Adaptable transportation container systems for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12103764-B2
Application number	US-202016937880-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2020
Priority date	Jul 24, 2020
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

An adjustable transportation container system is provided including a container including a plurality of container segments defining a geometry, a container adjustment device interconnecting the plurality of container segments, one or more processors, and one or more memory modules. The one or more memory modules include a computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to identify a weight distribution of the container, identify an adjusted geometry of the container, and actuate the container adjustment device to change the geometry of the container to conform to the adjusted geometry.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable transportation container system comprising:
a container including a plurality of container segments defining a geometry;
a container adjustment device interconnecting the plurality of container segments;
one or more processors; and
one or more memory modules comprising a computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
identify a weight distribution of the container;
identify an adjusted geometry of the container based on the weight distribution of the container; and
actuate the container adjustment device to change the geometry of the container to conform to the adjusted geometry,

wherein the adjusted geometry defines a cross-sectional shape of the container.

2. The adjustable transportation container system of claim 1 , wherein the container adjustment device comprises a plurality of actuators.

3. The adjustable transportation container system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of actuators extend between adjacent container segments of the container.

4. The adjustable transportation container system of claim 3 , wherein the adjacent container segments are rotatably attached to one another and the plurality of actuators are configured to operate between an extended position and a retracted position to rotate the adjacent container segments relative to one another.

5. The adjustable transportation container system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of actuators extend between opposing container segments of the container.

6. The adjustable transportation container system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of actuators are configured to operate between an extended position and a retracted position to adjust a distance between opposing container segments of the container.

7. The adjustable transportation container system of claim 1 , wherein the adjusted geometry has a circular geometry.

8. The adjustable transportation container system of claim 1 , further comprising a weight sensor configured to determine the weight distribution of the container.

9. The adjustable transportation container system of claim 1 , further comprising a wind sensor, the adjusted geometry of the container based on data transmitted from the wind sensor.

10. The adjustable transportation container system of claim 1 , further comprising a weather forecast module, the adjusted geometry of the container based on data transmitted from the weather forecast module.

11. The adjustable transportation container system of claim 1 , further comprising a speedometer, the adjusted geometry of the container based on data transmitted from the speedometer.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor North America Inc

Inventors

• Lange Armin

Classifications

• B62D33/04

  Enclosed load compartments {; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains (side curtains per se B60J5/065; tarpaulins per se B60J7/00, B60P7/04)} · CPC title

• G01G19/08

  for incorporation in vehicles · CPC title

• B62D33/044

  built up with profiles of constant elongated shape, e.g. extruded, mechanically interconnected by coupling members, e.g. by clamping, riveting or bolting · CPC title

• G01M1/30

  Compensating imbalance · CPC title

• B65D88/005 Primary

  of variable capacity, e.g. with movable or adjustable walls or wall parts, modular · CPC title