Offset Under-Bed Hitch Mounting for Variable Truck Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hitch mounting systems for towing vehicles are difficult to access, add unwanted weight, and are inflexible due to fixed rectangular geometries that do not accommodate varying vehicle frame configurations, leading to installation complexities and potential misplacement of parts.
Innovation Solution
A multi-point under bed hitch mounting system using offset brackets with non-rectangular configurations, such as trapezoidal or parallelogram arrangements, that attach to the vehicle frame without transverse members, allowing for flexible attachment points and simplified installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional single piece or parallel mounting systems with transverse cross members are used, then strength and stability are ensured, but vehicle weight increases and fuel efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the transverse cross members from the mounting system, extracting the unnecessary weight-carrying elements while maintaining structural integrity through alternative means (longitudinal rails only configuration). This eliminates the harmful weight addition while preserving the essential mounting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is segmented into separate longitudinal rail components that can be independently attached to the vehicle frame, eliminating the need for a unified transverse structure. This segmentation allows for weight reduction while maintaining distribution of loads across multiple attachment points.
2Ease of manufacture
If standardized rectangular geometry mounting systems are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to various vehicle frame configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system incorporates adjustable components that allow the geometry to adapt dynamically to different vehicle frame configurations. The longitudinal rails can be positioned at varying distances and angles, transforming a fixed rectangular system into a flexible, adaptable structure that maintains ease of manufacture through standardized adjustable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is designed with universal features that enable it to function across multiple vehicle types and frame configurations. The longitudinal rail design with adjustable positioning capabilities allows a single mounting system design to serve multiple functions across different vehicle platforms, enhancing versatility without sacrificing manufacturing simplicity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If transverse cross members are included in the mounting system, then structural stability is improved, but access and inspection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse cross members are extracted from the mounting system, removing the obstacles that impede access and inspection. This extraction maintains structural stability through the longitudinal rail configuration while eliminating the physical barriers that made conventional systems difficult to access and inspect.
4Manufacturing precision
If fixed distance transverse legs are used in H-shaped mounts, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability to varying frame distances is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system replaces fixed-distance transverse legs with adjustable longitudinal rail positioning. The rails can be positioned at varying distances from each other along the vehicle frame, transforming a precision-fixed system into a dynamically adjustable one that maintains manufacturing precision through standardized positioning mechanisms while accommodating varying frame distances.
Data Source
AI summary
An under bed hitch mounting apparatus is shown and described. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus may comprise a first bracket attachable to a frame of a vehicle below a load bed of the vehicle and a second bracket attachable to the frame of the vehicle below a load bed of the vehicle, the second bracket transversely spaced from the first bracket. The under bed hitch mounting apparatus may also include a first receiving member attached with the first bracket, the first receiving member configured to engage an accessory member, where at least a portion of the first receiving member extends above the load bed of the vehicle, and a second receiving member attached with the second bracket, the first receiving member configured to engage the accessory member, where at least a portion of the second receiving member extends above the load bed of the vehicle.