Telescopic Load Floor Structure for Vehicle Cargo Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional load floor structures in vehicle cargo areas are inflexible and require removal to access items stored beneath, which is inconvenient, especially in heavily trafficked areas.

Innovation Solution

A telescopic load floor structure comprising a plurality of nesting members that can be laterally displaced to access items without removal, featuring a pair of opposed sliding panels with guide rails and nesting members configured to retract, providing a planar top and arcuate bottom surface for improved load-bearing capacity and ease of use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional planar load floor structure is used, then the structure is simple and rigid, but it requires removal to access stored items which is inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to stored itemsVSAvoidload floor structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The load floor structure employs multiple nesting members (first nesting member, second nesting member, third nesting member) that can be inserted into and removed from guide rails. The nesting members are designed to nest within each other when not in use, allowing the floor to be extended or retracted as needed, enabling easy access to stored items without complete removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The load floor transitions from a static conventional structure to a dynamic telescopic structure. The nesting members can slide within guide rails and be positioned at different extensions, allowing the floor to adapt between a fully extended load-bearing state and a retracted state for item access, providing operational flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a telescopic structure with multiple nesting members is used, then ease of access to items is improved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral displacement of load floorVSAvoidnesting members and guide rails

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The load floor is divided into multiple independent nesting members (first, second, third nesting members) that can operate independently within guide rails. Each nesting member is a separate component that can be individually positioned, allowing the floor to be segmented for easier manipulation and access while maintaining overall structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the load floor is made lightweight and durable, then ease of use is enhanced, but structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of useVSAvoidload-bearing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The nesting members are constructed from composite materials combining aluminum extrusions with reinforcement elements. The guide rails and nesting members use aluminum profiles with integrated strengthening features, achieving a balance between lightweight construction for ease of manipulation and sufficient structural strength for load-bearing requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS10017128B2Telescopic load floor structure

Publication Date: 2018.07.10 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A telescopic load floor for a vehicle cargo area includes at least one load floor panel defined by a plurality of nesting members. A guide rail element guides translation of the plurality of nesting members between an open and a closed configuration. The telescopic load floor may define an arcuate bottom surface when extended.