Removable Ramp Mount for Wheeled Vehicle Curb Crossing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wheeled vehicles, especially lawn care equipment, face wear and tear when traversing curbs, leading to broken or bent wheels and damaged components due to the lack of effective and durable solutions for crossing elevation changes.
Innovation Solution
A ramp and mount system that allows for the removable attachment of ramps to a wheeled vehicle, featuring a mount with engagement fingers and spacer members for secure attachment to the vehicle's bracket, and elastic cords for securing the ramps, made from steel or aluminum for durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wooden boards are used to assist in traversing curbs, then the vehicle can cross elevation changes, but the boards break, slip, and are cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the ramp solution into separate components: a durable mount that attaches to the vehicle and removable ramps that can be easily deployed. This segmentation allows the mount to remain permanently attached and sturdy while the ramps can be quickly removed and repositioned as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp system transitions from static wooden boards to a dynamic system where ramps can be quickly attached and detached from the mount. The elastic cords enable the ramps to be easily secured and released, making the system adaptable and easy to operate while maintaining durability.
2Ease of operation
If ramps are permanently attached to the vehicle, then they are always available, but they are cumbersome and difficult to deploy
Solution Approach 1:
The mount is pre-installed on the vehicle in advance, so when a ramp is needed, the user only needs to attach the ramp to the existing mount rather than installing the entire system. This preliminary action simplifies the deployment process and makes ramps immediately accessible.
Solution Approach 2:
The mount serves as an intermediary component between the vehicle and the ramps. It provides a standardized attachment interface that simplifies the connection process, allowing ramps to be easily attached and detached without complex mounting procedures each time.
3Device complexity
If traditional wooden boards are used, then the solution is simple, but they break and slip under vehicle weight
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses metal materials (aluminum or steel) for both the mount and ramps, creating a composite structure that maintains simplicity while dramatically improving strength and load-bearing capacity. The metal construction eliminates the breaking and slipping problems associated with wooden boards.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution changes the material parameter from wood to metal, which fundamentally improves the mechanical properties including strength, durability, and friction characteristics. This parameter change allows the ramps to support vehicle weight without breaking or slipping while maintaining a relatively simple design.
Data Source
AI summary
A mount for receiving and retaining at least one ramp. The mount includes a first side and a second side. The first side includes a body portion, at least one engagement finger extending in a first direction and at least one engagement finger extending in a second direction. The second side includes a body portion, at least one engagement finger extending in the first direction and at least one engagement finger extending in a second direction. At least one spacer member can be coupled to the body portion of the first and second sides so as to provide at least some spacing between the first side and the second side. The mount can be attached to a wheeled vehicle for removable attachment of one or more ramps thereto. The wheeled vehicle can be a lawn mower.