Adjustable Bracket for Trailer Door Chain Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mounting brackets for highway trailer doors restrict the anchor point of the chain, making it difficult to achieve the shortest path between the anchor and the hook, which can lead to the door not being held tightly against the trailer, potentially causing issues during loading and unloading.
Innovation Solution
A bracket system with a plurality of apertures for fastening, an elongated slot, and a riding member that allows the flexible member to be repositioned along the bracket, enabling optimal placement of the chain anchor and hook for minimized chain length and secure door positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional mounting brackets with single anchor point are used, then the bracket structure is simple, but the chain cannot achieve the shortest path between anchor and hook, causing the door to not be held tightly against the trailer
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket incorporates an elongated slot that allows the chain anchor point to be dynamically positioned at different locations along the slot length, enabling optimization of the chain path length while maintaining a relatively simple bracket structure
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is divided into multiple functional elements including the mounting plate, elongated slot, and key member with riding member, allowing independent optimization of each component's function while working together to achieve the overall goal of secure door holding
2Adaptability or versatility
If the chain anchor point is fixed at a single position, then the bracket is easy to manufacture, but it cannot be repositioned to achieve optimal chain length and door positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated slot provides a range of positions along its length where the chain can be anchored, allowing the anchor point to be repositioned to achieve optimal chain length and door positioning while maintaining a relatively simple bracket structure that is easy to manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket design with elongated slot and key member assembly serves multiple functions: providing adjustable anchor positioning, securing the chain, and enabling optimal door holding at various positions, all within a single integrated component structure
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the chain length is not minimized, then the bracket structure remains simple, but the door may protrude and catch on structures adjacent to the loading dock
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated slot enables dynamic adjustment of the chain anchor position to minimize chain length and prevent door protrusion, while the overall bracket structure remains relatively simple and does not significantly increase device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The key member with riding member acts as an intermediary mechanism that allows the chain to be securely anchored at optimal positions along the elongated slot, preventing door protrusion while maintaining simple bracket structure
Data Source
AI summary
A bracket is provided for anchoring a flexible member such as a chain to a surface in such a way as to allow such member to be repositioned over a range of locations along the bracket, once the bracket has been fastened to the surface. The bracket includes an elongated slot along which the terminal end of the flexible member may slide, thereby permitting the anchoring end of the flexible member to be positioned over a range of positions along the bracket.