Collapsible Cargo Organizer With Rotating Panel for Article Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bulky items stored in the rear cargo storage area of motor vehicles tend to move around, causing damage and making retrieval difficult due to the lack of effective stabilization solutions.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible cargo organizer with a rotatable panel and supporting base that forms a hinge, allowing the panel to rotate from horizontal to vertical positions, providing lateral support and inhibiting movement of articles through a gripper underlay and releasable catch mechanism, and collapsing to a planar structure for space efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid cargo organizer structure is used to stabilize articles, then article stability is improved, but storage space when not in use is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo organizer employs a dynamic hinge mechanism that allows the panel to rotate between horizontal and vertical positions. When in use, the panel is positioned vertically to provide lateral support and stabilize articles. When not in use, the panel rotates to a horizontal position, collapsing the structure to a planar configuration that minimizes storage space requirements.
2Volume of moving object
If a collapsible design is used to reduce storage space, then storage space is improved, but structural stability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo organizer is divided into distinct segments including a base, a panel, and a hinge mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function: the base provides a stable foundation, the panel provides lateral support when vertical, and the hinge enables transformation between configurations. The segmented design maintains structural stability during use while enabling collapse for storage.
3Volume of moving object
If a rotatable panel mechanism is added to enable collapse, then storage space efficiency is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism transforms the rigid structure into a dynamic system that can change configuration. This single rotational degree of freedom allows the panel to move between horizontal and vertical positions, enabling the organizer to transition from an expanded stable state to a collapsed compact state without requiring complex multi-component mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible cargo organizer is provided, comprising: a rotatable panel; a supporting base comprising a floor plate; wherein the rotatable panel is rotatable from a horizontal position to a vertical position and vice-versa; wherein, when the rotatable panel is in the vertical position, the rotatable panel provides a vertical panel to laterally support at least one article placeable in an article containing space of the collapsible cargo organizer which overlies the floor plate of the supporting base; and wherein the floor plate of the supporting base overlied by the article containing space when the rotatable panel is in the vertical position is covered by the rotatable panel when the rotatable panel is in the horizontal position.