Hitch-Mounted Lift Eliminates Platform for Mobility Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lifting and transferring solutions for personal mobility devices are heavy, bulky, and compromise vehicle handling due to external mounting, often obstructing vehicle access and requiring manual or complex securement processes.
Innovation Solution
A power lift and transfer system with an interlocking mechanism and swivel swing-away design that eliminates a platform structure, incorporates a motorized actuator with a docking device for secure attachment, and allows for easy alignment and secure fastening of mobility devices, reducing weight and bulk while maintaining secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If externally-mounted lifts are used to transport personal mobility devices, then lifting capability is provided, but weight and bulk increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the platform structure from the lifting mechanism, eliminating unnecessary weight and bulk while retaining the essential lifting function through a direct hitch-mounted design that attaches to the mobility device frame without requiring a heavy platform
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting the lift platform to the vehicle and having the mobility device rest on it, the patent inverts the approach by having the lifting mechanism attach directly to the mobility device frame itself, which then engages with the vehicle hitch, thereby eliminating the need for a heavy platform structure
2Ease of operation
If externally-mounted lifts are used, then lifting capability is provided, but vehicle handling is compromised due to distance from rear wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heavy platform structure that extended far rearward from the vehicle, extracting only the essential lifting function and attaching it directly to the vehicle hitch at a position much closer to the rear wheels, thereby minimizing the impact on vehicle handling and stability
Solution Approach 2:
By inverting the mounting approach and attaching the lifting mechanism to the mobility device rather than having the mobility device rest on a vehicle-mounted platform, the patent positions the load much closer to the vehicle centerline, significantly improving vehicle handling and reducing sway
3Reliability
If manual securement processes are used, then secure attachment is achieved, but time and effort are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the attachment mechanism to automatically engage and lock when the mobility device is positioned on the lift, with self-latching features that secure the device without requiring manual intervention, thereby achieving reliable attachment while eliminating the time and effort previously required
4Reliability
If automatic lockdown mechanisms are used, then secure attachment is achieved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism uses simple self-latching features that automatically engage when the mobility device is positioned correctly on the lift, providing secure attachment without requiring heavy automatic lockdown mechanisms or complex locking systems
Data Source
AI summary
A lifting and transferring apparatus and method are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be realized as a power lift and transfer system which has the capability of attaching to, lifting, and carrying a mobility device for a person with a disability in conjunction with a wide variety of vehicles. The unique design of the apparatus eliminates a typical platform structure that is often incorporated by other devices and substitutes an interlocking mechanism which comprises a docking device on the personal mobility device and a mated receiver on the apparatus, thus saving significant weight and bulk. A unique swivel swing-away design incorporates a swing away hinge in a space between a hitch and the apparatus instead of in a space between the apparatus and the mobility device and platform.