Vehicle Hitch Device with Blocking Body for Accessory Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid vehicles are not suited for towing trailers by manufacturer standards, limiting the compatibility and economic service life of carrier couplings, and existing solutions are not interchangeable with pre-existing accessories.
Innovation Solution
A universal accessory coupling with a ball element and blocking body, where the blocking body is positioned outside a notional sphere to prevent trailer attachment while allowing engagement with pre-existing accessories, ensuring compatibility and preventing trailer coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standard towing hook is used to attach accessories, then pre-existing accessories can be attached, but trailer attachment becomes possible which is not suitable for hybrid vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking body is pre-positioned on the accessory coupling to prevent trailer couplings from engaging with the ball element. This preliminary obstruction stops the harmful action (trailer attachment) before it can occur, while still allowing accessory couplings to engage properly.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking body acts as an intermediary element between the ball element and potential couplings. It selectively interferes with trailer coupling engagement while permitting accessory coupling attachment, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of preventing trailers and allowing accessories.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If specific carrier couplings are developed for hybrid vehicles, then trailer attachment is prevented, but compatibility with pre-existing accessories is reduced and interchangeability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory coupling maintains universal compatibility with pre-existing accessories through the standard ball element geometry that conforms to existing coupling designs. The blocking body is designed to be non-interfering with these standard couplings, allowing the same coupling to serve both accessories and prevent trailers universally.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking body is strategically positioned and dimensioned to have localized blocking effect only in the regions where trailer couplings would engage, while maintaining open access and proper geometry for accessory couplings. This local differentiation allows selective prevention without affecting overall compatibility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a blocking body is added to prevent trailer attachment, then trailer coupling is blocked, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking body is integrated with the ball element as a single combined component rather than a separate attachment. This merging of functions (ball element for coupling + blocking body for prevention) into one piece reduces assembly complexity and eliminates the need for additional fastening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking body is designed as a simple geometric form with minimal features, segmented only insofar as its shape naturally divides space between allowing accessory access and blocking trailer engagement. This simple segmentation avoids complex mechanisms while achieving the dual function.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C~1D
AI summary
A vehicle comprising an accessory coupling 20 for the attachment of accessories at the rear side of the vehicle, which accessory coupling is provided with a neck portion 22 whose centreline S runs substantially vertically, a ball element 23 connected to the neck portion, and a blocking body 30 connected to the ball element, which ball element has a spherical external surface substantially situated on a notional sphere whose centre point C is situated on the centreline, and which blocking body is at least partly situated outside the notional sphere. The blocking body 30 is provided, at a distance from the centreline S, with corner points which are situated outside the notional sphere.