Tow Bar Holder With Tilting Receiving Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tow bracket holders for boats with outboard motors are complex, heavy, and require friction elements that wear out, while also needing pivotable structures for alignment, which complicates their design and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A tow bracket holder with two separate fastening elements that attach to the boat stern, featuring a fixing element with multiple fastening bores for adjustment and a receiving element with larger inner dimensions than the tow bar feet, allowing for movement and tilting without the need for pivotable parts, along with retaining bolts and stop elements for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pivotable plate structure is used to allow tow bar alignment, then the tow bar can be aligned horizontally regardless of boat position, but the device becomes multi-part and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the pivotable plate structure from the tow bar holder design. Instead of using a complex multi-part structure with pivot pins and friction elements, the patent employs a simple fixed receiving element with a receiving space that accommodates the tow bar foot directly, removing the unnecessary intermediate pivoting mechanism while maintaining the essential alignment function through the geometry of the receiving space itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the tow bar holder into simple separate components: a fixing element for attachment to the boat stern and a receiving element for holding the tow bar foot. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently without requiring complex interconnections, resulting in a lighter and simpler overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a pivotable plate with friction elements is used, then the tow bar can be positioned at different angles, but friction elements are subject to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the friction elements entirely from the design. The receiving element provides positioning flexibility through its receiving space geometry rather than through friction-based mechanisms. The tow bar foot is retained by the physical constraints of the receiving space dimensions rather than by friction, eliminating the wear problem associated with friction elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the friction-based mechanical retention system with a geometric constraint system. Instead of relying on friction between contact surfaces to hold the tow bar in position, the design uses the internal dimensions of the receiving space to physically accommodate and retain the tow bar foot, providing more reliable and wear-free operation.
3Ease of operation
If a complex pivotable structure is used for mobility, then the tow bar can be aligned horizontally, but the construction becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex pivotable intermediate plate structure entirely. The alignment function is achieved through the simple geometric relationship between the fixed receiving element and the tow bar foot, without requiring any movable parts, pivot pins, or complex mechanical linkages.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of the fixing element and receiving element into a simple two-component assembly that eliminates the need for separate pivotable intermediate structures. The receiving element is directly connected to the fixing element, combining the mounting and positioning functions into a unified simple structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A tow bar holder for securing a tow bar (10) to a boat having an outboard motor (22) has two separate securing elements (16) secured to the stern (20) of the boat. Said securing elements (16) each have a fixing element (44) for securing to a motor plate (18), and a receiving element (30). The feet (14) of the tow bar can be plugged into a receiving space (32) of the receiving element (30). In this case, the internal dimensions of the receiving space (32) are larger than the external dimensions of the feet (14) of the tow bar, such that the tow bar is tiltable and/or is fixable in various positions in the receiving space (32).