Vehicle Floor Assembly with Waterproof Drainage Basket

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions fail to effectively prevent soiling and damage to vehicle luggage compartments when storing wet and/or dirty objects, such as shoes, as they often come into contact with other parts of the compartment, leading to potential damage and cleanliness issues.

Innovation Solution

A floor assembly featuring a basket within a waterproof tray-like recess covered by a lid, allowing wet and/or dirty objects to be stored without direct contact with the compartment, with features like inclined bottom walls and drain holes for efficient drainage and cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wet and/or dirty objects are stored directly in the luggage compartment, then storage convenience is improved, but the compartment becomes soiled and damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage convenienceVSAvoidsoiling and damage to compartment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A waterproof tray with lid is introduced as an intermediary container between the wet/dirty objects and the luggage compartment. The tray completely encloses the objects, preventing direct contact with the compartment interior, while still allowing the objects to be stored conveniently in the same space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The basket is nested within the waterproof tray, which itself is nested within the luggage compartment. This nested structure allows multiple levels of containment, where the inner basket holds the objects, the middle tray provides waterproof protection, and the outer compartment provides storage space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a waterproof tray is used to contain wet objects, then protection of the compartment is improved, but water drainage becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from soiling and damageVSAvoidwater drainage
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom of the waterproof tray is segmented with multiple drain holes distributed across the surface. This segmentation allows water to drain through multiple points simultaneously, preventing water accumulation while maintaining the overall waterproof containment structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tray bottom is designed with different local properties: most areas are waterproof to contain water, while specific localized areas have drain holes to allow water egress. The inclined bottom wall creates local quality variations in water flow direction, guiding water toward drainage areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the tray is sealed to prevent moisture escape, then compartment cleanliness is improved, but odor accumulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompartment cleanlinessVSAvoidodor accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tray lid is made of a porous material that allows vapor transmission. This enables moisture and odors to pass through the lid while still providing a physical barrier, preventing liquid water and larger contaminants from escaping into the compartment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively separates and drains water and mud from objects, allowing them to dry and preventing damage to the compartment, while maintaining cleanliness by preventing moisture and odor from escaping, and enhancing dirt removal through vibrations during vehicle operation.

Implementation Method 1

at least one bottom wall (11) of the recess (9) is inclined with respect to the lid (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

vibrations caused during the drive operation may lead to scrubbing movements of the object relative to the basket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 3

adhering subject matter can be scrubbed off the object by means of the basket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3747701B1Floor assembly for a vehicle luggage compartment and vehicle luggage compartment floor
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC
  • EP3747701B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3747701B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3747701B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a floor assembly (1) for a vehicle luggage compartment (17). To provide a novel and better solution for stowing wet and/or dirty objects (3) in a vehicle luggage compartment (17), the floor assembly (1) comprises at least one basket (2) for accommodating at least one wet and/or dirty object (3), at least one tray-like waterproof recess (9) formed in or arranged at a floor element (19) of the luggage compartment (17) and completely accommodating the basket (2), and at least one waterproof lid (10), wherein the recess (9) is completely covered by the lid (10), such that the lid (10) constitutes a part of a leading floor of the luggage compartment (17).