Pivoting RV Storage Rack for Entry Access and Weather Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recreational vehicles lack effective storage solutions that provide additional space for large items while allowing access to entry openings, and existing solutions do not adequately protect items from the weather.
Innovation Solution
Pivotable external storage racks that couple to the vehicle's wall adjacent to entry openings, allowing the racks to be pivoted away for access and featuring locking mechanisms to secure them in place, with optional extension catches for maintaining position when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If storage racks are installed on the vehicle wall, then storage space is increased, but access to entry openings is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The storage rack is designed to be pivotable between a retracted position (flush with the vehicle wall) and an extended position (protruding outward). This dynamic configuration allows the rack to provide storage space when needed while being moved out of the way to allow access to entry openings, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and accessibility.
2Quantity of substance
If storage racks extend away from the vehicle wall, then storage capacity is improved, but the racks become vulnerable to weather and may interfere with vehicle access
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable mechanism allows the storage rack to be retracted into a protected position against the vehicle wall when weather protection is needed, and extended outward when storage access is required. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between storage capacity and weather protection.
Data Source
AI summary
External storage for a recreational vehicle includes a storage rack defining a plurality of openings extending through front and rear main faces thereof to allow objects to be secured to the storage rack, a plurality of hinges coupled to a proximal edge of the storage rack allowing the storage rack to be pivoted relative to the recreational vehicle, and a storage catch having a first member coupled to the storage rack and a second member configured to be coupled to the recreational vehicle.