Inflatable Fold-Out Van Wall for Stable Interior Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle interior extensions, such as slide-outs and inflatable side walls, face limitations in stability and space efficiency, particularly when retracted, and often require complex and costly actuation mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle with a fold-out section made of a flexible, fully or partially inflatable textile element that can be folded into the vehicle side wall, allowing for easy extension and retraction, providing a robust and cost-effective interior expansion by inflating a double-walled textile side wall to form a stable and insulating wall when unfolded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid wall is used for the fold-out section, then structural stability is improved, but space efficiency when retracted deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible textile element that can be inflated to form a stable wall structure and deflated to minimize space. This flexible shell approach allows the fold-out section to achieve both structural stability when extended and compact storage when retracted, eliminating the need for rigid components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an inflatable textile element filled with gas to provide structural support and stability to the fold-out section. The pneumatic inflation mechanism allows the flexible textile to maintain a rigid-like structure when needed while collapsing to a compact form when deflated, resolving the contradiction between stability and space efficiency.
2Strength
If a rigid wall is used for the fold-out section, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable textile element uses gas pressure to provide load-bearing capacity while requiring minimal actuation force for extension and retraction. The pneumatic system allows a single person to easily deploy and retract the fold-out section by simply inflating or deflating the textile, eliminating the need for complex mechanical actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible textile element can be easily folded and stored without requiring precise mechanical alignment or complex actuation mechanisms. Its flexibility allows it to be rapidly deployed and retracted by simple inflation and deflation actions, significantly improving ease of operation compared to rigid wall systems.
3Volume of moving object
If an inflatable textile element is used for the side wall, then space efficiency when retracted is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable textile element uses internal gas pressure to maintain structural stability when deployed. The pressurized gas provides outward force that keeps the textile taut and stable, creating a rigid-like structure from flexible material. When deflated, the textile collapses to a compact form, achieving both stability and space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The textile element is designed with specific structural features that allow it to maintain stability when inflated while remaining flexible and foldable. The fabric construction and inflation pattern create a stable three-dimensional structure that can support loads while still being able to collapse flat for storage.
4Ease of operation
If an inflatable textile element is used for the side wall, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The textile element can be manufactured as a single flexible component that integrates both the wall structure and the inflation chambers. This unified design simplifies manufacturing compared to assembling multiple rigid parts with mechanical joints, while still providing easy operation through simple inflation and deflation.
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 enables a vehicle interior extension that is stable, space-efficient, and cost-effective, allowing for easy expansion and retraction without the need for complex actuation mechanisms, while maintaining structural integrity and insulation.
Implementation Method 1
A lateral wall of the vehicle interior extension (14) is inflated or pumped up with a fluid, in particular compressed air
Implementation Method 2
providing a robust and cost-effective interior expansion by inflating a double-walled textile side wall to form a stable and insulating wall when unfolded
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a vehicle (1), in particular a panel van or camper van, with a vehicle side wall (2) comprising a main section (4) and a fold-out section (6), wherein the fold-out section (6) is substantially flush with the main section (4) in a folded-in state and, in an unfolded state, is folded out from the main section (4) and forms a vehicle interior extension (14) with a side wall (16) made of a flexible, fully or partially inflatable textile element. The present disclosure further relates to a method for unfolding a vehicle interior extension of a vehicle.