Photo: Screenshot from Hyundai patent filing
An interesting patent filed last year by South Korean carmaker Hyundai for a recreational vehicle with a sliding gullwing door was published last week.
As it turns out, instead of conventional sliding doors or the eccentric gullwing variety, Hyundai intends to do both in a single package.
Thus, the patent application filed by the automaker shows a passenger van which can open the side door vertically, but can also slide it to the back, like conventional commercial vehicles.
As usual, a patent filing does not necessarily mean that the designers will build the product shortly. Carmakers and other companies involved in competitive areas often file patents for products they do not end up making, but some manage to obtain royalty fees from third parties using the technology.
As Free Patents Online reveals, the idea behind Hyundai’s invention is for a lifestyle vehicle that can be used by campers. The creators view their approach as an aid to those who love the outdoors, and they wanted to provide a vehicle that can bring further enjoyment and practicality for these customers.
The sliding mechanism of the gullwing door designed by Hyundai is meant to help easy access in areas where space is an issue, while the vertical opening possibility was conceived for outdoor use. The patent filing does not mention specific details of the door mechanism, such as how much it weighs, but the downside of this system, along with added complexity and cost, might be its weight.
The South Korean carmaker might postpone the market release of this technical solution that could revolutionize recreational vehicles until they develop affordable and lightweight materials suitable for series production.
Aside from the cost and complexity issues of such a system, Hyundai also has to make it compliant with safety regulations, and these are getting stricter by the year, so further delays could also be linked to the process required to make the gullwing-door RV safe in the case of an accident.
If it does not achieve a good safety rating, the vehicle might not be bought by as many customers as initially estimated, as clients of leisure vehicles such as the one shown in the patent usually have families and care for the safety of their new cars.
Thus, the patent application filed by the automaker shows a passenger van which can open the side door vertically, but can also slide it to the back, like conventional commercial vehicles.
As usual, a patent filing does not necessarily mean that the designers will build the product shortly. Carmakers and other companies involved in competitive areas often file patents for products they do not end up making, but some manage to obtain royalty fees from third parties using the technology.
As Free Patents Online reveals, the idea behind Hyundai’s invention is for a lifestyle vehicle that can be used by campers. The creators view their approach as an aid to those who love the outdoors, and they wanted to provide a vehicle that can bring further enjoyment and practicality for these customers.
The sliding mechanism of the gullwing door designed by Hyundai is meant to help easy access in areas where space is an issue, while the vertical opening possibility was conceived for outdoor use. The patent filing does not mention specific details of the door mechanism, such as how much it weighs, but the downside of this system, along with added complexity and cost, might be its weight.
The South Korean carmaker might postpone the market release of this technical solution that could revolutionize recreational vehicles until they develop affordable and lightweight materials suitable for series production.
Aside from the cost and complexity issues of such a system, Hyundai also has to make it compliant with safety regulations, and these are getting stricter by the year, so further delays could also be linked to the process required to make the gullwing-door RV safe in the case of an accident.
If it does not achieve a good safety rating, the vehicle might not be bought by as many customers as initially estimated, as clients of leisure vehicles such as the one shown in the patent usually have families and care for the safety of their new cars.
Google News