Motor Vehicle Cargo Cover Using Flexible Strap Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing covering apparatuses for motor vehicle loading spaces require complex drive systems for extending and retracting slats, making them cumbersome and costly, while also being heavy due to the need for additional components.
Innovation Solution
The use of flexible connecting straps that permanently couple slats together, allowing for manual operation without additional drive systems, and enabling a lightweight construction by using materials like light metal alloys, plastics, or composite materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a drive system with drive motor and meshing toothings is used to extend and retract slats, then the covering apparatus can be automatically operated, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex drive system (drive motor, drive pinion, meshing toothings) from the covering apparatus. Instead of using mechanical drive components, the invention relies on manual operation where the user directly moves the slats between stowed and extended positions, thereby eliminating the disturbing parts that caused complexity and weight issues
Solution Approach 2:
The slats are designed to be self-operating through manual intervention. The covering apparatus serves itself by allowing direct user manipulation of the slats without requiring an external drive system. The slats' own structure and the user's manual force replace the need for motors and gear mechanisms
2Extent of automation
If a drive system with drive motor and meshing toothings is used to extend and retract slats, then the covering apparatus can be automatically operated, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the heavy drive system components (drive motor, drive pinion, meshing toothings) from the covering apparatus. By eliminating these metal mechanical components, the overall weight of the covering apparatus is significantly reduced while maintaining the core functionality through manual operation
3Reliability
If multiple connecting straps and permanent coupling mechanisms are used to connect slats, then the slats remain securely coupled in extended position, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple connecting straps into a single integrated strap that runs continuously across all slats. This merging of multiple separate connection elements into one unified component maintains the secure coupling function while reducing the number of separate parts and simplifying the overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting strap serves multiple functions simultaneously: it connects adjacent slats together, maintains their relative positioning, and enables manual operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby simplifying the device while maintaining reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A covering apparatus for a loading space of a motor vehicle, with a covering arrangement having a plurality of dimensionally stable slats coupled to one another in an extended covering state and positioned in a manner stacked one on top of another in a receiving space in a stowed inactive position. The slats are coupled permanently to one another among one another by at least one flexible connecting strap.