Portable Board Rack With Rotating Forks for Small Boats

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ski racks are not suitable for small boats without elevated towers, as they pose tripping hazards and damage risks, and require permanent mounting, limiting their transferability and safe loading and transportation.

Innovation Solution

A portable water sport board rack with rotating forks and a removable rod for secure attachment to any boat, featuring straps for board retention and a handle for easy carrying, allowing vertical orientation and secure storage without damaging the vessel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional ski racks are permanently mounted onto the boat, then the boards can be stored securely, but the boat structure is damaged and the warranty is voided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboard storage securityVSAvoidboat structure damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rack is divided into separate modular components (side rails, cross members, mounting brackets) that can be easily assembled and disassembled without permanent attachment, allowing secure board storage while avoiding boat structure damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rack uses an intermediary mounting system with removable brackets and straps that interface with the boat's existing structure without causing damage, mediating between the need for secure storage and the prohibition against structural modification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the rack is permanently mounted on the boat, then board storage is stable, but the rack cannot be transferred to another boat

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverack stabilityVSAvoidrack transferability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rack is designed as modular segmented components that can be easily assembled and disassembled, providing stability when installed while enabling complete removal and transfer to another boat without permanent attachment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rack transitions from a static permanent installation to a dynamic removable system, allowing it to be stable during use but easily reconfigurable for transfer between different boats

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the rack is mounted on the outside of the boat, then boards can be stored, but they cannot be safely transported at highway speeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboard loading capabilityVSAvoidtransport safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rack is designed as a portable dynamic system that can be configured for loading operations outside the boat, then safely positioned inside the boat for transport, transitioning between operational modes to satisfy both loading convenience and transport safety requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Area of stationary object

If boards are stored on the floor of the boat, then space is utilized, but tripping hazards and board damage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage space utilizationVSAvoidtripping hazard and board damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rack elevates board storage from the horizontal floor plane to a vertical upright configuration, utilizing vertical space instead of horizontal space, thereby eliminating tripping hazards while providing secure organized storage for multiple boards

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9045090B2Portable water sport board rack

Publication Date: 2015.06.02 WILHELM TIMOTHY

AI summary

A portable water sport board rack includes a pair of generally parallel forks each including a plurality of elongated prongs that define channels for receiving and storing water-sport boards. The forks are transversely connected via a support cross member, and an extension member connects the cross member to a rotational unit. An elongated rod is secured to the bottom of the rotational unit at an angle, and the device is secured to a boat through insertion of the angled rod into a rod holder.