Vehicle Ladder Mounting System with Adjustable Guide Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ladder support devices for vehicles lack flexibility in accommodating various ladder types, fail to prevent ladder shifting during vehicle motion, and do not allow for easy attachment of guide rails to existing racks.
Innovation Solution
A guide rail assembly with adjustable, parallel or angled guide rails and end accepting means, utilizing clamping systems and universal mounting clamps to attach to pre-existing cross-members, enabling versatile configurations and secure ladder support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a bracket or metal frame is used to support the ladder, then the ladder can be mounted on the vehicle, but the system lacks flexibility to accommodate various ladder types and configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail assembly is designed with universal mounting clamps that can attach to different types of existing roof racks and cross-members. The parallel guide rails can be configured in various arrangements (parallel, angled, offset) to accommodate different ladder types including extension ladders, step ladders, and platform ladders, making the system multi-functional and adaptable to various ladder configurations without requiring completely different support structures for each ladder type.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail assembly incorporates adjustable components including movable guide rails that can be positioned at different distances from each other, adjustable mounting clamps that can accommodate different rack diameters and shapes, and reconfigurable cross-member attachments. These dynamic adjustment capabilities allow the same basic structure to adapt to various ladder widths, lengths, and configurations, providing versatility without increasing overall system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a simple bracket is used for ladder support, then the device complexity is low, but the ladder cannot be easily guided onto and off of the rack and may shift during vehicle motion
Solution Approach 1:
The parallel guide rails serve as intermediary elements between the mounting structure and the ladder. These guide rails provide a guided pathway that directs the ladder during loading and unloading operations, preventing lateral movement and ensuring proper positioning. The guide rails mediate the interaction between the ladder and the mounting clamps, making the loading/unloading process easier while maintaining system stability during vehicle motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail assembly provides localized guidance and constraint functions at specific points along the ladder support system. The guide rails are positioned to provide lateral constraint where needed, while allowing vertical movement during loading. The mounting clamps provide localized attachment to the roof rack, distributing loads at specific points. This localized functionality achieves ease of operation without requiring the entire system to be overly complex.
3Reliability
If guide rails are added to prevent ladder shifting, then ladder stability improves, but the difficulty of attaching guide rails to existing racks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting clamps are designed as universal attachment devices that can secure the guide rails to various types of existing roof racks and cross-members, including round tubes, square bars, and custom-shaped rails. The clamps incorporate adjustable mechanisms and multiple mounting hole patterns to accommodate different rack geometries, making the attachment process easier and more versatile without compromising the stability and anti-shifting functionality of the guide rail system.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed configuration rack is used, then the device complexity is low, but it cannot accommodate varying types of ladders
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail assembly incorporates multiple adjustable components including guide rails that can be positioned at different distances from each other to accommodate various ladder widths, mounting clamps that can be adjusted to fit different rack diameters and shapes, and cross-member attachments that can be reconfigured for different mounting patterns. These dynamic adjustment capabilities allow the same basic structure to adapt to various ladder types and configurations, providing high versatility without requiring completely different fixed structures for each application.
Data Source
AI summary
The Vehicle Ladder Mounting System is comprised of two parallel or nearly parallel (angled) guide rails and one or two end accepting means. The embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System can be easily adapted, augmented, and modified because of the structure of the guide rails (or aluminum channels in the guide rails). The vehicle ladder mounting system can be mounted to a tubular or solid cross-member by a clamping means using a universal mounting clamp. The design of the embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System allows for multiple configurations as the guide rails can be adjusted to fit the width and/or angle of the ladder. The design of the embodiments of the Ladder Mounting System allows the width and/or angle to be fixed by means of the use of interior cross-member assemblies thus forming a cradle to support the ladder.