Collapsible Tow Bar with Rotatable Attachment Ends
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for towing disabled recreational vehicles, such as motorcycles or snowmobiles, lack a convenient and versatile mechanism for easy transportation and secure attachment, especially when transitioning between towing and towed vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible tow-bar with a telescopically adjustable middle part and rotatable attachment ends, utilizing a spring-loaded fastener system for length adjustment and quick-connect couplers, allowing for secure and flexible attachment to various vehicle types, including snowmobiles and motorcycles, enabling easy towing and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tow-bar is made rigid and fixed-length for secure towing, then towing reliability is improved, but storage convenience and adaptability to different vehicle sizes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The tow-bar employs a telescopic mechanism with multiple tubes that can extend and retract, allowing the structure to dynamically change its length. This enables the tow-bar to adapt from a compact stored state to an extended towing state, and to adjust its length for different vehicle sizes, resolving the contradiction between fixed rigidity and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The tow-bar is divided into multiple telescopic tubes (first tube, second tube, third tube) that can slide relative to each other. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each tube section, providing both structural integrity when extended and compactness when retracted, while enabling adaptation to various towing distances
2Productivity
If the tow-bar is extended to full length for towing, then towing effectiveness is improved, but ease of transportation and storage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic tubes are nested within each other in a concentric arrangement, with the innermost tube contained within the next larger tube, and so on. This nesting configuration allows the entire tow-bar structure to collapse to a minimal volume for storage on motorcycles or ATVs, while fully extending to provide adequate towing length when needed
3Ease of operation
If quick-connect couplers are used for easy attachment, then ease of operation is improved, but connection reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The quick-connect couplers incorporate spring-loaded locking mechanisms and detent features that automatically engage and secure connections upon attachment. This pre-engineered locking system ensures reliable connection without requiring manual fastening steps, maintaining both ease of operation and connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system uses self-latching quick-connect couplers that automatically lock when engaged. The spring-loaded end caps and detent mechanisms perform the securing function automatically upon connection, eliminating the need for separate fastening actions while ensuring secure attachment
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
Enables efficient and secure towing of disabled recreational vehicles by allowing for easy extension and collapse of the tow-bar, accommodating different vehicle sizes and types, facilitating multi-directional towing forces and easy storage, thereby ensuring vehicles can be transported to repair facilities without leaving them behind.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-loaded fastener and the corresponding pair of coaxial apertures are used to adjust the length of the collapsing/expanding middle part
Implementation Method 2
the compliant member is a steel spring
Data Source
AI summary
A recreational collapsing/expanding tow bar for towing a vehicle. The tow bar contains a collapsing/expanding middle part and a pair of attachment ends. The attachment ends include a sleeve, fastener, and bar end. The fastener includes a first end, a second end, a ball, and a shaft. The fastener is secured within the sleeve and retained with the bar end. The fastener can be used in a fixed rigid position or a rotational position. The collapsing/expanding middle part is rigid and adjustable to various distances between the towing and towed vehicle, wherein the device is compact in size and easily stored.Additional towing connectors are disclosed to engage a snowmobile and motorcycle for being towed.