Trunk Floor Storage Bin Layout for EV Charging Cable Stowage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage solutions for charging cables in electric or hybrid vehicles often compromise the loading volume of the trunk, lacking efficient and space-saving designs for neatly storing cables when not in use.
Innovation Solution
A storage assembly integrated into the trunk floor featuring a vertical bin with a corrugated wall and stiffening ribs, securely fixed to the trunk floor components, allowing for efficient storage of charging cables without reducing trunk space, while also accommodating underbody fairings and accessories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If charging cables are stored directly in the trunk or in a mobile cover, then the cables remain available, but the loading volume of the trunk is reduced and the storage is not neat
Solution Approach 1:
The storage bin is nested within the trunk floor structure, with the bin integrated into a recess formed by longitudinal and transverse plates. This nesting approach allows the storage function to be embedded within the existing trunk volume without adding external protrusions, thereby maintaining cable organization while preserving trunk loading volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage solution transitions from surface-level trunk storage to subsurface integration by forming a recess within the trunk floor. This dimensional change allows the storage bin to utilize vertical space within the floor structure rather than occupying horizontal trunk volume, effectively organizing cables without reducing usable trunk space.
2Ease of operation
If a storage box with integrated bins is used, then cable storage is provided, but the device complexity increases and more fixing parts are required
Solution Approach 1:
The storage bin, longitudinal plates, transverse plates, and floor panels are merged into a single integrated assembly. The bin is formed within the recess created by the plates, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets, screws, or clips that would be required for traditional storage box installations. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining storage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal and transverse plates serve dual functions: they provide structural support for the trunk floor and simultaneously create the recess that forms the storage bin. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated storage box mounting structures, reducing the number of fixing parts required while maintaining both structural integrity and storage capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the tray wall is smooth, then manufacturing is easier, but the tray lacks structural strength and cable storage capability
Solution Approach 1:
The tray wall incorporates corrugations (undulating curves) rather than smooth surfaces. This curvature provides structural reinforcement through the geometric properties of corrugated structures, which resist bending and compression forces more effectively than flat surfaces. The corrugated design maintains manufacturability through standard molding processes while significantly enhancing the tray's strength and its ability to contain and organize cables.
Data Source
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AI summary
[Storage assembly suitable for integration into the storage compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one storage bin (1) having: - an upper part which has an upper rim (10) surrounding the access opening into the interior of the bin, and which is suitable for integration into the floor of the trunk, and - a base (14) with an external face having a plurality of stiffening ribs (7) which incorporate first fastening means (83, 86) suitable for fastening, elements of the underbody of said vehicle (C1, C2, B10) and/or accessories of the vehicle.