Load-Leveling Hanger With Screw Adjustment for Uneven Garage Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Residential garages face challenges in storing bulky and heavy items like bicycles, kayaks, and skis due to difficulty in lifting and securing them overhead, as existing overhead storage systems require significant effort and often result in uneven loading, obstructing space and vehicle movement.
Innovation Solution
A load-leveling hanging apparatus with a carriage suspended from a line, featuring a hanging beam with attachment points and a rotatable screw mechanism for leveling, combined with a lifting device that includes a motorized drum and controller for automated leveling and lifting, ensuring secure and space-efficient storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If heavy bulky items are stored overhead using traditional overhead storage systems, then garage vertical space is utilized for storage, but it requires significant manual effort to lift and secure items and often results in uneven loading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical lifting with an automated motorized winch system. The winch motor automatically winds the storage beam to overhead height, eliminating the need for manual lifting of heavy items. The motorized reel mechanism provides controlled lifting and positioning, solving the problem of requiring significant manual effort while maintaining storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation through automated leveling mechanisms. The leveling motor automatically adjusts the storage beam to a horizontal position regardless of uneven item distribution, and the winch automatically positions the beam at the desired height. This eliminates the need for manual intervention to achieve proper leveling and positioning.
2Shape
If traditional overhead storage systems are used, then items are elevated off the ground, but uneven loading obstructs space and vehicle movement in the garage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates level sensors that detect the angular position of the storage beam and provide feedback to the control system. The controller monitors the leveling status and automatically activates the leveling motor when imbalance is detected. This closed-loop feedback system ensures the beam maintains a horizontal position, preventing obstruction of garage space and vehicle movement while keeping items elevated.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the storage beam position to maintain optimal horizontal alignment. The automated leveling mechanism continuously monitors and corrects the beam's angular position in response to changing load conditions, ensuring space utilization for movement is optimized while maintaining elevation for storage.
3Quantity of substance
If manual overhead storage systems are used, then storage is achieved, but it is difficult for one person to raise items high enough and secure them at such a height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual securing operations with automated motorized mechanisms. The winch motor automatically raises the storage beam to overhead height with controlled motion, and the leveling motor automatically positions the beam horizontally. This substitution of manual mechanical operations with automated motorized systems achieves storage capability while managing device complexity through integrated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The motorized winch system performs multiple functions: lifting the storage beam to overhead height, positioning it at the desired elevation, and maintaining it there through automated leveling. This multi-functional automated system replaces multiple manual operations (lifting, positioning, leveling, securing), achieving storage capability while consolidating complexity into a single integrated mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and secure overhead storage of bulky items by maintaining a level condition, optimizing garage space and facilitating vehicle and pedestrian movement by automatically adjusting the hanging beam to ensure balanced and elevated storage.
Implementation Method 1
The mechanism is a rotatable screw
Implementation Method 2
a motor coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A load-leveling hanging apparatus and a system for suspended lifting of objects are disclosed. The load-leveling hanging apparatus includes a carriage suspended from a line; a hanging beam adapted for attachment of multiple objects at points along the beam; a mechanism for moving the hanging beam relative to the carriage to thereby achieve a level condition; and a level indicator. The mechanism is a rotatable screw. The system includes the load-leveling hanging apparatus and a lifting device. The lifting device includes a drum for winding and unwinding a line; a motor coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto; a guide to direct the line onto the drum; and a controller. The lifting device raises and lowers the suspended hanging apparatus.