Stowable Rotating Rack System for Pickup Cargo Accessories
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of vehicles, particularly pickup trucks, face challenges in loading, securing, and transporting items for recreational use, as they often need to move heavy items from the cargo bed and provide mounting surfaces, which occupy valuable space and require manual positioning.
Innovation Solution
A stowable rail system is integrated into the vehicle cargo bed, comprising rotatable rack members that can be deployed when stationary, allowing for the attachment of various accessories and enabling flexible spatial arrangement for user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mounting surfaces are transported in the vehicle cargo bed, then mounting capability is provided, but valuable cargo space is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The rack members are designed to nest within each other when retracted, with the second rack member fitting inside the first rack member, and the third rack member fitting inside the second rack member. This nested configuration minimizes the volume occupied in the cargo bed when the mounting system is not in use, while still providing full mounting capability when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack members are designed to be dynamically extendable and retractable through rotational joints. The first rack member rotates relative to the support element, the second rack member rotates relative to the first rack member, and the third rack member rotates independently relative to the first rack member. This dynamic configuration allows the system to transition between a compact stored state and an extended operational state, providing mounting surfaces only when needed.
2Ease of operation
If heavy items are moved from the vehicle cargo bed, then items can be positioned for use, but manual positioning effort is required
Solution Approach 1:
The rack system acts as an intermediary structure that provides mounting surfaces extended from the vehicle. By attaching items directly to the extended rack members at various positions, users eliminate the need to manually carry heavy items from the cargo bed to distant locations. The rack members serve as the intermediary support structure that bridges the gap between the vehicle and the desired item positions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple rack members are rotatably coupled to provide independent movement, then flexible spatial arrangement is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into multiple independently rotatable rack members: the first rack member rotatably coupled to the support element, the second rack member rotatably coupled to the first rack member, and the third rack member rotatably coupled to the first rack member independently of the second rack member. This segmentation allows each rack member to be positioned independently, providing flexible spatial arrangement for mounting surfaces while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the use of standardized rotational joints.
Data Source
AI summary
A rack system for a vehicle includes a first rack member rotatably coupled to a support element in a cargo bed of the vehicle, a second rack member rotatably coupled to the first rack member, and a third rack member coupled to first rack member so as to be rotatable with respect to the first rack member independently of the second rack member. The rack members may be stowed when not in use, and deployed when the vehicle is stationary to enable various accessories to be mounted from the rack members. This enables the accessories to be spatially arranged for use according to user preferences and convenience.