Adjustable Cargo Carrier Adaptor for Contoured Vehicle Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cargo carrier mounting systems require custom production for each vehicle model due to varying contoured surfaces, leading to high production costs and inefficiencies, as they are not adaptable across different vehicle contours.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable adaptor system with a mounting element, foot, and leg that allows for adjustable length and angular alignment, featuring pivotable and sliding connections to accommodate various vehicle surface contours without the need for specific shaping or tooling for each vehicle model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If custom mounting adaptors are produced for each vehicle model, then mounting precision and adaptability to specific vehicle contours is improved, but production cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting adaptor incorporates adjustable legs with variable lengths and pivotable connections that allow dynamic adjustment to match different vehicle surface contours. This enables a single adaptor design to adapt to multiple vehicle models without requiring custom production for each model, resolving the contradiction between mounting precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptor allows changing of geometric parameters (leg lengths, angles) to accommodate different vehicle contours. By making these parameters adjustable rather than fixed, the system achieves high mounting precision across multiple vehicle models while maintaining a standardized adaptor design, thereby reducing production complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom mounting adaptors are produced for each vehicle model, then adaptability to specific vehicle contours is improved, but production time and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting adaptor is designed as a universal component that can be used across multiple vehicle models through its adjustable features. A single adaptor design serves multiple functions by accommodating different contour profiles, eliminating the need for custom production for each vehicle model and significantly improving manufacturing productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable and pivotable features enable the adaptor to dynamically adapt to different vehicle contours, providing versatility without requiring multiple custom-designed adaptors. This reduces the number of different adaptor types that need to be manufactured, stored, and installed, thereby improving production efficiency
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable leg length and pivotable connections are implemented, then adaptability to different vehicle contours is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor is divided into modular segments (legs, mounting elements, feet) connected by pivotable joints. This segmentation allows each component to be simple in design while the combination provides complex adaptability to different contours, reducing overall device complexity compared to a fully custom-designed monolithic adaptor
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable connections and adjustable leg lengths provide dynamic adaptation capability. Rather than requiring complex custom shaping for each vehicle model, the system uses simple mechanical adjustments to achieve the necessary contour matching, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining relatively simple device architecture
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an adaptor for mounting a cargo carrier to a vehicle surface, comprising a mounting element configured to enable a cargo carrier to be mounted thereto, a foot configured to engage with the vehicle surface, and a leg extending between the mounting element and the foot, wherein a length of the leg is adjustable.