Modular Vehicle Load Carrier With Single Fastening Arm

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional load carrier systems for motor vehicles are not easily portable due to their wide design, which prevents them from being folded into a compact structure, making them resilient but not handy for handling.

Innovation Solution

A load carrier system with a single fastening arm and a single vehicle mount, featuring electrical connections for power supply to consumers like rear lights, and a dual-function vehicle carrier that supports both the load carrier and trailer coupling, utilizing a clamping anchor and latching elements for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If multiple fastening arms are used to provide broad support, then mechanical stability is improved, but the width increases preventing compact storage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidstorage volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The load carrier is divided into a modular system with separate fastening arms that can be independently attached and detached from the vehicle carrier, allowing the arms to be stored separately or folded compactly when not in use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening arms are designed with movable and adjustable characteristics, allowing them to be positioned as needed for loading/unloading operations and then folded back or removed for compact storage, transforming from a static wide structure to a dynamic compact one

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a single fastening arm is used to enable compact storage, then ease of handling is improved, but mechanical stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of handlingVSAvoidmechanical stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle carrier is pre-equipped with mounting points and electrical connection interfaces that align with the single fastening arm, allowing the arm to be quickly attached and immediately providing both mechanical support and electrical connectivity without requiring multiple arms for stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The single fastening arm is combined with electrical connection functionality, where the same structural component that provides mechanical attachment also serves as the electrical contact interface, consolidating multiple functions into one element to maintain stability while enabling compact design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If electrical connections are added to the fastening arm, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connection interface is merged with the mechanical fastening arm structure, where electrical contacts are integrated into the same component that provides mechanical attachment, eliminating the need for separate electrical connection mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening arm is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides mechanical support, electrical connectivity, and structural alignment, allowing a single element to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate components

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

Data Source

PatentEP2428404B1Load carrying sytsem
Publication Date: 2016.08.17 WESTFALIA AUTOMOTIVE
  • EP2428404B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2428404B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2428404B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The carrier system (10a) has a carrier (50a) having a support portion for supporting a load. A mounting arm (51a) is attached with a vehicle support (13a) projected at the rear end of the motor vehicle (200), using a fixing element. A vehicle support is arranged at transverse center (203) of the motor vehicle behind an indicator (206) or behind a bumper (202) of motor vehicle.