Utility Vehicle Cargo Bed Tail Gate Groove Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cargo bed designs for utility vehicles face challenges in easily removing and holding the tail gate, with complex mechanisms and numerous steps required, particularly in configurations where the seat and seatback are used as a tail gate, leading to inefficiencies in operation and usability.
Innovation Solution
A cargo bed design featuring first and second groove portions on the side wall portions to allow the tail gate to be easily slid and held in different positions, with a simple structure for attachment and detachment, and a linkage member to maintain the tail gate's position, facilitating easy movement and storage without compromising the cargo space or vehicle strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tail gate is made removable from the cargo bed, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases because there is no way to hold the removed tail gate on the utility vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo bed side walls are segmented to include multiple groove portions at different positions. The first groove portions are located at the rear end for normal tail gate attachment, while the second groove portions are located forward for storing the removed tail gate. This segmentation allows the tail gate to be held at different positions without requiring a complex external storage mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove portions serve multiple functions: they provide attachment points for the tail gate in both the closed position (first groove portions) and the removed position (second groove portions). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate storage mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while enabling easy removal and storage of the tail gate.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanism is provided to move the seat and seatback to the rear end to use as a tail gate, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the complicated mechanism and numerous steps required
Solution Approach 1:
The tail gate is designed to be self-contained as a separate component that can be easily removed and stored in the second groove portions. This self-service design eliminates the need for complex mechanisms to transform seats into a tail gate, while still providing the versatility of having a removable tail gate configuration.
3Weight of moving object
If resin materials are used for the cargo bed components, then the weight is reduced, but the strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo bed utilizes resin materials that combine lightweight properties with sufficient structural strength. The groove portions are designed to work with these resin materials, providing secure attachment points for the tail gate while maintaining the weight advantages of polymer composites. The groove geometry and depth are optimized to ensure adequate holding force despite the lighter material.
Data Source
AI summary
A cargo bed for a utility vehicle includes a bed portion including a left-side wall portion and a right-side wall portion and a rear opening between rear ends of the side wall portions, and a tail gate to close the rear opening of the bed portion. The side wall portions include a pair of first left and right groove portions extending along an up-down direction at a rear end of the side wall portions. The left-side and right-side wall portions further include a pair of second left and right groove portions disposed forward with respect to the pair of first groove portions and extending along the up-down direction at the left-side and right-side wall portions. The pairs of first and second groove portions are arranged such that a left end and a right end of the tail gate are each slidable in the up-down direction and the tail gate is held removably.