Vehicle Kitchen Module With Sliding Rail and Nested Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Off-road and sporting vehicles lack integrated, compact kitchen modules that can be easily accessed and utilized for recreation, as existing solutions do not efficiently utilize storage space or provide functional cooking and cleaning facilities.

Innovation Solution

A modular kitchen system integrated into a vehicle's storage compartment, featuring a rail system for linear motion, collapsible components, and a shuttle system that allows for the extension and retraction of a kitchen module with a water tank, sink, rangetop, and drawers, optimized for compact storage and functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a kitchen module is integrated into vehicle storage compartment, then functional cooking and cleaning facilities are provided, but the storage space becomes more complex and harder to access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional cooking and cleaning facilitiesVSAvoidstorage compartment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The kitchen module is divided into separate functional components (sink, rangetop, drawers, water tank) that can be independently positioned and configured within the storage compartment, reducing overall complexity while maintaining full functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The kitchen module incorporates movable components including a rail system for linear motion and a shuttle system for extension and retraction, allowing the structure to dynamically adapt between compact storage and expanded functional states

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If kitchen module components are extended for use, then cooking and cleaning functionality is improved, but the storage footprint increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking and cleaning functionalityVSAvoidstorage footprint
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The kitchen module components are designed to nest within each other when retracted, with drawers sliding into the main body and the rangetop folding into a compact configuration, minimizing the storage footprint while maintaining full functionality when extended

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The kitchen module utilizes the depth dimension of the storage compartment through the rail and shuttle systems, allowing components to extend along the linear axis rather than expanding outward, thereby maintaining a compact external footprint while providing full functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3880515B1Kitchen module for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 RIVIAN HOLDINGS LLC
  • EP3880515B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3880515B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3880515B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A kitchen module for a vehicle includes a frame system for providing structural support, a rail system affixed to the frame system and the vehicle, and a plurality of kitchen components mounted to the frame system. The rail system is configured to allow the frame system to move relative to the vehicle. The plurality of kitchen components include a sink, a potable water tank, a waste-water tank, a rangetop, at least one drawer, a countertop, lights, any other suitable component, or any combination thereof. The vehicle, which may be an electric vehicle having a battery module, can include an electrical extension connecting an electric power source of the vehicle to the kitchen module. The electrical extension may be coupled to at least one of an actuator of the rail system and a rangetop.