Tie Down Locking Mechanism for Boat Drain Plug Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Boaters often forget to remove or insert the drain plug when securing or unsecuring their boats, leading to water accumulation and costly repairs due to flooding.

Innovation Solution

A tie down locking device that requires the drain plug to be positioned within an aperture for the strap to function, ensuring the boater attends to the plug's placement by locking the strap only when the plug is correctly inserted or removed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the drain plug is attached to the transom strap by a string or strap, then the drain plug becomes more convenient to handle, but the boater may still easily overlook the step of positioning it in place

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of drain plug handlingVSAvoidguarantee of drain plug positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary locking mechanism that mediates between the drain plug and the transom strap. The strap cannot be fully secured unless the drain plug is properly positioned in its aperture, creating a mechanical dependency that ensures reliability while maintaining ease of operation through a simple locking action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism dynamically changes the state of the transom strap based on the position of the drain plug. When the drain plug is correctly positioned, the strap transitions from an unsecured state to a locked state, providing visual and mechanical feedback to confirm proper operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Weight of moving object

If the drain plug is not removed after use, then the boat is weighed down significantly by excess water in the hull, but the boater may forget to remove it

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of boatVSAvoidtime to remove drain plug

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism requires the boater to perform the preliminary action of positioning the drain plug in the aperture before the transom strap can be secured. This ensures the drain plug is removed before loading the boat onto the trailer, preventing water accumulation and unnecessary weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism provides immediate visual and mechanical feedback when the drain plug is not properly positioned - the transom strap cannot be locked. This feedback system reminds the boater to complete the drain plug removal step without requiring additional time or complex procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the drain plug is not inserted before placing the boat in the water, then the hull immediately begins to fill with water, but the boater may not realize the problem until it is too late

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater flooding hullVSAvoidtime to insert drain plug

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism requires the drain plug to be inserted into the aperture before the transom strap can be locked, ensuring this critical safety step is completed before the boat is placed in the water. This preliminary action prevents water flooding of the hull.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism creates a preliminary barrier that prevents the harmful action of water flooding by requiring the drain plug to be in place before securing operations can proceed. This anti-action is built into the locking mechanism itself, preventing the sequence of events that would lead to hull flooding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Reliability

If a locking mechanism requiring drain plug positioning is implemented, then the chances of neglecting drain plug placement are minimized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveensuring drain plug positioningVSAvoidcomplexity of locking device

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the drain plug positioning function with the existing transom strap locking function into a single integrated mechanism. The aperture for the drain plug is incorporated into the strap assembly, and the locking action simultaneously secures both the strap and confirms drain plug positioning, avoiding the need for separate complex systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The transom strap assembly serves multiple functions: it secures the boat to the trailer and simultaneously verifies proper drain plug positioning. This multi-functionality is achieved by integrating the aperture and locking mechanism into the existing strap system, maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11607985B2Locking mechanism for tie down locking device

Publication Date: 2023.03.21 DEPLARIS NICHOLAS

AI summary

A tie down locking mechanism includes a first plate including a first cavity and a first aperture, a second plate including a second cavity and a second aperture, and a spring mechanism that biases the first and second plates into a first position and that moves the first and second plates into a second position when the bias is overcome with an application of force. Each cavity includes an interior portion connected to an opening on a perimeter of the respective plate. When the first and second plates are in the first position, the openings of the first and second cavities are aligned and the apertures are not aligned. When the first and second plates are in the second position, the openings of the first and second cavities are not aligned and the apertures are aligned.