Load Carrier Coupling Handle Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing load carrier couplings are inconvenient to handle due to the need to actuate a pawl or bolt, which increases the risk of operating errors during unlocking and clamping operations.

Innovation Solution

A load carrier coupling design where the handle part is movably mounted on the actuating body via a bearing arrangement, allowing the handle part to adjust the bolt between locking and release positions through sliding, rotating, or pivoting movements, enabling single-handed operation and simplified unlocking of the clamping device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pawl or bolt is mounted on the tensioning lever for safety locking, then the locking reliability is improved, but the handling convenience deteriorates due to multiple separate actuation steps required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidhandling convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the handle part and the bolt into a single integrated operating component. The handle part is movably mounted on the actuating body and directly adjusts the bolt between locking and release positions through sliding, rotating, or pivoting movements. This merging eliminates the need for separate actuation steps for the pawl and bolt, allowing the operator to control both safety locking and clamping functions through a single handle operation, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If multiple separate components (pawl, bolt, tensioning lever) are used for locking and clamping, then the functional reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the bolt and handle part into a single movable assembly where the handle part directly controls the bolt position. This reduces the number of separate components while maintaining the essential safety locking function through the bolt's engagement with the actuating body. The integrated design simplifies the overall structure without compromising functional reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle part serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the operating lever for the clamping device, the actuating mechanism for the bolt, and the control element for switching between locked and unlocked positions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components while maintaining comprehensive control over the locking and clamping operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2428402B1Load carrier coupling and load carrier
Publication Date: 2013.12.04 WESTFALIA AUTOMOTIVE
  • EP2428402B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6b
  • EP2428402B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2428402B1 patent drawingFigure 4~8

AI summary

The coupling has a clamping device (31) including a control clamping part (33) movable between an opening position and a clamping position (K) based on an actuating body (50). A handle part (67) is movably mounted at the body by a bearing arrangement such that a locking bar (68) is displaced between a locking position (V) and a releasing position (L) relative to the body by displacement of the handle part. The arrangement movement-fixedly couples the handle part and the body relative to a clamping movement. The part acts on the body during fixing the clamping device in the clamping movement.