Bus-Style Door Retrofit for Van Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
American passenger vans lack a door configuration that facilitates easy access for passengers, as the sliding doors require extensive bending and are cumbersome to operate, and the phasing out of these vans coincides with the introduction of European-style vans that require a more efficient entry and exit solution.
Innovation Solution
The development of a bus-door apparatus (BDA) that retrofits European-style vans with non-sliding, bus-style doors, such as double, bi-fold, or parallel doors, which can be operated by the driver, using an interface element that fits within the original sliding door opening, allowing for easier passenger access and eliminating the need for extensive bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sliding door is used in a passenger van, then the van can be converted from a cargo van, but the door requires extensive bending and is cumbersome to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the door operation mechanism from sliding to hinged/bi-fold, fundamentally altering how the door moves and opens. This parameter change transforms the door from requiring lateral sliding motion to requiring rotational or folding motion, eliminating the bending requirement while maintaining van conversion capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic door configurations (bi-fold, hinged) that can adapt between different open and closed positions. The door system becomes more flexible in its movement patterns, allowing it to open outward and fold back rather than slide linearly, improving ease of operation while preserving the converted van structure
2Adaptability or versatility
If a sliding door is used in a passenger van, then the van can be converted from a cargo van, but the door opening is not widened for ergonomic access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the door opening in the horizontal dimension by allowing the door to open outward and fold back rather than slide within a fixed track. This dimensional change creates a wider effective opening area, enabling ergonomic passenger access while maintaining the converted van configuration
3Ease of operation
If bus-style doors are retrofitted in a van, then passenger access is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the door into multiple segments (bi-fold panels) that can move independently. This segmentation allows the door to fold back in a compact manner, improving passenger access while managing the complexity through modular design where each segment follows a similar structural pattern
Solution Approach 2:
The retrofitted bus-style door apparatus serves multiple functions: it provides secure closure, enables ergonomic passenger access, and can be operated by the driver. The interface element also serves as both a mounting structure and a seal, reducing overall system complexity despite the enhanced functionality
4Area of stationary object
If bus-style doors are retrofitted in a van, then the door opening is widened for better access, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an interface element as an intermediary component that mediates between the existing van structure and the new bus-style door. This interface element simplifies manufacturing by providing a standardized mounting interface, allowing the widened door opening to be achieved without complex custom fabrication for each van model
Data Source
AI summary
A van includes an interface element and one or more doors. The interface element can be a frame or connector that is configured to fit a sliding door opening of the van. The one or more doors are configured to fit the interface connector of the van. The one or more doors are configured to be operable by a driver of the van.