Rear-Mounted Ski Rack With Pivoting End Bars
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ski and snowboard racks installed on the top of vehicles increase the vehicle's height, risking damage from garage doors or parking facilities and obstructing the driver's view, while also not being adaptable to different board lengths.
Innovation Solution
A rear-mounted ski and snowboard rack system comprising a post with two clamp units, each with adjustable bars and positioning members, allowing for secure storage without increasing vehicle height and accommodating various board lengths, with end bars that pivot to secure the boards and fold for space-saving when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ski and snowboard racks are installed on the top of vehicles, then the skis and snowboards can be secured on the vehicle, but the vehicle height increases and may hit garage doors or parking facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The rack system transitions from vertical mounting (top of vehicle) to horizontal/rear mounting (rear end of vehicle). The post is connected to the rear end of the vehicle, and clamp units extend horizontally to secure boards, eliminating vertical height increase while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting the rack structure upward from the vehicle body, the invention inverts the approach by mounting it to the rear end and extending outward. The clamp units pivot and close around the boards from the outside in, rather than securing them from above
2Reliability
If conventional top-mounted racks are used, then ski and snowboard storage is provided, but the driver's sight is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The rack system moves from a vertical position above the windshield to a horizontal position at the rear end of the vehicle, extending outward away from the driver's line of sight while maintaining storage capability
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed-length rack structures are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different board lengths is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp units incorporate movable bars that can slide along the post and pivot at connection points. The bars transition from a retracted position (parallel to post) to an extended position (perpendicular to post), dynamically adjusting the rack's reach to accommodate different board lengths while maintaining a compact form when not in use
Solution Approach 2:
The rack is divided into modular components: a fixed post with positioning sections, and separate clamp units with movable bars. This segmentation allows the bars to be independently adjusted and positioned to match different board lengths, while the standardized post and connection mechanisms keep manufacturing relatively simple
Data Source
AI summary
A skis and snowboards rack includes a post which is connected to rear end of a vehicle. A first clamp unit and a second clamp unit are respectively connected to the post. The first clamp unit includes multiple pairs of first bars. A first space is formed between each pair of the first bars. Multiple restriction members are slidably mounted to each pair of the first bars. The second clamp unit includes multiple pairs of second bars. A second space is formed between each pair of the second bars. An end bar is connected to each of the first clamp unit and the second clamp unit to close up the first spaces and the second spaces. Skis and snowboards are restricted in the first and second spaces. The end bars prevent the skis and snowboards from dropping from the first and second spaces.