Accessory Rail and Soft Top Mount for Flexible RV Attachments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recreational sport vehicles with side-by-side seating face challenges in attaching and removing accessories without damaging the vehicle, as existing methods often result in rusting, weight addition, and permanent alterations, while also lacking flexibility in accessory positioning and type.
Innovation Solution
A tubular framework with a removably attached accessory rail that provides a secure anchor for the soft top and allows for variable positioning of accessories, using divergent interface projections and T-shaped slots for minimal material use and easy attachment of accessories like sun visors, cameras, and electronic devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If accessories are permanently attached to the vehicle using drilling or welding, then attachment strength and reliability are improved, but the vehicle body is damaged and rusting occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory attachment system is divided into separate components: a mounting bracket that attaches to the vehicle body without permanent modification, and the accessory itself. This segmentation allows the accessory to be securely attached while preserving the integrity of the vehicle body, avoiding drilling, welding, or other damaging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A mounting bracket serves as an intermediary component between the vehicle body and the accessory. This intermediary element provides a secure attachment point for the accessory while interfacing with the vehicle body through non-damaging means such as clamping or friction-fit mechanisms, thereby preventing direct damage to the vehicle body.
2Reliability
If accessories are attached using heavy mounting structures, then attachment strength and stability are improved, but the vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket utilizes a thin-walled tubular structure that provides sufficient structural strength and stability for accessory attachment while minimizing material usage and overall weight. The tubular design offers high strength-to-weight ratio, maintaining attachment reliability without significantly increasing vehicle weight.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed mounting positions are used for accessories, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but flexibility in accessory positioning and type is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket incorporates adjustable features that allow the accessory position to be dynamically changed along the length of the bracket. This dynamic adjustability enables the same mounting structure to accommodate different accessory types and positions, providing versatility while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a standardized bracket design.
Data Source
AI summary
A recreational vehicle with side by side seating has or can receive an overhead tubular framework with an accessory rail removably attached to an overhead cross member of the tubular framework. The accessory rail providing an anchor for a forward edge of a soft top with the soft top wrapping around the overhead cross member and extending rearwardly and being supported by and secured to the tubular framework. The soft top covering the side by side seating region. The accessory rail having the anchor for the soft top, an interface for engaging the cross member, and an accessory mounting portion with variable positioning and attachment of an array of accessories above and forward of the side by side seating region.