Detachable Auxiliary Panel for Cargo Access and Work Surface Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicles lack innovative features that provide consumers with additional functionality and accessibility, such as a movable auxiliary panel that can serve as a work surface while maintaining access to cargo areas.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design featuring a movable auxiliary panel that is removably coupled to a closure panel, allowing it to transition between engaged and disengaged states, with a controller managing user inputs to adjust the panel's position and notify users of mode changes, ensuring at least a portion of the cargo area remains accessible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a closure panel is made movable to provide access to cargo area, then cargo accessibility is improved, but the vehicle loses a stable work surface
Solution Approach 1:
The closure panel is divided into two functional components: a main closure panel that provides cargo access when opened, and a detachable auxiliary panel that serves as a work surface. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between cargo accessibility and work surface availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary panel is designed to be dynamically attachable and detachable to the closure panel through removable coupling mechanisms. This dynamic configuration allows the work surface to be available when needed (attached) while not interfering with cargo access (detachable), thus resolving the static contradiction between the two functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an auxiliary panel is added to provide additional functionality, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is segmented into simple, modular components that allow the auxiliary panel to be easily attached and detached. This segmentation avoids complex integrated systems while providing the necessary functionality, thus improving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary panel is extracted as a separate, removable component rather than being permanently integrated into the closure panel. This extraction simplifies the overall structure by allowing the auxiliary functionality to be added only when needed, reducing baseline complexity while maintaining versatility.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the auxiliary panel is permanently coupled to the closure panel, then work surface stability is improved, but cargo area accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the auxiliary panel and closure panel is designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The removable coupling mechanism allows the auxiliary panel to be securely attached when work surface stability is needed, and easily detached when cargo access is required, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure system is segmented into the main closure panel and the auxiliary work panel, with the auxiliary panel being selectively coupleable. This segmentation allows the work surface to be stably attached during work activities while being separable to restore full cargo access, preventing the permanent obstruction that would result from fixed coupling.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a body, an access aperture that is defined by the body, a closure panel, and an auxiliary panel. The closure panel is movably coupled to the body. The closure panel is movable between an open position and a closed position such that the closure panel selectively covers the access aperture. The auxiliary panel is removably coupled to the closure panel. The auxiliary panel is movable between an engaged state and a disengaged state relative to the closure panel. The auxiliary panel travels with the closure panel when the auxiliary panel is in the engaged state. The disengaged state of the auxiliary panel corresponds with a use position of the auxiliary panel.