External Hydrofoil Attachment Rails with Cam Locks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrofoil attachment systems for boardsport equipment often require complex internal tracks and tools for adjustment and removal, making them bulky, heavy, and difficult to transport and store.
Innovation Solution
An external hydrofoil attachment system with adjustable locking components that allow toolless adjustment and removal, using cam clamps to secure the hydrofoil to external rails on the board, simplifying the structure and reducing weight and thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If internal tracks and tools are used for hydrofoil adjustment and removal, then the hydrofoil can be securely attached and adjusted, but the system becomes bulky, heavy, and difficult to transport and store
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is extracted from the board's internal structure and placed on the external surface. The rails are mounted on the bottom surface of the board, and the locking components are positioned externally on the hydrofoil base, eliminating the need for internal tracks and reducing overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system is divided into separate modular components: rails mounted on the board, locking components on the hydrofoil base, and a connection mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and reduces the overall weight compared to a monolithic internal system.
2Reliability
If internal tracks and tools are used for hydrofoil adjustment and removal, then the hydrofoil can be securely attached and adjusted, but the system becomes bulky and difficult to transport and store
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is extracted from the board's internal cavity and repositioned on the external bottom surface. This eliminates the need for internal tracks and reduces the board's internal volume available for other components, while making the attachment system more accessible for toolless operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the board contain the attachment mechanism internally, the system is inverted to place the rails and locking components externally on the board's bottom surface and hydrofoil base, respectively. This inversion simplifies the board structure and reduces its effective volume.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex internal tracks and tools are used, then adjustment and removal can be achieved, but the system becomes difficult to transport and store
Solution Approach 1:
The locking components are designed to be manually operated by the user without requiring external tools. The cam-based locking mechanism allows the user to quickly attach and detach the hydrofoil by manual manipulation of the locking components, enhancing ease of operation during transport and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system transitions from a static internal track system to a dynamic external system with movable locking components. The locking components can be manually actuated to transition between locked and unlocked states, providing versatile adjustment capability while maintaining simplicity for transport and storage.
4Weight of moving object
If external rails and locking components are used, then the structure is simplified and weight is reduced, but the locking components must be manually manipulated between locked and released states
Solution Approach 1:
The locking components are designed with self-operating mechanisms that can be manually actuated by the user without requiring external tools. The cam-based design allows the user to quickly transition between locked and unlocked states through manual manipulation, maintaining ease of operation while reducing weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking components utilize cam mechanisms with curved surfaces that convert manual rotational motion into linear locking motion. This curved geometry allows for smooth, easy manual operation while maintaining a compact, lightweight structure compared to linear or multi-component locking systems.
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 convenient adjustment and removal of the hydrofoil during use, reducing the board's bulkiness for easier transportation and storage, while enhancing the riding experience by allowing position adjustments based on user preferences and conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The locking component can include a cam clamp
Implementation Method 2
a cam clamp comprising a lever that is rotatable between a first position that corresponds to the locked state of the locking component and a second position that corresponds to the released state of the locking component
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology is generally directed to an attachment system for boardsport equipment, a boardsport system including thereof, and a method of using thereof. In various embodiments, the attachment system includes a plurality of attachment rails fixedly attached to an external surface of a watersport board such that the attachment rails project outwardly away from the external surface, an attachment assembly configured to releasably couple to the plurality of attachment rails, and a plurality of locking components each of which is on the attachment plate and configured to slidably couple the attachment plate to one of the plurality of the attachment rails.