Cargo Carrier Quick Hitch Mount with Wheel Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cargo carriers and hitch mounts are cumbersome and difficult to attach and detach from vehicle hitches, requiring heavy lifting and awkward handling due to their weight and complex mounting mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A cargo carrier with a wheel assembly and quick release mechanism that allows for easy raising and lowering, combined with a hitch mount featuring a sliding inner tube and locking pin system for secure attachment to vehicle hitches, enabling quick and reliable attachment and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cargo carrier is made heavy duty for reliable transport, then the strength and reliability are improved, but the weight increases making it difficult to lift and attach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vehicle as an intermediary tool to lift and attach the heavy cargo carrier to the hitch. The quick release mechanism also acts as an intermediary that simplifies the attachment process, allowing the carrier to be secured without manual lifting by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The cargo carrier system is segmented into separate components: the carrier body, the wheel assembly, and the quick release mechanism. This segmentation allows the wheel assembly to be independently raised and lowered, reducing the effective weight that needs to be handled during attachment while maintaining the overall structural integrity and reliability of the complete assembly.
2Strength
If the mount structure is made robust for secure attachment, then the strength is improved, but the complexity of attachment procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mount structure incorporates dynamic elements including a telescoping tube assembly that allows the mount to extend and retract, and a quick release mechanism with movable locking components. These dynamic features enable strong attachment when engaged but simplify the attachment and detachment process through mechanical motion rather than static fastening procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The quick release mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through a cam and latch system that automatically engages and locks when the carrier is positioned on the hitch. The spring-loaded components provide automatic resetting and locking without requiring complex manual operations, making the robust attachment process self-service in nature.
Data Source
AI summary
A cargo carrier has a frame, a wheel assembly coupled to the frame, and a quick release assembly. The quick release assembly allows the user to quickly raise and lower the wheel assembly with respect to the frame, or to turn an adjusting screw to more finely raise and lower the wheel assembly. In addition, a vehicle hitch mount has an outer tube and an inner tube slidably received in the outer tube. The inner tube has a retracted position in which the inner tube is retracted with respect to the outer tube, and an extended position in which the inner tube is extended with respect to the outer tube. A locking pin can be operated by the user at one side of the cargo carrier to removably lock the hitch mount to the vehicle hitch located at an opposite side of the cargo carrier.