Foldable Bicycle Parking Rack With Gravity-Locked Cam Follower
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle parking devices require manual intervention to transition between storage and working positions, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates vertical slots in the base or legs of the bicycle rack, allowing the pivot axis parts to slide relative to each other, enabling the cam follower element to lock automatically in the recess, facilitating easy movement between positions without additional actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pin is slidably present on a thin axle that can be moved through a narrow slot to lock the bicycle rack in position, then the bicycle rack can be blocked in storage position and limited rotation in working position, but manual intervention is required to slide the pin to transition between positions, which is cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bicycle rack system uses gravity as a self-service mechanism to automatically transition the rack between storage and working positions. When the rack is released, gravity causes it to pivot automatically to the working position without requiring manual intervention to slide the pin along the narrow slot, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining position locking reliability through the cam-follower engagement
2Area of stationary object
If the bicycle rack is designed to be movable between storage and working positions, then space efficiency is improved, but additional actions are required to lock the bicycle rack in the working position, which reduces usability
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs gravity as a self-service mechanism that automatically locks the bicycle rack in the working position. As the rack pivots from storage to working position, the cam follower element automatically engages with the cam profile and locks into the recess, eliminating the need for additional manual locking actions while preserving the space-efficient foldable design
3Reliability
If the cam follower element is locked in a recess in the cam during working position, then the bicycle rack is securely held at an angle to the base, but the structure becomes more complex with additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism is integrated into the base structure, and the cam follower element is incorporated as part of the bicycle rack assembly. This merging of components achieves reliable working position stability through the cam-follower-recess engagement while minimizing structural complexity by combining multiple functions into integrated elements rather than separate additive components
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 allows for effortless transition between storage and working positions through gravity-assisted locking, enhancing usability and space efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the cam follower element automatically falls into the recess due to gravity, so that no additional actions are required to lock the bicycle rack in the working position
Data Source
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AI summary
A bicycle parking device 1 has a base 3 and a bicycle rack 5 that comprises two legs 7 that are each hingedly connected to the base 3 with a first end, which bicycle rack 5 is movable between a storage position in which the bicycle rack 5 is rotated on or in the base 3 and a working position in which the bicycle rack is present at an angle to the base 3. The base 3 and at least one of the legs 7 are provided with a cam 13 and a cam follower element 15 cooperating with the cam 13, whereby during the pivoting of the bicycle rack 5 the cam 13 and the cam follower element 15 move over each other, wherein in the working position the bicycle rack 5 is blocked against rotation because the cam follower element 15 is present in a recess 17 present in the cam 13, wherein the cam 13 and the cam follower element 15 are secured against rotation relative to each other.