Retractable Wheel Assembly Aperture Cover and Trap Flange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable wheel assemblies for luggage are bulky, difficult to install and secure, prone to damage, and fail to fully close and secure the wheel, leading to exposure and potential damage during handling and storage, while also being expensive and not adaptable to existing luggage.
Innovation Solution
A retractable wheel assembly with a bracing member, wheeled arm, and deployment mechanism that includes a trap member and variably engaging coupling devices, allowing the wheel to rotate through an aperture and retract securely, with a handle that facilitates two-stage deployment and retraction, enabling independent wheel deployment and minimizing exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If retractable wheel assemblies are provided to reduce exposure of wheels to exterior, then wheel protection is improved, but the assembly becomes bulky and difficult to install
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly is nested within the luggage structure, with the wheel holder positioned inside the main body and the wheel retracting into a recessed area. This nesting approach protects the wheel from external damage while maintaining a compact overall form factor that does not significantly increase the luggage dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assembly is divided into separate functional components: a wheel holder, a wheel, a retractable cover, and mounting brackets. This segmentation allows for easier installation and maintenance, as each component can be independently assembled and replaced without affecting the entire assembly.
2Reliability
If retractable mechanisms are used to protect wheels, then wheel security is improved, but the mechanism becomes prone to damage and failure to fully close
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable cover is designed with sufficient travel distance to fully close and secure the wheel within the recessed area. This adequate coverage ensures that the wheel is completely protected from external forces, while the robust construction of the cover and its guiding mechanism prevents damage during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable cover acts as an intermediary element between the external environment and the wheel. This cover absorbs and distributes external forces, protecting the wheel and its mounting mechanism from direct impact and potential damage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If separate luggage carrier with open frame is used, then wheel exposure is reduced, but the frame leaves wheel assemblies exposed to damage during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly is merged with the luggage body, with the wheel holder and mounting brackets integrated into the main structure. This integration eliminates the need for separate open frame carriers, providing both structural support and wheel protection in a unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable wheel assembly serves multiple functions: it provides mobility when extended and protects the wheel when retracted. The same integrated structure also serves as part of the luggage body, eliminating the need for separate protective frames and reducing overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A retractable wheel assembly includes a bracing member and a wheeled arm pivotally coupled to the bracing member. The wheeled arm is sized and positioned such that the wheeled arm rotates through an aperture of the bracing member. The wheeled arm includes an arm member, a wheel, and an aperture cover shaped and positioned such that when the wheeled arm is in a retracted mode, the aperture cover covers a majority of the aperture, but not substantially all, thereby forming a wheel gap. The wheel assembly includes a deployment arm and a trap member operationally coupled to the deployment arm, including a trap flange sized and positioned to cover the wheel gap when in a closed mode and to substantially uncover the wheel gap in an open mode. The retractable wheel assembly includes a handle operationally coupled to the trap member.