Quick-Release Rooftop Tent Mount for Faster Rack Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Securing and removing rooftop tents from vehicle roof-racks is time-consuming and physically demanding due to the cramped space and the need for multiple nuts and bolts, leading to inefficiency and physical discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A rapid-release mount system comprising a bottom bracket bolted to the roof-rack, a top bracket bolted to the rooftop tent, and a locking quick-release pin that secures and releases the brackets, simplifying the attachment and detachment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple nuts and bolts are used to secure the rooftop tent to the vehicle roof-rack, then the security and stability of the connection is improved, but the time required for installation and removal increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate components: a base plate that attaches to the roof rack, a tent plate that attaches to the tent, and a quick-release pin mechanism. This segmentation allows the connection to be secured with a single pin while maintaining the stability provided by multiple attachment points distributed across the plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate and tent plate are pre-assembled with multiple holes and alignment features before field installation. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the quick-release pin is inserted, all alignment and securing actions are completed in one motion, eliminating the need for sequential tightening of multiple nuts and bolts during installation or removal.
2Strength
If multiple nuts and bolts are used to secure the rooftop tent, then the connection strength is improved, but the physical effort and discomfort to the installer increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fastening functions are merged into a single quick-release pin mechanism. The pin simultaneously engages multiple holes in the base plate and tent plate, providing the cumulative strength of multiple fasteners while requiring only a single insertion and removal action by the installer, eliminating the need to manually manipulate multiple nuts and bolts in cramped spaces.
3Ease of operation
If a single quick-release pin is used to secure the rooftop tent, then the ease of installation and removal is improved, but the complexity of the mounting hardware increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex multi-nut-and-bolt assembly process is extracted and replaced with a single pin insertion operation. The plates themselves are designed with integrated alignment features and hole patterns that encode the mounting geometry, removing the need for complex adjustment procedures while maintaining secure attachment through the simple pin mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A bottom bracket made with a box at its center and a flange on opposing sides. Over each flange, on the side of the box, are two equal, opposing through-holes. Each flange is drilled with holes to allow the bracket to be bolted to a roof rack rail. A top bracket made in a box shape with an open bottom to fit over the box-shaped bottom bracket and with the top of the top bracket fabricated to accept two bolts that will screw into an adapter fitted into a rail slot on the underside of a roof-top tent. The top bracket also has two opposing through-holes matching the through-holes on the sides of the bottom bracket. The top and bottom brackets held together by a locking quick-release pin inserted through the through-hole on the sides of the top and bottom brackets.