Vehicle Door Cradle for Compact Mobility Aid Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems for mobility aid devices often lack a compact and efficient method to store and deploy these devices within the vehicle, particularly for mobility-impaired individuals, as they require a dedicated space that may not be optimally utilized or accessible.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system featuring an accommodating door with a support cradle and dispensing mechanism, allowing the mobility aid device to be stored within the door and deployed outside, using a track and carrier cart system that transitions between stowed and dispensing positions, ensuring easy access for the driver or passenger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobility aid device is stored inside the vehicle or in an external booth on the vehicle roof, then the device is protected and secure, but the space occupied is increased and accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility aid device is nested within the door structure itself. The door contains a storage compartment that houses the mobility aid device when not in use, effectively utilizing the door's internal volume. This nesting approach secures the device while minimizing the space it occupies, as the door structure serves dual purposes: as an access barrier and as a storage container.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from storing the mobility aid device in traditional three-dimensional space (inside the vehicle cabin or on the roof) to utilizing the door's thickness dimension. By embedding the storage compartment within the door structure, the system effectively moves the storage function into a previously underutilized spatial dimension, reducing the overall space requirement.
2Area of stationary object
If the mobility aid device is stored in a compact arrangement within the vehicle door, then space efficiency is improved, but the ease of access and deployment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility aid device is pre-positioned within the door's storage compartment, ready for immediate deployment. The compartment is designed to allow quick access without requiring the door to be fully opened or complex manual manipulation. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the user needs the device, it is already in the optimal location for rapid retrieval and use.
Solution Approach 2:
The door structure itself acts as an intermediary between the mobility aid device and the user. Rather than requiring direct access to a storage compartment located elsewhere in the vehicle, the door serves as both the access point and the storage container. This intermediary role of the door simplifies the access mechanism, as opening or accessing the door directly reveals the mobility aid device.
3Volume of stationary object
If the mobility aid device is stored outside the vehicle in an external booth, then space within the vehicle is saved, but the device is less protected and more exposed to environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility aid device is nested within the protective envelope of the door structure. The door's outer shell provides protection from environmental factors such as weather, dust, and physical damage, while the device remains securely housed within. This nesting arrangement maintains the protective benefits of internal storage without requiring the device to be located inside the main vehicle cabin.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an accommodating door configured to be connected to a vehicle body, and a support cradle. The accommodating door has an inside face which defines an accommodation space configured for accommodating the support cradle. The support cradle in turn is configured to support a mobility aid device within a support compartment thereof.