Tilting Floor Plate for Ergonomic Industrial Truck Workplaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing industrial trucks with vertically height-adjustable floor plates require significant installation space and are complex to construct, limiting ergonomic adjustments for operators of different heights.

Innovation Solution

The floor plate is designed to be adjustable in inclination about a tilt axis, using a hinge and a locking mechanism, allowing ergonomic adjustments with minimal installation space and construction effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the floor plate is made vertically height-adjustable, then ergonomic requirements can be better met, but installation space requirements increase and construction becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveergonomic adaptabilityVSAvoidconstruction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adjusting the floor plate vertically (upward/downward movement), the patent inverts the approach by enabling inclination adjustment (rotational movement about a tilt axis). This allows the floor plate to adapt to different operator heights through angular adjustment rather than vertical displacement, thereby achieving ergonomic versatility without requiring complex vertical guide mechanisms and excessive installation space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the floor plate is made vertically height-adjustable, then ergonomic requirements can be better met, but installation space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveergonomic adaptabilityVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces vertical adjustment (requiring significant vertical space and guide mechanisms) with inclination adjustment about a tilt axis. This inversion of the adjustment direction allows the floor plate to achieve ergonomic adaptability for operators of different heights while occupying minimal installation space, as rotational movement requires far less spatial envelope than vertical translation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If the driver's seat height adjustment options are limited, then construction is simpler, but ergonomic requirements cannot be met for operators of different heights

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat adjustment complexityVSAvoidergonomic adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic adjustability to the floor plate through inclination adjustment about a tilt axis. This dynamic mechanism allows the floor plate to change its angular position to accommodate operators of different heights, compensating for the limited static adjustment options of the driver's seat. The locking mechanism ensures the dynamic adjustment can be fixed at the desired position during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of adjusting ergonomics solely through vertical seat position (one dimension), the patent adds a second dimension of adjustment by enabling the floor plate to rotate about a tilt axis. This dimensional addition provides ergonomic adaptability for operators of different heights without requiring complex multi-directional seat adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4620894A1Industrial truck with a driver's workplace

Publication Date: 2025.09.24 STILL GMBH

Figure 1
Figure 2~3c
Figure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to an industrial truck (1) with a driver's workplace (F) comprising a driver's seat (5) and a floor plate (6). The floor plate (6) is arranged in the driver's workplace (F) so that its inclination can be adjusted about a tilt axis (15).