Snap-Fit Floor Panels for Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle Conversions

Solution Overview

Problem

Converting vehicles into those with flexible seating arrangements and wheelchair accommodations is labor-intensive and time-consuming due to the need for extensive bolting and adhering of metal and plywood flooring materials, which is costly and time-consuming, and fails to meet safety regulations without additional fasteners.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle flooring system featuring aluminum extruded floor panels with integral channels and snap-fit connections, including tongue and lip connections, that reduce the need for screws and bolts, and incorporate positive locking grooves for securing seats and wheelchairs, ensuring compliance with safety regulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional bolting and adhering methods are used to install flooring materials, then the flooring system can meet safety regulations and provide secure mounting, but the installation process becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure mountingVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The flooring system is divided into discrete panels with integrated connection features. Each panel is a self-contained unit with molded-in tongue and groove connectors, allowing rapid assembly without traditional fastening methods. This segmentation enables workers to simply snap panels together rather than performing time-consuming bolting and adhering operations for each panel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection features (tongue and groove connectors) are merged directly into the panel structure during manufacturing. The tongue and groove elements are molded as integral parts of the panels themselves, eliminating the need for separate fasteners, adhesives, or mounting hardware. This merging of connection functionality into the panels reduces installation steps and labor requirements while maintaining secure connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If multiple screws or fasteners are used per panel to pass safety pull tests, then the flooring system meets safety regulations, but the number of fasteners and installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety complianceVSAvoidfastener quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection features (tongue and groove connectors) are merged directly into the panel structure during manufacturing. The tongue and groove elements are molded as integral parts of the panels themselves, eliminating the need for separate fasteners, adhesives, or mounting hardware. This merging of connection functionality into the panels reduces installation steps and labor requirements while maintaining secure connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection features are pre-formed and integrated into the panels during manufacturing. The tongue and groove connectors are molded into the panels before installation, so that the connection capability is already prepared and built-in. This preliminary action eliminates the need for workers to install separate fasteners or create connection points during installation, reducing both the number of components and the complexity of the installation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If traditional flooring conversion processes are used, then secure mounting is achieved, but labor costs and installation time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting strengthVSAvoidinstallation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flooring system is divided into discrete panels with integrated connection features. Each panel is a self-contained unit with molded-in tongue and groove connectors, allowing rapid assembly without traditional fastening methods. This segmentation enables workers to simply snap panels together rather than performing time-consuming bolting and adhering operations for each panel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The panels are designed to be self-connecting through their integrated tongue and groove features. When panels are brought together, the connectors automatically engage and lock the panels in place without requiring external fasteners or additional installation steps. This self-service capability eliminates the need for workers to perform complex fastening operations, dramatically improving installation efficiency while maintaining strong connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250318967A1Floor panel system for vehicles

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 KUMAR ANJANI

AI summary

A vehicle flooring system for converting regular vehicles into wheelchair accessible vehicles. The flooring system is made up of individual flooring panels connected via a snap fit type tongue and lip connection. Each individual panel contains an integral track. The integral track forms a positive lock with the track channels. The flooring system is able to satisfy government regulations concerning seat and wheelchair location pull testing.