External Roof Panel Cradle for Space-Saving Vehicle Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Off-road vehicles lack a convenient external storage solution for roof panels, and internal storage is limited due to space constraints.
Innovation Solution
An externally mounted storage compartment with a cradle, slats, clamps, and brackets that securely attach to the vehicle's exterior, allowing for easy engagement and disengagement of roof panels, providing a removable and adjustable storage solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If roof panels are stored inside the vehicle, then they are protected from external damage, but interior space is consumed and accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The storage compartment extracts the storage function from the vehicle interior and relocates it to the exterior. The cradle and mounting system separate the storage function from the passenger compartment, allowing panels to be stored outside while protecting them through the enclosed cradle structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions storage from the internal three-dimensional space to the external surface area of the vehicle. By mounting the cradle on the exterior using brackets and clamps, the system utilizes the vehicle's external dimensions rather than consuming interior volume.
2Reliability
If roof panels are stored inside the vehicle, then they are secure from theft, but access time is increased and convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle is pre-configured with positioning features and the mounting system is pre-installed on the vehicle exterior. Panels can be quickly inserted into the pre-positioned cradle without requiring complex assembly or search for storage location, reducing access time while maintaining security through the enclosed structure.
Solution Approach 2:
By extracting storage to the exterior, panels become immediately accessible from outside the vehicle without requiring entry, unlocking, or interior navigation. This maintains security through the enclosed cradle while dramatically reducing access time.
3Volume of moving object
If an external storage compartment is mounted on the vehicle, then interior space is preserved, but mounting complexity and structural requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into separate functional components: brackets that attach to the vehicle body, clamps that secure the cradle to the brackets, and the cradle itself. This modular segmentation simplifies installation and reduces the complexity of any single component while providing a complete mounting solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system incorporates adjustable and removable elements that allow for dynamic installation and configuration. The segmented design with separate brackets and clamps enables flexible mounting on different vehicle surfaces while maintaining structural integrity without overly complex fixed structures.
4Ease of operation
If panels are stored externally, then accessibility and quick access are improved, but exposure to environmental elements and potential damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle provides a protective enclosure that cushions panels from environmental elements before exposure occurs. The structured cradle design with walls and base protects panels from direct weather exposure, debris, and UV damage while maintaining external accessibility, effectively pre-shielding the panels from harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The cradle structure acts as a protective shell that encloses panels while remaining externally mounted. This shell-like structure shields panels from environmental harm while allowing the overall system to remain accessible from outside the vehicle.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage compartment for removable vehicle roof panels, wherein the storage compartment is configured to be mounted on an exterior of a vehicle may include a cradle sized to accommodate placement of an end of a roof panel therein; at least two slats extending upward from the cradle; a clamp attached to the distal end of each slat; and a bracket attached to a proximal end of each slat, wherein each clamp is configured to removably engage with an upper surface on a side of the vehicle and each bracket is configured to removably engage with a lower surface on the side of the vehicle.