Vehicle Roof Loading Supports With Lever-Assisted Single-Person Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current specialty roof racks for personal watercraft, such as kayaks and crew shells, are limited in their ability to safely and efficiently load and transport elongate objects, often requiring multiple people to manage the heavy and cumbersome loads.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a plurality of elongate supports with deployable generally parallel protrusions, allowing for the secure loading and positioning of elongate objects on top of a vehicle, which can be operated by a single person due to its design that utilizes a Class 2 lever arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional roof racks are used to load personal watercraft, then the objects can be transported, but multiple people are required to manage heavy and cumbersome loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary loading system consisting of elongate supports with protrusions that act as a mediator between the ground and the roof rack. This intermediary mechanism allows a single person to load heavy personal watercraft by providing mechanical advantage through the Class 2 lever arrangement, eliminating the need for multiple people while managing the complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The loading system is segmented into multiple components: elongate supports, protrusions for positioning, and integration points with the roof rack. This segmentation allows the system to be broken down into manageable parts that can be operated by a single person while maintaining the overall function of loading heavy objects
2Adaptability or versatility
If specialty roof racks are designed for personal watercraft, then loading can be performed, but the system is limited in safely and efficiently loading elongate objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal loading system that can handle various types of elongate objects (personal watercraft, kayaks, crew shells, and other similar objects) through standardized elongate supports and protrusions. This multi-functional design improves adaptability while maintaining loading efficiency through a unified approach that works across different object types
3Ease of operation
If elongate objects are loaded onto vehicle roof, then transport is enabled, but the loading process is difficult and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The elongate supports with protrusions serve as an intermediary mechanism that provides both mechanical advantage for easier operation and structural stability for reliable loading. The protrusions ensure proper positioning and secure contact points, maintaining safety while reducing the physical effort required
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning actions through the protrusions that extend outwardly to guide and secure the elongate objects before final placement on the roof rack. This preliminary action ensures proper alignment and secure contact, improving both ease of operation and reliability of the loading process
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
Enables the safe and efficient loading of elongate objects onto a vehicle by a single person, overcoming the limitations of existing systems by providing a stable and secure method for transporting personal watercraft and other elongate items.
Implementation Method 1
which can be operated by a single person due to its design that utilizes a Class 2 lever arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides embodiments of devices and systems to load one or more objects on top of a vehicle or other structure.