Trailer Folding Mechanism Maintaining Height

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior trailers have a small capacity and increased height and volume when folded, and their handles are not automatically resettable, making them inconvenient to use and store.

Innovation Solution

A trailer design with fixed standpipes, folding components, and telescopic handle components that maintain the same height when folded, allowing for compact storage and automatic handle resetting through a reset torsion spring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the trailer uses a flat plate structure with wheels for carrying, then it provides convenient driving and labor-saving features, but it cannot be folded and occupies a lot of space when not in use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenient drivingVSAvoidspace occupation when not in use
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The trailer body is divided into multiple folding sections (front folding component, rear folding component, side folding component, bottom folding component) that can be independently folded. Each section uses hinged connections and linkage mechanisms to enable folding while maintaining structural integrity, allowing the trailer to be compacted into a small volume when not in use while preserving full functionality during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the trailer is designed to be folded, then it reduces space occupation when not in use, but the height and volume increase after folding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace occupation when foldedVSAvoidheight after folding
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The folding components are designed to nest within each other during the folding process. The front and rear folding components, side folding components, and bottom folding component are arranged to fold inward and occupy minimal space. The linkage mechanisms and hinged connections enable the structure to collapse into a compact configuration where components are positioned within the overall trailer envelope, maintaining a low profile height while achieving significant volume reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If the handle is made manually resettable, then it provides basic functionality, but it is inconvenient to use and requires manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle resetting convenienceVSAvoidtime required for manual reset
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The handle component incorporates a reset torsion spring that automatically returns the handle to its initial position after being actuated. The torsion spring is integrated into the handle mechanism, allowing the handle to self-reset without manual intervention. This automatic resetting function eliminates the need for user intervention to return the handle to its starting position, significantly improving ease of operation and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Ensures a smaller volume when folded while maintaining a large capacity when unfolded, and allows for convenient automatic handle resetting, reducing space occupation and user effort.

Implementation Method 1

a reset torsion spring arranged in the pull rod steering piece

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorsion spring: Torsion Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3845433B1Trolley with no height increase in folded state
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 ZHANG XIANGSHAN
  • EP3845433B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3845433B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3845433B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention provides a trailer with no extra height when folding, comprising fixed standpipes arranged at a front and rear end of the trailer, and front and rear folding components, side folding components, bottom folding components and handle components connected to the fixed standpipes. The height of the trailer in the invention does not change after folding to ensure that the height after folding and the height in use are the same, thereby the object that the volume after folding is smaller than that of the prior trailer. By proving telescopic components on the handle components, the trailer can be telescopically folded by handle components when not in use, which reduces space occupation and is practical and convenient; simultaneously, by providing reset torsion spring on the handle components, the object of automatically resetting of the handle when the trailer not in use can be achieved.