Vehicle Rooftop Box Gripper With Quick-Release Lever
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rooftop box fixing systems are cumbersome to connect and disconnect, occupy valuable space inside the box, and risk accidental release due to collisions with stored objects, and lack flexibility to adapt to various cross-bar configurations.
Innovation Solution
A fixing system featuring a gripper with orthogonal sliders, a quick coupling and release lever with a toggle mechanism, guide means, a fixing base, and clamping means that allows easy adaptation to cross-bar widths and distances, and includes a flexible seal to prevent foreign entry and exit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional straps and supports are used to fix the rooftop box, then the box can be securely attached to the cross bars, but the connection and removal operations become cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing system employs a dynamic lever mechanism that transitions between locked and unlocked states. The lever (3) rotates about an axis to move the first slider (21), which in turn moves the gripping elements to clamp or release the cross bar. This dynamic mechanism enables quick attachment and detachment without manual adjustment of multiple straps
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the complex strap adjustment mechanism and replaces it with a simplified lever-operated slider system. The lever (3) directly controls the gripping force through the slider (21), eliminating the need for multiple adjustable straps and making the operation much simpler and faster
2Reliability
If a support structure is placed inside the rooftop box to hold the fixing system, then the fixing system can be securely mounted, but valuable space inside the box is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The structure (4) is designed with a nested configuration where the guide means (40) and slider mechanism are housed within a compact framework that attaches to the box's existing structure. The lever (3) and slider (21) nest within the structure (4), minimizing the space required inside the rooftop box while maintaining secure mounting
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing system utilizes the vertical dimension and the sides of the box for mounting, rather than occupying horizontal space inside the box. The structure (4) attaches to the box walls and uses vertical movement of the slider (21) along the guide means (40) to achieve the fixing function, thereby preserving valuable storage volume
3Reliability
If a fixed support structure is used inside the rooftop box, then the fixing system can be securely mounted, but the support becomes an obstacle to materials stored in the box
Solution Approach 1:
The slider (21) and lever (3) mechanism provides adjustability, allowing the fixing system to be positioned at different locations along the guide means (40). This dynamic positioning capability enables the support structure to be moved out of the way when not in use, minimizing interference with stored materials while maintaining secure mounting when needed
4Adaptability or versatility
If a complex strap system is used to embrace the cross bars, then the rooftop box can be attached to various cross bar configurations, but the attachment process becomes articulated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping elements of the slider (21) are designed with a universal clamping mechanism that can accommodate various cross bar widths and configurations. The lever (3) operates a single mechanism that simultaneously adjusts both gripping elements, providing adaptable attachment to different cross bars while maintaining fast operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the adjustment and gripping functions into a single lever-operated mechanism. The lever (3) simultaneously controls the movement of the first slider (21), which coordinates both gripping elements to clamp the cross bar. This combined mechanism eliminates the need for separate adjustment operations for each strap, significantly increasing attachment speed while maintaining versatility
Data Source
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Figure 4~5
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AI summary
A system for removably fixing a cross-bar rooftop box for a vehicle, comprising: - gripping means (2) comprising a gripper (20) in turn comprising a first and a second slider (21, 22) which can be moved towards and away from each other with respect to a first direction (200) so as to allow the grip and release of one of said cross bars of the vehicle; - a quick coupling and release lever (3) that causes the movement of the first slider (21) to move it closer to/away from the second slider (22); - a structure (4) comprising guide means (40) for guiding the movement of the first slider (21); - a fixing base (5) for fixing inside the rooftop box with which said structure (4) can move; - clamping means (6) which lock/unlock the position along said first direction (200): i) of said second slider (22) with respect to the structure (4) in order to adapt to the width along the first direction (200) of a coupling cross bar of the rooftop box; ii) of said structure (4) with respect to said fixing base (5) in order to adapt to the distance along the first direction (200) between the two cross bars to which the box is constrained.