Modular Replacement Floor for Adaptable Rear Cargo Space

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies lack a flexible and cost-effective solution for adapting replacement floors to different vehicle types and space conditions, requiring new designs for each vehicle type or space change.

Innovation Solution

A modular system comprising base and extension floor parts made of plastic or composite materials, such as fiberglass, which can be combined to form a replacement floor adaptable to various vehicle types and spaces, reducing the need for multiple injection molds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a new replacement floor is designed and manufactured for each vehicle type or space condition, then the replacement floor fits the specific vehicle requirements, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different vehicle types and spacesVSAvoiddesign and manufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The replacement floor is divided into multiple modular sections that can be independently manufactured and then assembled together. Each section can be produced using the same injection mold, and the sections are connected via connection elements (such as tabs and slots) to form a complete floor system that adapts to different vehicle types and cargo space configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a new replacement floor is designed and manufactured for each vehicle type or space condition, then the replacement floor fits the specific vehicle requirements, but the production time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different vehicle types and spacesVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A single injection mold design is created that can produce multiple different floor sections by varying the arrangement and configuration of connection elements. The same basic mold can generate sections with different dimensions, connection types, and geometries, allowing one mold to serve multiple production purposes and reduce the need for dedicated molds for each vehicle type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple injection molds are created for different replacement floor variants, then each floor variant can be precisely manufactured, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefloor section dimensional accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The injection mold incorporates variable geometric features and connection element configurations in specific local areas while maintaining a standardized overall structure. This allows the same mold to produce sections with locally adapted features (different connection types, dimensions, or geometries) without requiring completely different molds, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while reducing overall mold数量和cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3954597B1Base floor part, replacement floor, modular system and method for enlarging a rear cargo space of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 API CZ S R O
  • EP3954597B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3954597B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3954597B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6a

AI summary

The present invention relates to a base floor part made of plastic or composite material for a replacement floor for enlarging a rear cargo space of a motor vehicle, such as a compact car or an off-road vehicle, on which a wheelchair can be stored, the base floor part being adapted to be connected to the vehicle body, wherein a preformed marking at which a front end portion can be separated to enable coupling with an extension floor part is provided.