Rotating Bike Rack Platform for Roll-Up Loading Without Lifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cyclists face difficulty in loading and unloading bikes, especially electric bikes, which are heavier, due to the cumbersome task of lifting them onto or off traditional bike racks, and existing solutions often require additional ramps or complex mounting procedures.
Innovation Solution
A bike rack with a rotating platform that tilts to create an integral ramp, allowing bikes to roll on and off, featuring a spring-loaded pin mechanism that automatically adjusts between driving and tilt positions, eliminating the need for lifting and reducing storage complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional bike rack is used with ground clearance requirements, then the vehicle can navigate angled roads, but the bike loading position must be higher than the ground requiring lifting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ramp function and bike rack platform into a single integrated structure. The platform itself can tilt to form the ramp, eliminating the need for a separate ramp component. This merging resolves the contradiction by providing ease of loading through the ramp function while reducing device complexity by integrating rather than adding components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a tilting mechanism that allows the platform to dynamically change its angle between a horizontal driving position and an inclined loading position. This dynamic capability enables the same structure to serve dual functions: as a stable platform for driving and as a ramp for loading, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a separate ramp is attached to facilitate rolling the bike onto the rack, then loading becomes easier, but the number of items to manipulate or store increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp and platform are merged into a single tilting structure. The platform tilts to become the ramp, eliminating the need for a separate ramp component that would need to be attached, manipulated, or stored. This directly resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of loading while reducing the number of items to manipulate.
3Reliability
If the rack is mounted at height for ground clearance, then the vehicle can navigate angled roads, but lifting the bike is required to load onto the rack
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting mechanism allows the platform to dynamically adjust its angle. When tilted, the platform creates a ramp that bridges the height gap created by ground clearance requirements, enabling rolling loading instead of lifting. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the necessary ground clearance height while providing an inclined plane for easier loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The tilting platform creates an inclined plane that gradually reduces the height difference between ground level and the raised platform position. By providing this intermediate transition, the system makes the loading process easier while maintaining the necessary ground clearance, effectively creating an equipotential path for the bike.
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 easy loading and unloading of bikes without lifting, provides self-leveling, and accommodates bikes of different heights with a compact arrangement, reducing the number of items to manage and store.
Implementation Method 1
The rack mechanism has a spring-loaded pin that is pulled to allow the platform to tilt. When the user pushes the bike up, the user force will approach the tilting point, and the rack will level out. Once level, a spring-loaded pin will engage the driving position hole and snap back to hold the platform and bike level for everyday driving.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a bike rack with a rotating platform mechanism to ease the loading and unloading of bicycles. The present disclosure is directed to a bike rack coupled to a rotating platform. The rotating platform is a mechanism that allows the rack to perform its dual functions. The rotating platform comprises a series of plates. One plate is a faceplate, and the remainder are tilt plates. A pin is coupled with the faceplate. The tilt plate has a slot with two stops. One stop defines the driving position, and the second defines the tilt position. The pin passes through the tilt slot and retains the platform in the driving or tilt positions. Optionally a third tilt plate locks the platform in either position. Optionally, the faceplate and tilt plate(s) are coupled to a pivot that is off-center from the centerline of the platform.