Vehicle Jack and Spare Wheel Mounting Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for securing a jack and a spare wheel to a vehicle often compromise accessibility and storage efficiency, as they lack a reliable and compact mechanism for mounting these essential tools while ensuring they remain easily accessible.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly is used to securely attach a jack and a spare wheel to a vehicle, where the jack is mounted via a first connector that attaches to the vehicle, and the spare wheel is secured via a second connector that integrates with the first, allowing for easy access and compact storage by utilizing a scissor jack with adjustable brackets and a foldable wrench.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the jack and spare wheel are mounted separately on the vehicle, then they are easily accessible, but the storage space required increases and the mounting complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the jack and spare wheel mounting functions into a single integrated mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a first mounting portion for the jack and a second mounting portion for the spare wheel, which are structurally integrated and attach to the vehicle as a unified unit. This reduces the number of separate mounting operations and simplifies the overall mounting process while maintaining easy accessibility to both components.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting assembly is segmented into distinct functional portions: a first mounting portion for securing the jack and a second mounting portion for securing the spare wheel. This segmentation allows each component to be mounted independently within the integrated structure, maintaining accessibility while reducing overall mounting complexity through unified attachment to the vehicle.
2Ease of operation
If the jack and spare wheel are secured using traditional separate mounting methods, then they are easily accessible, but the storage volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly is designed with a nested structure where the second mounting portion for the spare wheel is positioned to utilize the space around the first mounting portion for the jack. The arms of the mounting assembly are configured to nest together when not in use, minimizing the overall storage volume occupied by both components while maintaining easy accessibility when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting assembly utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently by arranging the jack and spare wheel mounting portions in different spatial dimensions. The first mounting portion accommodates the jack in a vertical orientation while the second mounting portion positions the spare wheel in a complementary spatial arrangement, optimizing storage volume utilization without compromising accessibility.
3Reliability
If the jack and spare wheel are securely mounted to the vehicle, then reliability is improved, but noise and vibrations during travel increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly incorporates vibration-damping elements and cushioning features at the attachment points to the vehicle. These elements are built into the structure beforehand to absorb and reduce vibrations and noise generated during vehicle travel, while still maintaining secure mounting of both the jack and spare wheel.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting assembly acts as an intermediary structure between the jack/spare wheel and the vehicle body. It includes mounting portions with damping characteristics that mediate the connection, reducing the transmission of vibrations and noise from the vehicle to the mounted components, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing harmful factors.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a spare wheel, a jack and a jack wrench. The jack and a jack wrench are provided to raise the vehicle to allow a user to remove a damaged wheel and replace it with the spare wheel. The jack and jack wrench are secured to the vehicle via a first connector. The spare wheel is then secured to the first connector via a second connector. The second connector extends through the spare wheel and into the first connector to secure the spare wheel to the first connector and thus to the vehicle.