External Personal Mobility Vehicle Lift with Telescoping Column
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal mobility vehicle lifts require extensive electrical wiring and complex mechanical modifications, occupying significant trunk space and lacking a simple, externally mounted solution.
Innovation Solution
A personal mobility vehicle lift with a platform assembly, lift assembly, and mount assembly that includes a reversible motor and telescoping column mechanism, allowing for easy mounting to the rear of a vehicle with minimal electrical and mechanical conversion, and a pivotable platform for efficient storage and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If internal mounting is used, then the lift is protected and secure, but it occupies significant trunk space and limits accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The lift system is extracted from the internal trunk mounting and repositioned to an external rear mounting location. This allows the trunk space to remain fully available for cargo while the lift operates independently outside the vehicle, improving both space utilization and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting location transitions from the internal three-dimensional trunk space to an external rear dimension, utilizing the vehicle's rear exterior space. This dimensional change resolves the conflict between trunk space occupation and lift functionality.
2Reliability
If extensive electrical wiring and complex mechanical modification are used, then the lift can be securely mounted and operated, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lift system utilizes the vehicle's existing rear-mounted components (such as the spare tire mount or rear bumper structure) as its mounting base, eliminating the need for complex mechanical modifications to the vehicle body. The system is self-contained and can be installed without extensive structural changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The lift design employs universal mounting mechanisms that can be adapted to various vehicle types without requiring vehicle-specific modifications. This reduces device complexity while maintaining secure mounting across different vehicle platforms.
3Area of stationary object
If the lift is designed to be compact and externally mounted, then space is efficiently utilized and accessibility is improved, but mounting security and stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lift system incorporates a counterbalance mechanism that offsets the weight of the lift platform and load, distributing forces evenly between the mounting points and the vehicle structure. This maintains mounting stability while allowing for a compact external design.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure employs asymmetric reinforcement at critical attachment points, concentrating structural strength where needed rather than uniformly distributing weight. This allows for a compact overall design while maintaining adequate mounting stability through targeted structural reinforcement.
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 solution provides a space-efficient, externally mounted lift that minimizes electrical and mechanical modifications, enabling easy transportation of personal mobility vehicles while optimizing trunk space usage.
Implementation Method 1
A reversible motor or power drive mechanism mounted to the upper portion of the hollow upper column member of the lift assembly is operatively coupled to the lower column member of the lift assembly to extend or retract the lower column member within the hollow upper column to lower or raise the platform assembly
Implementation Method 2
a lower column member telescopingly disposed within the hollow upper column member
Data Source
AI summary
A personal mobility vehicle lift mounted to the rear portion of a vehicle to transport a personal mobility vehicle from location to location comprising a platform assembly configured to support a personal mobility vehicle thereon operatively coupled to a lift assembly to selectively raise and lower the platform assembly with or without a personal mobility vehicle thereon and a mount assembly coupled to the lift assembly to mount the personal mobility vehicle lift to the rear portion of a vehicle.