Expandable Buggy With Adjustable Platform For Vehicle Cargo
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles with cargo beds face challenges in accessing and transporting cargo due to bed covers and ridged surfaces, which can damage cargo from water and debris, and conventional solutions like pallets are cumbersome for handling and securing cargo during transport.
Innovation Solution
An expandable buggy with an adjustable platform and locking handle is designed to fit inside a vehicle, allowing for easy loading and unloading of cargo while securing it during transport, using telescoping crossmembers, wheels, and a locking mechanism to fit within the vehicle bed, and optional shields for odd-shaped cargo.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If cargo is loaded in the vehicle bed, then cargo transport capability is improved, but cargo access difficulty increases due to bed covers and ridged surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The buggy is divided into separable components including the platform, handle, and wheels that can be disassembled for storage and reassembled for use, enabling easy access to cargo while maintaining transport capability
Solution Approach 2:
The buggy acts as an intermediary device between the user and the cargo in the vehicle bed, providing a mobile platform with handle for easy maneuvering and access to cargo without needing to remove bed covers or navigate ridged surfaces
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a pallet is used to support cargo, then cargo protection from surface contaminates is improved, but handling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buggy incorporates a mobile platform with wheels that can move dynamically within the vehicle bed, unlike a static pallet, allowing easy repositioning and access to cargo while maintaining protection from surface contaminates through the elevated platform design
Solution Approach 2:
The buggy serves multiple functions including cargo support, protection from surface contaminates, mobile transport within the vehicle bed, and easy access through handle control, replacing the need for separate pallet and handling equipment
3Volume of moving object
If the buggy width is adjusted to fit vehicle beds, then space utilization is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buggy features an adjustable width platform with telescoping crossmembers that can dynamically change size to fit different vehicle bed dimensions, optimizing space utilization while maintaining a relatively simple structural design through straightforward telescoping mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The platform is segmented into adjustable crossmembers that can be independently positioned to change the platform width, allowing customization for different vehicle beds without requiring a completely complex reconfigurable structure
4Reliability
If the buggy is secured in the vehicle bed during transport, then cargo security is improved, but maneuverability difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buggy incorporates a lockable handle that can dynamically transition between a locked position for secure transport and an unlocked position for easy maneuvering, allowing the same mechanism to serve both security and maneuverability needs without increasing overall complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and method for handling and securing cargo in a vehicle bed. The apparatus is a buggy with an adjustable width platform and an adjustable length handle that is both a locking device and a lifting device. The platform has a pair of frame rails with multiple adjustable length crossmembers spaced therebetween. The platform has wheels that allow the buggy to be moved between a loading position and a transport position. The handle is used to move the platform between the two positions. The handle has an adjustable length to secure the buggy in the transport position. In another embodiment, a tailgate hook with a catch that holds the platform captive in the vehicle. A shield is releasably positioned over a portion of at least two crossmembers of the platform. The shield has a surface that supports small and/or odd shaped cargo to prevent such cargo from falling between crossmembers.