Bicycle Rack Clamping and Folding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle racks connected to vehicle hitch balls often shake due to inadequate clamping mechanisms and require complex, costly folding systems for support arms, which occupy space and are difficult to operate.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle rack design featuring pivotable rods, clamping units with U-shaped members and locking mechanisms, and folding units with resilient members allows for quick expansion and folding of support arms, ensuring secure clamping of the hitch ball and preventing rack movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional clamping mechanisms are used to secure the hitch ball, then the bicycle rack can be connected to the vehicle, but the rack shakes due to inadequate clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism is divided into separate functional components: the clamping member with clamping arms, the resilient member providing elastic force, and the locking member with latch. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member automatically provides elastic force to maintain clamping pressure on the hitch ball, and the locking member with latch automatically secures the clamping arms in position. This self-service mechanism ensures continuous secure clamping without requiring constant user intervention, improving reliability while simplifying operation.
2Strength
If support arms are integrally connected to the rods to provide structural strength, then the bicycles are well supported, but the support arms occupy space requiring longer parking space
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms are designed as foldable components that can dynamically change their configuration. When not in use, the support arms can be folded against the rods, reducing the overall volume and storage space required. The folding mechanism maintains structural strength when deployed while minimizing space occupation during storage.
3Volume of moving object
If positioning devices are added to make support arms foldable, then the support arms can be folded to save space, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning devices are integrated with the existing folding mechanism components. The latch structure is combined with the locking member, and the resilient member serves dual purposes of providing clamping force and enabling the folding action. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies manufacturing, lowering costs while maintaining foldability.
4Ease of operation
If the locking unit frame is pressed to disengage the engaging shaft from the curved slot, then the expanding plates can be pivoted, but the frame is not easily held firmly requiring time to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging shaft and curved slot mechanism is extracted from the locking unit frame design. Instead of requiring the frame to be pressed to disengage components, the engaging shaft is removed as a separate operation, allowing the expanding plates to be pivoted more quickly and easily without the time-consuming frame pressing action.
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 design provides a secure, space-efficient, and user-friendly solution by allowing easy operation of the clamping unit and folding of support arms, preventing the bicycle rack from shaking and optimizing storage when not in use.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member which enables the support arms to be folded
Implementation Method 2
a locking member with a latch which extends through the body of the secure device and is engaged with two aligned apertures respectively defined through the two plates
Implementation Method 3
the clamping unit securely clamp the hitch ball so that the bicycle rack does not shake or loose
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A bicycle rack includes a fist rod (10) and a second rod (11). A first plate (20) and a second plate (21) are pivotably connected to each other and connected between the first and second rods (10,11). A clamping unit (40) is connected to the two respective lower ends of the first and second rods (10,11) and clamps the hitch ball (70). Two support arms (50) are respectively connected to the first and second rods (10,11). An operation unit (30) is connected to the first and second plates (20,21) and controls the pivotal action of the first and second plates (20,21). Two folding units (60) are respectively connected to the first and second rods (10,11) and the two support arms (50) are fixed to the two mounting members (61). The mounting members (61) together with the support arms (50) are able to be folded toward the first and second rods (10,11) by loosening the two folding units (60).