Movable Loading Floor for Passenger Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing loading aids for passenger vehicles do not adequately facilitate easy loading and unloading, particularly when the load is at a low height, as they lack the necessary flexibility and stability to accommodate varying load heights and sizes.

Innovation Solution

A loading floor in a passenger vehicle that can be moved from a retracted horizontal position to an extended position, and further lowered positions, using a combination of telescopic rails, spindle drives, toothed belt linear drives, and gas pressure dampers, allowing for horizontal and diagonal movement to accommodate loads at different heights, and is automatically actuated by sensors or switches when the tailgate is opened.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the loading floor is fixed at trunk floor level, then the trunk structure is simple and stable, but loading from low height is difficult and requires excessive lifting effort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of loadingVSAvoidloading floor structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The loading floor is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamic, movable one. It can be extended horizontally rearward and lowered vertically to different positions, adapting to various loading scenarios and reducing lifting effort while maintaining structural integrity through controlled movement mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The loading floor gains movement capabilities in multiple dimensions: horizontal extension rearward along the trunk and vertical lowering to different heights. This multi-dimensional mobility allows the floor to reach positions suitable for loading from ground level or low shopping trolleys, fundamentally changing the static loading paradigm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the loading floor is extended horizontally rearward, then loading from shopping trolley is facilitated, but the loading floor becomes unstable and may tip under load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of loadingVSAvoidloading floor stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Gas pressure dampers are installed at the rear of the loading floor to act as counterbalancing elements. These dampers provide upward supporting force to counteract the tipping moment caused by loads on the extended loading floor, maintaining stability during the extended and lowered positions while enabling easy loading operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

Telescopic rails serve as intermediary support structures between the loading floor and the trunk body. These rails provide guided movement paths and structural support during the horizontal extension and vertical lowering processes, ensuring stable operation while the floor is in extended positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple movable components are added to enable horizontal and vertical movement, then adaptability to different load heights is improved, but the device complexity and potential reliability issues increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of load heightsVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The movement system is divided into distinct functional segments: horizontal extension mechanism (telescopic rails), vertical lowering mechanism (spindle drives), and stabilization components (gas pressure dampers). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies maintenance while achieving comprehensive adaptability to different loading scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Sensors or switches detect the opening of the tailgate and automatically trigger the loading floor to extend horizontally and lower vertically. This automated feedback control reduces manual intervention, ensures consistent operation, and enhances reliability by eliminating human error in the control process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3335933B1Loading aid
Publication Date: 2020.01.29 MAGNA STEYR FAHRZEUGTECHNIK AG & CO KG
  • EP3335933B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3335933B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A loading aid for a passenger vehicle, comprising a loading floor (1) which is arranged horizontally in the trunk of the passenger vehicle in a retracted position (2), wherein the loading floor (1) is linearly movable from the retracted position (2) to an extended position (3) in which the loading floor (1) is arranged horizontally, outside the trunk, at substantially the same height as in the retracted position (2), wherein the loading floor (1) is linearly movable from the extended position (3) to a lowered position (4) in which the loading floor (1) is arranged horizontally, outside the trunk, at a lower height than in the extended position (3).