Load Carrier Coupling Automatic Locking via Pivotable Receiving Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load carrier couplings for vehicles lack a cost-effective and secure mounting solution that can automatically lock onto trailer couplings with minimal user effort, often requiring complex mechanisms and high force input for secure attachment.
Innovation Solution
A load carrier coupling design featuring a housing with a receiving portion that pivots between open and engaging states, supported by a supporting portion contacting a support protrusion, allowing automatic locking upon insertion and utilizing a knee-joint mechanism for enhanced stability and safety, with a locking member for secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device automatically locks onto the trailer coupling through its own weight and the mechanical interaction between the receiving portion and support protrusion, without requiring external locking mechanisms or additional fastening operations. The system serves itself by utilizing the insertion action to trigger automatic engagement and locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes complex locking mechanisms, bolts, and additional securing devices from the design. The solution extracts only the essential elements (receiving portion, support protrusion, and pivotable connection) needed to achieve secure attachment, eliminating unnecessary complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If automatic locking is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device performs the locking action automatically during the insertion process itself. The pivotable connection and support protrusion arrangement cause the locking to occur as a natural consequence of mounting, requiring no separate locking operation or additional user actions beyond simple insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The geometry of the receiving portion and support protrusion is pre-configured so that the locking action occurs automatically during insertion. The mechanical arrangement is designed in advance to convert the simple insertion motion into automatic engagement and locking, eliminating the need for subsequent locking operations.
3Ease of operation
If minimal force input is required, then ease of operation is improved, but securing reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own weight and the mechanical advantage of the pivotable connection to generate the locking force. During insertion, the coupling device's mass and the geometric arrangement of the support protrusion create automatic engagement forces that secure the connection without requiring additional external force from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable connection and support protrusion arrangement utilize the weight of the coupling device itself to generate the locking force. The geometry is designed so that the device's own mass, when inserted, creates the necessary engagement forces to secure the attachment reliably without requiring the user to apply additional force.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a load carrier coupling comprising a receiving portion (920) configured to at least partially receive a coupling body (3) upon inserting the load carrier coupling (900) on a trailer coupling (1) in an insertion direction (G1), and a supporting portion (930) configured to contact at least one support protrusion (4) upon inserting the load carrier coupling (900) on the trailer coupling (1) in the insertion direction (G1), and a fixation mechanism (942) for locking the load carrier coupling (900) on the trailer coupling (1) by preventing or blocking a movement of the load carrier coupling (900) in a detachment direction (G2) opposite to the insertion direction (G1).