Pivoting License Plate Mount with Track Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automobile enthusiasts face the challenge of unsightly license plate mounts on classic cars, which need to be removed for aesthetic purposes but must be reattached for road use, lacking a mechanism to store the license plate out of view while maintaining attachment to the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A license plate transport mechanism featuring a mounting bracket with a pivot pin and a license plate mounting plate that can be moved between perpendicular and parallel positions, allowing storage beneath the vehicle, with optional automated power systems for deployment and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed license plate mount is semi-permanently secured to the vehicle, then the license plate remains attached to the vehicle, but it appears unsightly on classic cars and cannot be stored out of view
Solution Approach 1:
The license plate mount is designed with a movable mounting plate that can pivot between a vertical display position and a horizontal storage position parallel to the vehicle body. This dynamic mechanism allows the license plate to be concealed when not in use, eliminating the unsightly appearance of fixed mounts on classic cars while maintaining secure attachment to the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting plate utilizes a track system that allows movement from a vertical orientation (perpendicular to vehicle body) to a horizontal orientation (parallel to vehicle body). By changing the dimensional orientation of the mounting plate, the license plate can be stored flush against the vehicle surface, achieving concealment without adding significant structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the license plate mount is removed for aesthetic purposes, then the vehicle appearance is enhanced, but the license plate cannot be used on public roadways
Solution Approach 1:
The mount allows the license plate to be positioned in a horizontal orientation parallel to the vehicle body for aesthetic display, yet remains securely attached and can be quickly rotated to a vertical orientation for road use. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between aesthetic appearance and roadworthiness.
3Ease of operation
If the license plate mount is manually moved between positions, then it can be stored out of view, but it requires user intervention and is not convenient
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting plate incorporates a spring mechanism that automatically returns the plate to its vertical display position after manual rotation. This self-service feature reduces the need for continuous user intervention, as the system automatically resets itself, improving convenience while maintaining the ability to store the plate when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting mechanism operates in periodic cycles: manual rotation to horizontal position for storage, then automatic spring-driven return to vertical position for display. This periodic action between manual and automatic operation optimizes convenience while achieving both storage and display functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A license plate transport mechanism includes a mounting bracket connectable beneath a vehicle support structure, such as a front bumper of a vehicle. The mounting bracket includes an elongate track with a pivot pin for pivotally mounting a license plate mounting plate. When the mounting plate is at a first end of the track, it pivots to a vertical position that is generally perpendicular to a base of the mounting bracket to display the license plate. The mounting plate is pivotable to a horizontal position generally parallel to the mounting bracket base. Once in the horizontal position, the pivot pin and mounting plate can move toward a second end of the track to store the license plate underneath the vehicle support structure.