Rear-Loading Drop-Down Ladder Rack with Driveline Bed

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exterior vehicle storage solutions for large or inaccessible items are often heavy, expensive, poorly made, and can cause damage or injury, failing to provide safe and efficient transportation and storage options.

Innovation Solution

A rear-loading, drop-down ladder rack system with a frame, inner and outer rails, a selectively movable ladder rack bed, driveline system, and dampening devices, designed for roof-mounted installation on vehicles, allowing for secure and accessible storage of ladders and other items.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional exterior storage devices are used, then items can be transported outside the vehicle, but the devices become heavy and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capabilityVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is divided into modular components including a roof rack frame, crossbars, and detachable ladder racks that can be independently assembled and configured based on specific storage needs, reducing overall system weight while maintaining versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The roof rack system is designed to accommodate multiple types of items through universal mounting interfaces and adjustable configurations, allowing the same base structure to serve different storage purposes without requiring multiple specialized devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional exterior storage devices are used, then items can be transported outside the vehicle, but the devices are poorly made resulting in damage or breaking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capabilityVSAvoiddevice durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The roof rack components utilize composite materials such as aluminum alloys and high-strength polymers that provide superior strength-to-weight ratios and corrosion resistance, ensuring durability while maintaining light weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates protective features such as padded contact points, shock-absorbing mounting mechanisms, and reinforced stress areas that prevent damage before it occurs during installation and use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional exterior storage devices are used, then items can be transported outside the vehicle, but people using the devices may be injured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capabilityVSAvoidinjury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts potential harmful forces into beneficial ones through features such as friction-based non-slip surfaces that transform vibration into secure gripping, and controlled collapse mechanisms that redirect impact forces away from users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Ease of operation

If items are stored on the exterior of the vehicle, then access from outside is easier, but the items may be too large to easily access and store within the vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoiditem size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The ladder rack system incorporates movable and adjustable components that can be dynamically reconfigured or removed entirely, allowing large items to be easily loaded and unloaded from the exterior mounting position without requiring vehicle interior access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10501021B2Rear loading, drop down ladder rack system and method of use

Publication Date: 2019.12.10 ADRIAN STEEL CO

AI summary

One embodiment of a ladder rack system and method of use are described. The system may have a ladder rack frame with an inner rail and an outer rail. The system may also have a ladder rack bed that is selectively moveable with respect to the ladder rack frame. The ladder rack bed may have an inner beam and an outer beam. The system may also have a driveshaft and at least one driveline arm that are connected together. The driveline arm is also connected to the ladder rack bed.