Quick-Release Accessory Latch for Compact Off-Road Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-operated latch mechanisms for off-road vehicles are cumbersome and inefficient, often requiring tools for attachment and detachment of accessories, and lack a secure and compact design for various terrain conditions.
Innovation Solution
A latching mechanism with a body, shaft, and handle that allows tool-free attachment and detachment of accessories, featuring a spring system for axial bias, a conical surface for drainage and reduced wear, and a compact design with a hooking portion for secure mounting, utilizing a T-bolt head and mounting recesses for robust clamping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing hand-operated latch mechanisms are used, then accessories can be mounted on offroad vehicles, but the mechanisms are cumbersome and require tools for attachment and detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is divided into distinct functional components: a body portion that interfaces with the mounting recess, a shaft that rotates within the body, and a handle that operates the shaft. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity and tool-free operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a traditional latch that requires inserting and manipulating multiple parts, this invention inverts the approach by using a rotating shaft with an oblong head that simply needs to be rotated 90 degrees to engage or disengage. The oblong head rotates between two positions: engaged under the mounting recess shoulder and disengaged from it, providing intuitive tool-free operation.
2Reliability
If traditional mounting methods using ropes or cords are used, then accessories can be attached, but it is not easy to find ideal spaces or adequately secure objects
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system provides universal adaptability by incorporating multiple mounting recesses at various locations on the vehicle frame and storage rack. Each recess can accommodate the latch mechanism, allowing accessories to be securely mounted at multiple different locations rather than being limited to single fixed points or requiring improvised rope-based solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting recesses are pre-configured with shoulders and dimensions designed to work with the oblong head of the latch mechanism. This preliminary preparation of mounting locations eliminates the need to search for suitable spaces or modify the vehicle structure, as the recesses are already optimized for secure attachment.
3Volume of moving object
If conventional latch mechanisms are used, then accessories can be mounted, but the mechanisms are not compact and have large profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is nested within the body portion, and the oblong head is integrated with the shaft, creating a compact nested structure. When viewed from above, the overall profile is minimized as the rotating components are contained within the body's footprint rather than extending outward, achieving a compact design that maintains structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism achieves compactness by utilizing the vertical dimension effectively. The oblong head rotates in a vertical plane, engaging under the mounting recess shoulder, which allows the mechanism to have a small horizontal footprint while maintaining strong mounting capability through the vertical engagement geometry.
4Strength
If simple mounting structures are used, then accessories can be attached, but they cannot withstand rugged terrain conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The oblong head has an asymmetric geometry that is optimized for its rotational engagement function. The oblong shape with specific dimensions (approximately 12mm x 8mm) creates an asymmetric profile that engages effectively with the mounting recess shoulder, providing strong mechanical interlocking that can withstand rugged terrain conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The rounded corners of the oblong head and the curved conical surface provide smooth stress distribution during rotation and engagement. The curved geometry eliminates stress concentration points that would occur with sharp corners, enhancing the strength and durability of the mechanism under load while maintaining a simple robust design without requiring complex reinforcement.
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 latching mechanism provides a strong, tool-free, and compact solution for securing accessories on off-road vehicles, with a static pull strength exceeding 2000N, reducing water ingress and wear, and enabling easy mounting and removal without loosening all prior art mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The latching mechanism includes a spring system for biasing the head axially, such that the head can be moved either upwardly or downwardly from a balanced elevation against either a downward biasing force or an upward biasing force of the spring system.
Implementation Method 2
the handle rides on a conical upper surface of the body, sloped downwardly and outwardly from the rotation axis so as to reduce entry of muddy water and reduce contact surface wear between the handle and the body
Data Source
AI summary
A latching mechanism removably attaches an accessory to an offroad vehicle without requiring tools. The latching mechanism includes a body, a shaft extending through the body, and a handle riding on a conical surface of the body for rotating the shaft relative to the body. An oblong head extends on a lower side of the body, rotatable by the handle and shaft to a position where the head extends under a shoulder of a mounting recess. A spring system biases the head axially, such that the head can be moved either upwardly or downwardly from a balanced elevation set by a nut tightenable on a bolt. The mounting recess has an upper portion shaped differently from a lower portion. The body includes a hooking portion which extends significantly above the top of the mounting recess.