Vehicle Roof Rack with Pivoting Loading Arm for Low-Height Cargo Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Roof racks for vehicles can be difficult to load due to the height and weight of cargo, posing challenges for users who are not tall or strong enough to manage unwieldy recreational equipment like kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle roof rack system with extendable support assemblies and loading arms that pivot and adjust to lower the cargo to a manageable height, featuring a pair of longitudinal support assemblies with a stationary base and an extendable rail that moves between coextensive, extended, and angled positions, along with a loading arm that pivots to facilitate easy loading and secure cargo positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a roof rack is mounted at full height on the vehicle roof, then cargo can be transported, but loading becomes difficult and requires significant physical strength
Solution Approach 1:
The rack incorporates movable support assemblies that can transition between retracted and extended positions, and loading arms that pivot between stowed and deployed configurations. This dynamic capability allows the rack to adapt its height and configuration during loading operations, reducing the lifting height required while maintaining full-height cargo capacity during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading arm acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the cargo. It provides a leveraged interface that extends from the support assembly, allowing users to apply force at a lower, more accessible position while the arm mechanically transmits this force to lift and position the cargo at the required roof height.
2Reliability
If the rack supports heavy recreational equipment, then cargo capacity is adequate, but users who are not strong enough cannot load the cargo
Solution Approach 1:
The support assemblies dynamically adjust their position and the loading arms pivot to create mechanical advantage during loading. This allows the system to support heavy cargo reliably while reducing the physical effort required from users during the loading process.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack system performs part of the loading work automatically through its mechanical mechanisms. The extendable support assemblies and pivoting loading arms provide self-assisting functionality that reduces the manual lifting required from users, making the system accessible to people with varying physical capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If the rack is designed for full-height cargo transport, then transportation capability is maintained, but loading requires lifting to difficult-to-reach heights
Solution Approach 1:
The rack configuration changes dynamically during loading operations. The support assemblies extend and loading arms pivot to create a temporary low-height loading interface. After loading, the system returns to its compact full-height transport configuration, thus accommodating both accessible loading and proper cargo transport requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading arms provide an additional spatial dimension for cargo access. By extending laterally from the support assemblies, they create a horizontal loading interface that is more accessible to users, while the vertical transport function is maintained through the roof-mounted structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A rack for carrying cargo on top of a vehicle is disclosed, comprising a pair of longitudinal support assemblies. Each support assembly is configured for mounting on a crossbar secured across the roof of a vehicle, and includes a stationary base and an extendable rail. Each rail is moveable between a first position in which the rail is substantially coextensive with the base, a second position in which the rail extends significantly beyond the end of the base, and a third position in which the rail pivots downward adjacent a side of the vehicle. Each rail also has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, with a loading arm pivotably connected to the distal end portion. The loading arm is moveable between a collapsed position parallel the rail and an extended loading position.