Stake-Pocket Ramp Holding Brackets for Space-Saving Truck Bed Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing truck ramp storage solutions occupy valuable cargo space and require users to climb into the bed to retrieve or stow the ramp, lacking efficient and convenient storage options.
Innovation Solution
A pair of support brackets with elongate and hooked portions that fit into stake pockets in a truck bed, allowing the ramp to be suspended and stored without occupying floor space, using fasteners for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the ramp is stored on the floor of the truck bed, then the ramp is easily accessible, but valuable cargo space is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp storage system transitions from two-dimensional floor storage to three-dimensional vertical storage by utilizing the truck bed's height dimension. The support brackets extend upward from the floor, and the ramp is suspended vertically from the stake pockets, effectively moving the ramp out of the horizontal cargo plane and into the vertical space above the bed floor.
Solution Approach 2:
The support brackets serve as intermediary elements between the stake pockets and the ramp. These brackets provide a mechanical connection that allows the ramp to be suspended from the stake pockets without direct contact, enabling the ramp to be held in a vertical position while maintaining easy accessibility through the hooked portion.
2Volume of moving object
If the ramp is stored beneath the bed, then cargo space is maximized, but users must climb into the bed to retrieve or stow the ramp
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of storing the ramp horizontally beneath the bed floor, the system utilizes the vertical dimension by suspending the ramp from the stake pockets. The support brackets extend upward to engage the stake pockets, positioning the ramp in vertical space that is accessible from outside the bed, eliminating the need to climb in.
Solution Approach 2:
The support brackets are designed with self-aligning features where the elongate portion fits into the stake pocket and the hooked portion automatically positions itself to engage the ramp. This self-service mechanism simplifies the stowing and retrieval process, allowing users to easily secure or remove the ramp without complex manual operations.
3Volume of moving object
If the ramp is suspended from stake pockets using support brackets, then cargo space is freed and accessibility is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support bracket is divided into two distinct functional segments: the elongate portion that interfaces with the stake pocket and the hooked portion that engages the ramp. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while keeping the overall structure simple and modular.
Solution Approach 2:
The support brackets utilize existing truck bed components (stake pockets) for mounting, making the system adaptable to various truck models without requiring custom installation holes or modifications. The brackets serve multiple functions: structural support, positioning, and secure attachment, all while using the pre-existing stake pocket infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A ramp holding assembly includes a pair of support brackets that each has an elongate portion which is insertable into a stake pocket in a bed of a truck for securing the support brackets to the bed. Each of the support brackets has a hooked portion curving laterally away from the elongate portion and curving downwardly from the elongate portion. In this way a ramp can be suspended on the hooked portion for storing the ramp when the elongate portion is inserted into the stake pocket.