Vehicle Bed Stiffener with External Wall for Obstruction-Free Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle bed stiffeners protrude inwardly into the vehicle bed, causing obstruction, potential damage, and injury, while also being vulnerable to damage from external objects.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle bed support and stiffener assembly with an upwardly extending front support and rearwardly extending floor and perimeter-side-wall-attaching wall portions, configured to form an angle between 75 to 105 degrees, minimizing inward projection and allowing flush mounting along the floor and side walls to avoid obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the stiffening wall extends inwardly into the vehicle bed from the perimeter wall and floor, then the vehicle bed gains support and stiffening, but the vehicle bed use is impeded and objects/humans may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening structure is repositioned from extending inwardly into the bed volume to extending outwardly from the perimeter wall and floor, utilizing external space rather than internal space. This dimensional repositioning allows the stiffening function to be maintained while eliminating obstruction of the vehicle bed interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffening function is extracted from the interior of the vehicle bed and relocated to the exterior. The stiffening wall is configured to extend outwardly from the perimeter wall and floor, separating the stiffening structure from the usable bed space and eliminating interference with vehicle bed operations.
2Strength
If the stiffening wall extends inwardly into the vehicle bed, then support structure is provided, but the thin projecting member is vulnerable to damage from external objects
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the stiffening wall extending inwardly into the bed where it would be vulnerable to objects, the structure is inverted to extend outwardly from the perimeter wall and floor. This inversion positions the stiffening structure in a protected location where it can provide support without being exposed to damage from objects within the bed.
3Strength
If the stiffening wall extends inwardly from perimeter wall and floor, then the vehicle bed gains structural reinforcement, but the projected member creates safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening structure is extracted from the hazardous interior position where it could cause damage to objects, animals, or humans, and relocated to an exterior position extending from the perimeter wall and floor. This extraction eliminates the safety hazard while preserving the structural reinforcement function.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffening wall is repositioned from extending into the three-dimensional interior volume of the bed to extending outwardly from the perimeter surfaces. This dimensional change moves the structure away from the hazardous zone where it could cause injury or damage to objects.
Data Source
AI summary
According to some illustrative embodiments, a novel vehicle bed support or stiffener is provided. In the preferred embodiments, the vehicle bed support or stiffener is uniquely configured such that the structure does not obstruct or encroach the vehicle bed region of a vehicle. In some preferred embodiments, the vehicle bed support or stiffener is fixed to a vehicle bed with an upwardly extending front support and stiffening wall extending laterally along an end of said floor and downwardly below a plane of the floor and extending laterally along an end of at least one of said left and right side walls and outwardly away from the vehicle bed.