Rear Hatch Rack Layout for Rain-Protected Under-Hatch Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicles do not effectively protect cargo from rainwater while allowing easy access to under-hatch components and stored objects, and there is a need for improved maintenance access to critical components.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle design featuring a hatch that can open and close, a movable rack, and a mechanism for adjusting vehicle body height based on the state of the hatch and rack, ensuring protection of stored objects and components while facilitating access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the hatch is closed to protect cargo from rainwater, then cargo protection is improved, but access to under-hatch components deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from rainwaterVSAvoidaccess to under-hatch component

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rack is designed to be movable between a retracted position (when hatch is closed) and an extended position (when hatch is open), allowing the system to dynamically adapt its configuration based on operational mode. This enables cargo protection during transport and easy component access during maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rack can be positioned inside the cargo compartment when not in use, nesting within the vehicle structure. When maintenance is needed, the rack extends outward, allowing under-hatch components to be exposed and accessible without requiring hatch removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the rack is extended to expose under-hatch component for maintenance, then access to component is improved, but cargo protection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to under-hatch componentVSAvoidprotection from rainwater

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses dynamic positioning of the rack, which can be retracted into the cargo compartment when the hatch is closed to maintain cargo protection, and extended when the hatch is open to provide access to under-hatch components for maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the rack is retracted to protect stored objects, then cargo protection is improved, but access to stored objects deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of stored objectVSAvoidaccess to stored object

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rack is designed with movable capability, allowing it to be retracted into the cargo compartment for protected storage and easily extended when items need to be accessed or removed, providing both protection and accessibility as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12409899B1Vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 KAWASAKI MOTORS LTD

AI summary

A vehicle includes: a vehicle body including an opening part located in a rear part of the vehicle; a hatch supported by the vehicle body so as to be able to open and close the opening part; an under hatch component located inside the vehicle with respect to the opening part; and a rack movably supported by the vehicle body between a first position facing the under-hatch component and a second position retracted from the first position. The under-hatch component is exposed outside through the opening part in a state where the hatch is opened and the rack is located in the second position.