Retractable Tow Strap with Biasing Reel Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tow straps face issues such as slack causing tension loss, getting caught in vehicle parts, and difficulty in storage, especially with longer lengths, leading to jerking motions and damage during towing.
Innovation Solution
A retractable tow strap apparatus with a protective casing and a reel mechanism that winds the strap onto a hub, using biasing forces to maintain tension and automatically retract when slack occurs, ensuring consistent towing and easy storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a longer length tow strap is used, then the towing distance and versatility are improved, but the difficulty of winding and storage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a retractable tow strap with a reel mechanism that dynamically adjusts the strap length during towing operations. The strap can be extended as needed and automatically retracts when not in use, transforming a static storage problem into a dynamic solution that adapts to operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The tow strap is wound and stored within a protective casing that houses a reel mechanism. The strap nests around the reel hub when retracted, creating a compact stored configuration that solves the storage difficulty while maintaining access to the full strap length when needed.
2Device complexity
If a conventional loose tow strap is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of maintaining tension deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing mechanism (spring) is pre-loaded to automatically apply tension to the tow strap before any slack occurs. This preliminary action maintains continuous tension on the strap during towing, preventing the reliability issues associated with loose straps while adding only minimal mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable mechanism with biasing automatically maintains tension and retracts the strap without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates tension levels during towing operations, improving reliability while keeping the operational interface simple.
3Reliability
If a retractable mechanism with biasing is added, then the tension consistency and safety are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated retractable mechanism: the reel for winding, the biasing mechanism for tension maintenance, and the protective casing for storage and guidance. This merging approach improves tension consistency and safety while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity compared to separate systems.
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 retractable mechanism maintains consistent tension, reduces the risk of damage and jerking, and simplifies storage by automatically winding the strap when not in use, enhancing safety and usability during towing operations.
Implementation Method 1
means for biasing the reel to wind the tow strap onto the hub
Data Source
AI summary
A retractable tow strap apparatus for towing a vehicle includes a protective casing and a reel including a hub. The tow strap apparatus further include a tow strap webbing for winding about the hub, means for attaching at least one end of the tow strap webbing to a vehicle to be towed, and means for biasing the reel to wind the tow strap onto the hub. When the tow strap is in a fully extended position, the tow strap apparatus is configured to transmit substantially all of a tension force applied by a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle through only the tow strap. In addition or alternatively, the means for biasing applies a biasing force to automatically wind the tow strap webbing onto the hub. In addition or alternatively, the tow strap webbing is non-disjoint and includes two ends that are each extendable from the casing.