Deployable Pickup Bed Storage Tunnel for Weatherproof Cargo Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pickup truck beds often face a trade-off between having a long, flat surface for cargo and covered, weatherproof storage space, as aftermarket stowage boxes are cumbersome and limit bed length.
Innovation Solution
A deployable storage tunnel assembly with a vertical wall and cover that can be reconfigured to eliminate or divide the storage space within the bed, allowing for a large, covered compartment to be selectively deployed or collapsed, eliminating the need for heavy stowage boxes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aftermarket stowage boxes are used for covered storage, then weatherproof storage space is improved, but bed length is reduced and the boxes are cumbersome to place and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The storage compartment is designed with deployable walls and cover that can transition between extended and retracted positions. The walls include pivotable sections and the cover includes movable panels that can be positioned to create enclosed storage or opened to extend the flat bed surface, allowing the structure to adapt between two functional states rather than being fixed in one configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The storage structure utilizes the vertical dimension and under-bed space by deploying walls upward from the bed floor and positioning the cover above the cargo area. This three-dimensional deployment approach creates enclosed storage without permanently occupying horizontal bed length, as the walls and cover can be collapsed flat against the bed structure when not in use
2Reliability
If aftermarket stowage boxes are used for covered storage, then weatherproof storage space is improved, but the boxes are bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The storage compartment transitions from a static, permanently installed box to a dynamic structure with movable walls and cover. The pivotable wall sections and retractable cover panels allow the storage enclosure to be assembled only when needed, eliminating the need for a permanently installed heavy box while maintaining weatherproof capabilities during use
Solution Approach 2:
The storage structure is divided into separate modular components including individual wall sections that can pivot independently and cover panels that can move separately. This segmentation allows each component to be lightweight and easily positioned, replacing a single heavy bulky box with multiple lighter modular elements that assemble into a complete enclosure
3Reliability
If covered storage space is provided underneath the bed, then weatherproof storage is improved, but storage space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The storage compartment extends vertically upward from the under-bed area using pivotable walls that rise from the bed floor and a cover that positions above the cargo area. This vertical dimension exploitation creates significantly more enclosed storage volume compared to traditional under-bed compartments, while the walls can be collapsed flat when additional flat bed space is needed
Data Source
AI summary
A storage tunnel assembly for the bed of a pickup truck or other vehicle. The storage tunnel assembly generally includes a deployable vertical wall separated from a bulkhead of the bed and disposed across a width of the bed and a deployable cover separated from a floor of the bed between the vertical wall and the bulkhead and disposed across the width of the bed. The vertical wall, the cover, the bulkhead, and the floor define a storage space within a space defined by the bed. The vertical wall and the cover may be fixed components, separate components, and/or hinged components in various assemblies. One or both side walls of the bed define a storage tunnel access opening coincident with the storage space defined by the vertical wall, the cover, the bulkhead, and the floor and may include a door adapted to selectively open and close the associated storage tunnel access opening.