Replaceable Vehicle Floor Section for Wheelchair Lift Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many vehicles are not initially equipped to accommodate lift mechanisms for handicapped individuals, requiring modifications to the floor and seating arrangements to accommodate wheelchairs and lift systems, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A modular, replaceable vehicle floor section for Ram Pro Master vehicles, comprising a bottom wall with interconnected front, middle, and back sections, designed to work with a handicap entrance lift mechanism, featuring notched sidewalls for seamless integration with existing vehicle structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle is modified to accommodate the lift mechanism and wheelchair, then the vehicle can provide handicap access, but the floor and seating arrangements require extensive modification
Solution Approach 1:
The floor is divided into a replaceable front section and a permanent rear section. The front section can be easily removed and replaced with a specialized floor panel that accommodates the lift mechanism and wheelchair, while the rear section remains intact. This segmentation allows handicap access modifications without requiring extensive changes to the entire vehicle floor structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lift mechanism is installed in a vehicle not initially equipped for it, then handicap access is enabled, but the installation process becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The replaceable floor panel is designed as a universal solution that can be installed in various vehicle models. The panel incorporates standardized mounting features and dimensions that accommodate different lift mechanism types, allowing the same floor panel design to serve multiple vehicle platforms and lift configurations, thereby simplifying the installation process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the seats are rearranged to accommodate the lift mechanism and wheelchair, then space for handicap access is created, but the vehicle configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The front floor section, which may contain or affect seating arrangements, is extracted as a separate replaceable component. By removing this section and installing a specialized panel, the lift mechanism and wheelchair can be accommodated without requiring complex rearrangement of the entire seating configuration. The extractable front section isolates the modification area, minimizing impact on the overall seating arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A replaceable floor to cooperate with a handicap entrance may include a bottom wall for the replaceable floor; a front section; a middle section connected to the front section; and a back section connected to the middle section. The front section may include a front wall connected to the bottom wall; and a pair of opposing side walls may be connected to the bottom wall. One of the opposing side walls may include a common sidewall to the first section and the middle section.