Modular Truck Bed With Interlocking Sides

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional truck beds are large and difficult to ship due to their size, making them inefficient for manufacturing and transportation.

Innovation Solution

A modular truck bed system featuring interlocking truck bed members with interlocking and interlock receiving sides, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and a truck bed substructure with support members and accessories like a tail assembly and headache rack, enabling flexible configuration and secure coupling to the truck frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a traditional large truck bed is manufactured and shipped as a single unit, then structural integrity is maintained, but shipping difficulty and transportation cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidshipping ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The truck bed is divided into multiple modular members that can be separated for shipping and reassembled for use. Each member contains interlocking features (interlocking sides with interlocking members and interlock receiving members) that enable secure connection when assembled, while allowing disassembly for compact shipping configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a modular truck bed system is designed with interlocking members for easy assembly, then ease of installation improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The truck bed is divided into multiple modular members that can be separated for shipping and reassembled for use. Each member contains interlocking features (interlocking sides with interlocking members and interlock receiving members) that enable secure connection when assembled, while allowing disassembly for compact shipping configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple truck bed members are combined through interlocking mechanisms to form a complete truck bed assembly. The interlocking sides with corresponding interlocking members and interlock receiving members enable the members to be securely connected, creating a unified structure from separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a modular system with multiple configurations is created, then adaptability to different truck sizes improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The truck bed is divided into multiple modular members that can be separated for shipping and reassembled for use. Each member contains interlocking features (interlocking sides with interlocking members and interlock receiving members) that enable secure connection when assembled, while allowing disassembly for compact shipping configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular truck bed members are designed with standardized interlocking features that can be used across different configurations and truck types. The interlocking sides, interlocking members, and interlock receiving members create a universal connection system that accommodates various truck bed sizes and styles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11358655B2Modular truck bed

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 URBAN CUSTOM FAB LLC

AI summary

A truck bed member includes a rectangular top side with a long side along a first axis. An interlocking side is fixed perpendicular to the top side along a first edge of the top side parallel to the first axis and includes an interlocking member along an edge opposite the interlocking side coupled to the top side. An interlock receiving side is fixed perpendicular to the top side along a top side second edge opposite the first edge and parallel to the first axis. The interlocking side and the interlock receiving side are parallel to one another and extend a same direction from the top side. The interlock receiving side includes an interlock receiving member along an edge of the interlock receiving side opposite the edge coupled to the top side. The interlocking member is configured to couple to the interlock receiving member of a different truck bed member.