Trailer Hitch Guide Adaptor with Third Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer tongue couplers face challenges in securely connecting to towing vehicles due to weak construction and high costs, especially when dealing with heavy trailers, and require complex maneuvers that can be dangerous and impractical.
Innovation Solution
A trailer hitch guide adaptor with a mounting plate, angled guide plates, and a third guide plate extending from the mounting plate front-end, providing a robust and cost-effective solution by guiding the hitch ball into position and distributing force across multiple points, forming a single-piece guiding structure for enhanced durability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If two guide plates are used in the trailer tongue coupler, then the hitch ball guidance is improved, but the construction strength deteriorates and the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a third guide plate extending forward from the mounting plate, creating a three-dimensional guidance structure. This third plate projects into the path of the hitch ball, providing guidance in an additional spatial dimension and improving the ease of connection without compromising the strength of the existing two-plate structure.
2Ease of operation
If two guide plates are used in the trailer tongue coupler, then the hitch ball guidance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance function is segmented into two independent components: the original two guide plates attached below the mounting plate, and the additional third guide plate extending forward. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific guidance function independently, improving overall ease of operation while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.
3Ease of operation
If a heavy car bumps into the guide plates, then the guidance function is demonstrated, but the weak construction causes the guide plates to break
Solution Approach 1:
The third guide plate extending forward creates a distributed impact zone that spans multiple dimensions. When a heavy car bumps into the structure, the impact force is distributed across the third guide plate, the mounting plate, and the two downward-attached guide plates, preventing concentration of stress at a single weak point and improving durability under impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The third guide plate extending forward acts as a preliminary buffer zone that absorbs and distributes impact forces before they reach the mounting plate and the two downward-attached guide plates. This beforehand cushioning effect protects the weaker components from direct high-impact forces, improving the overall reliability and durability of the structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates in a first aspect to a trailer hitch guide adaptor for a trailer tongue coupler, comprising: a mounting plate configured for attachment to the trailer tongue coupler, the mounting plate having an mounting plate upper-surface and a mounting plate front-end; a pair of guide plates, each of the guide plates attached below the mounting plate, each of the guide plates having a guide plate front-end and a guide plate back-end, wherein said guide plates are angled relative to each other, whereby each of the guide plate back-ends converge towards each other; and a third guide plate extending outwards from the mounting plate front-end, the third guide plate having a third guide plate upper surface, wherein the third guide plate upper surface defines an obtuse angle relative to the mounting plate upper surface, such that a hitch ball is able to be guided towards the mounting plate front-end via the third guide plate, and/or from below the mounting plate and towards the guide plate back ends via one of the guide plates attached below the mounting plate.