Hinged RV Jack Shaft Collar for Pest Access Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recreational vehicles (RVs) are prone to pest infestations, particularly through jacks, which serve as entry points for animals like mice and rats, leading to damage and inconvenience during long-term storage in areas with minimal human activity.
Innovation Solution
A collar-like pest deterrent device with a cylindrical base and tapered upper portion clamps around the jack shaft, featuring a passage matching the shaft's shape and a locking mechanism to prevent pests from climbing further, with a hollow design that funnels animals into a closed surface, deterring them from entering the RV.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a jack is used to support the RV, then the RV can be stored or towed, but pests can climb up the jack and enter the RV through cracks and crevices
Solution Approach 1:
A collar device is introduced as an intermediary component between the jack shaft and the environment. This collar acts as a barrier that pests cannot penetrate, while still allowing the jack to perform its support function. The collar includes a passage that accommodates the jack shaft, creating a protective interface that blocks pest access without interfering with jack operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is divided into two separable sections that can be installed independently. This segmentation allows the collar to be easily placed onto the jack shaft without requiring disassembly of the entire jack mechanism. The two sections can be positioned around the shaft and then secured together, providing a complete barrier while maintaining installation simplicity.
2Reliability
If a pest deterrent device is installed around the jack shaft, then pests are blocked from entering, but the device adds complexity to the jack structure
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is divided into two separable sections that can be installed independently. This segmentation allows the collar to be easily placed onto the jack shaft without requiring disassembly of the entire jack mechanism. The two sections can be positioned around the shaft and then secured together, providing a complete barrier while maintaining installation simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar sections are designed to be movable during installation and removal, transitioning from a separated state to a assembled state around the jack shaft. This dynamic design allows the protective barrier to be easily applied and removed without permanent modification to the jack structure, maintaining system flexibility while providing protection when needed.
3Reliability
If a collar structure is used to block pests, then pest access is prevented, but the collar may interfere with the jack's movement or adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
A collar device is introduced as an intermediary component between the jack shaft and the environment. This collar acts as a barrier that pests cannot penetrate, while still allowing the jack to perform its support function. The collar includes a passage that accommodates the jack shaft, creating a protective interface that blocks pest access without interfering with jack operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar provides protection only in the specific location where it is needed - around the upper portion of the jack shaft where pests would attempt to climb. The passage through the collar is sized to accommodate the jack shaft, allowing full movement and adjustment of the jack while maintaining the protective barrier at the critical interface point.
Data Source
AI summary
A pest deterrent device is designed to be installed on a jack shaft of a recreational vehicle or camper and includes a body in the form of a collar. The body has a passage therein that is designed to receive and enclose a portion of the jack shaft. The body is divided into two sections that are pivotably connected together by a hinge structure. A locking arrangement is used to releasably lock the two sections together around the jack shaft. To install the pest deterrent device, the sections are moved apart from one another to open the body, the body is placed around the jack shaft, and then the two sections are moved back together to close the body around the jack shaft.