Removable Roof Rack Mount for Vehicles with Detachable Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sport utility vehicles with removable roofs do not accommodate roof racks effectively, as they interfere with the removal and installation of the roof and are not designed to be selectively removable, leading to water leakage and increased drag when not in use.
Innovation Solution
A roof rack assembly featuring removably assembled pins and a cargo carrier that can be attached to the roof rails above removable roof panels, with a seal plug to prevent water leakage and a threaded connector for secure attachment, allowing the roof rack to be easily installed or removed based on the roof panel configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a roof rack is permanently assembled to the roof, then cargo carrying capability is improved, but it increases drag and cannot be removed when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The roof rack system transitions from a static permanent assembly to a dynamic configurable system. The pins can be selectively installed or removed based on whether cargo carrying is needed, allowing the system to adapt its state between having the rack attached or not attached to the roof panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The roof rack is divided into separable components (pins, roof rack structure, roof panels) that can be independently assembled or disassembled. This segmentation allows the rack to be configured only when needed rather than being a permanent integrated structure.
2Quantity of substance
If a roof rack is provided on a vehicle with removable roof, then cargo carrying capability is improved, but it interferes with removal and installation of the removable roof
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic reconfiguration where the pins can be either installed (providing cargo capability) or removed (allowing easy roof operation). This resolves the contradiction by making the rack presence conditional rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The pins that connect the roof rack to the roof panels can be extracted or removed when roof removal is needed, temporarily taking out the connecting elements to enable both functions sequentially without permanent interference.
3Quantity of substance
If pins are used to attach the roof rack to the roof panels, then cargo carrying capability is improved, but water leakage occurs through the openings
Solution Approach 1:
A seal plug acts as an intermediary element that fills the opening when the pin is not installed, preventing water leakage while allowing the pin to be removed for roof operations. The seal plug mediates between the need for pin removal and the need to prevent water ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal plug can be extracted or removed when the pin is installed, and installed when the pin is removed. This allows the system to switch between having the rack attached (seal plug removed) and preventing water leakage (seal plug installed).
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle including a passenger compartment having a roof support framework including a pair of roof rails, a header and at least one roof bow. A roof including several rigid removable roof panels is removably assembled to the roof support framework. Pins are removably assembled to the roof rails or to brackets attached to the roof rails that extend through the roof panels. A roof rack or cargo carrier is removably attached to upper ends of the pins and is spaced above the roof panels. A method of assembling a roof rack to a vehicle is also disclosed.