Hinge and Wheel Carrier Bracket Assembly for Tailgate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge assemblies for carrying spare wheels on vehicles lack sufficient strength and rigidity to manage the weight of both the tailgate and the spare wheel, which can lead to instability and damage during movement.
Innovation Solution
A hinge and wheel carrier assembly that includes a main bracket connected to the tailgate and a hinge portion, reinforced with additional components to distribute and manage the weight of the spare wheel, allowing for secure attachment and movement of the tailgate relative to the vehicle body, featuring a reinforcement member and adjustable wheel carrier for optimal positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a hinge assembly is used to carry both the tailgate and spare wheel, then the vehicle can transport the spare wheel, but the hinge assembly lacks sufficient strength and rigidity to manage the combined weight
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into separate functional components: a main hinge assembly for mounting the tailgate, and a separate wheel carrier bracket assembly for mounting the spare wheel. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function, with the wheel carrier bracket designed specifically to handle the weight and mounting requirements of the spare wheel without compromising the overall structural integrity of the hinge assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel carrier bracket assembly is positioned in a spatial arrangement that leverages the vertical dimension and distribution of weight across multiple mounting points on the tailgate. The bracket extends outward from the tailgate surface, creating a three-dimensional structure that distributes the spare wheel's weight across multiple attachment points, thereby increasing the effective strength of the assembly without requiring a single oversized hinge component.
2Strength
If the hinge assembly is designed to carry heavy spare wheels up to 100 pounds, then the strength is sufficient, but the assembly becomes less stable during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel carrier bracket assembly incorporates localized reinforcement features at critical stress points, such as thickened bracket sections at mounting points and load-bearing areas. This local quality enhancement provides the necessary strength to support heavy wheels while maintaining a lighter overall structure that is more stable during vehicle movement, avoiding the need to uniformly increase the mass of the entire assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel carrier bracket assembly utilizes composite construction combining rigid materials for structural strength with potentially lighter materials for non-critical components. This composite approach allows the assembly to achieve the required load-bearing capacity for 100-pound wheels while maintaining sufficient stability during movement by optimizing the weight distribution and structural rigidity of different parts.
3Strength
If reinforcement components are added to the hinge assembly, then the strength and rigidity are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel carrier bracket assembly is merged with the tailgate structure through integrated mounting mechanisms that utilize existing tailgate reinforcement structures. By combining the wheel carrier function with the existing tailgate assembly design, the reinforcement components are strategically placed to maximize structural efficiency while minimizing the total number of separate parts, thereby improving strength without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A bracket and/or hinge assembly is disclosed, for a vehicle. In various embodiments, the vehicle may be a wheeled vehicle. The hinge and/or bracket assembly may be used to assist in holding a selected spare wheel assembly for the wheeled vehicle.