Utility Vehicle Tie Rail Nesting in Wall Recess
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing utility vehicle tie rails are aesthetically unpleasing, pose injury hazards, and do not accurately represent their safe working load limits due to being designed without considering the strength when fastened to the vehicle tray, leading to potential damage and unsafe load securing.
Innovation Solution
A tie rail assembly with a rigid elongate member, anchor sections, and a reinforcing member that are integrally formed and made from strong materials like aluminum or steel, which are designed to be securely fastened to the vehicle's structural substrates, providing accurate load ratings and improved strength by distributing loads across multiple anchor points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tie rail is positioned proud or beyond the edge of the wall, then it provides functional access for ropes and hooks, but it creates unaesthetic appearance, injury hazards, and reduces usable space
Solution Approach 1:
The tie rail is nested within the recess formed by the folded-inward upper edge of the side wall, allowing the rail to be positioned at the edge without protruding beyond it. The recess accommodates the tie rail structure while maintaining a flush external appearance that eliminates injury hazards and preserves aesthetic appearance.
2Ease of manufacture
If the tie rail is fastened to the utility tray without considering fastening strength, then installation is simplified, but the working load limit cannot be accurately determined and the rail may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor sections are pre-configured with specific geometries and attachment mechanisms that are designed to engage with predetermined structural features of the utility tray. This preliminary design of the fastening system ensures both ease of installation and accurate determination of working load limits through engineered connection points.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces ad-hoc mechanical fastening methods with a standardized, engineered attachment system that incorporates predetermined load ratings. The anchor sections use specific mechanical engagement features that provide reliable, calculable fastening strength while maintaining installation simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If the tie rail protrudes into the usable space of the utility vehicle, then it provides attachment functionality, but it reduces the available cargo space
Solution Approach 1:
The tie rail is nested within the recess created by the folded-inward upper edge of the side wall, allowing the attachment functionality to be provided without the rail protruding into the cargo area. The recess accommodates the rail structure while maintaining a flush appearance that preserves maximum usable space.
Data Source
AI summary
A tie rail 100 for a utility vehicle having a tray with at least a first wall 3. The first wall 3 is adapted to extend substantially in a first plane 4 (see FIG. 1A). The first wall 3 of a typical utility vehicle 1 may have a first outer edge 5 defining an internal recess 6. The tie rail 100 includes a first member 110 that is substantially rigid and strong, elongate and continuous. When mounted on the first wall 3, the first member 110 is spaced from and extends substantially parallel to the first plane 4 and the first outer edge 5. The tie rail 100 also has at least two anchor sections 120 extending transversely to a longitudinal axis 112 (see FIG. 2C) of the first member 110. The anchor sections 120 are generally adapted to be vertically aligned in installation and include at least two spaced anchor points 122. Each anchor section 120 and each pair of anchor points 122 are each adapted to align with one of the vehicle structural substrates 7. The anchor sections 120 are preferably formed as a continuous unitary piece with the first member 110. The anchor sections 120 each include an outer anchor point 126 at or near the outer end 124. The outer anchor point 126 is spaced from both the first member 110 and an internal anchor point 114 located on or in the first member 110.