Foldable Tailgate Lift Structure for Single-Person Heavy Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions lack a portable and efficient means for a single person to lift and move heavy objects onto raised surfaces, such as truck beds or workbenches, without requiring additional assistance.
Innovation Solution
A portable and foldable lift system attachable to structures, featuring a support member with a lifting mechanism, a support plate, a glide member, and a height adjustment mechanism, allowing for easy movement and storage, utilizing an electric motor and adjustable components for versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a portable and foldable lift is designed to be compact for storage, then storage efficiency is improved, but the lifting capacity and structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lift is divided into multiple segments including the support member, lifting member, support plate, and glide member that can be folded relative to each other. This segmentation allows the structure to collapse into a compact form for storage while maintaining the necessary strength during deployment through the rigid construction of individual segments and their connection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The lift transitions between two dynamic states: a deployed state where the support member extends vertically to provide lifting capacity, and a folded state where the lifting member and support plate collapse against the support member for compact storage. The glide member enables smooth transitions between these states while maintaining structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lift structure is made more complex to provide height adjustment and glide functionality, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support member serves multiple functions: it provides the primary structural support, acts as the guide for the glide member, serves as the attachment point for the lifting member, and functions as the vertical guide for height adjustment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The glide member acts as an intermediary component that facilitates the height adjustment function by enabling smooth vertical movement of the support member relative to the attachment member. This single intermediary component provides both the glide functionality and the height adjustment capability without requiring complex mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If the lift is designed for single-person operation, then ease of operation is improved, but the lifting power may be insufficient for very heavy objects
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical lifting system is replaced with an electric motor that drives the lifting member along the support member. This substitution provides sufficient lifting power for heavy objects while maintaining ease of single-person operation through simple electrical control, eliminating the need for manual cranking or complex mechanical advantage systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable and foldable lift can be attached to a surface such as a tailgate of a truck. The lift can be slid off the gate and used to lift heavy objects from the ground to the bed of the truck. The portable and foldable lift is returned in a folded position to the tailgate for easy storage. The portable and foldable lift can also be attached to a work bench, either on top or underneath, and can be folded up and stored out of the way.