Delivery Carriage With Sliding Side Access And Lid-Linked Lock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing delivery vehicles face challenges in providing simple, intuitive, and variable access to transported goods without the risk of loss, particularly due to the limitations of tilting or pivoting doors that restrict access directions and increase the risk of accidental opening.

Innovation Solution

A delivery vehicle with a chassis and a structure featuring a sliding side wall and a movable lid, equipped with a blocking device that secures the side wall when the lid is closed and releases it when partially opened, allowing easy access through both lateral and top openings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a tilting or pivoting door is used, then the structure is simple, but access is restricted to top or diagonal directions only

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess directionVSAvoidaccess flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery vehicle is divided into multiple independent access systems: a top lid that pivots open and side walls that slide horizontally. This segmentation allows each access point to operate independently, enabling goods to be loaded or unloaded from either the top or sides depending on the delivery location, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and access versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The side walls are designed as sliding doors that can move horizontally along guides, transitioning from a closed position to an open position. This dynamic mechanism replaces static tilting doors with movable side panels, enabling lateral access while maintaining structural simplicity through straightforward sliding motion guided by rails and blocked by the lid in closed position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a sliding door is used for side wall, then lateral access is enabled, but the side wall can move sideways when lid is closed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral accessVSAvoidgoods security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking device prevents sideways movement of the sliding door by engaging a projection on the lid with a recess in the side wall when the lid is in the closed position. This preliminary blocking action occurs before any attempted lateral movement, ensuring goods security while still allowing lateral access when the lid is opened, thus resolving the contradiction between operational ease and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the lid and side wall. It includes a projection on the lid that engages with a recess in the side wall, mediating the interaction between these two components. When the lid is closed, the blocking device prevents unintended side wall movement; when the lid is opened, the blocking device disengages to allow controlled lateral access, thus resolving the contradiction between operational ease and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a blocking device is added to secure side wall, then goods security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegoods securityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking device is merged with the existing lid and side wall structures. The projection is integrated into the lid, and the recess is integrated into the side wall, combining the blocking function with the existing components rather than adding separate complex mechanisms. This merging approach improves goods security while minimizing increases in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking device operates automatically based on the lid position. When the lid is closed, the projection naturally engages with the recess to block side wall movement. When the lid is opened, the blocking device automatically disengages. This self-service mechanism improves goods security without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If lid is always fully opened for access, then access is simple, but loading/unloading time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess simplicityVSAvoidloading speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The lid can be opened partially rather than fully to provide sufficient access for loading or unloading operations. The sliding side wall mechanism allows lateral access that may require only partial lid opening, reducing the time and effort needed compared to fully opening the lid. This partial action approach maintains operational simplicity while improving productivity by minimizing unnecessary lid movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4249348B1Delivery carriage
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 OESTERR POST
  • EP4249348B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4249348B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4249348B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Delivery van (1), in particular postal delivery van, comprising: a chassis (2) with wheels, a superstructure (8) supported by the chassis (2) with a receiving compartment (10) for receiving goods, in particular mail items, wherein the superstructure (8) has at least one side wall (13) which is designed as a sliding door and is movable between a closed position closing a lateral access opening (14) and an open position releasing the lateral access opening (14), wherein the superstructure (8) further comprises at least one cover (17) which is movable between a closed state closing a top loading opening (19) and an open state releasing the top loading opening (19), and a locking device (21) which is designed toto block the side wall (13) in the closed position when the lid (17) is closed, and to release the movement of the side wall (13) from the closed to the open position when the lid (17) is at least partially open.