Reversible Luggage Board for Asymmetrical Vehicle Boot
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles with asymmetrical boots, the luggage boards are not reversible due to the interaction between the curved rear edge of the board and the curved mating surface, limiting users to either a wipe-clean or carpeted surface, which is not easily switchable like in symmetrical boot spaces.
Innovation Solution
A luggage board with a curvilinear profile and a rear edge that is symmetrical about its center line, allowing it to be offset from the vehicle's center line in both orientations, ensuring it fits seamlessly with the tailgate's asymmetrical surface, enabling reversible use with either a carpeted or wipe-clean surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the boot is made asymmetrical to maximize luggage space, then the luggage space utilization is improved, but the luggage board becomes non-reversible limiting surface choice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry to the mating surface on the vehicle body while maintaining symmetry in the luggage board's rear edge profile. The asymmetrical mating surface includes a first curvature on one side and a second curvature on the other side, which are different from each other. This allows the symmetrical luggage board to be positioned correctly in an asymmetrical boot space while remaining reversible for surface selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by making only the mating surface asymmetrical while keeping the luggage board's rear edge symmetrical. This localized asymmetry in the vehicle body's mating surface allows the luggage board to maintain its reversible characteristic with symmetrical appearance, while still accommodating the asymmetrical boot space requirements for maximizing luggage volume.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the luggage board rear edge is made symmetrical to allow reversibility, then the surface choice flexibility is improved, but the fit with asymmetrical boot space becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the mating surface asymmetrical rather than the luggage board. The mating surface has different curvatures on its left and right sides, which compensates for the asymmetrical boot space while allowing the luggage board to maintain a symmetrical rear edge profile for reversibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the luggage board asymmetrical to fit the asymmetrical boot space (which would lose reversibility), the patent inverts the approach by making the mating surface on the vehicle body asymmetrical. This allows the luggage board to remain symmetrical and reversible while still achieving proper fit through the asymmetrical mating surface design.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
A forward edge (33) of a tailgate opening lower surface includes a curvilinear profile that is asymmetrical about a longitudinal vehicle centre line (CLV). A symmetrical reversible luggage board (5) has a first carpeted load bearing surface (19) arranged to support luggage with the board installed one way up; and a second, opposed wipe clean load bearing surface (21, Fig. 6), which is uppermost the other way up. The board has a rear edge (29) which includes a curvilinear profile, said rear edge (29) being arranged to abut the forward edge (33) of the tailgate opening lower surface, so that the two curved edges substantially match up when the luggage board is in the first or second orientations. A wheel arch trim (WAL) which does not cover a fuel filler pipe can be made slimmer, offering more boot space. Advantage: broadest possible boot with reversible luggage board.