Vehicle Load Floor Linkage for Step-Free Cargo Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flat load floors in vehicles create a step when adjacent seats are folded, impeding the sliding of cargo onto the seat back, making loading and unloading difficult.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical load floor adjustment mechanism that raises and lowers the load floor in response to seat movement, using a rotatable element and linkage system to match the elevation of folded seats, allowing the load floor to remain elevated when any seat is lowered and only lower when all seats are raised.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the load floor is kept flat and rigid, then it can support the weight of stored items, but it creates a step when seats are folded down that impedes sliding cargo onto the seat back
Solution Approach 1:
The load floor is transformed from a static flat surface to a dynamic adjustable surface that can change its configuration. The linkage mechanism allows the load floor to be raised or lowered relative to the seat, enabling it to adapt between a flat configuration for weight support and a raised configuration for facilitating cargo loading when seats are folded down.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical position parameter of the load floor is changed dynamically. By adjusting the load floor's height relative to the seat using the linkage mechanism, the system changes the spatial relationship between the load floor and seat surface, eliminating the step that impedes cargo sliding while maintaining the load floor's structural integrity for weight support.
2Ease of operation
If the load floor is raised to eliminate the step with folded seats, then cargo can slide easily onto the seat back, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism is designed to be passively actuated by the seat folding motion itself. As the seat is folded down, the mechanical connection between the seat and linkage automatically triggers the load floor to raise, eliminating the need for separate actuators, motors, or control systems. The system uses the seat's own movement to drive the load floor adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage mechanism serves as a mechanical intermediary that translates the seat folding motion into load floor vertical displacement. This intermediary component connects the seat assembly and load floor, converting rotational motion from seat folding into the desired vertical movement of the load floor in a mechanically efficient manner.
3Ease of operation
If the load floor is raised when one seat is folded, then loading is facilitated, but both seats must be raised to lower the load floor back to horizontal
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism is designed with asymmetric engagement characteristics where raising the load floor can be triggered by partial action (one seat folding), but lowering requires excessive action (both seats raised). This creates a ratcheting effect where the load floor can be easily raised by a single seat's motion but remains held in the raised position until both seats are raised, preventing accidental lowering.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage mechanism incorporates separate engagement points or segments that interact with different seats independently. Each seat has its own connection point on the linkage, allowing the mechanism to respond differently to single-seat versus dual-seat raising actions, enabling the load floor to be raised by one seat but requiring both seats to lower it.
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
This solution eliminates the step between the load floor and seats, enabling easier sliding of cargo and maintaining an inclined load floor configuration for improved loading and unloading without requiring both seats to be lowered.
Implementation Method 1
the linkage converts rotational motion of the rotatable element to linear vertical translation of part of the load floor
Implementation Method 2
A mechanical load floor adjustment mechanism that raises and lowers the load floor in response to seat movement
Data Source
AI summary
Mechanisms for raising at least a portion of a vehicle load floor in response to lowering of one adjacent seat, to allow for easier loading of vehicle cargo areas. Mechanisms may raise a portion of the load floor when any one or more adjacent seats are lowered, but only lower the load floor when all adjacent seats are raised. In this manner, mechanisms of embodiments of the disclosure raise the load floor to an inclined position so that the load floor gradually rises to the elevation of any adjacent folded seat backs, rather than having a step increase in height at the boundary between load floor and seats. This allows for easier sliding of cargo over the load floor and onto the seat backs.