Vehicle Tool Storage Composite Foam Rigid Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool storage devices in vehicles face a trade-off between weight reduction and maintaining rigidity, which affects the available space in the luggage compartment, as either increasing thickness for rigidity raises the floor or using lighter materials increases weight.
Innovation Solution
A tool storage device comprising a first member made of lightweight foamed material for tool storage and a second member made of rigid non-foamed material, arranged in a plate shape along the vehicle floor, allowing for reduced weight and increased space without compromising structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the box peripheral portion is made thicker to achieve rigidity, then structural strength is improved, but the floor surface is raised and luggage compartment space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining foam material (for weight reduction) with rigid plate material (for structural strength). The box peripheral portion uses this composite structure where the rigid plate is attached to the foam material, providing the necessary strength without increasing thickness and thus preserving luggage compartment space.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool storage device is divided into two distinct parts: a box peripheral portion and a tool storage portion. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the box peripheral portion can use composite materials for strength, while the tool storage portion uses foam material for weight reduction, resolving the contradiction between strength and space.
2Weight of moving object
If foam material is used to reduce weight, then weight is reduced, but structural rigidity is insufficient requiring increased thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials combining foam material with rigid plate material. The foam material provides weight reduction while the rigid plate material attached to the box peripheral portion provides the necessary structural rigidity, eliminating the need to increase thickness for strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the tool storage device have different material properties optimized for their specific functions. The tool storage portion uses foam material for weight reduction, while the box peripheral portion uses composite materials with rigid plate for localized strength where structurally required.
3Volume of moving object
If synthetic resin with rigidity is used, then component thickness can be reduced, but the weight of the entire tool storage device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials where the rigid plate material is attached only to the box peripheral portion, not the entire device. This provides the necessary rigidity to reduce thickness while keeping the tool storage portion made of lightweight foam material, thus avoiding overall weight increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid plate material is applied locally only where structural strength is needed (box peripheral portion), while the tool storage portion remains as lightweight foam material. This localized application of rigid material reduces thickness where necessary without increasing overall device weight.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool storage device used in a vehicle includes a first member storing tools and made of a first material, and a second member receiving the first member to be arranged below a vehicle floor and having a plate shape extending along a floor surface of the vehicle floor, the second member made of a second material different from the first material.