Elastic Anti-Rattle Device for Animal Carrier Gate Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Animal carriers often experience gate rattling during transportation due to manufacturing inaccuracies, leading to noise that can scare animals and hinder crate training, as the gate is undersized and moves within the carrier opening.
Innovation Solution
An anti-rattle device made of an elongated elastic material with a bend is installed to exert force between the gate and the carrier's cowling-like section, preventing gate movement and reducing rattling by either pushing or pulling the gate against the carrier body, thus increasing friction and stabilizing the gate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gate is made undersized relative to the carrier opening, then the gate can be securely locked and manufactured with standard tolerances, but the gate moves and rattles within the opening during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (the anti-rattle device with elastic member and engagement arms) that mediates between the gate and the carrier opening. This intermediary absorbs the dimensional mismatch and prevents direct contact and rattling between the gate and carrier walls, while still allowing the gate to be securely locked in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the anti-rattle device by using an elastic member that can deform and absorb dimensional variations. The elastic member's ability to stretch and compress allows it to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and prevent gate movement without compromising the locking security.
2Ease of manufacture
If manufacturing tolerances are relaxed to reduce production costs, then easier manufacture is achieved, but gate rattling increases due to larger size variations
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rattle device serves as a mediator that compensates for dimensional inaccuracies introduced by relaxed manufacturing tolerances. The elastic member and engagement arms absorb the variations in gate and opening dimensions, allowing production with standard tolerances while preventing the rattling that would result from poor fit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the elastic properties of the anti-rattle device to dynamically adjust to dimensional variations. The elastic member's ability to deform allows it to accommodate a range of gate and opening sizes, effectively decoupling the manufacturing precision requirements from the final fit and eliminating rattling despite tolerance variations.
3Reliability
If the gate is securely locked in place, then animal security is improved, but gate movement and rattling occur during carrier transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rattle device acts as an intermediary that prevents direct contact and friction between the gate and carrier opening during transportation. The engagement arms with elastic members absorb the movement and prevent the gate from rattling against the carrier walls, eliminating the harmful noise while maintaining secure animal confinement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs the elastic deformation capability of the anti-rattle device to absorb mechanical energy from gate movement. By allowing the elastic member to compress and expand, the system dissipates the energy that would otherwise cause rattling noise, while the locked gate position remains secure for animal confinement.
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 anti-rattle device effectively mitigates gate rattling, enhancing the security and comfort of animal transport by ensuring the gate remains stable, reducing noise and improving the effectiveness of crate training.
Implementation Method 1
An anti-rattle device made of an elongated elastic material with a bend is installed to exert force between the gate and the carrier's cowling-like section
Implementation Method 2
preventing gate movement and reducing rattling by either pushing or pulling the gate against the carrier body, thus increasing friction and stabilizing the gate
Data Source
AI summary
An animal carrier gate anti-rattle device comprises an elastic elongated member having a front surface and a back surface. The elastic elongated member comprises: a proximal section defining a hook that forms an opening facing the front surface; a distal section; and a first bent section between the proximal section and the distal section, where the first bent section has a bend angle of less than 120 degrees relative to the back surface.