Sliding Mounting Bracket Assembly to Prevent Rooftop Carrier Binding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rooftop cargo carrier mounting bracket assemblies often suffer from 'binding' issues between fixed and demountable components, making it difficult to rapidly mount and dismount accessories, especially with large or heavy items, and require precise positioning, which is cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A universal mounting bracket assembly with a bracket base and adaptor featuring guiding and complementary faces at acute angles, allowing linear sliding engagement without parallel friction, and secondary guides to facilitate easy alignment and secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional mounting bracket assemblies are used, then accessories can be mounted to rooftop cargo carriers, but binding occurs between fixed and demountable components making rapid mounting and dismounting difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved guiding faces (concave/convex surfaces) instead of flat parallel surfaces. The demountable component has a curved engaging surface that slides along a curved guiding surface on the fixed component, creating a wedge effect that prevents binding and facilitates smooth mounting and dismounting operations while maintaining secure engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the engaging surfaces from parallel flat surfaces to non-parallel curved surfaces with specific angle relationships. The guiding faces are arranged at angles relative to each other, creating a mechanical advantage that reduces friction and prevents binding during the mounting and dismounting process.
2Reliability
If complex mounting means are used to prevent binding, then component engagement reliability improves, but the system becomes more complex and requires precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The curved guiding faces serve multiple functions simultaneously: they guide the demountable component into proper alignment, prevent binding during engagement, and provide self-aligning characteristics. This single geometric feature replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate alignment mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved guiding faces create a self-aligning mechanism where the geometry itself guides the engagement process. The wedge-shaped interaction between the curved surfaces automatically positions the components correctly during mounting, eliminating the need for external alignment aids or complex positioning systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional parallel friction surfaces are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but binding occurs that prevents rapid accessory swapping
Solution Approach 1:
While curved surfaces may be slightly more complex to manufacture than flat surfaces, the patent's curvature is achieved through practical molding or machining techniques. The benefit of eliminating binding and enabling rapid accessory swapping dramatically improves productivity, far outweighing the minor increase in manufacturing complexity. The curved surfaces can be produced using standard manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mounting bracket assembly for mounting an article to a mounting site, comprising a bracket base that includes at least a mounting structure that is configured to affix to the mounting site, and a receiving structure and a bracket adaptor that includes at least an engaging structure complementary to the receiving structure of the bracket base, wherein the bracket adaptor is mounted to the bracket base by being oriented in an engaging orientation relative to an orientation of the bracket base and linearly sliding the engaging structure in a first direction and into engagement with the receiving structure.