Vehicle Load Carrier With Retractable Support Arms for Heavy Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load carriers lack a compact, space-saving design with effective storage options for support arms in non-use positions and fail to provide adequate support and stability for heavy loads like e-bikes and gas bottles, while also compromising on ergonomics and ground clearance.
Innovation Solution
A load carrier design featuring a common base part with height-adjustable and pivotable support arms, a housing with a lifting and pivoting device, and a support bridge that allows support arms to be hidden when not in use, providing enhanced stability, ergonomics, and ground clearance, and enabling the attachment of heavy loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If support arms are permanently extended for load carrying, then load capacity is improved, but space utilization and aesthetics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms are designed to be movable between extended and retracted positions. The lifting bridge mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the support arms' position, allowing them to be extended when load capacity is needed and retracted when space utilization is prioritized. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptable to different operational requirements.
2Area of stationary object
If support arms are retracted for compact storage, then space utilization is improved, but accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms are automatically lowered to an accessible position before the user needs to operate them. The lifting bridge mechanism is pre-positioned to lower the support arms into a convenient working position, eliminating the need for manual positioning and improving ease of operation while maintaining compact storage when retracted.
3Strength
If support arms are extended for load support, then load capacity is improved, but ground clearance and ergonomics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms can be dynamically adjusted between extended and retracted positions based on load requirements. When heavy loads need to be carried, the support arms extend to provide adequate support. When no load is present, they retract to maintain ground clearance and improve ergonomics. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between load capacity and ground clearance.
4Strength
If multiple support arms are provided for heavy loads, then load capacity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple support arms are merged into a single integrated structure that moves together on a common lifting bridge. This combining approach provides the load capacity of multiple arms while reducing the complexity that would result from having independently controlled arms. The unified structure simplifies the control mechanism and reduces the number of independent components.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a load carrier (1) for a vehicle (25), more particularly a motor vehicle, which has a plurality, more particularly two, movable, laterally spaced support arms (12, 13), which are designed for releasably fastening a carrier part (3, 3', 3"). The load carrier (1) has a base part (2) to be permanently arranged on the vehicle (25), on which base part the plurality of support arms (12, 13) are jointly arranged, the plurality of support arms (12, 13) being jointly vertically adjustable, more particularly vertically displaceable, on the base part (10) and each being mounted to pivot about its own vertical axis (15).