Adaptable Load Carrier Contours for Compact Vehicle Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load carriers for motor vehicles are complex to adapt to the vehicle's body structure, making them infrequently used due to the need for extensive storage space, which is often not available, especially in compact areas like spare wheel wells or under seats.
Innovation Solution
A load carrier with adaptable contours that match the available storage space, allowing it to be detached and stowed in limited spaces by folding or removing components, with a fastening device for trailer couplings and components designed to fit snugly within the vehicle's inner contours, such as a spare wheel well.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the load carrier is designed with a compact outer contour adapted to the storage space, then it can be accommodated in limited spaces like spare wheel wells, but the adaptation of the body structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The load carrier is divided into a base carrier and multiple extension components that can be independently folded. The base carrier contains the essential mounting structure, while extension components (support channels, support frame parts) can be folded into the base carrier, creating a segmented approach that simplifies the overall storage adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The load carrier employs pivotable extension components that can dynamically change their configuration between extended (working) and folded (stowed) positions. This dynamic capability allows the same structure to provide both large loading area when needed and compact storage when not in use, eliminating the need for complex body structure adaptations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the load carrier is made detachable for easy storage, then it can be removed from the motor vehicle, but the fastening and removal operations become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening device is designed with a universal mounting structure that can be attached to standard trailer couplings found on most motor vehicles. The base carrier includes a coupling arm interface that universally fits common trailer hitch standards, allowing the load carrier to be mounted on different vehicle types without requiring vehicle-specific adaptations or complex custom fastening mechanisms.
3Area of moving object
If extension components are added to enlarge the loading area, then the load carrier can accommodate larger loads, but the storage space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extension components are designed to nest within the base carrier when folded. The support channels and support frame parts are dimensioned to fit inside the base carrier's internal volume, creating a nested configuration that minimizes storage space requirements while providing ample loading area when the components are extended for use.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension components utilize three-dimensional folding movements to transition between compact storage and extended loading configurations. By employing pivotable joints and multi-axis folding mechanisms, the components can achieve significant area expansion in the working position while maintaining a compact volume in the stowed position, effectively using spatial transformation to resolve the area-volume contradiction.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The carrier (10) has components (40) fitted at a loading space (18) for space-saving accommodation in the loading space of a motor vehicle (12). The components have outer contours (16,41,42,43) that are correlated with an inner contour (44) of the loading space. The entire outer contour of the carrier is fitted in a blocked position (S) at the loading space.