Vehicle Bed Storage Box with Rotating Interface Bracket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle storage boxes installed on top of or above bed rails interfere with vehicle operation due to high center of gravity and apply unwanted lateral forces during use, compromising safety and usability.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-bed storage box with an interface plate and bracket system that positions the container low on the vehicle bed, utilizing a rotating mechanism for secure attachment, minimizing interference with the wheelhouse and reducing lateral forces, and providing accessible storage with a low center of gravity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If storage boxes are installed on top of or above bed rails to keep accessories in a high location, then storage capacity is improved, but vehicle operation stability deteriorates due to high center of gravity and lateral forces
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting the storage box on top of or above the bed rails (high location), the invention inverts the mounting approach by securing the box to the inner sidewall of the vehicle bed at a low location. This inversion of mounting position resolves the contradiction by maintaining storage capacity while eliminating the high center of gravity problem that causes instability during vehicle operation.
2Illumination intensity
If storage boxes are mounted high on the vehicle to avoid interfering with sight lines, then visibility is improved, but vehicle operation stability deteriorates due to lateral forces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional high-mounting approach by securing the storage box to the inner sidewall at a low location. This resolves the contradiction by placing the storage box where it cannot interfere with the driver's sight lines, thereby maintaining visibility while eliminating the lateral forces generated by high-mounted containers during vehicle operation.
3Ease of operation
If a rotating mechanism is used to secure the interface bracket to the interface plate, then ease of installation and removal is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies dynamics by incorporating a rotating mechanism within the interface bracket that allows the box to be easily installed and removed. The rotating mechanism transitions between a locked position (securing the box) and an unlocked position (allowing removal), providing dynamic functionality that enhances ease of operation while maintaining relatively simple device structure through the use of a single rotating component.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle-bed storage box includes a container having an interior volume, an interface plate disposed within a vehicle-bed sidewall that selectively receives the container against the vehicle-bed sidewall and over a vehicle-bed wheelhouse, the interface plate including a securing recess and an interface bracket extending from at least one sidewall, the interface bracket including a rotating mechanism operable between a plurality of rotational positions, including an engaged position and a secured position when the interface bracket is received by the interface plate, the engaged position being defined by the rotating mechanism being free of engagement with the securing recess and further defined by the interface bracket being at least partially operable within the interface plate, and wherein the secured position is defined by the rotating mechanism being engaged within the securing recess and the interface bracket being substantially free of movement within the interface plate.