Truck Bed Cross Bar Hinge Fastening Without Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cross bar fastening assemblies for vehicles are complex, require actuators and spring-biasing, are bulky, and need covers to hide operative components, making them costly and difficult to mount and demount.
Innovation Solution
A fastening assembly with a tubular first hinge part and a second hinge part connected by a shaft through shaft bearings, eliminating the need for actuators and spring-biasing, and featuring a lock mechanism that allows for easy mounting and demounting without a cover, enabling secure interlocking without additional seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If actuators and spring-biasing are used to achieve locking and release, then the locking mechanism is reliable, but the device becomes complex and voluminous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes actuators and spring-biasing mechanisms from the fastening assembly, replacing them with a simple shaft-based locking system. The locking pins are directly manipulated by the user without requiring separate actuating components, thereby eliminating the complexity associated with actuators and spring mechanisms while maintaining reliable locking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using spring-biased locking pins that require actuators to move them, the patent inverts the approach by having user-applied force directly move the locking pins through protruding arms. This reversal eliminates the need for spring-biasing and actuator mechanisms, simplifying the overall structure while preserving locking reliability.
2Reliability
If locking pins are spring-biased and require actuator manipulation, then secure locking is achieved, but the assembly becomes bulky and requires cover sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the spring-biasing and actuator components from the assembly, resulting in a more compact design. The locking pins are directly operated by user force through protruding arms, eliminating the volume occupied by springs, actuators, and associated sealing covers, while maintaining secure locking through direct mechanical engagement.
3Ease of operation
If protruding actuator arms are used to operate locking pins, then locking and release is achievable, but the operative components become exposed and require cover sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cover sealing requirement by eliminating protruding actuator arms. Instead, the locking pins are operated through a streamlined mechanism where force is applied directly to the pins themselves, eliminating exposed operative components and the associated need for protective covers, thereby simplifying the overall device structure.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover is added to seal operative components, then component protection is achieved, but the design becomes less elegant and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for protective covers by removing the protruding actuator arms and spring-biased locking mechanisms that would require sealing. The simplified locking system with directly operable pins eliminates exposed components, thereby achieving component protection without adding cover complexity or compromising design elegance.
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 assembly provides a simpler, less costly, and more elegant design that is easy to mount and adjust for various vehicles, reducing bulk and noise, while ensuring secure attachment without additional components or covers.
Implementation Method 1
a shaft releaseably arranged through opposite shaft bearings to pivotably connect the first hinge part and the second hinge part
Data Source
AI summary
A fastening assembly (2) is adapted for releasably connecting a load-carrying cross bar (1) to a vehicle. The fastening assembly (2) comprises a cross bar mounting part (3) with a protruding first hinge part (4), and a vehicle mounting part (5) with a second hinge part (6) adapted for releasably and pivotably coupling with the first hinge part (4). The first hinge part (4) comprises a tubular first assembling part (7a). The second hinge part (6) comprises a second assembling part (7b) with opposite shaft bearings (16; 18) at opposite ends of a mounting base part (33) and is adapted to pivotally receive the tubular first assembling part (7a). A shaft (27) is releaseably arranged through the opposite shaft bearings (16; 18) to pivotably connect the first hinge part (4) and the second hinge part (6).