Plastic Vehicle Jack with Reinforcing Ribs for Weight Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle jacks made of steel fail to meet the requirements of weight reduction and durability, as they are heavy and lack the necessary strength to support vehicle loads effectively.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle jack device made primarily of plastic material with reinforcing ribs on the lower and upper arms, which are designed to be rotatable and connected via a driver, providing structural support and stability while reducing weight by replacing steel components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If steel material is used for the jack device, then strength and durability are improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestrengthVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining plastic base material with embedded reinforcing ribs and steel reinforcement elements. The lower arm and upper arm are made of plastic material with integrated reinforcing ribs that provide structural strength while maintaining weight reduction benefits. This composite approach allows the jack device to achieve both light weight and sufficient strength for vehicle lifting applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by placing reinforcing ribs at specific locations where stress concentration occurs in the plastic arms. The reinforcing ribs are strategically positioned in the lower arm and upper arm to provide localized strength enhancement only where needed, rather than making the entire structure heavy. This allows the majority of the component to remain lightweight plastic while critical areas gain the necessary structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Weight of moving object

If plastic material is used for the jack device, then weight is reduced, but strength and durability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveweightVSAvoidstrength
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining plastic base material with embedded reinforcing ribs and steel reinforcement elements. The lower arm and upper arm are made of plastic material with integrated reinforcing ribs that provide structural strength while maintaining weight reduction benefits. This composite approach allows the jack device to achieve both light weight and sufficient strength for vehicle lifting applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by placing reinforcing ribs at specific locations where stress concentration occurs in the plastic arms. The reinforcing ribs are strategically positioned in the lower arm and upper arm to provide localized strength enhancement only where needed, rather than making the entire structure heavy. This allows the majority of the component to remain lightweight plastic while critical areas gain the necessary structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If reinforcing ribs are added to plastic arms, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestrengthVSAvoidcomplexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the reinforcing rib structure directly into the lower arm and upper arm components during the molding process. The reinforcing ribs are integrated as part of the plastic component manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate reinforcement parts and assembly steps. This integration approach provides the strength benefits of added reinforcement while avoiding the complexity increase that would result from multiple separate components and assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3511286B1Vehicle jacking-up device
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP3511286B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3511286B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3511286B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a vehicle jack device. The vehicle jack device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a base portion in which an inserting hole into which a hinge shaft is inserted is formed and which is supported on a bottom side; a pair of lower arms of which a first portion is installed in the hinge shaft of the base portion in a rotatable way and in which a reinforcing rib is formed in a lengthwise direction; a pair of upper arms respectively installed in a second portion of the lower arm, and on which a reinforcing rib is formed in a lengthwise direction; a bracket member for fixing a first portion of the upper arm in a rotatable way; and a driver installed between the lower arm and the upper arm and providing a tucking driving force to the lower arm and the upper arm. Herein, multiple reinforcing ribs are formed with different heights in a lengthwise direction of the lower arm and wherein the upper arm, the base portion, the lower arm, the upper arm, and the bracket member are made of a plastic material.