Extendable Compartment Trailer Assembly Sliding Frames

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for an extendable compartment trailer assembly that is compact enough to transport without road wheels, yet can expand to accommodate large objects such as adult people, while avoiding speed and lane restrictions associated with traditional trailers.

Innovation Solution

The design features a series of interconnected compartments with sliding frames and a hitch assembly that allows the compartments to retract and extend, enabling the trailer to be compactly transported without wheels and then expanded for increased storage capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of stationary object

If the trailer is made large enough to hold adult people or large objects, then the storage capacity is sufficient, but the trailer requires road wheels and is subject to speed and lane restrictions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidtrailer configuration requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trailer is divided into multiple compartments (first compartment, second compartment, third compartment) that can be independently positioned. The second compartment is slideable relative to the first compartment, and the third compartment is slideable relative to the second compartment, allowing the storage volume to be segmented and reconfigured based on transport needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The trailer employs slide assemblies that enable the compartments to dynamically change their relative positions. The second compartment can slide between being disposed within the first compartment and being disposed outside the first compartment, allowing the trailer to transition between compact and expanded states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the trailer is made compact for transport without wheels, then it avoids speed and lane restrictions, but the storage capacity is insufficient for large objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrailer configurationVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The trailer compartments are nested within each other when in the compact state. The second compartment is at least partially disposed within the first compartment, and the third compartment is at least partially disposed within the second compartment, creating a nested configuration that minimizes the overall trailer length for transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The trailer utilizes the longitudinal dimension for expansion. By sliding compartments along the length of the trailer, the storage capacity can be increased without significantly increasing the width or height, allowing the trailer to expand in one dimension while maintaining a compact profile in other dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of stationary object

If the trailer is extended to hold large objects, then the storage capacity increases, but the trailer length increases by up to three times

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidtrailer length
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The trailer is divided into multiple compartments (first compartment, second compartment, third compartment) that can be independently positioned. The second compartment is slideable relative to the first compartment, and the third compartment is slideable relative to the second compartment, allowing the storage volume to be segmented and reconfigured based on transport needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Volume of stationary object

If traditional trailers are used with wheels, then they can transport large objects, but they require road wheels and are subject to speed and lane restrictions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidtransport restrictions
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The trailer employs slide assemblies that enable the compartments to dynamically change their relative positions. The second compartment can slide between being disposed within the first compartment and being disposed outside the first compartment, allowing the trailer to transition between compact and expanded states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10328839B2Extendable compartment trailer assembly and methods of operation thereof
Publication Date: 2019.06.25 HITCH HOTEL INC
  • US10328839B2 patent drawing
  • US10328839B2 patent drawing
  • US10328839B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An extendable compartment assembly having a first compartment and a second compartment each having opposing sidewalls and a ceiling, a first frame coupled to the first compartment, a second frame coupled to the second compartment, and a slide assembly coupling the first frame to the second frame such that the second compartment is slideable relative to the first compartment between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the second compartment is at least partially disposed within the first compartment and in the second position the second compartment is at least partially disposed outside the first compartment. A hitch assembly comprising a base arm having first and second ends, a first mating arm coupled with the first end, a second mating arm coupled with the second end, and a bias member coupling the first mating arm to the second mating arm.