Bicycle Anchor With Movable Jaw For Through-Axle

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Bicycle load carriers face challenges in securely fastening through-axles of varying sizes, particularly for fortified bicycle forks that require robust anchoring systems to withstand shock forces, and existing designs often struggle to accommodate different wheel sizes and configurations.

Innovation Solution

A bicycle anchor system featuring a movable jaw and macro-adjuster within an anchor body, allowing for lateral abutting engagement and adjustable configurations to fit different through-axle sizes, along with a micro-adjuster for controlling press-force and a cradle for upright support, ensuring secure attachment of through-axles to load carriers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a conventional skewer is used to secure the front wheel, then the design is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot withstand substantial shock forces and damages fortified bicycle forks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshock force resistanceVSAvoidanchor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor system incorporates a movable jaw that can transition between receiving and secured configurations, allowing dynamic adaptation to different through-axle sizes and shock forces. This dynamic mechanism enables the anchor to withstand substantial shock forces while maintaining operational simplicity through automated jaw movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor system includes adjustable components that can modify geometric parameters to accommodate different through-axle diameters (10mm, 15mm, 20mm). By changing the geometric parameters of the jaw and receiving space, the system maintains strength across various fork types without requiring multiple specialized anchors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a through-axle design is used for fortified forks, then shock force resistance is improved, but existing anchor designs struggle to accommodate different wheel sizes and configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of different through-axle sizesVSAvoidanchor mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor system is designed with universal adaptability to secure through-axles of various diameters (10mm, 15mm, 20mm) and different wheel configurations. The movable jaw and adjustable components enable a single anchor design to perform multiple functions across different bicycle types, eliminating the need for multiple specialized anchors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor system divides the securing function into distinct components: a receiving space for insertion, a movable jaw for lateral engagement, and adjustment mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to accommodate various through-axle sizes without increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a fixed anchor design is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot securely fasten through-axles of varying sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachment of through-axlesVSAvoidadjustable mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable jaw transitions between receiving and secured configurations to dynamically adapt to different through-axle sizes. This dynamic adjustment ensures reliable lateral abutting engagement for secure attachment while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through automated jaw movement rather than complex manual adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3060432B1Anchor on a load carrier for a bicycle through-axle
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 THULE SWEDEN AB
  • EP3060432B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3060432B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3060432B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An anchor for releasably securing a bicycle through-axle, that is installed in a wheelless front fork of a bicycle, to a load carrier. The anchor is made up of an anchor body having a through-axle receiving space for receiving a bicycle through-axle therein. The anchor additionally has a movable jaw located within the anchor body and transitionable between a receiving configuration in which an interior of the receiving space is expanded for insertably receiving a bicycle through-axle therein, and a secured configuration in which the movable jaw is in lateral abutting engagement with a bicycle through-axle received within the interior of the receiving space.