Load Carrier Sliding Frame Access Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load carriers for vehicles make it difficult to access the luggage compartment when bicycles or luggage are attached, as they require disconnection from the trailer coupling and removal of bicycles or luggage to open the compartment.
Innovation Solution
A load carrier design with a basic frame and a sliding frame that moves between transport and access positions, where the functional device, including a license plate holder and rear light units, is mounted on the basic frame instead of the sliding frame, allowing for a weight-optimized and simplified kinematic with only one degree of freedom, enabling easy access to the luggage compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the functional device is mounted on the sliding frame, then the sliding frame can be moved into the access position, but the sliding frame becomes heavy and uncomfortable to move by hand
Solution Approach 1:
The load carrier is divided into two main segments: the basic frame (stationary) and the sliding frame (movable). The functional device is assigned to the basic frame, while the sliding frame contains only the load receiving elements. This segmentation separates the heavy, stationary components from the light, movable components, making the sliding frame easy to manipulate by hand.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional device (license plate holder and rear light units) is extracted from the sliding frame and mounted on the basic frame instead. This extraction removes the unnecessary weight from the sliding frame, allowing it to be moved easily between the transport position and the access position without carrying the functional device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the functional device is mounted on the sliding frame, then it moves with the sliding frame, but exposed power cables are required to supply energy
Solution Approach 1:
The functional device is extracted from the moving sliding frame and fixed to the stationary basic frame. This extraction eliminates the need for flexible power supply solutions, as the functional device remains in a fixed position and can be connected to power through simple, exposed cables running along the basic frame.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the functional device movable with the sliding frame, the invention inverts the arrangement by keeping the functional device stationary on the basic frame. This inversion simplifies the power supply system, as cables no longer need to accommodate movement and can be directly connected to the fixed functional device.
3Ease of operation
If a kinematic with two degrees of freedom is used, then the sliding frame can be moved into the access position, but the kinematics becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The movement system is segmented into a simple linear translation of the sliding frame along the basic frame. The functional device remains stationary on the basic frame, requiring no complex kinematic coupling. This segmentation allows the sliding frame to move independently in one degree of freedom (linearly along the basic frame) to provide access to the luggage compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the functional device move with the sliding frame (which would require complex two-degree-of-freedom kinematics), the invention inverts the approach by keeping the functional device fixed and allowing only the sliding frame to move. This inversion reduces the kinematic system to a simple single-degree-of-freedom linear translation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates a load carrier (1), in particular a carrier for bicycles and/or luggage, for attachment to the rear side of a vehicle, with a basic frame (2) and a coupling device (3) for attachment to a vehicle arranged at a front end of the basic frame (2), a sliding frame (11) for receiving a load, wherein the sliding frame (11) is slidingly movable relative to the basic frame (2) between a front transport position and a rear access position, and a functional device (18), which is movably held at the basic frame (2), between a working position, and a release position, in which the functional device (18) is moved out of the movement range of the sliding frame (11) allowing to move the sliding frame (11) into its rear access position.