users to operate and control the system tactilely.

[0051] In one embodiment, a user can initiate the system 500 by placing their luggage at the opening of the trunk 104 (as in Fig. (2A shown). After detecting this initial luggage placement, the System 500 automatically determines the position of any other luggage in the trunk 104. Using one or more sensors and weight detection functions and / or one or more cameras, the System 500 determines the size and shape of the existing luggage and calculates the appropriate position for optimal weight distribution in the trunk 104. As shown in Fig.As shown in Figure 2B, the System 500 autonomously moves the luggage to the calculated position, thus ensuring a balanced weight distribution for improved safety features in the vehicle.

[0052] If a user subsequently adds more luggage, the System 500 is configured to dynamically determine the weight and / or size and shape of both the initially placed and the newly added luggage via the Control Unit 502. Using this information, the System 500 repositions the old and / or new luggage to a desired location, thus strategically balancing the weight distribution in the trunk 104. This adaptive approach optimizes space utilization and increases the overall safety and stability of the vehicle while driving.

[0053] Consequently, the system 500 disclosed above optimizes luggage management through an arrangement of roller assemblies 106, which are driven by motors and controlled by pressure sensors for precise detection and weight determination. The proposed disclosure improves operational efficiency and safety in the vehicle. Furthermore, the system adapts to varying luggage sizes and shapes, thus ensuring optimal space utilization.

[0054] The present disclosure provides a system that supports effective and efficient management of luggage in the trunk of a vehicle.

[0055] The present disclosure provides a system that enables easy movement of luggage in the trunk in a desired direction.

[0056] The present disclosure provides a system that enables the movement of luggage without manual effort.

[0057] The present disclosure provides a system that automatically moves luggage in the trunk based on the occupancy status of the trunk, thus ensuring optimal use of space in the trunk.

[0058] The present disclosure provides a system that secures luggage in a desired position during vehicle movements.

Claims

[1] System (500) for luggage management in a trunk (104) of a vehicle, wherein the system (500) comprises: a base (102) which is attached to a floor of the trunk (104); and an arrangement of a plurality of roller assemblies (106) provided on the base (102); wherein each of the plurality of roller assemblies (106) comprises at least one roller (108) configured to rotate about a horizontal axis, and wherein the at least one roller (108) is configured to rotate about a vertical axis to realign the corresponding horizontal axis, such that aligning the horizontal axis belonging to the rollers (108) of one or more of the plurality of roller assemblies (106) in a desired direction by rotating the rollers (108) about the corresponding vertical axis and subsequently rotating the rollers (108) about the respective horizontal axis enables the movement of luggage placed in the trunk (104) to a desired position, characterized by, that the rotation of the at least one roller (108) and roller housing (110) of each of the roller assembly (106) is driven by one or more motors (112), wherein each of the plurality of roller assemblies (106) is configured with one or more sensors to detect the presence of luggage above the plurality of roller assemblies (106), wherein the one or more sensors comprise pressure sensors, comprising a control unit (502) which communicates with one or more sensors (114) to determine the occupancy status of the trunk (104), wherein the occupancy status includes the location of the luggage and free space, wherein the control unit (502) is configured to adjust the movement of the plurality of roller assemblies (106) to enable movement of the luggage placed in the trunk (104) to the desired position in the trunk (104) based on the occupancy status. [2] System (500) according to claim 1, wherein each of the roller assemblies (106) comprises a roller housing (110) configured for rotation about the vertical axis, and wherein the at least one roller (108) is rotatably attached to the roller housing (110) about the respective horizontal axis. [3] System (500) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (502) is configured to detect the size and shape of the luggage and to arrange the luggage precisely to make optimal use of the space in the trunk (104). [4] System (500) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (502) is configured to automatically reposition the luggage in the trunk (104) and thereby move the luggage autonomously to create space for additional luggage. [5] System (500) according to claim 1, comprising a user interface (116) comprising any or a combination of a joystick and a graphical user interface to enable a user to move the luggage in the trunk (104). [6] System (500) according to claim 3, wherein the system comprises one or more cameras (504) located in the trunk (104) to capture images of the trunk (104), and wherein the control unit (502) is configured to process the captured images to determine the occupancy status of the trunk (104) for luggage management in the trunk (104) for optimal space utilization in the trunk (104). [7] System (500) according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of a plurality of roller assemblies (106) includes a locking mechanism and the control unit (502) is configured to activate the locking mechanism to secure the luggage in a desired position and thereby prevent movement due to vehicle movements.

Images