Sliding Door Track Extension for Wider Vehicle Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mass-produced passenger vehicles are not designed to accommodate physically limited passengers, requiring significant modifications such as adding a ramp and widening the door opening, which increases the complexity and cost of retrofitting.

Innovation Solution

A track extension is added to the existing door track system, allowing the sliding door to move further rearward and increasing the width of the door opening, thereby simplifying the retrofitting process and reducing the number of modifications required.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the door opening is widened to accommodate physically limited passengers, then accessibility is improved, but the device complexity and modification cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidmodification complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door track system is segmented into two independent parts: the original door track and the added track extension. This segmentation allows the track extension to be installed separately without modifying the existing door track, thereby improving accessibility while minimizing modification complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the door opening is widened to accommodate physically limited passengers, then accessibility is improved, but the number of modifications required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidretrofitting process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The track extension is designed as a universal component that can be applied to various vehicle models without requiring custom fabrication. The extension channel and mounting features are standardized to work with different door track configurations, simplifying the retrofitting process and reducing the number of modifications needed across different vehicle types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250187409A1Track extension for a passenger vehicle and method of assembly

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 BRAUN CORP

AI summary

A track extender for a sliding door track of an OEM passenger vehicle having a passenger opening, and a door operatively coupled to a sliding mechanism configured to slide along the sliding door track of the OEM vehicle. The sliding door track includes a track channel extending from the passenger opening toward a rear portion of the vehicle, wherein the sliding door track includes a first end located toward the passenger opening and a second end located toward the rear portion of the vehicle. The track extender includes a track extension body located at the second end of the track wherein the track extension body defines an extension channel. The extension channel is aligned with the track to lengthen the track and to extend a travel distance of the sliding mechanism along the track and to increase a width of the passenger opening.