Foldable Vehicle Cargo Storage with Concealable Cover
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Cargo items in vehicle cargo areas tend to become unorganized and scattered during transit, leading to a mess, as they tip over and move around, necessitating a solution to restrict their movement and provide organized storage.
Innovation Solution
A foldable cargo area storage system comprising a cover assembly with pivotally connected panels and a storage container made of flexible material, which can be unfolded to expose storage compartments when needed and folded to be concealed, using mechanical hinges, a living hinge, and tethered coupling devices to maintain the container's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a storage container is provided in the cargo area, then cargo organization and stability are improved, but the device complexity and space occupation increase when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is designed to be dynamically deployable and stowable. It transitions from a compact folded state during normal cargo transport to an expanded organized state when cargo storage is needed. This dynamic transformation allows the system to provide cargo organization functionality only when required, avoiding permanent complexity in the cargo area.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage container employs a nested folding structure where walls and partitions fold into each other to create a compact configuration. The partition walls nest within the container boundaries when folded, similar to nested dolls, minimizing the space occupied when the storage function is not needed while maintaining full organizational capability when deployed.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a foldable storage container is deployed, then cargo organization is improved, but the time required to deploy and stow the container increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is pre-configured with fold lines, hinge positions, and partition attachments during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation allows the container to be quickly deployed and stowed by simple folding motions without requiring complex assembly or adjustment steps during use, significantly reducing the time needed to transition between deployed and stowed states.
3Ease of operation
If the storage container is made of flexible material to allow folding, then the ease of operation and stowability are improved, but the strength and structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container utilizes composite construction combining flexible outer material with rigid reinforcing elements such as internal boards, frames, or structural inserts. This composite approach maintains the flexibility needed for folding and stowing while the rigid components provide the necessary structural integrity to hold cargo securely when the container is deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The container employs different material properties in different locations - flexible materials in areas requiring bending and folding, while rigid reinforcing elements are strategically placed at corners, edges, and partition connections where structural strength is most needed. This localized quality distribution optimizes both foldability and structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A cargo area storage system including: a foldable cover assembly including: first and second substantially rectangular panels in a parallel relationship and being pivotally connected such that the panels can fold in relation to one another to form the cover assembly into an erect configuration or to have a common plane configuration; a storage container affixed to the second panel, the storage container having one or more storage compartments, the storage container being a foldable, top open container; and where, when the first and second panels are in the erect configuration, the storage container can be made into an unfolded configuration to establish the one or more storage compartments to store one or more items, and where, when the first and second panels are in the common plane configuration, the storage container can be made into a folded configuration and concealed from the cargo area.