Trailer Rear Ball Mount for Tow Bar Accessories
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in conveniently transporting both trailers and bicycle car racks with bicycles during holidays, as the trailer occupies space and requires special accessories when the bicycle car rack cannot be placed on the car tow bar due to the trailer being coupled to it.
Innovation Solution
A trailer with a bar featuring a ball on its rear side, allowing cantilevered support for various types of tow bar-supported items, enabling them to be transported with the towing vehicle and trailer combination without needing extra accessories or storage on the trailer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the trailer is coupled to the car tow bar, then the trailer can be transported, but the bicycle car rack cannot be placed on the tow bar
Solution Approach 1:
The towing function is segmented between two separate locations: the front tow bar on the car for the trailer, and a rear bar with ball on the trailer for the bicycle car rack. This segmentation allows both the trailer and bicycle rack to be transported simultaneously without interfering with each other's mounting locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the bicycle rack mounting location from the horizontal dimension (car tow bar) to a different spatial arrangement by adding a rear bar with ball on the trailer itself. This creates a new mounting dimension that doesn't conflict with the trailer coupling point.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bicycle car rack is carried on the trailer using special accessories, then both trailer and bicycles can be transported, but extra accessories and storage space are required
Solution Approach 1:
The bar with ball mounted on the trailer provides a universal mounting interface that accepts standard bicycle car racks designed for tow bars. This multi-functional solution eliminates the need for trailer-specific bicycle rack accessories, as the same ball-and-socket interface used on cars is now available on the trailer.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer replicates the car's tow bar functionality by mounting an identical bar with ball assembly on its rear side. This copying of the mounting interface allows bicycle racks to be installed on the trailer in the same way they would be on a car, eliminating the need for specialized trailer accessories.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bicycle car rack is mounted on the pole of the trailer, then both can be transported, but the pole space is occupied and special mounting is required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting the bicycle rack on the trailer pole, the solution copies the standard car tow bar mounting interface (bar with ball) directly onto the trailer's rear side. This allows bicycle racks to be mounted in the conventional, familiar location rather than requiring adaptation to the pole structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A trailer (1) which can be coupled behind a passenger car comprises a frame (2; 22) provided with a wheel set (3; 23) which supports the frame in operative condition, and a pole (4; 24) with a coupling element (10; 30) for coupling the trailer (1) to a tow bar (5) of a towing vehicle (6). On a side of the trailer (1) located opposite the pole (4; 24), a bar (7; 27, 47) is fixed, of which an end is formed by a ball (8; 28; 48) for, in a cantilevered manner, supporting a support (9) of a type which can also be placed on the ball (11) of a conventional tow bar (5) for a car.