Cargo Van Door Ladder with Adjustable Clamps

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Solution Overview

Problem

The height of commercial cargo vans makes it difficult to access and store objects on the rooftop, as existing solutions like extension ladders and step ladders are not easily attachable or stable for safe climbing.

Innovation Solution

A ladder with elongated aluminum side rails and adjustable brackets that clamp to the top and bottom edges of the rear access doors, allowing secure mounting and easy access to the rooftop.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If extension ladders or step ladders are used to access the rooftop, then access to the rooftop is possible, but the ladders are not easily attachable or stable for safe climbing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidclimbing stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ladder system is divided into separate components: the ladder itself and the mounting brackets that attach to the vehicle door. This segmentation allows the ladder to be easily attached and detached while maintaining structural integrity during use, resolving the contradiction between ease of attachment and climbing stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ladder is designed with side rails that conform to the curved surface of the vehicle door in three-dimensional space. By adapting the ladder's geometry to match the door's contour, the system achieves stable attachment to a non-planar surface while maintaining ease of installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a ladder is designed to conform to the curved contour of the vehicle door, then the ladder can be securely mounted, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting securityVSAvoidladder fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The ladder side rails are designed with a curved cross-section that matches the contour of the vehicle door. This curvature allows the ladder to conform to the door's surface for secure mounting while using standard fabrication techniques for curved aluminum extrusions, balancing mounting security with manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Shape

If the ladder side rails are bent to conform to the door contour, then the ladder fits the vehicle door better, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontour conformityVSAvoidside rail fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The side rails are fabricated with a curved cross-sectional shape that conforms to the door contour. This approach achieves the desired shape adaptation through standard curved extrusion or bending processes rather than complex multi-step fabrication, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving good contour conformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS9506292B2Door mounted ladder for cargo vans

Publication Date: 2016.11.29 ROM ACQUISITION CORP

AI summary

A ladder specially designed for attachment to a rear door of a cargo van to facilitate the ability of a person to climb onto the vehicle's roof. The ladder has two parallel rails joined by a plurality of transversely extending rungs. Affixed to the upper and lower ends of the ladder rungs are length adjustable brackets supporting door engaging clips designed to fit about the upper and lower edges of a van door without interfering with the ability of the door to open and close. The ladder rails are preferably bent to conform to the contour of the van door.