Vehicle Panel Retrieval Tool with Latch Mount

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles often face challenges in storing and accessing cargo, particularly heavy or large items that shift during transport, as they may be placed in difficult-to-reach areas within storage compartments, leading to uneven payload distribution and accessibility issues.

Innovation Solution

A mounting bracket and latch mechanism system that secures an elongate member, such as a retrieval hook, within a vehicle's body panel or tailgate, allowing easy access and storage of tools, with a spring assembly and locking mechanism to keep the tool in place during transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If cargo is placed in difficult-to-reach areas of the storage compartment, then payload distribution is improved, but accessibility of the cargo is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayload distributionVSAvoidaccessibility of cargo

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A retrieval tool with an elongate body and retrieval end is provided as an intermediary device. The tool can be inserted into hard-to-reach areas of the storage compartment to access and manipulate cargo, thereby maintaining proper payload distribution while enabling accessibility without direct hand access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If cargo is placed in out-of-reach areas to fit more cargo, then storage capacity is improved, but ease of accessing cargo is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidease of accessing cargo

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retrieval tool serves as a mediator that enables access to cargo stored in out-of-reach areas. The elongate body allows the tool to reach into deep or confined spaces within the storage compartment, permitting full utilization of storage capacity while maintaining the ability to access and rearrange cargo as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If cargo is allowed to shift during transport, then storage space utilization is improved, but safety and accessibility are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage space utilizationVSAvoidcargo stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retrieval tool acts as an intermediary for monitoring and adjusting cargo position. It can be used to check on and reposition cargo that may have shifted during transport, maintaining both efficient space utilization and cargo stability without requiring permanent fixtures that would reduce storage flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9849843B2Vehicle body panel retrieval tool and storage compartment

Publication Date: 2017.12.26 KOGUT ANDREW W S

AI summary

An apparatus includes a mounting bracket configured to mount to an outer surface of a body panel of a vehicle, a latch mechanism coupled to the mounting bracket, and an elongate member detachable from the mounting bracket and insertable into the opening. The elongate member comprises a body and a handle comprising a rod having a diameter smaller than the opening to allow the elongate member to be inserted into and removed from the opening; a handle comprising a coupling mechanism configured to engage with the latch mechanism so that the elongate member can be secured to the mounting bracket such that, when secured, at least a portion of the body of the elongate member is positioned within an inside cavity of the body panel; and a detachable coupling mechanism configured to detachably engage with one or more tool ends.