Front Hitch Mount Structure for Secure Grill Guard Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hitch apparatuses for mounting devices on vehicles are not adaptable to extrinsic grill guards and lack secure attachment options like locking pins or cable locks, limiting their versatility and stability.
Innovation Solution
A hitch apparatus comprising a base plate with a hook and receiver hitch tube, designed to attach to a vehicle's grill guard using cable locks or other fasteners, allowing for detachable and positionable mounting with enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a hitch apparatus is made integral to a bumper or grill guard, then the attachment strength is improved, but the adaptability and positionability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch apparatus is divided into separate components: a base plate that attaches to the grill guard and a receiver hitch tube that mounts to the base plate. This segmentation allows the apparatus to be adapted to different grill guard configurations while maintaining secure attachment through multiple fastening points including locking pins and cable locks.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate is designed with multiple attachment methods (locking pins, cable locks, other fasteners) and can be positioned at various locations on the grill guard. This multi-functional design enables the same apparatus to work with different grill guard types and positions, achieving both strong attachment and high adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hitch apparatus is made detachable and positionable, then the adaptability is improved, but the attachment strength and stability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is pre-equipped with multiple fastening mechanisms (locking pins, cable locks, fastener holes) that are ready for installation. These preliminary preparations ensure that when the apparatus is positioned on the grill guard, it can be securely fastened with high stability, eliminating the weakness associated with detachable designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate serves as an intermediary component between the grill guard and the receiver hitch tube. It provides multiple attachment points and methods that mediate between the need for detachability/positionability and the requirement for secure, stable attachment, allowing the system to achieve both goals simultaneously.
3Reliability
If multiple fastening methods are added, then the reliability of attachment is improved, but the device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is designed to be dynamic and adaptable: the base plate includes multiple types of fasteners (locking pins, cable locks, other fasteners) that can be selected and configured based on specific installation needs. This dynamic approach allows the system to achieve high reliability without requiring all fastening methods to be used simultaneously, thereby managing complexity effectively.
Data Source
AI summary
A mount apparatus for mounting a hitch-mountable device on a front end of a vehicle includes a base plate with a front surface and a back surface each extending between a top edge and a bottom edge of the base plate and between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the base plate. A hook is coupled to the top edge of the base plate. The hook extending rearwardly and downwardly from the top edge and is configured for engaging a top of the vehicle grill guard to attach the base plate to the vehicle grill guard. A receiver hitch tube is coupled to and extending forwardly from the front surface of the base plate.