Multi-purpose hitch tool with dual bristle arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rust and debris accumulation within hitch receivers make it difficult to insert and remove hitch mounts, and rigid or rusted cotter pins are challenging to remove without specialized tools, necessitating a multi-purpose tool for efficient cleaning and component removal.
Innovation Solution
A multi-purpose hitch tool with an elongated handle featuring a removal device for cotter pin extraction and a brush assembly with rigid and resilient bristle arrays for debris removal, designed for efficient cleaning and organized storage within a vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate tools are used for cleaning and removing hitch components, then each tool can be specialized for its function, but the device complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a brush assembly with rigid and resilient bristles, a removal device with striking and gripping members, and an elongated handle into a single integrated tool. This merging of multiple functional components into one unified device allows the tool to perform cleaning, striking, and gripping operations without requiring separate tools, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is designed with universal functionality to perform multiple hitch maintenance tasks. The brush assembly cleans debris from the hitch receiver, the striking member removes cotter pins, and the gripping member extracts broken pins. This multi-functional design enables a single tool to replace multiple specialized tools, improving adaptability while managing complexity through integrated design.
2Ease of operation
If a rigid bristle array is used for scraping debris, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the brush assembly cannot adapt to varying interior surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The brush assembly incorporates two distinct bristle arrays with different properties: a first array with rigid bristles for scraping tough debris from hard-to-reach areas, and a second array with resilient bristles for conforming to and cleaning smoother interior surfaces. This local differentiation of bristle properties allows the single brush assembly to effectively clean various surface types within the hitch receiver, maintaining cleaning effectiveness while adding surface adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If the tool is designed to fit within the hitch receiver, then storage convenience is improved, but the tool length and functionality are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is designed with a compact, telescopic structure where components can be nested or collapsed when not in use. The elongated handle can be retracted or folded, and the brush assembly and removal device can be positioned to minimize the overall tool length, allowing the complete multi-functional tool to fit within the confined space of the hitch receiver for convenient storage while maintaining full functionality when deployed.
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
The tool effectively removes debris and components from hitch assemblies, improving insertion ease and reducing the need for multiple tools, while allowing for organized storage within a vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
The second bristle array is less rigid than the first bristle array and is configured to bend against a second interior surface within the interior cavity to bias the first bristle array against the first interior surface
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-purpose hitch tool includes a removal device that is coupled with a first end of an elongated handle. The removal device is configured to remove a cotter pin from a hitch pin or to strike the hitch pin out of engagement with a hitch receiver. A brush assembly is coupled with a second end of the elongated handle and is configured to remove debris from an interior cavity of the hitch receiver. The brush assembly includes a first bristle array that is configured to scrape the debris from the interior cavity. A second bristle array is disposed over an opposite lateral side of the elongated handle from the first bristle array. The second bristle array is less rigid than the first bristle array and is configured to bend against an interior surface within the interior cavity to bias the first bristle array against an opposite interior surface.