Deployable Load Floor With Retractable Support Legs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Load floors in vehicles often lack versatility to accommodate items of varying sizes and stability, particularly when transitioning between canted and lateral positions, which can lead to instability and potential loss of items during transportation.
Innovation Solution
A deployable load floor assembly with retractable and deployable support legs actuated by a handle, allowing the load floor to transition between canted and lateral positions, with a base wall supporting the legs in both configurations to maintain stability and accommodate different item sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the load floor is fixed in a lateral position, then stability is maintained, but versatility to accommodate different item sizes and canted positioning is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The load floor transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic one with movable support legs that can be deployed or retracted based on the desired position (canted or lateral), allowing the floor to adapt its configuration while maintaining stability in each position through the support mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The support system is divided into discrete support legs that can independently be deployed or retracted, allowing selective positioning support while maintaining the overall structural integrity and stability of the load floor assembly
2Adaptability or versatility
If the load floor is made movable between positions, then versatility is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support legs serve multiple functions: they provide structural support when deployed, allow positioning adjustment when moved between deployed and retracted states, and can be integrated with the base wall structure, reducing the need for separate mechanisms for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The support legs are integrated with and nested within the base wall structure, allowing the support mechanism to be compact when retracted and eliminating the need for separate housing structures, thereby reducing overall device complexity
3Stability of the object's composition
If support legs are deployed for lateral position, then stability is improved, but storage space in canted position is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support legs dynamically change configuration based on operational needs - deployed when lateral position and stability are required, retracted when canted position and maximum storage space are prioritized, allowing the system to adapt to different operational scenarios
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle load floor assembly having a load floor coupled with a handle. The handle is operable between first and second positions. At least one support leg is coupled to the load floor. The at least one support leg is retracted when the handle is in the first position and deployed when the handle is in the second position. A base wall supports the at least one support leg, when deployed, to maintain the load floor in a substantially lateral position. The base wall supports an underside of the load floor when the at least one support leg is retracted.