Rear Cycle Carrier Spoiler Protection Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rear cycle carriers for vehicles with hatchbacks and spoilers are complex, require multiple installation steps, and stability depends heavily on user experience, as they often damage the spoiler and lack a simple, strap-free design.
Innovation Solution
A rear cycle carrier with a loading frame that uses a flat, elongated plate resting on the spoiler and a rigid anchoring assembly with a support device, eliminating the need for straps by utilizing existing vehicle mounting holes and providing a stable association through a presser element that contacts the hatchback or spoiler, ensuring easy installation and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If straps are used to tension the loading frame towards the lower part of the vehicle, then the cycle carrier can be fixed to the hatchback, but the straps resting on the spoiler during tensioning could damage shiny parts of the spoiler
Solution Approach 1:
A protective plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the strap and the spoiler. The plate has a pressing element that contacts the spoiler surface, distributing the tension force and preventing direct contact between the strap and the spoiler's shiny parts, thereby avoiding damage while maintaining fixing stability
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing mechanism transitions from direct strap-to-spoiler contact to plate-mediated contact. The plate's pressing element changes the contact parameters by distributing force over a larger area and protecting the spoiler surface during the tensioning process
2Object-affected harmful factors
If arms are directed upwards and protrude above the vehicle shape to avoid strap contact with the spoiler, then the spoiler is protected, but the structure becomes complex and bicycles protrude above the vehicle shape
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of redirecting the loading frame arms upwards, a protective plate is used as an intermediary to allow the arms to maintain their original downward tensioning direction. This avoids the complexity of upward-directed arms while still protecting the spoiler from damage
Solution Approach 2:
The protective function is segmented from the loading frame structure itself and implemented as a separate protective plate component. This allows the loading frame to maintain its simple, compact structure while the plate provides spoiler protection independently
3Shape
If bicycles are made to protrude as little as possible outside the vehicle shape by tensioning towards the lower part, then aerodynamic efficiency is improved, but the straps must contact the spoiler causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The protective plate serves as a mediator that enables the straps to tension towards the lower part of the vehicle (maintaining the vehicle profile) while preventing direct contact with the spoiler, thus resolving the conflict between aerodynamic efficiency and spoiler protection
Data Source
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AI summary
Described is a cycle carrier 1 designed to be mounted on a rear part 2 of a vehicle, the upper rear part being provided with an upper spoiler 3. The cycle carrier 1 comprises a loading frame 4 for removably loading at least one bicycle; a fixing device 5 for removably fixing a lower portion of the loading frame 4 to a lower region of the rear part 2; at least one anchoring assembly 6 for removably fixing an upper portion of the loading frame 4 to a region of an upper edge 7 of the rear part 2. The anchoring assembly 6 comprises a plate 8 which is elongated, which extends along a respective longitudinal axis of extension A and is positioned, when the cycle carrier is installed, for resting on the spoiler 3 and engaging in the region of the upper edge 7. The fixing device 5 comprises an adapter 9 which is rigid and is fixable to the vehicle using existing holes in the lower region of the rear part 2.