Interior Cargo Management System for Vehicle Hardtops

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cargo management systems mounted on the exterior of vehicles are susceptible to environmental damage, theft, and reduce fuel efficiency, while altering the vehicle's aerodynamic profile.

Innovation Solution

A cargo management system for the interior of a vehicle featuring removable hardtops, tie-down rails with anchors, and a ladder-like rack configuration, allowing secure and efficient cargo storage without external modifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cargo structures are mounted on the exterior of a vehicle, then cargo storage capability is provided, but the vehicle becomes susceptible to environmental damage, theft, and fuel efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecargo protectionVSAvoidenvironmental damage and theft risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by mounting cargo rails and racks on the interior side of the vehicle body rather than on the exterior. This allows cargo to be stored inside the vehicle's cargo area, protected from environmental damage and theft, while maintaining easy access and secure attachment to the vehicle structure through the interior rails that interface with existing exterior mounting points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Quantity of substance

If cargo structures are mounted on the exterior of a vehicle, then cargo storage capability is provided, but fuel efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecargo storage capacityVSAvoidfuel efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cargo management system is nested within the vehicle's existing structure. The interior rails are mounted within the cargo area, and cargo racks attach to these interior rails, effectively nesting the cargo storage system inside the vehicle's body. This eliminates the need for external protruding structures that would increase drag and reduce fuel efficiency, while still providing substantial cargo storage capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Quantity of substance

If cargo structures are mounted on the exterior of a vehicle, then cargo storage capability is provided, but the vehicle's aerodynamic profile is adversely changed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecargo storage capacityVSAvoidaerodynamic profile

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the mounting location from exterior to interior, the patent eliminates protruding external structures that disrupt the vehicle's aerodynamic profile. The cargo storage system is positioned inside the vehicle's streamlined body, maintaining the original aerodynamic shape and reducing air resistance, while still providing adequate cargo storage capacity through the interior rail and rack configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9580021B1Cargo management system

Publication Date: 2017.02.28 PIZARRO DERRICK ANTHONY

AI summary

A cargo management system for the interior of a vehicle having a removable hardtop may comprise two rails, a rack and a tray. The rails may comprise tie-down anchors. The tray may be secured to the rack using hook-and-loop fasteners.