Baseplate Locking Mount for Warped Vehicle Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle attachment systems lack flexibility and ease of use in securely mounting accessories, particularly in accommodating warpage of the support surface and allowing for quick connect/disconnect capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A baseplate-based accessory attachment system that includes a baseplate with a plurality of mounting holes and adjustable mounting feet with spring-loaded fasteners and adjustable protrusions/channels to accommodate warpage, allowing for multiple mounting orientations and quick attachment/detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed mounting system is used to secure accessories to the vehicle, then the accessory is firmly attached, but the system lacks flexibility to accommodate different mounting positions and surface warpage
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting foot incorporates a pivot mechanism that allows it to rotate and adjust its angle dynamically. This enables the mounting foot to adapt to surface warpage and achieve proper alignment with mounting holes while maintaining a secure locked position once attached, thus providing both flexibility and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is divided into separate components: a baseplate with multiple mounting holes, a mounting foot with pivot capability, and a fastening mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the baseplate provides positioning options, the mounting foot provides adaptation to surface irregularities, and the fastener provides secure attachment
2Reliability
If a complex locking mechanism is implemented to ensure secure attachment, then the attachment reliability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting foot's pivot mechanism automatically engages with the mounting hole and the fastening mechanism self-locks into position. The system is designed to secure itself through the natural movement of pivoting the foot into place and engaging the fastener, eliminating the need for complex manual locking operations while maintaining secure attachment
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mounting holes are provided for different positions, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The baseplate is designed with multiple mounting holes arranged in different patterns and positions, allowing a single baseplate to serve multiple mounting configurations. The same baseplate can accommodate various accessory types and mounting orientations by selecting different hole combinations, providing universal adaptability without requiring multiple specialized baseplates
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a modular and adaptable means to securely attach various accessories to vehicles, accommodating surface warpage and enabling easy switching between different upfit systems, thus enhancing usability and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
the head portion and foot portion are coupled together with a spring-loaded fastener assembly such that the foot member can move relative to the head member along an axial direction to provide vertical compensation and to mitigate vibration
Implementation Method 2
one of the head portion and foot portion includes a channel and the other of the head portion and the foot portion includes a protrusion that is received within the channel such that pivotal movement can occur between the head portion and the foot portion to account for the warpage
Data Source
AI summary
An accessory attachment system includes a baseplate that provides an attachment interface on a support surface. The baseplate is configured to engage with at least one accessory via the attachment interface to secure the accessory to the support surface. The attachment interface provides a plurality of different mounting positions for the at least one accessory. At least one mounting foot is associated with the at least one accessory and is configured to be selectively coupled to the attachment interface to provide a desired one of the plurality of different mounting positions. The at least one mounting foot includes an adjustment feature to account for any warpage of the support surface when the at least one accessory is mounted in the desired one of the plurality of different mounting positions.