Pivoting Flap Trunk Floor for Gap Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing raised trunk floors in passenger cars with foldable or sliding rear seats create a gap between the raised floor and the seat mount, leading to a step that reduces trunk space and allows smaller objects to fall into the unprotected area behind the seats when the seats are moved or backrests are folded.
Innovation Solution
A vertically mounted, flexibly rotatable flap at the front edge of the raised floor that can pivot backwards and forwards, automatically returning to its vertical position when the seats are adjusted, and can be folded forward to cover the gap between the floor and backrest, preventing objects from falling and enhancing loading capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a raised trunk floor is installed level with the loading sill edge, then loading and unloading of luggage is facilitated, but trunk space is reduced and a step is created between the raised floor and seat mount
Solution Approach 1:
The raised floor is divided into two segments: a fixed base floor and a movable front portion that can pivot about a transverse axis. This segmentation allows the front portion to rotate forward, eliminating the step with the seat mount while maintaining the elevated position for normal loading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The front portion of the raised floor is made dynamic by enabling it to pivot forward about a transverse axis. This dynamic movement allows the floor to adapt its position: elevated for normal use and flattened when the front portion pivots forward, thereby eliminating the step and increasing effective trunk space.
2Volume of stationary object
If the raised floor is positioned deep under the loading sill, then trunk space is maximized, but a step is created that hinders loading and unloading operations
Solution Approach 1:
The front portion of the raised floor is made capable of forward pivoting motion. When needed for loading operations, this portion can rotate forward to eliminate the step, providing a smooth transition from the loading sill to the trunk floor, thereby facilitating loading and unloading while maintaining trunk space when in the elevated position.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the rear seats are moved or backrests are folded down, then seating flexibility is improved, but an unprotected space is created through which objects can fall behind the seats
Solution Approach 1:
The front portion of the raised floor is made dynamically movable, capable of pivoting forward about a transverse axis. When rear seats are moved or backrests folded down, this front portion can rotate forward to cover the gap between the raised floor and seat mount, creating a protective barrier that prevents objects from falling into the unprotected space behind the seats.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable front portion of the raised floor acts as an intermediary element between the trunk floor and the rear seat area. When seats are repositioned, this intermediate structure can pivot forward to bridge the gap and prevent objects from falling through, thereby protecting the space behind the seats while allowing seating flexibility.
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
The solution eliminates the step between the raised floor and seat mount, maintains trunk space, and prevents objects from falling into the gap, while allowing for efficient loading of bulky items by folding the flap forward, ensuring secure and versatile use.
Implementation Method 1
When choosing a softer flap material, the flap is advantageously supplemented with a flexible element, advantageously a torsion spring, for returning to its stable position.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A trunk floor (1) for an automobile, especially a raised floor of a passenger car with folding and/or sliding rear seats (3), which is provided in the area of its front edge (14) with at least one substantially vertical flap (5) that is flexibly and rotatably mounted about a horizontal transverse axis by means of a suspension. The flap (5) can be pivoted from its stable, substantially vertical position towards the rear and/or forward and is formed from a folded strip of material. It may be provided with a spring (12) for returning it to the stable position. The suspension is formed from the same material as the flap (5).