Tailgate Cargo Cover Pivot Mechanism for Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing luggage compartment covers in motor vehicles often restrict access to the cargo area when the tailgate is open, making it difficult to insert or remove large objects, and the mechanism for releasing and closing access is complex and costly to produce.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle design featuring a luggage compartment cover that is pivotably attached to the tailgate with a traction cable and deflection cable system, allowing the cover to be drawn against the tailgate when opened, providing maximum access to the cargo area without reducing access space, and utilizing a simple, inexpensive mechanism for easy assembly and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the luggage compartment cover is firmly connected to the tailgate, then the cover moves completely with the tailgate providing privacy when closed, but access to the cargo area is restricted when the tailgate is open

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to cargo areaVSAvoidcover connection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The luggage compartment cover connection is changed from a static firm connection to a dynamic pivotable connection. The cover is attached to the tailgate via a pivot axis, allowing it to rotate between a closed position (when tailgate is closed) and an open position (when tailgate is open). This dynamic connection enables the cover to adapt its position based on tailgate state, providing both privacy when closed and access when open.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The luggage compartment cover is divided into separate sections - a front cover portion and a rear cover section. The rear cover section is firmly connected to the tailgate while the front cover portion is pivotably connected, allowing independent movement of each section. This segmentation enables the rear section to maintain connection stability while the front section provides access to the cargo area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a mechanism is added to release the luggage compartment cover from the tailgate, then access to the cargo area is improved, but the mechanism becomes complex and costly to produce

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to cargo areaVSAvoidrelease mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The luggage compartment cover system uses the tailgate's own movement to automatically release and position the cover. When the tailgate is opened, the pivotable connection automatically allows the cover to rotate and move out of the way without requiring any additional release mechanism. The system serves itself by utilizing the existing tailgate motion to achieve cover release.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The pivotable connection serves multiple functions: it maintains the cover attached to the tailgate when closed for privacy, automatically releases the cover when the tailgate opens for access, and positions the cover during the transition. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate release mechanisms while achieving all required operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the luggage compartment cover is divided into front and rear sections, then access area to the cargo area is increased, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess area to cargo areaVSAvoidcover structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The luggage compartment cover is segmented into a front cover portion and a rear cover section with different connection methods. The rear cover section is firmly connected to the tailgate while the front cover portion is pivotably connected, allowing the front section to be moved or removed independently to increase access area for larger items.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The front cover portion uses a pivotable connection that allows it to rotate and move independently from the rear cover section. This dynamic connection enables the front section to be positioned in different orientations or completely removed when needed, increasing access area while maintaining a relatively simple structure through the use of a single pivot mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3753787B1Motor vehicle with a cargo area cover
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC
  • EP3753787B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3753787B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3753787B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a rearward-swinging tailgate (3), on which a cargo cover (2, 19, 35) for covering a cargo space (10) located behind a seat (8) within a passenger compartment (9) is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis (7) at its rear end region (6) facing the tailgate (3), wherein the cargo cover (2, 19, 35) is held on a vehicle body (4) at a region (11) spaced apart from the pivot axis (7) by means of at least one force transmission means (12), which pivots the cargo cover (2, 19, 35) towards the tailgate (3) when the tailgate (4) is swung open, thus providing access to the cargo space (10), wherein the force transmission means (12) is deflected by a force deflection means (29, 33) attached to the tailgate (3).It is proposed that the power transmission means (12) is a pull rope and the power deflection means (29) is a deflection pull rope attached to the power transmission means (12) and running diagonally or transversely to the power transmission means (12).