Vehicle Hitch Shelter with Elevated Base Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable ice fishing and camping shelters are heavy to transport, difficult to attach to vehicle hitch receivers, obstruct tail lights and license plates when collapsed, and compress vehicle suspension, leading to uncomfortable seating.
Innovation Solution
A portable ice fishing and camping shelter system utilizing dual hitch receivers with a drawbar and a collapsible frame assembly that can be easily secured to a vehicle, providing sufficient clearance and preventing obstruction of tail lights, while maintaining seat height comfort through elevated base frames and adjustable components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the shelter is mounted on a sled for portability, then the shelter can be moved on frozen water, but the shelter becomes quite heavy and difficult to transport to the lake
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vehicle hitch receiver as an intermediary mounting mechanism, allowing the shelter to be attached to ATVs, UTVs, trucks, or other vehicles for transport to the lake, eliminating the need to manually carry or sled the heavy shelter structure
Solution Approach 2:
The shelter design incorporates universal hitch receiver mounting that can accommodate multiple vehicle types (ATVs, UTVs, trucks, trailers), making the transport system versatile and adaptable to different user needs and vehicle configurations
2Volume of moving object
If the shelter is designed to be collapsed for transport, then the shelter occupies less space, but the collapsed shelter blocks the tail lights and license plate of the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The shelter employs a telescopic or folding design that collapses the frame structure into a compact configuration, reducing the overall volume and allowing the shelter to be stored in the trunk or cargo area of vehicles, thereby eliminating obstruction of tail lights and license plates during transport
3Volume of moving object
If the shelter is made compact for transport, then the shelter is easier to store, but the clearance between the lower end of the collapsed shelter and the ground is minimal, risking damage during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The shelter incorporates adjustable and collapsible frame components that can be dynamically configured between compact storage mode and expanded usage mode, allowing the structure to adapt its clearance height based on transport conditions and provide sufficient ground clearance when needed while maintaining compactness for storage
4Ease of operation
If the shelter is attached to the hitch receiver, then the shelter is easier to transport, but the attachment process is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hitch receiver as an intermediary standardized mounting interface that simplifies attachment to various vehicles, and incorporates quick-connect mechanisms or standardized mounting brackets that make the attachment process straightforward and user-friendly
5Adaptability or versatility
If the fisherman sits on the seats of the shelter, then the shelter provides seating functionality, but the vehicle suspension is compressed resulting in seats being lowered to an uncomfortable height
Solution Approach 1:
The shelter incorporates adjustable seat height mechanisms or suspension-independent seating structures that maintain comfortable seating height regardless of vehicle suspension compression, allowing fishermen to adjust seat position to achieve ergonomic comfort while using the shelter mounted on the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A portable ice fishing and camping shelter which may be secured to either the front of a vehicle or the back of the vehicle. The shelter includes a horizontally disposed base frame which is secured to the hitch receiver of the vehicle so as to be elevated above the ground. One or more seats are positioned on the base frame. A shelter assembly is pivotally secured to the base frame and is movable between collapsed and shelter positions. A flexible cover is mounted on the shelter assembly. A front rest is mounted on the base frame which includes stabilizers thereon. A cargo transport bracket may be secured to the base frame, when the shelter assembly is in the collapsed position, for transporting cargo above the collapsed shelter assembly.